Ancient Armenian churches shine in Toronto lecture at AECT
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հաճելի ժամանակ անցնելու,
անցեալի ջերմ օրերը,
այդ արժէքաւոր
ժամանակը իմաստաւորելու
բարեգործութեամբ։ Այդպիսի հաւաքի
մը հնարաւորութիւնը կը ստեղծէ
Թորոնթոյի ACC Beyond յանձնախումբը
ՀՕՄ-ի ամէնօրեայ վարժարանի շրջանաւարտներուն համար։
վերամիանալու,
յիշատակներ», դիտել կու տայ ան։
Թորոնթոյի գաղութը սնուցող եւ
անոր հիմնական երակներէն մէկը
հանդիսացող ՀՕՄ-ի ամէնօրեայ
վարժարանի շրջանաւարտները
լաւագոյնս կը գիտակցին Հայ
երիտասարդական կեդրոնի նոր
մասնաշէնքին կարեւորութեան եւ
դերին մասին։ Անոնք իրենց կեանքի
նորամուտի կարեւոր մէկ հանգրուանը
անցուցած են այս շրջափակէն ներս, ստացած են հայեցի կրթութիւն,
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ARS Alumni Bash: Calling on all ARS Armenian Private School graduates, alumni
TORONTOHYE—In the rush of our daily routines, intimate gatherings take on a special meaning. They give us a chance to reconnect with family, childhood friends, and classmates, to relive cherished memories and add new purpose through community and giving. That is exactly what the Toronto ACC Beyond committee is offering to graduates of the ARS Armenian Private School.
‘Get ready to reunite, reminisce, and have a great time for a good cause;’ That is the invitation to the ARS Alumni Bash, hosted by the ACC Beyond fundraising committee. The event will take place on Aug. 23 at the Armenian Community Centre.
Sevag Titizian, a member of the organizing committee, told Torontohye that the goal is twofold: to bring people together and to raise funds to complete construction of the Armenian youth centre (AYC) expansion. “The expansion of the Armenian Youth Centre is incredibly important, but so is getting everyone involved in making this project a reality,” Sevag explains. “Working together, we can reach our goal and create the right conditions for future generations.”
The evening welcomes all ARS alumni, from the class of 1979 to last year's newest graduates. It is a rare opportunity to catch up with classmates, rekindle old friendships, and revisit shared memories of school days. “People who haven't seen each other in years will finally have the opportunity to reconnect,” Sevag notes, adding that it has been 15 years since the last event of this kind, making the upcoming bash especially meaningful.
While he is keeping the program details under wraps, Sevag promises a warm and elegant evening with music, food, drinks, and the unmistakable feeling of being back at the place where so many of those school memories were made. “We'll be gathering in the place where so many of us grew up, where we played during our school years, and where we made countless memories,” he reflects.
Graduates of the ARS Armenian Private School remain one of the pillars of Toronto's Armenian community. Having grown up immersed in Armenian language, history, and identity, they know firsthand the value of institutions like the ACC and AYC and the importance of creating better, more modern spaces for the next generation.
So, why not combine pleasure with purpose? Join fellow ARS alumni at this special evening and help support a cause that truly matters. ֎
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նրբագոյն ամբողջական արտայայտումը
ներս, տեղի
ՀՕՄ-ի Գանատայի շրջանի 27-րդ եւ
ՀՕՄ-ի 103-րդ պատգամաւորական ժողովը՝
մասնակցութեամբ ՀՕՄ-ի կեդրոնական
վարչութեան Գանատայի ներկայացուցիչ
Արմինէ Կարապետեանի, ՀՕՄ-ի ԱՄՆ-ի
Արեւմտեան շրջանի շրջանային վարչութեան ներկայացուցիչ Ռիթա Հինդլեանի, ՀՅԴ Գանատայի կեդրոնական կոմիտէի,
շաբաթաթերթի, Համազգայինի
Պարտագճեան եւ Արաքսի Փիլաւճեան:
Ancient Armenian churches shine in Toronto lecture at AECT
Dr. Ani Hasserjian
As Armenians, we take great pride in being the first nation to adopt Christianity as a national religion. That pride was reinforced on Friday, June 13, 2025, during a special public lecture.
It was a true privilege to gather at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto (AECT) alongside fellow supporters of Armenian heritage, faith, and culture, as well as non-Armenian guests, to attend a lecture titled 'Monasteries and Churches of Ancient Armenia.' The presentation was delivered by a most distinguished guest, Mr. Ronald Arthur Altoon, FAIA, LEED AP, an internationally renowned architect. The public lecture was graciously organized by the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada (AMAC), in collaboration with the Armenian Evangelical Churches of Toronto and Montreal. The same lecture was presented the following day, Saturday, June 14, at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal.
A short historical documentary was screened about the Armenian Evangelical Movement, which began in 1846. The film highlighted the establishment and initiatives of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA, founded in 1918) and the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada (AMAC, founded in 1984).
Welcoming remarks were delivered eloquently in English and Armenian by the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Remy Guirguis, an active member of the AECT
Youth Group and a board member of AMAC. He emphasized the noble vision of AMAC’s founding members, whose legacy continues today through impactful educational, social service, childcare, and evangelistic ministries in 24 countries, in partnership with the AMAA. Musical interludes included a performance of 'Pari Arakil' by Mr. Levon Kalemkerian, and 'Im Ani' — a song dedicated to the ancient Armenian capital of Ani, once home to more than a thousand churches—sung by Mrs. Aline Buchakjian.
Mr. Altoon was then introduced. An ArmenianAmerican architect and past president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), he is also the author of seven books on design. His lecture was the culmination of 18 architectural research visits to Armenia and Artsakh, focusing on monasteries and churches dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries.
Mr. Altoon shared a personal account of his family history as a third-generation ArmenianAmerican. Through a compelling photographic and narrative journey, he took the audience on a historical pilgrimage to 41 ancient Armenian spiritual landmarks. He explored the soul of a people carved in stone — monasteries, chapels, and churches that have endured the elements and centuries of trials, invasions, migrations, and deportations. These sacred sites continue to bear witness to the Armenian people's Christian faith and indomitable spirit.
Mr. Altoon illustrated how Armenian builders overcame enormous challenges in constructing these monumental structures in remote, mountainous regions. He described the architectural and engineering brilliance of Armenia’s ancient sanctuaries, arguing that they likely influenced the development of global church architecture. Many of these churches predate Europe’s most iconic cathedrals, revealing a rich heritage of spiritual significance and innovation.
Following the lecture, a lively Q&A session was held, during which Mr. Altoon thoughtfully answered numerous questions from the audience. A memorable gift was presented to Mr. Altoon on behalf of AMAC and AECT representatives.
Closing remarks were offered by Rev. Zohrab Sarkissian, Pastor of AECT, who emphasized the importance of maintaining the faith of our forefathers. He extended his gratitude to Mr. Altoon and the event organizers. Father Hayari Tanashian, Minister of the Armenian Holy Trinity Church, was invited to offer the closing prayer. He expressed heartfelt thanks to the lecturer and organizers, and the event concluded with the 'Bahbanich' prayer. Attendees were then invited to a reception and fellowship at the Rev. Movses Janbazian Church Hall, where many continued conversations with the guest speaker and signed up to receive updates about Mr. Altoon’s forthcoming publication, Monasteries and Churches of Ancient Armenia. ֎
գիտակից իրենց
սիրայօժար
որ ալ ոչ Forum-ի կրնայ
կարելի է մասնակցիլ մինչեւերեսունչորս տարեկան։
էր գիտնալ ArtLinks-ի մասին, թէ զանազան տաղանդաւոր
քանի
A brightness we could not hold
Rupen Khajag
There was a moment.
Brief, almost imperceptible, when the air changed shape, when conviction outgrew the body, and something too young to carry such weight stepped into the fire, believing it would become language.
Not martyrdom, not sacrifice, but a rupture, clean and deliberate, cut through the skin of forgetting.
They were not warriors, not saints, not fools. Just velocity gathered into form, tired of waiting for the world to listen.
I used to call it courage.
Now, I hesitate.
Now, I trace the outlines of laughter they must have known. Now, I think of the way the coffee was constantly brewing on the stovetop by their mothers, welcoming mourners into dim living rooms where absence had already begun to take its shape. What is lost when urgency becomes flesh?
And still, still, somewhere inside the noise, there was a clarity sharper than justice. A refusal to be ornamental. A hunger to be more than echo. Was it worth it?
I don't ask that anymore. I only feel the weight of what we call meaning when the light burns too fast. ֎
Լենային
հայկական խոհանոցը [vegan
]
աղցան
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3. (գոյ.) կողով, ճաշաման
4. (գոյ.) դասի մը տեւողութիւնը
6.
7.
8. (գոյ.)
Ուղղահայեաց
1. (գոյ.) զարգացում,
2. (գոյ.) խաղալու տեղ, խաղարան
4. (գոյ.) ուսման
5. (գոյ.) աշակերտներու կրած
12. (գոյ.) դպրոցական, հետեւորդ, ուսանող
13. (բայ) գիրի առնել, շարադրել
16. (գոյ.) արկղ, արկղիկ
sudoku)
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