THE PRELATE AT STS. VARTANANTZ CHURCH (NEW JERSEY)

Archbishop Anoushavan receives the donation of the Nareg School students for the students of Armenian schools in Lebanon

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Sts. Vartanantz Church, in Ridgefield, NJ, on Sunday, Dec. 19. Linking up the feast of St. James with the Bible reading of the day, His Eminence encouraged the faithful to overcome the difficulties that have been piling up over their lifetime, armed with their God-given faith (read the sermon elsewhere in this issue).

Following Divine Liturgy, the Nareg Saturday School’s Christmas pageant and luncheon took place in the parish hall with more than one hundred parents among the public. After a brief play, poetry recitation and songs, the students welcomed Santa Claus, who had done his possible carrying his heavy bag from Mt. Ararat to greet the students and give them their gifts, which had been generously donated by Ms. Talin Apkarian-Kochayan in memory of her mother, Mrs. Knar Apkarian, former school principal.

The Prelate praised highly Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian, Pastor, as well as the Board of Trustees, and the local ARS chapters, the school’s teaching staff, the students and their parents. He especially pointed out that the school function prepared in a brief time in the current circumstances sparked joy and high spirits in everybody, and expressed his appreciation for the fundraiser of the Nareg School students, which collected $500 for needy students of Armenian schools in Lebanon.