The “Haiordats Tun” Armenian School of Moscow opened its doors for 330 first-grade students on September 13. Each of them was setting foot in the school with hope and faith. Some had come by their own will, others had listened to their parents. There were also parents who had decided to correct their mistake and finally learn Armenian in their 40s or 50s. This is what Armine Kareyan told Hayern Aysor from Moscow.

Greeting the students in the morning, the school’s religious superintendent, Father Priest Arakel Amiryan and Principal Hmayak Gevorgyan called on the parents to be consistent with their visits and do everything they can to make sure their children speak in Armenian not only in school, but at home as well.

The elder first-grade students of the “Haiordats Tun” Armenian School were impatiently waiting for the first lesson since the school also provides them with the opportunity to communicate with their compatriots and shine with their new knowledge in front of their parents someday.

Addressing the first-grade students above 18, Father Arakel Amiryan conveyed the blessing of Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Russia and Nor Nakhichevan, Father Archbishop Yezras Nersisyan and said the following after the Lord’s Prayer: “You are here so that this school belonging to the Church becomes stronger and so that you become stronger with the Church. You are here to receive an Armenian education because most of you will be starting families soon, and if there is no love, faith and “Armenianness” in those families, they can’t be strong and will waver even in case of winds that are not too strong. The Armenian people remain standing with strong families and their Church since it is the Church that has been the guarantor for preservation of the Armenian identity and the existence of the Armenian nation for centuries due to the lack of statehood. Today, this school, which has been established far away from the homeland, continues to care for providing students with an education and their unity.”

Before introducing the students to their teachers, Principal Hmayak Gevorgyan stated that the “Haiordats Tun” Armenian School is a place where the students always want to stay and that they will become convinced during their studies. “The growing number of students goes to show that the “Haiordats Tun” Armenian School is meeting its objectives. People of all ages come to our school, and after graduating, they say the school helped the find what was missing in order to help them truly appreciate their Armenian identity. So, we wish that each of you finds the part that is missing and becomes the bearer of Armenian culture.”

It should be mentioned that the number of people wishing to get accepted to “Haiordats Tun” Armenian School grows year after year, but the school’s conditions aren’t sufficient to accept so many students on Sundays. The administration has decided to set Saturday as a day for some first-grade students, in addition to the additional Armenian language lessons held on Thursdays. This is a special decision that is aimed at helping the students and providing them with the opportunity to improve their knowledge of Armenian.