His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia visited the Birds’ Nest Armenian Orphanage, which is under the auspices of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. As reported the Catholicosate to “Armenpress”, the Supreme Patriarch met with the administration of the orphanage and was introduced to the orphanage’s activities and upcoming programs. His Holiness Aram I also visited the Aram Bezikian Museum for orphans of the Armenian Genocide located near Birds’ Nest Armenian Orphanage.

The visit of His Holiness coincided with the first anniversary of the official opening of the museum. With a feeling of great satisfaction, His Holiness listened to the brief report on the first year and praised the efforts that are being made. In an interview with Kilikia TV following the visit, Aram I stated that the sons of the Armenian nation are familiar with the history of the Birds’ Nest Orphanage since thousands of orphans having survived the Armenian Genocide had lived and were raised in the orphanage.

“The Birds’ Nest Orphanage also has a main mission today. This sacramental institution protects the sons of our nation who are in need the most, that is, orphans and children who are in need and have no parents. Thus, the Armenians of the Diaspora need to continue to provide financial assistance to this institution,” the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia said.

Touching upon the Aram Bezikian Museum devoted to the orphans of the Armenian Genocide, he stated the following: “It is a sacramental structure. With joy and just pride, I would like to affirm that the establishment of this museum became one of the major events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and was made possible through the great contributions of the benefactors of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, Mr. and Mrs. Alecco and Ani Bezikian. This museum is not an ordinary museum. It serves as testimony. We are pleased with the fact that 7,000 Armenian and foreign visitors have visited the museum in the course of one year.”