On November 9, the delegation led by RA President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, visited the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Abu Dhabi. RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan is part of the delegation. The groundbreaking ceremony for this church was held by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia on May 4, 2012. On December 12, 2014, Aram I consecrated the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church.

The President also visited the Ara Khanoian Armenian Sunday School, which is adjunct to the church and opened its doors this year. The children greeted the President-led delegation with salt and bread, in national costumes and with the national flags of Armenia and the UAE in the yard of the school. Today, the school has nearly 40 students, a kindergarten and a secondary education division.

According to Hayern Aysor, the school offers courses devoted to Armenian language, history, song and dance. Before the school’s establishment, Armenian children would learn Armenian on the weekends in areas of other schools as a place for gathering.

On the same day, during a meeting with members of the Armenian community, Serzh Sargsyan awarded several activists with high state awards. Benefactor of the Armenian Sunday school Ara Khanoian was awarded with the Movses Khorenatsi Medal for his notable contributions to the strengthening and development of Armenia-Diaspora relations and for his longstanding pro-national activities.