June 1 (International Child Protection Day) became a day to remember for the children of the St. Mashtots Armenian School and Arevik Armenian Kindergarten in Odessa. After participating in a unified prayer at the local St. Gregory the Illuminator Church and receiving the blessing of the pastor, the children were taken to the city’s zoo under the pastor’s leadership. They were joined by the directors of the school and kindergarten and escorted by their parents and instructors, reported Narine Muradyan to Hayern Aysor from Odessa.

This beautiful initiative was the idea of the members of the religious council. Not only the children, but also their parents were very satisfied and were in a great mood.

The year-end ceremony of the children of Arevik Armenian Kindergarten was also devoted to International Child Protection Day and began with a speech by Marine Aghajanyan who expressed her greetings and kind wishes.

Fr. Priest Abgar Gilitchyan wished peace and sunny days, and the ceremony began.

The Armenian children born abroad recited poems and performed songs in Armenian and entertained the attending parents, grandparents, as well as children and young people. Their performances were like a unique call for love and peace addressed to the world and all mankind.

The children brilliantly showed their excitement when they particularly performed Armenian patriotic songs and dances. The children also performed the Armenian song “Song of the Homeland” with the accompaniment of little Armenian dhol players.

The performances of the children of the kindergarten ended with a performance of the triumphant song “Tricolor”, followed by a homonymous dance.

Among the other participants of this brilliant event were the children of the local Armenian Sunday school and the children of different nationalities.

At the end of this marvelous event, the attending children were in for a beautiful surprise. The Mkrtumyan Charitable Fund had prepared interesting gifts for them and hosted a nice reception. The children received their gifts from director of the local cultural center Anna Gevorgyan, who wished that the children had a carefree childhood and grew up in peace and wear crowns not only on stage, but also in life (the seven pupils of the school were wearing the “crown” of the Armenian nation, that is, the Armenian alphabet).

They also received backpacks for school since they would no longer be coming to the kindergarten. The children performed the Armenian alphabet song “Ayb-ben-gim” , and the sounds were like a school bell.