Buenos Aires Chapter Celebrates Its Centennial Anniversary

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, nearly 500 people gathered to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the founding of AGBU's Buenos Aires Chapter. The celebration took place in the AGBU Buenos Aires Center's Nazarian Hall, which was filled to capacity. The evening was honored with the patronage and presence of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, who was on a pontifical visit to South America.

Teacher and chairwoman of the Armenian Department at the Buenos Aires' Marie Manoogian Institute, Rosita Yousoufian, acted as the evening's emcee. Buenos Aires chapter chairman and AGBU Central Board member, Ruben Kechichian, welcomed His Holiness and all attendees, and then went on to give an overview of the organization's benevolent activities, particularly for the benefit of the church and nation, and stressed that this direction has characterized AGBU's whole mission since its founding. The Buenos Aires Chapter, which was founded in Argentina prior to the 1915 Genocide, has consistently served the Armenian people for the past 100 years. "Words are insufficient to express our admiration and appreciation for the founders, the successive chairmen, and the committees. They truly knew how to interpret Boghos Nubar's message, making the Buenos Aires Chapter one of the most active and enterprising chapters," said Kechichian.

There were numerous speeches during the evening, including words by Armenia's ambassador to Argentina, Vladimir Karmirshalian, and AGBU Vice President, Sinan Sinanian, who conveyed his message on behalf of the AGBU leadership who were not in attendance. "The Buenos Aires Chapter of AGBU, with its fervent and diverse activity and the Marie Manoogian Institute, joins the youths and young adults with the Armenian senior citizens, being a natural right of succession of generations and simultaneously maintaining the organization's vitality," said Sinanian. "In this sense too, through collective effort and uninterruptedly for more than thirty years now, the successive graduating classes have visited Armenia, where the Armenian education they receive becomes firmly rooted through their immersion in the Armenian environment."

AGBU President Berge Setrakian conveyed his good wishes in the form of a special message. He expressed AGBU's profound respect and gratitude to the Armenian Catholicos in Etchmiadzin, Armenia, who "encourages us with his presence and participation in the celebration, stressing the mutual and inviolable attachment existing between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and AGBU." Setrakian's message also stated his deep conviction that the Buenos Aires Chapter will continue to provide a rich array of services to the coming generations.

His Holiness delivered his own message of appreciation and praise, emphasizing the invaluable presence of AGBU in the lives of Armenians around the world and expressing the Mother See's gratitude to all the chapters and members of the world's largest Armenian nonprofit organization, who consistently support Holy Etchmiadzin and back its mission and programs. "It is our wish that the marking and celebration of the worthy hundred-year-old mission of the AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter gives you new inspiration and incentive to continue your service to the Argentinean-Armenian community with the same love, care and zeal, and to make your good contribution to the realization of the hopes and aspirations of our people," he said. At the conclusion of his remarks, His Holiness decorated Rosita Yousoufian, Dr. Roberto Malkhassian, and longtime executive committee member Haroutiun Sarafian, with medals in appreciation for their service.

The centennial celebration also included a viewing of two informational videos about the Marie Manoogian Institute's activities and a retrospective of the history of the school leading up to the present day.

Prior to the close of the evening, Antonio Sarafian presented His Holiness with one of the first stamps that the official Argentinean postal service issued in tribute to the centennial anniversary. As the celebrations came to an end, His Holiness Karekin II offered a blessing and special concluding remarks to all in attendance.

Among the distinguished guests for the evening were Armenia's plenipotentiary ambassador to Argentina Vladimir Karmirshalian and his wife Anahit; ambassador of France to Argentina, Jean Pierre Asvazadourian; Primate of the Diocese of Argentina and Chile, Archbishop Kissag Mouradian; Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian; Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Brazil, Archbishop Datev Gharibian; AGBU vice president, Sinan Sinanian, Argentinean-Armenian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Eduardo Eurnekian; benefactor, Berdjuhi Emirian; AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter chairman and member of AGBU's Central Board of Directors, Ruben Kechichian and his wife, Elsa; AGBU Buenos Aires Chapter vice chairman Hampartsoum Hallajian; and honorary chairman of the Chapter, Vahram Hairabedian.

Also in attendance were AGBU Sao Paulo Chapter chairman Krikor Manukian; AGBU Montevideo Chapter chairman, Dr. Gustavo Zulamian; AGBU Montevideo secretary and committee members, Valeria Momdjian and Patricia Koharian; AGBU Cordoba Chapter vice chairman, Christian Yacoubian; honorary Armenian Counselor in Brazil, Diruhi Burmaian; honorary member of AGBU, Leon Carlos Arslanian; founders of Buenos Aires Youth League, Nicholas Hermes and Bautista Kuyumdjian; and other honorary and benevolent members and friends of AGBU.