ETCHMIADZIN - On November 3, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by Abp. Vatché Hovsepian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and Bp. Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar General of Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, left for Gumri to participate in the jubilee festivity dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the founding and 10th anniversary of the reconstruction of the school of Byron there.

Archimandrite Mikayel Ajapahian, Vicar General of Shirak Diocese; Mr. Felix Piroumian, the Governor of Shirak Region, and Mr. Vardan Ghoukassian, the Mayor of Giumri, met His Holiness.

The 50-year-old school, previously named after G. Soundoukian, like the other schools in Gumri, was completely destroyed after the earthquake in 1988. Ten years ago, thanks to the Armenian benefactor Mr. George Kurkchian, from London, the only school in Gumri with an English bias was reconstructed and renamed after George Byron, in honor of Armenians' great friend. At present Mr. Kurkchian and the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Armenia continue to take care of the school to keep it in a comfortable and good state. The devoted and patriotic benefactor, together with his wife and Mr. Timothy Jones, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Armenia, participated in the school's jubilee festivity. His Holiness and the guests made a tour of the school and attended the concert program, organized by the school students.

As the Armenian Pontiff, Our message on the occasion of the school's jubilee is to lead our children in the way of spiritual values, lead them to the Church, as, without the existence of spiritual life our sons will be unable to create and raise the Motherland," said His Holiness, giving his blessing to the students and the teaching staff, and exhorting them to maintain the spirit of friendship, which gives birth only to the good. His Holiness with joy informed that another school of Gumri would have comfortable premises. A few months ago, His Holiness, during his pontifical visit to the Shirak Diocese, saw that the students of the city center for children and youth were engaged in study in small houses, and promised to support the students. Presently the regional authorities have allocated a comfortable building to serve as a center.

Before leaving for the Mother See, His Holiness paid a visit to the building site of the Church of St. James, in the Ani district. The foundation of the church had been blessed by His Holiness during his pontifical visit to the Shirak Diocese.