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Celebrations on the Occasions of the 80th Anniversary of the Heroic Battle of Aintab and the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment-Naming of the Nor Aintab Suburb of Yerevan

Aintab monument with the statues of Rev. Fr. Nersess Tavoukjian, Adour Levonian and Avedis Kelemkerian, heroes of the Heroic Battle of Aintab, 1920. YEREVAN - The week of September 3-10 was a memorable one for all those Armenians of Aintab ancestry in Armenia as well as the Diaspora. The series of celebrations began with Divine Liturgy and requiem service on Sunday, September 3, 2000 at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Requiem was said for the three heroes of the Heroic Battle of Aintab of 1920 -- The Rev. Fr. Nerses Tavoukjian, Avedis Kalemkerian and Adour Levonian. The Rev. Fr. Nersess Jebejian of St. Petersburg, FL, the grandson of Fr. Tavoukjian, celebrated the Liturgy. The preacher was Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the participants went to Nor Aintab, a suburb of Yerevan, for the dedication of the busts of the three heroes in front of the monument commemorating the Battle of Aintab.

After the welcoming remarks by the governor (marzbed) of the region and the mayor of the suburb (kyughabed), the busts of the three heroes were unveiled by Fr. Jebejian, Puzant Markarian and the grandson of Avedis Kalemkerian. Speeches were given by Haroutune Garabedian, President of the Aintab Benevolent Union of Armenia, Mr. Puzant Markarian, benefactor of the new Puzant Markarian Elementary School, The Very Rev. Fr. Paren Avedikian, on behalf of the Catholicate of Holy Etchmiadzin, Painter Hagop Hagopian, the Honorary President of the Aintab Benevolent Union of Armenia, Mr. Yeghia Adourian and a number of other dignitaries.

Fr. Nersess Jebejian reading the speech of Dr. Hagop Nersoyan at the dedication of the busts of the three heroes at the monument commemorating the Heroic Battle of Aintab. The guest speaker, Dr. Hagop Nersoyan, due to unforeseen circumstances, was unable to participate in the festivities. Fr. Jebejian read his speech. The school children of Nor Aintab presented a program of songs, recitations and dances. The program was followed by a memorial meal (madagh).

The same evening, a banquet and dance was held at the Zankou Restaurant in honor of the Diasporan guests.

On Monday evening, a concert was held in the Gomidas Concert Hall.

At Friday noon, the official dedication and opening of the Puzant Markarian Educational Institution took place in Nor Aintab. Mr. Puzant Markarian, the benefactor, along with his son and daughter-in-law, Alex and Vesna Markarian, were present for the ribbon cutting and dedication. The same evening, Mr. Markarian tendered a dinner to the Nor Aintab suburb officials, the staff of the institution and numerous guests.

Throngs made up of residents of Nor Aintab, as well as Diasporan Armenians of Aintab origin, attended the dedication of the busts of the three heroes of the Heroic Battle of Aintab at the commemorative monument. Dinners were given also by Mr. and Mrs. Garbis Vartanian of Aleppo, Syria at the elegant restaurant outside of Yerevan and the Gerboyan family at their luxurious home that brought to an end the festivities of the week. Speeches were made, future plans were made to make every effort to make Nor Aintab viable, exemplary and beautiful suburb of Yerevan as well as add the various structural plans that are part of the monument; i.e., a chapel, museum and various other additions to the area. In the next few days, the Diasporan guests left Armenia with indelible memories of their visit and a promise to return and be an integral part of the rebuilding and enhancement of Nor Aintab.