Mr. & Mrs. Tavit and Laury Karayan were blessed with their first son, a baby boy, Bedo, on Friday, 25th of April. Congratulations...

On Thursday April 24th, the three churches of Anjar were full of our compatriots, who went to light a candle for the soul of our 1.5 million Armenians, the innocent victims of the cruel Ottoman Empire.
By the organization of the ARF "Garmir Ler" Committee's Educational Council a perform patriotic and revolutionary songs, which was conducted by Mr. Sebouh Kevorkian. 

Then, the first speaker of the day, Mr. Raffi Hovhannesian conveyed his message by mentioning the ethical and moral loses of our nation and spoke about the great efforts that the new generation should achieve for the sake of our cause.

The speech was followed by the poem, "Merelneroun Artar Iravunke" of Vazken Shoushanian which was gracefully recited by Mrs. Irma Kabakian-Dedeyian. After which our guest speaker, Mr. Ara Babayian, the former Armenian Ambassador in Canada conveyed his message by citing the importance of the "Sevre" treaty and the compensation that the Turkish government should make.

The event was ended by another bunch of revolutionary songs, performed by the AYF "Haratch" Chapter's Choir.

A day before the  commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, on the eve of the 23rd April the ARF LEM "Shavarsh Misakian" Chapter had organized a vigil beginning from 5:30 pm, where more than 550 compatriots were gathered in front of the           "S. Zetlian" Center to head towards "STARGATE" cinema, in Zahle to watch "THE LARK FARM" of the Taviani brothers. 

More than 13 buses afforded by the ARF "Garmir Ler" Committee transported our compatriots to Zahle, where they were able to watch another film presenting their cause but this time with the perspective of the two Italian Producer. After the film, they returned back to Anjar, where the big crowd was led by the three pastors towards the Mousaler Marty's Monument. 

On behalf of the LEM "Shavarsh Misakian" Chapter, Ms. Tamar Keohulian conveyed the message of the day, and the event was ended by placing flowers in front of the Memorial Monument of the 18th martyrs of Mousa Dagh and a prayer made by the three pastors.

On Sunday 20th of April, the AYF "Haratch" Senior's Choir was invited to take a part in the 93rd commemoration event of the Armenian genocide organized by the ARF LEM "Hamazasb" Chapter of Zahle. With their songs, our members vowed to continue the mission of their ancestors and do their best in the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The first event of the Armenian Genocide commemoration began with a lecture organized by Hamazkayin "B. Sevag" Chapter, having as a lecturer Rev. Hovhannes Sevajian.

For an hour Rev. Sevajian spoke about the Armenian-Turkish relationships between the years 1894-96 in the archives of the western missionaries, and the plans of the Ottoman Empire during that period.

On Sunday April the 13th, Anjarian compatriots who belong to the orthodox community elected the new members for the "St. Paul" church's vestry. They are:
Nejteh Kevorkian
Jirayr Batouzian
Roupen Geokjian
Garo Boursalian
Koko Keshishian
Hovhannes Panosian
Bedros Karneshian
Melkon Kouyoumdjian
Hovhannes Keshishian
Garo Stamboulian
Hagop Gudeshian

On Friday 12th of April, the Lebanese singer and the artist Mr. Ghasan Rahbani was invited to Anjar, by the cultural committee of Hamazkayin "B.Sevag" Chapter for an honoring ceremony, which took place at 7.30 pm in the "K.Guilbenkian" hall. He arrived to Anjar at 5.30, where he was welcomed by the members of the committee the chapter, visited the orchards, the Omayad ruins, the three churches and his final destination before the starting the ceremony was the Mousaler Martyrs' Monument.
The welcoming words were made by Dr. Garo Pilavjian, on behalf of the committee .

 In his words Dr. Pilavjian expressed the deepest gratitude of all the Lebanese Armenians for the song "A Tribute To The Lebanese Armenian" which he had dedicated it to the Lebanese Armenians, after which the chairman of the chapter handled a souvenir to him appreciating him for his work. 

The words were given then to our guest, where he said that he felt that it was his duty as a singer and a composer to write and sing about the nation which was discredited, and whose reputation has been harmed during the last Lebanese parliamentary elections.

Then Mr. Mardig Palazian on Violin and Ms. Maria Palazian on piano magnificently performed a piece composed by our famous musician Gomidas. Then the "Gakavig" Children's Choir, wonderfully performed five songs, after which the honoring ceremony was ended by Mr. Ghasan's performance and presenting him the symbol of the Mousaler monument logo in silver.

The contest of Tao Lu organized by the Lebanese "Kung Fu and Wushu" Federation took place on Sunday, 6th of April in the "Bouda Adma" hall in Beirut. The students of our Black Belt amity participated in the contest and as every time won medals, which counted 11 this time.

                                            
Traditional long weapon:
***Vatche Daghlian and Zakar Zakarian: Bronze medals.
Traditional Short Weapon:
***Arek Shannakian: Gold Medal
***Talar Kahkejian and Davigh Atamian: Bronze Medals
Traditional without weapon:
***Sarine Arabian: Gold Medal
***Arek Shannakian: Bronze Medal
Nano Dao:
***Davigh Atamian and Harout Daghlian: Bronze Medals.
Nan Gun:

***Heghnar Kazanjian: Gold Medals.
Harout Daghlian: Bronze Medal. Congratulations....

On Saturday April the 5th, LOKH "Aghtamar" chapter celebrated its 65th anniversary with a special event, which was held in the "K.Guilbenkian" hall, in the presence of the Prelate of the Armenians in Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Katcherian, Bekaa Mp Mr. Asem Araji, Representatives of other MPs, ARF "G.ler" Committee and its members, representative of the LOKH Central Committee Mrs. Maral Mekhjian, comrades of LOKH, children, grandchildren of the founding members, doctors, who are serving and currently working in the center, representatives of the associations and unions of the village and a respectable number of compatriots.

   
After the Lebanese, Armenian and the LOKH anthem, the opening words in Armenian were made by by the chairwoman of the current executive committee Mrs. Madlen Khoshian and was followed by Ms. Tsoghig Havatian in Arabic.

         
The opening words were followed by the speech of the Central LOKH Committee Mrs. Maral Mkhjian and the appreciation words of the ARF "Garmir Ler" Comiittee by Mr. Raffi Kevorkian.

Before inviting the main speaker of the day, Ms. Laury Aintablian played two musical pieces on the piano. Then, Mr. Yesayi Havatian was invited to convey the message of the day. After speaking about the enormous difficulties that LOKH "Aghtamar" Chapter founders faced, he spoke about their nobility and the sacred job that they are doing for the sake of the our community. The message was followed by a poem gracefully recited by Mrs. Arpa Andonian

                        
Before ending the event by the words of the Prelate the attendants were able to watch a PowerPoint presentation about the chapter.

At the end of the event all the presents were invited to a reception made in the hall, where the cake of the 65th anniversary was cut by the honor guests.

With our deepest sorrow we inform you the death of Sevag Shkherdemian (32 yrs.), that happened on the morning of Monday, 7th of April.

The funeral service is going to take place on Tuesday 8th of April, in the "St.Paul" church. Our deepest condolences to his family, relatives and friends.

On Friday 4th of April, Dr. Asbed Aintabian and his wife Mrs. Vehanoush Aintabian were invited by the Cultural Committee of the Hamazkayin "B.Sevag" Chapter to talk about the Armenian community of Germany.

For an hour they gave a detailed explanation about the various acting organizations and association in the different cities of the country.

Celebration event of the 65th Anniversary Of LOKH "Aghtamar" chapter is going to take place on Saturday, 5th April, in the "K. Guilbenkian" Hall.