Communication

Education Program Branches Out

In 2003, the Khrimian Lyceum – a successful Diocesan program that teaches the Armenian language while training future leaders of the Armenian community – was expanded from one location to three.

The institution – a six-year program geared toward graduates of parish Armenian Schools between the ages of 12 and 18 – has been held in at the Diocesan Center in New York City for years. In 2003, identical programs were opened in Chicago and the Boston area.

The curriculum for the program includes internships, and classroom discussions on topics like religion, the Divine Liturgy, language, and Armenian history and culture. Students are also involved in extra curricular activities such as drama, choral and instrumental music, arts and crafts, and dance.

Helping the community is also part of the curriculum. Each year, students are required to do five social service projects, ranging from working in their parish Armenian and Sunday schools, to singing in their church, to projects that help scholars and scientists inArmenia.

“The object of the program is to prepare young Armenians to be knowledgeable leaders, teachers, and administrators for our churches and community groups,” said Sylva der Stepanian, coordinator of Armenian education at the Diocese. “Participants will learn the mechanics of working in various communities, the process of organizing cultural and religious programs for all ages.”

Under the direction of instructors, Khrimian Lyceum students meet all day, once a month, for 10 months, from September to June.

The New England Khrimian Lyceum is held at the St. James Church of Watertown, MA, under the direction of Shakeh Johnson, while the Midwest program is at the AGBU Center in Chicago, IL, under coordinator Zabel Panossian.

Currently, the two new programs each have only one class of 12 students. The New York program has students in all six years, with an enrollment of 65. Each year a new dozen students will be added to the Midwest and New England Khrimian Lyceum’s bringing them up to full enrollment.

“It is good for our children to know their heritage and know where they come from and to know they come from an ancient civilization,” Johnson said. “Not only that, but they also need to know that when it was an ancient civilization, we had writers and poets and people who made contributions to society. Knowing that they can learn that they can survive no matter what.”