Classical Armenian or Old Armenian known as ‘Grabar’ is taught in Washington. At the Catholic University of the America, Old Armenians specialists have been being trained for more than a century. An Armenian exhibition was organized in the library until February.
Robin Darling Young and Monica Blanchard are armenologists at Catholic University. The library's Armenian exhibition was organized by them and is often held in this part of the university. They have one of the 17th century Simeon Lehatsi prints.
Monica Blanchard - At the beginning of the 17th century, Stepanos Lehatsi sent his family from Poland to Etchmiadzin, where he spent the main part of his life. We are grateful for the translations and theological studies done by Simeon the Polish. He translated previously unstudied sources into Armenian, translated the Quran from Latin into Armenian.
They have an Armenian-Latin dictionary printed in Rome, an Armenian primer book, grammar textbooks and an old map. Robin Darling Young is now interested in the works of Yeznik Koghbatsi and is doing translations from Grabar.
Robin Darling Young - Two or 3 students a year participate in Armenian classes. The beauty of the language, as well as the fact that Armenian has preserved sources that have not been preserved in other languages attracts them. The students and also we have noticed that many valuable works of Armenian authors have not received proper international recognition. Of course, Armenian historians have studied them, but not international specialists.
Back in the 19th century, Henry Hivernath paid great attention to the study of Armenian, Assyrian, and the Christian East at the Catholic University of Washington, who founded the University's Faculty of Christian Oriental Research at the end of the 19th century. He himself procured some manuscripts and samples, many were later donated by Diaspora Armenians or American Arminologists, their families. The priest of St. Mary Armenian Church does scientific work in the same faculty, and it was no coincidence that the ninetieth anniversary of our church was recently celebrated here.
President Biden, the Mayor of Washington and the Governor of Virgina sent congratulations on the occasion of the anniversary.
Joe Biden (US President) - I congratulate you on your 90th birthday. The hearths of faith have been an important part of American society since the beginning of our history.
Glenn Youngkin (Governor of Virginia) - On behalf of the state of Virginia, congratulations on the 90th anniversary of your church. For the last 90 years, St. Mary Armenian Church has been the source of inspiration for your community.
Muriel Bowser (Mayor of Washington) - In 1932, with the establishment of St. Mary Armenian Church, the Armenians of Washington had a place of worship within the borders of the capital. Under the leadership of Ter Hovsep Karapetian, today's St. Mary Armenian Church continues to act as a center of religious and cultural life, driving force of economic, educational and social developments.
Priest Hovsep Karapetian (priest of St Mary the Virgin Church in Washington) - Our church is not only made of stone, glass or metal. At the base of our church are people who support the life of the church with their faith and service. Our goal is to form an Armenian community whose representatives will serve God, our faith and our national heritage.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the members of the parish council of the church, the former employee of the State Department, Edward Ter-Aleksanyan, Paul Ignatius-Ignatosyan, who reached the highest position in the American government system, received awards. Sara Ignatius, the daughter of the United States Navy Secretary in1967-69, also told about their visits to the Republic of Armenia and historical Armenia.
