On Saturday, May 17, 2014 we had a very special dinner and evening at St. Stepanos. All of the mother’s of St. Stepanos were honored at the celebration of Mother’s Day and the award of Mother and Woman of the Year to our Parish Council chairperson Aida Kado. The event chaired by Yeretzgin Mariam was supported by the donation of the dinner by the Lahham family. The dinner was prepared by Azad Lahham and Yester Garabedian. Robina Chaudhari provided all of the prizes for the evenings raffle. We thank all that helped in preparation and the serving of the dinner as well as all donations. During this write-up the word special will be used such that it will seem over used. It is not, it fits every place it is stated.

Our Master of Ceremonies Mr. Krikor Toufayan opened the dinner by welcoming all in attendance and asking Der Daniel for the opening prayer and blessing. We immediately were treated to an outstanding program from the children of the St. Stepanos  Armenian School. Frida and Maria Topuzyan, Anna Arzumanyants, Arianna and David Hovsepian, Larisa and Alisa Avetisyan all sang two songs to mothers in Armenian and recited in Armenian a poem honoring mothers. During the singing Anna’s little sister (a little over two years old) stole the show by joining the singers and following all of their arm and feet movements. Yes, it was wonderful. Arianna Hovsepian at almost 10 years old played the violin and had us all in her hands with the skill of a child much older.

To add to our musical pleasure Altar Server Maurice Lahham surprised the audience with a piano recital and sang a song accompanied by his piano teacher, Ms. Violetta. We were then treated to a powerful, emotional and special presentation by Dr. Roberta Ervine, Professor of Armenian Studies at St. Nerses Seminary in New Rochelle, New York titled  Armenian Mothers of Faith. This presentation went back to the mothers who as queens in the Armenian kingdom, during the time when the city of Ani was the capital of Armenia, kept their faith and provided strength to the trials of their time both in their families and the kingdom. Prof. Ervine also showed what is left of the structures of churches in Ani that were the inspiration for European Gothic architecture. We were brought to the Armenian Genocide with the story of a woman who lost her entire family but became a nun and served the St. James Seminary in Jerusalem tending to the needs of the students and priests many of whom also lost their families. As a nun she also became a mother to many of these young men and provided them the will to go forward in their lives. Professor Ervine  taught for more than 20 years at St. James Seminary where she met Der Daniel and his family. As he said at the dinner she was one of my teachers. Even though not Armenian she has a total command of the language.

Yeretzgin announced a contest and handed out forms to fill with the Best Advice Given From Your Mother and the Best Advice You Would Give to Someone Else. Sirvart Armenian won with the following Best Advice from her mother.

Respect everyone and treat everyone equally.

Be humble

Love your church and school

Whatever you do in life, try your best.

And the Best Advice she could give someone.

Respect your elderly.

Be proud of your Armenian heritage.

We brought the evening to a close with the presentation of the Mother and Women of the Year which was made to Aida Leon. Der Daniel made a heartfelt statement to Aida’s devotion to the church and support of him. A letter then was read from Der Diran Bohajian the pastor at St. Leon’s Church in Fairlawn and pastor of St. Stepanos prior to Hayr Soorp Mamigon reflecting the help and support that Aida gave to him which was well over 14 years ago. Asbed Vassilian, who is in Armenia, wrote a moving letter thanking Aida for her love and support and treatment like a brother.

Aida thanked everyone for the honor and stated she had not prepared a speech but spoke extremely well and thanked all for the honor which she felt was not necessary but we all knew rightfully deserved. Sitting at her table were her family and friends, Dr. Karl Kado, Dr. Carla Forbes, Mr. Stephen Kado, Dr. Sally Kado Mr. Michael Forbes, Mr. Joseph Baumann and Ms. Rose Froonjian. Aida’s children also said some wonderful and loving things about their mother with all of them stating the respect they have for her and quite obviously the loving emotion towards her. Some of the parishioners also spoke of Aida’s devotion to the church and of her friendship to them.

We all expected a letter to be read from Hayr Mamigon but in his usual fashion he surprised Aida and all of us by coming into the hall towards the end of the ceremony for Aida and thanking her personally for all that she did for him during his years as St. Stepanos’ pastor. Even though late and needing to go back to the Diocese for the Badarak the next day, Hayr Mamigon stated he had to be at St. Stepanos for Aida. As stated at the beginning of this column, it was a special evening.