SYDNEY: On Thursday 11 February as has happened over the past 23 years, the students at Galstaun College assembled to remember and celebrate one of the most significant events in Armenian history.

The college chaplain, his eminence Archbishop Baliozian led the remembrance ceremony. On behalf of the students, Tamara Shamaon (Armenian) and Antranig Shokayan (English) welcomed parents and grandparents, the College staff and the students with an introduction to the significance of the Feast of Vartanants.

Students from the primary and secondary schools joined the celebrations with poems and songs dedicated to this special occasion.

In his address in English, Galstaun College Principal, Mr. Kaylar Michaelian, emphasised the importance of the Vartanants campaign in the overall context of Armenian history and also of world and Christian history. He asked the students to remember the faithfulness of their forebears to the ideals of Christian beliefs, human rights and self determination 1559 years ago. This should serve as a great source of inspiration and pride for young Australian Armenians.

His Eminence, Archbishop Baliozian, addressed the student body in Armenian and emphasised the vital necessity of an Armenian education in the maintenance of Armenian history and culture.

He congratulated the students for assembling to celebrate and commemorate the spirit of Saint Vartan and his companions in defence of the Christian faith and Armenia all those years ago.

The Archbishop asked students to, on this auspicious day, express their gratitude to their parents and grandparents who had sacrificed a great deal to ensure that Australian Armenian youth grow and develop in an institution that gives them the best in Australian education in conjunction with a sense of their own unique identity and history.

The assembly concluded with the reciting of the "Hayr Mer" (the Lord's prayer) and the Archbishop's blessing.