His Holiness,

I am grateful for your very kind gesture in bestowing upon me this precious medal of the centuries-old Great House of Cilicia. I am very touched by your beautiful words of praise and the honor you bestow on me.
Your Holiness sincerely recalled the services I had offered to the Catholicosate and the Executive Council of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon when I had been allowed to perform them in various areas of my activity.
Indeed, making use of my free time, the humble service of a half-century, which I was able to provide to my nation and church as a result of God’s grace, passed like a dream, leaving precious memories from the late and unforgettable Catholicos, devoted and tireless holy fathers and priests, and famous and respected national figures with whom I had the honor and pleasure of cooperating, many of whom have become residents of eternity today; a tribute to their cherished memory.
The Catholicosate became a regular part of my daily life. It became a unique world for me, a new school of life where I could expand my previously gained education.
Allow me now to recall the following thought of the famous Indian poet and writer Rabindranath Takor: “I slept and dreamt that life was a joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
All I have done as a humble servant, I have done it with conviction and willingness, with a sense of national responsibility, and I am still willing to serve as long as it is asked of me and my health permits.
I am very touched by this unexpected award and respect. All credit goes first to my wife, whose love of service and patient nature have allowed me to spend the majority of the day and sometimes nights on the tasks that have been entrusted to me and then to the relevant officials of the Catholicosate. They, with their valuable cooperation, participated in the work done and the results obtained.
I cannot forget our unique Catholicos, His Holiness Zareh, Khoren, and Karekin, whose constructive atmosphere of love and sacrifice, created with a national spirit, required respect and service from everyone.
Each of them enlightened and directed the delicate resolution of our national church issues with his delicacy, style, and wisdom.
I cannot forget the example of the service of Catholicos Aram. Indeed, he contributed new vitality and momentum to the Catholicosate’s activities due to his great administrative and organizational ability, unshakeable will, insightful mind, wisdom, and spirit of sacrifice.
He broadened his field of activity, instilling in foreigners a sense of respect and esteem for our national-ecclesiastical values. Introducing and acknowledging our historical rights, particularly among foreigners, has always been one of his most important goals.
Thanks to the generous donations of kind national benefactors, he prospered the Catholicosate with new structures, endowed it with new equipment, established new cultural foundations, raised the educational level of the Theological Seminary, increased the possibilities of higher university education, and set a new capacity for the service of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and our unique people, in collaboration with the Congregational clergy and the relevant congregation.
Before concluding, I would like to thank His Holiness once again and wish him a healthy and long life so that he can carry out his God-pleasing plans and vision. I want to further prosperity to the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia so that it can continue its historical mission without hindrance for the sake of the vigorous preservation of the Armenians worldwide, the enlightenment of our church, and the unshakable survival of our homeland.
I want to thank His Holiness Patriarch Kasbarian, Honorable Prelates, the high-ranking ecclesiastical fathers, His Excellency the Ambassador of Armenia, and the dignitaries who, with their invaluable presence, brightened up this warm gathering, honored me, and stressed the importance that the Great House of Cilicia, led by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, enjoys in the life of our people.

I thank you all
V. Arzoumanian19/03/2004