Armenian Evangelical Schools in Lebanon

By Dr. Zaven Messerlian
Translated and abridged by Dr. Vahe H. Apelian, OH, 12 June 2013
(Chanasser, Jan.-Feb., 2013)

Dr. Zaven Messerlian, a graduate of the American University of Beirut (BA ’59, MA ’63), is a historian, author, and principal of the Armenian Evangelical College in Beirut since 1967. He received an honorary doctorate from the Academy of Sciences of Armenia in Yerevan in 2003 for his contributions to modern Armenian history and education. In 2007 Archbishop Hovnan Derderian conferred upon him, by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal.

Yeprem-Martha Philibosian College in Beirut

There are six functioning Armenian Evangelical schools in Lebanon. They were founded at different times since the Genocide of the Armenians.

The schools are:

• Armenian Evangelical Yeprem-Martha Philibosian College in Beirut. It was founded in 1923. It's the first post-Genocide secondary (high) school in the Diaspora.  The principal is Dr. Zaven Messerlian.
• Armenian Evangelical Central High School in Ashrafieh, a suburb of Beirut. Founded as an elementary school in 1922, it later became a secondary (high) school. The principal is Mrs. Maral Deyirmenjian.
• Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatigian Secondary School in Bourj-Hamoud, Beirut. Initially (1930) an elementary school, it was elevated to secondary (high) school. The principal is Ms. Vartoug Balekjian.
• Armenian Evangelical Secondary School of Anjar. It was founded in 1930, after the exodus of the Armenians from Sanjak (of Alexandretta), as an elementary school and later became a secondary (high) school. The principal is Rev. Raffi Messerlian.
• Armenian Evangelical Peter and Elizabeth Torosian Junior High School in Amanos, Beirut. It was founded in 1951 as a kindergarten and later became middle school. The principal is Mrs Seta Karagoezian.
• Armenian Evangelical Gertmenian School in Nor-Hadjin, Beirut. It was founded in 1931 as an elementary school. Its principal is Mr. Sahag Dedeyan.

Central High School

All the schools are affiliated with their churches and are under the jurisdiction of the Union of The Armenian Evangelical Churches In Near East (UAECNE, The Union). The Union also oversees the Haigazian University that was founded in 1955 as a College and was elevated to University by a governmental decree in 1996. An Education Council operates under the jurisdiction of The Union.

Shamlian-Tatigian Secondary School

At each stage of their schooling--elementary, middle, high--students receive a diploma upon successful completion of the academic programs.

Secondary School of Anjar

The Armenian Evangelical schools in Lebanon were more numerous in the past. Due to the dwindling Armenian-Lebanese population as a result of demographic changes and civil wars (1958, 1975), their number shrank.

Peter and Elizabeth Torosian Junior High School

The following Armenian Evangelical School have ceased to exist:

• Armenian Evangelical School in Zahle, founded in 1922.
• Armenian Evangelical Co-Ed High School in Tripoli, founded in 1936.
• Armenian Evangelical School in the Nor-Adana neighborhood of Beirut, founded in 1936.
• Armenian Evangelical School in Shtaura, founded in 1938.
• Armenian Evangelical School in the Hayashen neighborhood of Beirut, founded in 1938.
• Armenian Evangelical Philibosian School in Sin el Fil (Beirut) founded in 1953.
• Armenian Evangelical School in Trad, Bourj-Hamoud founded in 1936 and closed in 2008,

Along with these schools, Genats High School, which also was affiliated with the Armenian Evangelical Community, was also closed. It was founded in 1937 in Dbayeh.

The mission statement of the Armenian Evangelical schools adopted during the 2001 Second Assembly of the UAECNE states: “Based on the mission and history of the Armenian Evangelical Church, the goal of the Armenian Evangelical School is to equip students with a quality Christian Armenian education, adhering to the governmental curriculum, in addition maintaining the orientation set by the Armenian Evangelical Education Council".

The mission has three components.

1.Academic Curriculum. The Armenian Evangelical Schools follow a liberal education program that aims to educate the student in entirety by fostering in the student critical thinking to successfully implement the government mandated academic requirements to achieve the best possible results. The Armenian Evangelical Schools implement current teaching methodologies to best educate their students for college or trade schools.

2.Armenian Identity. The Armenian Evangelical Schools impart to its students at each stage of their schooling cultural values rooted in the Armenian experience and teach them Armenian language, history, literature. The Armenian Evangelical Schools strive to foster in their students a balanced and inclusive Armenian awareness and a spirit of service to the nation.

3.Armenian Evangelical Heritage. The supreme goal of the Armenian Evangelical Schools is to help students know God through Jesus Christ. This is achieved by fostering in the schools an Armenian Evangelical spirit by offering the students morning services, teaching the Bible, attending Sunday church services and encouraging the students to participate in Armenian Evangelical youth fellowship. The teachers are expected to exemplify Christian conduct for their students to emulate them.

The Union trusts the implementation of the mission of the Armenian Evangelical Schools to the local school boards of trustees, principle and teachers to prepare the students to become responsible Christians, exemplary citizens and productive members of their communities.

The Armenian Evangelical schools have always served the Armenians in Lebanon without regard to their denominational and sectarian affiliations. They have always put due emphasis on the teaching of the Armenian language, history, literature along with the teaching of the Bible in Armenian. The schools have also implemented the government-mandated language, science and math requirements. From its first graduating class in 1927, the graduates of the Armenian Evangelical high schools have successfully continued their education at the American University of Beirut in various disciplines.

When Lebanon was under French mandate from 1923 to 1943, French was taught at the Armenian Evangelical schools along with Arabic. After the conclusion of the French mandate, the teaching of the Arabic language was emphasized along with English. The Armenian Evangelical schools successfully fulfill the Lebanese government academic requirements. There was a time when Armenian Evangelical high school students were accepted to the American University of Beirut through the recommendation of the principal. Nowadays, success in the Baccalaureate II exam is a must for admission.

Armenian and Christian education is not only imparted in the classrooms, but also through extra-curricular activities within the schools. The schools have Armenian, Bible, history, science and other clubs as well. The schools have their own publications such as:

“Sipan” by the Armenian Evangelical Yeprem-Martha Philibosian College.
“Shiraz” by the Armenian Evangelical Secondary School of Anjar.
“Arpi” by the Armenian Evangelical Central High School.
“Shogher” by the Armenian Evangelical Peter and Elizabeth Torosian School.

Almost all the Armenian Evangelical schools have student theater, choir, dance groups and athletic teams. The students speak Armenian during recess. Most of the services offered to the students in the sanctuaries are in Armenian. In short, a healthy Armenian atmosphere prevails at the Armenian Evangelical schools of Lebanon.

Source: Keghart.com.