Parishes
Posted: 09/23/2026
September 20, 2026, marked a significant milestone for the St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church Saturday School in Fresno, which commemorated 35 years of educating Armenian children and preserving the Armenian language, faith, culture, and identity.
Students, parents, teachers, graduates, clergy, and community members gathered for a special observance that highlighted the school’s longstanding legacy and the achievements of its students.
A historic milestone was reached as four graduates—Louisa Kyutunyan, Robert Ajemian, David Panoyan, and Arman Martirosian—became the first graduates in the school’s 35-year history to receive graduation certificates recognized by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) through the Western Diocese.
The certificates represented more than the completion of a course of study. They reflected years of dedication by students, teachers, and parents and underscored the school’s commitment to maintaining high educational standards while fostering a strong Armenian identity.
The day began in church with Morning Service followed by Divine Liturgy and carried added significance as it coincided with the anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia. Following the Republic Prayer, Rev. Fr. Yessai Bedros, pastor of St. Paul Church, welcomed the presence of Deacon Hovhannes Gumruyan, Deacon-in-Charge of the Western Diocese Saturday Schools.
Following the presentation of the certificates, Principal Maragarite Dumanian offered heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the graduates, their parents, and the school’s benefactors before inviting Dn. Hovhannes to address the gathering.
Conveying the blessings of Archbishop Derderian, Dn. Hovhannes encouraged the graduates to view the completion of their Saturday School education not as an ending, but as the beginning of a new journey of service to the Armenian Church and community. He urged them to uphold the name of the Armenian people, speak their mother tongue, and continue to love and preserve the Armenian language.
The program also included the school’s traditional teachers’ oath. At the beginning of each academic year, teachers of the Saturday and Sunday Schools at St. Paul Church formally pledge their dedication to serving the school and remaining faithful to their vocation as educators. The ceremony underscored the broader mission of Armenian education—not simply the transmission of knowledge, but the formation of identity, appreciation of heritage, love of the Armenian language, and responsibility toward the future.
The day concluded with fellowship in the reception hall, where students, families, teachers, and guests gathered together. A commemorative dessert featuring St. Mesrob Mashdots and the Armenian alphabet echoed the central theme of the occasion: the enduring role of language in preserving Armenian identity.
The anniversary also provided an opportunity to honor the generations of students and graduates, dedicated teachers, and clergy and lay leaders who have sustained the school’s mission over the past 35 years.
As St. Paul Saturday School looks toward the future, the milestone reaffirmed its continuing commitment to passing the Armenian language, faith, culture, and spirit from one generation to the next.
— Maragarit Dumanian, Principal, St. Paul Saturday School
