Today would be a day for Armineh and Ruben to visit with the Armenian-American community. Back when Carol Redell and Martha Merilos learned about the exchange,Carol made contact with the closest Armenian Church to Downers Grove. This was the parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator on Diversey on the west side of the city. We went to their festival and introduced ourselves to Rev. Deacon Aren Jebejian. He became our local reference person. He was one of the delegates to the election of the "Catholicos" when we were in Armenia, our Chicago connection.

Deacon Aren presided over the Sunday services. To our surprise there was a special service at the conclusion of the regular service to mark the 40 days since the assassination of the Prime Minister and the others killed when we were in Yerevan (see journal entries). Armineh was most surprised that services here in America would commemorate the slain back home. I explained that immigrant populations no matter what their ethnic background commemorate the homeland. Even though most at the service were second or third generation, the connection never ends.

After the services, we were greeted to a reception in the Church hall. Many welcomed our guests and asked about events back in the "old country". We were invited to the Tekeyan Cultural Center that afternoon to hear Dr Jean Ford’s review of a newly published book by Edmond Y. Azadian on the events of the past 10 years in Armenia. At the conclusion of Dr. Ford's review, we were to witness a traditional ceremony know as a book christening. This is to wish good fortune for the author and all that publish.

We met many people interested in the exchange program that ACCELS has sponsored. Mr. & Mrs. Armand Mirijanian of Chicago were most interested and invited us to dinner later in the week.

After this wonderful afternoon, we were back to the church where Deacon Aren had arranged a meeting with Armenian teachers to meet and discuss educational issues and other topics of interest. Robert Kaprelian, Janice Sommese of Chicago, George Nahabedian of Morton Grove and Linda Zakarian of Arlington Heights were interested in the changes since the split from Russia, and concerns facing Armenia. By the end of the evening addresses were exchanged so Ruben and Armineh can contact these educators interested in helping Checkov School and other buildings in Yerevan.

This was a most tiring yet interesting day. Tomorrow Ruben and Armineh will visit with Community District 99’s Board of Education

Submitted by Martha Merilos