Christian Family In The System Of Society Values

   
A three-day seminar was held for 30 clergy from all the Dioceses of AAC in Armenia and Javakhk on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the Christian Value System in Armenian Families.

The seminar opening was made by the Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardyan- Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Dr. Karen Nazaryan- ART Executive Director; His Grace Bishop Arakel Karamyan; Ms. Anahit Bakhshyan- Member of the National Assembly; Mr. Manuk Mkrtchyan – Deputy Minister of Ministry of Education and Science and Mr. Zahidul Huque — UNFPA Country Director for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

During the seminar the clergy were exposed to the curriculum to be taught to schoolchildren and their parents, elaborated by clergy and an expert on GBV; major challenges related to GBV in Armenian society, as well as had an excellent opportunity to discuss the issues related to “Christian values in Armenian family”, “Upbringing of children according to the value system of the Armenian Church” and many other family issues with prominent Bishops of AAC, such as His Grace Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, His Grace Bishop Natan Hovhanisyan, His Grace Bishop Mikayel Ajapahyan who presented the church perspective on the following issues: “Perception of love in the family”, “Modern Christian Family as the Backbone of Society”, “Main challenges of Armenian Families and Reasons for Divorce”.

During the seminar the participants also had an opportunity to learn about the main principals of effective teaching process and learning framework from a ToT component conducted by Mrs. Jina Sargizova, “Combating Gender Based Violence in the South Caucasus” Project Coordinator, who also presented “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence — 2010 Campaign”.