(Mr. Shahan Kandaharian’s speech at the Christmas tree illumination ceremony at Mesrobian College, December 5, 2025)

I think that the illumination of the Christmas tree has great symbolism, especially for us, Armenians.

Since pagan times, light has been associated with the sun, the understanding of life and has reached the point of worship.

Later, during the period of Christianization, it was the main symbolic tool for illuminating minds and souls against darkness, that is, against ignorance.

Because he brought spiritual light to Armenia, Catholicos Gregory was named Gregory the Illuminator.

"The lamp of the Enlightener": this is the formula that summarizes the entire philosophy of our existence. A lamp of light, the reflections of which continue to illuminate our nation through the centuries of time.

Light, which is also a symbol of life, acquired spiritual significance and the mission of striving for or illuminating the light became our national and Christian behavior.

Later, light, illumination, began to be used also for education and learning. To receive education was to receive light, so that our steps would not falter in the darkness, so that we would not be confused, because without education, without knowledge, we would not be able to correctly evaluate things, the human condition. We would not be able to analyze all the phenomena that exist in the world. Accumulating knowledge became synonymous with gaining illumination. That is why the Ministry of Education, during the days of the First Republic, was called the Ministry of Illumination.

Let us recall that our bibliography described Mesrob Mashdots’ vision as Light: the radiance of light on the Armenian alphabet as the beginning of our new enlightened golden age and our salvation. Our historians describe the vision in such a way that we imagine the radiance of Divine light on the Armenian letters.

Now, since we are in an educational institution, we realize that it is the radiance of the light granted by God that we enjoy by receiving education here, by acquiring Armenian education, and by taking the light we receive from here to our families just as our people illuminate their homes with the light they receive from the church on the eve of the Christ’s Nativity.

The lighting of the Christmas tree on the eve of the Nativity of Christ is not a simple custom or tradition. I think it condenses within itself this great mystery, from the origins of the Armenian people to our days.

May the illumination that emanated here penetrate our souls, renew our lives and continue to shine upon this school whose name is embodied by the sculpted statue of Saint Mesrob here, one of the most luminous faces in our history.

Each twinkle of the lights on this tree symbolizing Christmas is the twinkle of the mind of Mesrobian’s Armenian student, the additional illumination of his soul.

Christmas is Good News; each illumination of this splendor is in itself good news for each student’s success, achievement and service to the community.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!