[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ORDER OF THE ARMENIAN SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE 
                               CONCEPTION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Order 
of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception on the occasion of 
their 150th anniversary. The Order of the Armenian Sisters is highly 
respected, supported, and admired by Armenian communities world-wide. 
Their unparalleled accomplishments, dedicated service, and commitment 
to future generations are deserving of recognition.
  The Order of the Armenian Catholic Sister of the Immaculate 
Conception was founded on June 5, 1847 in Istanbul, Turkey by 
Archbishop Andon Hassounian. Hassounian later became Catholicos and the 
first Cardinal of Armenian ancestry.
  Serpouhi Haji-Andonian intended to travel to Italy in order to join a 
Roman Sisters' order. However, Archbishop Hassounian persuaded her to 
remain in Istanbul and help him to establish an Armenian Sisters' Order 
with the mission of educating Armenian girls. Soon, Sister Serpouhi's 
selfless dedication had resulted in many others joining the Order. The 
Sisters established many schools in local towns and villages. This 
expansion spread even to Cilicia.
  The Order suffered many casualties during the Turkish Genocide of 
Armenians in 1915. Numerous schools were destroyed and many sisters 
were massacred. The surviving sisters, with about 400 orphans, migrated 
to Italy. They settled in the Kastel Gondolphio Palace of the priest 
Bios. The number of orphans grew to 500 and the Sisters resettled in 
Torino's Sanitarium of Love. The headquarters relocated to Rome, and in 
time, the order once again began to expand.
  Soon, Rome was in the grip of World War II, and the expansion of the 
Order was interrupted. Nevertheless, at the end of the war, twenty new 
candidates came to Rome to take their vows. Today, the Order has 
approximately 100 nuns, and new applicants continue to come from 
Armenia.
  Presently, the Order administers over twenty schools, orphanages, and 
boarding centers for university students. The schools are located in 
such diverse areas as Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, France and the United 
States of America. The Armenian Sisters operate three schools in the 
United States located in Philadelphia, Boston, and Los Angeles. The 
school in Philadelphia was founded in 1967, the school in Boston was 
founded in 1982, and the school in Los Angeles (located in Montrose) 
was founded in 1985.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I congratulate the Order of 
the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception on the occasion of 
their 150th anniversary. Their dedication and commitment to their 
heritage should serve as a model for people the world over. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in wishing the Order of the Armenian Sisters of 
the Immaculate Conception many more years of success.

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