The announcement was made during the 2021 Aurora Prize events in Venice

 

October 28, 2021 – Yerevan, Armenia – The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has allocated $50,000 to support the library of the Mekhitarist Congregation of San Lazzaro in memory of Aurora Co-Founder and member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee Vartan Gregorian, who sadly passed away in 2021.

 

The grant was announced during the 2021 Aurora Prize events in Venice.

 

Mr. Gregorian was an outstanding Armenian American humanitarian, scholar, author, educator and mentor, and had built a remarkable career that spanned several decades and crossed the lines of academia and philanthropy. Vartan Gregorian saw libraries as temples of humanity’s accumulated knowledge, and this grant honors his outstanding legacy. 

 

“We are very glad for the opportunity to honor Vartan Gregorian’s memory in such a meaningful way. Over the years, Vartan played a vital role in many projects and organizations, but Aurora was always special to him. Today, we continue our work in his name, preserving Armenian heritage while advancing humanitarian efforts,” said Ruben Vardanyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

 

The library of the Mekhitarist Congregation on the San Lazzaro Island contains more than 150,000 volumes in different languages, including manuscripts, ancient books and historical and scientific works. Abbot Mekhitar, the founder of the congregation, and his companions have always seen their mission in publishing, collecting and preserving books, especially Armenian ones. These days, the extensive repository of the Mekhitarist Congregation of the San Lazzaro carries one-of-a-kind historical artifacts, and the monastery remains one of the leading centers for Armenian studies.

 

“Vartan was a passionate advocate of education and enlightenment, and would have been delighted by Aurora’s decision to support this remarkable library.

 

He referred to books as “stations of hope,” and this gift aims to make sure that the historic records of Armenian culture and heritage kept safe on San Lazzaro Island can be stations of hope for Armenians for centuries to come.” noted Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

 

“It is an honor for the Congregation to receive this generous gift from the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, known for addressing urgent humanitarian challenges and providing a second chance to those who need it the most. Vartan Gregorian was truly an exceptional educator, and his legacy will be remembered forever. We are very grateful for this grant and are looking forward to putting it to good use, among the many needs of our library, in Vartan’s name,” said His Excellency Archbishop Levon Zekian, Pontifical Delegate of the Mekhitarist Congregation and Prelate of the Armenian Catholic Church in Turkey.

 

The 2021 Aurora Prize events took place in Venice, Italy, on October 8-10, 2021. During the weekend, guests and participants, including members of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, Aurora Humanitarians, and other representatives of Aurora’s community, had a chance to explore the rich Armenian legacy of this location. The events in Venice marked the first time the Aurora Prize Ceremony was organized in Europe.

Photo: The Matenadaran (book repository) of San Lazzaro

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About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

 

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is a foundation that seeks to address on-the-ground humanitarian challenges around the world with the focus on helping the most destitute. Its mission is rooted in the Armenian history as the Initiative was founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors and strives to transform this experience into a global movement. 

 

All Aurora’s activities are based on the universal concept of Gratitude in Action. It implies that countless people around the world who have received aid in time of crisis can best express their gratitude by offering similar assistance to someone else. By involving Aurora supporters around the world, this will become a global endeavor that will snowball to expand the circle of saviors and most importantly – the number of those saved.

 

Addressing urgent humanitarian challenges, the Initiative provides a second chance to those who need it the most. True to its vision – “We believe that even in the darkest times, a brighter future is in the hands of those who are committed to giving others help and hope” – Aurora welcomes all who embrace this philosophy.

 

This commitment aims to promote action-based philanthropy focused on tangible results. This is achieved through the Initiative’s various programs: Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, Aurora for Artsakh, #AraratChallenge movement, Aurora Dialogues, Aurora Grants, Aurora Community, Aurora Index, and the 100 LIVES Initiative.

 

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by thousands of supporters and partners. Aurora’s Chair, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience as a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and 

the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience.

 

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is represented by three organizations – the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Foundation, Inc. (New York, USA), the 100 Lives Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland) and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Charitable Foundation (Yerevan, Armenia).

 

 

 

 

 

  -   Press release