AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Center takes in students of destroyed Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School

Students of the Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School continue their education in the AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Center.

The Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School of Altadena has been completely destroyed in the California wildfires.

Burbank's St. Leon - Ghevontiants Armenian Cathedral Parish Priest Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan told Armenpress that the AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Center embraced [Primate of Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America] Archbishop Hovnan Derderian’s request to accommodate the 200 students to safely continue their education.

Asked whether the cultural center will become a temporary or permanent education institution for the students, Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan said, “Of course the center has its own programs, but we all realize that the education of generations is a priority. We shall not deprive our children from education as long as necessary.”

Fr. Khajag Shahbazyan said that there are no Armenians among the 25 victims who have died in the wildfires.

But some Armenian-Americans have lost homes. “Families who have lost homes have mostly moved into safe hotels, as well as social centers,” he said.

Firefighters are working to contain the fires.