THE PRELATE’S MESSAGE OF BLESSING
With warm Christian love and national pride, I greet the large family of the Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts, (HOMENETMEN) on the eve of 2023 46th annual Navasartian Games. HOMENETMEN has been a very important institution in the lives of the Armenian community in the Western United States.
On this auspicious occasion, we raise our eyes to Heaven asking God to increase the ranks of HOMENETMEN with fresh and tender young recruits and new athletic teams because every member is an integral part of our national history, a warm presence in the current time and a firing pin of our bright vision of our future as a nation.
Furthermore, we firmly believe that as our HOMENETMEN brothers and sisters have progressed from athletic competition as a tender child, to team leader and to important administrative positions in the organization – as in the past, so too today and especially in the future – they are called to lead our national life, be pillars of our Church and the foundation of Armenian family life. First and foremost, HOMENETMEN nurtures the Armenian-Christian national and patriotic character from the earliest childhood ranks of Cubs (Kaylig) and Scouts (Arzevig) according to the 10 Commandments and instills the Armenian spirit in their tender minds and growing physical bodies, in so many ways, for the ultimate purpose of launching their lives in a soaring trajectory to lead our nation and be propitious advocates of the Armenian cause.
The HOMENETMEN Navasartian Games generate the positive atmosphere and spirit of solidarity which truly warms the heart of our community. During the course of an entire long weekend, we will witness Armenians of all ages fiercely, but ethically, competing in events and demonstrating their endurance and their aspiration for success which is a testament to the legacy, dignity and balance of the 105 year Armenian Athletic General Union, elevating this benevolent organization one degree higher in our Armenian life and as a torchbearer for racial harmony in this our host country. With the famous motto “rise up and bring others up with you” let us collectively elevate the national pride of Armenians everywhere… Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. So, in the style of a “Homenentmen-agan” we shout out “Attention!! There are new ranks of tender hands approaching” …
Prayerfully
Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Prelate
Western United States
