Members of the “Social Psychological Assistance to Syrian Refugees” project of the Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization, convened their annual online meeting on Friday, May 22, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., with the participation of 27 members. In her speech, Dzovig Makarian-Baitarian, Co-Founding Vice-President of Aleppo-NGO, welcomed those present and was inquired about the health condition of each member and their current concerns. Afterward, volunteer member of the Coordinating body, Dr. Mayda Chavoushian commenced the main topic.

The meeting was dedicated to the Feast of the Ascension. Dr. Mayda Chavoushian presented the traditional customs and church beliefs dedicated to the holiday. The popular holiday of the centuries, the Feast of Christ, has formed a beautiful bouquet of celebrations.

Ascension is one of the happiest holidays dedicated to the blossoming of nature, stars, moon, to young people with great desire to unite, believing that flowers and water, leaves and gravels, the sky and the stars, with the intervention of the stars, everyone’s wish would be fulfilled. Thus, the flower-filled, seven-spring water-filled, seven-leaf-filled parchment was placed under the open sky all night.

Armenian people have created and dedicated many songs and quatrains to “jan gyulum” holiday, praising nature and love. During the meeting, these songs were sung with the participation of those present, and good wishes were read.

Համբարձում եայլա,եայլա ջան եայլա,
Լաւ օրեր եայլա,եայլա ջան եայլա.

The participants greeted each other with love and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity for the online meeting. The meeting ended with warm words of farewell.

As a reminder, the free socio-psychological assistance meetings at Aleppo-NGO provide support to Syrians who went through the war and find themselves experiencing psychological side effects, helping them to recover and become actively involved in the civil life of Armenia.

During these meetings, lecturers of different professions are invited to share their knowledge and experience with the participants.

The meetings take place every Friday at 13:00, at Aleppo-NGO’s office. The address is 11 Northern Avenue, -1 floor (entrance from Abovyan street).