Blogs

It’s that time of year again!! If you’re 18 or older CYMA 2012 applications are waiting for you! Last year we had 22 participants, and this year we want more.

With the leadership of the clergy CYMA Pilgrims engage in many activities during the month program. They travel to the most beautiful spiritual and historical sites throughout Armenia and Artsakh.They visit historical landmarks such as the unique architectural construction of Geghard and Haghpat and spend a night at the majestic complex of Tatev Monastrey.

"CYMA is the most influential and spiritual journey in the life of our youth in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church. This journey aims to transform the lives of our youth so that they are connected to the Creator, to their Motherland, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to their history, culture and traditions. It is with this goal in mind that I have initiated CYMA as then the Primate of the Diocese of Canada. Remember: One journey to the holy land of your ancestral home is worth thousand sermons."

Abp. Hovnan Derderian

Primate of the Western Diocese

Sitting in my room in the month of June, so many things were running through my mind. College, getting all the classes, trying out for the college soccer team, and a month being gone from home. As the days of June went by, the big day was coming up. On June 28th I started packing, just throwing everything I saw in my room into my luggage. Two days later, I was sitting in an airport with about 20 other people from Arizona, and people from California, and we made the biggest bond anyone can make, a lifetime friendship threw all of us.

This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Armenia with CYMA for the second time. I remember when we first took off how I was so excited to be going with one of my best friends, Nora, who I had gone to Armenia with in 2008, as well as 6 other participants from my local chapter in AZ. We could tell by looking around that a lot of the participants were nervous and anxious. After the grueling 15 hour flight and impatiently waiting for our luggage to arrive, we left the airport only to be welcomed by our Coordinators and travel guides.

It's been an enriching experience for me to read the reflections of this year's CYMA participants regarding their service project in beard (see My True Armenian Experience, A Dream Within a Dream, Chinnari and Thoughts, and A Story About Berd).