With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the second phase of the program “Aid to Families” has been launched.  The program is a joint effort of the Christian Education Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the ecumenical organization Acting by Churches Together (ACT) and the Armenian Round Table Foundation, in cooperation with Mr. Armen Ashotian, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia.
The aim of the program is to strengthen the connection of Church-school-family, and to promote spiritual, national, and moral values.
The first phase of the program was implemented during the 2010-2011 educational year.
The Holy Armenian Apostolic Church with the cooperation of regional Armenian dioceses and local authorities, have been organizing informational meetings in roughly 100 schools throughout the regions of Armenia, with clergy and parents within the communities. During periodically held meetings, clergy have analyzed the diversified domestic challenges facing families in the context of the value system of the Armenian Church, as well as discussed problems on domestic violence, and answered questions that are concerning parents. As a supplementary resource, the ‘Modern Christian Family in Society’ informational pamphlet has been distributed to schools and parents.
As part of the second phase, a conference was held in Tsaghkadzor, from March 5-7, with the theme “The Spiritual Outlook on Violence”.  Thirty-five clergy from various Dioceses in Armenia who are directly involved in the program were in attendance.
During the conference, His Grace Bishop Arakel Karamian, Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk; and His Grace Bishop Markos Hovhannisian, Primate of the Diocese of Gegharkunik; spoke and offered their blessings.  Reverend  Father Vartan Navasardian, Director of the Christian Educational Center of  the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Dr. Karen Nazarian, Director of the Armenian Church ‘Round Table’ Foundation both made presentations and facilitated discussions.
Sergei Borzov, Senior Advisor at the National Foundation for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children analyzed the psychological basis of family issues.  He highlighted the importance of the role of the parish priest in resolving issues of domestic violence, and in providing education on these topics to children and adults.