104/Special Reports/A Trip to a Holy Land - Supreme Master Ching Hai's Visit to the Republic of Armenia

Press Conference and Gala

"An Evening of Love through Music & Art" Gala held at the Hotel Armenia on May 16, 1999.

At 7:00 p.m. in the Hotel Armenia, an exhibition of Supreme Master Ching Hai's paintings, dress designs and artwork was displayed for all the guests and reporters to enjoy. A press conference was held so that the media could interview Supreme Master Ching Hai. Reporters from Armenia's major newspapers and television stations attended, including those from National TV, Ayg TV, Aysor (a weekly), Urartu (a weekly), Iskra (a newspaper), What, When Where (a weekly), New Time (a weekly), Mayr Hyrenik (a television station), Hobby (a monthly), Ayo (a weekly), and Sensation (a weekly). They were very respectful and asked Master many spiritual questions. After all the reporters' questions were satisfied by Master, She invited all of them to attend the upcoming gala celebration, "An Evening of Love through Music and Art".

During the press conference the guests for the gala began to arrive. The guest list included dignitaries from both Armenia and from foreign countries, such as the Armenian Minister of Privatization, Pavel Khahakhchian, the Ambassador from Syria, Radwan Loufti, and the Armenian Assembly representative in America, Ms. Arpe Vardanian. Well-known artists such as Nune Asadryan, the Deputy from the Union of Composers in Armenia, and Mr. Zaven Sarkisian from Paradjanon Museum Armenia, and many other famous people from Armenia also attended.

This formal dinner gala was organized by Congresswoman Nadezdha Sarkisian, the president of the Hayer Cultural Foundation, with the assistance of the Sharm Company. Both organizations wanted to show their appreciation and gratitude to Master for Her visit to Armenia. The Sharm firm and Hayer Cultural Foundation brought in the top orchestral musicians, opera singers and other performers in Armenia for the gala.

Ambassador from Syria, Radwan Loufti, and his companion attending the gala.

The organizers had prepared for delicious vegetarian meals with non-alcoholic beer to be served, a novelty to many of the guests attending. They thoroughly enjoyed the dinner as well as the magnificent entertainment program, which included famous opera singers Eduard Zakharian and Lusine Markosian, the Taragan singing group, the Do Re Mi group, a jazz band, a children's singing group and an orchestra comprised of the best musicians in Armenia.

Looking truly beautiful, the special guest of honor for the evening, Supreme Master Ching Hai, entered the gala and the party paused to applaud Her entrance. She went to the press tables to personally serve the reporters and introduce them to the vegetarian food. As Anahit Hovhannisyan later said in her Urartu article, "She (Supreme Master Ching Hai) not only shared the food, but Her love as well."

Mr. Pavel Khahakhchian (on left), Armenian Minister of Privatization, presents Supreme Master Ching Hai with a vase made of the country's precious national stone, bearing an image of Her face sculpted in gold.

Master contributes US$20,000 to the Hayer Cultural Foundation for its admirable work in helping children develop their musical talents.

Last but not least, one of the opera singers, Lusine Markosian, gave Master a pleasant surprise. She dedicated to Master the song "Love Me," with music and lyrics by Master Herself, at the close of the program. Master modestly said that her operatic voice made the song even more priceless. Congresswoman Nadezhda with the director of the Sharm Company, Mr. Ruben Jaghinyan, invited Master onto the stage to thank Her for all Her love, support, kindness and generosity, and above all, the priceless "Method" that She had offered to the people.

While Master was on stage, the Minister of Privatization, Mr. Pavel Khahakhchian came up and presented Her a vase made of Armenia's precious national stone, with an image of Her face sculpted in gold. It had been created by one of the most famous sculptors in Armenia, David Bedjanian. On behalf of Armenia, Mr. Pavel Khahakhchian thanked Master for all Her noble work on behalf of the Armenian people with the following inscription on the vase, "Much gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her charity to Armenia." Master then contributed US$20,000 to the Hayer Cultural Foundation for its admirable work in helping children develop their musical talents. With the greatest honor, the president of the children's foundation, Ms. Nadezdha Sarkisian, stepped forward to accept the generous gift.

Meeting with Initiates

Although the gala ended at 11:00 p.m., the party with Master and the initiates did not end. Without minding Her tiredness, Master made the time to meet with initiates. She patiently and lovingly addressed each and every new initiate's questions and concerns.

The Ocean of Love

Armenians are people who know how to truly appreciate beauty, and to those who show them beauty in the arts, in others and in themselves, they are forever grateful. Supreme Master Ching Hai left a deep and long lasting impression in the hearts of the Armenian people for the boundless love and teachings She shared with them. She reminded each and every one to be connected with God within, to learn how to live a noble and virtuous life. Her generosity is truly inspiring to the people of this country. Everyone, from the director of the music hall to the translators to the organizers, said that the whole country is now talking about this extraordinary woman who is the first person to set foot in Armenia and travel throughout the country on such a charitable journey, a mission which no one has been able to accomplish before. She is indeed the "Ocean of Love".

Children on the streets came up to Master to give Her flowers. People are filled with admiration and adoration for this petite woman and are calling Her the second Mother Teresa in the world. Government-owned newspapers such as Republic of Armenia Hayastan and Hayastani Hanrapetuyun, and independent ones such as the Armenian Business Weekly, as well as television stations have reported numerous times about Master's visit to Armenia and humanitarian trip throughout the nation. In two days, Master toured the whole country and touched the hearts of all of Armenia's citizens, spreading Her love and more than US$250,000 to them and imparting the invaluable Quan Yin Method. Her love and compassion will forever remain in Armenia.

As Supreme Master Ching Hai departed from the small country of Armenia, sweet rain from the heavens began to fall again, just like on the day She arrived, leaving a trace of the new life that Master brought to Armenia and its gentle people.