Puzant YEGHIAYAN
( 1900 - 1995 )

Prof. Puzant Yeghiayan, formerly the Dean of Studies of Armenian Seminary of the Catholicossate of Cilicia, and Principal of Melkonian Educational Institute, is an eminent educator, lecturer, scholar and author of over a dozen books on varied subjects, educational, literary, historical and philosophical.

Born in Adana, Cilicia, in 1900, after his collegiate education in the American "St. Paul's College" in Tarsus, and then in "The International College" of Smyrna, also a graduate of "The School of Religion" in Athens, Greece, and with a post-graduate work at the "Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales" in Geneva, then as Fellow at Woodbrook, Sally Oak Colleges in Birmingham, England, Yeghiayan began his educational career in Switzerland as Assistant Director at the Kraft-Bonnard Armenian Boarding School in Begnin. Then he was invited to the Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, where he served since 1932 as Internal Director, and later, Dean of Studies; at the same time, for a decade (1946 - 1955), he was a visiting professor of Pedagogy at "Tarouhi Hagopian" and of History of Philosophy at Hovaguimian-Manoogian" Schools. During a three-year leave of absence, he was the Principal of the A.G.B.U. Melkonian Educational Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus. After his return to the Seminary, he was also a visiting professor of Armenology at the Haigazian College, 1960 - 1966, Beirut.

Alongside his educational services, Prof. Yeghiayan has taken active part in cultural, social and ecumenical organizations, such as: Chairman of the Central Committee of Youth Organization sponsored by the Catholicossate of Cilicia and A.G.B.U.; Chairman of the A.G.B.U. Educational Committee in Lebanon; Secretary of the Gullabi Gulbenkian Scholarship Fund, American Univ. of Beirut; Secretary of the Kevork Melidinetsi Literary Fund Committee, Antelias; member of the editorial staff of "HASK", the official publication of the Catholicossate of Cilicia; and Chief Editor of "DZIADZAN", the monthly publication of the Arm. Youth Organization in Syria and Lebanon.

In appreciation of his extensive educational and social services, Prof. Puzant Yeghiayan has been awarded with many official decorations, among these: the "First Medal Chivalry of Cedars" by Pres. Frangieh of the Lebanese Republic; - the "Grand Cross of Prince of Cilicia" by H.H. Khoren I Catholicos of Cilicia; "Thanks Badge" from Chief Scout, Buckingham Palace, London, 1959. And he was declared "Man of the Year 1982" by the National Representative Assembly of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America and Canada.