In the history of the Armenians, the Order of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception is the first of its kind.
The Founding Father Andon Hassounian, Catholicos Patriarch of Armenian Catholics, saw the necessity in his community for a monastic congregation of consecrated women dedicated to the purpose of educating Armenian youth. Serpouhie hajie-Andonian, who was preparing to leave her native land to become a cloistered nun, was the prudential helper who actualized this plan.
Upon hearing of Serpouhie’s decision to retreat to a cloistered convent the good Father appealed to Serpouhie and exhorted her to remain in Istanbul. "Instead of isolating yourself in the convent of Ancona, away from the Armenian milieu," he said, "I urge you to stay and work here, gathering around you the daughters of your race, especially the poor." Humble and obedient, Serpouhie complied.
Thus, the Co-Foundress of the Congregation, Serpouhie Hadji-Andonian, known as "Serpouhie Varbed," began the educative mission of the Order on June 5, 1843 with twelve students in Istanbul.
The Order soon spread its branches to the surrounding provinces. This flourishing period, however, was soon darkened by the horrors of the 1915 Genocide, which took its toll on the Congregation. Along with one and one-half million compatriots, thirteen Nuns were martyred; more than forty others suffered the atrocities of deportation and twenty-three schools were closed forever.
After the cease-fire, the Congregation began with new vigor and expanded to countries where Armenians had made their homes.
Founded specifically for the teaching apostolate, the Armenian Sisters have never abandoned this original commitment. They responded to the voice of obedience and readily accepted new challenges and opened three schools to serve Armenian children living in the United States: in Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles.
On October 2, 1967 the first Armenian day school on the East Coast was started. With three Armenian Sisters, one part time English teacher and twelve preschool and kindergarten students, the Armenian Sisters Academy was born. The greater Philadelphia community now had a school where the rich Armenian culture and language could be preserved and passed on from generation to generation…where children could be taught love of their heritage as well as a love of learning…where the highest possible educational standards would prevail, and where Christian values and the faith of our forebears could be taught.
Selfless and silent even in success, the dedicated Sister seeks only to glorify God and the good of the souls entrusted to her care, while keeping in mind her Founder’s exhortation…"Be modest, do not look for fame or glory, search to remain obscure, be a closed garden; work, work unceasingly in the shadows, while the veil of your habit covers your life and work."
In 1963, at the request of Msgr. Stephen Stepanian, then Pastor of St. Mark's Armenian Catholic Church in Philadelphia, The Congregation of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception sent three energetic nuns, Sister Valentine, Sister Hripsime and Sister Arousiag, to establish an Armenian day school…a dream of the Philadelphia community for more than 50 years.
After four intensive years of preparation, the first Armenian day school on the East Coast was started in a two-room facility with an initial enrollment of 12 preschool/kindergarten children.
The greater Philadelphia community now had a school where the rich Armenian language, history and culture could be passed on from generation to generation. It is the primary mission of the Armenian Sisters Academy to preserve that heritage, while providing a quality educational program in the required American curriculum.
An ecumenical Board of Directors was formed in 1968 which brought together area Armenians of various persuasions in overwhelming support of a school organized to serve them all. Generous financial and moral support of the Armenian community assisted the Board and the Sisters in their efforts to establish this school. Between 1967 and 1975 a grade was added each year, and the enrollment grew to 165. The school was relocated three times to accommodate its growing needs.
In October 1975, after eight years of moving from one facility to another, the first students of the new school building eagerly crossed the threshold of a magnificent structure in Radnor, Pennsylvania that was now the permanent home of the Armenian Sisters Academy. This is a tribute to the selfless dedication, hard work and perseverance of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and to the Armenian community without whose financial and moral generosity the dream could not have come true.
In 2004, after years of discussing, planning and designing, our new 24,000 square foot expansion and renovation was completed. This building expansion experience has been felt by our entire community--the same community which initially strove to provide this Armenian day school as a qualified academic enrollment option where children could absorb the rich Armenian language and heritage, while pursuing the curriculum standards of an excellent American education.
Since 1975 the School is located on 16 acres in suburban Radnor. In 2004, the original building was expanded to include state-of-the-art science and computer labs, library, art studio, gymnasium, health suite, cafeteria and resource rooms. The campus includes a track, playing fields, and a dedicated Montessori playground.
The Armenian Sisters Academy is dedicated to providing a quality education according to the Montessori Philosophy in a safe, caring, Christian environment where each child is nurtured to reach his/her full potential and to preparing the child to face the complex challenges in our society and to become a positive force in the community.
The Academy promotes a strong sense of family, with the faculty, parents and children working together toward a common goal—the self realization and academic happiness of each child.
In addition to setting high academic standards, the Academy perpetuates the Armenian identity, its language and cultural heritage.
The Academy is accredited by Middle States Commission of Elementary Schools, an Affiliated Member of the American Montessori Society, Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools and Licensed by Pennsylvania State Board of Private Schools.
