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Support Our School's Fire Relief Efforts

We will be able to relocate by joining hands and working together for the benefit of our future Armenian leaders. If God puts it on your heart to join our cause, kindly use the QR code or PayPal button to make your generous donation.

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Thank you in advance for your kindness and teamwork!

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Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

History

Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School was founded with a clear vision: to provide a Christ-centered education rooted in Armenian heritage, language, and culture.
In 1976, Lebanese architect Mike Youssefian moved to Pasadena with his family to escape the Lebanese Civil War. Inspired by the local Armenian community and recognizing the need for an Armenian day school, he set out to make that vision a reality—despite past unsuccessful attempts and limited resources. He soon partnered with Christian businessman Steve Lazarian, whose shared commitment helped bring the school to life.

To lay a strong foundation, Mr. Youssefian brought together leaders from various Christian churches and organizations to form the school's first Board of Directors. Together, they appointed Mr. Peniamin Aroyan as the school's first principal and began preparing to welcome students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
 
The Board held its inaugural meeting on January 20, 1980, in Mr. Lazarian's office. Officers included:

Chairman: Mike Youssefian
Vice Chairmen: John Jemelian and Andy Afsharian
Secretary: Dr. Kegham Tashjian
Treasurer: Abraham Haleblian
Board Members: Rev. Vahram Tourian, Miss Ruth Ajemian (Tourian), and Aram Garabedian
With a shared mission to integrate Christian values and Armenian culture into education, the Board consulted with Armenian poet Jaques Hagopian, who suggested the name Sahag-Mesrob—in honor of Catholicos Sahag Bartev and Mesrob Mashdotz, creators of the Armenian alphabet.
In September 1980, Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School opened its doors to 80 students in the basement of Bresse Nazarene Church in Pasadena.

Within a few years, the school secured a permanent campus in Altadena. A memorable inaugural banquet, featuring a message from then-Governor George Deukmejian, marked the beginning of a new chapter. Continued support from the community enabled the construction of a chapel and several classrooms on the Maiden Lane campus.

Now more than four decades later, Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School continues to thrive. The school is proudly accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). We remain dedicated to cultivating academic excellence, Christian faith, and Armenian identity in a loving and disciplined environment.
 
Recent Resilience: Most recently, the school faced a major challenge when its Altadena campus was impacted by the Eaton Canyon fires. Through the resilience and unwavering dedication of our School Board, Association, faculty, staff, and students—as well as the generous support of AGBU and a valued partnership with the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA)—we were able to relocate and resume classes on a new campus in just a week and a half.

Today, we proudly serve students across two campuses in Pasadena, California: one dedicated to our Preschool program, and the other to our Kindergarten through 8th Grade students.