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After lunch
the students participate in various recreational activities. In the evening
there is a general lecture from 7:30 to 8:20, followed by three concurrent
Bible studies from 8:30 to 9:30 for different age groups. The day comes
to a close with the Compline Service (Husgoom) from 9:45 to 10:30 pm.
Instructors this year are: His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, V. Rev.
Fr. Shahe Panossian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Khoren Habeshian,
Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Arsen Mekaelian,
and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, a prominent biblical scholar from St. Vladimir’s
Orthodox Theological Seminary (NY) will teach four classes to the upper
level students, and he will conduct a three-hour session with the clergy.
20th ANNIVERSARY
OF DATEV TO BE MARKED NEXT WEEK
In conjunction with the weeklong Datev Institute program, this year the
20th anniversary of the Institute will be marked with special events.
On Saturday, July 8, a special seminar led by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi and
Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian will take place at the St. Mary of Providence
Center where the Datev Institute takes place. That evening a 20th anniversary
celebratory banquet will take place at the nearby Holiday Inn (Morgantown,
Pennsylvania) for Institute participants, alumni, and friends.
On Sunday, July 9, the 2006 Datev Institute will conclude with Divine
Liturgy celebrated at St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, followed by a
farewell picnic on the church grounds.
For more information on Datev click here
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PRELATE IN
WASHINGTON, DC YESTERDAY
Archbishop Oshagan attended a reception yesterday at the U.S. Capitol
building in Washington DC, in honor of His Excellency Ashot Ghulian, Speaker
of the Nagorno Karabagh National Assembly, and His Excellency Georgi Petrosian,
Nagorno Karabagh Foreign Minister.
The reception was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the
Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee of America,
and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the U.S., in cooperation
with the co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Representatives
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
VICAR WILL
ATTEND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, will represent Archbishop
Oshagan and the Prelacy at the 160th anniversary celebration of the Armenian
Evangelical Movement on Saturday evening, May 1, in New Jersey.
CILICIAN SEMINARY
CONCLUDES ACADEMIC YEAR
The Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia concluded its
76th academic year with commencement ceremonies on June 23 in Bikfaya,
Lebanon.
Addressing the graduates, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, said: “A person is a value in as much as he serves
the collective values of the church and nation. It is with this spirit
and commitment that we formed you under this roof to send you off to our
people. Whether you serve as spiritual or as secular servants, you will
live the Bible and bring it to life in the lives of the faithful. Go and
take with you what you received in the Seminary and use it in your service
to our people.”
It was recently announced that V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian (currently
pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ) has been invited by
His Holiness to assume the leadership of the Seminary beginning with the
2006-2007 academic year.
DISCOVERY
OF RELICS OF ST. GREGORY
This Saturday, July 1, the Armenian Church commemorates one of three feast
days dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator: The Discovery of His Remains.
The other two commemorative days are Entrance into the Pit and Deliverance
from the Pit.
St. Gregory is the greatest figure of the Armenian Church. The Christian
Dictionary published by Thomas Nelson publishers describes Gregory the
Illuminator as “Apostle of Armenia,” and says: “A Parthian
of royal descent, he converted King Tiridates of Armenia to the Christian
faith and thus established the first national Christian church. He was
consecrated catholicos, and the episcopate remained in his family for
a few generations. His son Aristakes attended the Council of Nicaea. His
biography was written by Agathangelos, the first Armenian historian.”
FEAST OF STS.
SAHAG AND MESROB
Next Thursday, July 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives of the
Holy Translators, St. Sahag Bartev and St. Mesrob Mashtots. The feast
of the Holy Translators is one of the most beloved feast days for the
Armenian faithful. It is celebrated two times during the liturgical year:
on the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (can occur
in June or July), and on the second Saturday of October.
Catholicos Sahag Bartev was the son of St. Nerses the Great. He received
his primary and higher education in Caesarea and Byzantium. He was a very
learned and literary person who guided Armenia’s Golden Age following
the invention of the Armenian alphabet. He was a mentor and supporter
of St. Mesrob in his quest for an alphabet.
St. Mesrob was born in the province of Daron. He learned Greek and Persian
at an early age, and came to realize the vital need of an alphabet for
the Armenian language. According to tradition, while meditating in a cave
near the village of Palu, he had a vision where “the hand of God
wrote the alphabet in letters of fire.”
The first words to be translated into Armenian were from the Book of Proverbs:
“That you may know wisdom and instruction, and understand words
of insight…” (Proverbs 1:2).
REMEMBERING
CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
Today, June 29, is the 7th anniversary of the death of His Holiness Karekin
I, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians from 1995 to 1999;
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia from 1977 to 1995, and Prelate
of the Eastern Prelacy from 1973 to 1977.
To date seven volumes of his works have been printed in the Karekin I
Series, undertaken by “The Karekin I Theological and Armenological
Studies Series,” under the sponsorship of “The Haig and Elza
Didizian Fund.” The 8th volume will be published this fall, with
others to follow, until all of his major works (Armenian and English,
published and unpublished) are printed. The editors of the series are
Vazken Ghougassian and Iris Papazian, both of whom worked closely with
the late Catholicos during his years of extraordinary service to church
and nation.
THE FOURTH
OF JULY
On Tuesday, July 4, we commemorate the 230th anniversary of the adoption
of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Thirty-three year old Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration
as a member of a committee that included John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
Some changes were made in the draft, but it remains primarily the work
of Jefferson that was adopted on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. It was
the most daring document ever produced at a time when it was unheard of
a fledgling, divided country made up of thirteen separate colonies having
the boldness to produce a damning document against the most powerful country
of the time demanding “certain unalienable rights, that among these
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Fourth of July, as the holiday is popularly called, quickly became
a time for joyous and boisterous celebration, including ringing of bells,
firecrackers, concerts and merriment. John Adams, the second president
of the U.S. would be pleased. He had written that the day should “be
celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.
It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports,
guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of the continent
to the other….”
INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM TURNS 50
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Federal Interstate Highway System
Act, which was signed on June 29, 1956. It was the beginning of the vast
Interstate highways from coast to coast, which when completed prompted
the late broadcaster and traveler Charles Kuralt to quip: “We can
now go coast to coast without seeing anything.”
OUR BARREN
GARDEN. . .
We end this week with a statement about our vegetable garden, because
so many of you have inquired about its status and the lack of a report
thus far.
We are sorry to report that for the first time in many decades our large
vegetable garden is barren and will remain dormant this year. As many
of you have followed from last season, last summer’s crop was decimated
by a family of very hungry groundhogs. The crops were gone, one by one
overnight. Decisions had to be made for this year. The answer—offered
by many of you—was to put up a fence around the garden. One person,
perhaps recognizing the futility of it all, simply advised, “Move!”
V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian consoled us with this: “Just consider
that you are feeding some of God’s creatures.” (We are still
contemplating that statement!)
Moving, at this time at least, was not an option. A fence was a possibility
until we were advised that to keep groundhogs out a fence must start at
least four feet below ground. Then suddenly the weather became unusually
and prematurely hot, then very cold, and then came the never-ending rain.
It was too late to do anything. So, we are giving the land a rest this
year—which is a good thing, we are told. But we confess that we
sorely miss the morning outings in our garden, weeding and cultivating,
cajoling and harvesting in the silence and coolness and freshness of early
morning.
Perhaps, next year. We shall see. |
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CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
July
2-9—St. Gregory of Datev Summer
Institute. For details click here
July
22—Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence,
Rhode Island, and Ani Chapter of Armenian Relief Society co-host gala
dance at Greek Orthodox Annunciation Church. For information, 401-286-8107.
August
8—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Annual Golf Tournament, 11:30 am registration. Blackstone
Valley Country Club, Sutton, MA. For details contact David, 508-234-3261.
August
13—Annual picnic, Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York.
August
13—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual picnic at
Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.
August
20—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Annual Church Picnic, 12 noon on the church grounds. For
details: 508-234-3677.
September
28—4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.
October
22—Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.
November
11-12—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian
Fest” at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
Web pages of the
parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.
To ensure the
timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add email@armenianprelacy.org
to your address book.
Items in Crossroads
can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as the
source.
Parishes of the
Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their major events
to be included in the calendar. Send to: info@armenianprelacy.org
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