| YOUTH
GATHERING WITH CATHOLICOS THIS WEEKEND
This weekend, December 2 and 3, is the youth gathering with His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in Dearborn, Michigan.
His Holiness is on a short visit to the United States where he has been
invited to deliver the keynote address at a conference on “Faith
and Healing” at Notre Dame University on Tuesday, December 5. On
Wednesday, December 6, the Catholicos will be awarded the 2006 Pax Christi
Award by St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
In a press release issued by the University, the Catholicos was praised
for “his leadership in opening the manuscript collection of the
Catholicosate to the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library,” and “his
leadership in ecumenism.” To read the press release issued by the
University click
here.
Archbishop Oshagan left New York this morning and will greet the Catholicos
who is scheduled to arrive in Michigan tomorrow. The Prelacy’s vicar,
Bishop Anoushavan, will travel to Michigan tomorrow to participate in
the various events, and Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC) will travel to Michigan on Saturday.
PRELATE AND
VICAR EXTEND CONDOLENCES
IN ASSASSINATION OF PIERRE GEMAYEL
Tuesday morning, November 28, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan
visited the offices of the Consul General of Lebanon in New York City,
where they expressed their condolences following the assassination of
Pierre Gemayel. The 34-year-old Gemayel served in the Lebanese Parliament
and was Minister of Industy, and a member of one of Lebanon’s most
prominent Christian political dynasties. The Prelate and Vicar met with
the Consul General, Mohamed El-Harake, and expressed sympathy on behalf
of the Eastern Prelacy.
REQUIEM SERVICE
THIS SUNDAY FOR
ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
The third anniversary of the passing of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who
served as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1978 to 1998, will be commemorated
with a solemn requiem service, immediately following the Divine Liturgy,
at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City,
this Sunday, December 3. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral,
will officiate. The faithful are invited to attend the service in remembrance
of the late Archbishop and his extraordinary service to the Armenian Church
in the Diaspora and Armenia.
Copies of Living Faith: The Life and Service of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian,
a beautiful tribute to Archbishop Mesrob, published by the Prelacy, are
available. For information contact books@armenianprelacy.org or 212-689-7810.
SPIRITUAL
HEADS OF MIDDLE EAST ORIENTAL ORTHODOX
CHURCHES MEET IN EGYPT
Two of the three leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle
East met at the Coptic Patriarchate in Cairo, Egypt, on November 22-24.
The summit brought together Patriarchs Shnouda III, head of the Syrian
Orthodox Church, and Zakka I, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Catholicos
Aram I, head of the Cilician See of the Armenian Church, cancelled his
scheduled trip to Egypt because of the assassination of Pierre Gemayel,
Industry Minister of Lebanon. However, the Coptic and Syrian Patriarchs
remained in constant contact with Catholicos Aram throughout the meeting,
consulting him on various issues related to the agenda.
BIBLE STUDY
AT PRELACY CONTINUES
The eight-session course on the Letter to the Hebrews continues this Monday,
December 4, at the Prelacy from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm. The group meets on
the first and third Mondays of the month. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the course is led by Deacon
Shant Kazanjian.
50th ANNIVERSARY
OF REV. FR. MOUSHEGH DER KALOUSTIAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 17
On Sunday, December 17, the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev.
Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian will be commemorated at the Terrace on the
Park in Flushing Meadows, New York. Prior to the luncheon commemoration,
Der Moushegh will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral in New York City, where he served for many years. For reservations
and/or information about this event contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
As we reported in the last issue of Crossroads, Archbishop Oshagan attended
the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Gorun Shrikian in Dearborn,
Michigan, on November 19, and Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian’s golden
anniversary was celebrated at St. Stephen Church in Watertown, Massachusetts,
in June. The next issue of Outreach (January/February) will highlight
these events honoring the three clergymen who this year marked their 50
years of service to the Armenian Church.
PROGRAMS OF
INTEREST ON TELEVISION
Two interesting television programs you may want to watch this month.
One, which we told you about several weeks ago, is “The Spear of
Christ,” a one-hour documentary on the History Channel’s “Decoding
the Past” series scheduled for Thursday, December 21, at 9 pm (check
your local listings). Armenia is one of the places visited for this documentary.
“Picturing Mary,” is a production of New York’s PBS
station, Channel 13 and will be distributed this month nationwide to public
television stations. Check your local listings. “Picturing Mary”
is a one-hour program that takes viewers on an artistic journey through
history from the earliest times to the present day, offering viewers a
visually stunning array of art from twelve locations in eight different
countries, representing various faiths and traditions of how the image
of the Blessed Mother has provided a global mother-figure.
SAINTS THADDEUS
AND BARTHOLOMEW
This Saturday, December 2, the Armenian Church remembers Saints Thaddeus
and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers
of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its apostolic
identity and earning them the title, “First Enlighteners of Armenia.”
Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He was martyred
in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian monastery of St.
Thaddeus (now Iran) where a chapel was built in the third century. Bartholomew
is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He was martyred in
Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.
REMEMBERING
KING APKAR
On Tuesday, December 5, the Armenian Church remembers King Apkar, who
according to tradition was afflicted with a skin ailment. The King wrote
a letter to Christ asking for His assistance. Christ replied by sending
a cloth with His image and the promise to send one of His apostles. St.
Thaddeus was sent and subsequently the King had a miraculous recovery.
King Apkar and his family accepted Christianity and the King wrote to
other leaders (including his cousin King Sanadrook of Armenia) to accept
Christianity.
SECOND SUNDAY
OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 3, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a season
of waiting for the coming of Christ, which gives us reason to live in
hope regardless of the many challenges and vicissitudes facing us on many
fronts. John the Baptist is the great Advent figure (read Matthew, Chapter
3; and Luke, Chapter 3).
And remember that this time of the year can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out with a visit, a note, or a telephone call to an elderly
person who lives alone, or someone who is ill, or someone who recently
lost a loved one. |
|
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
December 2-3—Gathering
of the Youth with Catholicos Aram I, Hyatt Regency, Dearborn, Michigan.
For details click here.
December
3—Requiem service in memory of His Eminence Archbishop
Mesrob Ashjian on the third anniversary of his passing, St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian
will preside.
December
9—Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December
10—52nd anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Church, Granite City, Illinois.
December
10—General Membership meeting and elections of auditing
and nominating committees, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New
York.
December
10—Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York,
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy.
December
13—Thanksgiving Luncheon with the local NYPD and Fire Fighters,
St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.
December
16—“A Celebration of Service” in honor of past
chairmen and board of trustees members. Under auspices of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York,
8 pm. For information and reservations 718-224-2275.
December
16—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Men’s
Club and Ladies’ Guild Christmas Party and Dinner Dance, 7 pm, $40
per person. Reservations a must. For information: 201-943-4056 (Kiledjian);
201-461-4283 (Mirakian).
December
17—50th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Archpriest
Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian, sponsored by the Prelacy Religious Council,
at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. Der Moushegh will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221
E. 27th Street, New York City) on Sunday morning.
December
24—Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December
31—New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey.
Featuring Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact
the church office 201-943-2950.
December
31—New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church,
Douglaston, New York.
January
6—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
January
6—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party
and special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.
January
28—Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.
February
4—St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of
the church and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
February
11—General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.
February
17—St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Annual
Membership Meeting.
February
18—Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine
Night, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
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
|
