Crossroads E-Newsletter:12/7/06

December 7, 2006

CATHOLICOS ARAM I CONCLUDES VISIT TO MIDWEST
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, is returning to Lebanon today, following a successful event-filled seven-day visit to the Midwest. His Holiness arrived in Detroit on December 1, for the first scheduled event which was a two-day gathering of youth. In a powerful message addressed to the youth, he challenged them to take the renewal of the Armenian Church seriously. “By renewal I don’t mean certain adjustments within the framework of the Armenian Liturgy. That will be a very superficial and one-sided perceptional renewal. By renewal I mean making our church a people’s church, impacting the life of our people. By renewal I mean making our church responsive to the needs and expectations of our people. By renewal I mean reaffirming the missionary, evangelistic and educational outreach of the church. Renewal must be a process permeating the entire life of the church,” the Catholicos said.

On Monday, December 4, Mr. and Mrs. Zohrab Tazian hosted a luncheon in honor of His Holiness at their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, attended by a large number of ecumenical leaders, national, state and local dignitaries, and members of the local Armenian American community.

On Tuesday, December 5, His Holiness delivered the keynote address at a conference on Faith and Health at the University of Notre Dame. The Catholicos approached the theme of the conference from a theological viewpoint, analyzing many important and contemporary questions in the field. “Healing is a spiritual process and the greatest healer was Jesus Christ. You can’t draw a line between medicine and faith. The mind, soul and body are one,” said His Holiness.

On Wednesday, December 6, Catholicos Aram was presented the 2006 Pax Christ Award by St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirosian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, accompanied His Holiness throughout his visit, as did Jack Mardoian, chairman of the Eastern Prelacy’s Executive Council. Archbishop Oshagan is expected to return to New York tomorrow.

PRELATE WILL GO TO TROY
This Sunday, December 10, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Troy, New York, to visit the Holy Cross Armenian Church, where he will preside over the Divine Liturgy. During the service he will grant the right to bear the stole (ourar) to Steve Karagosian.

VICAR GENERAL WILL TRAVEL TO GRANITE CITY
Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Granite City, Illinois, where he will officiate over the Divine Liturgy, ordain three sub-deacons, and preside over the church’s 52nd anniversary celebration.

PRELATE WILL ATTEND LUNCHEON
HONORING POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS
On Wednesday, December 13, Archbishop Oshagan will attend a Thanksgiving and Christmas luncheon hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, in honor of members of the local New York City Police and Fire Departments.

POPE BENEDICT VISITS ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE IN ISTANBUL
After visiting the former cathedral of Santa Sophia, Pope Benedict XVI went to the Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque where he and the Grand Mufti of Islanbul, Professor Dr. Mustafa Cagrici, paused for a moment of prayer. The Pope then traveled to the Armenian Patriarchate where he was received by His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Islanbul, and participated in a celebration of the Word in the Patriarchal Church of the Holy Mother of God, co-presided by the Pope and the Patriarch.

To read the Pope’s message on this occasion click here.

FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN
Saturday, December 9, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary. This is one of eight feast days devoted to the Virgin Mary in the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT;
BAREKENTAN OF THE FAST OF ST. JAMES
Sunday, December 10, is the third Sunday of Advent, the solemn period anticipating the birth of our Savior. Slow down, take a deep breath, and ponder on the coming Good News.

Sunday begins the Fast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibis, leading to the Feast of St. James next Saturday.

DECEMBER 7: TWO ANNIVERSARIES
Today, December 7, is the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor which brought the United States into World War II, and the 18th anniversary of the earthquake in northern Armenia.We pause to pray for the souls of the fallen.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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 10—First Episcopal Divine Liturgy and ordination of three sub deacons by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Granite City, Illinois.

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 by December 9. Held at Dwight Englewood School, Klein Campus Dining Hall, Englewood, NJ. 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.

December 31—New Year’s Eve Party, St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church, Granite City, Illinois.

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

If you wish to receive future issues of the Crossroads E-Newsletter in your E-mail Inbox, send an e-mail message with your name and your full e-mail address to email@armenianprelacy.org and write "subscribe" in the subject line.

December 7, 2006
CATHOLICOS ARAM I CONCLUDES VISIT TO MIDWEST His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, is returning to Lebanon today, following a successful event-filled seven-day visit to the Midwest. His Holiness arrived in Detroit on December 1, for the first scheduled event which was a two-day gathering of youth. In a powerful message addressed to the youth, he challenged them to take the renewal of the Armenian Church seriously. “By renewal I don’t mean certain adjustments within the framework of the Armenian Liturgy. That will be a very superficial and one-sided perceptional renewal. By renewal I mean making our church a people’s church, impacting the life of our people. By renewal I mean making our church responsive to the needs and expectations of our people. By renewal I mean reaffirming the missionary, evangelistic and educational outreach of the church. Renewal must be a process permeating the entire life of the church,” the Catholicos said.
	On Monday, December 4, Mr. and Mrs. Zohrab Tazian hosted a luncheon in honor of His Holiness at their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, attended by a large number of ecumenical leaders, national, state and local dignitaries, and members of the local Armenian American community. On Tuesday, December 5, His Holiness delivered the keynote address at a conference on Faith and Health at the University of Notre Dame. The Catholicos approached the theme of the conference from a theological viewpoint, analyzing many important and contemporary questions in the field. “Healing is a spiritual process and the greatest healer was Jesus Christ. You can’t draw a line between medicine and faith. The mind, soul and body are one,” said His Holiness.
On Wednesday, December 6, Catholicos Aram was presented the 2006 Pax Christ Award by St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirosian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy, accompanied His Holiness throughout his visit, as did Jack Mardoian, chairman of the Eastern Prelacy’s Executive Council. Archbishop Oshagan is expected to return to New York tomorrow. PRELATE WILL GO TO TROY This Sunday, December 10, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Troy, New York, to visit the Holy Cross Armenian Church, where he will preside over the Divine Liturgy. During the service he will grant the right to bear the stole (ourar) to Steve Karagosian. VICAR GENERAL WILL TRAVEL TO GRANITE CITY Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Granite City, Illinois, where he will officiate over the Divine Liturgy, ordain three sub-deacons, and preside over the church’s 52nd anniversary celebration. PRELATE WILL ATTEND LUNCHEON HONORING POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS On Wednesday, December 13, Archbishop Oshagan will attend a Thanksgiving and Christmas luncheon hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, in honor of members of the local New York City Police and Fire Departments. POPE BENEDICT VISITS ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE IN ISTANBUL After visiting the former cathedral of Santa Sophia, Pope Benedict XVI went to the Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque where he and the Grand Mufti of Islanbul, Professor Dr. Mustafa Cagrici, paused for a moment of prayer. The Pope then traveled to the Armenian Patriarchate where he was received by His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Islanbul, and participated in a celebration of the Word in the Patriarchal Church of the Holy Mother of God, co-presided by the Pope and the Patriarch. To read the Pope’s message on this occasion click here. FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN Saturday, December 9, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary. This is one of eight feast days devoted to the Virgin Mary in the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT; BAREKENTAN OF THE FAST OF ST. JAMES Sunday, December 10, is the third Sunday of Advent, the solemn period anticipating the birth of our Savior. Slow down, take a deep breath, and ponder on the coming Good News. Sunday begins the Fast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibis, leading to the Feast of St. James next Saturday. DECEMBER 7: TWO ANNIVERSARIES Today, December 7, is the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor which brought the United States into World War II, and the 18th anniversary of the earthquake in northern Armenia.We pause to pray for the souls of the fallen.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 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 10—First Episcopal Divine Liturgy and ordination of three sub deacons by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Granite City, Illinois. 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 by December 9. Held at Dwight Englewood School, Klein Campus Dining Hall, Englewood, NJ. 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. December 31—New Year’s Eve Party, St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church, Granite City, Illinois. 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

If you wish to receive future issues of the Crossroads E-Newsletter in your E-mail Inbox, send an e-mail message with your name and your full e-mail address to email@armenianprelacy.org and write "subscribe" in the subject line.