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PRELATE
WILL BE IN NEW JERSEY THIS SUNDAY;
VICAR IN CONNECTICUT
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, will preside over the Divine Liturgy
at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, December
24.
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, will officiate the Divine Liturgy and
deliver the sermon this Sunday at St. Stephen’s Church, New Britain,
Connecticut.
HIS HOLINESS
ARAM I CONTINUES DIALOGUE WITH YOUTH
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, continues
his series of dialogues with the youth. The seventh in the series was
issued this week entitled, “A Few Perspectives for the Renewal of
the Armenian Church.”
His Holiness begins his message by referring to his gathering with the
youth which took place in Dearborn, Michigan, December 2 and 3. “The
renewal of the Armenian Church was the core of this gathering,”
His Holiness writes. “In my dialogue with the youth I touched on
a number of issues and identified challenges pertaining to this pertinent
theme. By carefully listening to them, I became more aware of their expectations
as well as of their unwavering dedication to our Church and its values
and traditions.
The Catholicos’ message focuses on the renewal of the Church. “The
renewal of the Armenian Church is an urgent necessity. In order to carry
on its God-given mission efficiently, our Church is called to keep pace
with the changing conditions of modern societies. Therefore, the question
is not why renewal, but rather how renewal? The renewal of our Church
will not be accomplished simply by shortening the liturgy and introducing
certain adjustments within the church structures. This perception must
be changed. Renewal is not easy; it is a long, critical and all-embracing
process. The Church’s total life in its institutional and spiritual,
theological and liturgical dimensions and manifestations must be included
in any serious renewal process.”
To read the entire message click here.
WCC MODERATOR
AND GENERAL SECRETARY
VISIT CATHOLICOSATE
The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr. Sam
Kobia, and the newly elected Moderator, Rev. Dr. Walter Altmann, traveled
to Lebanon to visit His Holiness Aram I at the Catholicosate in Antelias.
The two senior officials of the WCC came to Antelias to thank Catholicos
Aram for his great contribution to the WCC and his service as Moderator
during the last 15 years. They also met with the Catholicosate’s
Ecumenical Committee.
ST. DAVID
THE PROPHET-KING;
HOLY APOSTLE JAMES, BROTHER OF THE LORD
On Saturday, December 23, the Armenian Church commemorates David the Prophet-King
and James the brother of the Lord. David was the youngest of eight brothers
and was brought up to be a shepherd where he learned courage, tenderness
and caring. David became the second king of Israel. In Scripture the name
is his alone which shows the unique place he has as an ancestor and forerunner
of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament there are more than 50
references to David, including the title given to Jesus—Son of David.
David was a poet and some of the Psalms are his work.
James, the brother of our Lord, became a leader of the early Christian
Church following the Resurrection. According to tradition he was appointed
the first bishop of Jerusalem by the Lord Himself.
ST. STEPHEN
THE PROTO-DEACON AND FIRST MARTYR
On Monday, December 25, we commemorate the life of St. Stephen the Proto-deacon
and First Martyr. After Christ’s Ascension, the apostles went about
spreading the Word of the new faith. It soon became apparent that more
persons more needed to serve the churches. A selection of seven worthy
individuals were made to serve the holy altar, and called deacons (sarkavag).
The most noteworthy of the original seven deacons was Stephen and the
Feast of St. Stephen is an important feast day in the Armenian Church.
It is also a day of honor for all deacons of the church. St. Stephen was
the first martyr for his faith and is therefore often called “proto-martyr.”
HOLY APOSTLES
PETER AND PAUL
On Tuesday, December 26, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Apostles,
Peter and Paul. On the day of the Crucifixion, Jesus came to Paul and
asked him to tell the other apostles of His appearance and give them His
message. This, in spite of the fact that at the time of the judgment of
Jesus, Peter denied knowing Him. Peter was known for his oratory skills
and used this talent to spread the Word and Christianity. The Roman Catholic
Church considers Peter as its founder. The Armenian Church has great love
and reverence for the Apostle and the name Peter (Bedros) is a popular
choice for newborns.
FIFTH SUNDAY
OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 24, is the fifth Sunday of Advent. We continue our
period of quiet introspection in anticipation of the celebration of the
birth of our Savior on January 6. The biblical readings for this Sunday
are: Isaiah 41:4-14; Hebrews 7:11-25; and Luke 19:12-28.
IN THE MEDIA
THIS WEEK
Last Sunday’s Book Review section of the New York Times featured
a review of Taner Akcam’s new book, “A Shameful Act: The Armenian
Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility.” The reviewer,
Gary J. Bass, gives the book a very positive review. The reviewer notes,
“He [Akcam] directly challenges the doubters back home, basing his
powerful book on Turkish sources in the old Ottoman script—including
the failed Ottoman war crimes tribunals held after World War I. Although
he bolsters his case with material from the American, British and German
archives, he writes that the remaining Ottoman records are enough to show
that the ruling party’s central committee ‘did deliberately
attempt to destroy the Armenian population.’ ” Taner Akcam’s
book is available at the Prelacy bookstore. For information, books@armenianprelacy.org
or 212-689-7810.
An op-ed column in the Boston Globe on December 13, by Charles Fried entitled
“Getting at the Truth” speaks about the recent conference
in Iran on the Holocaust. While condemning the conference, he notes: “But
Ahmadinejad’s tortured logic seems almost broad-minded compared
with Turkey’s stringent criminal prohibition on any suggestion that
such a thing as its genocide of the Armenian people ever happened. Many
brave Turkish writers and journalists have suffered persecution in recent
times for proclaiming what no reasonable person would deny. Yet the Armenian
genocide is as certain a historic fast as Hitler’s European Holocaust,
for which Ataturk’s may well have served as a model and feasibility
study. Turkey and Iran turn truth into either a crime or charade.”
And…as we told you several weeks ago, the History channel on cable
TV will be showing a documentary on “The Spear of Christ.”
It is scheduled to air in most areas tonight as part of the “Decoding
the Past” series. Check your local listings for the exact time.
The filmmakers went to Armenia to investigate and film the Holy Lance
in Etchmiadzin. Four artifacts claim to be the holy spear, which is believed
to have miraculous powers. The sites are in Austria, Poland, the Vatican,
and Armenia. Some viewers who have seen a preview say that there are some
inconsistencies, such as maps that identify an area as “Turkey”
at a period when there was no such country. Watch it and see what you
think.
Finally, a report on the internet states that Sylvester Stallone would
like to end his movie career with Franz Werfel’s “Forty Days
of Musa Dagh.” Stallone, whose sixth Rocky movie opened this week
to universal critical acclaim, has reportedly wanted to make this epic
movie “detailing the Turkish genocide of the Armenian community
in 1915,” for years. “The movie would be ‘an epic about
the complete destruction of a civilization,’ Stallone said. Then
he laughed at the ambition. ‘Talk about a political hot potato.
The Turks have been killing that subject for 85 years.’ ”
WINTER SOLSTICE
Tomorrow, December 22, is the first day of winter. The wet and mild weather
here on the east coast has kept the ground soft and the grass green.
DECEMBER 24
OR JANUARY 6?
This Monday, December 25, is the day that nearly all of Christendom celebrates
the birth of our Lord. Originally all Christians celebrated the birth,
the baptism, and the visit of the Magi on January 6. Of course, no one
knows the exact birth date of Christ. In the fourth century the Roman
Catholic Church changed the date from January 6 to December 25, to coincide
with a pagan feast dedicated to the Sun. The Council of Chalcedon endorsed
this change; however, the Armenian Church remained faithful to the original
date and continues to celebrate the birth and baptism on January 6. Today
the Armenians are the only Christians who still celebrate Christmas on
the original date of January 6.
In the Holy Land, the Orthodox churches still follow the old calendar
(a difference of twelve days) and, therefore, the Armenians celebrate
Christmas on January 18.
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CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
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—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual
Christmas luncheon hosted by the Ladies’ Guild following church
services on Saturday, January 6. Adults $15; children 12 and under $10.
For reservations/information, 201-943-2950.
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.
March
25—Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall,
2 pm. Featured artists: Aleksandr Nazaryan (viola) and Serge Barseghian
(basso).
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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