Crossroads E-Newsletter:1/18/07

PRELACY CHURCHES MOURN DEATH OF HRANT DINK
Last Sunday, January 21, parishes of the Eastern Prelacy held requiem service for Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in Istanbul on Friday. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan sent a message to all parishes and boards of trustees on this sad occasion and asked that flags be lowered to half mast. He also suggested that the sermon focus on the life and death of Hrant Dink, the heroic editor of the Armenian Turkish newspaper, Agos, who was a leading proponent for reform in Turkey. His Eminence said that a new voice has been added to the million and a half voices of the innocent martyrs seeking justice.

PRELATE ATTENDS VIGIL NEAR UN
Archbishop Oshagan attended the vigil that took place Tuesday evening, January 23, near the Turkish Mission to the United Nations. The event was organized by the Armenian National Committees of New York and New Jersey, with the participation of area Armenian organizations as well as a small number of Turkish activists and intellectuals.

Archbishop Oshagan led a prayer service after his brief introductory remarks, as flowers were distributed to the attendees, estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 people. Addressing the gathering were Herand Markarian who stressed that Dink’s murder was an affront not only to Armenians, but all those who stand for democracy and justice. Antranig Kasbarian, in his remarks, noted that Dink was not an extremist, but a proponent of dialogue and moderation. And in this vein his murder becomes all the more heinous, indicating Turkey’s extreme intolerance of any moves toward change. Other speakers during the vigil included Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder and radio personality, and a young woman from Istanbul who knew Dink and who stated that his death is a loss for all freedom-loving people, Armenians and Turks alike.

The vigil ended with a prayer offered by Archbishop Oshagan and the recitation of the Hayr Mer (Lord’s Prayer) by all in attendance, as the mourners placed flowers on the candle-lit platform in memory of Hrant Dink.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES STATEMENT
“THE VOICE OF JUSTICE CANNOT BE SILENCED…”
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, issued a message on the occasion of the assassination of Hrant Dink. The Catholicos was represented at the funeral by V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian at the funeral. His Holiness presided over requiem service for the soul of Hrant Dink at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias. The Catholicos expressed his condolences to His Beatitude Mesrob II Moutafian, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and to the Dink family, and the Armenian community of Turkey.

Commenting on the tragedy, His Holiness said: “Hrant Dink was a man of faith and vision. He was a committed journalist who had the courage to question all attempts depicting the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century, as a fiction or alleged. He had the courage to challenge the present Turkey to reconcile with its past by recognizing the Armenian Genocide, planned and executed by the Turkish-Ottoman Empire. Accepting the truth and respecting human rights were prerequisite conditions for Hrant Dink, leading people and nations to reconciliation…one cannot kill the truth by physically killing the messenger. One cannot silence the voice of justice by neutralizing its advocate.”

PASSING OF SARKIS ACOPIAN
Archbishop Oshagan sent a message of condolence to the family of Sarkis Acopian who died last Thursday, January 18, in his home in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was 80 years old.

The Prelate described Sarkis Acopian as a friend and benefactor of the Armenian Church worldwide, including the Eastern Prelacy. Mr. Acopian was a builder of churches in the United States and in Armenia, and his generosity extended not only to many Armenian organizations and institutions, but to American educational and charitable institutions as well.

His Eminence extended heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Bobbye, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, on behalf of the faithful of the Eastern Prelacy. Funeral services will take place tomorrow, Friday, January 26, at noon at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese will preside.

May our Lord comfort his loving family and may his memory remain bright forever.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL TO VATICAN THIS SATURDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will depart for Rome this Saturday where he will attend week-long meetings at the Vatican of the Catholic Church-Oriental Orthodox Churches Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue.

The Armenian Church will be represented on behalf of the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin of All Armenians, by Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; and the Catholicosate of Cilicia by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and Bishop Nareg Alemezian.

VICAR ATTENDS INTERFAITH SEMINAR;
AND WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, attended a seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 23 and 24, at the Interfaith Center in Stonypoint, New York, on the “Impact of Faith on Alcohol and Drug Addiction.”

Yesterday evening he attended services for a “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York City.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL MEET TOMORROW AND SATURDAY
The Executive Council will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow and Saturday, January 26 and 27, at the Prelacy offices in New York City.

“SCREAMERS” WILL OPEN TOMORROW IN NEW YORK
“Screamers,” the documentary about the denial of genocide inspired by the System of a Down, will open in New York City tomorrow, Friday, January 26, at AMC Empire 25 in Times Square. The address of the theatre is 234 W. 42nd St., (between 7th and 8th Avenues). For information: 212-398-3939.

IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE…
For more than 1600 years the Armenian language has served as an important component of Armenian identity, bringing together religion, culture, and history. Throughout the centuries the Armenian language has remained intact. Sixteen hundred years later it is still written and spoken in a similar manner, despite being under imperial rule of the Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and most recently the former Soviet Union. Through it all, Armenians maintained and preserved their language. While other ancient languages have disappeared or evolved into other languages, Classical Armenian evolved into Modern Armenian as written and spoken today.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Readings for today, Thursday, January 25, are Zephaniah 3:19-20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Matthew 10:23-33.

“Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.

For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click here.

NO BIBLE READINGS FOR FOUR DAYS
We are coming up to a period of four days when there are no Bible readings in the Armenian Church calendar. There are no readings beginning Monday, January 29 to Thursday, February 1. Sunday, January 28, is the Barekentan of the Fast of the Catecumens and this is traditionally a time for reflection and repentance, and a time for clergy and laity to witness their faith to the unbaptized. The Fast (Dzom, which means total abstinence) leads to the Armenian Church’s remembrance of the Prophet Jonah on Friday, February 2. Jonah’s “entombment” in the belly of the whale represents the three day burial of Jesus and Jonah’s release represents the resurrection of our Lord.

January 18, 2007
PRELACY CHURCHES MOURN DEATH OF HRANT DINK Last Sunday, January 21, parishes of the Eastern Prelacy held requiem service for Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in Istanbul on Friday. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan sent a message to all parishes and boards of trustees on this sad occasion and asked that flags be lowered to half mast. He also suggested that the sermon focus on the life and death of Hrant Dink, the heroic editor of the Armenian Turkish newspaper, Agos, who was a leading proponent for reform in Turkey. His Eminence said that a new voice has been added to the million and a half voices of the innocent martyrs seeking justice. PRELATE ATTENDS VIGIL NEAR UN Archbishop Oshagan attended the vigil that took place Tuesday evening, January 23, near the Turkish Mission to the United Nations. The event was organized by the Armenian National Committees of New York and New Jersey, with the participation of area Armenian organizations as well as a small number of Turkish activists and intellectuals. Archbishop Oshagan led a prayer service after his brief introductory remarks, as flowers were distributed to the attendees, estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 people. Addressing the gathering were Herand Markarian who stressed that Dink’s murder was an affront not only to Armenians, but all those who stand for democracy and justice. Antranig Kasbarian, in his remarks, noted that Dink was not an extremist, but a proponent of dialogue and moderation. And in this vein his murder becomes all the more heinous, indicating Turkey’s extreme intolerance of any moves toward change. Other speakers during the vigil included Curtis Sliwa, Guardian Angels founder and radio personality, and a young woman from Istanbul who knew Dink and who stated that his death is a loss for all freedom-loving people, Armenians and Turks alike. The vigil ended with a prayer offered by Archbishop Oshagan and the recitation of the Hayr Mer (Lord’s Prayer) by all in attendance, as the mourners placed flowers on the candle-lit platform in memory of Hrant Dink. CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES STATEMENT “THE VOICE OF JUSTICE CANNOT BE SILENCED…” His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, issued a message on the occasion of the assassination of Hrant Dink. The Catholicos was represented at the funeral by V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian at the funeral. His Holiness presided over requiem service for the soul of Hrant Dink at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias. The Catholicos expressed his condolences to His Beatitude Mesrob II Moutafian, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and to the Dink family, and the Armenian community of Turkey. Commenting on the tragedy, His Holiness said: “Hrant Dink was a man of faith and vision. He was a committed journalist who had the courage to question all attempts depicting the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century, as a fiction or alleged. He had the courage to challenge the present Turkey to reconcile with its past by recognizing the Armenian Genocide, planned and executed by the Turkish-Ottoman Empire. Accepting the truth and respecting human rights were prerequisite conditions for Hrant Dink, leading people and nations to reconciliation…one cannot kill the truth by physically killing the messenger. One cannot silence the voice of justice by neutralizing its advocate.” PASSING OF SARKIS ACOPIAN Archbishop Oshagan sent a message of condolence to the family of Sarkis Acopian who died last Thursday, January 18, in his home in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was 80 years old. The Prelate described Sarkis Acopian as a friend and benefactor of the Armenian Church worldwide, including the Eastern Prelacy. Mr. Acopian was a builder of churches in the United States and in Armenia, and his generosity extended not only to many Armenian organizations and institutions, but to American educational and charitable institutions as well. His Eminence extended heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Bobbye, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, on behalf of the faithful of the Eastern Prelacy. Funeral services will take place tomorrow, Friday, January 26, at noon at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese will preside. May our Lord comfort his loving family and may his memory remain bright forever. ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL TO VATICAN THIS SATURDAY Archbishop Oshagan will depart for Rome this Saturday where he will attend week-long meetings at the Vatican of the Catholic Church-Oriental Orthodox Churches Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue. The Armenian Church will be represented on behalf of the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin of All Armenians, by Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; and the Catholicosate of Cilicia by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and Bishop Nareg Alemezian. VICAR ATTENDS INTERFAITH SEMINAR; AND WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, attended a seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 23 and 24, at the Interfaith Center in Stonypoint, New York, on the “Impact of Faith on Alcohol and Drug Addiction.” Yesterday evening he attended services for a “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York City. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL MEET TOMORROW AND SATURDAY The Executive Council will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow and Saturday, January 26 and 27, at the Prelacy offices in New York City. *“SCREAMERS” WILL OPEN TOMORROW IN NEW YORK* “Screamers,” the documentary about the denial of genocide inspired by the System of a Down, will open in New York City tomorrow, Friday, January 26, at AMC Empire 25 in Times Square. The address of the theatre is 234 W. 42nd St., (between 7th and 8th Avenues). For information: 212-398-3939. IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE… For more than 1600 years the Armenian language has served as an important component of Armenian identity, bringing together religion, culture, and history. Throughout the centuries the Armenian language has remained intact. Sixteen hundred years later it is still written and spoken in a similar manner, despite being under imperial rule of the Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and most recently the former Soviet Union. Through it all, Armenians maintained and preserved their language. While other ancient languages have disappeared or evolved into other languages, Classical Armenian evolved into Modern Armenian as written and spoken today. DAILY BIBLE READINGS Readings for today, Thursday, January 25, are Zephaniah 3:19-20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Matthew 10:23-33. “Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord. For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click here. NO BIBLE READINGS FOR FOUR DAYS We are coming up to a period of four days when there are no Bible readings in the Armenian Church calendar. There are no readings beginning Monday, January 29 to Thursday, February 1. Sunday, January 28, is the Barekentan of the Fast of the Catecumens and this is traditionally a time for reflection and repentance, and a time for clergy and laity to witness their faith to the unbaptized. The Fast (Dzom, which means total abstinence) leads to the Armenian Church’s remembrance of the Prophet Jonah on Friday, February 2. Jonah’s “entombment” in the belly of the whale represents the three day burial of Jesus and Jonah’s release represents the resurrection of our Lord.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 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 11—Annual membership meeting of Holy Trinity Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. February 12, 13, 14—Joint clergy gathering on the occasion of the Ghevontiantz commemoration. Clergy of the Eastern, Western and Canadian Prelacies will meet in California. Monday evening, Divine Liturgy and Sermon at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange County; Tuesday evening, celebration of the eve of Diarantaratch at St. Mary Church in Glendale. Major themes of clergy gathering are the zeal of clergymen toward their mission, and joint projects for Christian education texts and Sunday school curricula. 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. February 25—Annual membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts. March 18—Annual Membership Meeting, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut. March 25—Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, 2 pm. Featured artists: Aleksandr Nazaryan (viola) and Serge Barseghian (basso). May 7—Prelacy Ladies Guild Mothers’ Day Luncheon, St. Regis Hotel, New York City. May 12—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, 50th anniversary concert featuring Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian. July 1-8—St. Gregory of Datev Institute, 21st annual summer Christian studies program for junior and senior high school students, at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. August 7—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual golf tournament at Blackstone Country Club. August 19—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual church picnic. September 29—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley. December 1—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual church bazaar. December 1—St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562. 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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