| EARLY
CROSSROADS
Because of the Vartanantz holiday tomorrow, Crossroads is being sent to
you one day early.
TOMORROW
IS VARTANANTZ
Vartanantz—the war waged between pagan Persia and Christian Armenia
in 451—is commemorated on the Thursday preceding Great Lent. The
king of Persia ordered all Christians under his rule to abandon Christianity
and embrace Mazdeism. The Armenian clergy and ruling princes refused to
abandon their faith. Vartan Mamigonian was the leader of the Armenians
in the battle of Avarayr, and although tremendously outnumbered, the Armenians
put up a valiant defense against the Persians. Vartan and many of his
soldiers were killed, but with this battle the Persians realized the full
extent of the commitment of the Armenians to their Christian faith. In
what today would be called a “guerilla war,” the struggle
continued for more than thirty years and in 484 Vahan Mamigonian, nephew
of Vartan, successfully negotiated the Treaty of Nvarsag—the first
document in history (pre-dating the Magna Charta by 731 years) granting
the Armenians religious freedom and home rule.
PRELATE
WILL TRAVEL TO RHODE ISLAND
Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, February18,
at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island. His Eminence will
ordain altar servers Robert Nazarian (ooarageer) and Sarkis Menissian
(acolyte). Immediately after the Divine Liturgy the Prelate will
preside over the Sts. Vartanantz Day banquet in Aramian Auditorium.
VICAR
WILL GO TO ATLANTA
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will travel to Atlanta,
Georgia, where on Sunday he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the
outreach community of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Atlanta.
40th
DAY REQUIEM SERVICE FOR HRANT DINK
Archbishop Oshagan has directed all parishes within the Eastern Prelacy
to offer a requiem service on Sunday, March 4, on the occasion of the
40th day of the death of the Hrant Dink. The noted journalist was assassinated
in Istanbul last month.
In New York City, a united requiem service will take place at St. Vartan
Cathedral, 34th Street and Second Avenue, with the participation of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America; the Armenian Catholic Exarchate
of America; and the Armenian Missionary Association. The requiem service
will begin at 1:30 pm, following regular Sunday services in the individual
churches.
COUNCIL
OF CONSTANTINOPLE
This Saturday, February 17, the Armenian Church remembers the 150 Fathers
of the Council of Constantinople, the Second Ecumenical Council convened
by Emperor Theodosius in 381. It basically confirmed the work of the First
Council at Nicaea, and added five articles to the Nicene Creed regarding
the Holy Spirit, the Church, Baptism, and Resurrection. The Council of
Constantinople is one of the three ecumenical councils recognized by the
Armenian Church.
POUN
PAREGENTAN
This Sunday, February 18, is Poun Paregentan (Mardi Gras). Poun
Paregentan is the last Sunday prior to the six-week period of Great
Lent (Medz Bahk). It ushers the Faithful into the Lenten period
of fasting, penance and reconciliation. During Lent the Church takes on
a solemn appearance. The altar curtain is closed starting on the eve of
Paregentan, symbolic of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden. Holy Communion is not offered during Lent and the Faithful
are encouraged to use this period before Easter to strengthen their faith.
GREAT
LENT BEGINS ON MONDAY
Great Lent (Medz Bahk or Karasnortk) begins on Monday,
February 19. Great Lent is the longest of the fasts in the liturgical
calendar. It begins on Monday following Poon Paregentan and continues
for forty days until the Friday before the commemoration of the raising
of Lazarus, which this year is March 31. A new period of fasting begins
during Holy Week.
PRELACY
LENTEN SERIES BEGINS NEXT WEDNESDAY
The first of the six Prelacy Lenten Lectures will take place next Wednesday,
February 21. The 2007 Prelacy Lenten program will feature six lectures
on the seven vices and seven virtues. The first lecture on Pride and Humility
will be delivered by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General
of the Prelacy.
The annual Lenten series is sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, the
St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild, and the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC). All of the programs will take place at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, with the following general
schedule: Lenten Service at 7:30 pm; Lecture at 8 pm, followed by questions
and answers, a light Lenten meal, and Fellowship. For a complete schedule
of lectures click here.
AREC
MINI COURSE CONCLUDES
This past Monday, the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) completed
its 8-part Bible Study mini course on the Letter to the Hebrews. There
were 12 participants from the New York-New Jersey area. Held here at the
Armenian Prelacy on the first and third Mondays of the month from 7:15
to 8:45 pm, the course was conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director
of AREC.
The next course will be offered after Easter and it will focus on the
notion of prayer—the Bible as the basis for Christian prayer, fixed
and spontaneous prayers, personal and liturgical prayers, prayer and discipleship,
the vocabulary of prayer, the Lord’s Prayer as a paradigm for prayer.
The course will be taught by Dn. Shant. Watch for details.
MUSICAL
ARMENIA
The 2007 Musical Armenia concert will take place Sunday, March 25, at
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Tickets are $25.
Featured artists are bass Serge Barseghyan and the Ararat Trio, comprised
of Patil Harboyan, piano; Van Armenian, violin; and Hrant Parsamian, cello.
The Musical Armenia concerts have been presented since 1982. Its goal
is to showcase the talents of young Armenian artists. If you would like
to become a sponsor of this year’s Musical Armenia concert please
contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or by e-mail to sophie@armenianprelacy.org.
2007
DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
The 21st annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Christian summer studies
program will take place July 1 to 8 in Elverson, Pennsylvania. For details
click here.
TRUSTEES
OF PASHALIAN FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Pashalian Family Education Fund, administered by the Eastern Prelacy,
is dedicated to promoting and supporting the study of Armenian language,
history, culture and religion. Each year, the Fund distributes its earned
proceeds in the form of grants to Armenian schools and educational programs
in the United States and Canada. The trustees of the Fund are now accepting
requests for consideration of grants awarded for 2007. For information
about the application procedure contact the Eastern Prelacy at email@armenianprelacy.org
(attention: Iris Papazian).
The Pashalian Fund was established in 1992 in memory of John Pashalian,
who died in an accident in 1973.
IN
CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE…
The famous French philologist, Antoine Meillet, an authority on Armenian
linguistics, has written that the system of the Armenian alphabet is a
masterpiece, each of the phonemes (basic sounds) of the language having
its own letter. He also stated that the system is so well founded that
it has provided the Armenian nation with an alphabet which has been maintained
to this day without undergoing any alteration or needing any improvement.
The Pontifical Message issued by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, proclaiming 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language
is now on the Prelacy’s web page. To read the mesaage in Armenian
click here. To read
the message in English click here.
40TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN
The 40th anniversary of the ordination of our Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, will take place in three different regions as follows:
May 5—In the New England area in Providence, Rhode Island.
May 12—In the Mid-Atlantic area in Teaneck, New Jersey.
May 18—In the Mid-West in Dearborn, Michigan, during the National
Representative Assembly.
Watch for details.
DAILY
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, February 14 (Presentation of the Lord to the
Temple), are: Isaiah 24:21-25:8; Acts 7:47-50; Galatians 4:1-7; Luke 2:41-52.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast
of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according
to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing
him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought
him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find
him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found
him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking
them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding
and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother
said to him, Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and
I have been looking for you anxiously. And he said to them, How is it
that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s
house? And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased
in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
(Luke 2:41-52)
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
here.
PRESIDENTS’
DAY
This Monday, February 19, is Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday
in the United States, which originally intended to replace the February
22nd federal holiday known as Washington’s birthday. In 1968, legislation
was enacted that changed several federal holidays, including Washington’s
birthday. The holiday was shifted to the third Monday of February, providing
a three-day weekend. Gradually, it became popularly known as “Presidents’
Day” and celebrated the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln, and
to a lesser degree all other presidents. Unfortunately, it is best known
today as a day for sales at shopping malls. |
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
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—Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine
Night, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
February
21 to March 28—2007 Prelacy Lenten Program, to be held
at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Wednesday evenings
during Great Lent. Lenten service at 7:30 pm; Lecture and Q/A at 8 pm;
Lenten meal and fellowship at 8:45 pm. Theme: Seven Vices and Seven Virtues.
For further information click here.
February
25—Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, Granite City,
Illinois.
March
4—Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts.
March
4—Membership meeting, St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts.
March
4—Membership meeting, St. Illuminator Cathedral, New York
City.
March
4—Membership meeting, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey.
March
18—Membership meeting, St. Stephen Church, New Britain,
Connecticut.
March
25—Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall,
2 pm. Sponsored by Prelacy Ladies Guild. Featured performers are: vocalist
Serge Barseghyan (bass); and Ararat Trio (Van Armenian, violin; Paul Harboyan,
piano; Hrant Parsamian, cello).
April
1—Ladies Guild Annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale, St. Stephen’s
Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
April
14—Ladies Guild Comedy Night featuring Mel Gibson, Meze
and dessert will be served, St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
For information, 617-924-7562.
May
5—40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan in the New England area will take place in Providence, Rhode
Island.
May
6—30th anniversary of St. Illuminator’s Armenian
Day School, Terrace on the Park, Corona, New York, at 5 pm.
May
7—Prelacy Ladies Guild Mothers’ Day Luncheon, St.
Regis Hotel, New York City.
May
12—40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan in Mid Atlantic area will take place at the Marriott at Glenpointe,
Teaneck, New Jersey.
May
12—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, 50th anniversary
concert featuring Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian.
May
16-19—National Representative Assembly (NRA) hosted by
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan. Clergy conference begins May 16;
NRA begins May 17.
May
18—40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan in Midwest will take place at the National Representative Assembly.
May
20—“Hello Ellis Island” and Reception, St.
Stephen’s Church Hall, Watertown, Massachusetts. $20 per person.
Information, 617-924-7562.
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. For information
click here.
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
9—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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