March 1, 2007
40th DAY REQUIEM SERVICE FOR HRANT DINK Archbishop Oshagan has directed all parishes within the Eastern Prelacy to offer a requiem service this 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 of America. The requiem service will begin at 1:30 pm, following Sunday services in the individual churches. The guest preacher at the requiem service will be The Reverend Canon Francis V. Tiso, Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Speakers during the reception/program that will follow the requiem service include Peter Steinfels, who covers religious news for the New York Times and writes the Beliefs column; Anna Kushner, coordinator of the Freedom to Write Program at PEN American Center; and Sonya Frye of the Overseas Press Club. The students of the Hovnanian School (New Jersey) will offer an audio/visual presentation about Hrant Dink. ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN URGES FAITHFUL TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM ON HOLY FIRE CEREMONY CONTROVERSY In response to a worldwide appeal issued by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Oshagan encourages everyone to voice their support of the Patriarchate on the ongoing dispute surrounding the Holy Fire Ceremony in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Holy Fire Ceremony is a religious ceremony that takes place on the Saturday of Holy Week, within the Tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Jacobite-Syrians, all participate in this miraculous Holy Saturday ceremony where the Holy Fire descends from Heaven and lights up the lamp within the Tomb of Christ. The ceremony is conducted according to precise and clear rules and arrangements, which have been in existence for hundreds of years. According to the centuries-old practice, the Greek Patriarch and Armenian Patriarch (or representative) enter the Holy Tomb together, kneel down in front of the Tomb together, and witness the miracle of the descent of the Holy Fire together. They then transfer the Holy Fire to members of the Eastern Churches through two windows located in the wall of the Angel’s Chapel. During Easter of 2002, the newly elected Greek Patriarch, Irineos I (now deposed), incited a conflict inside the Holy Tomb with the Armenian Patriarch’s representative, by demanding a change in the arrangements. Since that time the conflict has continued to escalate. The Armenian Patriarchate has made petitions and requests to the Israeli government for a decision on the matter. After five years only promises have been given without any decisions. The Patriarch is asking all Armenians to petition the Israeli government to act with a sense of duty and responsibility, and to uphold the centuries-old rights of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Archbishop Oshagan urges you to act immediately. For the names and addresses of the officials who should be contacted (via fax or email), and a sample letter click here. PRELATE AND VICAR ATTEND MEETING TODAY Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan attended a meeting today of the “Christian Arab and Middle Eastern Churches Together (CAMECT).” The participating churches meet several times during the year to discuss common concerns and to assess the situation in the Middle East. Today’s meeting took place at the headquarters of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) in New York City. Today’s meeting and luncheon was sponsored by Archbishop Oshagan, who is president of CAMECT, and was hosted by Msgr. Archimandrite Robert L. Stern, Secretary General of CNEWA. Addressing the gathering during lunch was Archbishop Celestino Migliori, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations. PRELATE WILL ATTEND AGBU CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION This Saturday evening, March 3, Archbishop Oshagan will attend the AGBU Centennial Celebration at the New York Historical Society. The event will feature an exhibit of historic photographs from the AGBU Nubarian Library in Paris. PRELATE AND VICAR WILL ATTEND ROBERT FISK LECTURE On Sunday evening, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan will attend a lecture by Robert Fisk at Town Hall, New York City. The event is organized by the Nation Institute and the Lannan Foundation, and coordinated by the ANCA.
	PRELACY LENTEN MEDITATIONS CONTINUE The second of the six Prelacy Lenten Meditations took place yesterday evening, Wednesday, February 28. The 2007 Prelacy Lenten program focuses on the seven vices and seven virtues. Last evening, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, spoke about “Envy and Brotherly Love.” Using examples from both the Old and New Testaments, Der Nareg showed the destructiveness of envy and the curative powers of love. Der Hayr urged everyone to utilize the Lenten season as a time of healing and forgiveness. Next Wednesday, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, will continue the series on the seven vices and virtues by offering his meditation on “Anger and Patience.” The annual Lenten series is sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, the St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild, and the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). All of the programs 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 in the Sanctuary; Lecture at 8 pm in Pashalian Hall, followed by a light Lenten meal and fellowship. For a complete schedule of lectures click here.
NEW VOLUMES OF LITERATURE SERIES FROM CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA Throughout the years, the publishing house of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has produced hundreds of valuable books. Chief amongst these is the series on Armenian Literature, presenting the complete writings of the authors. Five volumes have already been published. The 6th, 7th, and 8th in the series are expected to be issued within the next two months. The 6th volume (1,090 pages) includes the works of Soghomon Makenatsi, Krikoris Arsharouni, Sdepanos Sunetsi, Sahagtoukhd Sunetsi, Hovhannes Korebisgobos, Khosrovig Tarkmanitch, Ghevont Yerets, Ardavazt Vanahayr Yerashkhavor, Ishkhanian Hamazasb, Sahag Ardrouni, Yeznig Goghpatsi, Movses Khorenatsi, Yeghishe, Tavit Anhaght and Yeznig Yerets. The 7th volume (920 pages) consists of the works of Hovhan Otsnetsi and Movses Kertogh. The 8th volume (670 pages) includes all the hymns of the Armenian Church. This series is being published in collaboration with the Department of Armenian Affairs of the Gulbenkian Foundation, and is under the direct supervision of His Holiness Aram I and Dr. Zaven Yegavian, Director of the Department of Armenian Affairs of the Gulbenkian Foundation. MUSICAL ARMENIA The 2007 Musical Armenia concert will take place Sunday, March 25, 2 pm, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Tickets are $25. Featured artists are bass Serge Barseghyan (accompanied by Evan Solomon) and the Ararat Trio, comprised of Patil Harboyan, piano; Van Armenian, violin; and Hrant Parsamian, cello. Serge Barseghyan has appeared as a soloist in the United States and Europe, including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Barcelona, and Valencia. Patil Harboyan was awarded first prize at the Margo Babikian Piano Competition in Lebanon and the Armenian Allied Arts Association Competition in Los Angeles. Van Armenian has served as concertmaster of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan and of the Colorado-based National Repertory Orchestra. Hrant Parsamian was awarded highest prizes at the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition and the Olga Koussevitzky Competition. 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 purchase tickets and/or 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. 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. BUSINESSMAN FROM TAIWAN HELPS RENOVATION OF NOUBARASHEN ORPHANAGE For many years the Eastern Prelacy has sponsored the Noubarashen Orphanage in Yerevan for children with special needs. The building was built in 1970, but has been poorly maintained for decades. Thanks to the Edward Malkonian Fund, administered by the Prelacy, major renovations have been taking place during the past several years. Late last year, Steve Kao, a Taiwanese businessman, agreed to secure the funds necessary to renovate the orphanage’s primitive kitchen. He and his local Rotary Club donated $15,000, and the renovation of the kitchen was just completed. The orphanage currently houses 120 handicapped children. Mr. Kao’s only connection to Armenians is a trusted Armenian friend, Mr. Garbis Garboushian of Burlington, New Jersey, who suggested the project. Aside from this generous donation, Mr. Kao sponsors several orphans through the Prelacy’s Orphan Sponsorship Program. If you would like to sponsor an orphan click here. ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM This Saturday, March 3, the Armenian Church remembers St. Cyril (315-386) of Jerusalem, a Doctor of the Church. St. Cyril had a pleasant and conciliatory disposition, but unfortunately he lived at a time when bishops were embroiled in bitter controversies and were quick to condemn any attempts at compromise as treason. Sixteen years of his thirty-five years as a bishop were spent in exile. When a famine hit Jerusalem, he sold some of the possessions of the church to raise money for the poor people who were starving to death. He was condemned for selling church property and was banished. His best-known work that survived, The Catechetical Lectures, is believed to be one of the earliest systematic accounts of Christian theology. The lectures consist of an introductory lecture, followed by eighteen lectures on the Christian faith that were used during Lent for those preparing to be baptized on Easter, and five lectures on the sacraments to be used after Easter. The lectures have been translated into many languages including English and Armenian, and are noted for their presentation of the Christian faith in a positive light and maintaining a balance between correct belief and holy action. SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON Our journey through Great Lent continues. This Sunday, March 4, is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. The parable of the Prodigal Son is intended to show God’s fatherly love and eagerness to forgive those who repent. The well-known story describes an errant son whose absence causes pain to his father. When the son returns the father welcomes him with open arms and jubilation much to the distress of an older son who had remained faithful. But the father says, “It is fitting to make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” You can read the story of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 15, verses 11 to 32. IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE… In spite of a long history of hostile neighbors, many invasions, occupations, and persecutions, the Armenian language was not lost, assimilated or changed. Even during the many long periods without political independence, the language survived as a vigorous medium of expression and many excellent works of literature were produced. The renaissance of Armenian literature in the 19th century, for example, which produced such writers as Raffi, Sundukian, and Apovian, occurred at a time when Armenia had no political independence and had been under foreign subjugation for five centuries. Working under such oppressive conditions, the Armenian language preserved its integrity, its vigor, and its beauty of expression, and continued to bring forth literary masterpieces. The Encyclical issued by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, proclaiming 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language is on the Prelacy’s web page. To read the encyclical in Armenian click here. To read the encyclical in English click here. DAILY BIBLE READINGS Bible readings for today, March 1, are 1 Samuel 3:21-4:18; Proverbs 3:11-4:14; Jeremiah 2:31-3:16. “And you, O generation, heed the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to thee’? ... “And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they shall no more say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; it shall not be made again.” (Jeremiah 2:31-3:16). For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click here. “Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side by side with our hoping, so that the God of all the universe, as he beholds our intention, may cleanse us from our sins, fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand, and grant us the change of heart that saves. God has called you, and you have your calling.” (from The Catechetical Lectures, by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who is remembered by the Armenian Church this Saturday).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 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. March 4—“Madyan Angakhutyan,” (a documentary of Karabagh’s freedom movement and Armenia’s independence), directed by Levon Mkrtchian, sponsored by St. Gregory Church Cultural Association, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, following church service. For information 413-543-4763. March 4—Second membership meeting, St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts. 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 18—Great Lent: A Biblical Map for our Journey of Faith, by Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC, at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, following Mid-Lent traditional luncheon. For information 718-224-2275. 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 12—Armenian Dance party, St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts. 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.
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