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.
PRELATE IN NEW JERSEY
This Sunday, March 11, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, will preside over
the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
VICAR IN WORCESTER
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, will visit the parish of Holy
Trinity Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, this weekend.
CATHOLICOS ARAM EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE
BETWEEN ORIENTAL ORTHODOX AND EASTERN ORTHODOX
His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel, representing the Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew, met with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, and
the Catholicosate’s ecumenical officer, Bishop Nareg Alemezian,
in Antelias, Lebanon. Metropolitan Emmanuel was delegated by His Holiness
Bartholomew, to explore with the Catholicos the possibilities of resuming
the theological dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox
family of churches that started in 1985 and last met in 1993. The Catholicos
emphasized the unique importance of this dialogue. “The solid foundation
of common basis was already laid down in this theological dialogue. Basic
Christological issues have been discussed, but there is still a long way
to go. We need more discussion in respect to a number of matters pertaining
to our theology, liturgy, canons and traditions. I understand that in
both families there are a few churches that have still some reservations
concerning this theological rapprochement between our two families. We
must take their approaches and concerns seriously and proceed carefully,”
Catholicos Aram said.
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:
On Saturday, May 5, the first of the three celebrations will take place
at The Marriott in Providence, Rhode Island, with the participation of
all of the parishes in New England, Connecticut, and Troy, New York.
On Saturday, May 12, the second celebration will take place at the The
Marriott at Glenpointe, in Teaneck, New Jersey, with the participation
of all of the parishes in the Mid Atlantic, which includes New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.
The final celebration will take place during the National Representative
Assembly (NRA) which is being hosted by St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn,
Michigan. This will take place on Friday, May 18, at Double Tree Hotel
in Dearborn, with the participation of the parishes in the Mid-West, as
well as the NRA delegates and guests.
SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD
Our journey through Great Lent continues. This Sunday, March 11, is the
Sunday of the Steward (Tntesi Kiraki). The reading on this day
is from the Gospel of Luke (chapter 16, verses 1 to 8) which relates the
parable of The Unrighteous Steward. This parable is about a rich man and
his steward. The steward was one who looked out for his own personal benefit
and through his cunning arrangements made deals with those who were in
debt to his master. Jesus used this parable not to condone the behavior
of the steward but rather as an illustration of qualities that have a
necessary place in the life of true disciples. Since we are stewards of
this world, we are accountable to our Lord for the talents we have and
the things that have been entrusted to our care.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus used parables as a teaching tool. His parables
were common stories, usually short and always interesting. Generally,
the stories were used to convey important moral and ethical messages.
Some of the parables were simple and easy to understand. Others were more
complex and challenging.
SAINTS REMEMBERED THIS SATURDAY
This Saturday, March 10, the Armenian Church remembers Hovhan Odznetsi,
Hovhan Vorodnetsi, and Krikor Datevatsi.
Hovhan Odznetsi (St. John of Otsoon) was catholicos between
717 and 728 which was a period when Armenia was under Arab rule. He defended
Armenians from forced conversion and was successful in securing the right
of worship for Armenian Christians. He was also successful in receiving
tax-exempt status for the church. He received the title of philosopher
and was educated in the Hellenic school of thought.
Hovhan Vorotnetsi (St. John of Vorotan) was born in 1315.
Following his ordination he served at the monasteries of Kailitzor and
Datev. He dedicated most of his efforts toward the preservation of the
orthodox faith, and against the attempt to merge the Armenian Church with
the Latin Church. He wrote commentaries on the Gospel of John and the
epistles of St. Paul.
Krikor Datevatsi (St. Gregory of Datev), born in 1346
in the province of Vayotz Tzor, is the best known of the three. He was
a student of John of Vorotan and a great defender of the character of
the Armenian Church. He was a brilliant scholar; he knew Latin fluently
and had studied the Greek philosophers extensively. He is regarded to
be the greatest teacher of the Armenian Church. His most famous work is
the Book of Questions (Kirk Hartsmants), which examines
questions of faith. He is also credited with setting a new high standard
for preaching. He is often referred to as “the second Gregory the
Illuminator.”
NEXT WEDNEDAY IS MEDIAN DAY OF LENT
Next Wednesday, March 14, is the median day of Lent (Meechink).
It is the 24th day of Lent and it occurs on the Wednesday of the fourth
week. Although it does not have any specific religious significance, this
mid-point day has been traditionally marked as a special occasion. It
often features gatherings of fellowship and friendship and the sharing
of a Lenten meal.
AREC DIRECTOR WILL LECTURE AT ST. SARKIS
Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC) will lecture at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, on Sunday,
March 18, following the Mid-Lent traditional luncheon prepared and served
by the Ladies Guild. Dn. Shant’s topic is, “Great Lent: A
Biblical Map for our Journey of Faith.” For information contact
the church office, 718-224-2275.
ARMENIAN CHURCHES SPORTS ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS
Championship games of the Armenian Churches Sports Association (ACSA)
will take place this Sunday, March 11, at Hackensack Middle School, Hackensack,
New Jersey, with the following schedule: 1 pm, Men, Saints Vartanantz
vs. St. Sarkis; 2:30 pm Juniors, St. Leon vs. Sts. Vartanantz; 4:00 pm,
Girls, St. Leon vs. Armenian Protestant Church; 5:30 pm, Seniors, St.
Leon vs. St. Sarkis.
In addition to the above teams, the league includes teams from the parishes
of St. Mary, St. Thomas, and Holy Martyrs.
IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE…
“St. Mesrob did not fall victim to collective excitement; neither
did he try to be satisfied with his laurels. After the translation of
the Bible, that apostolic saint which had propelled him to inventing the
Armenian alphabet this time led him to the lands of the Georgians and
the [Caucasian] Albanians and subsequently to the most distant corners
of Armenia, always zealously preaching the gospel and spreading the word
of God to the multitudes. With the same attentiveness, in turn, he would
visit the Greek part of Armenia and create among the different masses
of politically divided Armenians that unbreakable chain, which was the
Armenian culture and by which our people knew how to live and survive,
maintaining its spiritual independence through fire and sword which, alas,
would constantly be at risk, constantly reach the edge of the abyss, only
to always emerge triumphant.”
(Excerpt from a Sermon delivered by Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian on the
Feast of the Translators in the church of Oshagan, Armenia, on October
12, 1979).
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 on the Prelacy’s web page. To read the
message in Armenian click here.
To read the message in English click here.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, March 8, are Isaiah 45:17-25; Ephesians 3:14-4:13.
But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation;
you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. For thus
says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth
and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed
it to be inhabited!) “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I did
not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring
of Jacob, ‘Seek me in chaos.’ I the Lord speak the truth,
I declare what is right. Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together,
you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their
wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. Declare and
present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long
ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other
god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.
Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and
there is no other. By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth
in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee
shall bow, every tongue shall swear.’ Only in the Lord, it shall
be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be
ashamed, all who were incensed against him. In the Lord all the offspring
of Israel shall triumph and glory. Isaiah 45:17-25
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
here.
AND…DON’T
FORGET…DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
This Sunday, March 11, we switch to Daylight Saving Time (three weeks
earlier than normal). Don’t forget to advance your clocks ahead
by one hour (spring forward; fall back). Congress made this decision as
a supposed energy-saving move.
