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12th ANNIVERSARY
OF ANOINTMENT AND ENTHRONMENT
OF CATHOLICOS ARAM I THIS SUNDAY
The 12th anniversary of the anointment and enthronement of His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be celebrated throughout
the Eastern Prelacy with special services offering good wishes for the
Pontiff (Hairabedakan Maghtank), this Sunday, July 1.
PRELATE WILL
BE IN NEW JERSEY
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, will preside over the Divine
Liturgy and officiate over the special services marking the 12th anniversary
of the anointment and enthronement of Catholicos Aram I, at Sts. Vartanantz
Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, July 1.
VICAR WILL
BE IN PHILADELPHIA
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, will attend the Divine Liturgy at
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia this Sunday, July 1.
Immediately thereafter he will travel to Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the
beginning of the St. Gregory of Datev Institute.
21ST ANNUAL
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
Seventy-seven students (mostly ages 13-18) from thirteen parishes, and
eight clergymen, will gather at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, on Sunday, July 1, for the 21st annual weeklong St. Gregory
of Datev Institute Summer Program, under the directorship of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian.
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the Prelacy,
the Summer Program offers a unique opportunity for our youth to learn
the essentials of Armenian Christianity in a wholesome and nurturing environment.
Each day the program begins with Morning Service from 7:15am-7:45am. Four
classes are held from 8:30am to 12:30pm. In the afternoons, the students
enjoy recreational activities, such as volleyball, soccer, basketball,
and swimming. In addition, there will be occasional excursions to the
French Creek Park for canoeing, to a movie theatre, and historical sites.
In the evenings, there is a general lecture from 7:30 to 8:20, followed
by three concurrent Bible studies from 8:30-9:30 for different age groups.
The day comes to a close with the Compline Service (Husgoom)
from 9:45-10:30pm.
The Instructors of the Institute this year are: Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Khoren Habeshian, Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant
Kazanjian, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Arsen Mekaelian, Ms. Jeanette Nazarian,
and Ms. Nayiri Baljian.
This year the Institute is privileged to have two guest instructors: Rev.
Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages
at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (New York, Crestwood),
and Rev. Dr. George Leylegian.
For more information about the Datev Institute, please visit the Prelacy
website at http://www.armenianprelacy.org/datev.htm
or contact the AREC office at 212 689-4481.
SEMINAR ON
BOOK OF REVELATIONS DURING DATEV
A three-hour seminar on the Orthodox understanding of the Book of Revelations
will be presented by Father Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament at
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, on Saturday, July
7, during the Datev program at St. Mary of Providence Center, Elverson,
Pennsylvania. Father Tarazi is a member of the faculty of the Datev Institute.
This seminar is open to all and is sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC) and the Christian Education Committee
of St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia.
Father Tarazi, a specialist in Scriptural studies in Old and New Testament
and Biblical Hebrew, is noted for his dynamic speaking style and his ability
to hold an audience’s interest while explaining complex issues.
He has written several commentaries on the Bible including one on the
Book of Revelations.
Registration is required. Fees are nominal. For details click
here.
CILICIAN SEMINARY
CONCLUDES ACADEMIC YEAR
Graduation ceremonies concluded the 77th academic year of the Theological
Seminary of the Holy See of Cilicia. The ceremony took place June 21 in
Bikfaya, Lebanon, where the Seminary is located, under the auspices of
His Holiness Aram I.
V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, dean of the Seminary, presented the graduates
to His Holiness, who conferred the diplomas. In his message he stressed
the importance of being high expectations and encouraged the graduates
to be attentive to quality, preserving the spirit that the Seminary gave
them which they should take to various areas of their future service.
IN CELEBRATION
OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE…
To read the message of His Holiness in Armenian click
here.
To read the message of His Holiness in English click
here.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language. In celebration of
this year-long tribute, each week we will offer an interesting tidbit
about the Armenian language and literature:
Today, June 28, as noted below, is one of two days in the Armenian liturgical
calendar honoring the Holy Translators.
Catholicos Sahag Bartev was the son of St. Nerses the Great. He received
his primary and higher education in Caesarea and Byzantium. He was a very
learned and literary person who guided Armenia’s Golden Age following
the invention of the Armenian alphabet. He was a mentor and supporter
of St. Mesrob in his quest for an alphabet.
St. Mesrob was born in the province of Daron. He learned Greek and Persian
at an early age, and came to realize the vital need of an alphabet for
the Armenian language. According to tradition, while meditating in a cave
near the town of Palu, he had a vision where “the hand of God wrote
the alphabet in letters of fire.”
The first words to be translated into Armenian were from the Book of Proverbs:
“That you may know wisdom and instruction, and understand words
of insight….” (Proverbs 1:2)
DAILY BIBLE
READINGS
Bible readings for today, July 1, are: Isaiah 2:5-11; Romans 9:30-10:4;
Matthew 13:24-30.
What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for
righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith;
but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the
law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. Why not? Because they did
not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works.
They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “See
I am laying in Zion’s stone that will make people stumble, a rock
that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him will not be put
to shame.”
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them
is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God,
but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that
comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted
to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that
there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans
9:30-10:4
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
here.
HOLY TRANSLATORS
SAINTS SAHAG AND MESROB
Today, June 28, the Armenian Church remembers the Holy Translators, Sts.
Sahag Bartev and Mesrob Mashtots. The feasts dedicated to the Holy Translators
are among the most popular and beloved celebrations for the Armenians.
Their lives are commemorated two times during the liturgical year, on
the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (which is today),
and on the second Saturday of October.
KING TIRIDATES,
QUEEN ASHKHEN, PRINCESS KHOSROVITOUKHT
This Saturday, June 30, the Armenian Church celebrates King Tiridates
(Drtad), Queen Ashkhen, and Princess Khosrovitoukht. After torturing and
condemning St. Gregory to the pit and because of his fatal treatment of
the Hripsimeyan nuns, King Tiridates became inflicted with strange maladies.
His wife, Ashkhen, and his sister, Khosrovitoukht (who had already secretly
accepted Christianity) convinced the king that only Gregory could cure
him. Gregory was released from the pit. With the king’s subsequent
recovery, all three helped to spread Christianity throughout the land.
In their later years, the queen and the princess lived in the fortress
of Garni and the king retired to St. Gregory’s final place of retreat,
Mt. Sebouh.
NEW ON THE
PRELACY WEB PAGE
Photographs from the three celebrations in honor of the 40th anniversary
of the ordination of Archbishop Oshagan. Click
here.
Press release and photographs from the National Representative Assembly.
Click here.
THE FOURTH
OF JULY
Next Wednesday, July 4, we celebrate the 231st anniversary of the United
States Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old
when he wrote the draft of the Declaration of Independence as a member
of a committee that included John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Some changes
were made, but the final document remained primarily the work of Jefferson.
It was the most daring document every produced at a time when it was unheard
of a fledgling, divided country made up of thirteen separate colonies
having the boldness (some would say audacity) to produce a document against
the most powerful country of the time with demands for “certain
unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness.”
Every American should read this document once a year. July 4th would be
the perfect time.
REMEMBERING CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
Tomorrow, June 29, is the 8th anniversary of the passing of His Holiness
Karekin I, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians, 1995 to
1999; Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia from 1977 to 1995; and
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1973 to 1977.
“Throughout
the duration of the life of any Christian, he or she remains a child or
child-like. That is to say, a Christian is always a student. Childhood
is not only a matter of age, just as learning is not only a matter of
the school term or year. Education is an indispensable part of our everyday
life. In the same way, learning the Christian faith is not a matter of
a desk or classroom…. Everything is changeable in the world, except
the breath of God and His mark is within all of us. Those who seek it
will find it. Christ said, the sky and country will end, but my words
will never end.”
Karekin I (1999)
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Calendar
of Events
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.
July
7—St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, gathering
at the home of the parish priest, Rev. Father Bedros Shetilian.
July
9 to July 20—St. Sarkis Church Summer Camp, Douglaston,
New York, for ages 5 to 12. Prayers and hymns, Armenian classes, introduction
to the bible, arts and crafts, sports, and much more. Monday to Friday,
10 a.m. to 3:00 pm. Lunch and snack will be served. Summer camp is sponsored
by Mr. and Mrs. Antranig and Marion Boudakian. Enrollment limited to 30
students. Registration deadline June 5. Minimum donation $75. For information,
718-224-2275.
July
21—Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Providence, Rhode
Island, and ARS Ani Chapter present “A Hye Summer Night 2.”
For information 401-286-8107.
August
7—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual golf tournament at Blackstone Country Club. For information www.armenianchurchofwhit.org
or 508-234-3677.
August
12—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual
church picnic at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts. For information
401-831-6399.
August
19—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual church picnic. For information www.armenianchurchofwhit.org or
508-234-3677.
September
9—Annual picnic of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley
at American Legion Grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
September
25—Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
4th annual golf outing at Juniper Hill Golf Course, Northboro, Massachusetts.
Registration at 8 am. Tee off at 9 am. $125 includes golf cart, dinner
and prizes. For information 508-852-2414.
September
27—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 5th
Annual Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
Registration begins at 11 a.m. and tee time at 1 p.m. For information,
201-943-2950.
September
29—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
50th anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley. For information www.armenianchurchofwhit.org
or 508-234-3677.
October
21—St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, celebrating
the 20th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, under
the auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan. For information www.saintgregory-philly.org
or 215-482-9200.
November
4—37th anniversary of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley
and ordination of Nishan Dagley to the office of acolyte and stole bearer.
Presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General
of the Prelacy.
November
10-11—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
annual “Armenian Fest,” at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston,
Rhode Island. For information 401-831-6399.
December
1—Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual church bazaar. For information www.armenianchurchofwhit.org or
508-234-3677.
December
9—St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
50th anniversary celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.
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