PRELATE AND
VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO NEW ENGLAND
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan will travel this Sunday to preside
and participate at the Blessing of the Grapes of Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, which will take place at Camp Haiastan in Franklin, Massachusetts.
BIBLE TRANSLATION
CONTINUES
From New England the Prelate and Vicar will travel to Montreal, Canada,
where they will join Bishop Khajag Hagopian for a one-week working session
on their Bible translation project.
ROUBIG MELIK-VARTANIAN
We note with sorrow the passing of Dr. Roubig Melik-Vartanian, a pillar
of the Prelacy, who has served as a delegate to the World Assembly, delegate
to the National Representative Assembly, and chairman of the Board of
Trustees of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York.
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the funeral and burial services on Monday,
August 6, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. He was assisted by the
Vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral,
Rev. Archpriest Moushegh Der Kaloustian, Pastor Emeritus of the Cathedral,
and Deacon Shant Kazanjian. Interment was at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Flushing,
New York.
We express condolences to his widow, Mrs. Gemma Vartanian, and their children.
EVENT SPOTLIGHTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
A special event dedicated to the environment, its abuse, pollution and
the need to protect it was held at the Theological Seminary in Bikfaya,
Lebanon, on August 2. Dr. Berdj Hadjian, a senior official in the Lebanese
Ministry of Environment was invited to attend. His Holiness Catholicos
Aram I highlighted the environmental issues that are causing widespread
concern in the world. He approached the issue of preserving the universe’s
natural wealth from a theological perspective. He considered that a careful
treatment of the world that has been entrusted to human care is important
as a symbol of loyalty to God. Two documentary videos were shown about
the global efforts to protect the environment and climate and the environmental
damage Lebanon has suffered.
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:
THE ARMENIAN
LANGUAGE
By Vahan Tekeyan
The Armenian language is an
orchard where I walk
under green trees growing in the shadow of the past.
The words are clustered fruit I pick one by one.
My Armenian language is a garden
I love, that grows
beside a ruined palace; heavy boughs
alive with the flow of sap and sun.
I walk the shade of fruit trees
and admire
their arching branches, their wide roots
amazed how they weathered the storms
that felled the vast countryside.
I hold rounded words, fruits
both tart
and sweet with juices uncounted suns made ripe;
words that anoint the lips, bless the palate
and give comfort to the heart.
Translated by Diana Der Hovanessian
and Marzbed Margossian
DAILY BIBLE
READINGS
Bible readings for today, August 9, are: 1 Corinthians 15:34-49; Mark
3:20-30.
…and the crowd came together again, so that they could
not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him,
for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And
the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,
and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called
them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast
out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot
stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be
able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s
house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man;
then indeed the house can be plundered. “Truly I tell you, people
will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an eternal sin”—for they had said, “He
has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:20-30
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
here.
FEAST OF ASSUMPTION
AND BLESSING OF GRAPES
This Sunday, August 12, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of
the Assumption (Verapokhoum) of the Holy Mother of God and the Blessing
of the Grapes. Although in modern Armenian Verapokhoum means “change
again,” in classical Armenian it means “transport up.”
According to tradition, Mary, mother of Christ, died and was buried by
the apostles. The apostle Bartholomew, who was not present at her funeral,
wished to visit her grave, but when the gravestone was lifted they were
surprised to find that the body had disappeared. It was believed that
Christ had come and taken His mother to the Heavenly Kingdom. Based on
this event, the Church Fathers established the Feast of the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the five tabernacle feast
days in the Armenian Church’s liturgical calendar. It is celebrated
on the Sunday closest to August 15. Traditionally it includes a week of
fasting prior to the date and a memorial day (remembrance of the dead)
the following day.
Because Bartholomew was very fond of the Holy Mother, the Apostle John
gave him an image of her (which she had given to John). Bartholomew took
this image with him to Armenia to Darbnots Kar in the province of Antsev,
Vaspourakan (Western Armenia) where a convent for nuns, Hagyatz Vank (Monastery
for the Spirits) was built and where the icon was kept. Most images of
Bartholomew show him holding this icon.
The concept of the Virgin Mary’s Assumption is an old one as seen
in sacred prose and poetry dedicated to the Holy Mother. However, it did
not become a basic doctrine of the church until the ninth century and
it was in the twelfth century that the feast was called “The Assumption.”
After the Divine Liturgy, the Blessing of Grapes takes place. There is
no relationship between the Feast of the Virgin Mary and the Blessing
of Grapes. Similar to other feast days, it coincides with a pagan era
festival, which the Church Fathers incorporated into the church calendar.
The hymn Park Sourp Khatcheet (Glory to Your Sacred Cross) is sung; Biblical
passages are recited, followed by a prayer composed by Catholicos Nerses
Shnorhali specifically for this occasion. After the prayer, the grapes
are blessed three times with Orhnestsee Bahbanestsee and then the blessed
grapes are distributed to the Faithful, many of whom refrain from eating
grapes until this blessing takes place.
Certainly we can say that the Blessing of the Grapes commemoration is
a celebration of the fruitfulness of the earth. Grapes are one of the
oldest cultivated plants in the world, and according to biblical history,
Noah planted a vineyard immediately after disembarking from the Ark (Genesis,
chapter 9) in Nakhichevan. And, of course, the wine of the Divine Liturgy
comes from grapes.
“Bless, O Lord, the grape
plants and vineyards from which these grapes are taken and presented to
the holy church, and make them bountiful and fruitful; let them be like
good and fertile land, protect the vineyards from all kinds of misfortunes
and destruction which come from above because of our sins, from hail,
from cold, from hot winds, and from destructive insects, so that we may
enjoy that which You have created in this world for our enjoyment and
for Your glory, and grant that we may be worthy to eat and drink with
You from the bounty of Your most fruitful vine at the table of Your Father’s
Kingdom, according to the just promise which You made, to the honor and
glory of Your coexisting Trinity, the Father, the Son and the most Holy
Spirit to whom is due glory, power and honor, now and forever. Amen.”
Prayer written by Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali for the Blessing of the
Grapes.
SERVICE TELEVISED
FROM LEBANON
A very inspiring Feast of the Assumption service takes place each year
at the St. Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Situated in the
mountains of Lebanon, amidst fruit orchards and vineyards, the Monastery
becomes a place of pilgrimage for the Faithful on this weekend.
The services are being televised on Saturday, August 11, 12 noon (eastern
daylight saving time) through NOURSAT. For information about reception
contact the Dish Network at 1-800-984-3388. Information is also available
at the following link: http://www.telelumiere.com/eng/connected.html
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| CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
August
12—Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Divine
Liturgy and Blessing of the Grapes St. Illuminator’s Cathedral,
New York City. Luncheon, organized and prepared by the Cathedral’s
Ladies Guild, will follow the services. For information 212-689-5880.
August
12—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual
church picnic at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts. For information
401-831-6399.
August
12—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Annual
church picnic and Blessing of the Grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion
D, Paramus, New Jersey. For information 201-943-2950.
August
12—Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Feast of the Holy Mother of God, Blessing of Grapes and annual picnic.
For information: 508-852-2414.
August
12—St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin. Feast of the Assumption
of the Holy Mother of God, Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Grapes.
Picnic will follow church services.
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
9—St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut, annual
picnic at Quartette Club grounds, New Britain.
September
9—St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New
York. Annual picnic on the church grounds following church services. For
information 718-224-2275.
September
15—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, “The
Moon*The Stars*and All that Jazz.” An evening of music and mezze
under the stars, presented by the Ladies Guild. For information 845-735-8713
or 201-445-6867.
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
7—St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut, 82nd Anniversary
banquet, Marriott Hotel, Rocky Hill, Connecticut.
October
7—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, “Hello
Ellis Island,” the latest production of The Way We Were Troupe,
hosted by the Ladies Guild, 1 pm. Lunch served. For information 201-943-2950.
October
18, 19, 20, 21—Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland,
Annual Food Festival and Bazaar.
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
11—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.
November
17—Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 43rd Anniversary
Banquet.
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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