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50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF WHITINSVILLE CHURCH
This weekend the parish of Saint Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville,
Massachusetts will celebrate the church’s 50th anniversary. His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will attend the 50th anniversary banquet on
Saturday evening and on Sunday he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and
offer the sermon.
MID
ATLANTIC CLERGY MEETING
The clergy serving the Mid Atlantic area will meet this Monday, October
1, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The meeting will be presided by the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, with
the participation of the Vicar, Bishop Anoushavan. Last Monday a similar
meeting took place for the New England area clergy.
VICAR WILL
VISIT HOLY CROSS CHURCH
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will preside
over the Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church in Troy,
New York, this Sunday, September 30. His Grace will deliver the sermon.
BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
WILL TRAVEL TO VENEZUELA
Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Venezuela next Thursday, October 4, for
the 40th Anniversary of the Armenian Church in Caracas, Iglesia Apostolica
Armenia. His Grace, who is Vicar of the Prelacy and the Ecumenical Officer
in the United States for the Catholicosate of Cilicia, will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon on Sunday, October 7.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS
A conference for Sunday school teachers will take place October 26-28
at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a Coptic Orthodox Retreat
Center in Charlton, Massachusetts. The theme of the conference is “Prayer—Personal
and Communal,” and will feature presentations by Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Ph.D., Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Dr. Mary
Olson. A modest fee of $60 covers all expenses including lodging for two
nights, five meals and refreshments. For detailed information click
here.
Archbishop Oshagan has advised all parishes to make every effort to maximize
participation in this important conference. Noting that the registration
fee has been kept at a nominal minimum, the Prelate urged the pastors
and boards of trustees to encourage their Sunday school teachers to attend.
Underlining the importance of such conferences, he suggests that if a
large number of their teachers plan to attend, the parish should close
its Sunday School on October 28.
NEW SERIES
OF BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
A new five-part series of Bible studies (“from Jesus’ meals
with sinners to the Lord’s Supper”) will take place at the
Prelacy beginning on October 16 and continue on the first and third Tuesdays
of the month, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm. Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) will conduct the Bible studies.
For information and registration, send email to arec@armenianprelacy.org
or telephone 212-689-7810.
ARCHBISHOP
OF CANTERBURY WILL VISIT ANTELIAS
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, the leader of the Anglican
Church, will visit the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon,
tomorrow, Friday, September 28. The Archbishop will first hold a private
meeting with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. They will later be joined
by representatives of the Holy See of Cilicia and the Anglican Church.
The Archbishop’s visit to Lebanon is one of several official visits
to a number of countries including the United States, Israel, Palestine,
Armenia, and Syria.
CATHOLICOSATE
OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES
IN WCC INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS MEETING
The World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Commission of the Churches
on International Affairs convened in Geneva from September 11-13. Vana
Kitsinian, Esq., represented the Catholicosate at the meeting. The participants
discussed various religious, social and political issues affecting churches
and the world in general and outlined the positions of the WCC on these
issues and the Council’s future steps.
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:
It is believed that the oldest example of Armenian writing in existence
is in the Holy Land—a 6th century Musrara Mosaic which is in the
chapel of St. Polyeuktos in Jerusalem near the Damascus Gate. The inscription
above the mosaic is: “For the memorial and salvation of all the
Armenians, whose names the Lord know.”
Not very familiar with the saint this chapel is dedicated, we googled
“St. Polyeuktos,” and this is what came up: “St. Polyeuktos
lived during the reign of Emperors Decius and Vallerian in 255. He knew
well the art of warfare and used to live in the Armenian city of Melitine
[modern Malatya]. He was the first to suffer martyrdom in this city. An
impious law was pronounced that ordered Christians to deny Christ. Whoever
was not convinced ought to be punished with death. Without losing his
nerve at all, Polyeuktos preached Christ openly and with his great courage
and valour he smashed the idols which the Greeks respected. Although his
father-in-law advised him to deny Christ and his wife was crying and lamenting
for him, he persevered and neither was he convinced by his father-in-law’s
advice nor did he sympathize with his wife’s wailing. Instead, he
kept his promises and what he had agreed with his friend Nearkhos, who
was afraid and suspected that he would deny the faith of Christ. So, he
stayed firm and would not be moved from the confession faith. Because
of this he died by the sword and rose to heavens.”
DAILY BIBLE
READINGS
Bible readings for today, September 27, are: Wisdom 10:9-12; Malachi 2:5-7;
1 Peter 5:1-7; John 10:11-16.
My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being,
which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood
in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was
found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and
he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge,
and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger
of the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 2:5-7)
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
here.
ST. GEORGE
THE COMMANDER
This weekend the Armenian Church commemorates St. George (Kevork) and
celebrates the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak.
This Saturday, September 29, the church remembers St. George the Commander.
Although we do not have extant information about him, St. George remains
a popular hero among all Christians. He is considered to be the patron
saint of soldiers and boy scouts. As in so many other instances, the Armenians
have given St. George an Armenian national character. The name George
(Kevork) became popular beginning in the 5th century. There are many large
churches named in his honor. Perhaps the one best know to us here at the
Eastern Prelacy is Sourp Kevork of Moughni, the monastery in Armenia that
the late Archbishop and Prelate Mesrob Ashjian adoped and restored with
the help of his generous friends in the United States and Canada. The
monastery was founded in the 13th century by the brotherhood of Hovhannavank,
bringing with them the relics of St. George, a third century Roman general
who defied the policy of persecuting Christians and urged others to follow
his example. It was at this monastery that Simeon the Elder produced a
beautifully decorated Gospel in 1280 that is known as the Moughni Gospel.
Each year on this holiday the Gospel is brought from the Matenadaran (Manuscript
Museum) in Yerevan to Moughni for a special service. The entire Moughni
complex stands today in tribute to our ancestors and testimony to the
dedication and patronage of Archbishop Mesrob.
HOLY CROSS
OF VARAK
This Sunday, September 30, we observe the Holy Cross of Varak, a feast
unique to the Armenian Church. The Hripsimiantz Virgins, after coming
to Armenia, lived near Mount Varak. Hripsime always carried a small wooden
cross believed to have been made from a piece of the true cross. One day,
in order to escape persecution, she found refuge on the mountain where
she hid the cross among the rocks before fleeing to Vagharshapat. According
to tradition, in the year 653, a hermit named Todik found Hripsime’s
hidden cross. He followed a brilliant light that illuminated the mountain
that guided him inside the church to the altar where he found a fragment
of the cross. The light shone for twelve days. In memory of this event,
Catholicos Nerses established the Feast of the Cross of Varak. He also
wrote the beautiful hymn, “By the Sign of Your All Powerful Holy
Cross,” (Nshanav Amenahaght Khatchit).
Mount Varak is located in the southeastern region of Van in historic Armenia.
There, in honor of the Cross, the monastery of Saint Nishan was built
on the site where Hripsime hid her cross. This monastery was a very popular
site for pilgrims. In recent years some travelers have been able to make
the pilgrimage to Varakavank. The once thriving Monastery is in ruins.
CHOOKASIAN
ARMENIAN ENSEMBLE ON EAST COAST
The acclaimed Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble is making several appearances
on the East Coast late September and October. This award winning group
is composed of talented conservatory musicians from Armenia and the United
States.
For dates and venues go to www.chookasian.com or contact John Chookasian,
559-213-1909.
THE WAR
On this weekend when our liturgical calendar remembers St. George, the
patron saint of soldiers, you might want to watch the excellent mini-series
on public television entitled The War, by the award-winning producer of
documentaries, Ken Burns. It is the story of the U.S. (through the eyes
of four towns) during World War II, and is very much the story of the
soldiers. The first four episodes aired this week on separate nights.
Most PBS stations are planning to repeat the first four episodes this
Saturday. The final three episodes will be shown next week beginning Sunday.
If you did not see these programs we recommend that you watch the repeats
on Saturday. |
| CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
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.
September
30—Sunday School Reunion. St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts. Current and former teachers and students are invited to
attend this reunion following the Divine Liturgy. Light lunch served.
Reservations required. 617-924-7562.
September
27 to November 29—Christian Education classes at Sourp
Khatch Church in Bethesda, Maryland, 8 pm in the church sanctuary. Topic:
The Badarak. Classes held second and fourth Thursdays of each month, except
Thanksgiving week when classes will take place Friday. Armenian and English.
Prior attendance is not a requisite. For information: 301-229-8742.
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
14—St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Celebration
of the Year of the Armenian Language. Cultural program and Book Fair following
the Divine Liturgy. For information 212-689-5880.
October
14—St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
50th anniversary commemorative lecture, 3 p.m. Guest lecturer Dr. Abraham
Terian, Professor of Armenian Patristics at St. Nersess Seminary, New
York.
October
16 to December 18—“From Jesus’ meals with sinners
to the Lord’s Supper,” a five part Bible study at the Armenian
Prelacy will begin on October 16 and continue on the first and third Tuesday
of the month, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian,
director of the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). For information
and registration, please send e-mail to arec@armenianprelacy.org or call
212-689-4481.
October
18, 19, 20—Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Annual
Food Festival and Bazaar.
October
19 & 20—Annual fall fair/bazaar, St. Gregory Church
of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, in newly renovated
Jaffarian Hall.
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.
October
26-28—National Conference for Christian Educators, a conference
for Sunday School teachers at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard,
a Coptic Orthodox Retreat Center, in Charlton, Massachusetts. Theme: “Prayer—Personal
and Communal.” Presentations by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Dr. Mary Olson. For more information
click here.
November
2-3—Golden Jubilee Annual Bazaar, St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts.
November
7—Soorp Khatch (Bethesda, Maryland) Senior Citizens second
reunion and Thanksgiving luncheon.
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
11—St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachussetts, 50th
anniversary commemorative concert, 4 pm., church hall.
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
11—Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale and Armenian Children’s
Chorus, 7th annual gala concert and dinner, Armenian Church of Our Saviour
Cultural Center. Advance tickets only. Barbara Baljian, 508-799-6972.
November
17—Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 43rd Anniversary
Banquet.
November
18—Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Divine Liturgy
celebrated by the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.
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 dinner dance, Marriott Hotel, Burlington. For information,
(617) 924-7562.
December
23—St. Stephen’s Day Celebration, Watertown, Massachusetts.
The Golden Jubilee celebration will come to a close with a commemoration
of the church’s patron saint, the first deacon and martyr, St. Stephen.
June
27 to July 6—St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian
Studies Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center
in Elverson, Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education
Council. For more information click here. |
