such
they are living examples for us to emulate as we struggle to be better
disciples of Christ. Der Hayr brought two significant books to the attention
of the participants:Vark Surpots (Lives of Saints) and Soorpereh
Yev Menk (The Saints and Us). The latter book was published by the
Eastern Prelacy.
At the end, Bishop Anoushavan added that in April of this year, a meeting
will take place in Holy Etchmiadzin, at which the Catholicosate of the
Great House of Cilicia will participate, to further discuss the whole
canonization process of new martyrs of the Armenian Church. The last person
to be canonized in the Armenian Church was St. Gregory of Datev in the
fourteenth century.
After the lecture, the more than 60 participants enjoyed nice table fellowship
with Lenten delicacies of Anjar.
Next Wednesday, March 5, Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council, will speak on “Prayer and Christian
Formation.” The Lenten program is sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies
Guild (PLG), the St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild, and the Prelacy’s
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC).
For more information about the forthcoming lectures click
here.
MUSICAL ARMENIA
25 THIS SUNDAY
The 25th Musical Armenia concert will take place this Sunday, March 2,
at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York. Featured artists
are Aleksandr Nazaryan, violist; and Karen Tchougourian, pianist. Tickets
are $30 and may be purchased from the Carnegie Box Office, 212-247-7800,
or the Prelacy office, 212-689-7810. For information about the concert
click here.
DEACON SHANT
WILL LECTURE AT ST. SARKIS
Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious
Education Council, will lecture on “Great Lent: Living our Baptismal
Call” following church services and mid-lent luncheon at St. Sarkis
Church in Douglaston, NY, this Sunday, March 2.
ORDINATION
PHOTOS AND PRESS RELEASE ON WEB PAGE
Photographs and press release of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian,
which took place two weeks ago in Watertown, Massachusetts, are on the
web page. Click here.
HUSHER DOCUFILM
TO BE SCREENED
The Docufilm Husher (Memories), by Avedis Ohanian, will be screened
at the New York International Independent Film Festival next week. Husher
will be shown on Tuesday, March 4, at 3:45 pm at The Imaginasian Theater,
239 E. 59th Street, New York City. The docufilm is about the Armenian
Genocide by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. Tickets can
be purchased at the door, or online at www.ticketweb.com (keyword: Husher).
All ticket holders are invited to attend a reception after the screening.
For more information go to info@husher.org.
BLESSING OF
MURON
The Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia announced that His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I will consecrate the Holy Muron (Holy Oil) on
June 7, 2008. The Holy Muron, symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit,
is traditionally blessed every seven years. Only the Catholicos can consecrate
the oil which is then distributed to the various dioceses for distribution
to the parishes. The oil consists of 48 different herbs, flowers, and
oils which are combined in a special vessel and mixed with some of the
old Muron, thus creating an unbroken chain with the past. The preparation
of the Holy Muron is a long process and each stage is accompanied with
special prayers. Prior to its blessing, the Muron remains for forty days
on the altar of the Cathedral. The Muron Blessing is expected to attract
a large number of pilgrims from various parts of the world.
During this same period the World General Assembly of the Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia will convene in Antelias beginning on June
3 through to June 5.
The Prelacy is organizing a pilgrimage to Antelias for the Muron blessing.
For details click here.
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING
An international gathering of youth is being organized by the Holy See
of Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I is inviting the youth, 18 years and older,
to attend this gathering from August 13 to 20, 2008, coinciding with the
annual pilgrimage during the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother
of God.
Plans are underway for the Catholicosate, the Prelacy, and our Parishes
to facilitate the travel of the young adults to the gathering by assisting
with a portion of the travel expenses. For information contact your local
parish.
CATHOLICOS
ARAM I CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, congratulated
the newly elected president of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias. In his letter
the Catholicos said: “Cyprus has a special place not only in the
history of the Armenian people and church, but also in the heart of Armenians.
In fact, the common experiences of our two peoples and churches, our common
values and traditions, as well as our common struggle for justice and
human rights have deepened our friendship developing in the course of
time affinities in many spheres of our life. The world of today, with
its multitude of problems, challenges our two nations to work together
on issues of common concern. We want to assure you that the Armenian community
of Cyprus, as an integral part of the Cypriot society, will continue under
your wise leadership to bring its active participation in all efforts
aimed at the progress and prosperity of Cyprus. We are confident that
you will put your rich experience at the service of the people of Cyprus.
May God bless you and lead you in your new responsibility.”
FORTY MARTYRS
OF SEBASTIA
This Saturday, March 1, the Armenian Church remembers the Forty Martyrs
of Sebastia. Although the backgrounds and identities of the forty young
soldiers are not certain, it is believed that they came from Lesser Armenia
and served in the Roman army. According to St. Basil of Caesarea, forty
Christian soldiers refused to worship the Roman emperor while stationed
in Sebastia in Armenia in 320. They remained faithful to their Christian
faith. The young soldiers were tried and condemned to death by stoning.
Miraculously, when the sentence was being carried out, the stones would
not reach the intended targets, but rather came back striking those throwing
the stones. The condemned soldiers were then thrown into a frozen lake
and forced to say there, with the admonition that if they would renounce
their faith they would be allowed to come out of the cold water and into
a warm bath. Of the forty, one chose to accept this offer, but he died
nevertheless. As one by one the youths died, halos came down upon them.
Seeing this, one of the pagan guards threw himself into the lake and joined
the thirty-nine bringing the number to forty again.
Subsequently, some of our great church fathers like Basil, Gregory of
Nyssa, Ephraim the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics
about the forty martyrs. Their memory is commemorated each year during
Lent on the Saturday following the Median day of Lent (Meechink), which
was yesterday. The Armenians have built and named churches in memory of
the forty martyrs of Sebastia in various parts of the world.
SUNDAY OF
THE JUDGE
Our journey through Great Lent continues. This Sunday, March 2, the fifth
Sunday of Lent, is the “Sunday of the Judge” (Datavori
Kiraki). The Gospel reading on this day describes the parable told
by Jesus about a widow and a judge (Luke 18:1-8). The judge in this parable
is seen as hard-hearted without principles, fear of God, or regard for
people. A widow of the same town has been ill-treated and she has come
to the judge for justice. Although her cause is just, he does not pay
attention to her case. However, she persists in coming with the same appeal
until at last the judge decides to see that she gets justice. He does
this not because he cares for justice, but in order to get rid of this
widow. The message of this parable is that in life one must persevere
and pursue righteousness and justice relentlessly with confidence that
perseverance (especially in prayer) will eventually be rewarded.
DAILY BIBLE
READINGS
Bible reading for today, February 28, is: 1 Corinthians 8:5-9:23
Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven
or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—yet
for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for
whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things
and through whom we exist. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge.
Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think
of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience,
being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God..”
We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off it we do. But
take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling
block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating
in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak,
be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your
knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But
when you thus sin against members of our family, and wound their conscience
when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause
of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of
them to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are
you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least
I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This
is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right
to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a
believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord
and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain
from working for a living? Who at any time pays the expenses for doing
military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit?
Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk? Do I say this on
human authority? Does not the law also say the same? For it is written
in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading
out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he
not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for
whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in
hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you,
is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this
rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not
made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle
in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you know that those who are employed
in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve
at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? In the same way,
the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their
living by the gospel. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor
am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would
rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting!
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an
obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!
For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own
will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this:
that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not
to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with
respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win
more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To
those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am
not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside
the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s
law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside
the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have
become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 8:5-9:23
For listing of the week’s Bible readings click
here.
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2—Musical Armenia, Weill Recital
Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City, featuring Aleksandr Nazaryan, violist,
and Karen Tchougourian, pianist.
March 2—Sts. Vartanantz
Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual membership meeting
following church services.
March 2—Mid-Lent
traditional luncheon at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, prepared
and served by St. Sarkis Church Ladies Guild. Deacon Shant Kazanjian,
director of the Armenian Religious Education Council will lecture on “Great
Lent: Living our Baptismal Call” following lunch. For details 718-224-2275.
March 8—New England
Regional Conference with Board of Trustees and NRA delegates hosted by
St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
March 30—Second
lecture of a series presented by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
1:15 pm. With participation of Samvel Jeshmaridian, PhD and Elize Kiregian,
M.A. Information: church office 718-224-2275 or Dr. Arthur H. Kubikian
718-786-3842.
April 11—Photo
Art Exhibit featuring the work of Levon Berberian. Opening reception,
7 to 11 pm, at the Prelacy offices, New York City. Jointly sponsored by
the Prelacy and the New York Mayr Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society.
Proceeds will benefit the ARS Centennial Fund. The exhibition will also
be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, from 1
pm to 5 pm.
April 20—Third
lecture of a series presented by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
1:15 pm. With participation of Samvel Jeshmaridian, PhD and Elize Kiregian,
M.A. Information: church office 718-224-2275 or Dr. Arthur H. Kubikian
718-786-3842.
May 5—Mothers’
Day Luncheon, sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Regis, New York
City. Reception at 11:30 followed by luncheon.
May 8-10—National
Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by St. Stephen’s
Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. Click
here for details.
May 8 and 9—National
Association of Ladies Guild (NALG) conference in conjunction with the
National Representative Assembly, celebrating the 25th anniversary of
the NALG, will take place at St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
June 3-5—World
General Assembly of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia will
convene in Antelias, Lebanon.
June 7—Blessing
of Holy Muron in Antelias, Lebanon. Click
here for details.
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.
July 19—“A
Hye Summer Night 3,” dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.
August 15-17—International
Gathering of Youth and Pilgrimage to Der Zor, organized by the Catholicosate
of Cilicia. Details will follow.
October 25—Gala
celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great House of Cilicia
and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Church
of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey. Details to follow.
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