PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
March 29, 2005
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EASTER A TIME OF JOY AND HOPE
By Jake Goshert
“Hope” is one of the greatest gifts available each Easter. And this
Easter, it could be found throughout New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral, as 2,000 people packed the pews, joined in prayer, and
stepped forward to take communion.
There was hope in the eyes of new parents, flanked by their young
children decked out in frilly dresses and pint-sized suits. Hope was in
the on faces of old and young, as worshippers joined in singing the Hayr
Mer.
Hope abounded as the faithful filled the plaza to watch Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and others release 12 doves, symbolizing the 12
apostles being sent by Jesus to spread His gospel.
The same hope — a deep and unbending faith in a life to come — in the
past saw Armenians through their darkest hours. By choosing to die to
offer us hope of everlasting love, Jesus affirmed that He would be next
to all those who faced death.
“This is a powerful thought for us this year — 90 years after the
Armenian Genocide of 1915,” the Primate said in his message to the
packed Cathedral. “Our ancestors living in Ottoman Turkey were
captives, awaiting death at the hands of an unjust power. For the most
part, we do not know how they viewed their final hours — although
nearly every Armenian has a story of some lost family member who met his
or her fate with a kind of bravery we can hardly imagine today.”
But hope can be found, the Primate said, in the fact that throughout all
the devastation and death that has haunted Armenians for generations,
and all the pain that will befall us individually, Christ has been there
and will be there beside us.
“What we recognize today, on Easter Sunday, as we contemplate this
sorrowful anniversary, is this: That the losses we have endured as a
people, the scars we still bear today, Christ has borne before us. He
bore them in anticipation of our own suffering. He bore them out of His
love for us, to show He abides with us, in triumph as well as tragedy,”
the Primate added. “He bore them, above all, to assure us that
affliction is not the End. Our hope — the hope of Easter — is that a
day will come when we are made new again: made whole in our bodies and
spirits, and re-united with those we have lost along the way.”
RELEASING THE DOVES
After the inspiring Divine Liturgy — celebrated by the Primate and sung
by the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir under the direction of Maestro Khoren
Mekanejian with Florence Avakian on the organ — worshippers filled the
cathedral plaza for the traditional release of doves ceremony. Barbara
Lorincie served as “godmother.”
“Though she now lives in California, her heart is always with us,” the
Primate said of Mrs. Lorincie. “She has done so many good deeds for the
Armenian people, especially for the children of Armenia through the Fund
for Armenian Relief.”
The faithful were also invited to a reception in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium, organized by Anie and Gregory Manuelian, during
which the Primate performed a home-blessing service. Musical
entertainment was provided by Apo Sarkissian and orchestra.
HOLY WEEK
The Easter services were just the culmination of Holy Week services at
St. Vartan Cathedral, orchestrated by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the
cathedral, who celebrated a Divine Liturgy and the Turun-Patzek or
“Door-Opening” service on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2005.
Fr. Chevian also led a special mid-day Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday.
Later that night the Primate officiated over the “Washing of the Feet”
ceremony.
The cathedral also held Divine Liturgies on Holy Friday and Holy
Saturday, sung by the St. Vartan Cathedral Youth Choir, under the
direction of Maro Partamian, and scripture readings delivered by
students of the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum.
— 3/29/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, offers communion to one young Armenian during Easter services
at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27, 2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate is greeted by the more than 1,500
faithful who filled St. Vartan Cathedral for Easter services.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): The crowd gathers on the St. Vartan Cathedral plaza
for the releasing of doves, following the Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Barsamian prepares to release one of 12
doves on Easter Sunday, symbolizing Christ’s dispatching of the
apostles.
PHOTO CAPTION (5): Children release doves following the Easter Sunday
Divine Liturgy at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27,
2005.
PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, joined by Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, conducts the home blessing service following Easter Sunday
services at St. Vartan Cathedral on March 27, 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress