PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
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Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – May 05, 2005
TODAY IS ASCENSION DAY
As we reported last week, today May 5 is the Feast of the Ascension of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It commemorates the day Jesus ascended to His heavenly
home on the right hand of the Father, bringing a close to His earthly
ministry. This event is described in the New Testament in Mark 16:19; Luke
24:50-51; and Acts 1:9-11. It took place on the Mount of Olives, forty days
after His Resurrection, and was the last of His post-resurrection
appearances.
“Today the first and only Son of the Father rises to heaven in the form of
man. Melodic eulogies sound today from the multitude of heavenly souls.”
(from the Breviary of the Armenian Church).
PHOTOS OF APRIL 24TH COMMEMORATION ON WEB
Coverage of the April 24th commemorations in New York City undertaken by the
Joint Commemorative Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide can be seen on the committee’s web site,
ORDINATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan officiated at the ordination of two Stolebearers
and fourteen acolytes at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia
last Sunday, May 1. His Eminence also blessed the veils of the choir
members.
The newly ordained stolebearers are: Garabed Sarkessian and Razmig Yeremian.
The acolytes are: Vahe Levon Stepanian, Aram Raffi Frounjian, Bagrat
Boursalian, Viken Kawedjian, Mark Karagelian, Peter James Tashjian, Tavit
Frounjian, Richard Avedis Keshgegian, Raffi Jafari, Stephen Selverian, Niki
Arakelian, Serop Buldukian, Mark John Santerian, Jr., Aram Panosian.
Following the Divine Liturgy a luncheon, hosted by the families of the newly
ordained altar servers, took place in the church hall. Congratulations to
the new altar servers and their families. To see photographs of this joyous
event go to:
“Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, and where I am, there will my
servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” (John 12:26).
PARTSRAPERT GOSPEL IS PLACED IN
GENOCIDE MUSEUM IN DEIR ZOR
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, placed a
facsimile copy of the famous “Partsrapet” Gospel in the Genocide Museum in
Deir Zor, during his pilgrimage to the site on the occasion of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Catholicos described this work as one of the masterpieces of Cilician
miniature art and said, “This Gospel is a silent witness which has escaped
the Turkish sword and passed through the Deir Zor desert. Those who saved
this Gospel from destruction before they saved their lives, no longer exist
today. But the remains of thousands of our victims, whom the Gospel
accompanied through this desert, rest here.
The facsimile limited edition of the Partsrapet Gospel was published by the
Cilician Catholicate several years ago and has become a coveted possession
for collectors and the faithful. For information about the Partsrapet Gospel
call the Prelacy Bookstore at (212) 689-7810.
ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVORIAN REMEMBERED
Last Saturday, April 30, was the first anniversary of the death of His
Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian. The Armenian Church lost one of its
most capable servants in the prime of his life, at age 57.
Last Friday, April 29, he was remembered in Cyprus with the presentation of
a newly published volume of his sermons, “Light and Communion.” The
presentation of the book was made by the former Prelate of Cyprus, V. Rev.
Fr. Yeghishe Manjigian.
On Sunday, May 1, V. Rev. Fr. Manjigian officiated over the Divine Liturgy
and delivered the Sermon at the St. Azdvadzadzine Church in Cyprus.
Immediately after the services, a bust of the late Archbishop was unveiled
by the sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Aleko and Ani Bezikian. To view photographs of
these events go to:
NEW INSCRIPTION ON THE GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN BIKFAYA
As part of the commemorations of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the Catholicate of Cilicia installed new inscriptions on the
Armenian Genocide monument located on the grounds of the St. Asdvadzadzine
Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Originally constructed in 1969, the monument
initially had inscriptions in two languages, Armenian and Arabic. The
inscriptions lacked the words “genocide” and “Turk,” because the Lebanese
government at the time prevented their usage, giving way to pressure by
Turkey.
Upon the initiative of His Holiness Aram I, a new plaque with inscriptions
in Armenian, Arabic and English was installed utilizing the words “genocide”
and “Turk.”
The monument was constructed by Lebanese-Armenian artist, Zaven Khedeshian.
It was bombed in 1978 during the Lebanese Civil War. It was completely
reconstructed in 1996.
ARCHBISHOP SEBOUH SARKISIAN IN U.S.
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, Prelate of Tehran, is the guest of the Eastern
Prelacy this week in New York City.
Archbishop Sebouh was invited to participate in a conference, “Islam and
Political Order,” organized by American Catholic University (Washington, DC)
and the Cultural and Islamic Affairs Center of Iran. The conference took
place in Washington on April 25 and 26. Archbishop Sebouh participated in
the conference on behalf of the Catholicate of Cilicia.
GENOCIDE SCHOLARS CALL ON TURKEY TO END DENIALS
The leaders of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)
have sent a response to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s effort to initiate
a “debate” on the Armenian Genocide. The scholars said, in part:
We represent the major body of scholars who study genocide in North America
and Europe. We are concerned that in calling for an impartial study of the
Armenian Genocide, you may not be fully aware of the extent of the scholarly
and intellectual record on the Armenian Genocide and how this event conforms
to the definition of the United Nations Genocide Convention. We want to
underscore that it is not just Armenians who are affirming the Armenian
Genocide but it is hundreds of independent scholars, who have no
affiliations with governments, and whose work spans many countries and
nationalities and the course of decades.
REGISTER NOW FOR DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
Recognized as “the best Armenian youth program for junior and senior high
school students,” the St. Gregory of Datev Summer Program is accepting
registrations for this summer’s session. The week-long program, which is
intense both in religious education and recreational activities, will take
place July 3-10, at the St. Mary of Providence Center, Elverson,
Pennsylvania.
For information and/or to register go to:
PRELATE IS IN MIDWEST TODAY; WILL ATTEND
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S DAY SCHOOL CELEBRATION IN NY TOMORROW
Archbishop Oshagan is in the Midwest today and tomorrow visiting the St.
Sarkis parish in Dearborn, Michigan. His Eminence will return to New York
tomorrow evening to attend the 28th annual Gala Dinner-Dance of New York’s
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School, which will take place at the Terrace
on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. For information: 718-478-4073.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
INFORMATION IS ON THE PRELACY WEB PAGE
The Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly (NRA) will take place
in Granite City, Illinois, May 18-20, hosted by the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church, Granite City. The site will be updated regularly with
current information pertinent to the Assembly. For information about the NRA
go to:
SUNDAY IS MOTHERS DAY
Does anyone need a reminder that Sunday is Mothers Day? Probably not!
The earliest Mothers Day celebrations have been traced back to the spring
celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.
In more recent times, in the 1600s, England celebrated a day called
“Mothering Sunday,” on the 4th Sunday of Lent, honoring the mothers of
England. During this time many of England’s poor worked as servants for
wealthy families and in most cases the servants lived at the homes of their
employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would be given a day off to
spend with their mothers.
In the United States Mothers Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward
Howe (the writer of the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic) as a day
dedicated to peace. In 1907 Ana Jarvis from Philadelphia began a campaign to
establish a national Mothers Day. By 1911 nearly every state celebrated
Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson
made it official by proclaiming Mothers Day as a national holiday on the
second Sunday of May.
PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON HONORS
GENOCIDE SURVIVOR, RAHAN KACHIAN, MOTHER OF THE YEAR
Last Monday, the Prelacy Ladies Guild’s annual Mothers Day luncheon took
place at the St. Regis in New York City. Mrs. Rahan Kachian, a survivor of
the Armenian Genocide, was honored by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, who
described her as a “great treasure.” She was presented with a plaque with
the following inscription: Presented to Rahan Kachian, a survivor of the
Armenian Genocide who created a new life in the United States and with the
highest attributes of Armenian Motherhood taught her family to love and
respect the Armenian Church and Nation. In this year of the 90th anniversary
of the Genocide we proudly honor you with our love, gratitude and
appreciation.”
SUNDAY IS SECOND PALM SUNDAY
This Sunday, May 8, is also Second Palm Sunday (Yerkrord Tzaghkazard).
The seventh Sunday of Easter is called Second Palm Sunday and on this
occasion all the readings and hymns of Palm Sunday are repeated. The feast
of the Second Palm Sunday was designated by Nerses Shnorhali’s brother, His
Holiness Catholicos Krikor Vkayaser, and according to tradition is based on
an event which took place while St. Gregory the Illuminator was in the deep
pit (khor virab).
Through your life of dedication and the highest degree of sacrifice, you are
the greatest teachers of the children of the Armenian nation. Your text is
your love, your pen is your smile. I wish and pray that that smile dawns
always in the eyes of the Armenian children when their eyes are opened to
the light of this world. Allow us to kiss your hands today and say to you,
“Oh Mother, sweet and priceless.”
>>From a Mothers’ Day message by Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian, May 1976.
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