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]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
February 14, 2007
EARLY CROSSROADS
Because of the Vartanantz holiday tomorrow, Crossroads is being sent to
you one day early.
TOMORROW IS VARTANANTZ
Vartanantz-the war waged between pagan Persia and Christian Armenia in
451-is commemorated on the Thursday preceding Great Lent. The king of Persia
ordered all Christians under his rule to abandon Christianity and embrace
Mazdeism. The Armenian clergy and ruling princes refused to abandon their
faith. Vartan Mamigonian was the leader of the Armenians in the battle of
Avarayr, and although tremendously outnumbered, the Armenians put up a
valiant defense against the Persians. Vartan and many of his soldiers were
killed, but with this battle the Persians realized the full extent of the
commitment of the Armenians to their Christian faith. In what today would be
called a "guerilla war," the struggle continued for more than thirty years
and in 484 Vahan Mamigonian, nephew of Vartan, successfully negotiated the
Treaty of Nvarsag-the first document in history (pre-dating the Magna Charta
by 731 years) granting the Armenians religious freedom and home rule.
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO RHODE ISLAND
Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday,
February18, at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island. His
Eminence will ordain altar servers Robert Nazarian (ooarageer) and Sarkis
Menissian (acolyte). Immediately after the Divine Liturgy the Prelate will
preside over the Sts. Vartanantz Day banquet in Aramian Auditorium.
VICAR WILL GO TO ATLANTA
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will travel to Atlanta,
Georgia, where on Sunday he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the
outreach community of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Atlanta.
40th DAY REQUIEM SERVICE FOR HRANT DINK
Archbishop Oshagan has directed all parishes within the Eastern Prelacy
to offer a requiem service on Sunday, March 4, on the occasion of the 40th
day of the death of the Hrant Dink. The noted journalist was assassinated in
Istanbul last month.
In New York City, a united requiem service will take place at St. Vartan
Cathedral, 34th Street and Second Avenue, with the participation of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America; the Armenian Catholic Exarchate of
America; and the Armenian Missionary Association. The requiem service will
begin at 1:30 pm, following regular Sunday services in the individual
churches.
COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE
This Saturday, February 17, the Armenian Church remembers the 150
Fathers of the Council of Constantinople, the Second Ecumenical Council
convened by Emperor Theodosius in 381. It basically confirmed the work of
the First Council at Nicaea, and added five articles to the Nicene Creed
regarding the Holy Spirit, the Church, Baptism, and Resurrection. The
Council of Constantinople is one of the three ecumenical councils recognized
by the Armenian Church.
POUN PAREGENTAN
This Sunday, February 18, is Poun Paregentan (Mardi Gras). Poun
Paregentan is the last Sunday prior to the six-week period of Great Lent
(Medz Bahk). It ushers the Faithful into the Lenten period of fasting,
penance and reconciliation. During Lent the Church takes on a solemn
appearance. The altar curtain is closed starting on the eve of Paregentan,
symbolic of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Holy
Communion is not offered during Lent and the Faithful are encouraged to use
this period before Easter to strengthen their faith.
GREAT LENT BEGINS ON MONDAY
Great Lent (Medz Bahk or Karasnortk) begins on Monday, February 19.
Great Lent is the longest of the fasts in the liturgical calendar. It begins
on Monday following Poon Paregentan and continues for forty days until the
Friday before the commemoration of the raising of Lazarus, which this year
is March 31. A new period of fasting begins during Holy Week.
PRELACY LENTEN SERIES BEGINS NEXT WEDNESDAY
The first of the six Prelacy Lenten Lectures will take place next
Wednesday, February 21. The 2007 Prelacy Lenten program will feature six
lectures on the seven vices and seven virtues. The first lecture on Pride
and Humility will be delivered by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar General of the Prelacy.
The annual Lenten series is sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, the
St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild, and the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC). All of the programs will take place at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral,
221 East 27th Street, New York City, with the following general schedule:
Lenten Service at 7:30 pm; Lecture at 8 pm, followed by questions and
answers, a light Lenten meal, and Fellowship.
AREC MINI COURSE CONCLUDES
This past Monday, the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
completed its 8-part Bible Study mini course on the Letter to the Hebrews.
There were 12 participants from the New York-New Jersey area. Held here at
the Armenian Prelacy on the first and third Mondays of the month from 7:15
to 8:45 pm, the course was conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of
AREC.
The next course will be offered after Easter and it will focus on the
notion of prayer-the Bible as the basis for Christian prayer, fixed and
spontaneous prayers, personal and liturgical prayers, prayer and
discipleship, the vocabulary of prayer, the Lord’s Prayer as a paradigm for
prayer. The course will be taught by Dn. Shant. Watch for details.
MUSICAL ARMENIA
The 2007 Musical Armenia concert will take place Sunday, March 25, at
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Tickets are $25.
Featured artists are bass Serge Barseghyan and the Ararat Trio, comprised of
Patil Harboyan, piano; Van Armenian, violin; and Hrant Parsamian, cello.
The Musical Armenia concerts have been presented since 1982. Its goal is to
showcase the talents of young Armenian artists. If you would like to become
a sponsor of this year’s Musical Armenia concert please contact the Prelacy
at 212-689-7810 or by e-mail to [email protected].
2007 DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
The 21st annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Christian summer studies
program will take place July 1 to 8 in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
TRUSTEES OF PASHALIAN FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Pashalian Family Education Fund, administered by the Eastern
Prelacy, is dedicated to promoting and supporting the study of Armenian
language, history, culture and religion. Each year, the Fund distributes its
earned proceeds in the form of grants to Armenian schools and educational
programs in the United States and Canada. The trustees of the Fund are now
accepting requests for consideration of grants awarded for 2007. For
information about the application procedure contact the Eastern Prelacy at
[email protected] (attention: Iris Papazian).
The Pashalian Fund was established in 1992 in memory of John Pashalian,
who died in an accident in 1973.
IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
The famous French philologist, Antoine Meillet, an authority on Armenian
linguistics, has written that the system of the Armenian alphabet is a
masterpiece, each of the phonemes (basic sounds) of the language having its
own letter. He also stated that the system is so well founded that it has
provided the Armenian nation with an alphabet which has been maintained to
this day without undergoing any alteration or needing any improvement.
The Pontifical Message issued by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, proclaiming 2007 as the Year of the Armenian
Language is now on the Prelacy’s web page.
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN
The 40th anniversary of the ordination of our Prelate, Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, will take place in three different regions as follows:
May 5-In the New England area in Providence, Rhode Island.
May 12-In the Mid-Atlantic area in Teaneck, New Jersey.
May 18-In the Mid-West in Dearborn, Michigan, during the National
Representative Assembly.
Watch for details.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, February 14 (Presentation of the Lord to the
Temple), are: Isaiah 24:21-25:8; Acts 7:47-50; Galatians 4:1-7; Luke
2:41-52.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the
Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to
custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus
stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him
to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among
their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they
returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the
temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his
answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to
him, Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been
looking for you anxiously. And he said to them, How is it that you sought
me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? And they did not
understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and
came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these
things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in
favor with God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
This Monday, February 19, is Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday in the
United States, which originally intended to replace the February 22nd
federal holiday known as
Washington’s birthday. In 1968, legislation was enacted that changed
several federal holidays, including Washington’s birthday. The holiday was
shifted to the third Monday of February, providing a three-day weekend.
Gradually, it became popularly known as "Presidents’ Day" and celebrated the
birthdays of Washington and Lincoln, and to a lesser degree all other
presidents. Unfortunately, it is best known today as a day for sales at
shopping malls.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 12, 13, 14-Joint clergy gathering on the occasion of the
Ghevontiantz commemoration. Clergy of the Eastern, Western and Canadian
Prelacies will meet in California. Monday evening, Divine Liturgy and Sermon
at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange County; Tuesday evening, celebration of
the eve of Diarantaratch at St. Mary Church in Glendale. Major themes of
clergy gathering are the zeal of clergymen toward their mission, and joint
projects for Christian education texts and Sunday school curricula.
February 17-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
February 21 to March 28-2007 Prelacy Lenten Program, to be held at St.
Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Wednesday evenings during Great
Lent. Lenten service at 7:30 pm; Lecture and Q/A at 8 pm; Lenten meal and
fellowship at 8:45 pm. Theme: Seven Vices and Seven Virtues.
February 25-Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, Granite City, Illinois.
March 4-Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts.
March 4-Membership meeting, St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts.
March 4-Membership meeting, St. Illuminator Cathedral, New York City.
March 4-Membership meeting, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
March 18-Membership meeting, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.
March 25-Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, 2 pm.
Sponsored by Prelacy Ladies Guild. Featured performers are: vocalist Serge
Barseghyan (bass); and Ararat Trio (Van Armenian, violin; Paul Harboyan,
piano; Hrant Parsamian, cello).
April 1-Ladies Guild Annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale, St. Stephen’s Church,
Watertown, Massachusetts.
April 14-Ladies Guild Comedy Night featuring Mel Gibson, Meze and dessert
will be served, St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. For
information, 617-924-7562.
May 5-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in the
New England area will take place in Providence, Rhode Island.
May 6-30th anniversary of St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School, Terrace on
the Park, Corona, New York, at 5 pm.
May 7-Prelacy Ladies Guild Mothers’ Day Luncheon, St. Regis Hotel, New York
City.
May 12-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in Mid
Atlantic area will take place at the Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New
Jersey.
May 12-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, 50th anniversary concert
featuring Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian.
May 16-19-National Representative Assembly (NRA) hosted by St. Sarkis
Church, Dearborn, Michigan. Clergy conference begins May 16; NRA begins May
17.
May 18-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in
Midwest will take place at the National Representative Assembly.
May 20-"Hello Ellis Island" and Reception, St. Stephen’s Church Hall,
Watertown, Massachusetts. $20 per person. Information, 617-924-7562.
July 1-8-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, 21st annual summer Christian
studies program for junior and senior high school students, at St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
August 7-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual golf
tournament at Blackstone Country Club.
August 19-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church picnic.
September 29-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 50th
anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley.
December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar.
December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.
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