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
June 7, 2007
2007 DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
We are rapidly approaching the dates for the 21st annual St. Gregory of
Datev Institute Christian summer studies program, which will take place July
1 to 8 in Elverson, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian
Religious Education Council, the St. Gregory of Datev Institute is under the
directorship of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General. The program
offers an intensive seven-day religious educational program for youth ages
13 and older. The units of study include: Introduction to the Old and New
Testaments, Armenian Church History and Theology, Divine Liturgy and the
other Sacraments, Services and Hymns, Saints and Feasts, Contemporary
Ethical issues, Armenian history and language.
There are a few openings in the program. For details and registration
form click
PRELATE WILL PRESIDE OVER 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF
ST. SARKIS CHURCH AND ORDAIN ACOLYTES
This Sunday, June 10, Archbishop Oshagan will ordain acolytes at St.
Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York. Altar servers to be ordained acolytes
are: Gerard Barikian, Shont Voskerichian, James Mangouchian, Daniel
Megerian, Christapor Megherian, Peter Boyadjian and Sarkis Nersessian.
His Eminence will preside over the church’s 17th anniversary in
Douglaston at a banquet and artistic program following church services.
PRELATE WILL ORDAIN ACOLYTES AT
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL ON JUNE 24
Archbishop Oshagan will ordain four acolytes on Sunday, June 24, at St.
Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City. The acolytes to be ordained are
Zohrab (Mardo) Piranian, Mgo Piranian, Garen Vartanian, and Aram Hovsepian.
On the same day the Cathedral Ladies Guild is hosting a luncheon and
program dedicated to Father’s Day. The event, which is under the auspices of
Archbishop Oshagan, will honor Dr. Roubik Melik Vartanian, Hagop Kazanjian,
Stepan Bakalian, and Henry Gabrielian as Fathers of the Year.
VICAR WILL ATTEND GRADUATION ON FRIDAY
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, will attend the graduation ceremony
at St. Illuminator’s School in Woodside, NY, tomorrow, Friday, June 8, at 7
pm.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA
Dr. Vazgen Ghougassian, Executive Director of the Prelacy, left for
Armenia last Saturday. He will remain through next week. Dr. Ghougassian
makes annual visits to meet with the Prelacy’s staff at the St. Nerses the
Great Charitable Organization.
"ILLUMINATIONS" NOTES AWARD TO CATHOLICOS ARAM I
The latest issue of "Illuminations," the publication of the Hill Museum
& Manuscript Library of Saint John’s University (Minnesota), notes the award
given to His Holiness Aram I, in December. The article says in part:
Saint John’s Abbey and University presented its highest honor, the Pax
Christi Award, to His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.
"His Holiness was our first Armenian partner in the Middle East. His
exceptional leadership facilitated the opening of the manuscript collection
of the Catholicosate to the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library," said Fr.
Columa Stewart, executive director of HMML.
In his public address His Holiness Aram said, "I would like to express
my deep appreciation to this university.working with us in order to preserve
our intellectual, theological and spiritual heritage not only to preserve
our heritage but to create the possibility of presenting it to the world."
As the highest honor awarded by Saint John’s, the Pax Christi Award
recognizes those who have devoted themselves to God by working in ways akin
to the tradition of Benedictine monasticism to serve others and to build a
heritage of faith in the world.
UNITED ARMENIAN FUND’S 143RD AIRLIFT
The United Armenian Fund’s 143rd airlift arrived in Yerevan on June 2,
delivering over $14 million of humanitarian assistance. This is the highest
value airlift sent by the UAF in the past 18 years. The shipment included
medicines and medical supplies collected by the UAF and other organizations
and individuals. Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $496 million
of humanitarian assistance to Armenia on 143 airlifts and 1,449 sea
containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association of
America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America,
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and The Lincy
Foundation.
A NEW PLAY ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Shotgun Productions and Resistance Theatre is presenting a staged
reading of a new play about the Armenian Genocide, "Red Dog Howls," by
Alexander Dinelaris. The reading will take place Monday, June 25, at 7 pm at
New World Stages (Stage 2), 340 W. 50th Street (between 8th and 9th
Avenues), New York City. Admission is free, but seating is limited. For
reservations and information, 718-291-1086.
LATEST ISSUE OF OUTREACH ON WEB PAGE
The June 2007 issue of Outreach is now on the Prelacy’s web page. A
major portion of the 60-page issue is devoted to the Prelacy’s programs in
Armenia and Artsakh. If you would like to see a preview of the issue
currently being printed click
.
ALSO NEW ON THE WEB PAGE. . .
Press release and photos from the Prelacy Ladies Guild’s Mother’s Day
luncheon click
The National Representative Assembly: Keynote addresses by Archbishop
Oshagan, Prelate, and Jack Mardoian, chairman of the Executive Council.
Click
IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
To read the message of His Holiness in Armenian click
.
To read the message of His Holiness in English click
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:
Linguists generally classify Armenian as an independent branch of the
Indo-European language family. Some Indo-Europeanists have proposed that
Armenian may have been grouped together with the Hellenic branch. Others
suggest that there may be a late Indo-European branch which developed into
Armenian, the Hellenic branch and the Indo-Iranian branch. Armenian
corresponds with other Indo-European languages in its structure, but it
shares distinctive sounds and features of its grammar with neighboring
languages of the Caucasus region. Armenian is rich in combinations of
consonants. Both classical Armenian and the modern spoken and literary
dialects have a complicated system of declining nouns, with six or seven
noun cases but no gender. In modern Armenian the use of auxiliary verbs to
show tense has generally supplemented the inflected verbs of classical
Armenian. Grammatically, early forms of Armenian had much in common with
classical Greek and Latin, but the modern language, like modern Greek, has
undergone many transformations.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, June 7, are: Proverbs 15:21-26; Isaiah
22:20-25; 1 Peter 5:1-7; Matthew 11:2-14.
Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding
walks straight ahead. Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many
advisers they succeed. To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word
in season, how good it is! For the wise the path of life leads upward, in
order to avoid Sheol below. The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but
maintains the widow’s boundaries. Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure. Proverbs 15:21-26.
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click here.
ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR’S DELIVERANCE FROM THE PIT
This Saturday, June 9, is the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s
emergence from the pit (khor virab). Gregory is the greatest figure of the
Armenian Church. He is recognized and memorialized in both eastern and
western hierarchical churches. The Armenian Church calendar reserves three
feast days in his memory: Entrance into the pit; emergence from the pit;
discovery of his relics. In addition to these three, there are several feast
days to which he is connected, such as, Feasts of Sts. Hripsimiantz and Sts.
Gayaniantz; Feast of Shoghakat, Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin, Feast of King
Tiridates (Trdat).
St. Gregory was condemned to the pit in 287 AD by King Trdat and the
persecutions of Christians in Armenia began. After the persecution and
martyrdom of a group of nuns who came into Armenia, led by Hripsime and
Gayane, seeking refuge from persecution in Rome, Trdat came down with
strange maladies. His sister, Khosrovidukht, had a dream that Gregory was
the only person who could heal her brother. Miraculously Gregory was still
alive after many years in the pit (thanks to an anonymous woman who
regularly lowered food into the pit). The king was cured. He was baptized
and he proclaimed Christianity to be the religion of Armenia.
After many years of service, during which time his evangelization of
Armenia earned him the title, "The Illuminator," Gregory retired to a cave
on Mount Sepuh where he died. The site gave birth to Sourp Krikor
Lousavorich Monastery, now in ruins.
SUNDAY IS FEAST OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
This Sunday, June 10, is the Feast day of Holy Mother Etchmiadzin, the
cathedral built by St. Gregory after his deliverance from the pit, to the
specifications he saw in a vision, and on the place marked by the Lord with
a golden hammer. This feast day commemorates the establishment of the
Armenian Church and the eradication of paganism. It is the oldest example of
a four-altar, four-pillar, domed, cruciform church in Christian
architecture. More than 1700 years old, it is the oldest surviving Armenian
Christian site. The complex consists of several buildings, including the
main cathedral and two other churches nearby. UNESCO recognizes the
Etchmiadzin complex as a World Heritage site.
Come and construct
The holy tabernacle of light
Because it radiates for us
The light of Armenia.
>From a sharagan (hymn) written by
Catholicos Sahak III Dzoraporetsi (677-703).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 10-17th anniversary of the new St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
under the auspices of the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan. His Eminence will
ordain the following altar servers as acolytes: Gerard Barikian, Shont
Voskerichian, James Mengouchian, Daniel Megerian, Christapor Megherian,
Peter Boyadjian and Sarkis Nersessian. Banquet and artistic program
following church services. For information: 718-224-2275.
June 10-Sunday and Armenian schools graduation program, St. Gregory Church
of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, immediately following
Divine Liturgy.
June 24-Ordination of acolytes by Archbishop Oshagan at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. Celebrant and sponsoring
priest, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian. Father’s Day luncheon hosted by Ladies
Guild immediately following the Divine Liturgy and Ordinations. For
information: 212-689-5880.
June 24-Town Hall informational meeting for members, St. Gregory Church of
Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, to discuss the proposed
details of approved church stewardship program.
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. For information click
July 7-St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, gathering at the
home of the parish priest, Rev. Father Bedros Shetilian.
July 9 to July 20-St. Sarkis Church Summer Camp, Douglaston, New York, for
ages 5 to 12. Prayers and hymns, Armenian classes, introduction to the
bible, arts and crafts, sports, and much more. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to
3:00 pm. Lunch and snack will be served. Summer camp is sponsored by Mr. and
Mrs. Antranig and Marion Boudakian. Enrollment limited to 30 students.
Registration deadline June 5. Minimum donation $75. For information,
718-224-2275.
July 21-Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Providence, Rhode Island, and
ARS Ani Chapter present "A Hye Summer Night 2." For information
401-286-8107.
August 7-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual golf
tournament at Blackstone Country Club. For information
or 508-234-3677.
August 19-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church picnic. For information or 508-234-3677.
September 9-Annual picnic of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley at
American Legion Grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
September 25-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 4th annual golf outing at Juniper Hill Golf Course,
Northboro, Massachusetts. Registration at 8 am. Tee off at 9 am. $125
includes golf cart, dinner and prizes. For information 508-852-2414.
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
or 508-234-3677.
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
or 215-482-9200.
November 4-37th 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.
December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar. For information or 508-234-3677.
December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.
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