eNewsletter of the Eastern Diocese – 04/03/2008

The Armenian Church eNewsletter

April 3, 2008

Prayer for the Week

Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016

Contact Us <mailto:[email protected]>

Diocesan News

PRIMATE, DIOCESAN STAFF TO VISIT ST. HAGOP CHURCH IN PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), and members of the Diocesan Department of Youth and Education
will visit St. Hagop Church in Pinellas Park, Fla. this weekend to conduct a
Church and Home workshop. The workshop, part of a new Diocesan initiative,
is designed to help the parish leadership evaluate their existing ministries
and create programs to bring more families into an active life in the
church.

Diocesan staff will meet with St. Hagop’s pastor, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian,
and members of the Parish Council, ACYOA, Women’s Guild, choir, Sunday
School board and other parish leaders. To read about past Church and Home
workshops, visit <; .

Detail of the new baptismal mural at St. Hagop Church. The mural, along with
the church’s baptismal font, will be consecrated on Friday, April 4.

Also during the visit, the Primate will consecrate St. Hagop’s new baptismal
font and mural and baptize Sarah Ann Keshishian, daughter of Harout and Lucy
Ann Keshishian.

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ST. DAVID CHURCH IN BOCA RATON, FLORDIA TO CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), will preside at a banquet on Saturday, April 5 in celebration of
the 20th anniversary of the consecration of St. David Church in Boca Raton,
Fla. On Sunday, April 6, the Primate will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and
preside at a luncheon, which will feature musical performances by the youth
of St. David Church.

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MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN RESPONDS TO OPEN LETTER FROM MUSLIM LEADERS

In late 2007, 138 Muslim leaders and scholars addressed an open letter
entitled "A Common Word between Us and You" to the leaders of traditional
Christian churches throughout the world. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was one of the 22 church heads to
whom the letter was addressed.

The Chancellery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has released a letter
in reply to the scholars, signed by His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik
Petrosian, General Secretary for Inter-Church Relations. To read the
Chancellery’s letter, visit
<http://www.armenianchur ch.org/> .

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CHURCH AND HOME MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE

A wealth of new Church and Home materials are now available on our Web site
<; . Click on the
"Church and Home" button on the homepage and you will be directed to a
listing of a variety of online tutorials and programs designed to offer
"Back to the Basics" educational tools that can be used from the comfort of
your home. Learn about Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and
classical Armenian and much more!

_____________________________

FAR 2008 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TRIP POSTPONED

The 12th annual Fund for Armenian Relief Young Professionals Trip to
Armenia, scheduled for May 31-June 12, has been postponed to July 25-August
6. The two-week trip will include overnights in Yerevan, Gyumri, Dzoraget,
Lake Sevan and Goris. Participants will visit FAR’s projects as well as
meet with high-ranking officials in Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Participants visit Gandzasar Monastery in Martakert during the 2007 FAR
Young Professionals Trip.

The FAR trip provides the ideal opportunity for young professionals between
the ages of 23 and 40 to travel to Armenia as a group. Participants learn
about Armenia’s place in the world – the country’s religious, political and
economic heritage – and engage government and religious leaders in official
state visits. The FAR trip is a great way to discover Armenia’s treasures.

The cost, which includes airfare and hotel accommodations, is $3,050. Space
is limited. To sign up, contact Arto Vorperian at 212-889-5150 or
[email protected].

_____________________________

CILICIAN ARMENIAN COINAGE LECTURE AT ZOHRAB CENTER

Levon Vrtanesyan will present a lecture on coins struck by medieval Armenian
dynasts in Cilicia at the Krikor & Clara Zohrab Information Center on
Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. For more information on the free event, click
here < ; .

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ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK A SUCCESS

Armenian college students participated in two different Alternative Spring
Break trips to Charlotte, N.C. and Lakeland, Fla. from March 9-22. Students
spent their days at a build site with Habitat for Humanity, putting their
hands to work by helping to construct a home for a needy family. In the
evenings, students had the opportunity to meet other Armenians in the area
and engage in Bible Studies, spiritual reflections and social activities.

Many thanks to the host parishes of St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, N.C. and
St. Hagop Church of Pinellas Park, Fla. for helping make the trips a
success. For more information on the College Ministry program, e-mail
College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian at
[email protected].

Students on the trip to Charlotte, N.C. take a moment to pose with future
homeowner and fellow builder Eva Villegas-Torres. Pictured from left to
right are Joyce Dadekian, Haig Kherlopian, Villegas-Torres, Andrew
Meguerdichian, Arpi Paylan, Paul Sookiasian and College Ministry Facilitator
Julie Hoplamazian.

Students on the trip to Lakeland, Fla. pose with future homeowner Genola
Smith. Pictured from left to right are Smith, Jonathan Pelaez, Damon
Fereshetian, Talene Kachigian, Bethanie Mangigian, College Ministry
Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian, and Sean Arthur and Nick Souin in the back
row.

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HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE REUNION HELD AT DIOCESE

On Saturday, March 29, members of the August 2007 Pilgrimage to the Holy
Land gathered at the Diocesan Center for a reunion led by their trip leader,
Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian. The day included joyful reminiscing, discussion
of the various initiatives taken to support the Holy Land, photo sharing,
Scripture reflection, worship and many promises to continue to help
Armenians in the Holy Land. For more information on Diocesan pilgrimages to
the Holy Land, visit <;
.

________ _____________________

ORNAMENTAL EGGS DONATED TO DIOCESE

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), welcomed Ida Tjeknavorian-Schlossberg to the Diocese on Monday,
March 31 to thank her for her generous donation to the Archbishop’s Annual
Appeal.

Tjeknavorian-Schlossberg – whose company, Salzburg Creations, specializes in
high-end holiday decorations – designed and donated 300 hand-painted, fine
glass decorative eggs to the Diocese. Produced in Europe, the eggs were sent
along with a delicate gold stand to those who donated more than $250 to the
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.

"It is my pleasure to have had this opportunity to serve His Eminence with
his appeal," Tjeknavorian-Schlossberg said. "I have known him and worked
with him since 1990, and have the greatest respect for him and his
leadership of the Diocese."

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), with Ida Tjeknavorian-Schlossberg, who donated 300 ornamental
eggs to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.

The ornaments feature a gorgeous representation of the letter "ayp" – the
first letter in the Armenian alphabet – in the unique Armenian bird script,
or trchnagir, on one side, and an image of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on the other side.

"We are blessed to have members of our community like Ida. Her enthusiasm
for, and dedication to, her Armenian heritage is an inspiration to all of
us," Archbishop Barsamian said.

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PLANS UNDERWAY FOR 106TH DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY

The 106th Annual Diocesan Assembly and Clergy Conference will be held at
Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church in Providence, R.I. The Clergy Conference is
scheduled for April 28 to May 1; the Assembly is scheduled for May 1 to
4.This year’s theme is "Church and Home: One in Spirit." For more
information, visit the Sts. Sahag
< l> & Mesrob Church Web site.

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ACYOA SPORTS WEEKEND TO BE HELD IN MAY

The Regional Committee hosting the 2008 ACYOA Sports Weekend has posted
information about the event on its Web site
< ; . All young adults over 18 years of
age are invited to visit the site to find out how to register and learn
about the various social and athletic activities taking place during the
Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26. The registration deadline is May 9.

Participants pose for a group photo at last year’s ACYOA Sports Weekend at
St. John’s Church of Greater Detroit.

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COLLEGE STUDENT BLOGS ABOUT ARMENIAN CHURCH

Ani Nalbandian, a junior at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts,
was recently chosen to contribute to "On Faith," an interactive Web site on
religion created by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com. Nalbandian writes about
the Armenian Orthodox faith for the Web site’s college religion blog
"Faithbook." Nalbandian is the daughter of Rev. Fr. Untzag Nalbandian,
pastor at the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, Conn. Click
< th/faithbook/orthodox_idyll/> here
to read her posts.

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PARISH NEWS

Hartford, Conn. – St. George Church Women’s Guild to Host Spring Dance

The Women’s Guild of St. George Church will host its 12th annual Spring
Fling Dance in West Hartford, Conn. on Saturday, April 19. The dance, which
will feature the John Berberian Ensemble, begins at 8 p.m. Advance tickets
are $25 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets also will be available at
the door for $28. For more information, contact Dina Bagdigian at
860-243-9432.

Union City, N.J. – Holy Cross Church to Celebrate Pastor’s Milestone

Holy Cross Church will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Sacred Ordination to
the Priesthood of their pastor Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan on Sunday, April
20. His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), will preside over the Divine Liturgy and the banquet,
scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Landmark in East Rutherford, N.J. For
reservations, call Alice or Sylvia Bozoyan at 201-865-2790.

SAVE THE DATE

Diocesan Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Consecration of St.
Vartan Armenian Cathedral to begin in May

This year, the Diocese will host a series of events in celebration of the
40th anniversary of the consecration of St. Vartan Cathedral. The program
kicks off on Sunday, May 18 with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy and a
ceremony honoring the godfathers of the Cathedral and original committee
members of the Cathedral-building project. A reception will follow in the
Kavookjian Auditorium. The event is open to the public.

Other events planned in the coming months include:

. A concert in the Cathedral and an art exhibition at the Diocesan Center
beginning on June 19.

. Distribution of the Holy Muron (Oil) from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin during a celebration of the Divine Liturgy on October 12. A
luncheon will follow.

Individual parishes are invited to make pilgrimages to the Cathedral
throughout the year.

The Diocese would like to recognize everyone who was involved in the
Cathedral project. If you have information on any members of working
committees who helped build the Cathedral, please contact the Diocesan
Center at 212-686-0710 or e-mail [email protected].

Help me, Lord, so I will not be unfruitful in this task like the planter
sowing seeds in vain into barren ground. Spare me that I may not cloud over
without rain, struggle without reaching, call without being heard, groan
without being comforted, beg without being helped.
More prayers
< .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <;

Scripture for the Week

Acts 9:23-31

1 Pt 2:1-10

Jn 2:23-3:12

Saints & Feasts

4/6 Sunday of the World Church (Green Sunday)

4/7 Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS