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
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – August 8, 2008
BIBLE TRANSLATION SESSION NEXT WEEK
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian and Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, along with consultant Rev. Dr. Manuel Jinbashian will
meet in Canada next week for a continuation of their Bible translation
project.
The three church leaders are continuing the work pioneered by Archbishop
Oshagan and Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian, of blessed memory. The translation
into modern Armenian is being done from the original text, i.e., Greek for
the New Testament and Hebrew for the Old Testament. Reference is made also
to the Armenian Classical translation and the Septuagint.
The original team completed the New Testament and parts of the Old
Testament. The new team is completing the remaining books of the Old
Testament.
LINKED IN: A WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS
Are you looking for a way to connect with friends and with your church?
Would you like to learn more about your Armenian spiritual heritage?
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, a workshop for students and professionals (ages 18
to 35) will take place September 26 to 28, at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox
Retreat Center in Charlton, Massachusetts.
For more details click here.
Direct your questions via email to [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: The registration form is now on the web page. Don’t delay. Send
in your form right away as space is limited.
PAN-DIASPORA YOUTH CONFERENCE BEGINS NEXT WEEK;
THIRTEEN YOUTHS FROM EASTERN PRELACY WILL PARTICIPATE
Thirteen young people from parishes of the Eastern Prelacy will attend
the pan-Diasporan youth conference which will begin next Thursday, August 14
and continue through to Saturday, August 16. at the Catholicate of the Great
House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. Young people from all of the dioceses
within the Catholicate of Cilicia will participate in the conference.
Under the theme, "The Armenian Youth Face the Challenges of the 21st
Century," the conference will feature lectures and round table discussions.
ANNIVERSARY BANQUET SET FOR OCTOBER 25
The dual anniversaries of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of
the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and the 50th
anniversary of the Prelacy’s affiliation with the Great House of Cilicia
will be marked with a gala banquet on Saturday, October 25, at the Marriott
at Glenpointe in Teaneck New Jersey. An exhibit about the history of the
Prelacy and a DVD film, "A Journey of Faith" will be on display during the
cocktail hour. We will provide regular updates about this event.
DELEGATION FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
VISITS ANTELIAS
A three-member delegation from the National Council of Churches (USA)
visited Antelias last week. The delegation included: Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Dr. Michael Kinemon and Dr. Peter Makari. The General Secretary of
the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and two of his assistants
accompanied the delegation.
Receiving the guests on behalf of His Holiness Aram I were Ecumenical
Officer, Bishop Nareg Alemezian; the chairwoman of the Ecumenical Affairs
Committee, Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian; member of the Christian-Muslim
Dialogue Committee, Dr. Jean Salmanian; and Director of the MECC Social
Services Unit, Mrs. Seta Khedeshian. They discussed the religious and
political situation in Lebanon with an emphasis on Christian-Muslim
relations. Speaking about the community-based context of Lebanese life, the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s representatives underlined the crucial role of
the Armenian Church and the active participation of the Armenian community
in all fields of Armenian life.
WORLD VISION CONFERENCE
World Vision’s 2008 Youth Bible Conference took place in Cyprus on July
29-31, attracting 30 delegates from around the world. The Armenian Church
was represented by Fr. Torkom Donoyian and Garo Aghazarian from the
Catholicate of Cilicia and Fr. Yesayi Artenian and Fr. Barouyr Avedssian
from the Catholicate of All Armenians. The conference discussed the various
issues related to reviewing religion textbooks, preparing new textbooks, as
well as teaching methodology and the incorporation of modern pedagogical
techniques in the classroom. The delegates spoke about the methods used in
Christian education in their respective countries whether in religion
classes in regular schools or Sunday schools.
MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Major renovation of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City has
begun. Until the renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy will be offered
every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Street,
Woodside, New York.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Friday, August 8 are: 2 Timothy 3:1-7; John
6:64-71
But among you there are some who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the
first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would
betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can
come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went
about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of
eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of
God." Jesus answered the, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you
is a devil." He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though
one of the twelve, was going to betray him. (John 6:64-71)
TWO HUNDRED HOLY FATHERS OF THE
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF EPHESUS
This Saturday, August 9, the Armenian Church commemorates the 200 Holy
Fathers of the Council of Ephesus (431 AD). Ephesus, the third general
council, was convened upon the order of Emperor Theodosius II to settle the
Nestorian heresy. A large number of high-ranking church leaders attended,
headed by Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria. The principle decision of the
Council was the condemnation of Nestorius. The Council excommunicated
Nestorius and condemned the heresy, affirmed the Nicene Creed, and approved
the title of Theotokos (God-bearer) for the Virgin Mary.
The Armenian Church accepted the canons and decisions of the Council and
designated a day in the church calendar on the Saturday of the Paregentan of
the Assumption. The Armenian Church recognizes the first three councils:
Nicaea (325); Constantinople (381); and Ephesus (431), with special days in
the liturgical calendar for all three.
Ephesus was the chief city of the Roman province of Asia at the
crossroads of the coastal route between Smyrna and Cyzicus. The Temple of
Ardemis in the city was one of the great wonders of the ancient world. St.
Paul took Christianity to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19). He stayed there for two
years during his third missionary journey.
FAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
This Sunday is the Paregentan of the Fast of the Assumption of the Holy
Mother of God. This is a five-day period (Monday to Friday) of fasting that
precedes the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother, which is Sunday,
August 17.
Paregentan, (literally good living) is a day of enjoyment and comes
before the beginning of a period of fasting. Poun Paregentan comes before
Great Lent. Besides Poun Paregentan there are ten Paregentans in the
liturgical calendar that come before shorter periods of fasting, usually
prior to a major Feast day.
ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
COMPUTERIZES REGISTRY RECORDS
The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem has taken steps to computerize
and preserve the genealogical records of community members dating back over
a century and a half, rescuing them from oblivion and the ravages of time
and weather.
The date, spread over more than 220 musty pages of three ancient
"domars" (registers) maintained by the Patriarchate’s scriptorium, was
photographed by one of Jerusalem’s leading artists, Garo Nalbandian.
Patriarchate sources revealed that the pages had become brittle and in
several cases the running ink had made the painstaking handwritten script
almost illegible.
Enshrined on computer CD-ROMs, the registers, which are primarily lists
of the details of the births, marriages and deaths of the Armenian community
of the Old City over the past 170 years, will now be permanently preserved
for posterity within the Patriarchate archives.
Armenians have been living in Jerusalem even before the advent of
Christianity-but documents or records attesting to their presence in the
Holy Land around that era are hard to come by. Even before Thaddeus and
Bartholomew, the two apostles of Jesus of Nazareth who according to
tradition brought Christianity to a heathen Armenia, a large number of the
denizens of that rocky region had already set up home in Jerusalem, the
sleepy village that had become a distant outpost of the empire carved out by
Armenian emperor Tigranes II some 150 years before the birth of Jesus.
(from International Orthodox Christian News)
WEB SITE FOR NOTED ARTIST MARY ZAKARIAN
A small representation of the vast artwork by artist Mary Zakarian is
now on the web. Mary’s artwork is well-known in the community, especially in
the Philadelphia area, where she grew up and still resides. As a member of
St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia she has contributed her talent to the
church in many ways. Some years ago the Prelacy hosted a very successful art
exhibit of her work in New York. She has had many other exhibits in other
venues as well. Armenian themes dominate her work. It is worth taking a look
at this web site
WHAT’S NEW AT THE BOOKSTORE THIS WEEK.
A NEW CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATED BOOK:
DZIRANI ANOUSH, hardbound, 30 pages, in color, written and beautifully
illustrated by Alik Arzoumanian. An entertaining new book for children, fun
to read. $15.00, plus shipping & handling.
A NEW CD:
OOR ES, THE MUSIC OF PAUL BAGHDADLIAN
If you like Pop music, you’ll appreciate this CD. $15.00, plus shipping &
handling.
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE PRELACY’S WEB SITE
() or contact the Bookstore by email at
[email protected] or by telephone 212-689-7810.
IT’S FRIDAY, NOT THURSDAY
Dear readers, today is Friday and not Thursday. Although Crossroads is
normally transmitted to you on Thursdays, we missed the deadline yesterday,
not because of ubiquitous "technical difficulties" but because of "human
difficulties." All is well today. Have a good weekend!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 17-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, picnic and
blessing of the grapes, officiated by Archbishop Oshagan and New England
area clergy. On church grounds, beginning at 12 noon. For information:
508-234-3677 or
August 17-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, Feast of the Assumption of the Holy
Mother of God and Blessing of the Grapes, and picnic, at the Armenian
Center, Woodside, NY. For information 212-689-5880.
September 7-Annual picnic Festival of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, at American Legion Grounds, Haverhill, Massachusetts,
beginning at 12 noon.
August 3-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Blessing of the
Grapes picnic. Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, noon to 6 pm, rain or
shine.
August 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. Annual
picnic on church grounds. Free admission; free parking.
August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual church
picnic and blessing of the grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion D, Paramus,
NJ. For information 201-943-2950.
September 7-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, Connecticut,
annual picnic, 1 pm to dusk at Quartette Club Grounds, 225 Wooster Street,
New Britain. Rain or shine. Free admission.
September 14-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Celebration of
the Holy Cross and Madagh. For information 201-943-2950.
September 19-Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Providence, Rhode Island,
present "Remembering the Good Old Days. 8 pm, Aramian Auditorium. For
tickets and information 401-434-4467.
September 21-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, annual
church banquet. Details to follow.
September 22-13th annual St. Stephen’s School/ACEC Golf Tournament,
Framingham Country Club, Framingham, MA. For information, Astor Guzelian,
781-326-5764.
September 25-Sixth annual golf outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For information contact Richard Krikorian 201-784-2236 or church office
201-943-2950.
September 26-28-National Youth Conference at Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.
September 29-30-Clergy conference at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.
October 17-18-Annual Fall Fair of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall.
October 19-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, first Connecticut
performance of "Hello Ellis Island," at Silas Deane Middle School, 551 Silas
Deane Highway, Wethersfield, Connecticut. Program starts at 3 pm; reception
follows. Advance reservation desired. Adults $25; Students $10; Children
under 12 $5. Tickets at door $30. For information: 860-229-8322.
October 31, November 1 and 2-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.
November 2-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, Connecticut, 83rd
anniversary banquet at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf Street, Newington,
Connecticut. Reception 1 pm, dinner at 2 pm. For information: 860-229-8322.
November 8 & 9-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, largest
Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday 12 noon to 10 pm; Sunday 12 noon to 8
pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and
kufta dinners. Live Armenian music. For information: 401-434-4467.
November 9-38th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, and 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the Holy See of
Cilicia, presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan at Jaffarian Hall
following Divine Liturgy.
October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.
November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival.
November 23-William Saroyan Centennial Celebration, co-sponsored by the
Anthropology/Armenian Museum at Queens College and the AGBU, 3 pm at Lefrak
Concert Hall, Queens College, Flushing, New York. Archbishop Oshagan will
participate. The program includes readings and a play by Saroyan. Also
special performance by the Aaron Copeland School of Music students of the
music of composer Arno Babadjanian. For information: 718-428-5650.