PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]
March 11, 2010
PRELATE AND VICAR WILL BE IN NEW JERSEY
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, accompanied by the Vicar, Bishop
Anoushavan, will preside over the Divine Liturgy at St. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, March 14.
In the afternoon they will attend a reception honoring Senator
Robert Menendez at the home of Mr. Andreas Roubian in Saddle River,
New Jersey. The event is hosted by Mr. Roubian and the Armenian
National Committee PAC.
PRELATE PRESIDES OVER CONSECRATION
OF MEMORIAL HONORING DER VARTAN KASSABIAN
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the consecration of a memorial
honoring the late Der Vartan Kassabian in the new courtyard beside
St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts,
last Sunday, March 7.
Photo: Archbishop Oshagan consecrates the memorial. In the photo, left
to right, Megerdich Mgo Kassabian, Der Vartans son and a stole bearer
in the church, Der Vazken Bekiarian, the Prelate, and the recently
ordained Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian.
PRELATE ATTENDS ARS CENTENNIAL INAUGURAL CELEBRATION
Archbishop Oshagan attended the Armenian Relief Societys inaugural
Centennial event at Carnegie Halls Weill Recital Hall yesterday
evening, March 10. Founded in 1910 in New York, the ARSs Centennial
Year will be marked with many events and celebrations.
VICAR MEETS WITH EPISCOPAL BISHOP OF NEW YORK
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, and
Ecumenical Officer in the United States on behalf of the Holy See of
Cilicia, met with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Bishop
Mark Sisk yesterday, March 10. Prior to his meeting with Bishop Sisk,
the Vicar attended the luncheon meeting of the Episcopal Churchs
Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, where he was invited to briefly
address the Commission.
Bishop Anoushavan conveyed the best wishes of His Holiness
Aram I to the Presiding
Bishop and they discussed the long-standing cordial relationship
between the Episcopal Church and the Armenian Church.
Photo: From left to right, Canon Fr. J. Robert Wright; Bishop Mark
Sisk, Episcopal Bishop of New York; Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian; and
Fr. Paul Clayton, the Ecumenical Chairman of the New York Episcopal
Diocese.
PRELACY LENTEN LECTURE SERIES CONTINUES
The fourth weekly Lenten program, in a series of six, took place last
night at St. Illuminators Cathedral in New York City, a faith-shaping
program that included worship, an educational component, and meal
fellowship (from 7:30-9:30 pm), under the auspices of Archbishop
Oshagan.
The fourth Wednesday of Great Lent, the 24th day, is called
Michink (Mid-Lent)a signpost indicating that we have traveled halfway
through Great Lent. And on this day the Church begins to sing special
hymns during the Husgoom services, on Wednesdays dedicated to
St. Mary, Mother of God. Accordingly, MaryParadigm of Discipleship and
Holiness was the theme of the lecture last night, delivered by
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
Highlighting various episodes from the Gospels where Mary is
one of the key characters, Der Hayr drew a number of conclusions about
discipleship and holiness applicable to all Christians as followers of
Christ, disciples called to live a life of holiness in this world,
reflecting the image of their creator and redeemer God. He said, we
have to learn to submit to the will of God in our lives, particularly
in difficult situations, fully trusting in Gods providence, just as
Mary didHere am I, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me
according to y our word (Luke 1:38). He added, following St. Marys
example, discipleship entails hearing the Word of God and doing
it. While discussing her unique place in Gods plan of salvation, Der
Hayr noted that the Church does not worship St. Mary, but honors her
as the Mother of God, Asdvadzadzin, emulates her dedication to God,
and asks for her intercession.
Next Wednesday, March 17, the lecture will focus on Women as
Charity Workers and will be presented by Mrs. Valentine Berberian.
The Lenten Program is sponsored by the Prelacys Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG),
and St. Illuminators Cathedral Ladies Guild. For more information
please contact the Prelacy office at 212-689-7810 or
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or the
cathedral at 212-689-5880.
MUSICAL ARMENIA
The 26th Musical Armenia concert will take place on Sunday, March 21,
at 2 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and
Seventh Avenue, New York City, featuring Tanya Gabrielian, piano; and
Natalie Aroyan, soprano.
Natalie Aroyan, soprano, participated in the 2009 American
Institute of Musical Studies vocal program in Graz, Austria. Her
achievements at Graz included winning First Place and the Audience
Vote at the prestigious Meistersinger Vocal Competition, in which she
performed under the direction of Edoardo Muller. In 2008 at the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music, she performed the role of Rosalinde in
Matthew Barclays production of Strauss Die Fledermaus, conducted by
Imre Pallo. She is currently a professional studies student at Mannes
College The New School for Music.
Tanya Gabrielian, was described as a pianist of powerful
physical and imaginative muscle, by The Times of London. She was
awarded first prize at the 2004 Scottish International Piano
Competition and the 2003 Aram Khachaturian International Piano
Competition. Ms. Gabrielian has performed with several major
orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New London
Sinfonia, and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. She toured Scotland
with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She is currently an
artists diploma student at The Juilliard School.
For tickets ($30) contact the Carnegie box office at
212-247-7800 or the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
ARSHILE GORKY STAMP ISSUED TODAY
The U.S. Postal Service issued the Arshile Gorky postage stamp today,
Thursday, March 11. Gorkys 1944 painting The Liver in a Cocks Comb, is
the first of a series of stamps being issued by the Postal Service
honoring abstract expressionists. Buy and use.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM: MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The 24th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for
youth ages 13-18, is scheduled to take place at the St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 25-JUuly 4,
2010. The program is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC). For information contact the AREC office at
212-689-7810, [email protected]
(mailto:arec@armenianprel acy.org).
PILGRIMAGE TO LEBANON AND SYRIA
On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
Eastern Prelacys St. Gregory of Datev Institute is organizing a
pilgrimage to Syria and Lebanon, from August 2 to August 16. Watch for
details in a special edition of Crossroads tomorrow.
BIBLE READING
Bible reading for today, Thursday, March 11, is is 1 Corinthians
8:5-9:23.
Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on
earthas in fact there are many gods and many lordsyet for us there is
one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through
whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some
have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the
food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being
weak, is defiled. Food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse
off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that
this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the
weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the
temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be
encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your
knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But
when you thus sin against members of your family, you sin against
Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never
eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our
Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to
others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship
in the Lord.
This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not
have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be
accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the
brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have
no right to refrain from working for a living? Who at any time pays
the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and
does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get
any of its milk?
Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the
same? For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle an
ox while it is treading out the grain. Is it for oxen that God is
concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed
written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in ho0pe and
whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we
have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your
material benefits? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not
we still more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure
anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of
Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple
service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the
altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? In the same way, the
Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their
living by the gospel.
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing
this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather
die than thatno one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! If I
proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an
obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the
gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not
of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my
reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free
of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a
slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became
as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one
under the law (thought I myself am not under the law) so that I might
win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one
outside the law (thought I am not free from Gods law but am under
Christs law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I
became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to
all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the
sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. (1
Corinthians 8:5-9:23)
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
4882/goto: elacy/PDF/2010dbr-3.pdf
).
FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA
This Saturday, March 13, the Armenian Church honors the Forty Martyrs
of Sebastia. Although the backgrounds and identities of the forty
young soldiers are not certain, it is believed that they came from
Lesser Armenia and served in the Roman army. According to St. Basil of
Caesarea, forty Christian soldiers refused to worship the Roman
emperor while stationed in Sebastia in Armenia in 320. They remained
faithful to their Christian faith. The soldiers were tried and
condemned to death by stoning. Miraculously, when the sentence was
being carried out, the stones would not reach the intended targets,
but rather shot back striking those throwing the stones. The condemned
soldiers were than thrown into a frozen lake and forced to stay there,
unless they renounced their faith. Warm baths were prepared for anyone
who would recant. Of the forty, only one gave in. When he did, another
soldier, moved by the example of the suffering Christians, declared
himself a Ch!
ristian and took the apostates place. Within a short time most of the
forty were dead, those who were not were put to death.
Some of our great church fathers like Basil, Gregory of Nyssa,
Ephraim the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics about
the forty martyrs. Their memory is commemorated each year during Lent
on the Saturday following the Median day of Lent (Meechink), which was
yesterday. The Armenians have built and named churches in memory of
the forty martyrs in various parts of the world.
SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE
We are now more than half-way through Lent. This Sunday, March 14, is
the Sunday of the Judge (Datavori Kiraki). The Gospel reading for this
day is the parable told by Jesus about a widow and a judge (Luke
18:1-8). The judge in this parable is seen as hard-hearted without
principles, fear of God, or regard for people. A widow in the same
town has been ill-treated and she has come to the judge for
justice. Although her cause is just, the judge does not pay attention
to her case. However, she is persistent and she makes the same appeal
again and again, until at last the judge decided to see that she gets
justice. He does this, not because he cares for justice, but because
he wants to be rid of the widow.
The message of this parable is that in life one must persevere
and pursue righteousness and justice relentlessly with the confidence
that perseverance (especially in prayer) will be rewarded.
DONT FORGET.
We return to Daylight Saving Time as of 2 am Sunday, March 14.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 13International Food Festival and Auction hosted by the Armenian
Relief Society at Hovnanian School, New Milford, New Jersey, at 5
pm. Food booths of various nations. Silent auction and Tricky
Tray. For information Lucy Keomurjian, 201-567-3318 or
[email protected]
(mailto:lucine [email protected]).
March 13NY Hamazkayin Literary Committee presents Historical Review of
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and its Recognition during Soghomon
Tehlirians Trial in 1921, lecture (in English) by Stephan N. Simonian,
MD, 8:05 pm at St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New
York City. Admission $5.
March 14Ladies Guild annual Lenten Luncheon following church services,
St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
March 14Annual membership meeting, St. Stephens Church, New
Britain-Hartford, Connecticut, in Kework Hall immediately after
services.
March 14Annual membership meeting, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
March 16The New York Society Library presents Nora Armani and David
Bakamjian in a journey through the spirit of Armenia, 6:30 pm at the
New York Society Library, 53 East 79th Street, New York City. For
information and registration: (
4882/goto:
) or 212-288-6900 Ext. 230
March 17Fifth Prelacy Lenten Service and Lecture at St. Illuminators
Church, New York, 7:30 pm. Women as Charity Workers, presented by
Mrs. Valentine Berberian.
March 21Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York
City. Featured artists: Tanya Gabrielian, pianist; Natalie Aroyan,
soprano. Tickets $30. Carnegie box office 212-247-7800 or Prelacy
office 212-689-7810.
March 21St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, presentation by
Heather Govern, who will speak on saving money, saving energy, and
saving the planet, at 1 pm following Badarak. Admission is free.
March 21Annual membership meeting, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey.
March 24Sixth and final Prelacy Lenten Service and Lecture at
St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, 7:30 pm. Women as Christian
Educators Today, by Yeretzgin Joanna Baghsarian.
March 26 New York Hamazkayin Literary Committee presents, We are not
Ermeni: The Hamshen Armenians, lecturer Avedis Hadjian, 8:05 pm at the
Armenian Center, Woodside, New York.
March 27New England Regional Conference for pastors, boards of
trustees, and delegates, hosted by Holy Trinity Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 10 am to 4 pm.
April 11ARS Mayr Chapter presents ZULAL, a cappela trio, at the
Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, 209-15 Horace Harding Expressway,
Bayside, New York, 4 pm. Donation: $50, $30; $15 for children under
12. Contact Sonia, 917-679-6992; Hasmik, 516-330-5290.
April 17St. Stephen s Ladies Guild, Watertown, Massachusetts,
presents jazzy evening featuring Sandi Bedrosian jazz ensemble, 6 pm,
church hall. $35 per person. Contact [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) or Yeretzgin Baljian,
781-209-1915. Reservations only.
April 17Ladies Guild New England Regional Seminar hosted
Sts. Vartanantz Church (Providence) Ladies Guild and the National
Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 9 am. Guest speaker: Shakay
Kizirian. Topic: Survival (A Womans Story). For information: Joyce
Bagdasarian, 401-434-4467 or [email protected].
April 18ARS Mayr and Erebouni Chapters sponsor Walk-Armenia to benefit
Camp Haiastan. Registration at St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street,
Douglaston, New York, starts at 12 noon, $25 fee. Walk begins 1
pm. For information 516-330-5290 (Hasmik); 516-739-0805 (Nayda).
April 18Health Expo 2010, To Your Health, St. Sarkis Church, 38-65
234th St., Douglaston, New York, 1 pm to 6 pm. Free tests, counseling,
information on medical conditions, mini-lectures on current health
issues. For information: Dr. Arthur Kubikian 718-786-3842.
April 24 Commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, organized by the Eastern Prelacy with the participation of
community organizations, 7 pm at St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York
City. Keynote speaker: Professor Peter Balakian.
May 10Mothers Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild.
May 13 to 16National Representative Assembly hosted by
St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, and St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
May 13-14NALG Annual Conference in conjunction with the NRA, Crowne
Plaza, LaGuardia Airport Hotel. For information Mary Derderian,
781-762-4253, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).
June 25-July 424th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer
Program for youth ages 13 to 18, at St. Mary of Providence Center,
Elverson, Pennsylvania.
July 17A Hye Summer Night V, dance hosted by Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode
Island. Watch for details.
August 22Annual picnic of St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])