PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:
August 26, 2010
EXTREME UNCTION OFFICIATED BY ARCHBISHOP YEPREM
Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian, former Prelate of the Western Prelacy,
officiated the Extreme Unction of Archpriest Fr. Vahrich Shirinian,
during the Divine Liturgy and funeral services last Friday, August
20. Archpriest Fr. Vahrich passed away on August 14. Funeral services
took place at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey, where Der Vahrich served for 25 years. Clergy from
parishes of the Eastern Prelacy participated in the service to bid
farewell to their brother-in-Christ.
BLESSING OF GRAPES CEREMONY FOR
RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK ARMENIAN HOME
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminators Cathedral in
New York City, visits the New York Armenian Home for the Aged every
Wednesday. Last Wednesday, August 18, during his regular visit he
performed the Blessing of Grapes ceremony for the residents.
Accompanying Der Hayr was Mrs. Lalig Vartanian, chairwoman of the
Cathedrals Board of Trustees, and the co-chairs of the Cathedrals
Sunday School, Ms. Tamar Lakissian and Ms. Sossi Essajanian, and
little Taleen Lakissian.
Der Mesrob blessed each resident individually and then
distributed the bags of blessed grapes to each. He also presented a
donation of $500 to the home from St. Illuminators Cathedral.
In a letter of thanks, the Executive Director of the Home,
Ms. Aghavni Aggie Ellian, wrote: I cannot express how much the
residents look forward to your visits and your blessings and how you
individually offer prayers and kind words to the residents. Whenever
we have an emergency, and you are busy, you never refuse us and manage
to visit a sick resident in the hospital or in the home. You have no
idea how happy you make them feel and how pleased we are for that.
Photo: Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminators
Cathedral, and Mrs. Lalig Vartanian (center), chairwoman of the
Cathedrals Board of Trustees, with administrators of the Armenian
Home.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DER KAREKIN AND YERETZGIN SEVAN
Congratulations are in order for Der Karekin Bedourian and Yeretzgin
Sevan, who are the parents of a daughter, Megheti, born last Sunday,
August 22, at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Boston.
Der Karekin was recently appointed to serve as pastor of
St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts. He was ordained in the city of his birth, Kessab,
Syria, in March 2009, by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Der Hayr served
as a pastoral intern at St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
prior to his assignment to the North Andover parish.
LINKED iN
The Prelacys annual LinkedIn gathering is a popular educational and
social weekend for young professionals and college students. Beginning
Friday evening and continuing to Sunday, the weekend provides
education through informative and thought-provoking lectures,
spiritual enrichment through Bible studies, meditations, and
liturgical services, and bonding with peers through discussion groups
and fellowship hours.
This years gathering will take place October 8-10 at the Holy
Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. The general
theme for 2010 is The Multi-
Dimensional Aspects of Relationships.
For details about the weekend program and registration form click here
(
).
CLERGY RETREAT
For the third year in a row a retreat will take place for clergy
serving the Eastern Prelacy immediately following the Linked iN
gathering for young adults. The clergy retreat will take place
October 10 to 13. The main topic of this years retreat will be the
services of Holy Week.
ARTSAKH PRESIDENT IN ANTELIAS
Last Saturday the President of Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh), Pago
Sahakian, visited His Holiness Aram I in Antelias. His Holiness
greeted President Sahakian, and led him together with his delegation
and the representatives in attendance to the Martyrs Chapel for
prayers in memory of the martyrs of the Genocide of 1915.
Following the service, His Holiness welcomed the President,
expressing the unconditional support of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
and the Diaspora for the independence and self-determination in
Karabagh. The President thanked His Holiness for his warm reception
and support. He also expressed thanks to the Armenian community in
Lebanon and the Diaspora for their contribution toward the rebuilding
of Nagorno Karabagh.
95th ANNIVERSARY OF DEFENSE OF MUSA DAGH
COMMEMORATED IN ANJAR
Last Saturday His Holiness Aram I, accompanied by the President of
Nagorno Karabagh, Pago Sahakian, and clergy, visited Anjar, Lebanon,
where they received a warm welcome. His Holiness and entourage walked
to St. Pauls Church for the service of the canonical hour. The
procession then moved to the monument dedicated to the martyrs of Musa
Dagh, where flowers were placed and a cultural program took place in
commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the forty-day defense of Musa
Dagh and the 70th anniversary of Anjar.
Anjar is located in Lebanons Bekaa valley, east of Beirut. The
inhabitants of Anjar were originally inhabitants of six villages
located on the foothills of the mountain made famous by Franz Werfels
Forty Days of Musa Dagh. In 1939 more than 1,000 families from the
villages of Musa Dagh were brought to the Bekaa valley and settled in
Anjar, with the help of the French government.
BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, August 29, second Sunday after the
Assumption, Feast of the Discovery of the Belt of the Theotokos, are:
Isaiah 9:8-19; 2 Corinthians 1:1-12; Mark 4:35-40.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, Let us go
across to the other side. And leaving the crowd behind, they took him
with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A
great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the
boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the
cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, Teacher, do you not
care that we are perishing? He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said
to the sea, Peace! Be still! Then the wind ceased, and there was a
dead calm. He said to them, Why are you afraid? Have you still no
faith?
(Mark 4:35-40).
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
).
FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE BELT OF THE THEOTOKOS
This Sunday, August 29, the second Sunday after the Assumption, is the
Feast of the Discovery of the Belt of the Theotokos.
Because there are no relics of the Holy Mothers earthly body
(she was assumed into Heaven), her personal belongings became articles
of devotion. Her belt was the first to be discovered in Jerusalem in
the fifth century. This discovery is the basis for a feast day in the
Armenian Church.
There are eight feast days dedicated to the Holy Mother of
God. These include: Her Nativity, Her Presentation to the Temple, the
Annunciation, The Conception of Mary, The Purification, The
Assumption, the Discovery of the Belt, and the Discovery of the Box.
ST. JEREMIAH THE PROPHET
Today, Thursday, August 26, the Armenian Church commemorates Jeremiah,
one of the prophets of the Old Testament. His writings are collected
in the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations is
attributed to him. God appointed Jeremiah to confront Judah and
Jerusalem for the worship of idols and other violations of the
covenant (described in the Book of Deuteronomy). Jeremiah had the task
of explaining the reason for the impending disasterthe destruction by
the Babylonian army and captivity: And when your people say, Why has
the Lord our God done all these things to us? you shall say to them,
As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you
shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.
EZEKIEL THE PROPHET
Next Tuesday, August 31, the Armenian Church commemorates Ezekiel,
another Old Testament prophet. Ezekiel, which means God strengthens,
was chosen by God as His messenger and Ezekiel faithfully served the
Lord. He was called upon to warn his people in accordance with the
message God had given him. God had Ezekiel proclaim judgments on the
cities that surrounded Jerusalem because of their sinfulness. The Book
of Ezekiel ends with hope, restoration, and redemption and points the
way to Christ, the redeemer of humanity.
19th AMENDMENT BECAME LAW 90 YEARS AGO
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which simply states, The
right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,
became law ninety years ago today.
The Amendment needed ratification by 36 states, and on August
18, 1920, the state of Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the
amendment. On August 26, 1920, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby
certified the amendments adoption and it became the law of the land.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 29 Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York,
Blessing of Grapes picnic from 12 noon to 4 pm, on the church grou8nds
at 255 Spring Avenue, Troy, New York 12180.
September 12 St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Divine Liturgy, followed by Blessing of
Madagh (Harisah), sponsored by the Ladies Guild.
September 12 2nd Annual Picnic-Festival in North Andover,
Massachusetts, jointly sponsored by St. Gregory Armenian Church and
St. Michael Parish, 12 noon to 6 pm. Main Street in front of both
parishes will be closed to traffic. Featuring traditional delicious
Armenian and American picnic food. American and Armenian music, games
and activities. For information: 978-685-5038 or
September 12 St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, grand
opening of the newly built Founders Hall. Archbishop Oshagan will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and preside over the luncheon.
September 12 St. Stephens Church, New Britain, Connecticut, annual
picnic at Quartette Club, Wooster Street, New Britain, from noon until
dusk.
September 17 6th Annual Golf Outing, All Saints Armenian Church,
Glenview, Illinois. For information: Armen Kholamian (847) 323-5452;
Hagop Soulakian (847) 858-7685; Sevon Torosian (847) 722-3289.
September 18 Dinner and performance of Hello Ellis Island, by The Way
We Were ensemble, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. For
information: 201-943-2950.
September 19 Annual picnic of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
on the church grounds. A relaxing, exciting, joyful, old fashioned
picnic. Good food, best shish kebob, entertainment by FJ-Erevan,
KidZone, special supervised activities for children starting at 1 pm.
September 20 St. Stephens Armenian School/ACEC 15TH Annual Golf Outing
at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf, lunch, dinner and
contests. For information: Astor at (781) 326-5764.
September 26 Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Providence,
Rhode Island, 70th anniversary of the church and Rev. Fr. Gomidas
Baghsarians elevation to Archpriest, and 10th anniversary of service
to Sts. Vartanantz. Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and preside over the celebratory banquet at Crowne Plaza,
Warwick, Rhode Island. For information: Ramon Zorabedian,
401-884-6626.
September 27 Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 7th Annual Golf Outing at Sterling National Country
Club, Sterling, Massachusetts. $140 per person includes golf, cart,
breakfast, dinner and prizes. For information: Kap Kaprielian,
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 508-872-9629.
October 3 50th anniversary celebration of Nareg Saturday Armenian
School of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, under the
auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and presided by His Grace
Bishop Anoushavan.
October 8-10 The Eastern Prelacys Linked In workshop weekend for young
adults at Holy Virgin Marys Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.
October 14-17 Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar. Information: 301-229-8742.
October 17 St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, Hayrenikin,
debut of Huyser Musical Ensemble, 1 pm. Admission: $15.00. For
information: 212-689-5880.
November 5-6-7 Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
November 7 67th anniversary, All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview,
Illinois.
November 13-14 Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 46th
anniversary banquet Saturday evening. Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated
by the Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Oshagan. Information: 301-229-8742.
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])
From: A. Papazian