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:
22nd ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE
This Saturday, September 21, is the 22nd anniversary of the
Independent Republic of Armenia. God bless Armenia.
`…Thanks to God, we once again have a free and independent
Armenia. However, it is not enough to simply take pride and joy in
this fact. It is crucial that we bring our active participation to the
sacred work
of building the nation and the state. It is true that we are citizens
of different countries and as such we have a primary responsibility to
fulfill our civil obligations in those countries. Yet, we have a
homeland that belongs to us and keeps reminding us that we all belong
to one nation. While we
are not physically living in Armenia, Armenia must become a living
reality
in our lives. … Helping Armenia is not a humanitarian task. It is a
sacred vocation of each and every Armenian, since we all belong to
Armenia whether we are living there or elsewhere.”
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
(From message delivered at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York, upon
arrival for his first pontifical visit to the Eastern Prelacy of the
United States and Canada, October 1, 1997.)
PRELATE TRAVELS TO ARMENIA
Archbishop Oshagan is travelling to Armenia where he will join with
the Archbishops and Bishops of the worldwide Armenian Church who are
gathering for a meeting of the church hierarchy in Holy
Etchmiadzin. The conclave will take place from September 24 to 27,
with the presence and blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. The
gathering will study the question of reforming the canons and
liturgical practices
of the Armenian Church.
Bishop Anoushavan will also travel to Armenia to participate in the
historic conclave that is bringing together all of the Archbishops and
Bishops of
the Armenian Church.
VICAR CELEBRATES FEAST DAY IN ILLINOIS
Last Sunday, Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar, celebrated the Divine Liturgy
and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross at All Saints Church,
Glenview, Illinois.
Bishop Anoushavan and Archpriest Fr. Zareh Sahakian, pastor of All
Saints Church, with the deacons and altar servers following the
services.
PRAYER SERVICE FOR UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
V. Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian represented
Archbishop Oshagan at the Prayer Service on the occasion of the
opening of the 68th session of the United Nations General
Assembly. The service took place
at the Church of the Holy Family on Monday, September 16.
The Reverend Gerald E. Murray, Pastor of the Church of the Holy
Family, welcomed the guests. Remarks were offered by His Eminence
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York; His Excellency Mr. Ban
Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; His Excellency
Mr. Vuc Jeremic, President of the 67th session of the General
Assembly; and His Excellency The Most Reverend Francis A. Chullikatt,
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United
Nations.
The service consisted of prayers, readings, and hymns. Many of the
prayers
called for an end of violence and war, and especially for peace in
Syria and the Middle East.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, with V. Rev. Fr. Sahag
Yemishyan, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and ecumenical leaders.
SOORP KHATCH CHURCH CELEBRATES NAME DAY AND EXALTATION
Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, celebrated its name day and
the Exaltation of the Holy Cross last Sunday with Archpriest
Fr. Vazken Bekiarian officiating. Immediately after the Divine Liturgy
the Antasdan, (Blessing
of the Four Corners of the World), service was performed followed by
the traditional Madagh blessed and served in the church’s hall.
See a video of the service here
().
Archpriest Fr. Vazken Bekiarian delivering the sermon at Soorp Khatch
Church in Bethesda, Maryland.
Der Vazken blesses the Madagh with the participation of the choir and
deacons.
ANEC WILL PRESENT `ARMENIAN WOMEN AS ARTISTS AND MOTHERS’
The Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) is sponsoring a
symposium, `Armenian Women as Artists and Mothers,’ in celebration of
the Year of the Mother of the Armenian Family. It will take place on
Saturday, October 5, 2013, from 2-6 pm, at Pashalian Hall,
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. The
lecturers will be
Jennifer Manoukian (Columbia University), Dr. Vartan Matiossian
(ANEC), and Dr. Melissa Bilal (Columbia University). For more
information about the event, click here
().
Hrair Hawk Khatcherian holds a copy of `One Church, One Nation,’ as he
speaks about his encounters during his travels to fulfill his
promise to photograph every Armenian Church in the world.
A NEW MONUMENTAL BOOK BY HAWK
A new book, that has taken many years of work to complete, was
presented last Sunday at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. The book, `One
Church, One Nation,’ is a result of a promise make by the book’s
author, noted photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian, twenty years ago.
Introduced by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, Hawk
explained the events that led to this day. In 1993 he was diagnosed
with terminal lung cancer and given only ten days to live. Khatcherian
described how as he contemplated this grim prognosis, he made a
promise to God that if He
allowed him to live, he would photograph every Armenian church in
every country in the world. At the same time, in the same hospital,
his mother-in-law, Araxie, was given a diagnosis of advanced breast
cancer. `She died holding my hand and she passed along the rest of her
life to me,’ Hawk told the audience. `I had ten days to live, not ten
days to die. That was twenty years ago. I’m still around.’
Appropriately, this book is dedicated in loving memory of Araxie.
A lively and engaging speaker, Khatcherian described the ambitious
project
and his many journeys that took him around the world in fulfillment of
his
promise. The audience had many questions for him that he happily
answered.
Afterwards he signed copies of this newest volume as well as his other
books that were available for purchase.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, September 22, Second Sunday of the
Exaltation (Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varak), are: Isaiah
14:3-17; 2 Corinthians 10:18-11:10; Mark 10:1-12.
He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the
Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom,
he again taught them.
Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, `Is it lawful for
a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, `What did Moses command
you?’ They said, `Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of
dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, `Because of
your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the
beginning of creation, `God made them male and
female.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and
be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they
are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined
together, let no one separate.’
Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He
said
to them, `Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries
another, she commits adultery.’ (Mark 10:1-12)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().
PAREGENTAN OF THE HOLY CROSS OF VARAK
This Sunday, September 22, is the Paregentan (Eve) of the Fast of the
Holy
Cross of Varak. Monday to Friday are fasting days leading up to next
Sunday, September 29, when the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak will
be commemorated.
ST. SHOUSHAN
Next Tuesday, September 24, the Armenian Church celebrates Princess
Shoushan, daughter of Vartan Mamigonian and great-granddaughter of
Sahag Bartev. She was educated under the tutelage of St. Sahag and her
mother, Sahaganoosh. Her father’s life and martyrdom influenced her to
become a devout and faithful Christian. Her birth name was Varteny,
but she was called Shoushan because of her extraordinary piety. She
was married to Vazken, a son
of a Georgian king, and had three sons and a daughter. After the death
of her father-in-law, her husband became power-hungry, went to Persia,
renounced the Christian faith and returned to Georgia with another
wife, and tried
to force Shoushan to renounce her Christian faith. Even after years of
imprisonment and torture she refused to renounce the faith for which
her father had fought so valiantly.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Death of Manuk Abeghian (September 25, 1944)
Manuk Abeghian was one of the most important scholars of Armenian
Studies in the first half of the twentieth century. At the conclusion
of his remarkable career, he became one of the founding members of the
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia in 1943.
Abeghian was born on March 17, 1865 in the village of Astapat, in the
historical Armenian province of Nakhichevan (today in territory of
Azerbaijan).
He was the son of an agriculturist. After his initial studies in the
school of the monastery of Karmir Vank, in 1876 he entered the
Kevorkian Seminary of Etchmiadzin and graduated in 1885. He taught for
many years in schools
of Shushi (Karabagh) and Tiflis. In 1893 he went to Europe and became
an auditor at the German universities of Jena, Leipzig, and Berlin, as
well as in the University of Paris. In 1898 he was awarded his
doctorate at the University of Jena, where he defended a dissertation
on the ancient Armenian beliefs.
He returned to the Caucasus and was a teacher in his alma mater, the
Kevorkian Seminary, until 1914. Then, he moved to Tiflis, where he
taught at the
Nersisian Lyceum until 1918.
He moved to Armenia in 1921 and became a professor at Yerevan State
University; he also was the dean of the Faculty of History and
Literature from 1923-1925. In 1935 he earned a second doctorate, this
time in Armenian philology.
Abeghian was a foremost scholar in a variety of disciplines of
Armenian Studies. He was a pioneering figure in the study of Armenian
mythology. Besides recording several variants of the Armenian national
epics David of Sassoun, he was the author of its first specialized
study (1889). Together with his colleague Garo Melik-Ohanjanian, they
both prepared a three-volume edition of all available variants of the
epics (published between 1936 and 1951). Abeghian was also one of the
authors of an integral version of the epics, which condensed all the
variants into one single text (1939). He also published critical
editions of Armenian popular songs and medieval poetry.
Among his major works was the two-volume History of Ancient Armenian
Literature (1944-1945), which was left unfinished because of his
death. Many of his studies were published in a collection of eight
volumes between 1966 and 1985.
Abeghian’s name was linked to the reform of Armenian orthography in
1922. After the sovietization of Armenia, the new regime started a
policy
aimed at the simplification of Armenian orthography, whose ultimate
purpose was to eliminate the Armenian alphabet and replace it with
Latin script. In 1921, Abeghian presented his personal views as a
report in a conference organized by the Commissariat (Ministry) of
Education. The same report was used a year later by the Commissariat,
without consulting with Abeghian, to
decree, on March 4, 1922, the reform of the orthography. For this
reason, it is common to call the reformed orthography with the name of
`Abeghian spelling.’ The excesses in this reform motivated a new
change
in the Soviet Armenian orthography-used today in Armenia, the former
Soviet Union, and among the `new diaspora’ formed after the migration
of the past 25 years-in 1940, which made it closer to
classical orthography (used today by the Diaspora, both speakers of
Western Armenian and of Eastern Armenian, in the case of Iran).
Manuk Abeghian passed away in 1944. The Institute of Literature of the
Armenian National of Academy carries his name.
Note: Previous entries in This Week in Armenian History are on the
Prelacy’s web site (armenianprelacy.org).
AUTUMN BEGINS SUNDAY
Summer officially comes to an end this Sunday, September 22, and
autumn begins.
JERRY TARKANIAN INDUCTED IN HALL OF FAME
Jerry Tarkanian, celebrated as one of the most successful coaches in
college basketball history, was inducted in the Basketball Hall of
Fame on September 9. His acceptance speech, read by his wife, speaks
of his immigrant parents who fled genocide. It is very touching. Take
a look here ().
Armenian Legionnaires
95th ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF ARARA
Today, September 19, is the 95th anniversary of the World War I Battle
of Arara, in which the Legion d’Orient (Armenian Legion) played a
major role. Four Armenian Legion brigades fought with the Allies in
Palestine to achieve a victory that led to the end of the war for the
Turkish army, which was defeated in October of 1918. The role of the
Armenian Legion was so
pivotal that its efforts were recognized by the top commanders of the
Allied Forces. General Edmund Allenby commended Armenian forces in his
official
dispatch to the Allied High Command: `On the right flank, on the
coastal hills, the units of the Armenian Legion d’Orient fought with
great valour. Despite the difficulty of the terrain and the strength
of the enemy defensive lines, at an early hour, they took the hill of
Dir el Kassis.’ Allenby also said, `I am proud to have had an Armenian
contingent under my command. They have fought very brilliantly and
have played a great part in the victory.’
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE () AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.
The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
Thank you for your help.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 5 to October 3-`A Brief Introduction to Modern Armenian
Literature,’ a series of five seminars presented on Thursdays, 7 pm to
8:30 pm, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New
York City. Sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee
(ANEC) and the Cathedral. Presented by Vartan Matiossian, Ph.D.
September 20-St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin presents `Flavors of
the Mediterranean’ wine tasting fundraiser at Uncorkt in downtown
Racine, 6 – 8 pm. Featured wines from France, Italy, Spain, and
Portugal. Traditional mezza plates will be served. In addition to
supporting the church, 10% of the proceeds will benefit the Mother and
Child
center in Armenia. For tickets/information contact: Denise Lansing,
262-639-8204; Mary M. Olson, 262-681-1535. Tickets are $20 per person
or $35 per couple.
September 21-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral’s =80=9CHuyser’ Music
Ensemble presents `The Sound of Freedom,’ a celebration of
independence, at the Frank Sinatra School of Arts, Tony Bennett
Concert Hall, 35-12 35th Avenue, Astoria, New York, at 7:30
pm. Tickets $25-$35. For information: 212-689-5880.
September 22-Presentation and book signing of A Place Far Away, a
compelling new novel by Vahan Zanoyan, presented by the Agnouni,
Bergen, Shake, and Spitak Chapters of the Armenian Relief Society, 2
pm at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New
Jersey. Refreshments served. All net proceeds from the book are being
donated to organizations devoted to protecting children and fighting
human trafficking in Armenia. Proceeds from book sales at this event
will also benefit the ARS.
September 25-City University of New York, Middle Eastern and Middle
Eastern American Center, presents a Workshop with Susan Pattie,
`Learning to Enable Personal Narratives.’ Dr. Pattie will lead the
workshop, demonstrating how a simple object can open multiple doors
into both past and present. The workshop is free and open to the
public, Graduate Center, CUNY 365, 5th Avenue at 34th Street, New York
City, 6:30 to 8:30 pm,
Skylight Room. Participants should bring an object with them. This can
be anything from an old recipe to a diamond ring, a book, or a worn
slipper, etc. For information: memeac.gc.cuny.edu.
September 26-Presentation and signing of A Place Far Away, a powerful
portrayal of the realities of human trafficking in Armenia, 7 pm at
Kavookjian Auditorium, St. Vartan Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New
York
City. Sponsored by the Armenian Studies program of the Department of
Youth
and Education, the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, and the
Fund for Armenian Relief. All proceeds from the book are being donated
to organizations devoted to protecting children and fighting human
trafficking.
September 26-`Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ sponsored by the Ladies Guild
of St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, at the home
of Mr. & Mrs. Peter and Irene Vosbikian, Moorestown, New
Jersey. Sumptuous
brunch, vendors, Chinese auction, $50 per person. For reservations for
the
brunch contact: Mari Degirmenci 610-353-9199; Ashkhen Setrakian
610-527-3119; Cissy DerHagopian 856-231-9447; Theresa Hovnanian
856-231-1544. Transportation available from St. Gregory Church;
departing 9:30 am and return trip at 3 pm. For transportation
reservations ($20 per person) contact: Helen Guveyian 610-742-5871.
October 5-Symposium `Armenian Women as Artists and Mothers,’ 2-6 pm,
sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) at
St. Illuminator Cathedral Pashalian Hall, 221 East 27th Street, New
York City, in celebration of the Year of the Mother of the Armenian
Family. Lecturers: Jennifer Manoukian (Columbia University), `Zabel
Yessayan: Mother and Activist,’; Vartan Matiossian (ANEC), `Armen
Ohanian: An Armenian Woman of the World,’ and Melissa Bilal (Columbia
University), `Lullabies and Tears: On Armenian Grandmothers and
Granddaughters in Istanbul.’
October 5-St. Paul Monthly Movie Night featuring a documentary about
Our Motherland-Armenia-with introduction by Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian,
7 pm, at St. Paul Churchy, 645 S. Lewis Avenue, Waukegan,
Illinois. Light refreshments. This is a free event. For information:
Arda Haroian-Bowles, 847-445-7934.
October 6-Special program following the Divine Liturgy presented by
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian commemorating the passing of Catholicos
Zareh
I (50th) and Catholicos Khoren I (30th) will take place at Soorp
Khatch Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, Maryland.
October 13-Special program following the Divine Liturgy presented by
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian commemorating the passing of Catholicos
Zareh I (50th) and Catholicos Khoren I (30th) will take place at
St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New York, under
auspices of Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan.
October 19-Armenian Friends of America presents `Hye Kef 5′ featuring
musicians Leon Janikian, Joe Kouyoumjian, Greg Takvorian, Ken
Kalajian, Ron Raphaelian, and Jay Baronian, 7:30-12:30, Michael’s
Function Hall, 12 Alpha Street, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Proceeds
to benefit all Armenian churches in Merrimack Valley and New
Hampshire. Tickets: $40 adults; $30 students; includes
individually-served mezza platters. For information/reservations: John
Arzigian 603-560-3826; Sandy Boroyan 978-251-8687; Scott Sahagian
617-699-3581; Peter Gulezian 978-375-1616.
October 20-St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, 75th Anniversary
Celebration to begin with Badarak at 10 am at the church, followed by
a gala
`tasting banquet’ and program at the Racine Marriott. For information:
Mary M. Olson, 262-681-1535.
October 24 to December 19-St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans,
an 8-week Bible study program beginning Thursday, October 24, and
continuing on Thursdays up to December 19 (no session on Thanksgiving,
November 28). Sessions will be presented by Dn. Shant Kazanjian,
Executive Director of the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC). Sessions will take place at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221
East 27th Street, New York City.
7:15-8:00 pm, Presentation; 8:00-8:45 pm, Q/A &
Discussion. Registration is required. Register at
or contact the Prelacy 212-689-7810, or the
Cathedral at 212-689-5880.
October 27-90th anniversary celebration of St. Gregory Church,
Philadelphia, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan,
Prelate. Immediately after the Divine Liturgy at the church’s Founders
Hall,
8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128.
November 1 & 2-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 57th
Armenian Bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm, at Armenian Cultural & Educational
Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown. Delicious meals (take-out
available), Armenian pastries, Arts and Crafts, Books, Raffles, Attic
Treasures, Auctions, and more. For information: 617-924-7562.
November 2 & 3-Armenian Fest 2013, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence,
Rhode Island, presents its Armenian Food Festival at Rhodes on the
Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston. Featuring chicken, losh, and shish
kebabs, and kufta dinners, Armenian delicacies, dancing to live music,
arts and crafts, flea market, gift baskets, children’s corner, country
store, jewelry, silent auction, hourly raffles, and grand prize,
$2,000. Children’s dance group will perform on Saturday and Sunday at
5 pm. Armenian food and pastry are available all day. Saturday, noon
to 9 pm; Sunday, noon
to 8 pm. Free admission and parking. For information: 401-831-6399.
November 10-Ladies Guild of St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, presents The Way We Were Ensemble of New York/New
Jersey in their performance of `The Gamavors,’ at 2 pm in the church
hall. Coffee and reception with cast will follow performance. Tickets:
$20 adults; $10 children under 12. For tickets: Mary Derderian,
[email protected] or 781-762-4253.
November 15-16-17-Annual Bazaar, Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen
Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
November 16 & 17-Annual ART IN FALL Exhibition featuring national and
international Armenian artists, Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New
Milford, New Jersey. Fine art including oils, mixed media,
photography, and sculpture in classic, modern, and contemporary styles
by 27 artists. Opening Reception, Saturday, 7 to 10 pm. Cocktails and
Hors D’oeuvres, $30 donation. Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, Refreshments, $15
donation.
November 17-Banquet and Program celebrating the `Year of the Armenian
Mother,’ organized by the Eastern Prelacy, at Terrace in the Park,
Flushing Meadows Park, New York. Watch for details.
November 24-Special program following the Divine Liturgy presented
by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian commemorating the passing of Catholicos
Zareh I (50th) and Catholicos Khoren I (30th) will take place at
St. Stephen’s Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts.
December 7-Annual Church Bazaar of St. Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts, will take place at Christian Reform
Church, 25 Cross
Street, Whitinsville. For information: 508-234-3677.
December 7-Annual Holiday Bake Sale, St. Paul Church, 645 S. Lewis
Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 9 am to 3 pm. Enjoy authentic Armenian &
American pastries and plan to stay for lunch at St. Paul Café. For
information or pre-orders, 847-244-4573.
February 24-26, 2014-Annual Clergy Ghevontiantz Gathering hosted by
Holy Cross Church, 255 Spring Avenue, Troy, New York.
March 28, 2014-Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy
and Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
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[email protected]
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