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:
November 29, 2012
REQUIEM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL
A Requiem Service for Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the
Eastern Prelacy, will take place this Sunday, December 2, at
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City. His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, will officiate and deliver
the sermon.
Archbishop Mesrob passed away nine years ago, on December 2, 2003,
during a visit to the United States. He served as Prelate for twenty
years, from 1978 to 1998, after which he relocated to Armenia where he
directed the 1700th anniversary commemorative committee, and later
organized innumerable charitable and educational programs to benefit
the people in Armenia and Artsakh.
`O Christ, receive the souls of your servants into the assembly of
the first-born in heaven. Receive from us spiritual sacrifice for them
and
grant them to find forgiveness on the last day. Be reconciled with
them, Lord, by means of your holy body and blood and grant them to
stand at your right hand.’
(Canon for the Departed in Christ from the Liturgical Canons of the
Armenian Church)
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, of blessed memory, at Holy Etchmiadzin.
ST. HAGOP CHURCH MARKS 74TH ANNIVERSARY
St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, celebrated the parish’s 74th
anniversary on Sunday, November 11. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated
by Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, with Bishop Anoushavan presiding.
Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian with altar servers and
choir members following the Divine Liturgy at St. Hagop Church,
Racine, on the parish’s 74th anniversary.
ST. SARKIS CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Parishioners and friends of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
celebrated the parish’s 50th anniversary on Sunday, November 18, with
a joyous church service and a gala banquet.
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
delivered the sermon in which he asked the St. Sarkis faithful to
continue the marvelous duty of building and sustaining their house of
worship. Following the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence consecrated the
newly installed doors
of the church.
A gala banquet took place at Leonard’s of Great Neck with the
participation of local clergy, dignitaries, parishioners, and friends
of
St. Sarkis. Dr. Arthur Kubikian served as Master of
Ceremonies. Speakers who spoke about the history of the church, the
role the church has played in
the life of the community, and their vision for the future of the
church included Arthur Hairabedian, Bedros Givelekian, Aram Cazazian,
Edward Barsamian, Michael Haratunian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, and
Bishop Anoushavan.
Archbishop Oshagan awarded the highest awards offered by the Prelacy,
the `Eagle of the Prelacy’ to Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian, and the `Queen
Zabel’ award to Dr. Louiza Kubikian.
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis, expressed his
gratitude to his parishioners with heartfelt words. `Looking back to
the
past decade, I can confidently say that I have been privileged and
honored
to serve you as your pastor. I have been given the full support of
church members, Board of Trustees and parishioners at large. You
supported me first to continue all the wonderful programs that have
been implemented in the past by your former pastors, Der Asoghig and
Hayr Anoushavan. You also supported me to launch new programs that
would fit the needs of our times. I am
truly grateful to you.’
The Prelate consecrates the newly installed doors at St. Sarkis
Church.
A scene from the 50th anniversary gala banquet.
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS CONTINUE FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA
Fundraising efforts to benefit the Armenian community in Syria are
continuing. Funds raised through the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief
are being transferred to the special fund that has been established in
Lebanon by
the Catholicosate of Cilicia to help the community, especially to keep
the
schools open, and to provide humanitarian aid to families who have
been displaced or injured because of the ongoing civil strife.
The Prelacy transferred $100,000 a few weeks ago and last week
transferred an additional $50,000. A number of fundraising events have
taken place, and more will take place in the coming weeks.
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.
PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY COLLECTS FOR SYRIA
The Philadelphia Armenian community raised $18,000 during a
fundraising event attended by more than 250 persons that took place at
St. Gregory
the Illuminator’s Founders Hall on November 9. Special guest speaker
and editor of the Armenian Weekly, Khatchig Mouradian, provided a
compelling presentation in Armenian and English that stressed the
importance of providing assistance by relating his own experiences as
a young boy caught in Lebanon’s Civil War. He encouraged everyone to
recognize the power they have to change lives by helping families in
crisis, and saving our Armenian schools, churches, and organizations.
The participating organizations included St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Armenian Relief Society,Artemis and Ani Chapters, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation of Philadelphia, the Armenian Youth
Federation, Sebouh Chapter, Hamazkayin of Philadelphia, and Homenetmen
of Philadelphia.
Founders Hall at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia
was the site of a gathering that raised more than $18,000 for Syrian
Armenian relief on November 9.
NORTH ANDOVER PRIEST PRAYS AND PREACHES FOR PEACE
Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, pastor of St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, is on a new mission these days, as reported by
journalist Tom Vartabedian in an article entitled `A Holy Pitch for
Syrian
Relief.’
Tom writes, `In addition to spreading the word of God, the young
pastor of St. Gregory Church in North Andover is making an active
pitch for Syrian relief efforts for his beloved city of Kessab and
other Armenian districts throughout the land.’
Der Hayr is doing his utmost to raise money to help the Syrian
Armenian community and is also spreading the word to a wider
audience. Most recently he gave the sermon at the annual Thanksgiving
Interfaith Service in North Andover where he spoke about the situation
in Syria and prayed for peace.
Der Hayr was born and raised in Kessab, a mostly Armenian populated
area in Syria, where recent intense clashes have disrupted a once
tranquil
lifestyle.
Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian was invited to preach at the annual
Thanksgiving Interfaith Service in North Andover.
EXPLORING THE EUCHARIST (Soorp Badarak)
The first of a four-part program on the Eucharist (Soorp Badarak) took
place last night at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in
New York City, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian,
pastor, cosponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) and the Cathedral. The speaker of the series is
Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of AREC. The evening began with a meal
fellowship (from 6:30-7:30 pm) followed by the lecture (7:30-8:45
pm). The next session will take place on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
For information and registration, please visit
() or call (212) 689-7810
(Prelacy) or (212) 689-5880 (Cathedral).
The first of a four-part program on the Eucharist took place last
night.
VICAR ATTENDS CONFERENCE IN MASSACHUSETTS
Bishop Anoushavan recently attended a two-day Pan Orthodox conference
devoted to `Civil Society and Orthodoxy’ at Holy Cross Theological
Seminary in Massachusetts with Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor
of St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown. The conference was organized by
the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO).
Bishop Anoushavan and Archpriest Antranig Baljian with Archbishop
Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America.
Srpazan and Der Hayr with Lily Vardanyan, Administrative
secretary-translator of IAO and Professor Valery Alexeev, IAO advisor.
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S HELPS HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City has been collecting food
and clothing for New York City residents affected by Hurricane
Sandy. Last Wednesday, on the eve of Thanksgiving, Rev. Fr. Mesrob
Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, and members of his family joined
volunteers from
the American Red Cross to deliver and distribute food to needy
families.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian joined American Red Cross volunteers to help
distribute food to needy families in Far Rockaway, New York. The
Rockaway peninsula was one of the hardest hit areas in New York.
BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN WITH NEW JERSEY PARISH
Bishop Anoushavan presided over the Divine Liturgy which was
celebrated by Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, last Sunday at Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. His Grace delivered the sermon
touching on the themes of Thanksgiving and the aftermath of the storm
that devastated parts of New
Jersey and New York.
Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan and Yn. Ani Bozoian with the
Sunday School staff and deacons at Sts. Vartanantz Church in New
Jersey.
Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan and Yn. Ani Bozoian with Sunday
School staff and interns.
VISIT TO ARMENIAN HOME IN NEW YORK
Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, visited the residents of the Armenian
Home in
Flushing, New York, last Sunday, November 25, on the occasion of the
Thanksgiving holiday.
Members of the St. Illuminator’s `Huyser’ Ensemble
entertained the residents, staff and guests with Armenian songs.
Bishop Anoushavan and Der Mesrob in a service of thanksgiving at the
Armenian Home in New York.
The Cathedral’s `Huyser’ Ensemble entertained the residents.
VICAR ATTENDS LEBANON’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Bishop Anoushavan with Consul General Magdi Ramadan at a celebration
of Lebanon’s Independence Day on November 19.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, December 2, Second Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 36:22-37:11; Thessalonians 4:1-11; Luke 13:1-9.
At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He
asked them, `Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in
this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell
you; but unless
you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who
were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-do you think that
they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No,
I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they
did.’
Then he told the parable: `A man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he
said to the gardener, `See here! For three years I have come looking
for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why
should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, `Sir, let it alone for one
more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears
fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”
(Luke 13:1-9)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().
SAINTS THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
This Saturday, December 1, the Armenian Church commemorates Saints
Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the
first evangelizers of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the
Armenian Church its apostolic identity and earning them the title,
`First Enlighteners of Armenia.’
Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He was
martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian
monastery of St. Thaddeus (Iran) where a chapel was built in the third
century.
Bartholomew is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He was
martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.
An apostle is `someone who is sent,’-an emissary or ambassador of the
Kingdom of God, sent to announce the Kingdom’s coming in Jesus Christ,
and authorized to claim men and women’s allegiance to him. `We are
ambassadors for Christ, God making
his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be
reconciled to God,’ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
KING APKAR, THE FIRST BELIEVING KING
Next Tuesday, December 4, the Armenian Church remembers King Apkar,
known as the `first believing king.’ He ruled in Edessa (Urfa) where
many Armenians had migrated. Suffering from a debilitating skin
disease, King Apkar sent a letter to Christ hoping to be cured, and
received the answer that a disciple of Christ would visit
him. According to tradition, Christ sent Apkar a linen cloth
(Dastarak) with His image. After Christ’s ascension Thaddeus went to
see the king and cured him. King Apkar and his family became
Christians and wrote to other kings urging them to
accept Christianity.
PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA VISITS CATHOLICOSATE
Serge Sarkissian, the President of the Republic of Armenia, and his
wife paid a visit to the Catholicosate in Antelias while on an
official visit to Lebanon. Accompanying the President were the Foreign
Minister and the Ministers of Education, Culture and Relations with
the Diaspora. The Catholicos, the President, and his delegation went
to the Chapel of the Martyrs
of the Genocide where President Sarkissian placed a wreath and His
Holiness prayed for the souls of the one-and-a-half million victims.
His Holiness and the President held a private meeting prior to a
reception attended by members of the National Council of the
Catholicosate, the clergy and representatives of organizations of the
Armenian community in
Lebanon.
The Catholicos thanked the President for his visit and for raising the
issues of Genocide and defending the rights of the Armenians. As an
expression of his appreciation, Catholicos Aram decorated the
President with the `Cilician Cross.’ The President thanked the
Catholicos and noted, `I strongly believe that Armenia and the
Diaspora strengthen one another. Inspired by this conviction, I remain
committed to strengthening both. The Armenian community in Lebanon not
only represents large numbers, it also embodies the aspirations and
hopes of our people. The Catholicosate of Cilicia is more than a
spiritual center; it is the foundation and the source of inspiration
for safeguarding Armenian identity.’
`WE WILL RENOVATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN DER ZOR’
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, recently
confirmed that renovations to the Armenian Martyrs Memorial in Der Zor
will start as soon as security is restored. The memorial compound
sustained considerable damage by shrapnel from aerial bombardment in
the area. The memorial is dedicated to the victims of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915.
HIS HOLINESS CONGRATULATES NEW COPTIC POPE
Archbishops Sebouh Sarkissian and Nareg Alemezian represented His
Holiness Aram I at the enthronement of Tawadros II as the new Coptic
Orthodox Pope. Archbishop Sebouh presented the Catholicos’s message
that referred to the long historical relations between the Coptic and
Armenian Orthodox Churches since the Council of Chalcedon in 451
AD. The Catholicos emphasized the importance of the ecumenical
movement as an instrument of the churches to work together. `For
centuries, Christians and Muslims have lived together in the Middle
East. The two Monotheistic religions should continue living together
by affirming their common values and by respecting their differences.’
The Treaty of Alexandropol (December 2-3, 1920)
The Armenian-Turkish war of 1920 put the Republic of Armenia on the
brink of collapse. It also brought back the very real threat of
physical disappearance for the Armenian people. The secret pact signed
between the Turkish Great National Assembly led by Mustafa Kemal
(Ataturk) and Soviet Russia in August 1920 had ensured the support of
Bolshevism to the Turkish insurgents. The latter, unlike the Ottoman
legal government, were leading the so-called `war of independence’
against Greece in order to overturn the partition of the Ottoman
Empire that included the division of current Turkey into different
zones of influence and the loss of most of its territories.
Turkish forces commanded by General Kiazim Karabekir had already
reached Alexandropol (now Gumri) at the end of November 1920 when a
ceasefire
was forced upon the Armenian government. On the other side, a small
group of Armenian Bolsheviks had crossed the border from Soviet
Azerbaijan into Armenia on November 29 and proclaimed Armenia a Soviet
republic, appealing for the intervention of the Red Army. The
government of the Republic of Armenia, led by Prime Minister Simon
Vratzian (who had assumed power on November 25), was forced to choose
the lesser of two evils: to turn away the potential annihilation of
Eastern Armenians, it decided to relinquish power to the
Communists. The change of regime was legalized through the signature
of an agreement between the authorities of the Republic of Armenia and
Boris Legran, representative of the Russian Soviet Federative
Socialist Republic (RSFSR), in the morning of December 2, 1920. It was
enforced on the same day
at 6 pm. It established that Armenia would become an independent
Soviet Socialist republic within the frontiers that had been under the
jurisdiction of the government before the Turkish invasion and a
revolutionary committee
would take power temporarily. On its final session of the same day,
the government of the Republic of Armenia decided to resign
power. After more than two and half years, the first independence had
come to an end.
The sovietization of Armenia did not end the Turkish menace. Karabekir
threatened to resume his offensive unless his terms were accepted. The
onerous terms obliged Armenia to renounce the Treaty of Sevres and all
claims to Western Armenia and the province of Kars, and to accept
temporary Turkish jurisdiction in Nakhichevan, among other
issues. Alexander Khatisian, representative of the Republic of
Armenia, signed the treaty in the wee hours of December 3.
However, the Armenian government had already resigned and, therefore,
Khatisian had no power whatsoever. On the other hand, Kiazim Karabekir
represented the Great National Assembly of Turkey, with headquarters
in Ankara, but the legal authority of Turkey, until November 1922, was
in the hands of Sultan Mehmed VI and the Ottoman government in
Constantinople. Legally, none of the signing parties had any
attribution to stamp their signature under the document. Writes
Richard Hovannisian: `Denounced and
Alexander Khatisian
branded a traitor by Soviet and other non-Dashnakist authors,
Khatisian justified his action as an exigency measure taken with the
knowledge of the new Erevan government and intended to give time for
the Red Army to enter Armenia in sufficient numbers to block a further
Turkish advance. Realizing that he had not legal jurisdiction,
Khatisian hoped that the new Soviet government, with the support of
Russia, would repudiate his action and force the Turks to withdraw, at
least to the pre-war boundaries.’
The Treaty of Alexandropol was never ratified and was replaced by the
treaties of Moscow and Kars (March and October 1921). The latter was
signed by the Great National Assembly of Turkey, Soviet Russia, Soviet
Armenia, Soviet Georgia, and Soviet Azerbaijan. However, these
treaties cannot be recognized as valid according to international
law. Mustafa Kemal had not been invested with any powers by the
legally recognized Ottoman government, and Soviet Armenia was not a
legally recognized state anymore.
()
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 1-Annual Holiday Bake Sale, St. Paul Church, 645 S. Lewis
Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 9 am to 3 pm. Enjoy authentic Armenian and
American pastries and plan to stay for lunch at St. Paul Café. For
information or pre-orders, 847-244-4573.
December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar, 11 am to 5 pm at the Christian Reform Church Fellowship
Hall, corner of East and Cross Streets, Whitinsville. Come meet old
and new friends and enjoy the day, good dinners, great baked goods,
fabulous silent auction, Armenian boutique, craft tables, Country
Store, and more.
December 2-ARS New York Mayr Chapter presents `An Afternoon of Food
and Dance,’ to benefit the Armenian community in Syria, Byblos
Restaurant, 80 Madison Avenue (at 28th Street), New York City, at 2
pm. Music by Varouj Vartanian, Manuel Vartanian, & Harout
Barsoumian. Donation: $75 adults; $30 children under 12. For
reservations: Anais 718-392-6982
or Anahid 718-478-6249.
December 7-New York Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Society presents dedication of a new book, `Gomidas: A
Psychological Study,’ by Meline Karakashian, Ph.D. The author will
speak about her book that analyzes the life and mental health of
Gomidas Vartabed from a new psychological perspective. Armenian
Center, 69-23 47th Avenue, Woodside, New York, at 7:30 pm. Admission
is free. Refreshments and book signing will follow presentation. For
information: Ara Caprielian 718-459-2757 or Asdghig Sevag
718-565-8397.
December 9-Simply Christmas 2012. A Holiday Concert following Church
Services at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, under the
auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. A
Christmas celebration with Hasmik Mekhanejian, Mezzo-Soprano; Solange
Merdinian, Mezzo-Soprano; Sami Merdinian, Violin; Sofya Melikian,
Piano. Free admission. Reception following concert.
December 16-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual Sunday School pageant and concert following Badarak. Christmas
coffee hour to follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
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Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
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