Author: Chmshkian Vicken

PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

Tel: (212) 686-0710

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.armenianchurch.us

___________________

ATTENTION
EDITOR: Three photos attached, with captions below. Please credit Diran
Jebejian, Jebejian Images. Find additional photos at the following link:

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/St-Vartan-Armenian-Cathedral/Christmas-at-St-Vartan-Cathedral-Jan-6-2024

HEADLINE:

Finding
God’s “True Peace”: Armenian Christmas at St. Vartan Cathedral

By
Stephan S. Nigohosian

The
Armenian Christmas Divine Liturgy on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at New York’s
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral once again brought the Armenian Christian family
together to mark the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus
Christ. Consistent with the early traditions of Christianity, the mystery
of the baptism of Jesus Christ is also commemorated on this day, with a special
“Blessing of Water” (Churorhnek) ceremony following the Divine Liturgy.

As the
congregation rejoiced together in this celebration of the revelation of God to
mankind through Christ’s nativity, it was abundantly clear that faith united
them as one body as the Kingdom of God became present and active within the
cathedral.

Marking
his first Christmas since his consecration as a bishop of the church, Diocesan
Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy
before the faithful in the cathedral sanctuary, as well as to a global audience
via a livestreamed Internet broadcast.

This
year’s observance also provided an inspiring testament to the healing power of
Our Lord, as Bishop Mesrop robustly stood and walked throughout the entire
service despite having been gravely injured in a car accident less than two
years ago. It was, without a doubt, a time to give thanks for the blessings the
Lord has bestowed upon our bishop and the Armenian people, carrying them
through catastrophic events during the past year, particularly in Armenia and
Artsakh.

As
candlelight bathed the bright red poinsettias adorning the holy altar, wisps of
incense billowed from the censers, enveloping the sanctum as it lifted the
prayers of the Badarak toward the heavens. Bishop Mesrop, clad
in violet and gold-colored liturgical vestments, led the congregation in prayer
and blessed parishioners as he walked in procession.

Noticeably
present among the lay people were Bishop Mesrop’s parents, Mihran and Manya
Parsamyan, who traveled from Armenia to share in the blessed joy of the
Christmas service with their son.

* A
Child’s Trust

Bishop
Mesrop’s homily thoughtfully examined the meaning of the true peace that God
offers us, by juxtaposing a child’s simple, playful activities with that of an
adult’s life clouded with trepidation and burden.

“A
child has the security and trust that his parents are watching over him to
ensure his safety, allowing him to completely immerse himself in the joy of the
moment without concern for the past or anxiety about the future,” he
said.  “We, too, have the assurance of placing our trust in a loving,
trustworthy parent—our Heavenly Father—who watches over us at all times.”

He
reiterated that our faith calls us to place our trust in God, enabling us to
live in the moment, liberated from the weight of our past regrets and future
anxieties. “We then can fully engage in the peace that God offers us,” he said,
“one that surpasses all understanding and guides our hearts and our minds in
Christ to guide our steps and embolden our spirits.”

Bishop
Mesrop concluded his message by encouraging the faithful to trust in our
Heavenly Father and live in the present moment, so we can share that peace in
our hearts with others.

The
Godfather of the Cross (gunkahayr) for the Christmas Blessing of Water
ceremony was Kirk Hachigian, a member of St. Kevork Church in
Houston, TX, whose selfless involvement, guidance, and support of countless
initiatives have benefitted the Diocese and the larger Armenian community.

The
Christmas Day Divine Liturgy was also made possible with the participation
of Fr. Davit Karamyan, Vicar of St. Vartan Cathedral, as well as a large
contingent of deacons and altar servers. Maestro Khoren Mekanejian directed the
angelic voices of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, accompanied by organist
Florence Avakian.

Following
the service, a Christmas reception took place in Haik and Alice Kavookjian
Auditorium of the Diocesan complex. The online broadcast was directed by
Yervant Keshishian, with Chris Zakian providing the narration. Dn. Diran
Jebejian photographed the service inside the sanctuary.

St.
Vartan Cathedral’s Christmas celebration began on the evening of January 5,
with the solemn Jrakalouyts (“Lamp-lighting”) service followed
by scripture readings traditionally celebrated on Christmas Eve. The
Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Fr. Karamyan, immediately followed. In accordance
with Armenian Church tradition, the Feast of Theophany will be formally
observed through January 13, completing the “octave” of Theophany.

Click
the following links to:

·        
VIEW photos of
Christmas at St. Vartan Cathedral.

·        
WATCH the full
recording of the Christmas liturgy.

·        
WATCH Bishop
Mesrop’s sermon in English and Armenian.

—1/11/24

* * *

PHOTO
CAPTION (1):
Armenian Christmas at New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, on Saturday, January
6, 2024. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan (at center) celebrated the Christmas
liturgy and led the Blessing of QWater Ceremony, shown here. Standing at right
is Mr. Kirk Hachigian, this year’s Godfather of the Cross, who hails from the
Diocese’s St. Kevork parish in Houston, TX.

PHOTO
CAPTION (2):
Holy Communion on Armenian Christmas at St. Vartan Cathedral, NYC. Pictured are Cathedral Vicar Fr. Davit Karamyan, Deacon Adam Bullock, and Deacon Manouel Rakoubian.

PHOTO
CAPTION (3):

Diocesan
Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and Godfather of the Cross Kirk Hachigian,
during the Armenian Christmas service at NYC’s St. Vartan Cathedral.

* * *

LINKS:

Photo Gallery
(credit Diran Jebejian, Jebejian Images):

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/St-Vartan-Armenian-Cathedral/Christmas-at-St-Vartan-Cathedral-Jan-6-2024

Full
Service Recording:

https://www.youtube.com/live/0YLSeysRZj4?si=1-lxyl4Kk_RU5tye

Bishop
Mesrop’s Sermon:

https://www.youtube.com/live/0YLSeysRZj4?si=FreM5X_sWCXOkB0_&t=7260

# # #

Did you know Christmas is celebrated on January 6 at the Armenian Church in Dhaka? In fact, the Armenian Apostolic Church is an Orthodox Christian institution still practising a very old version of Christianity.

According to Liz Chater, heritage coordinator, Armenian Church Bangladesh, the exact date of Christ's birth has not been historically established — neither is it recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ's birth on January 6 until the fourth century.

According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6 to December 25 in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25. Mithra or Mitra (Sun-god) is believed to be a mediator between god and man, between the sky and the earth and it is said Sun took birth in the cave on December 25.

At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. To undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designated December 25 as the official date of Christmas and January 6 as the feast of Epiphany.

Armenia was not affected by this change for the simple fact that there were no such pagan practices in Armenia on that date and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6 until today.

"At the Armenian Church in Dhaka, we do not have a service ourselves, but our friends from the local Catholic Church hold one on or around the January 6. We are very happy that our church is used on this special day. The doors of the church are open and welcome everyone who wants to celebrate this special occasion. There is no Armenian community in Dhaka, therefore we do not have a priest. However, we are very happy to share our church with other Christian churches in Bangladesh who wish to have a service at Christmas time," says Liz Chater.

The warden of the church is Armen Arslanian. He oversees every aspect of the administration and maintenance of the Armenian Church in Dhaka. Under his direction, a team of staff carries out various necessary work around the church and compound. 

"Upkeep and preservation are very important aspects of our work. Also, very important is our Michael Martin Food Assistance Program where we offer local families around us meals once a week.

The numbers for this programme are now nearly reaching 600 people and we are very happy to help everyone who needs it," Chater explains.

The big iron gate opens to the white stone graveyards of Armenians, who came to Dhaka around the 17th century. The church was built in 1781 on Armenian Street in Armanitola, which was then a thriving business district.

The church with arched wide, white doors and windows, gives a feeling of mystery shrouded in the history of a time gone by. Researches and studies point out that it was built around an Armenian graveyard and the tombstones there chronicle the Armenian life in the area. A small garden of local trees and flowers, adds to the sombreness of the place.

Inside the church, you see the pulpit enclosed by railings and it has a main section where all the prayer activities take place and two rectangular wings of sitting pews on either side. There is a spiral staircase leading to the second floor of the church, which has a small seating arrangement upholstered in red velvet. Legends have it that the clock on the tower of the church, could be heard four miles away, and people synchronise their watches with the sound of the tower's bell.

The Armenian Church in Dhaka is architecturally aesthetic and it transports you back to the period when Old Dhaka was the most sought-after trade centre. A visit there is a must, especially if you are a history buff, and this 6 January Christmas is the perfect time to re-cap a history lesson.

Due to the national election, the church authorities have deferred the mass time to a later day, which will be notified after the polls.

https://www.thedailystar.net/my-dhaka/news/armenian-church-celebrating-christmas-january-3509366

My wife has been baking an Armenian-style orange cake for years and often does so when we are having guests for dinner. It’s a sweet treat that becomes a special occasion dessert when plated and adorned with its rich whipped cream topping.

Also, for years, I’ve been meaning to share the recipe for it in my column and have finally done that today. The original recipe for it appeared in a Best of Bridge cookbook. The cake we make is updated version of it with more detailed information on how to prepare it that has some substitutions, such as using walnuts in the cake instead of almonds.

It’s an interesting cake in that the buttery, orange-zest flavoured flour/brown sugar mixture you make for it is used in two ways. Half of it is spooned and pressed into a cake pan and used as a base for the cake, as one might for a cheesecake. The other half of it is blended with an egg, sour cream, baking soda and vanilla, creating a batter for the cake.

The batter is spooned over the base, topped with walnuts and the cake is baked until risen and rich golden. You can serve the cake warm or at room temperature. At this time of year, you can also seasonally garnish the cake, by, as I did, topping servings of it with such things as mandarin orange segments and pomegranate seeds.

Dense, orange-flavoured cake with a crisp base is served with orange-flavoured whipped cream and garnishes.

Preparation time: 45 minutes

Cooking time: 35 to 40 minutes

Makes: 10 servings

For the cake

• vegetable oil spray

2 cups all-purpose flour (see Note)

2 cups golden brown sugar (loosely packed)

• finely grated zest from 2 medium oranges

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup cool room temperature butter, cut into small cubes

1 large egg

1 (1 cup/250 mL) tub sour cream

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup walnut pieces, broken or chopped into smaller pieces if overly large

For the whipped cream topping and garnishes

1 (1 cup/237 mL) container whipping cream

2 Tbsp icing sugar

2 Tbsp orange juice or orange-flavoured liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier

1 tsp finely grated orange zest

• mandarin orange segments, pomegranate seeds and/or or mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)

To make the cake, cut a nine-inch circle of parchment paper and set it in the bottom of a nine-inch spring-form cake pan. Lightly coat the paper and the sides of the pan with oil spray. Set the pan aside for now.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, brown sugar, zest from the two oranges, allspice, nutmeg and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the butter to the bowl. With your fingertips or a pastry cutter, work butter into the flour until thoroughly distributed and no small pieces are visible.

Place half of the flour/brown sugar mixture (about two cups) into the cake pan and gently press it into an even layer, creating a base for the cake.

Place the egg into a second mixing bowl and beat well. Add the sour cream, baking soda and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add this wet mixture to the remaining flour/brown sugar mixture in the mixing bowl and mix until a batter forms.

Spoon the batter into the cake pan and evenly spread it over the base. Set the pan in the middle of the oven and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake springs back when gently touched in the centre.

Set cake on a baking rack and cool 30 minutes. Now, if needed, run a thin knife around edges of the pan to release the cake from it. Remove the cake pan’s outer ring. You can serve the cake warm, or let it cool to room temperature. If doing the latter, cover cake and leave at room temperature until ready to serve. It can be made up to day before serving,

To make whipped cream topping, pour cream into a mixing bowl, or bowl of your stand mixer, and whip until soft peaks form. Add icing sugar, juice (or liqueur), 1 tsp orange zest and beat until medium peaks form. Transfer to a serving bowl and cover and refrigerated until needed.

To serve, cut the cake into wedges and set on serving plates. Top each piece of cake with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish each serving with some mandarin orange segments, pomegranate seeds and/or mints sprigs

Note: If your flour has been sitting awhile and looks compacted, give it a good whisk to aerate it before measuring it.

[email protected]

Eric Akis is the author of eight cookbooks. His columns appear in the Life section Wednesday and Sunday.