Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 4 2012

Turkey may step up moves against Paris: diplomat
PARIS – Agence France-Presse

Turkey may step up action against France if the French Senate votes
this month to outlaw denial of the Armenian claims of genocide, a
Turkish diplomatic source said Thursday.

“There may be a downgrading of the Turkish diplomatic representation
in Paris. It is probable,” if the upper house of parliament approves
the bill.

The French lower house approved the law last month, threatening anyone
who denies that the events of 1915 amounted to genocide with jail.

Ankara froze political and military ties with France when the bill was
passed by the National Assembly, and threatened further measures if it
continues through the Senate or is approved by President Nicolas
Sarkozy.

Turkey has withdrawn its ambassador to Paris, but embassy officials
said Thursday that he will return next Monday in order to monitor the
Senate’s handling of the bill.

France recognised the 1915 killings as a genocide in 2001, but the new
bill would punish anyone who denies this with a year in jail and a
fine of 45,000 euros (60,000 dollars).

Modern Turkey is still very sensitive about the issue, and has accused
France of attacking freedom of expression and free historical enquiry.

France is home to an estimated 500,000 citizens of Armenian descent,
and Sarkozy’s UMP party has been accused of backing the law in order
to pander to a key electoral group ahead of presidential and
legislative elections this year.

It is backed by a cross-party majority of lawmakers but has not won
universal support in the government, where some ministers fear it will
hurt diplomatic and trade ties with a NATO ally and major economic
partner.

Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said publicly that the bill is “badly
timed” and has been reported as describing it privately as “stupid”.

January/05/2012

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

French Senate unlikely to pass `genocide’ bill
Thu 05 January 2012 17:15 GMT | 19:15 Local Time

It is not realistic that the French Senate will adopt the bill
criminalizing the denial of made-up `Armenian genocide’.
The statement came from Deputy Executive Secretary of the New
Azerbaijan Party (YAP), MP Mubariz Gurbanly. He said this document is
contrary to the democratic principles, human rights and freedom of
expression. Gurbanly said that Turkey and Azerbaijan condemned the
French National Assembly’s adoption of this draft law. Both countries
substantiated with serious arguments that the adoption of this
document is wrong.

Gurbanly said that such steps will not prevent the strengthening of
Turkey. Now Turkey is a prestigious country in the world. Gurbanly
noted that Azerbaijan was near Turkey as always and supported this
country’s fair position: `The news has been released that the draft
law criminalizing the denial of made-up `Armenian genocide’ will be
presented to the French Senate late May. I consider that it is not
realistic that the Senate will adopt this document, because this
county will not want to mar relations a strong country like Turkey. In
my opinion, irrespective of Nicolas Sarkozy’s victory in the next
presidential elections, the Senate will not adopt this draft law and
not return to this issue”.

News.Az

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

Sarkozy’s position goes contrary to interests of France and Europe – MP
Thu 05 January 2012 11:01 GMT | 13:01 Local Time

‘The position of Nicolas Sarkozy who approved the decision of the
National Assembly to criminalize denial of the so-
called “Armenian genocide” does not meet the interests of France,
Europe and the world.

This position can only cause regret’, said Azerbaijani MP Aydin Mirzazade.

The MP is sure that only France will suffer from it, “Criminalization
based on myths won’t bring honor to the French state – it is directed
against democratic values.”

According to him, perhaps, certain forces in France are concerned over
the growing prestige of Turkey in world politics, the growth of its
economy, “in view of which by such absurd decisions they are trying to
involve Turkey in a shady game.”

According to him, Azerbaijan is considering the question of whether to
continue negotiations with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with participation of the French co-chair.

“But all decisions must be weighed. We will keep this issue under
control’, said the MP.

News.Az

news.az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

French senator to ‘crusade’ against genocide bill
Thu 05 January 2012 11:49 GMT | 13:49 Local Time

Senator Nathalie Goulet has vowed to wage a crusade against the
adoption by the French Senate of a law that would criminalize genocide
denial.

The bill, which is expected to be debated in the Senate later this
month, would make it a crime to deny any genocide recognized by
France, including denial that the 1915 killings of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire were genocide.

Senator Nathalie Goulet told French website Turquie-News that she
would start “a crusade against the proposal by Madame Boyer”.

She said that she would raise awareness of the issues amongst all
political groups in order to “reframe the debate and bring it back to
the legal arena, away from the counterproductive electioneering into
which it has fallen”.

In a press release published by Turquie-News on 5 January, Nathalie
Goulet called on Turkish organizations to trust the Senate and not to
resort to the lobbying practised by their opponents.

“Any attempt at pressure or piracy would harm the cause that we are
defending together. In a democracy, debate is expressed through
argument.”

She added: “I understand the anger of the Turkish people and of our
compatriots of Turkish origin living in France, but the Senate debate
should be exemplary. Let’s leave pressure and electoral blackmail to
others. Many senators do not know the subject and have not yet decided
how to vote. Let’s allow them to take their position and let’s trust
the Senate.”

She recalled in conclusion that the Senate had voted down a similar text in May.

Nathalie Goulet is an outspoken opponent of the criminalization of
genocide denial and of “memory laws”.

Speaking at the end of December, she criticized Patrick Devedjian,
president of the General Council of Hauts-de-Seine, for describing
Turkey as a threat.

“It’s simply disgraceful and not worthy of a former minister of the
Republic to express himself in this way about a country with which we
have diplomatic relations and which is a major player in international
diplomacy,” Goulet said.

“Armenia is not a threat!? Really? The country is poor, a victim of
its policy towards Russia. Yes. But it has been illegally occupying
Azerbaijani territory for 20 years and is to blame for massacres,
notably at Khojaly,” she continued.

“Armenia was a victim in 1915, but it has since joined the camp of the
executioners. Armenia should liberate the occupied territories of
Karabakh and free itself from the Soviet yoke. The victims of 1915 do
not justify this aggression!”

She said that if the denial of genocide were criminalized, the victims
of Armenian aggression could seek reparations through the French
courts.

“Everything is not black and white in the Caucasus, but if Mme Boyer’s
text is, unfortunately, voted through the Senate and passes through
the filter of the Constitutional Council, I am not worried, as I know
that the victims of Armenian aggression in Karabakh and in the
Azerbaijani territories illegally occupied by Armenia will come and
find recognition and reparation in the French courts.”

News.Az

News.Az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012

Some Kuwaiti Arabs believe ‘fairy tales’ of local Armenians
Thu 05 January 2012 07:13 GMT | 9:13 Local Time

News.Az interviews chief of the Society of Culture and Friendship
`Azerbaijan-Kuwait’ Konul Hajizade.

How many Azerbaijanis are there in Kuwait today?

Some 45-50 people.

How long have you been living in Kuwait?

Already 10 years.

The Society of Culture and Friendship `Azerbaijan-Kuwait’ marks the
first anniversary these days.

Yes, if exactly, our organization was created on 31 December 2011.

Why did you decide to create the first diaspora organization in
Kuwait? What prompted this?

Before creation of this organization, we had actually carried the
diaspora activity. For many years, we have carried out events related
to Azerbaijan and marked holidays. We tried to make so that the
Kuwaitis could learn more about Azerbaijan. And last year the
Azerbaijani ambassador in Kuwait Tural Rzayev offered my candidacy as
the chairman of the diaspora organization.

I did not mind. But I have to note once again that together with my
husband – Kuwaiti citizen Vadi Ali-we were earlier more than active in
terms of popularizing of Azerbaijan. We tried to do so that more
people could learn about our culture, our problems, our lifestyle, our
cuisine. It is encouraging to note that all Azerbaijanis of Kuwait are
currently united in the framework of our diaspora organization and are
a single front in all directions.

What do the Kuwaitis know about Azerbaijan? How do they treat our
country and representatives of our diaspora?

Our embassy opened here in 2004. So until then as soon as they heard
the word “Azerbaijan”, they immediately associated it with the Soviet
Union. However, since the opening of the Embassy the situation changed
for better. I won’t lie if I say that today 99% of Kuwaitis know a
country like Azerbaijan.

As for their attitude, there can be no complaints. Azerbaijan and
Kuwait are Islamic countries, Eastern countries. We have much in
common, cuisine, nature and landscape. All this can not but pull us
together and influence the positive attitude of Kuwaitis to
Azerbaijan.

Incidentally, I have to note that at the moment a lot of Kuwaitis
visit Azerbaijan as tourists and for a business trip. And they all say
only good things about Azerbaijan. That is, the interest in Azerbaijan
in Kuwait is growing.

What is the biggest problem of Azerbaijanis in Kuwait?

You know, Kuwait does not interfere in the internal affairs of other
states and does not allow citizens of other countries to try to solve
their problems within the territorial boundaries of this country. That
is, we cannot go there for a rally, picket some institutions, etc. It
is just that. But this is not a serious problem, since we can always
express our protest in writing. In general, Kuwait is a very
democratic state, which is, undoubtedly, a rejoicing fact.

How many Armenians are there in Kuwait and are they active enough in
their propaganda efforts?

There are more Armenians than Azerbaijanis. Somewhere around two
thousand people. They have their own diaspora, their church. All the
time they carry out their deceitful policies associated with the
so-called “genocide.” At every meeting we bring to the attention of
the Kuwaiti public the whole truth about those events. We tell them
that these were Armenian dashnaks who terminated Turks and
Azerbaijanis. Unfortunately, among Kuwaiti Arabs there are the
pro-Armenian ones who are eager to believe the “fairy tales” of the
local Armenians and support them.

However, we do not stop. We always speak about the fact that the
Armenians are lying, while brazenly misappropriating historical merits
of other nations, as well as the culinary and musical achievements of
the Azerbaijanis.

Hamid Hamidov
News.Az

Armenian Sisters’ Academy Celebrates 30 Years of Academic Excellence

January 5, 2012

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Sisters’ Academy
Contact: Tsoleen Sarian
Tel: 508-561-3697
Email: [email protected]

BOSTON, MA: The Armenian Sisters’ Academy (ASA) will celebrate three
decades of academic excellence on Saturday, February 11th at the
Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Armenia’s First Ambassador to the US, and
Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rouben Shugarian will
offer remarks during the evening’s festivities. The ASA celebration
will recognize and honor the accomplishments and successes of the
school thanks to the gifted faculty and dedicated parents.

The Lexington, MA school fosters a sense of integrity, Armenian identity,
passion for learning and strong citizenship through Christian values.
Recent accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and
Colleges, Inc., along with small classroom size, ensure students receive an
education second-to-none. Created by vision, faith and courage in 1982,
the school has blossomed to a vibrant, thriving community that lifts and
upholds these values far and wide. The 30-year milestone celebrates the
fruits of these values demonstrated by the successes of the alumni who have
passed through its halls.

The celebration also looks forward to the growth and future of the school.
Open to all families, of all denominations, the ASA welcomes families to
the acclaimed elementary school and nursery program, and offers an after
school arts program and summer activities. With the success of 30 years,
the future is bright for the cherished ASA.

Thanks to the generosity of numerous sponsors of the 30th anniversary
celebration, proceeds will go towards scholarships and an endowment
campaign to ensure the longevity and excellence of the school for
generations to come.

For more on the 30th Anniversary Celebration, please contact the school
directly at 781-861-8303. For further information about our upcoming
open-house, admissions and the school mission and philosophy, please visit
, or call 781-861-8303.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

Live television broadcast of Christmas Mass via satellite from Antelias –
January 6th, 2012

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) will broadcast
LIVE via satellite the Christmas Mass presided over by His Holiness Aram I,
from St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, on Friday 6 January
2012, beginning from 8:00 am UTC (GMT). For the Americas and Australia,
check your local LBCI program schedule for exact time.

The Noursat and the MTV will also be broadcasting LIVE via satellite the
Christmas Mass.

For more details on how to receive Noursat in your area, click on the
following link:

To watch live via internet click here
This service is for USA and
Canada only.

* Check below your local listings for broadcast dates and times in your
area:

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and Friday, January 6, 2012
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and Friday, January 6, 2012
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and Friday, January 6, 2012
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and Friday, January 6, 2012
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Friday, January 6, 2012
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Friday, January 6, 2012
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Houston (U.S.A. – Texas) Friday, January 6, 2012 at 2:00:00 AM
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Friday, January 6, 2012
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Cheyenne (U.S.A. – Wyoming) Friday, January 6, 2012 at 1:00:00 AM
Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi) Friday, January 6, 2012 at
12:00:00 Noon
Dubai (United Arab Emirates – Dubai) Friday, January 6, 2012 at 12:00:00
Noon
Montevideo (Uruguay) Friday, January 6, 2012 at 6:00:00 AM
Vatican City (Vatican City State) Friday, January 6, 2012 at 9:00:00 AM
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__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 6764 (20120103) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

Glendale News Press, CA
Jan 4 2012

Intersections: Breaking bread with two identities

January 04, 2012|By Liana Aghajanian

Every Saturday morning for most of my life, it has been the sweet,
lingering smell of fresh-baked bread, rather than an alarm clock, that
has lulled me out of a drowsy haze and brought me gently back to
reality.

In a ritual initiated by my dad, the piping-hot baked dough wrapped in
a simple paper bag and delicately decorated with sesame seeds found a
way home with him before ending up on the kitchen table, where its
aroma swirled around the house until it found and awakened me.

It was devoured almost immediately, while the loaf of toast routinely
used during the week for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that ended
up in lunch boxes remained untouched. It wasn’t just any kind of
bread. It was barbari, an Iranian flatbread whose origins began many
hundreds of years ago in a part of the world that I was born in, but
that couldn’t be any more different than the one I grew up in.

The marriage of my multilayered identity, including our beloved
barbari tradition, is perhaps most evident during this time of year.
On Saturday, a mad dash to the bakery, followed by a feeding frenzy,
took place. Soon after, gingerbread men were made, Ralphie and his Red
Ryder BB gun was watched on a loop in `A Christmas Story,’ and
presents were wrapped. And a few days after 2012 was ushered in by the
Rose Parade in neighboring Pasadena, the holidays will start all over
again for many families like mine as we celebrate Armenian Christmas
on January 6, better known around the world as `Epiphany.’

Growing up as a child of immigrants is a harrowing experience,
littered with pangs of insecurity and identity issues that stay with
you. Pulled between two worlds, you find yourself not really fitting
in anywhere, trudging through life with cultural issues that make that
already awkward phase of adolescence and being a teenager all the more
– well, awkward.

Caught between the Verdugo Hills and the Caucasus Mountains, barbari
and toast, Christmas and Epiphany, your dual identities wage internal
war with each other. Your sense of now and here competes with your
parents’ sense of then and there.

It happens that the weight of making peace with a multilayered
identity is sometimes overwhelming. You feel an ultimatum must be
made, a decision must take place; and embracing one surely means
losing the other layers. But there doesn’t have to be a sense of loss.

Chrétienté.info
4 janv 2012

Quand la Turquie exterminait les chrétiens du Liban
Le Salon Beige , le 4 janvier 2012

Suite à la pénalisation de la négation du génocide arménien et aux
réactions turques, Maroun Charbel rappelle cet autre massacre, dans
Présent :

« Il était alors normal que ma réflexion me porte vers cet autre
génocide turc : celui contre la population chrétienne du Mont-Liban
tout au long des quatre années de la Grande Guerre. Systématiquement,
méthodiquement, les Chrétiens du Mont-Liban ont été assiégés, affamés,
enlevés, déportés par ordre du gouvernement Jeune-Turc, celui-là même
qui massacrait les Arméniens.

Le Mont-Liban était depuis son statut organique de 1864, au lendemain
des massacres de 1860, une province autonome de l’Empire ottoman avec
son statut propre. Les Jeunes-Turcs, pur produit des Lumières,
considéraient que tout habitant de l’Empire était citoyen ottoman et
donc soumis aux mêmes règles, dont le service militaire obligatoire.
Le régime des capitulations était balayé, comme celui des « Millet »
qui faisaient des communautés religieuses non islamiques autant de
petites nations au sein de l’Empire, et le Mont-Liban perdait son
statut de province autonome.

Le blocus était total et comme si cela ne suffisait pas une invasion
de criquets ajoutait un malheur au malheur et détruisait tout sur son
passage. Donc, plus de récoltes, mais aussi plus de semences. Plus de
180 000 Libanais devaient mourir de faim, plus de 20 000 étaient
déportés en Cilicie et en Arménie et consignés dans les maisons des
Arméniens envoyés à la mort, des dizaines de milliers d’orphelins
erraient dans les rues. Le Liban chrétien perdait plus du tiers de sa
population. La guerre finie, les premiers secours arrivent avec les
troupes françaises. Mais des milliers de Chrétiens ne pensent alors
qu’à une chose : embarquer pour n’importe où, et mettre entre l’islam,
les Turcs et eux, la mer et les océans. »

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:

January 4, 2012
Special Christmas and New Year issue

Baptism of Christ, from a 1330 Gospel from the
Armenian Cathedral and Museum, New Julfa, Isfahan (Iran)

VIDEO: A CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN

Glory to Your Revelation, Lord

During these joyful holidays, the greatest commemoration is Gods
revelation to humankind through the birth of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. Gods love with His perfection and warmth brought us
closer to God; God visited us so His pure and graceful love would
become contagious and spread to those who are human beings like us. We
no longer ask, Who is my neighbor? (Luke 19:29); the revelation of
Jesus, our God, once and for all established the commandment that we
must express our love of God by loving our neighbor.

Gods revelation was the greatest news the world received since the
creation up to the birth of Jesus. It was greater than any discovery
or invention by humans, incomparable and even unfathomable to the
human mind and comprehension. Currently in our everyday lives we enjoy
using new inventions and concepts that are introduced. The true
Christian regards these to be the manifestation of the creative spirit
given to them by God; the same strength with which God created the
universe and humans. He gave to us His grace enabling us to continue
his creation in this world. All wisdom and power belong to Him. God
gave that power to humans so that on the eighth day of creation humans
should make worthy the grace and power that belong to God and which
weave the glory of God. It is with this understanding that we must
look at our own creation in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). We
must praise God; give Him our thanks for His boundl!
ess creative power and for his good grace.

On the occasion of the birth and revelation of Christ, when the
celebrations bring spiritual joy to all of us, it is necessary to
reflect on what God gave us with His revelation. Was it an ordinary
visit that ended with His ascension, or a new way of life that is an
inseparable part of our nature, from our birth until our unification
with Him in the Kingdom prepared for Christians?

First, God revealed to us His love. The Apostle John very clearly
defines Gods nature when he says, God is love, (1 John 4:8). That is
the embodiment of Supreme Power. God was incarnated so that Christians
would be like Him and find the way and the secret that leads to the
road to humanitys deification. We will find that road when we honor
that commandmentthe first and greatestthat Christ reminded us of: Love
your Lord God with all your heart and soul, with all your mind, all
your power (Mark 12:30-31). The second command is a continuation: Love
your neighbor as yourself. Only then will we be filled with the grace
that will make us God-like.

Second, Gods revelation to humankind is a reminder of the freedom He
gave to us. It is a freedom that raises humans above mere mechanical
created beings, and who are able to recognize and select that which
leads to the road worthy of salvation. Freedom is not anarchy, but
rather it is that condition when by respecting others we can cleanse
our souls, especially by remaining free of the chains of sin, and the
threat of the death of the soul. The first man, Adam, was unable to
utilize this freedom in its proper manner. The opposite of freedom is
disobedience to Gods will. Freedoms reward is eternal life, while the
wages of disobedience and sinfulness is death (Romans 6:23). Christ
was revealed to give us life, abundant life (John 10:10).

Third, trust in Gods intervention and role in our lives. Humility and
modesty are expected virtues of Christians and prods us to attribute
all our discoveries and inventions to Gods wisdomHis image that is
within us. Otherwise, arrogance and boasting distance us from that
feeling of modesty, and instead of recognizing God as the source of
our grace, talent and ability, we attribute our accomplishments solely
to ourselves, only to our skill and ability, and our material brain.
Self-confidence in human ability, and modern-day humanism and
secularism, have greatly distanced us from God. They have removed us
from the spiritual inner world of faith. Creating new idols on stages
and screens, turn us bankrupt of moral and family values and holiness.
As Christians we cannot perceive the world, and its new inventions,
without recognizing Gods will and power. As Christians we cannot
attribute purely to our own ability the things we cr!
eate, invent, and discover, since for Christians the source of
everything is God Himself. The revelation of Christ reminds us of Gods
eternal presence, accomplishment, and ability. Christians cannot
forget that they bear the image of God that was given to them when God
formed man of dust from the ground, and gave His breath of life,
creating a living being, a creative being (Genesis 2:7).

On the occasion of the great holy day of Gods revelation, let us
praise our Lords graceful visitationHis revelation from the modest
manger. May His grace spread into our homes so that we will be
strengthened in His love, emancipated from sin, and be worthy of our
freedom.

Christ is Born and Revealed.

Glory to Your Revelation, Lord

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN

Prelate
Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Eastern Prelacy

Holy Nativity 2012

To read the Prelates message in Armenian click here (

).

PRELATES CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve, January 5, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will preside
over the Bible readings and the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Sarkis
Church in Douglaston, New York. Rev. Fr. Nareg Teterian, pastor of
St. Sarkis will celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

Christmas Day, January 6, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and officiate over the Blessing of the
Water service at St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York
City. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, will assist
the Prelate at the altar.

VICARS CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Christmas Day, January 6, His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy,
deliver the sermon, and officiate over the Blessing of Water service
at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian,
pastor of St. Sarkis, will assist the Vicar at the altar.
Following the service Bishop Anoushavan will visit the Armenian Home
in Flushing, New York, to convey the Good News and join the residents
at their Christmas dinner.

JANUARY 7 IS MEMORIAL DAY

As is the custom in the Armenian Church, the day after each of the
five great tabernacle feasts is a Memorial Day. Each is preceded by a
week-long fast (longer for Easter) and followed by a day of
remembrance of the dead. Traditionally, the Divine Liturgy is
celebrated on Memorial Days, and afterwards the faithful go to the
cemetery to venerate their loved ones and have the graves blessed by
the priest.
The Feasts of Easter, Transfiguration, Assumption, and Exaltation of
the Cross are on Sundays and their memorial days are on
Mondays. Christmas is on the fixed date of January 6, and therefore
Memorial Day can fall on any day. This year it is on a Saturday.

BIBLE READING

The 2012 Liturgical Calendar and Daily Bible Readings according to the
Typicon of the Armenian Apostolic Church are now available on the
Prelacy web site ().

Bible reading for Friday, January 6, Christmas and Epiphany, are:
Titus 2:1-15; Matthew 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17.

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his
mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her
husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to
public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had
resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream
and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your
wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will
bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken
by the Lord through the prophet: Look, the virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with
us. When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations
with her until !
she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25).

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).

On the occasion of the Holy Nativity and Epiphany we wish everyone a
blessed New Year.
May your homes be filled with the Light of our Lord.

Khrisdos dzunav yev haydnetsav.
Orhnyal e haydnoutyounun Krisdosi.

Christ was Born and Revealed.
Blessed is the Revelation of Christ.

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])