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:
October 4, 2012
`THANKSGIVING AND REMEMBRANCE’ GRAND BANQUET THIS SUNDAY
Armenian Americans will gather at New York’s Palace Hotel on Sunday,
October 7, to attend the Prelacy’s `Thanksgiving and Remembrance’
banquet that will honor two organizations and an individual who
provided life-saving humanitarian aid to the Armenian people.
The Honorees are Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, Near East Relief, and the
American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians
(ANCHA). Accepting the awards on behalf of the honorees will be
Ms. Marit Greve, granddaughter of Dr. Nansen; Mr. Shant Mardirossian,
chairman of the Near East Foundation (successor of Near East Relief);
and Ms. Hourig Papazian Sahagian, daughter of
Arpi Papazian who was a long-time leader and worker on behalf of
ANCHA.
A video message from His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See
of Cilicia, will be shown during the banquet. His Holiness was to
personally present the awards to the honorees as he began his
month-long Pontifical Visit to the Eastern Prelacy, but due to the
urgent situation in Syria, the pontifical visit was postponed.
EFFORTS TO HELP THE SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
CONTINUE TO OCCUPY WORLDWIDE ATTENTION
The continuing, and worsening, political and combat situation in Syria
has prompted a worldwide effort by the Armenian community to raise
necessary funds to bolster the beleaguered Syrian Armenian community.
In a message to the Armenian American community, Archbishop Oshagan
said, `The Armenian population in Syria, numbering about 100,000
upholds and maintains our Armenian traditions, culture, and language
with creativity and passion. Now we are faced with the great challenge
of helping our brothers and sisters in every way possible.’
All of the parishes of the Eastern Prelacy passed a second collection
plate for Syria on each of the five Sundays in September. Various
community events such as lectures, luncheons, concerts are being
scheduled to benefit the Fund for Syrian Relief. `It is our duty to
help our compatriots,’ His Eminence said.
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 BY:
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
ALEPPO PRELACY ISSUES THANKS
A communiqué from the Prelacy of Aleppo expressed thanks for the
generous response to the appeals made by His Holiness Aram I on behalf
of the Syrian Armenian community that reached a wide audience that
immediately responded to the Catholicos’s appeal for financial
aid. The communiqué acknowledges appreciation of the community-wide
joint appeals made on behalf of the Syrian Armenians in Armenian and
throughout the Diaspora.
RELIGIOUS & EXECUTIVE COUNCILS TO MEET
The Religious and Executive Councils will meet at the Prelacy offices
in New York this Saturday, October 6. The Councils meet monthly in New
York, and also engage in teleconferences as needed.
GRANITE CITY WALK-A-THON BENEFITS
SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF
The St. Gregory the Illuminator parish of Granite City, Illinois,
along with the Granite City `Reubena’ Chapter of the Armenian Relief
Society, sponsored a Walk-a-thon to raise funds for Syrian Armenian
Relief. Twenty-five parishioners participated in this event on
Saturday, September 29, a beautiful, sunny autumn
day. Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, pastor of St. Gregory, led the walkers
in an opening prayer and reminded the participants of the dire
situation of their Armenian brothers and sisters in Aleppo and other
communities in Syria. Following the prayer, the walkers began laps on
a charted course laid out on the church’s sprawling parking
lot. Students from the Sunday school also participated by riding their
bicycles. In all, close to $3,000 has been raised thus far by the
Granite City community, including monies from September’s plate
collections, from the Walk-a-thon and from other generous donations
from parishioners and friends.
Parishioners of all ages participated in the Walk-a-thon to benefit
Syrian
Armenian relief.
Youngest participants included Nishan Baljian and Nicholas Varadian.
ST. SARKIS (DEARBORN) EVENTS INCLUDE
LADIES GUILD DEDICATION & VISIT TO SENIORS
Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan, conducted a dedication service for members of the Ladies
Guild last
Sunday during the Liturgy prior to the Holy Communion. Der Hrant
offered special prayers for the mission of the Guild, after which the
Guild members took Communion.
On Tuesday, October 2, Der Hrant and Yeretzgin Tamar visited the
St. Sarkis senior citizen tower where they spent time with the
seniors. Der Hayr performed the traditional home blessing for the
seniors, blessing the salt, water and bread.
Der Hrant with members of the parish’s Ladies Guild.
Der Hayr and Yeretzgin Tamar visited the senior residents of
St. Sarkis Tower.
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL PRESENTS
CHECK FOR RELIEF FUND
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New
York City, presents a check for $7,600 to Archbishop Oshagan for the
Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief. The monies were raised by the
Cathedral parish through fundraising events and the special plate
offerings contributed during the month of September.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, October 7, Fourth Sunday of the Exaltation
are, Isaiah 17:7-14; 2 Corinthians 13:5-13; Mark 11:27-33.
Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, `By
what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority
to
do them?’ Jesus said to them, `I will ask you one question; answer me,
and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the
baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer
me.’ They argued with one another, `If we say, `From heaven,’ he will
say, `Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, `Of human
origin’?-they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly
a prophet. So they answered Jesus, `We do not know.’ And Jesus said to
them,
`Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
(Mark 11:27-33)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().
72 HOLY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
This Saturday, October 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the 72 Holy
Disciples of Christ. The reference comes from the Gospel of Luke
(Chapter 10, Verse 1): `After this the Lord appointed seventy others
and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where
he himself
intended to go.’ (Note: Some sources say 72 disciples; others say
70). These disciples remained true to the Lord and their calling, and
spread the Gospel. They were not random choices, but rather true
disciples whose
labors carried the message of the Lord throughout the Roman Empire and
beyond. All of the saints are remembered individually in the
liturgical calendar of the church, but this day is set aside to
remember them collectively.
HIS HOLINESS RECEIVES DIRECTOR OF KARAGUEZIAN FOUNDATION
The newly appointed director of the Karaguezian Foundation, Mr. Serop
Ohanian, visited His Holiness Aram I on September 27. Mr. Ohanian
succeeds Rev. Robert Sarkissian, who retired after many years of
service.
Mr. Ohanian briefed the Catholicos on the latest meeting of the Board
of Directors in New York, and said that the Board had decided to give
priority to the Armenians escaping the violence in Syria by helping
them find
temporary refuge in Lebanon.
His Holiness expressed deep appreciation of the Boards action and
suggested that the Foundation focus on the medical needs of the Syrian
Armenian community in both Syria and Lebanon and provide scholarship
to the students in both places.
His Holiness thanked all Armenian humanitarian organizations for their
support of the Syrian Armenian community.
CATHOLICOS RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I met with Ashod Kocharian, the
ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, on September 26 at St. Mary’s
Monastery
in Bikfaya. Their conversation focused on preparations for the
commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
conclusions reached during the meeting of the heads of the religious
communities in Lebanon at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, and the
situation in the Middle East.
The Battle of Tigranakert (October 6, 69 B.C.)
During the reign of Tigran II the Great (95-55 B.C.), Armenia became
an empire that extended from the Caspian Sea to Palestine. The
Armenian king moved the capital of his reign from Artashat, in the
plain of Ararat, to the newly built city of Tigranakert, in the region
around the modern city of Diarbekir.
Mithridates VI Eupator (111-63 B.C.), King of Pontus (the area to the
north of Armenia, on the shore of the Black Sea), had engaged in two
wars against Rome. He was defeated for the third time in 71 B.C. by
the Roman
army, headed by Lucullus. Mithridates fled to Armenia and asked for
asylum
at the court of his son-in-law, Tigran.
Tigran had managed to stay neutral in the war. Lucullus wanted to get
Mithridates at any price and take him to Rome as a trophy and proof of
his major victory. Hence he sent a delegation to the court of Tigran
II and demanded the extradition of Mithradates.
Tigran refused to comply with Roman demands, since Mithridates was his
guest and it would have gone against the principles of hospitality to
surrender him to the enemy. However, at the same time Tigran made it
clear that he wished for continued peace and friendship between Rome
and Armenia, and assured the delegates that he did not have any plans
to expand westward, neither towards Asia Minor nor Pontus.
War between Rome and Armenia was inevitable. Only the Roman Senate had
the authority to declare it. But the Senate was doubtful, since the
war
against Pontus had been going on for eighteen years and Romans were
afraid
that history would repeat itself in Armenia. Besides that, Rome had
regarded Armenia as a friendly major power who indirectly acted as an
ally against their former enemy, the Seleucids of Syria, but also as a
shield against their potentially greatest enemy, Persia. Therefore,
Armenia had proven herself as a shield for the West.
With the Senate unable to decide whether to start a war against
Armenia or not, Lucullus took matters into his own hands and begin
preparations for war himself. Thus, he violated the laws of the Roman
Republic which gave the Senate the exclusive right to make decisions
on warfare and foreign
policy.
Shortly after receiving Tigran’s response, Lucullus began to prepare
his army, a task that took him the entire winter of 70-69 B.C.
The Roman general left a legion behind in Pontus in order to maintain
the order and began to march towards Melitene (Malatia) with the rest
of his army in the spring of 69 B.C. Without declaring war, Lucullus
marched
over the high land and crossed the Taurus Mountains before the
Armenians had had a chance to set up a defensive position in the
pass. The Roman army was able to go all the way to Arghana and then
move on to finally surround Tigranakert. Tigran was completely
surprised by the beginning of the war and by what he probably termed a
treacherous attack. After the defeat of a cavalry army of 3,000 he
sent to contain Lucullus, Tigran left Tigranakert and hurried to Mush
to gather his forces. Meanwhile, the royal palace, highly-walled and
well-defended, withstood the Roman siege.
Tigran marched his army from Mush through the Taurus Mountain towards
Tigranakert and was able to cover the distance between the two cities,
which lay 200 kilometers apart, within ten days. There are different
accounts about the size of the two armies, but most claims by Roman
historians that Tigran’s army had between 200,000-300,000 soldiers are
definitely exaggerated. It may be assumed that Tigran’s army had
around 80,000 men, which doubled the size of Lucullus’ army.
Lucullus left 6,000 of his men behind to continue the siege of
Tigranakert, while he, together with the rest of his army, began to
march towards the Armenian army.
Mithridates had sent one of his best commanders, Taxiles, to Tigran’s
aid. He suggested that Tigran should refrain from a direct
confrontation
and let his light cavalry irritate Lucullus’ army with sporadic
attacks, thereby cutting off contact between the main forces and their
supply and ammunition. This way he would starve Lucullus’ army – a
move that came
to be the classical and successful strategy of the Persians. But
Tigran, who had noticed the numerical inferiority of the Roman army,
answered: “If these are supposed to be an army and are here to fight,
then they are too few; if they are messengers to discuss peace, then
they are too many.”
Since the ground on the other side of the river, where Tigran had his
camp, was too steep, Lucullus had chosen to move his army downstream
and
had taken position in a flat area by the side of the river. The
Armenian king thought that the Romans were retreating. However, as
soon as the Romans
came to a suitable place further down by the river, they crossed
it. The Armenian army, mostly composed by non-Armenian forces, had
taken position on
the opposite side of the river. Tigran was in the core and personally
lead
the famous heavily armored Armenian cavalry, which was positioned at
the rear end of the right flank. This was a fatal mistake, since it
exposed such
a heavy-moving unit to a grave danger.
The skillful Lucullus realized that if he could take out the famous
Armenian cavalry, then he would paralyze the entire Armenian
force. Therefore he attacked the Armenian army from the side with his
special cavalry and from the rear with two infantry legions. The
Armenian infantry was made for attacking and not for defense. In order
to regroup and to make more maneuvering space, the army forces started
to rotate to the only side which was
free from attack, i.e. to the left, where Tigran’s other forces were
positioned, and this resulted in total chaos in the entire Armenian
army. This was the seed for a catastrophic defeat for Tigran.
The battle ended with the fall of Tigranakert shortly afterwards. The
city was plundered and looted; Lucullus was able to capture the
enormous
treasures of the Armenian court, and also 10,000,000 cubic meters of
wheat
to provide his hungry army with food.
Despite the defeat, Tigran chose to continue the war and put together
a new army; the harsh Armenian winter and the continuous attacks of
the army finally triggered a mutiny in the Roman troops and forced
Lucullus to withdraw from Armenia in 68 B.C. The Roman general was
recalled by the Senate.
()
MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY
This Monday, October 8, is Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated in many
countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher
Columbus’s arrival in the New World in 1492. A sailor on the ship
Pinta sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new
era of European exploration and expansion began. The next day the
ninety crew members of Columbus’s three-ship fleet (Nina, Pinta, and
Santa Maria) landed
on the Bahamian Island of Guanahan, ending a voyage that began ten
weeks earlier from Palos, Spain.
President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed October 12 a national
federal holiday in 1937. Since 1971, when the dates of holidays were
moved
in the U.S. to create long weekends, Columbus Day has been
commemorated on
the second Monday in October.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY A. PAPAZIAN
Crossroads congratulates Dr. Mary A. Papazian who last Friday was
inaugurated as the president of Southern Connecticut State
University. Dr. Papazian, an accomplished scholar has had a
distinguished academic career. She and her husband, Dr. Dennis
Papazian, an equally distinguished academic,
have two daughters.
She is the first Armenian American woman to lead a U.S. university.
Dr. Papazian outlined her vision for SCSU during her inaugural
address. Speaking of her Armenian heritage, she said: `In the United
States, the Armenians form a small, tightly-knit community, primarily
born out of the tragic genocide of the early 20th century in which
three-quarters of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire were
annihilated. Our roots as Armenians lie in a society and rich culture
that span thousands of years. The
King James Bible says that the Ark of Noah landed on the mountains of
Armenia (Genesis 8:4), and I might suppose that in one sense all of us
are Armenian.’
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 7-Salute of Thanksgiving Grand Banquet honoring The American
National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA); Near East Relief
(Foundation); and Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, at the New York Palace, 455
Madison Avenue, New York City; reception 3 pm, dinner 4 pm. Special
video message from His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of
Cilicia.
October 13-Sayat Nova Dance Company performs `Journey through Time,’
presented by Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 3
pm, at North High School, 140 Harrington Way, Worcester. Tickets $35
adults; $15 children 12 and under. For tickets: Varsenig Cotter
508-852-3328 or Janis Arvanigian 508-754-1039.
October 20-Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shake Chapter, Annual Dinner
Dance, featuring Elie Berberian at Excelsior of Saddle Brook, 7:30 pm;
$65 adults, $40 children. For information and tickets contact: Silva
Kouyoumdjian (201) 779-6744, Nora Diratsaoglu (201) 403-1022, Maggie
Kouyoumdjian (845) 598-3284.
October 20-On the occasion of Translators’ Month, the New York Chapter
of Hamazkayin presents a gala concert featuring ARAX Dance Ensemble
from San Francisco and Aregak Youth Chorus of New Jersey, 7 pm at
Walter Crowley Middle School, 50-40 Jacobus Street, Woodside, New
York.
October 20-St. Gregory Church, 135 Goodwin Street, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts, Annual Bazaar, 10 am to 7 pm. Enjoy many favorite
Armenian dinners, traditional Armenian and American baked
goods. Raffle drawing and
`Forgotten Treasures’ booth. For information or take-out orders
contact the church office, (413) 543-4763.
October 21-50th Anniversary of St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan. Morning Service at 10 am followed by the Divine Liturgy
celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Blessing of the new
site in Novi along with the Armenian Community Center at 2:30 pm
(parking at Walsh College; shuttle service to the site provided). 50th
anniversary celebration will follow at Laurel Manor, Livonia, MI at
4:30 pm presided by Archbishop Oshagan. Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Raffi
& Patricia Kuredjian; music by Hrant Gulian and Tommy Gerjekian
Ensemble. Adults $60; Young adults (13-21), $40; Children (4-12) $25;
under 4, free.
October 28-Fundraising to benefit the Armenian community in Syria,
sponsored by the Mayr chapter of the Armenian Relief Societ6y, 2:30
pm, Byblos Restaurant, 80 Madison Avenue (at 28th Street), New
York. Donation: $75; children under 12, $30, includes full lunch, wine
and soft drinks. For reservations: Anais 718-392-6982 or Anahid
718-478-6249.
November 3-4-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Annual Bazaar.
Saturday: 2-11pm; Sunday: 12:30 to 3 pm, Lillian Arakelian
Hall. Armenian delicacies and sweet table, Armenian Store, Exclusive
Shops, Attic Treasures, Raffle, and much more. Live Armenian music
Saturday evening by Ara Topouzian Ensemble.
November 10-Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of
New Jersey and Vanush Khanamiryan Dance Academy of New York, present
Inga
& Anush with performances by Hamazkayin Nayiri Dance Ensemble of New
Jersey, Hamazkayin Meghri Dance Ensemble of Pennsylvania, and Vanush
Khanamiryan
Dance Academy of New York and Connecticut. Felician College, 262 South
Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey, 5 pm. For reservations ($35 – $70) and
information: 201-739-9557, 201-684-1509, or
().
November 11-Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of
Boston and Vanush Khanamiryan Dance Academy proudly present Inga &
Anush with performance by Erebouni Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin
Boston. Shaw Auditorium, Watertown High School, Watertown,
Massachusetts, 5 pm. For reservations ($35 – $45) and information:
617-331-0426 or
().
November 16-18-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Bazaar and Food Festival. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday,
Children’s Activities, Vendors. Homemade Manti, Kufte, Sou Buereg,
Choreg, and more. Traditional Kavourma dinner on Sunday. Extensive
Mezze and desert menu for your Thanksgiving table available for
take-out.
November 18-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, 50th anniversary
jubilee.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
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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]
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