PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
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Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER: June 3, 2004
40th DAY REQUIEM SERVICE THIS SUNDAY
FOR ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVOURIAN
Fortieth Day Requiem Service for the late Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian
will take place this Sunday, June 6, 2004, in the Mother Cathedral of the
Holy See of Cilicia and in all churches of the Eastern Prelacy. His Eminence
died on April 30 in Antelias, Lebanon, at age fifty-seven.
Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Church as a celibate
priest for 38 years. He was an eminent teacher at the Theological Seminary
in Antelias, Lebanon, and director of the Christian Education Department. He
was a noted composer of both religious and secular music, a gifted scholar,
a Biblical translator, and an author of textbooks and commentaries. He was
considered to be one of the most noted Biblical scholars within the Armenian
Church.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
established the Zareh Aznavourian Christian Education Fund. Donations to
this fund can be made payable to the Armenian Prelacy and mailed to 138 E.
39th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us
and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts
and strengthen them in every good work and word. (II Thessalonians 2:16)
ORDINATION OF DEACON JOSEPH GARABEDIAN
WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 6 IN ANTELIAS
This Sunday, June 6, Deacon Joseph Garabedian will be ordained and
consecrated as a celibate priest in the Mother Cathedral of the Holy See of
Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon. In accordance with the canons of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, the Service of Calling to the Priesthood will begin
Saturday evening immediately after Vespers service. The candidate’s life,
faith and readiness to enter the ministry of priesthood will be examined.
The ordination and consecration will take place on Sunday.
Dn. Joseph was born in Beirut, but grew up in River Edge, New Jersey,
and he has been preparing for this day for several years. After his
ordination the newly ordained priest will remain in Lebanon to serve the
Church for one year before returning to the United States where he will be
assigned to a parish.
In an interview with Outreach last year, Dn. Joseph talked about his
calling: I attended Sunday School at Sts. Vartanantz Church from 5th to 10th
grades and then completed two years of internship and taught at the Sunday
School. During that time I felt that my place was at the altar. I just felt
I belonged there. It was an innate thing, a calling. I was ordained an
acolyte in 1999 and deacon in 2000. I didn’t feel that ready for it, but I
was honored, and it gave me a chance to rely on God, rather than my own
power, which is what God wants us to do.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Deacon Joseph. May our Lord Jesus
Christ make him worthy of his priesthood.
PRELACY CHURCHES BLESS THE TRICOLORS
ON THE OCCASION OF MAY 28TH ANNIVERSARY
The parishes of the Eastern Prelacy performed a special Blessing of the
Flag ceremony last Sunday, May 30, on the occasion of the 86th anniversary
of the first Armenian Republic, which was proclaimed on May 28, 1918.
The ceremony, in most parishes, took place with the participation of the
HMEM scouts.
Bless, O Lord, this flag in order that as the rainbow-which shone in the
skies over Mt. Ararat after the deluge-became the sign of your eternal
covenant with man, likewise, this flag, after the huge floods of our blood,
becomes the symbol of our indissoluble covenant with you. . Bless, O Lord,
our homeland, where you first established the paradise of happiness, which
was then for long centuries reduced to a place of ruins by our impious
enemies. Let the fountains flow again for the enjoyment of all. . Sanctify
our churches and monasteries, seminaries and schools in Armenia (as well as
in the Armenian Diaspora) and fortify their frontiers with your protection
against the assaults of enemies. Bless, O Lord, all that is good in our
country, first and foremost her name, Armenia.
From the Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Republic of Armenia, prepared in
1920 by Archbishop Torkom Koushagian in Cairo, Egypt.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN VISITS COMMUNITY OF
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
On Sunday, May 30, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan visited the
community of the St. John the Baptist Church in Syracuse, New York.
Accompanying the Prelate were current and former executive council members,
Noubar Megerian and Karen Jehanian, respectively.
After nearly fifty years, the Armenian Community Center of Onondaga
County/St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church, was sold on May 25,
2004. This small but one-time vibrant and active community gathered in its
home one last time to pray and remember the events and moments shared in
that building by the families of Syracuse and environs. During his sermon,
Oshagan Srpazan remembered the founding members and their courage to
purchase the land and build the church and community center. He later
compared his feelings as a bishop, to those of a parent who loses a child.
A wonderful luncheon was highlighted by the words of the founding
members, Vartkas Minassian and Arpena Mesrobian and the current
Chairperson Anoush Minassian Santangelo.
The Reverend James Young, pastor of the Gethsemane Baptist Church (the
new owners of the building) recalled his experience of meeting Professor
Vahakn Dadrian, who taught him about the Armenian Genocide and gave him an
appreciation of the Armenian struggle. Rev. Young said he thought that God
showed him the way to the St. John the Baptist Church and offered words of
encouragement to the group gathered. He also most graciously offered use of
the building for services. While the building may have been sold, the
community will continue to be served by the Prelacy with visiting clergy.
Reported by Karen Jehanian
PHOTO GALLERY OF PLG MOTHERS’ DAY LUNCHEON
IS ON PRELACY WEB PAGE
Each year at the Mothers’ Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies
Guild, one person is honored as the Mother of the Year. This year the honor
was kept secret until its announcement at the luncheon. Speaking on behalf
of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar
General, announced that this year, on the 30th anniversary of the PLG, the
Prelacy was honoring all of the current members of the Guild. Explaining
that the original founding members had been honored a few years ago, Hayr
Anoushavan called each current member individually to receive her special
certificate of appreciation. The event took place at the St. Regis in New
York City.
The full press release and photographs from the event are on the web
page,
IF YOU THINK THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC FAITH SAYS
NOTHING ABOUT CURRENT MORAL ISSUES, THINK AGAIN!
Abortion, reproductive technologies, homosexuality, gay marriage,
suicide, and euthanasia, are issues that are hotly debated and highly
politicized. Various faith communities and organizations are grappling with
them for all sorts of different agendas. Whether we like it or not, we are
forced to face these issues in our personal, professional and communal
lives. For this reason, the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) has
organized a unique program for adults entitled Critical Issues of Life and
Faith, scheduled to take place at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, June 25-27, 2004. The eminent Armenian Orthodox ethicist and
theologian, Vigen Guroian, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Loyola
College in Baltimore, will be the main speaker for the Saturday portion of
the program. Participants also include, Rev. Fr. Krikor Chifjian, Media
Relations Officer, Catholicosate of Cilicia; Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian,
Psychiatrist; and Dr. Meline Karakashian, Psychologist and Educator.
For full details and registration information go to:
CATHOLICOS ARAM IS INTERVIEWED
ON OCCASION OF RWANDAN ANNIVERSARY
On the occasion of the World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation visit
to Rwanda to mark the 10th anniversary of the genocide, an interview with
Catholicos Aram I, the Moderator of the WCC Central Committee, was conducted
by the WCC Public Information Team. Here are some excerpts from the
interview:
This visit has a profound pastoral and ecumenical significance. First,
this is a concrete expression of the Council’s commitment to Africa as this
region, at this juncture of its history, is facing tremendous challenges.
Second, it is a manifestation of the Council’s solidarity with the people of
Rwanda as the people of this small African country are involved in a process
of transformation and reconciliation after the genocide of 1994.
Healing and forgiveness are interconnected and they are an integral part
of our Christian vocation. We cannot neglect our past; the memory will
always remain with us, but we can heal and reconcile our memory.
Reconciliation is based on forgiveness and forgiveness must be based on
confession. Therefore, it is confession that generates healing and
forgiveness. I don’t believe in a cheap forgiveness and reconciliation. The
truth must be told and accepted; the memory must be respected.
Africa is becoming an important region for many reasons. The ecumenical
movement must take Africa very seriously. Africa cannot remain on the
periphery of the international community; its problems are our problems, its
dreams our dreams, its struggle our struggle. The ecumenical movement is
called to participate in all processes and actions that are aimed at
establishing lasting peace in Africa.
MEMORY OF HRIPSIMIANK AND GAYANIANK
WILL BE OBSERVED JUNE 7 AND 8
The Armenian Church commemorates the memory of the Hrisimiank and
Gayaniank on two successive days, eight days after Pentecost, on Monday and
Tuesday. This year the dates are June 7 and 8.
According to the historian Aganthangelos, the young women we now refer
collectively as Hripsimiank and Gayaniank were Roman maidens of noble birth
who became Christians and lived in a Convent. The Mother Superior of the
Convent was Gayane. The Roman leader of the time wanted to marry a member of
the convent, Hripsime, who was considered to be very beautiful. Hripsime
refused. Realizing that their lives would become much more difficult the
women decided to leave Rome and eventually settled in Armenia. The Roman
Emperor informed the Armenian King Tiridates about the flight of the women.
Tiridates became obsessed with the idea of marrying Hripsime and forced her
to come to the palace. She refused with the support of Gayane. Consequently,
the entire group was put to death. The Armenian Church commemorates their
martyrdom each year. Their memories are also kept vivid by building churches
in their name, the most famous being the beautiful Hripsime and Gayane
churches in Etchmiadzin which contain their tombs.
This is perhaps an appropriate time to mention the publication of a new
book by the Prelacy. Antsink Nuvirialk, by musicologist Krikor Pidedjian,
was issued a month ago. The book is a detailed study of the hymn (sharagan)
Antsink Nuvirialk dedicated to the Hripsimyank saints. The book is in
Armenian and can be purchased through the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810.
You can visit the Bookstore on the Prelacy web page
The Church of Hripsime in Etchmiadzin was built during the reign of Gomidas
Catholicos (7th century). We end with two stanzas from his poem, Devoted
Persons.
Those who are dedicated to the love of Christ
those wise virgins, and holy martyrs celebrate
with Mother Zion and her daughters,
the resurrection and its glory, Lord.
Once more, powerful creator, and anew,
Eden is adorned with divine growth
because the tree of life transplanted to heaven
bears such fruit as holy Hripsime.
From Anthology of Armenian Poetry,
Diana Der Hovanessian and Marzbed Margossian, translators and editors
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