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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 12/16/2004

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 12/16/2004

    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]
    Website: http://www.armenianprelacy.org
    Contact: Iris Papazian

    CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER - December 16, 2004

    PRELACY MOURNS DEATH OF JOHN O. VARTAN:
    PRINCE OF CILICIA AND BENEFACTOR
    The Prelacy received the news of the passing of John O. Vartan with deep
    regret. Mr. Vartan died yesterday, December 15.
    Mr. Vartan was a supporter and benefactor of the Eastern Prelacy where
    he established the Vartan Family Fund. He was honored with the Prince of
    Cilicia insignia by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
    Cilicia, in recognition of his life-long support of the Armenian Church. He
    was a major philanthropic contributor to many charities around the world and
    especially in Pennsylvania and the Harrisburg area.
    Mr. Vartan was the founder of the Vartan Group, Inc., headquartered in
    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, comprising of Vartan National Bank, Vartan
    Construction Company, Vartan Enterprises, Vartan Inventory Company, Vartan
    Management Company, Vartan Supply Company, and Parev Restaurant.
    His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, expressed his sincere
    condolences to Mrs. Maral Vartan and the Vartan family.
    The Prelate said: The memory of John Vartan can never be forgotten by
    the Armenian Church, an institution he was devoted to on many levels. We
    pray that our Lord will provide comfort to his loving family. His life and
    deeds will surely remain an indelible part of our history and serve as an
    inspiration for generations to come.

    REQUIEM SERVICES FOR ARCHBISHOP ASHJIAN
    OFFERED BY PRELACY PARISHES LAST SUNDAY
    Requiem Services on the occasion of the first anniversary of the passing
    of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the Eastern
    Prelacy, took place last Sunday in all Prelacy parishes. The late Archbishop
    served as the Prelate of the Eastern United States and Canada from 1978 to
    1998.
    In New York City, the services were under the auspices of Archbishop
    Oshagan at St. Illuminator Cathedral, where Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, the
    former Prelate of Aleppo, officiated over the Divine Liturgy and Requiem
    Service. Archbishop Souren gave an eloquent sermon in honor of the late
    Archbishop's life and service. Following the services a traditional memorial
    meal (madagh) was offered in his memory.

    PRELATE ISSUES CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
    Archbishop Oshagan issued his annual Christmas Message to the faithful.
    His message for Christmas 2005 is based on the theme, GOD IS WITH US. His
    Eminence stressed the importance togetherness through God gifts of
    friendship, comfort, sympathy and strength.
    To read the entire message go to:
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/121604.htm

    MUSICAL ARMENIA WILL FEATURE BARITONE OSHIN GREGORIAN
    AND THE WORKS OF COMPOSER ERIC HACHIKIAN
    The 2005 Musical Armenia concert, which will take place on Sunday,
    January 30, 2005, will feature the baritone Oshin Gregorian and the works of
    composer Eric Hackikian. The concert will take place at Weill Recital Hall
    at Carnegie Hall, New York City, at 2 p.m.
    Mr. Gregorian is currently a member of the Boston University Opera
    Institute, an intensive performance-based program for emerging operatic
    artists. He graduated from Boston University and received a Masters degree
    from the Manhattan School of Music. He will perform works by Mozart,
    Donizetti, Gomidas, and Sayat Nova.
    Mr. Hachikian has won numerous awards and grants for his compositions.
    He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is currently a graduate
    student at New York University. His works will be performed by the Motyl
    Chamber Ensemble.
    Tickets for Musical Armenia, which are $25, can be purchased through the
    Prelacy, 212-689-7810, or at the box office, 212-247-7800.

    CATHOLICOS ARAM CONGRATULATES
    JAROSLAV PELIKAN
    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
    congratulated the renowned church historian Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan who was
    recently awarded the John W. Kluge prize for lifetime achievement in the
    humanities and social sciences. His Holiness said: You deserve such a
    prestigious award for your outstanding achievements as historian and
    theologian. In fact, your numerous publications are eloquent testimonies of
    your vast scholarship, rich knowledge and perceptive and analytical mind.
    Your contribution particularly to church history and doctrine remains
    unprecedented in the modern history of world Christendom.
    Some of our readers will recall that Professor Pelikan was the main
    speaker at the 1700th anniversary commemoration organized by the Eastern
    Prelacy that took place October 4, 2000. Catholicos Aram presided over the
    commemoration. Professor Pelikan spoke about the paradox of church and
    national identity. He said:
    For good or ill or some combination of the two, it has been the historic
    Eastern pattern to establish and nurture a close bond between Church and
    national identity. From that pattern has come the historical paradox I want
    to examine tonight, by exploring two Orthodox traditions that have often
    come into bitter conflict with each other but that in fact display deep
    parallels: the Armenian Orthodox tradition to which most of you so proudly
    and gratefully trace your roots; and the Slavic Orthodox tradition in which
    I have my roots and have found my spiritual home, no less gratefully and no
    less proudly.

    DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE
    ASSOCIATION VISITS ARAM I
    His Grace Mgr. Robert Stern, the director of the Catholic Near East
    Welfare Association, visited His Holiness Aram I this week in Antelias,
    Lebanon. The Catholic Association serves the humanitarian needs of Christian
    communities in countries of the Near East.

    ARTICLE IN TIMES OF LONDON
    ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND TURKEY
    The December 15 issue of the Times of London featured an article
    entitled, Turkey will not Apologize for Armenian Genocide, written by
    Anthony Browne.
    The article stated that Turkey has reacted angrily to a demand by France
    that it accept responsibility for a genocide against Armenians. Michel
    Barmier, the French Foreign Minister insisted that Turkey must officially
    recognize the 1915 genocide before it joins the European Union.

    ST. JAMES OF NISIBIS IS REMEMBERED
    This Saturday, December 18, the Armenian Church commemorates the life of
    St. James of Nisibis, one of the participants at the first ecumenical
    council in Nicea in 325 A.D. St. James was educated in Caesarea and was a
    first-cousin of St. Gregory the Illuminator. He was the first bishop of
    Nisibis, an important Christian center.
    St. James (Hagop) is one of the most beloved saints of the Armenian
    Church. Gregory of Narek dedicated one of his hymns to him. According to
    tradition he was the first person to try to reach the summit of Mt. Ararat
    in search of the Ark. A fragment of the Ark, which he found, is displayed in
    Etchmiadzin.

    FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
    This Sunday, December 16, is the fourth Sunday of Advent in our journey
    toward Christmas Day, January 6. A line from a popular Christmas Carol, Let
    every heart prepare him room, is a good description of Advent: A time to
    make room for Jesus in our lives.

    It is the season when in our search for narrow and selfish worldly
    wishes and desires we expose universal values-freedom, love, respect,
    humility, meekness, charity and goodness. Let us strive to find all these
    that truly keep us in a pleasant condition, so that we feel the presence of
    God, proclaim our faithfulness toward Him and His commandments, and never
    feel alone.. On the occasion of the New Year and the Holy Birth, let us feel
    the descent of God in our hearts and recognize it as a gift distributed to
    us. Let us act such that our work and life will be a Christian gift first to
    God and then to each other, turning our New Year to thanksgiving.
    Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
    >>From Christmas 2005 Message

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org
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