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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 01/27/2005

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 01/27/2005

    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 - January 27, 2005


    FIVE EAST COAST ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE
    SETTLEMENT FROM NEW YORK LIFE
    Yesterday, January 26, was both a poignant and melancholy day as five
    Armenian organizations on the east coast each received $333,333 as part of a
    $20 million settlement reached between New York Life and descendants of
    victims massacred in the 1915 Armenian Genocide. The ceremony took place at
    the New York headquarters of the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
    The five organizations are: the Armenian Church of North America Eastern
    Diocese (New York); Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern
    United States and Canada (New York); Armenian Apostolic Catholic Exarchate
    in the United States and Canada (New York); Armenian Missionary Association
    of America, Inc., (Paramus, New Jersey); and the Armenian General Benevolent
    Union (New York). An additional four other Armenian organizations in
    California and Massachusetts will receive an equal portion of the proceeds
    in ceremonies later this month.
    Representing the Eastern Prelacy on this occasion were: V. Rev. Fr.
    Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General; Mr. Bedros Givelekian, treasurer of the
    Executive Council; Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, Executive Director; and Mrs. Iris
    Papazian, Communications Director.
    On hand for the ceremony were attorney Brian S. Kabateck of the Los
    Angeles based firm of Kabatek Brown Kellner, LLP, one of the attorneys
    representing the class, California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and
    Bill Werfelman representing New York Life.
    Prior to 1915, New York Life sold life insurance policies to thousands
    of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. New York Life policyholders were
    among the 1.5 million Armenians massacred during the Armenian Genocide. In
    the ensuing chaotic years, many of the rightful policy heirs were unable to
    obtain the insurance proceeds while others were unaware that they were
    entitled to any insurance benefits. According to the records of New York
    Life about 2,400 policies were sold to Armenians before the Genocide and
    remain unpaid. Survivors and/or their descendants will share the bulk of the
    multi-million settlement.
    Descendants have until March 15, 2005, to make a claim for a portion of
    the settlement. Details, including a list of the names, addresses, and
    occupations of the policyholders, are available at
    www.ArmenianInsuranceSettlement.com.
    The first distribution totals three million dollars. Any unclaimed money
    from the $20 million settlement will subsequently be distributed to the
    Armenian charitable organizations.
    To view photos from the ceremony yesterday go to:
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/012705b.htm

    STATUE OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR
    IS INSTALLED AT ST. PETER BASILICA AT VATICAN
    Pope John Paul II attended the unveiling and official installation of a
    statue of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of the Armenian
    Church, last week on January 19. The 18-foot, 26 ton statue of Carrara
    marble is the work of Khatchik Kazandjian of Paris. St. Gregory holds in his
    right hand the Armenian Holy Cross of gilt bronze, and in his left hand the
    Holy Bible decorated with the symbols of the four Evangelists. To see a
    photo of the statue go to: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/012705a.htm

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN IS IN ROME
    FOR DIALOGUE
    Archbishop Oshagan is currently in Rome attending official dialogues at
    the Vatican between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
    The division dates back to the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The Oriental
    Orthodox Churches include: Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, Coptic
    Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
    in India; and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church.
    The meetings began Tuesday, January 25 and will continue to Sunday,
    January 30.

    PRELACY LENTEN PROGRAM WILL
    FOCUS ON PASSION NARRATIVES
    This year the Prelacy's Lenten program will focus on passages from the
    passion narratives, particularly those that are solemnly read during the
    Holy Week services in the Armenian Church. The six-week Bible study will be
    led by Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious
    Education Council (AREC), sponsor of the series together with the Prelacy
    Ladies Guild. The Lenten programs will take place at St. Illuminator
    Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. For details go to:
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/012405a.htm

    CATHOLICOS ARAM I RECEIVES DELEGATION
    OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES USA
    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, received
    a delegation of the National Council of Churches USA at the Catholicosate in
    Antelias, Lebanon, last Saturday, January 22.
    His Holiness spoke about the challenges facing the Ecumenical Movement
    and identified areas where the Churches should cooperate and support each
    other: We do not live in isolation. Global, regional and local challenges
    are inter-connected and we need to adopt a policy of facing them together
    and responsibly. In this respect, the role of the Churches should be
    expressed as bridge-builders and promoters of dialogue and collaboration,
    and the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is strongly committed to this
    principle.
    The delegation invited His Holiness to address the National Council of
    Churches Board meeting in October, in New York.

    ARTICLE BY VIGEN GUROIAN IN
    RECENT ISSUE OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY
    An article by Professor Vigen Guroian is included in the recent issue of
    Christianity Today. The article entitled, Dorm Brothel, explores modern-day
    mores in institutions of higher learning and condemns the institutions for
    allowing what he calls the new debauchery.
    The article can be found at:
    http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/002/13.44.html

    REMEMBERING CATHOLICOS SAHAG BARTEV
    This Saturday, January 29, the Armenian Church remembers Catholicos
    Sahag Bartev who with Mesrob Mashtotz was instrumental in the establishment
    of the Armenian alphabet which led to the naming of the fifth century as the
    Golden Age of Armenian literature. Sahag was the son of Nerses the Great.
    Sahag wisely understood that the lack of a written Armenian language was
    a major problem for the Church. He realized that the faith would be
    transmitted more effectively to the people if the liturgy itself were in
    Armenian, and if the Gospels and other books of the Bible were available in
    Armenian. He, therefore, became a great proponent for the development of the
    Armenian alphabet. As it happens so many times in history, he was joined by
    the right person in this endeavor in the person of Mesrob Mashtots.

    CELEBRATING THE GHEVONTIAN SAINTS
    Next Tuesday, February 1, is the commemoration of the Ghevontian saints
    and priests. It has become a time when clergy come together for a period of
    renewal and brotherhood. The collective name for the feast honors the memory
    and the sacrifice made by those churchmen who dedicated their lives to their
    faith and nation. While the name, like Vartanantz, is meant for the many, it
    is based on one individual, Ghevont Yeretz (Leondius the Priest).
    GhevontYeretz studied under Mesrob Mashtotz and St. Sahag, and was one of
    the early translators. He is remembered and honored for his extraordinary
    religious devotion, eloquent speech and exceptional patriotism.
    The martyrdom of Ghevont Yeretz and his fellow clergy is observed in the
    Armenian Church on the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent and two days
    before Vartanantz. It is a day of particular importance for Armenian
    clergymen, since Ghevont is their patron saint. It has become traditional
    for the clergy to come together to observe the memory of their saintly
    predecessors while celebrating the present and future of the Armenian
    Church.
    This year the clergy of the Eastern and Western Prelacies will travel to
    Montreal where they will be hosted by the Canadian Prelacy.

    WINTER IN FULL BLOOM
    After the start of a mild winter, the east coast was barraged with the
    fury of winter, with a major blizzard this past weekend bringing up to three
    feet of snow in some areas, especially in New England. Travel was difficult
    especially with temperatures in the single digits and below. But still, the
    whiteness and purity of the snow had a beauty of its own. And really, is it
    possible to appreciate spring without winter?

    May the most beneficient Christ be moved to pity, that he may be your
    comforter and savior, release you from these material bonds that constrain
    you, and humiliate your enviers and enemies. May he make you worthy in the
    eyes of your families and all the Armenian world. May the remains of each of
    you be interred alongside those of your forbears, and may your souls be
    released from the invisible bonds of Satan, and thus be safeguarded always.
    Prayer by Ghevont Yeretz for the martyred clergy

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org
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