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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 09/01/2005

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 09/01/2005

    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 - September 1, 2005

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN APPEALS FOR HELP
    FOR GULF COAST VICTIMS OF HURRICANE
    Archbishop Oshagan issued an appeal today on behalf of the victims of
    Hurricane Katrina. In his message to the press and to all parishes under the
    jurisdiction of the Eastern Prelacy, the Prelate wrote, in part:
    "The impact of hurricane Katrina to large areas of the Gulf Coast
    affecting the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, is enormous.
    The city of New Orleans is particularly hard hit. Immediate aid to thousands
    and thousands of people who have lost their homes and all of their
    possessions is imperative. Emergency workers who are in the devastated areas
    use the words "massive," "horrendous," and "unprecedented." The needs of the
    elderly and the very young are especially urgent.
    "The American public has an impressive history of responding to the
    charitable needs of their fellow human beings, wherever the need might be. I
    am urging all Armenian Americans to join in this relief operation, which is
    expected to be one of the largest in U.S. history. The best, quickest, and
    most efficient way to help is through monetary donations. This will permit
    the experienced relief organizations to utilize the money for what is needed
    the most.
    "I am instructing all of our parishes to offer special prayers for the
    victims and survivors and to have an offering specifically for Gulf Coast
    relief on the next two Sundays, September 4 and September 11. The sermons on
    these days should reflect on the recent tragedy. On Sunday, September 11,
    prayers should remember the victims of the terrorist attacks four years ago
    in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania..
    "May our Lord bring solace and comfort to thousands of our fellow
    Americans who are suffering in the aftermath of this great disaster."
    Crossroad readers who wish to help may send their donation to their
    local parish or directly to the Eastern Prelacy, 138 E. 39th Street, New
    York, NY 10016. Checks should be payable to "Armenian Apostolic Church of
    America." Indicate for "Gulf Relief" in the memo area.

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND AYF OLYMPICS
    THIS WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
    Continuing a long tradition, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to
    Washington, D.C., this weekend, where the Armenian Youth Federation is
    hosting its 72nd annual Olympic Games.
    His Eminence will greet the young athletes and thousands of participants
    and officially open the competitive games on Sunday, September 4.

    INTER-DIOCESE YOUTH MEETING IN BIKFAYA
    The inter-diocese youth meeting of the Catholicate of Cilicia took place
    last week in St. Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, the
    Catholicate's summer residence and home of the Seminary. The meeting brought
    together about thirty young men and women from the worldwide dioceses under
    the jurisdiction of Cilicia.
    His Holiness Aram I welcomed the participants and talked about the
    challenges today's youth face. His Holiness said he considers church-youth
    mutual relationships to be one of these challenges. He talked about the
    difficulties this relationship faces and meaning it should be given in today's
    world. The Catholicos said:
    "The church should attract its youth and delegate important tasks and
    responsibilities to them. The youth succeeds when it discusses tomorrow's
    agenda today.. The youth should not assume the role of observers. They
    should play the role of participants. They should not be passive players;
    they should be leaders.. The youth should avoid the tendency to preserve
    what is old, but also from the recklessness of destroying what's at hand.
    What we have today in our lives might be old and worn out, but it has been
    built up by the hard work, sweat and blood of many long years. What we have
    today includes our nation's collective experience and memory and thus cannot
    be destroyed by one strike. On the other hand, we should not keep them as
    they are. Rather, we should renew them; make them fit today's challenges.
    Destroying is easy; but building is very difficult."

    THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I TO THE EASTERN PRELACY
    October 19-November 1, 2005

    The visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
    to the Eastern Prelacy, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the
    establishment of the Cilician Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, will extend
    from October 19 to November 1. His Holiness will visit New York, New Jersey,
    Washington, DC, Boston and Chicago. The steering committee has released the
    following schedule of public events:

    Wednesday, October 19-Arrival, New York.

    Thursday, October 20-Hrashapar Service and Achahampooyr at St. Illuminator's
    Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7:30 pm.

    Friday, October 21-Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Seminary at
    Antelias, Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New
    Jersey, 7:30 pm. Reception will follow the commemorative program.

    Saturday, October 22-"Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement in the 21st
    Century," a symposium sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy in conjunction with
    the United States Conference of the World Council of Churches. World Council
    of Churches Center, New York City. 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

    Sunday, October 23-Pontifical Divine Liturgy, St. Bartholomew's Church, Park
    Avenue (between 50th and 51st Streets), New York City, 1:30 pm.
    Banquet in honor of His Holiness and the 75th anniversary of the Seminary,
    The Pierre, Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, New York City, 5:00 pm.

    Tuesday, October 25-Hrashapar Service, 75th anniversary celebration and
    Achahampooyr, Soorp Khatch Armenian Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda,
    Maryland, 7:30 pm.

    Thursday, October 27-Hrashapar Service, 75th anniversary celebration and
    Achahampooyr, St. Stephen Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown,
    Massachusetts, 7:30 pm.

    Friday & Saturday, October 28 & 29-International Conference dedicated to the
    1600th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Alphabet. Sponsored by
    the Eastern Prelacy and Harvard University. His Holiness will open and
    address the Conference Friday evening.

    Saturday, October 29-75th anniversary commemoration and Achahampooyr, All
    Saints Armenian Church, 1701 North Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois, 7:00 pm.

    Sunday, October 30-Pontifical Divine Liturgy, All Saints Armenian Church,
    Glenview, Illinois. Banquet, 4 pm at Fountain Blue, Des Plaines, Illinois.

    COUNCIL OF NICAEA REMEMBERED THIS SATURDAY
    This Saturday, September 3, the Armenian Church remembers the Council of
    Nicaea (325 A.D.) and the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. The
    Armenian Church had a direct and distinct part in the Council. Armenia's
    participation is chronicled by Moses of Khoren, the Father of Armenian
    historiography. He writes, "In that time a letter of invitation arrived from
    Constantinople to our King Tiridates, asking him to proceed to the Council
    together with Gregory." Tiridates and Gregory did not attend (for various
    reasons), but sent Aristakes (Gregory's son) as their representative. Moses
    of Khoren writes that Aristakes began his journey together with the
    Patriarchs John of Ctesiphon, James of Nisibis and Euphtaly of Edessa and
    the four of them met Archbishop Leontius at Caesarea and together they
    proceeded to Nicaea. The Nicene Creed originated at this Council.

    FAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
    This Sunday, September 4, begins the Fast leading to the Feast of the
    Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachveratz), which is next Sunday, September
    11. Because this is a Great or Tabernacle Feast, it is preceded by a week of
    fasting.

    BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
    Next Thursday, September 8, the Church commemorates the birth of the
    Blessed Virgin Mary. The Armenian Church has celebrated this feast since the
    13th century. Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, were of an advanced age and
    childless. In response to their prayers, their only child, Mary, was born.
    She is prominent in the New Testament stories of the birth of Jesus Christ
    and thereafter is in the background until the Crucifixion when she is at the
    foot of the cross (John 19:25) and in the Upper Room at Jerusalem (Acts
    1:14).

    WORLD WAR II BEGAN 66 YEARS AGO
    There has been a lot of talk about the end of World War II. Let us take
    a moment and remember that World War II began 66 years today when Nazi
    Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The United States did not
    officially enter the war until December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed
    Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, effectively destroying the U.S. naval fleet.

    MONDAY IS LABOR DAY
    Yes, believe it or not, we have come to the "unofficial" end of summer.
    Monday, September 5, is Labor Day, celebrated in the United States and
    Canada. Always the first Monday in September, Labor Day was created by the
    labor movement more than 120 years ago. Theoretically it is dedicated to the
    social and economic achievements of workers and their contributions to the
    strength, prosperity, and well being of their country. Through the years it
    has become the "end marker" of summer (with Memorial Day as the beginning
    marker) and punctuated with family gatherings, picnics, and a final long
    weekend before the start of school and normal routine. And, of course,
    shopping at the malls!

    So many of you have asked about the state of our garden (not good!). We
    will give an update next week with the varied and numerous events. As we
    told one of our readers, "We keep wondering when the locusts are coming."

    FINALLY..
    President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a stunned nation on December
    8, 1941, with hard facts, but with hope:
    "It will not only be a long war, it will be a hard war. That is the
    basis on which we now lay all our plans. This is the yardstick by which we
    measure what we shall need and demand: money, materials, doubled and
    quadrupled production-ever increasing. The production must be not only for
    our own Army and Navy and air forces. It must reinforce the other armies and
    navies and air forces fighting the Nazis and the warlords of Japan
    throughout the Americas and the world.. We are going to win the war and we
    are going to win the peace that follows."

    Calendar of Events

    September 18-Banquet to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the consecration
    of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, and
    honor the Church Godfathers. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will deliver
    the keynote address. For more information, 508-852-2414.

    September 25-35th anniversary of St. Gregory Armenian Church of North
    Andover, Massachusetts, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan.
    For more information, 978-685-5038.

    September 26-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
    Massachusetts, will host its second annual golf tournament at the Raceway
    Golf Club in Thompson, Connecticut, to benefit the church's Capital Fund.
    For information: 508-872-9629.

    October 19-November 1-Visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
    House of Cilicia, to the Eastern Prelacy, commemorating the 75th anniversary
    of the establishment of the Cilician Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon.

    October 28-29-Mashtots Conference celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the
    founding of the Armenian alphabet, at Harvard University. Jointly sponsored
    by the Eastern Prelacy and Harvard University Mashtots Chair, Department of
    Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.

    November 6-St. Stephen Armenian Apostolic Church of Hartford-New Britain,
    Connecticut, will celebrate its 80th anniversary. Archbishop Oshagan
    Choloyan will be the keynote speaker. The program will include a slide show
    presentation two non-Armenian Peace Corps volunteers who recently returned
    from serving in Armenia.

    November 11-13-Mini-Datev program for the Midwest parishes.

    March 17-19, 2006-Sunday School Teachers' Conference at the Wonderland
    Conference and Retreat Center in Sharon, MA.

    Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
    major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
    [email protected]

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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