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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 03/23/2006

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 03/23/2006

    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

    MARCH 23, 2006

    KALOUST SOGOIAN LAID TO REST IN MICHIGAN
    Kaloust (Karl) Sogoian, a long-time supporter of the Eastern Prelacy as
    well as the worldwide Armenian Church and nation, was laid to rest last
    Friday, March 17.
    Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan presided over the Homecoming (Wake) service
    on March 16 at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, Michigan. Funeral
    services the next day were presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and
    Archbishop Oshagan. During the services messages of condolence from His
    Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I,
    Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, were read.
    Mr. Sogoian and his wife, Emma, were ardent supporters of many Armenian
    charities and projects. Archbishop Oshagan noted that even in his final days
    on this earth Mr. Sogoian thought about the church he sponsored-St. Dertad
    Church in the Vayk, Armenia. Literally days before his death he made a new
    donation to the church for a current building project.
    Archbishop Oshagan described Mr. Sogoian as an exceptionally benevolent,
    humble and kind person with unique ideas and clear ideals and goals.

    PRELATE IN NEW JERSEY THIS WEEKEND
    On Sunday Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
    Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. In the afternoon he will
    attend the Festival of Schools sponsored by the Armenian National Education
    Committee, which will take place at Dwight Englewood School Auditorium in
    Englewood, New Jersey. The program will begin at 3 pm bringing together more
    than 100 students from various schools of the Mid-Atlantic area.

    PRELATE WILL ATTEND SIGNING CEREMONY FOR AID TO ARMENIA
    Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Washington, DC, on Monday, March 27,
    to participate in the Compact Signing Ceremony with the Republic of Armenia
    and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The signing by Armenia's Foreign
    Minister, Vartan Oskanian and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
    will take place in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of
    State.
    The Millennium Challenge Corporation was established on January 23,
    2004, after President Bush's call for a "new compact for global
    development." With funds provided by Congress, the Corporation provides aid
    to "those countries that rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage
    economic freedom." Armenia will receive 235 million dollars in aid.

    NAGORNO KARABAGH OFFICIALS VISIT PRELACY
    Vardan Barseghian, (left), permanent representative of the Republic of
    Nagorno Karabagh to the United States, and Massis Mayelian, Deputy Foreign
    Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh paid a visit to Archbishop
    Oshagan at the Prelacy yesterday, Wednesday, March 22. The guests enjoyed an
    exchange of ideas with the Prelate about Diasporan issues as well as the
    future needs of the Republic.

    PRELATE AND CLERGY TO VISIT OLD AGE HOME IN FLUSHING
    AND SENIORS OF ST. SARKIS
    Next Wednesday, March 29, Archbishop Oshagan and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
    and the clergy serving Prelacy parishes in the New York-New Jersey area will
    visit the New York Old Age Home in Flushing where they will conduct a Lenten
    Arevakal (Sunrise) Service, followed by a visit with the residents of the
    Home.
    In the afternoon they will lunch with the seniors of St. Sarkis Church
    in Douglaston, New York.

    "GENOCIDE THEN AND NOW" AT UNITED NATIONS
    Archbishop Oshagan and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian will attend a
    forum next Thursday, March 30, at the United Nations, entitled "Genocide
    Then and Now: Lessons Learned for the 21st Century."
    The forum is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United
    Nations and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations and is
    co-sponsored with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
    Speakers include: Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary General, Special
    Advisor on Africa at the UN; Vahakn Dadrian, Director of Genocide Research,
    Zoryan Institute; and Juan Mendez, Special Advisor to the UN
    Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. Ms. Andrea Kanapell,
    Assistant Foreign Editor of the New York Times, will moderate the
    discussion. The forum will discuss the first and last genocides of the 20th
    century with respect to lessons learned for the 21st century and for United
    Nations reforms.

    REPRESENTATIVE OF WCC VISITS CATHOLICOSATE
    The supervisor of the World Council of Church's (WCC) Middle East desk,
    Dr. Nseir, visited His Holiness Aram I last Sunday, March 18. They discussed
    the possibility of strengthening the cooperation between the WCC and the
    churches of the region, pursuing the accomplishment of several joint
    projects related to the WCC and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC),
    the upcoming meeting in Geneva for evaluating the 9th Assembly of the WCC
    and other issues.

    DELEGATION FROM CHURCHES OF WALES VISIT CATHOLICOSATE
    A delegation representing the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches
    in Wales visited the Catholicosate on March 18. The delegation met with His
    Holiness Aram I and gave him a letter from the Most Rev. Dr. Barry Morgan,
    Archbishop of Wales. The delegation included senior spiritual leaders and
    members of the European Parliament.
    The purpose of the delegation's visit to the region is to get closely
    acquainted with the churches of the Middle East. His Holiness briefly
    reported on the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East, encouraging
    discussions about the region's political, religious, social and economic
    circumstances.

    NEW TITLES AT PRELACY BOOKSTORE
    The Prelacy Bookstore receives new books regularly. This week we call to
    your attention "Armenian Identity in a Changing World," by Levon Abrahamian.
    The 406-page softcover volume discusses the old and the new constituents of
    Armenian identity, such as language, religion, or shared history in broader
    Transcaucasian and former Sovet Union context. The 16 chapters in the book
    are based on lectures the author gave at Columbia University in 2001. The
    Preface is written by Professor Marc Nichanian. To order contact the
    bookstore, 212-689-7810.

    ANEC SCHOOL VISITS PLANNED
    Ms. Nayiri Balanian, chair of the Armenian National Education Committee
    (ANEC), will visit the Armenian Sisters Academy and St. Stephen Elementary
    School in Massachusetts, on Friday, March 31.

    LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES
    The Prelacy's Lenten series, sponsored by the Armenian Religious
    Education Council (AREC), and the Prelacy Ladies Guild, continued last night
    with Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston,
    NY, presenting a thoughtful mediation on verses 15 to 18 of St. Nerses
    Shnorhali's prayer, "In Faith I Confess." The Lenten programs take place
    Wednesdays during Lent at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street,
    New York City. Husgoom Service starts at 7:30 pm, followed by a short
    meditation at 8:00 pm.
    Next week's meditation on Wednesday, March 29, will be based on verses
    19 to 21 presented by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator's
    Cathedral in New York City.
    The author of this popular prayer, Catholicos St. Nerses Shnorhali (the
    Gracious), was born in 1102. He was Catholicos from 1166 until his death in
    1173. "In Faith I Confess" has been translated into 36 languages and is the
    most popular of the prolific writings of this noted theologian, poet and
    musician. Comprised of 24 short verses, this small prayer book is reverently
    carried by many of the faithful to strengthen faith and hope. The small
    prayer books are available at the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810.

    DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 13-18;
    20TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE MARKED THIS YEAR
    Plans are underway for the 20th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute
    Summer Christian Studies Program. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious
    Education Council (AREC), the weeklong program will take place at the St.
    Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

    FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA
    This Saturday, March 25, the Armenian Church commemorates the Forty
    Martyrs of Sebastia.
    Although the background and identity of the forty young soldiers are not
    known for sure, it is believed that they came from Lesser Armenia. They
    served in the Roman army in the region of Cappadocia.
    During a general purge of Christians from the ranks, it became rumored
    that in Sepastia there was an elite military unity whose members were
    Christians. Forty youths of the unit confirmed being Christians and remained
    steadfast to their faith.
    The young soldiers were tried and condemned to death by stoning.
    Miraculously, when the sentence was being carried out, the stones would not
    reach the intended targets, but rather "boomeranged" striking those throwing
    the stones. The young soldiers were then thrown into a frozen lake and
    forced to stay there, with the admonition that should they renounce their
    faith they would be allowed to come out of the cold water and into a warm
    bath. Of the forty, one chose to accept this offer, but he died
    nevertheless. As one by one the youths died, halos came down upon them.
    Seeing this, one of the guards threw himself into the lake and joined the 39
    bringing the number to 40 again.
    Subsequently some of our great church fathers, such as Basil, Gregory of
    Nyssa, Ephraem the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics about
    the forty martyrs.
    Their memory is commemorated each year during Lent on the Saturday
    following the median day of Lent (Meechink), The Armenians have also built
    and named churches in their memory in various parts of the world.

    SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE
    This Sunday, March 26, the fifth Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday of the
    Judge (Datavori Kiraki).
    The Gospel read on this day describes the parable told by Jesus about a
    widow and a judge (Luke 18:2-5). In a certain city there was a judge, who
    neither feared God, nor had respect for people. In that city there was a
    widow who kept coming to him and saying, "Grant me justice against my
    opponent." For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, "Though I
    have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps
    bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by
    continually coming before me."
    Jesus told the parable of the stubborn widow to encourage his followers
    to persevere in prayer and to never cease to struggle against injustice.
    Through this story Jesus assures us that God will do justice in the end.

    AND NOW.A MODERN DAY PARABLE
    We here are Crossroads admit that we are big fans of a special feature
    printed every Monday in the New York Times, called "Metropolitan Diary." The
    column prints little vignettes sent in by readers depicting life in The
    City. Last Monday's edition had the following story (sent in by Aaron
    Garretson) we just cannot resist sharing with you:
    The other day on the A train, a large man dressed in a camouflage
    sweatsuit was being grilled by a woman about not going to church enough.
    He defended himself, saying he showed his devotion to God through his
    actions, but the woman wasn't satisfied.
    She said he had to go to church to win his place in heaven.
    Just then, a young woman about 30 feet away doubled over and collapsed.
    The man in camouflage was the first on his feet to help her. He propped
    her head with his backpack and sat on the floor to hold her hand while he
    directed others to alert the conductor.
    When the train stopped at 14th Street, the conductor announced that
    there would be a delay for a sick passenger, and the man's church friend
    rushed across the platform to catch a local train.
    Meanwhile, he continued to sit with the young woman, holding her hand.
    After the police helped her off (she was a cancer patient), the man put
    on his earphones and returned to his pew in the greater church of New York.

    IT IS SPRING!
    Spring arrived this past Monday afternoon. It's still cold and windy,
    but there definitely is the "feel" of spring with daylight already
    noticeably longer.
    Yes, as so many of you have reminded us, "it is planting season, what is
    happening in your garden."
    Right now, not much. We are late.the cool weather crops like sugar snap
    peas should have been planted by last Friday, St. Patrick's Day. We will
    give you an update next week.


    Calendar of Events

    March 26-School Festival presented by the Armenian National Education
    Committee (ANEC), at Dwight Englewood School, Englewood, New Jersey. Watch
    for details.

    April 2-Annual Ladies Guild Lenten Luncheon, Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church,
    Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Immediately following church services.

    April 2-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester,
    Massachusetts, traditional Lenten Dinner in Danielian Hall immediately
    following church services. For additional information, 508-852-2414.

    April 8-Ladies Guild Annual Bake Sale, 10 a.m., Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church,
    Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

    April 17-"The Armenian Genocide," a new documentary will be shown on most
    PBS stations. Please check your local listings.

    April 23-Commemoration of the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at
    Times Square-the crossroads of the world. Organized by the Mid-Atlantic
    Knights and Daughters of Vartan, co-sponsored by ArmenPac and with
    participation of area Armenian organizations. Featuring Prof. Israel W.
    Charny, Andrew Goldberg, Edward Korkoian, Asien Surmeian, Annie Totah, Aram
    Hamparian, Curtis Sliwa, and more. More details to follow.

    April 29-Presentation by comedian Vahe Berberian at St. Sarkis Church,
    Douglaston, New York. For details 718-224-2275.

    May 5-Reunion of all students beginning from the 1930s who attended St.
    Illuminator Armenian School in New York. Dinner Dance at Terrace on the
    Park, Corona, NY. For reservations or information contact the St.
    Illuminator's Day School, 718-478-4073.

    May 7-Mothers' Day celebration at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.

    May 8-Mothers' Day Luncheon by Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Regis, New York
    City.

    May 12-Exhibition of the works of artist Emma Gregoryan at the Prelacy, 138
    E. 39th Street, New York City.

    May 13-Dinner-Dance organized by the St. Sarkis Church Ping-Pong Club. For
    details 718-224-2275.

    May 17-19-National Representative Assembly (NRA), hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
    Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

    May 16 and 17-Conference of Yeretzgeens in conjunction with the National
    Representative Assembly, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
    Jersey.

    May 20-Saturday School year end Hantes, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
    York.

    May 21-Sunday School year end Hantes, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
    York.

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org
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