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The Armenian Church eNewsletter
April 25, 2008
Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016
www.armenianchurch.net
Contact Us <mailto:[email protected]& gt;
Diocesan News
COMMEMORATING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT ST. VARTAN ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL
On Armenian Martyrs Day, April 24, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presided over
a Divine Liturgy and requiem service, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Daniel
Karadjian at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. Toward the end of the service,
the faithful gathered for prayer around the Cathedral's Genocide memorial,
which holds the bone of an Armenian martyred in 1915.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), blesses the incense before a requiem service commemorating the
victims of the Armenian Genocide at St. Vartan Cathedral.
The faithful light candles Thursday at St. Vartan Cathedral in memory of
victims of the Armenian Genocide.
On Sunday, April 27, Rev. Fr. Hagop Khachatryan, a clergyman from Holy
Etchmiadzin, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Very Rev. Fr. Davit
Karamyan, who is also visiting the Eastern Diocese from Holy Etchmiadzin,
will deliver the sermon. A requiem service and blessing of madagh will
follow the Divine Liturgy, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
The annual Genocide Commemoration sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Region
Knights and Daughters of Vartan will be held in Times Square at 2 p.m. St.
Vartan Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. Click for
more information in English <http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/enggen.pdf&g t;
or Armenian <http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/armgen.pdf&g t; .
_____________________________
ARCHBISHOP VICKEN AYKAZIAN SPEAKS AT GENOCIDE EVENT ON CAPITOL HILL
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate and president of the National
Council of Churches, offered the opening prayer at the Armenian Genocide
Observance held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 23. Archbishop Aykazian
prayed for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and reminded participants
that "others have endured and are enduring today the tragedy that afflicted
our ancestors."
The event was organized by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Rep. Joe
Knollenberg (R-Mich.), cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues.
_____________________________
P RIMATE PARTICIPATES IN CONFERENCE AT UNITED NATIONS
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), spoke on the relationship between religion and today's
technologically-advanced world at the fourth annual global forum of ATHGO
International, held at the United Nations on Thursday, April 24.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), participated in a discussion Thursday at the fourth annual global
forum of ATHGO International.
ATHGO was founded by Armen Orujyan to provide future leaders with the
entrepreneurial skills needed to deal with complex global issues. A
nonprofit NGO, ATHGO helps create professional networks through forums,
conferences, internships and other programs.
Archbishop Barsamian said that recent technological developments in
communications give us pause to reflect on our relationships with other
people and with God, and to find ways to overcome the differences that
divide us.
The Primate spoke about how his grandmother survived the Armenian Genocide,
never losing her faith in the midst of suffering. "It was thanks to her
faith that she was empowered to break the cycle of hatred," he said. "And it
is thanks to her that I have the opportunity to communicate to you the need
for understanding, respect and love."
_____________________________
PRIMATE GREETS POPE BENEDICT XVI IN NEW YORK
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), was among more than 250 Christian leaders gathered for an
ecumenical prayer service led by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at St.
Joseph's Church in New York on Friday, April 18.
Following the service, Pope Benedict greeted 15 leaders individually,
including Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate and
president of the National Council of Churches. Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian,
dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, also was present at the ceremony. To read
more, visit www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/> .
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate and president of the National
Council of Churches, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), and Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, at the ecumenical prayer service led by His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
_____________________________
DIOCESAN COUNCIL PREPARES FOR ASSEMBLY
Meeting at the Diocesan Center on Tuesday, April 22, members of the Diocesan
Council discussed final preparations for the 106th Diocesan Assembly,
scheduled for May 1-4 at Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church in Providence, R.I.
Also at the meeting, Vice Chairman Dr. Raffy Hovanessian and Assistant
Secretary Sandra Leitner spoke about their April 17-20 trip to St. Sarkis
Church in Charlotte, N.C. During the trip, Diocesan Council members met with
parish leadership and discussed ways the parish and the Diocese can work
together to address the challenges facing St. Sarkis Church. The meeting
culminated in a banquet on Saturday, April 19, and the celebration of the
Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 20. Following Badarak, a brunch was held,
bringing together Diocesan Council members, St. Sarkis parishioners and
representatives from the Armenian Church of Atlanta Mission Parish.
_____________________________
ST. NERSESS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS AT DIOCESE
The Executive Committee of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary met at the Diocese
on Monday, April 21, to discuss student recruitment and fundraising.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), presided at the discussion. Plans were made to hold a daylong
meeting this summer with members of the Board of Directors of St. Nersess
and the Diocesan Council to focus on the topic of recruitment.
_____________________________
CHURCH AND HOME MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE
A wealth of new Church and Home materials are now available on our Web site,
www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/> . Click on the
"Church and Home" button on the homepage and you will be directed to a
listing of a variety of online tutorials and programs designed to offer
"Back to the Basics" educational tools that can be used from the comfort of
your home. Learn about Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and
classical Armenian and much more!
_____________________________
CLERGY FROM HOLY ETCHMIADZIN VISIT EASTERN DIOCESE
Very Rev. Fr. Davit Karamyan and Rev. Fr. Hagop Khachatryan are visiting the
Eastern Diocese from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. They will
participate in next week's Clergy Conference and Diocesan Assembly and visit
a number of parishes in the Eastern Diocese.
Rev. Fr. Hagop Khachatryan, left, and Very Rev. Fr. Davit Karamyan arrived
at the Diocesan Center on Tuesday, April 22. They will spend a month
visiting parishes in the Eastern Diocese.
_____________________________
PRIEST FROM HOLY ETCHMIADZIN STARTS INTERNSHIP AT ST. JOHN'S ARMENIAN CHURCH
OF GREATER DETROIT
Rev. Fr. Hrach Sargisyan, a priest from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
has been invited by the Primate of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
to intern and prepare to serve as a pastor in the Eastern Diocese.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian asked Rev. Fr. Garabed Kochakian of St. John's
Armenian Church of Greater Detroit to supervise Fr. Sargisyan's internship.
Fr. Sargisyan arrived in the United States with his wife, Naira, and
daughter, Tatev, on April 22.
_____________________________
PRIMATE TO ORDAIN DEACON AT HARTFORD PARISH
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), will visit St. George Church in Hartford, Conn. on Sunday, April
27, to ordain subdeacon Ashot Ghokasiyan to the deaconate. Archbishop
Barsamian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, with St. George's pastor, Rev.
Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, assisting. A reception will follow the service.
_____________________________
106TH DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK
The 106th Annual Diocesan Assembly and Clergy Conference will be held at
Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church in Providence, R.I. next week. The Clergy
Conference is scheduled for April 28 to May 1; the Assembly is scheduled for
May 1 to 4.This year's theme is "Church and Home: One in Spirit." For more
information, visit the Sts. Sahag
<http://www.stsahmes.org/da2008/index.htm l> & Mesrob Church Web site.
The eNewsletter will not be published next Thursday, May 1 while the
Diocesan Assembly is underway. Please check our Web site,
www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/> , for updates from
the Assembly. Publication of the eNewsletter will recommence on Thursday,
May 8.
_____________________________
LECTURE AT ST. NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY
Professor Paruyr Muradyan, senior researcher at the National Academy of
Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, will offer a lecture on the
translations of early Christian texts at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary on
Monday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. The free lecture will be in Armenian, with an
English translation provided. Refreshments will follow.
It is well known that many important early Christian writings were
translated into Armenian by Armenian scholars and clergy. Less well known
are a number of Armenian Christian writings that were translated into other
languages, such as Syriac, Greek, Arabic, Georgian and Latin. Professor
Muradyan will trace the travels of early Christian ideas to and through the
Armenian language. For more information, call 914-636-2003.
_____________________________
FEAS T OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
On May 1, the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, Archbishop
Yeghishe Gizirian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral. The Liturgy begins at 11 a.m. A traditional Ascension Day
celebration will follow services.
_____________________________
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EXHIBIT OPENS IN FLORIDA
An exhibit entitled "The Greatest Crime of the War: The Armenian Genocide
During World War I" opened at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St.
Petersburg, Fla. this month. The exhibit features text and image panels on
the history of the Genocide. It will remain on view through October.
A new exhibit at the Florida Holocaust Museum invites visitors to learn
about the Armenian Genocide through text and images.
Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, pastor at St. Hagop Church in Pinellas Park,
Fla., held a requiem service at the museum on Thursday, April 24. Eileen
Barsamian Jennings, a child of Armenian Genocide survivors, gave a talk on
how the tragic events affected her family. For more information on the
exhibit, call the Holocaust Museum at 727-820-0100.
_____________________________
VIOL ATION OF ARMENIAN STATUS QUO RIGHTS AT CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN
JERUSALEM
Several international press reports on Orthodox Palm Sunday's incident in
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem wrongly portray the reasons
that led to a scuffle involving the Armenian and Greek Orthodox Churches.
Despite several written protests by the Armenian Patriarchate, a Greek monk
once again placed himself inside the Edicule, a vestibule that lies just
outside the entryway to the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, during the
Armenian solemn procession. Armenian priests persuaded the Greek monk to
exit from the Edicule and peacefully led him out. The Israeli police,
however, attempted to reinstate the monk inside the Edicule, but that
attempt failed due to the opposition of the Armenian priests. A scuffle
followed between the police and members of the Armenian community who had
witnessed the reinstatement attempt that appeared to support Greek efforts
to capitalize on their cordial relationship with the Israeli authorities.
The presence of the Greek monk inside the Edicule is a serious violation of
the Status Quo terms governing the Holy Places, of which the Armenians,
Latins and Greek Orthodox share equal rights of custodianship. The Armenian
Patriarchate has made its position clear that on the Feast of the Holy
Cross, the First Sunday of Great Lent, Palm Sunday and Holy Fire Saturday,
when they are in possession of the Holy Tomb, the Greeks should refrain from
placing their monk inside the Edicule.
_____________________________
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN SCHEDULED
FOR SEPTEMBER
The Eastern Diocese will make a pilgrimage to the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin this fall to participate in the blessing of the Holy Muron
(Oil). The two-week pilgrimage begins in late September and concludes in
early October. The blessing of the Holy Muron will take place on Sunday,
Sept. 28.
For more information, click here
<http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/muron.p df> or contact Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at 212-686-0710 ext. 213 or e-mail [email protected].
Please note that the number of spaces is limited. Those interested in the
pilgrimage should make reservations without delay.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
blesses the Holy Muron (Oil) with the relic of St. Gregory the Enlightener
in 2001. This special ceremony occurs once every seven years.
_____________________________
PARISH NEWS
Brooklyn, N.Y. - St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish to Host Health
Fair at Diocesan Center
St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish of Brooklyn, N.Y., will host a
health fair at the Diocesan Center, 630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y., on
Sunday, May 4. Click here <http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/healthfair.p df>
for more information.
New York, N.Y. - Food Festival at Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Church of Armenia, 580 West 187 St., New York, N.Y., will host a
food festival in the Kachajian Hall following services on Sunday, May 18.
The event will feature live music by John Vartan, festivities for children
and an array of delicacies, including kebabs and Armenian pastries.
SAVE THE DATE : June 19 and Oct. 12
Diocesan Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Consecration of St.
Vartan Armenian Cathedral
This year, the Diocese will host a series of programs in celebration of the
40th anniversary of the consecration of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.
Upcoming events include:
. A concert in the Cathedral and an art exhibition at the Diocesan Center
beginning on June 19.
. A ceremony honoring the godfathers of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral and
original committee members of the Cathedral-building project and the
distribution of the Holy Muron (Oil) from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
during a celebration of the Divine Liturgy on October 12. A luncheon will
follow. (Please note that the ceremony honoring Cathedral founders has been
rescheduled from May 18 to October 12).
Individual parishes will be invited to make pilgrimages to the Cathedral
throughout the year.
The Diocese would like to recognize everyone who was involved in the
Cathedral project. If you have information on any members of working
committees who helped build the Cathedral, please contact the Diocesan
Center at 212-686-0710 or e-mail [email protected].
_______________________________
Prayer for the Week
I entreat you, O merciful and good Lord, with those who have fallen asleep
in faith, receive us who have the same hope into the heavenly city,
Jerusalem, where the just are assembled, to sing and glorify you always!
More prayers
<http://www.stvartanbookstore.com/index .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <http://www.armenianchurch.net/prayer>
Scripture for the Week
Acts 20:17-38
1 Jn 3:2-6
Jn 9:39-10:10
Saints & Feasts
5/1 Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ
5/4 Second Palm Sunday
May God bless and keep you and your family.
April 25, 2008
Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016
www.armenianchurch.net
Contact Us <mailto:[email protected]& gt;
Diocesan News
COMMEMORATING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT ST. VARTAN ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL
On Armenian Martyrs Day, April 24, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presided over
a Divine Liturgy and requiem service, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Daniel
Karadjian at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. Toward the end of the service,
the faithful gathered for prayer around the Cathedral's Genocide memorial,
which holds the bone of an Armenian martyred in 1915.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), blesses the incense before a requiem service commemorating the
victims of the Armenian Genocide at St. Vartan Cathedral.
The faithful light candles Thursday at St. Vartan Cathedral in memory of
victims of the Armenian Genocide.
On Sunday, April 27, Rev. Fr. Hagop Khachatryan, a clergyman from Holy
Etchmiadzin, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Very Rev. Fr. Davit
Karamyan, who is also visiting the Eastern Diocese from Holy Etchmiadzin,
will deliver the sermon. A requiem service and blessing of madagh will
follow the Divine Liturgy, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
The annual Genocide Commemoration sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Region
Knights and Daughters of Vartan will be held in Times Square at 2 p.m. St.
Vartan Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. Click for
more information in English <http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/enggen.pdf&g t;
or Armenian <http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/armgen.pdf&g t; .
_____________________________
ARCHBISHOP VICKEN AYKAZIAN SPEAKS AT GENOCIDE EVENT ON CAPITOL HILL
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate and president of the National
Council of Churches, offered the opening prayer at the Armenian Genocide
Observance held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 23. Archbishop Aykazian
prayed for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and reminded participants
that "others have endured and are enduring today the tragedy that afflicted
our ancestors."
The event was organized by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Rep. Joe
Knollenberg (R-Mich.), cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues.
_____________________________
P RIMATE PARTICIPATES IN CONFERENCE AT UNITED NATIONS
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), spoke on the relationship between religion and today's
technologically-advanced world at the fourth annual global forum of ATHGO
International, held at the United Nations on Thursday, April 24.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), participated in a discussion Thursday at the fourth annual global
forum of ATHGO International.
ATHGO was founded by Armen Orujyan to provide future leaders with the
entrepreneurial skills needed to deal with complex global issues. A
nonprofit NGO, ATHGO helps create professional networks through forums,
conferences, internships and other programs.
Archbishop Barsamian said that recent technological developments in
communications give us pause to reflect on our relationships with other
people and with God, and to find ways to overcome the differences that
divide us.
The Primate spoke about how his grandmother survived the Armenian Genocide,
never losing her faith in the midst of suffering. "It was thanks to her
faith that she was empowered to break the cycle of hatred," he said. "And it
is thanks to her that I have the opportunity to communicate to you the need
for understanding, respect and love."
_____________________________
PRIMATE GREETS POPE BENEDICT XVI IN NEW YORK
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), was among more than 250 Christian leaders gathered for an
ecumenical prayer service led by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at St.
Joseph's Church in New York on Friday, April 18.
Following the service, Pope Benedict greeted 15 leaders individually,
including Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate and
president of the National Council of Churches. Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian,
dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, also was present at the ceremony. To read
more, visit www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/> .
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate and president of the National
Council of Churches, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), and Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, at the ecumenical prayer service led by His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
_____________________________
DIOCESAN COUNCIL PREPARES FOR ASSEMBLY
Meeting at the Diocesan Center on Tuesday, April 22, members of the Diocesan
Council discussed final preparations for the 106th Diocesan Assembly,
scheduled for May 1-4 at Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church in Providence, R.I.
Also at the meeting, Vice Chairman Dr. Raffy Hovanessian and Assistant
Secretary Sandra Leitner spoke about their April 17-20 trip to St. Sarkis
Church in Charlotte, N.C. During the trip, Diocesan Council members met with
parish leadership and discussed ways the parish and the Diocese can work
together to address the challenges facing St. Sarkis Church. The meeting
culminated in a banquet on Saturday, April 19, and the celebration of the
Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 20. Following Badarak, a brunch was held,
bringing together Diocesan Council members, St. Sarkis parishioners and
representatives from the Armenian Church of Atlanta Mission Parish.
_____________________________
ST. NERSESS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS AT DIOCESE
The Executive Committee of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary met at the Diocese
on Monday, April 21, to discuss student recruitment and fundraising.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), presided at the discussion. Plans were made to hold a daylong
meeting this summer with members of the Board of Directors of St. Nersess
and the Diocesan Council to focus on the topic of recruitment.
_____________________________
CHURCH AND HOME MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE
A wealth of new Church and Home materials are now available on our Web site,
www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/> . Click on the
"Church and Home" button on the homepage and you will be directed to a
listing of a variety of online tutorials and programs designed to offer
"Back to the Basics" educational tools that can be used from the comfort of
your home. Learn about Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and
classical Armenian and much more!
_____________________________
CLERGY FROM HOLY ETCHMIADZIN VISIT EASTERN DIOCESE
Very Rev. Fr. Davit Karamyan and Rev. Fr. Hagop Khachatryan are visiting the
Eastern Diocese from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. They will
participate in next week's Clergy Conference and Diocesan Assembly and visit
a number of parishes in the Eastern Diocese.
Rev. Fr. Hagop Khachatryan, left, and Very Rev. Fr. Davit Karamyan arrived
at the Diocesan Center on Tuesday, April 22. They will spend a month
visiting parishes in the Eastern Diocese.
_____________________________
PRIEST FROM HOLY ETCHMIADZIN STARTS INTERNSHIP AT ST. JOHN'S ARMENIAN CHURCH
OF GREATER DETROIT
Rev. Fr. Hrach Sargisyan, a priest from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
has been invited by the Primate of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
to intern and prepare to serve as a pastor in the Eastern Diocese.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian asked Rev. Fr. Garabed Kochakian of St. John's
Armenian Church of Greater Detroit to supervise Fr. Sargisyan's internship.
Fr. Sargisyan arrived in the United States with his wife, Naira, and
daughter, Tatev, on April 22.
_____________________________
PRIMATE TO ORDAIN DEACON AT HARTFORD PARISH
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), will visit St. George Church in Hartford, Conn. on Sunday, April
27, to ordain subdeacon Ashot Ghokasiyan to the deaconate. Archbishop
Barsamian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, with St. George's pastor, Rev.
Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, assisting. A reception will follow the service.
_____________________________
106TH DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK
The 106th Annual Diocesan Assembly and Clergy Conference will be held at
Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church in Providence, R.I. next week. The Clergy
Conference is scheduled for April 28 to May 1; the Assembly is scheduled for
May 1 to 4.This year's theme is "Church and Home: One in Spirit." For more
information, visit the Sts. Sahag
<http://www.stsahmes.org/da2008/index.htm l> & Mesrob Church Web site.
The eNewsletter will not be published next Thursday, May 1 while the
Diocesan Assembly is underway. Please check our Web site,
www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/> , for updates from
the Assembly. Publication of the eNewsletter will recommence on Thursday,
May 8.
_____________________________
LECTURE AT ST. NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY
Professor Paruyr Muradyan, senior researcher at the National Academy of
Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, will offer a lecture on the
translations of early Christian texts at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary on
Monday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. The free lecture will be in Armenian, with an
English translation provided. Refreshments will follow.
It is well known that many important early Christian writings were
translated into Armenian by Armenian scholars and clergy. Less well known
are a number of Armenian Christian writings that were translated into other
languages, such as Syriac, Greek, Arabic, Georgian and Latin. Professor
Muradyan will trace the travels of early Christian ideas to and through the
Armenian language. For more information, call 914-636-2003.
_____________________________
FEAS T OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
On May 1, the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, Archbishop
Yeghishe Gizirian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral. The Liturgy begins at 11 a.m. A traditional Ascension Day
celebration will follow services.
_____________________________
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EXHIBIT OPENS IN FLORIDA
An exhibit entitled "The Greatest Crime of the War: The Armenian Genocide
During World War I" opened at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St.
Petersburg, Fla. this month. The exhibit features text and image panels on
the history of the Genocide. It will remain on view through October.
A new exhibit at the Florida Holocaust Museum invites visitors to learn
about the Armenian Genocide through text and images.
Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, pastor at St. Hagop Church in Pinellas Park,
Fla., held a requiem service at the museum on Thursday, April 24. Eileen
Barsamian Jennings, a child of Armenian Genocide survivors, gave a talk on
how the tragic events affected her family. For more information on the
exhibit, call the Holocaust Museum at 727-820-0100.
_____________________________
VIOL ATION OF ARMENIAN STATUS QUO RIGHTS AT CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN
JERUSALEM
Several international press reports on Orthodox Palm Sunday's incident in
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem wrongly portray the reasons
that led to a scuffle involving the Armenian and Greek Orthodox Churches.
Despite several written protests by the Armenian Patriarchate, a Greek monk
once again placed himself inside the Edicule, a vestibule that lies just
outside the entryway to the Tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, during the
Armenian solemn procession. Armenian priests persuaded the Greek monk to
exit from the Edicule and peacefully led him out. The Israeli police,
however, attempted to reinstate the monk inside the Edicule, but that
attempt failed due to the opposition of the Armenian priests. A scuffle
followed between the police and members of the Armenian community who had
witnessed the reinstatement attempt that appeared to support Greek efforts
to capitalize on their cordial relationship with the Israeli authorities.
The presence of the Greek monk inside the Edicule is a serious violation of
the Status Quo terms governing the Holy Places, of which the Armenians,
Latins and Greek Orthodox share equal rights of custodianship. The Armenian
Patriarchate has made its position clear that on the Feast of the Holy
Cross, the First Sunday of Great Lent, Palm Sunday and Holy Fire Saturday,
when they are in possession of the Holy Tomb, the Greeks should refrain from
placing their monk inside the Edicule.
_____________________________
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN SCHEDULED
FOR SEPTEMBER
The Eastern Diocese will make a pilgrimage to the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin this fall to participate in the blessing of the Holy Muron
(Oil). The two-week pilgrimage begins in late September and concludes in
early October. The blessing of the Holy Muron will take place on Sunday,
Sept. 28.
For more information, click here
<http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/muron.p df> or contact Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at 212-686-0710 ext. 213 or e-mail [email protected].
Please note that the number of spaces is limited. Those interested in the
pilgrimage should make reservations without delay.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
blesses the Holy Muron (Oil) with the relic of St. Gregory the Enlightener
in 2001. This special ceremony occurs once every seven years.
_____________________________
PARISH NEWS
Brooklyn, N.Y. - St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish to Host Health
Fair at Diocesan Center
St. Gregory the Illuminator Mission Parish of Brooklyn, N.Y., will host a
health fair at the Diocesan Center, 630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y., on
Sunday, May 4. Click here <http://www.armenianchurch.net/pdf/healthfair.p df>
for more information.
New York, N.Y. - Food Festival at Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Church of Armenia, 580 West 187 St., New York, N.Y., will host a
food festival in the Kachajian Hall following services on Sunday, May 18.
The event will feature live music by John Vartan, festivities for children
and an array of delicacies, including kebabs and Armenian pastries.
SAVE THE DATE : June 19 and Oct. 12
Diocesan Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Consecration of St.
Vartan Armenian Cathedral
This year, the Diocese will host a series of programs in celebration of the
40th anniversary of the consecration of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.
Upcoming events include:
. A concert in the Cathedral and an art exhibition at the Diocesan Center
beginning on June 19.
. A ceremony honoring the godfathers of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral and
original committee members of the Cathedral-building project and the
distribution of the Holy Muron (Oil) from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
during a celebration of the Divine Liturgy on October 12. A luncheon will
follow. (Please note that the ceremony honoring Cathedral founders has been
rescheduled from May 18 to October 12).
Individual parishes will be invited to make pilgrimages to the Cathedral
throughout the year.
The Diocese would like to recognize everyone who was involved in the
Cathedral project. If you have information on any members of working
committees who helped build the Cathedral, please contact the Diocesan
Center at 212-686-0710 or e-mail [email protected].
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Prayer for the Week
I entreat you, O merciful and good Lord, with those who have fallen asleep
in faith, receive us who have the same hope into the heavenly city,
Jerusalem, where the just are assembled, to sing and glorify you always!
More prayers
<http://www.stvartanbookstore.com/index .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <http://www.armenianchurch.net/prayer>
Scripture for the Week
Acts 20:17-38
1 Jn 3:2-6
Jn 9:39-10:10
Saints & Feasts
5/1 Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ
5/4 Second Palm Sunday
May God bless and keep you and your family.