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The Armenian Church eNewsletter
March 6, 2008
Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016
www.armenianchurch.net
Contact us <mailto:[email protected]>
Diocesan News
HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II ADDRESSES NATION
On March 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, addressed the Armenian people on the violent clashes that
followed the recent presidential election in the Republic of Armenia.
"We never would have expected that the inherent sound judgment of our people
would yield to hatred and enmity," His Holiness said. "We believe that
through reliance on God, with a spirit of courage, with hope and optimism,
we shall overcome this grave and difficult situation, we shall once more
find the path of welfare for our lives and our homeland."
Visit www.armenianchurch.org <http://www.armenianchurch.org/> to read more
or click here <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQZK0Q-nKEg> to view the
video of the address.
_____________________________
REQUIEM SERVICES HELD FOR VICTIMS OF RECENT VIOLENCE IN ARMENIA
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), held a requiem service for the victims of recent riots in Yerevan
during a visit to St. Mary's Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 2.
A similar Repose for Souls service was held at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on Sunday, with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, presiding.
Archbishop Barsamian also held a requiem service at St. Mary's Church for
the victims of the 1988 Sumgait pogroms, in which hundreds of Armenians were
killed or injured.
To read more, visit www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/>
.
________ _____________________
PRIMATE ATTENDS MEETING AT HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), is attending the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting at the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin from March 5 to 9.
The Supreme Spiritual Council is the highest executive body of the Armenian
Church and is presided over by the Catholicos of All Armenians. It was
established in 1924 by His Holiness Gevorg V. Soorenian, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians.
_____________________________
PRIMATE, DIOCESAN STAFF LEAD WORKSHOP AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), and members of the Diocesan Department of Youth and Education
conducted a Church and Home workshop at St. Mary's Church in Washington,
D.C., on Saturday, March 1, helping members of the parish leadership work
collectively to set goals and outline action steps to bolster the church's
presence in the larger Armenian community.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), addresses the parish leadership at St. Mary's Church in
Washington, D.C.
The daylong workshop was part of a new Diocesan initiative that assists
parishes in coming up with ways to reach out to Armenian families in their
geographic area and to strengthen the ties between church and home. A
similar workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at St. James Church in
Evanston, Ill.
Church and Home workshop participants at St. Mary's Church in Washington,
D.C. discuss goals and brainstorm outreach ideas.
To read more, visit www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/>
.
________ _____________________
FR. KEVORK ARAKELIAN TO SERVE AT HYE POINTE
At the invitation of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), Rev. Fr. Kevork Arakelian will serve as the
interim pastor at the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe, Ward Hill, Mass.,
starting March 11. Fr. Arakelian, who comes to the Eastern Diocese from
California, will serve at Hye Pointe for seven months.
Rev. Fr. Kevork Arakelian will serve as the interim pastor at the Armenian
Church at Hye Pointe in Ward Hill, Mass.
"I am looking forward to coming to Hye Pointe and offering my services to
the community there," he said. "Together we can make the community grow and
prosper in the Holy Spirit."
_____________________________
CHUR CH AND HOME: NEW MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE
We are pleased to announce that a wealth of new Church and Home materials
are now available on our Web site, www.armenianchurch.net
<http://www.armenianchur ch.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 the
Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and classical Armenian and much
more!
_____________________________
ACYOA CENTRAL COUNCIL TO HOST LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN STONY POINT, N.Y.
The ninth annual Young Adult Leadership Conference is being held this
weekend, March 7-9, at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point, N.Y. A
record number of 82 participants from 26 parishes are expected to attend.
This year's theme is "The Armenian Christian Family." Presentations and
interactive sessions include "Love and Marriage: Scripture Style," "The
Armenian Family: An Historical Perspective," "God, the Church and You:
Three's Company," and "Home and Hearth: The Tradition of Home Blessing."
Participants will also spend time discussing the ACYOA and its future.
For more information, visit www.acyoa.org/lc or contact ACYOA Executive
Secretary Nancy Basmajian at [email protected].
______________________ _______
ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK BEGINS
On Sunday, March 9, College Ministry will begin this year's Alternative
Spring Break trips. The first stop is in Charlotte, N.C., where students
will be hosted by St. Sarkis Armenian Church and partner with Cabarrus
County Habitat for Humanity.
College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian will lead these trips
immediately following the ACYOA Leadership Conference, where she will give a
presentation on College Ministry and spend time with college students. For
more information on the College Ministry Program, email Hoplamazian at
[email protected].
_____________________________
YOUNG ADULT PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND
This summer, the ACYOA will sponsor a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The trip
runs from June 1-10, and will be led by Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian. Pilgrims
will visit many of the holy sites where Jesus was born, preached, performed
miracles, died and rose. This pilgrimage is open to young adults, ages
18-30. For more information, contact Nancy Basmajian at
[email protected] or Julie Hoplamazian at
[email protected].
__________________ ___________
WOMEN'S GUILD CENTRAL COUNCIL HOLDS LENTEN RETREAT
More than 22 women gathered for a Women's Guild Central Council Regional
Lenten Retreat at the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church in Wynnewood, Pa. on
Saturday, March 1.
Participants pose for a picture at the Women's Guild Central Council Lenten
Retreat in Wynnewood, Pa.
Diocesan Vicar Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian led the retreat, which was
held in commemoration of Saintly Women's Day. Discussion focused on passages
>From Luke 17:20-18:1. The passages teach us to recognize that the Kingdom of
God is within us and remind us to pray persistently, to be humble and to
seek forgiveness.
The daylong event was hosted by Anahid Megerian of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob
Women's Guild chapter. Proceeds from Saintly Women's Day and Regional
Retreats help fund special projects at the Diocese.
Diocesan Vicar Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian and other participants at
the Women's Guild Central Council Lenten Retreat in Wynnewood, Pa.
_____________________________
RETREAT HELD FOR MIDWEST CLERGY
A Lenten retreat for clergy in the Midwest was held March 3-5 in Mundelein,
Ill. The retreat gave participants an opportunity to pray, discuss
theological questions and share concerns about their ministry.
Clergy focused on the Beatitudes - a series of golden rules pronounced by
Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12 - presenting papers and engaging in dialogue on the
topic. Participants also held peace, rest and sunrise services and spent
time sharing ideas and advice about their ministry. Similar retreats were
held last month for clergy in the mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
_____________________________
LEARNING ARMENIAN AT THE DIOCESAN MESROB MASHDOTS INSTITUTE
A diverse group of students, including Armenians from Baku, Geneva, Paris,
Istanbul, New York and New Jersey, gathered Wednesday, March 6, for adult
Armenian language and literature classes at the Diocesan Mesrob Mashdots
Institute. A number of non-Armenians interested in learning the Armenian
language have also signed up for the program.
The Institute offers 12-week beginner, intermediate, conversation and
Armenian Literature Appreciation courses on Wednesday evenings at the
Diocesan Center. Classes are taught by Gilda Buchakjian, Maro Partamian,
Shakeh Kadehjian and Sirvart Arakelian. For more information, contact
Buchakjian at [email protected].
_____________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS RAISE LENTEN FUNDS
Every year, for more than half a century, Sunday School children have taken
an active role in supporting important causes for the poor and hungry of the
world through the annual Diocesan Lenten Drive coordinated by the Department
of Youth and Education.
Students, staff and families of our Diocesan Sunday Schools are in full
force again this year. The 2008 Lenten Drive will benefit children of Camp
Tzitzernak in Armenia. Sponsored by the Diocese of Gougark, Camp Tzitzernak
in Vanadzor, Armenia is a brief summer home to children ages 8 to 14 from
villages throughout the Diocese. These children are from poor households and
their experience at the camp is a wonderful respite from an otherwise
difficult life. Funds collected will be used to upgrade sub-standard
sanitation and health facilities at the camp.
For more information, email Christian Education Associate Coordinator Megan
Jendian, [email protected].
_____________________________
NEW ENGLAND ACYOA JUNIORS LENTEN RETREAT
Last weekend, 37 teens gathered for the last of this year's ACYOA Juniors
Lenten Retreats led by Diocesan Youth Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Morris.
Participants gathered at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in
Contoocook, N.H., hailing from Holy Translators, Framingham, Mass.; Holy
Trinity Church, Cambridge, Mass.; St. James Church, Watertown, Mass.; and
Sts Sahag and Mesrob Church, Providence, R.I.
On Saturday, Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, director of youth and vocation
at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, led the group in a thought-provoking
discussion about the Holy Spirit. Teens also had plenty of time to enjoy
nature and God's beauty, as well as play in more than a foot of snow that
fell throughout the weekend. It was a great way for the youth to grow
stronger in their faith, strengthen old friendships and make new ones.
Retreat participants gather for a group photo during this year's New England
ACYOA Juniors Retreat.
Retreat participants enjoy outdoor fun in the snow.
For more information about ACYOA Juniors retreats held in your region,
please e-mail Morris at [email protected].
__________________ ___________
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). This special ceremony occurs only once every seven years, and dates
back to the days of St. Gregory the Enlightener.
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.
Itinerary highlights also include a special audience with His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a private
tour of Holy Etchmiadzin; visits to Khorvirab, Vanadzor, Sevan, and Gumri;
and other excursions.
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.
There is some flexibility in travel dates: pilgrims can opt to depart from
New York on Friday, Sept. 19 or Saturday, Sept. 20, and return to New York
on Friday, Oct. 3 or Saturday, Oct. 4. The cost per person, which includes
airfare and hotel accommodations, is $2,950.
For more information, please contact your local parish or Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at (212) 686-0710 ext. 213 or email [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 MEETS WITH HIS EMINENCE TARCISIO CARDINAL BERTONE
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and His Eminence Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy
See, came together in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin with a holy
greeting of peace and offered their fervent prayers to Almighty God in
heaven.
Cardinal Bertone conveyed the warmest greetings of unity in Jesus Christ and
the fraternal love of His Holiness Benedict XVI, the Pope of Rome, to His
Holiness Karekin II. Cardinal Bertone also presented a handwritten letter
to the Catholicos from the Pope with his invitation to visit the See of St.
Peter.
To read more, visit www.armenianchurch.org <http://www.armenianchurch.org/>
.
________ _____________________
WORLD-FAMOUS GENOCIDE HISTORIAN DIES AT 64
Stephen Feinstein, a genocide historian and an advocate of Armenian Genocide
recognition, died on Tuesday, March 4 in Minnesota. He was 64.
Feinstein was adjunct professor of history and the director of the Center
for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota. He helped
create the Armenian-Turkish Research Project, which focuses on the history
of the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Genocide.
To learn more, click here
<http://www.chgs.umn.edu/histories/turkish Armenian> .
_____________________________
PARISH NEWS
Junior Choir and Nazeli Dance Group Perform at St. David Church in Florida
Parishioners at St. David Church in Boca Raton, Fla. were treated to an
evening of song and dance on Jan. 19. Some 300 gathered to enjoy a
performance by the Junior Choir and Nazeli Dance Group of Sts. Sahag and
Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I.
The Junior Choir of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I.
At the invitation of the Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor at St. David
Church, and the St. David Parish Council, the group traveled to Florida with
Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, pastor at Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church, and
Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, the group's cultural and music director.
The Nazeli Dance Group of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I.
The Junior Choir sang several traditional and popular Armenian songs,
including Karoon Yerevan, Shogher Jan by Gomidas Vartabed, Hye Aghchik,
Grounkner and Vartanantz Asbedner by Konstantin Petrossian. Dancers of the
Nazeli Dance Group, under the directorship of Gayanne Avagyan, impressed the
audience with graceful choreography and a spectacular performance. Carol
Norigian spearheaded the exceptionally successful fund-raising efforts and
organization of the concert tour with the help of several volunteers.
For more information on the Junior Choir and Nazeli Dance Group, visit
www.stsahmes.org <http://www.stsahmes.org/> .
SAVE THE DATE: Diocesan Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the
Consecration of St. Vartan Cathedral to Begin in May
This year, the Diocese will host a series of events in celebration of the
40th anniversary of the consecration of St. Vartan Cathedral. The program
kicks off on Sunday, May 18 with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy and a
ceremony honoring the Godfathers of the Cathedral and original committee
members of the Cathedral-building project. A luncheon will follow in the
Kavookjian Auditorium.
Other events planned in the coming months include a Celebration of the Arts
at the Cathedral and the arrival of the Holy Muron (Oil) from Holy
Etchmiadzin. Individual parishes also will have the opportunity to visit the
Cathedral and tour the Diocesan Complex. More details will be forthcoming.
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 Diocesan staff at
212-686-0710 ext. 160 or e-mail [email protected].
Prayer for the Week
True light, O Christ, do Thou make my soul worthy joyfully to see the light
of Thy glory on the day of my calling, and to rest with the hope of good
things in the abode of the righteous until the day of Thy glorious coming.
Have mercy upon Thy creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
More prayers
<http://www.stvartanbookstore.com/index .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <http://www.armenianchurch.net/prayer>
Scripture for the Week
Lk 21:5-38
Is 66:1-24
Col 2:8-3:17
Mt 22:34-23:39
<http://www.armenianchurch.net/readings/index.p hp> More Bible Readings
<http://www.armenianchurch.net/reading s/index.php>
Saints & Feasts
3/8 St. Gregory the Enlightener (commitment to the pit)
3/9 Sunday of the Advent
3/15 Remembrance of the Raising of Lazarus
March 6, 2008
Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016
www.armenianchurch.net
Contact us <mailto:[email protected]>
Diocesan News
HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II ADDRESSES NATION
On March 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, addressed the Armenian people on the violent clashes that
followed the recent presidential election in the Republic of Armenia.
"We never would have expected that the inherent sound judgment of our people
would yield to hatred and enmity," His Holiness said. "We believe that
through reliance on God, with a spirit of courage, with hope and optimism,
we shall overcome this grave and difficult situation, we shall once more
find the path of welfare for our lives and our homeland."
Visit www.armenianchurch.org <http://www.armenianchurch.org/> to read more
or click here <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQZK0Q-nKEg> to view the
video of the address.
_____________________________
REQUIEM SERVICES HELD FOR VICTIMS OF RECENT VIOLENCE IN ARMENIA
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), held a requiem service for the victims of recent riots in Yerevan
during a visit to St. Mary's Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 2.
A similar Repose for Souls service was held at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on Sunday, with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, presiding.
Archbishop Barsamian also held a requiem service at St. Mary's Church for
the victims of the 1988 Sumgait pogroms, in which hundreds of Armenians were
killed or injured.
To read more, visit www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/>
.
________ _____________________
PRIMATE ATTENDS MEETING AT HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), is attending the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting at the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin from March 5 to 9.
The Supreme Spiritual Council is the highest executive body of the Armenian
Church and is presided over by the Catholicos of All Armenians. It was
established in 1924 by His Holiness Gevorg V. Soorenian, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians.
_____________________________
PRIMATE, DIOCESAN STAFF LEAD WORKSHOP AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), and members of the Diocesan Department of Youth and Education
conducted a Church and Home workshop at St. Mary's Church in Washington,
D.C., on Saturday, March 1, helping members of the parish leadership work
collectively to set goals and outline action steps to bolster the church's
presence in the larger Armenian community.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), addresses the parish leadership at St. Mary's Church in
Washington, D.C.
The daylong workshop was part of a new Diocesan initiative that assists
parishes in coming up with ways to reach out to Armenian families in their
geographic area and to strengthen the ties between church and home. A
similar workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at St. James Church in
Evanston, Ill.
Church and Home workshop participants at St. Mary's Church in Washington,
D.C. discuss goals and brainstorm outreach ideas.
To read more, visit www.armenianchurch.net <http://www.armenianchurch.net/>
.
________ _____________________
FR. KEVORK ARAKELIAN TO SERVE AT HYE POINTE
At the invitation of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), Rev. Fr. Kevork Arakelian will serve as the
interim pastor at the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe, Ward Hill, Mass.,
starting March 11. Fr. Arakelian, who comes to the Eastern Diocese from
California, will serve at Hye Pointe for seven months.
Rev. Fr. Kevork Arakelian will serve as the interim pastor at the Armenian
Church at Hye Pointe in Ward Hill, Mass.
"I am looking forward to coming to Hye Pointe and offering my services to
the community there," he said. "Together we can make the community grow and
prosper in the Holy Spirit."
_____________________________
CHUR CH AND HOME: NEW MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE
We are pleased to announce that a wealth of new Church and Home materials
are now available on our Web site, www.armenianchurch.net
<http://www.armenianchur ch.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 the
Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and classical Armenian and much
more!
_____________________________
ACYOA CENTRAL COUNCIL TO HOST LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN STONY POINT, N.Y.
The ninth annual Young Adult Leadership Conference is being held this
weekend, March 7-9, at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point, N.Y. A
record number of 82 participants from 26 parishes are expected to attend.
This year's theme is "The Armenian Christian Family." Presentations and
interactive sessions include "Love and Marriage: Scripture Style," "The
Armenian Family: An Historical Perspective," "God, the Church and You:
Three's Company," and "Home and Hearth: The Tradition of Home Blessing."
Participants will also spend time discussing the ACYOA and its future.
For more information, visit www.acyoa.org/lc or contact ACYOA Executive
Secretary Nancy Basmajian at [email protected].
______________________ _______
ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK BEGINS
On Sunday, March 9, College Ministry will begin this year's Alternative
Spring Break trips. The first stop is in Charlotte, N.C., where students
will be hosted by St. Sarkis Armenian Church and partner with Cabarrus
County Habitat for Humanity.
College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian will lead these trips
immediately following the ACYOA Leadership Conference, where she will give a
presentation on College Ministry and spend time with college students. For
more information on the College Ministry Program, email Hoplamazian at
[email protected].
_____________________________
YOUNG ADULT PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND
This summer, the ACYOA will sponsor a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The trip
runs from June 1-10, and will be led by Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian. Pilgrims
will visit many of the holy sites where Jesus was born, preached, performed
miracles, died and rose. This pilgrimage is open to young adults, ages
18-30. For more information, contact Nancy Basmajian at
[email protected] or Julie Hoplamazian at
[email protected].
__________________ ___________
WOMEN'S GUILD CENTRAL COUNCIL HOLDS LENTEN RETREAT
More than 22 women gathered for a Women's Guild Central Council Regional
Lenten Retreat at the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church in Wynnewood, Pa. on
Saturday, March 1.
Participants pose for a picture at the Women's Guild Central Council Lenten
Retreat in Wynnewood, Pa.
Diocesan Vicar Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian led the retreat, which was
held in commemoration of Saintly Women's Day. Discussion focused on passages
>From Luke 17:20-18:1. The passages teach us to recognize that the Kingdom of
God is within us and remind us to pray persistently, to be humble and to
seek forgiveness.
The daylong event was hosted by Anahid Megerian of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob
Women's Guild chapter. Proceeds from Saintly Women's Day and Regional
Retreats help fund special projects at the Diocese.
Diocesan Vicar Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian and other participants at
the Women's Guild Central Council Lenten Retreat in Wynnewood, Pa.
_____________________________
RETREAT HELD FOR MIDWEST CLERGY
A Lenten retreat for clergy in the Midwest was held March 3-5 in Mundelein,
Ill. The retreat gave participants an opportunity to pray, discuss
theological questions and share concerns about their ministry.
Clergy focused on the Beatitudes - a series of golden rules pronounced by
Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12 - presenting papers and engaging in dialogue on the
topic. Participants also held peace, rest and sunrise services and spent
time sharing ideas and advice about their ministry. Similar retreats were
held last month for clergy in the mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
_____________________________
LEARNING ARMENIAN AT THE DIOCESAN MESROB MASHDOTS INSTITUTE
A diverse group of students, including Armenians from Baku, Geneva, Paris,
Istanbul, New York and New Jersey, gathered Wednesday, March 6, for adult
Armenian language and literature classes at the Diocesan Mesrob Mashdots
Institute. A number of non-Armenians interested in learning the Armenian
language have also signed up for the program.
The Institute offers 12-week beginner, intermediate, conversation and
Armenian Literature Appreciation courses on Wednesday evenings at the
Diocesan Center. Classes are taught by Gilda Buchakjian, Maro Partamian,
Shakeh Kadehjian and Sirvart Arakelian. For more information, contact
Buchakjian at [email protected].
_____________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS RAISE LENTEN FUNDS
Every year, for more than half a century, Sunday School children have taken
an active role in supporting important causes for the poor and hungry of the
world through the annual Diocesan Lenten Drive coordinated by the Department
of Youth and Education.
Students, staff and families of our Diocesan Sunday Schools are in full
force again this year. The 2008 Lenten Drive will benefit children of Camp
Tzitzernak in Armenia. Sponsored by the Diocese of Gougark, Camp Tzitzernak
in Vanadzor, Armenia is a brief summer home to children ages 8 to 14 from
villages throughout the Diocese. These children are from poor households and
their experience at the camp is a wonderful respite from an otherwise
difficult life. Funds collected will be used to upgrade sub-standard
sanitation and health facilities at the camp.
For more information, email Christian Education Associate Coordinator Megan
Jendian, [email protected].
_____________________________
NEW ENGLAND ACYOA JUNIORS LENTEN RETREAT
Last weekend, 37 teens gathered for the last of this year's ACYOA Juniors
Lenten Retreats led by Diocesan Youth Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Morris.
Participants gathered at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in
Contoocook, N.H., hailing from Holy Translators, Framingham, Mass.; Holy
Trinity Church, Cambridge, Mass.; St. James Church, Watertown, Mass.; and
Sts Sahag and Mesrob Church, Providence, R.I.
On Saturday, Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, director of youth and vocation
at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, led the group in a thought-provoking
discussion about the Holy Spirit. Teens also had plenty of time to enjoy
nature and God's beauty, as well as play in more than a foot of snow that
fell throughout the weekend. It was a great way for the youth to grow
stronger in their faith, strengthen old friendships and make new ones.
Retreat participants gather for a group photo during this year's New England
ACYOA Juniors Retreat.
Retreat participants enjoy outdoor fun in the snow.
For more information about ACYOA Juniors retreats held in your region,
please e-mail Morris at [email protected].
__________________ ___________
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). This special ceremony occurs only once every seven years, and dates
back to the days of St. Gregory the Enlightener.
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.
Itinerary highlights also include a special audience with His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a private
tour of Holy Etchmiadzin; visits to Khorvirab, Vanadzor, Sevan, and Gumri;
and other excursions.
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.
There is some flexibility in travel dates: pilgrims can opt to depart from
New York on Friday, Sept. 19 or Saturday, Sept. 20, and return to New York
on Friday, Oct. 3 or Saturday, Oct. 4. The cost per person, which includes
airfare and hotel accommodations, is $2,950.
For more information, please contact your local parish or Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at (212) 686-0710 ext. 213 or email [email protected].
Please note that the number of spaces is limited. Those interested in the
pilgrimage should make reservations without delay.
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HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II MEETS WITH HIS EMINENCE TARCISIO CARDINAL BERTONE
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and His Eminence Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy
See, came together in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin with a holy
greeting of peace and offered their fervent prayers to Almighty God in
heaven.
Cardinal Bertone conveyed the warmest greetings of unity in Jesus Christ and
the fraternal love of His Holiness Benedict XVI, the Pope of Rome, to His
Holiness Karekin II. Cardinal Bertone also presented a handwritten letter
to the Catholicos from the Pope with his invitation to visit the See of St.
Peter.
To read more, visit www.armenianchurch.org <http://www.armenianchurch.org/>
.
________ _____________________
WORLD-FAMOUS GENOCIDE HISTORIAN DIES AT 64
Stephen Feinstein, a genocide historian and an advocate of Armenian Genocide
recognition, died on Tuesday, March 4 in Minnesota. He was 64.
Feinstein was adjunct professor of history and the director of the Center
for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota. He helped
create the Armenian-Turkish Research Project, which focuses on the history
of the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Genocide.
To learn more, click here
<http://www.chgs.umn.edu/histories/turkish Armenian> .
_____________________________
PARISH NEWS
Junior Choir and Nazeli Dance Group Perform at St. David Church in Florida
Parishioners at St. David Church in Boca Raton, Fla. were treated to an
evening of song and dance on Jan. 19. Some 300 gathered to enjoy a
performance by the Junior Choir and Nazeli Dance Group of Sts. Sahag and
Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I.
The Junior Choir of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I.
At the invitation of the Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor at St. David
Church, and the St. David Parish Council, the group traveled to Florida with
Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, pastor at Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church, and
Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, the group's cultural and music director.
The Nazeli Dance Group of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I.
The Junior Choir sang several traditional and popular Armenian songs,
including Karoon Yerevan, Shogher Jan by Gomidas Vartabed, Hye Aghchik,
Grounkner and Vartanantz Asbedner by Konstantin Petrossian. Dancers of the
Nazeli Dance Group, under the directorship of Gayanne Avagyan, impressed the
audience with graceful choreography and a spectacular performance. Carol
Norigian spearheaded the exceptionally successful fund-raising efforts and
organization of the concert tour with the help of several volunteers.
For more information on the Junior Choir and Nazeli Dance Group, visit
www.stsahmes.org <http://www.stsahmes.org/> .
SAVE THE DATE: Diocesan Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the
Consecration of St. Vartan Cathedral to Begin in May
This year, the Diocese will host a series of events in celebration of the
40th anniversary of the consecration of St. Vartan Cathedral. The program
kicks off on Sunday, May 18 with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy and a
ceremony honoring the Godfathers of the Cathedral and original committee
members of the Cathedral-building project. A luncheon will follow in the
Kavookjian Auditorium.
Other events planned in the coming months include a Celebration of the Arts
at the Cathedral and the arrival of the Holy Muron (Oil) from Holy
Etchmiadzin. Individual parishes also will have the opportunity to visit the
Cathedral and tour the Diocesan Complex. More details will be forthcoming.
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 Diocesan staff at
212-686-0710 ext. 160 or e-mail [email protected].
Prayer for the Week
True light, O Christ, do Thou make my soul worthy joyfully to see the light
of Thy glory on the day of my calling, and to rest with the hope of good
things in the abode of the righteous until the day of Thy glorious coming.
Have mercy upon Thy creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
More prayers
<http://www.stvartanbookstore.com/index .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <http://www.armenianchurch.net/prayer>
Scripture for the Week
Lk 21:5-38
Is 66:1-24
Col 2:8-3:17
Mt 22:34-23:39
<http://www.armenianchurch.net/readings/index.p hp> More Bible Readings
<http://www.armenianchurch.net/reading s/index.php>
Saints & Feasts
3/8 St. Gregory the Enlightener (commitment to the pit)
3/9 Sunday of the Advent
3/15 Remembrance of the Raising of Lazarus