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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 5/29/2008

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 5/29/2008

    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
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: http://www.armenianprelacy.org
    Contact: Iris Papazian

    MAY 29, 2008

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN DEPARTS FOR LEBANON
    Archbishop Oshagan is leaving tonight on his journey to Lebanon where he
    will participate in the meeting of the Brotherhood of the Holy See of
    Cilicia, June 5-6, and in the Blessing of the Holy Muron on Saturday, June
    7.

    CATHOLICOS ARAM I CONGRATULATES
    NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF LEBANON
    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, expressed
    his warm words of congratulations to the newly elected president of Lebanon,
    General Michel Suleiman, during a telephone conversation with the President
    on May 27. The Pontiff noted that taking on this responsibility at this
    critical time is a great challenge. He expressed the hope that the new
    President would succeed in opening a new page of understanding between the
    Lebanese communities, as well as development and progress throughout the
    country. His Holiness offered his full support and endorsement.

    TEACHERS CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS THIS SUMMER
    A conference of teachers of Armenian language, history and religion will
    convene at the Catholicosate of Cilicia Antelias from July 17 to 19. The
    Armenian school, with its mission of formation-both of people and
    Armenians-is one of the important fields of the Catholicosate's mission.
    With this in mind, His Holiness Aram I continues organizing initiatives in
    cooperation with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's Armenian Department,
    that bring to the forefront issues related to Armenian education.
    It is in this context that the conference of Armenian history, language
    and religion teachers will be convened as a follow-up to the pan-Diaspora
    conference that took place four years ago. The conference will discuss
    language, methodology, teachers, textbooks, curriculum, and other related
    areas of concern. Educators throughout the Diaspora are expected to
    participate.

    TRUSTEES OF PASHALIAN FUND MEET;
    2008 GRANTS ANNOUNCED
    The trustees of the Pashalian Family Scholarship Fund met last month at
    the Prelacy offices in New York to discuss the annual grants. Since its
    founding in 1991, the Fund has allocated more than $75,000 to educational
    institutions in accordance with the parameters of the Fund.
    The 2008 grants are as follows: St. Illuminator's Armenian Day School
    (Woodside, NY), $2,500; St. Sarkis Suzanne and Hovsep Hagopian School
    (Douglaston, NY), $1,000; St. Gregory of Datev Institute, $1,000; Siamanto
    Academy, $1,000; Armenian Sisters Academy (Radnor, PA), $500; Hovnanian
    School (New Milford, NJ), $500; St. Stephen's Elementary School (Watertown,
    MA), $500.
    Pashalian Fund trustees are: Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, President;
    Gloria Tarsy, George Dermksian, MD, and Michael Derian. For more information
    click here.

    MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
    Major renovation of St. Illuminator's Cathedral in New York City has
    begun. Until the renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy will be offered
    every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Street,
    Woodside, New York.

    SUMMER CAMP AT ST. SARKIS
    St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, will once again have a summer
    camp for children from age 5 to 12. The camp will take place at the church
    facilities from Monday, July 7 to Friday, July 18, from 10 am to 3 pm.
    Registration must be completed by June 8. The program includes arts and
    crafts, music, dance, prayer, Armenian language and history, introduction to
    the Bible, sports, games..and more. See calendar of events below for more
    details.

    YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
    designated the year 2008 as the "Year of Christian Education."
    To read His Holiness' message in Armenian click here.
    To read His Holiness' message in English click here.

    "STILL ROOM AT THE INN," FOR 2008 DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
    "There's still room at the inn," says Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of
    the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), about the 22nd annual St.
    Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for youth ages 13-18. So, if you
    have not yet registered for this popular program, do it right now. Sponsored
    by AREC, the program will take place at St. Mary of Providence Center in
    Elverson, Pennsylvania, June 29 to July 6, 2008. By popular demand, this
    year the Institute will extend the Summer Program by a weekend retreat
    (optional) June 27-29. For details click here.

    PAN-DIASPORA YOUTH CONFERENCE
    A pan-Diaspora youth conference will take place in Antelias, Lebanon, on
    August 14-16. Under the theme, "The Armenian youth face the challenges of
    the 21st century," the conference will feature lectures, and round table and
    group discussions. More than 100 youth from the various dioceses within the
    Catholicosate of Cilicia will participate.

    DAILY BIBLE READINGS
    Bible readings for today, Thursday, May 29, are: Proverbs 6:1-5; Isaiah
    33:5-8; Romans 8:18-27; Luke 21:12-19.
    The Lord is exalted, he dwells on high; he filled Zion with justice and
    righteousness; he will be the stability of your times, abundance of
    salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.
    Listen! The valiant cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
    The highways are deserted, travelers have quit the road. The treaty is
    broken, its oaths are despised, its obligation is disregarded. Isaiah
    33:5-8
    For listing of the week's Bible readings click here.

    ST. NERSES THE GREAT
    This Saturday, May 31, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Nerses the
    Great, who is remembered for his many benevolent accomplishments. Perhaps
    one of his greatest was the Council of Ashdishad (364) where canons were
    drawn up concerning the sanctity of family life, improvement of social
    conditions, establishment of various social institutions such as hospitals
    and inns for pilgrims, and the establishment of monasteries and convents.
    St. Nerses truly fulfilled the words of our Lord as recorded in the
    Gospel of Matthew: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you
    gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was
    naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in
    prison and you visited me."
    In the 1990s, the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian did not hesitate a
    moment in his decision to name the Prelacy's charitable agency in Armenia
    "Saint Nerses the Great Charitable Organization," in honor of the saint
    whose deeds to improve the condition of the common people earned him the
    honorific, "Great," by a grateful nation.

    CONSTANTINE AND HIS MOTHER HELENA
    Next Tuesday, June 3, the Armenian Church remembers Constantine the
    Great and his mother, Helena. Constantine was the first Christian emperor of
    Rome. In 330 he founded Constantinople as a second Rome and considered
    himself to be a servant of God. He was buried amid the apostles in the
    basilica he founded in their honor in Constantinople. Helena followed her
    son, becoming a Christian and devoting her life to charitable work. She
    built many churches and monasteries and is believed to have been
    instrumental in the recovery of the true cross.

    READING OF NEW PLAY SET FOR JUNE 16
    Award winning writer, actor and producer Nora Armani and Pemart are
    hosting a reading of Richard Kalinoski's new play, A Crooked Man, on June
    16, 7 pm at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, New York City. In his
    new dramatic play, Richard Kalinoski, who wrote the acclaimed Beast on the
    Moon, brings to the stage the fictional story of Armenian Genocide survivor,
    Hagop Hagopian. Hagopian, a revered elder of the Armenian community, had in
    the past tracked down and executed the Turkish leader, Mehmet Pasha, the man
    he believed was responsible for master-minding the Armenian Genocide of
    1915. Much like the real life figure, Soghomon Telirian, Hagopian is
    acquitted. Now in his late 80s, Hagopian must confront the past through the
    eyes of his grandson. What follows is a clash of cultures and generations.
    The reading on June 16 will be preceded by a wine reception and will be
    followed by a "Dollars and Sense" panel with invited prominent Broadway and
    Off-Broadway producers to discuss the best course for the play towards a
    full production in New York and other regions.

    FROM THE BOOKSTORE THIS WEEK..

    SOJOURN AT ARARAT, Armenian poetry performance in English, created and
    performed by Nora Armani and Gerald Papasian. Hailed by critics, this
    performance is described as "a spirited and spiritual journey." The history
    of the Armenian people is revealed through its sublime poetry in this simple
    love story. 59-minute CD, $20.00, plus shipping and handling.

    ON THE COUCH WITH NORA ARMANI, written and performed by Nora Armani. With
    humor and nostalgia, Nora takes us back to the Bosporus and Istanbul, to
    pre-1915 Anatolian summers, Alexandria and its ports, Nasser's
    post-revolution Egypt, Hollywood and its follies.a true diaspora story! 68
    minute DVD, $20, plus shipping and handling.

    FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
    PRELACY'S WEB SITE (WWW.ARMENIANPRELACY.ORG) OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY
    EMAIL ([email protected]) OR BY TELEPHONE (212-689-7810).



    WHERE GOD DESCENDED
    The May issue of One magazine, published by the Catholic Near East
    Welfare Association, has a nice article about Etchmiadzin, described as the
    "world's oldest cathedral." Titled, "Where God Descended," the article,
    written by Paul Rimple, describes the "daunting challenges as the church
    struggles to redefine itself in this resource poor and geopolitically
    fragile country." To read the article go to www.cnewa.org and then click on
    "One Magazine."

    TIMELY ARRIVAL OF CROSSROADS
    During the past month we have heard from a number of our readers that
    they have not been receiving Crossroads regularly. We are checking for any
    possible problems at our end. We again ask all of our readers to enter
    [email protected] in your address books so that your computer will
    recognize Crossroads as friendly and safe. Please continue to inform us of
    any problems.



    CALENDAR OF EVENTS

    June 3-5-World General Assembly of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
    Cilicia, which was scheduled to convene in Antelias, Lebanon has been
    postponed and will take place in the autumn.

    June 7-Blessing of Holy Muron in Antelias, Lebanon. Click here for details.

    June 11-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Young Adults Bible Study
    Group's 2nd Annual Open House. 7:30 pm. Join the fellowship and camaraderie
    and bring your friends. Refreshments, food and music. For information
    718-224-2275.

    June 24-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, 5th annual Golf Outing,
    Juniper Hill Golf Course, Northboro, Massachusetts. For information
    508-852-2414.

    June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
    Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
    Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
    more information click here.

    July 7 to July 18-Summer Camp at St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New
    York. For children age 5 to 12. 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday, lunch and
    snack included. Minimum donation is $150. Summer camp is sponsored by Mr. &
    Mrs. Antranig and Marion Boudakian. Registration deadline is June 8. For
    information contact the church office, 718-224-2275.

    June 22-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Anniversary
    Celebration, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Special program
    and exhibit dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy's affiliation
    with the Holy See of Cilicia. For reservations contact the church office,
    718-224-2275.

    June 22-St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City, Divine Liturgy, Luncheon
    and Program dedicated to Father's Day. Organized by the Cathedral's Ladies
    Guild. Mardo Anastasian will be honored as Father of the Year. Information
    and reservations: 212-689-5880.

    July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies' Guild of Sts.
    Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
    401-434-4467.

    August 3-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Blessing of the
    Grapes picnic. Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, noon to 6 pm, rain or
    shine.

    August 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. Annual
    picnic on church grounds. Free admission; free parking.

    August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual church
    picnic and blessing of the grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion D, Paramus,
    NJ. For information 201-943-2950.

    September 14-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Celebration of
    the Holy Cross and Madagh. For information 201-943-2950.

    September 21-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, annual
    church banquet. Details to follow.

    September 25-Sixth annual golf outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
    Ridgefield, New Jersey, at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
    For information contact Richard Krikorian 201-784-2236 or church office
    201-943-2950.

    September 26-28-National Youth Conference at Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
    Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

    September 29-30-Clergy conference at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
    Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

    October 21, November 1 and 2-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
    Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.

    October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
    Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
    House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
    Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
    Details to follow.

    November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
    Fall Food Festival.



    Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy's web site.

    To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
    [email protected] to your address book.

    Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
    Crossroads as the source.

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