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October 1, 2009
IN MEMORIAM: KEVORK HOVNANIAN
Archbishop Oshagan expressed his deepest condolences to the family of
Kevork Hovnanian, humanitarian,
philanthropist, and business leader, who died on September 24 at New
York Presbyterian Hospital. He was 86.
The Prelate described Mr. Hovnanian as a true gentle man who quietly
supported causes close to his heart
with no expectations of recognition and honors.
"The Armenian Church and nation have lost a true patriot, and the
world has lost a compassionate and
generous benefactor. His name can never be erased from our collective
memory. His image will always remain alive and radiant," the Prelate
said.
Private funeral services took place on Monday, September 28, at
St. Stepanos Church in Elberon, New Jersey,
which Mr. Hovnanian built in honor of his mother. A public memorial
service will take place this Saturday, October 3, at 2 pm at
St. Vartan
Cathedral, New York City.
The Prelate and Religious and Executive Councils extend their
heartfelt sympathy to the entire Hovnanian family, including his
brothers
and sisters, and especially to his wife, Sirvart, their children
Sossi,
Esto, Ara, Lucy, and Nadia and their grandchildren.
May he rest in eternal peace with our Lord whom he served with so much
love and dedication.
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO DEARBORN ON SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Dearborn, Michigan, this Sunday,
October 4. His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver
the sermon
at St. Sarkis Church and will preside over the parish's anniversary
banquet following church services.
PRELATE MEETS WITH ARMENIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
On Monday evening, Archbishop Oshagan met with Armenia's Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbantyan at the Prelacy. Also present were Armenia's
ambassador
to the United States, Tatul Markarian, and the representative to the
United Nations, Karen Nazarian. The dinner meeting focused on the
recent
situation regarding Turkey and Armenia.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND COMMUNITY MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
On Saturday, October 3, Archbishop Oshagan will join other community
leaders in meeting with Armenia's president, Serzh Sargsyan, who is in
the
United States to meet with leaders to discuss the Armenia-Turkey
protocols.
PRELATE WILL DELIVER INVOCATION AT ACAA EVENT
Archbishop Oshagan will deliver the invocation at the third annual
banquet hosted by the Armenian Cultural Association of America
(Eastern Region),
this Saturday, October 3, at Espace, 635 West 42nd Street, New York
City. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) will be presented with the
2009
Freedom Award. The 2009 Vahan Cardashian award will go to Mrs. Melanie
Kerneklian and Mr. Bedros Bandazian. Mark Geragos, Esq., is a special
guest.
The MC is David Krikorian, Congressional candidate from Ohio.
VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO OHIO
Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Ohio where this Sunday he will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy Cross
Armenian Church,
North Royalton, Ohio.
VICAR WILL ATTEND WCC MEETINGS IN GREECE
Bishop Anoushavan, the Ecumenical Officer of North America, will leave
for Athens, Greece, this Monday where from October 6 to 14 he will be
attending the World Council of Church's Faith & Order Plenary
Commission, "Called to be the One Church," at the Orthodox Academy of
Crete. As the
representative of the Oriental Orthodox Church he will chair the 9th
session on "Tradition and Traditions."
"LINKED IN" YOUTH WORKSHOP
The Prelacy's second annual Linked In workshop weekend took place last
weekend from Friday to Sunday, at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard,
Charlton, Massachusetts. Forty-one young professionals and college
students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and
Rhode
Island attended. The weekend was filled with education, spiritual
enrichment, and bonding with peers.
In recognition of the declaration by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Holy See of Cilicia, designating 2009 as the "Year of the
Youth," the
workshops focused on the role of the youth in the leadership of the
Armenian Church and spirituality and mission in the lives of the
Armenian
youth.
Presentations were made by Professor Michael Papazian, Associate
Professor of Philosophy at Berry College, Rome, Georgia, regarding the
leadership structure in the Armenian Church and participation by the
youth in that structure; Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian provided an
understanding
of the Armenian Church's place within the larger Christian community
with a presentation regarding the similarities and differences between
the
Armenian Church and the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. To
help the youth understand how they may use their faith to stand as
pillars of
both the Armenian Church and of their own Armenian families,
Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian spoke about the difficulties faced by
the younger
generations living in today's society and ways to implement Christian
values in our home lives to counteract those difficulties. Yeretzgin
Margaret Stepanian, focused on both the philanthropic missionary work
the youth may participate in and the
A photo of the participants and lecturers.
A small discussion group.
Bishop Anoushavan and Hagop Khatchadourian, chairman of the Prelacy
Executive Council, with
participants from Rhode Island.
inner mission to strengthen our Christian faith in our daily lives.
Besides the enlightening lectures, the participants engaged in small
group discussion, a Bible study session
conducted by Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, a spiritual fellowship hour
with sharagans and contemporary Christian songs led by Denise
Borekjian, and
meditations by Ani Nalbandian, Tamar Harutunian, and Jeanette
Nazarian.
Before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday which was celebrated by Rev. Fr.
Stephan Baljian, Bishop Anoushavan
presented a slide presentation on "Bible, Theology and Art in the
Divine Liturgy."
CLERGY MEDITATIONAL RETREAT
For the second year the clergy of the Prelacy came together for a
retreat The retreat began last Sunday evening and continued through
Wednesday,
following the Linked In weekend for young adults at the same location,
Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. The
general
discussion focused on Holy Week. The days were filled with fellowship
as well as prayer services, meditations, and Bible readings.
Clergy at Retreat in a group photo and during
discussion.
MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Last Saturday, St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan hosted the
Mid-West Regional Conference. Archbishop Oshagan attended and presided
over
the conference which was successful and well-received. Parishes
participating were: St. Sarkis (Dearborn, MI), All Saints (Glenview,
IL), St.
Gregory the Illuminator (Granite City, IL), St. Paul (Waukegan, IL),
and St. Hagop (Racine, WI).
Presentations were made on the following topics: Spiritual Awakening
by V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian; Administrative Duties by John
Daghlian;
Sunday School/AREC by Deacon Shant Kazanjian; Armenian One Day School
by Dr. Mary Olson; Role of the Prelacy by Raffi Ourlian, and Board of
Trustees Guidelines by Stephen Hagopian.
"The purpose of the regional conferences is to strengthen parish and
prelacy communication and enhance parish development. This was the
second Mid-West
conference within the past year. The discussions resulted in many good
ideas and good suggestions were presented that the Executive Council
will review and decide on implementation," said Raffi Ourlian,
treasurer
of the Prelacy's Executive Council.
MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER
The Mid-Atlantic regional conference will be hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 10.
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN ARAM I AND PRESIDENT SARGSYAN
His Holiness Aram I and H.E. Serge Sargsyan, the President of the
Republic of Armenia, held a telephone conversation on September
26. The President
will be visiting Lebanon in the coming weeks and will have a private
meeting with His Holiness.
Earlier in the week, His Holiness sent a letter to the President
expressing his concerns about the Turkey-Armenia protocols and urging
the
President to engage the entire Armenian nation in this critical
pan-national issue.
BIRDS NEST ORPHANAGE
The historic orphanage established by Danish missionaries during the
Genocide and later given to the Armenian Church continues to serve the
changing
needs of the community in the Diaspora. Sam Boyadjian was recently
appointed as the new director of the institution.
The Birds Nest is one of two Diasporan Armenian institutions (the
other is in Aleppo, Syria) that provides shelter for children who are
orphaned,
abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. It is an
unending project because it constantly reinvents itself to best serve
the needs of
the children. The board members supervise and monitor the upkeep of
the buildings, the quality of living conditions, and the level of
education
given to the children. The Women's Guild provides assistance as
volunteers.
GUROIAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT ST. VLADIMIR'S SEMINARY SATURDAY
Vigen Guroian, professor of Religious Studies in Orthodox Christianity
at the University of Virginia is the keynote speaker at St. Vladimir's
Seminary this Saturday, October 3. Dr. Guroian is participating in the
Seminary's Orthodox Education Day 2009 which is devoted to "God's
green
earth: Ecology and Theology." Dr. Guroian will speak at 1 pm on the
topic "Ecological blessings from the Garden." He has written two books
on this
subject, Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening and The
Fragrance of God, both of which are available at the Prelacy's
bookstore.
St. Vladimir's is located at 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, New York
10707-1659.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, October 1, are: Wisdom 6:11-21;
Jeremiah 17:7-8; Romans 8:18-26; John 16:1-4.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They
shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by
the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall
stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not
cease to
bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
For listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelac y/PDF/dbr2009-10.pdf).
PRINCES SAHAK AND HAMAZASP
Today, Thursday, October 1, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives
of two princes: Sahak and Hamazasp. The two holy princes lived during
the
reign of Emperor Leo and Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople and
during the pontificate of Catholicos Nerses. It was a time of intense
Arab
domination. The governorship had been given to Hamazasp, who was from
the Ardzrouni dynasty. He had two brothers, Sahak and Merouzhan. All
three
were considered brave men and dedicated Christians, but there were
evil forces against them. The Arab leader, Harun, summoned them,
ostensibly in
friendship. Instead, when they came before him, the princes were given
a choice of forsaking their faith in Christ or being tortured to
death.
Merouzhan renounced Christ and was given authority to rule over the
province of Vasbouragan. Sahak and Hamazasp remained steadfast. Both
were
martyred.
72 HOLY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
This Saturday, October 3, the Armenian Church commemorates the 72 Holy
Disciples of Christ. The reference comes from the Gospel of Luke,
Chapter
10, Verse 1: "After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent
them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself
intended
to go." (Some versions of the Gospel say 72, rather than 70).
The tradition of the church confirms that these disciples remained
true to the Lord and their calling, and spread the Gospel. They were
not random
choices, but rather true disciples whose labors carried the message of
the Lord throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. All of the saints are
remembered individually in the liturgical calendar of the church, but
this day is set aside to remember them collectively. The number 70 is
also
considered to be a reference to Genesis, which he speaks of 70 nations
of the world.
GORKY RETROSPECTIVE AT PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM
The Philadelphia Museum of Art will present a major traveling
retrospective celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Arshile
Gorky
(1904-1948). The first comprehensive survey of the work of this artist
in nearly three decades, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective will
premier
at the Museum on October 21 and continue there until January 10,
2010. The exhibition will then travel to the Tate Modern, London
(Spring 2010) and
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (Summer 2010).
OCTOBER IS CULTURAL MONTH
October is a special month for Armenians. In the beginning of the
month (October 10) we celebrate the memory of the Translators of the
Holy
Bible.
In a message delivered October 10, 1982, by His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, he noted:
"Translators, in the precise and historical sense of the word, refer
to St. Sahag and St. Mesrob and their immediate disciples of the 5th
century
who translated the Holy Scriptures from Greek into Armenian.... But,
the word translators has acquired a wider sense in our Armenian
understanding; it refers to all such Church Fathers who in the course
of the past centuries made a marked contribution to the growth of
Armenian
culture taken in its entirety. It has become now a symbolic name which
is applied in this broadest sense to all those who translate God's
Word to
God's people particularly through their literary activities and
cultural services.
"This is why October has been proclaimed as The Month of Culture
(Meshagouytee Amees). This means that we are called to focus our
thinking on the value of culture in human life within our Armenian
communities around the world."
PRELACY MARKS CULTURAL MONTH WITH
INAUGURATION OF ONLINE COURSE IN ARMENIAN
Next week we will inaugurate an On-Line Course in Modern Western
Armenian which will be available to everyone. The on-line course was
developed by
Dr. Tom Samuelian with partial financial support from the Eastern
Prelacy. It will be accessible through our web page and can be used as
is or
combined with Dr. Samuelian's pioneering textbook, A Course in Modern
Western Armenian, published by the Prelacy's Armenian National
Education Committee, which was out of print but is now again available
at the Prelacy's Bookstore. We will give you full information in next
week's
Crossroads.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 1--Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th annual
Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175
includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great
day and
support the church. For information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.
October 10--Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey.
October 11--84th anniversary banquet of St. Stephen's Church, New
Britain/Hartford, Connecticut at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf
Street, Newington, Connecticut, at 12:30 pm. For information contact
the
church office at 860-229-8322.
October 15-18--Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 16-17--Annual Fall Fair Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 8 pm.
October 17--National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will
follow.
October 18--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6--"On the Road," by Levon Shant, presented The Theater Group
of Hamazkayin, New York, directed by Dr. Herand Markarian. Sponsored
by the Armenian Relief Society Mayr Chapter, this performance is a
benefit for
St. Illuminator's Armenian Day School. Performance begins at 8:35 pm
at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Ave., Woodside, New York. For
tickets
($25)
contact Sonia at 718-961-9550 or Alice at 516-676-6167.
November 6-7--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 6-7--St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 53rd
annual bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Avenue,
Watertown. Delicious lamb, losh and chicken kebab, kheyma, kufta and
yalanchi. Meals
served from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm. Armenian pastries, gourmet foods,
arts & crafts, auction, raffles, and more.
November 7--Christmas Holiday Craft Fair, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 4 pm.
November 7 & 8--Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
largest Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday from 12 noon to 10
pm. Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtucket, 60 Rhodes Place
(off
Broad
Street), Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and kufta dinners, pastry,
raffles and more. Performance by the Armenian school dance group. Live
Armenian
music * dancing. For information, 401-831-6399.
November 14--Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20-21--Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts,
Fall Fest 2009, Friday, November 20, 5 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, November
21, 10 am to 5 pm. Armenian delicacies and dinners. For information
508-852-2414.
November 20, 21, 22--Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 5--Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar. Come one, come all.
December 20--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year's Eve celebration.
December 31--Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year's Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
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] (mailto:[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] (mailto:[email protected])
IN MEMORIAM: KEVORK HOVNANIAN
Archbishop Oshagan expressed his deepest condolences to the family of
Kevork Hovnanian, humanitarian,
philanthropist, and business leader, who died on September 24 at New
York Presbyterian Hospital. He was 86.
The Prelate described Mr. Hovnanian as a true gentle man who quietly
supported causes close to his heart
with no expectations of recognition and honors.
"The Armenian Church and nation have lost a true patriot, and the
world has lost a compassionate and
generous benefactor. His name can never be erased from our collective
memory. His image will always remain alive and radiant," the Prelate
said.
Private funeral services took place on Monday, September 28, at
St. Stepanos Church in Elberon, New Jersey,
which Mr. Hovnanian built in honor of his mother. A public memorial
service will take place this Saturday, October 3, at 2 pm at
St. Vartan
Cathedral, New York City.
The Prelate and Religious and Executive Councils extend their
heartfelt sympathy to the entire Hovnanian family, including his
brothers
and sisters, and especially to his wife, Sirvart, their children
Sossi,
Esto, Ara, Lucy, and Nadia and their grandchildren.
May he rest in eternal peace with our Lord whom he served with so much
love and dedication.
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO DEARBORN ON SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Dearborn, Michigan, this Sunday,
October 4. His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver
the sermon
at St. Sarkis Church and will preside over the parish's anniversary
banquet following church services.
PRELATE MEETS WITH ARMENIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
On Monday evening, Archbishop Oshagan met with Armenia's Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbantyan at the Prelacy. Also present were Armenia's
ambassador
to the United States, Tatul Markarian, and the representative to the
United Nations, Karen Nazarian. The dinner meeting focused on the
recent
situation regarding Turkey and Armenia.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND COMMUNITY MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
On Saturday, October 3, Archbishop Oshagan will join other community
leaders in meeting with Armenia's president, Serzh Sargsyan, who is in
the
United States to meet with leaders to discuss the Armenia-Turkey
protocols.
PRELATE WILL DELIVER INVOCATION AT ACAA EVENT
Archbishop Oshagan will deliver the invocation at the third annual
banquet hosted by the Armenian Cultural Association of America
(Eastern Region),
this Saturday, October 3, at Espace, 635 West 42nd Street, New York
City. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) will be presented with the
2009
Freedom Award. The 2009 Vahan Cardashian award will go to Mrs. Melanie
Kerneklian and Mr. Bedros Bandazian. Mark Geragos, Esq., is a special
guest.
The MC is David Krikorian, Congressional candidate from Ohio.
VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO OHIO
Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Ohio where this Sunday he will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Holy Cross
Armenian Church,
North Royalton, Ohio.
VICAR WILL ATTEND WCC MEETINGS IN GREECE
Bishop Anoushavan, the Ecumenical Officer of North America, will leave
for Athens, Greece, this Monday where from October 6 to 14 he will be
attending the World Council of Church's Faith & Order Plenary
Commission, "Called to be the One Church," at the Orthodox Academy of
Crete. As the
representative of the Oriental Orthodox Church he will chair the 9th
session on "Tradition and Traditions."
"LINKED IN" YOUTH WORKSHOP
The Prelacy's second annual Linked In workshop weekend took place last
weekend from Friday to Sunday, at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard,
Charlton, Massachusetts. Forty-one young professionals and college
students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and
Rhode
Island attended. The weekend was filled with education, spiritual
enrichment, and bonding with peers.
In recognition of the declaration by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Holy See of Cilicia, designating 2009 as the "Year of the
Youth," the
workshops focused on the role of the youth in the leadership of the
Armenian Church and spirituality and mission in the lives of the
Armenian
youth.
Presentations were made by Professor Michael Papazian, Associate
Professor of Philosophy at Berry College, Rome, Georgia, regarding the
leadership structure in the Armenian Church and participation by the
youth in that structure; Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian provided an
understanding
of the Armenian Church's place within the larger Christian community
with a presentation regarding the similarities and differences between
the
Armenian Church and the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. To
help the youth understand how they may use their faith to stand as
pillars of
both the Armenian Church and of their own Armenian families,
Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian spoke about the difficulties faced by
the younger
generations living in today's society and ways to implement Christian
values in our home lives to counteract those difficulties. Yeretzgin
Margaret Stepanian, focused on both the philanthropic missionary work
the youth may participate in and the
A photo of the participants and lecturers.
A small discussion group.
Bishop Anoushavan and Hagop Khatchadourian, chairman of the Prelacy
Executive Council, with
participants from Rhode Island.
inner mission to strengthen our Christian faith in our daily lives.
Besides the enlightening lectures, the participants engaged in small
group discussion, a Bible study session
conducted by Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, a spiritual fellowship hour
with sharagans and contemporary Christian songs led by Denise
Borekjian, and
meditations by Ani Nalbandian, Tamar Harutunian, and Jeanette
Nazarian.
Before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday which was celebrated by Rev. Fr.
Stephan Baljian, Bishop Anoushavan
presented a slide presentation on "Bible, Theology and Art in the
Divine Liturgy."
CLERGY MEDITATIONAL RETREAT
For the second year the clergy of the Prelacy came together for a
retreat The retreat began last Sunday evening and continued through
Wednesday,
following the Linked In weekend for young adults at the same location,
Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. The
general
discussion focused on Holy Week. The days were filled with fellowship
as well as prayer services, meditations, and Bible readings.
Clergy at Retreat in a group photo and during
discussion.
MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Last Saturday, St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan hosted the
Mid-West Regional Conference. Archbishop Oshagan attended and presided
over
the conference which was successful and well-received. Parishes
participating were: St. Sarkis (Dearborn, MI), All Saints (Glenview,
IL), St.
Gregory the Illuminator (Granite City, IL), St. Paul (Waukegan, IL),
and St. Hagop (Racine, WI).
Presentations were made on the following topics: Spiritual Awakening
by V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian; Administrative Duties by John
Daghlian;
Sunday School/AREC by Deacon Shant Kazanjian; Armenian One Day School
by Dr. Mary Olson; Role of the Prelacy by Raffi Ourlian, and Board of
Trustees Guidelines by Stephen Hagopian.
"The purpose of the regional conferences is to strengthen parish and
prelacy communication and enhance parish development. This was the
second Mid-West
conference within the past year. The discussions resulted in many good
ideas and good suggestions were presented that the Executive Council
will review and decide on implementation," said Raffi Ourlian,
treasurer
of the Prelacy's Executive Council.
MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER
The Mid-Atlantic regional conference will be hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 10.
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN ARAM I AND PRESIDENT SARGSYAN
His Holiness Aram I and H.E. Serge Sargsyan, the President of the
Republic of Armenia, held a telephone conversation on September
26. The President
will be visiting Lebanon in the coming weeks and will have a private
meeting with His Holiness.
Earlier in the week, His Holiness sent a letter to the President
expressing his concerns about the Turkey-Armenia protocols and urging
the
President to engage the entire Armenian nation in this critical
pan-national issue.
BIRDS NEST ORPHANAGE
The historic orphanage established by Danish missionaries during the
Genocide and later given to the Armenian Church continues to serve the
changing
needs of the community in the Diaspora. Sam Boyadjian was recently
appointed as the new director of the institution.
The Birds Nest is one of two Diasporan Armenian institutions (the
other is in Aleppo, Syria) that provides shelter for children who are
orphaned,
abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. It is an
unending project because it constantly reinvents itself to best serve
the needs of
the children. The board members supervise and monitor the upkeep of
the buildings, the quality of living conditions, and the level of
education
given to the children. The Women's Guild provides assistance as
volunteers.
GUROIAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT ST. VLADIMIR'S SEMINARY SATURDAY
Vigen Guroian, professor of Religious Studies in Orthodox Christianity
at the University of Virginia is the keynote speaker at St. Vladimir's
Seminary this Saturday, October 3. Dr. Guroian is participating in the
Seminary's Orthodox Education Day 2009 which is devoted to "God's
green
earth: Ecology and Theology." Dr. Guroian will speak at 1 pm on the
topic "Ecological blessings from the Garden." He has written two books
on this
subject, Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening and The
Fragrance of God, both of which are available at the Prelacy's
bookstore.
St. Vladimir's is located at 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, New York
10707-1659.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, October 1, are: Wisdom 6:11-21;
Jeremiah 17:7-8; Romans 8:18-26; John 16:1-4.
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They
shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by
the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall
stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not
cease to
bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)
For listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelac y/PDF/dbr2009-10.pdf).
PRINCES SAHAK AND HAMAZASP
Today, Thursday, October 1, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives
of two princes: Sahak and Hamazasp. The two holy princes lived during
the
reign of Emperor Leo and Archbishop Flavian of Constantinople and
during the pontificate of Catholicos Nerses. It was a time of intense
Arab
domination. The governorship had been given to Hamazasp, who was from
the Ardzrouni dynasty. He had two brothers, Sahak and Merouzhan. All
three
were considered brave men and dedicated Christians, but there were
evil forces against them. The Arab leader, Harun, summoned them,
ostensibly in
friendship. Instead, when they came before him, the princes were given
a choice of forsaking their faith in Christ or being tortured to
death.
Merouzhan renounced Christ and was given authority to rule over the
province of Vasbouragan. Sahak and Hamazasp remained steadfast. Both
were
martyred.
72 HOLY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
This Saturday, October 3, the Armenian Church commemorates the 72 Holy
Disciples of Christ. The reference comes from the Gospel of Luke,
Chapter
10, Verse 1: "After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent
them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself
intended
to go." (Some versions of the Gospel say 72, rather than 70).
The tradition of the church confirms that these disciples remained
true to the Lord and their calling, and spread the Gospel. They were
not random
choices, but rather true disciples whose labors carried the message of
the Lord throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. All of the saints are
remembered individually in the liturgical calendar of the church, but
this day is set aside to remember them collectively. The number 70 is
also
considered to be a reference to Genesis, which he speaks of 70 nations
of the world.
GORKY RETROSPECTIVE AT PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM
The Philadelphia Museum of Art will present a major traveling
retrospective celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Arshile
Gorky
(1904-1948). The first comprehensive survey of the work of this artist
in nearly three decades, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective will
premier
at the Museum on October 21 and continue there until January 10,
2010. The exhibition will then travel to the Tate Modern, London
(Spring 2010) and
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (Summer 2010).
OCTOBER IS CULTURAL MONTH
October is a special month for Armenians. In the beginning of the
month (October 10) we celebrate the memory of the Translators of the
Holy
Bible.
In a message delivered October 10, 1982, by His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, he noted:
"Translators, in the precise and historical sense of the word, refer
to St. Sahag and St. Mesrob and their immediate disciples of the 5th
century
who translated the Holy Scriptures from Greek into Armenian.... But,
the word translators has acquired a wider sense in our Armenian
understanding; it refers to all such Church Fathers who in the course
of the past centuries made a marked contribution to the growth of
Armenian
culture taken in its entirety. It has become now a symbolic name which
is applied in this broadest sense to all those who translate God's
Word to
God's people particularly through their literary activities and
cultural services.
"This is why October has been proclaimed as The Month of Culture
(Meshagouytee Amees). This means that we are called to focus our
thinking on the value of culture in human life within our Armenian
communities around the world."
PRELACY MARKS CULTURAL MONTH WITH
INAUGURATION OF ONLINE COURSE IN ARMENIAN
Next week we will inaugurate an On-Line Course in Modern Western
Armenian which will be available to everyone. The on-line course was
developed by
Dr. Tom Samuelian with partial financial support from the Eastern
Prelacy. It will be accessible through our web page and can be used as
is or
combined with Dr. Samuelian's pioneering textbook, A Course in Modern
Western Armenian, published by the Prelacy's Armenian National
Education Committee, which was out of print but is now again available
at the Prelacy's Bookstore. We will give you full information in next
week's
Crossroads.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 1--Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th annual
Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175
includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great
day and
support the church. For information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.
October 10--Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey.
October 11--84th anniversary banquet of St. Stephen's Church, New
Britain/Hartford, Connecticut at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf
Street, Newington, Connecticut, at 12:30 pm. For information contact
the
church office at 860-229-8322.
October 15-18--Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 16-17--Annual Fall Fair Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 8 pm.
October 17--National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will
follow.
October 18--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6--"On the Road," by Levon Shant, presented The Theater Group
of Hamazkayin, New York, directed by Dr. Herand Markarian. Sponsored
by the Armenian Relief Society Mayr Chapter, this performance is a
benefit for
St. Illuminator's Armenian Day School. Performance begins at 8:35 pm
at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Ave., Woodside, New York. For
tickets
($25)
contact Sonia at 718-961-9550 or Alice at 516-676-6167.
November 6-7--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 6-7--St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 53rd
annual bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Avenue,
Watertown. Delicious lamb, losh and chicken kebab, kheyma, kufta and
yalanchi. Meals
served from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm. Armenian pastries, gourmet foods,
arts & crafts, auction, raffles, and more.
November 7--Christmas Holiday Craft Fair, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 4 pm.
November 7 & 8--Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
largest Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday from 12 noon to 10
pm. Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtucket, 60 Rhodes Place
(off
Broad
Street), Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and kufta dinners, pastry,
raffles and more. Performance by the Armenian school dance group. Live
Armenian
music * dancing. For information, 401-831-6399.
November 14--Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20-21--Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts,
Fall Fest 2009, Friday, November 20, 5 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, November
21, 10 am to 5 pm. Armenian delicacies and dinners. For information
508-852-2414.
November 20, 21, 22--Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 5--Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar. Come one, come all.
December 20--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31--St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year's Eve celebration.
December 31--Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year's Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
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] (mailto:[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] (mailto:[email protected])