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PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
May 5, 2011
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY WILL CONVENE
NEXT WEEK IN PHILADELPHIA
The National Representative Assembly (NRA) will convene next week in
Philadelphia at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church. The clergy
conference will begin on Wednesday, May 11; the full Assembly will
convene on Thursday, May 12 at 11 a.m., and continue through to
Saturday, May 14. Archbishop Oshagan will deliver the keynote address
on Thursday and the banquet will take place Friday evening, May 13, at
the Double Tree Hotel. All of the meetings and meals during the
Assembly will be at St. Gregory Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia.
The NRA is the highest ecclesiastical and administrative body of the
Prelacy. It is composed of a ratio of one-seventh clergy and
six-sevenths lay delegates. The clergy delegates are elected by the
Clergy Conference and the lay delegates by their respective
parishes. The number of delegates from the parishes depends on the
number of members. The minimum number of delegates for a parish is two
delegates; the maximum is seven delegates.
For more information about the 2011 NRA click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777880/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/index.php/nra
).
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO MARYLAND
This Sunday, May 8, Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine
Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland. The Liturgy will be celebrated by the parish priest,
Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian.
PRELATE DELIVERS INVOCATION AT TIMES SQUARE GATHERING
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the Divine Liturgy last Sunday, May
1, at St. Illuminators Cathedral in New York City. Following the
Liturgy he attended the gathering at Times Square commemorating the
96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The annual gathering is
organized by the Knights of Vartan with the sponsorship and
participation of all Armenian churches and major organizations. His
Eminence delivered the invocation. In his prayer the Prelate noted
that New generations of Armenians have stood by their obligation not
only by remembering the past and honoring the martyrs, but also by
dedicating themselves to the pursuit of justice for their Armenian
nation. This is a promise we made to our survivor generation. This is
a promise we will honor.
To read His Eminences invocation click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777881/24882/goto:http://armenianprelacy.org/index.php/prelate/messages/2011-invocation-at-times-square
).
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ATTENDS ANNUAL
CAPITOL HILL OBSERVANCE
About two dozen members of Congress gathered at the historic Kennedy
Senate Caucus Room on Capitol Hill on April 14 along with hundreds of
Armenian Americans, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, the
Embassy of Armenia, and the Office of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
and reaffirmed their support for a truthful and just resolution of the
Armenian Genocide.
Chuck Yessaian, Jr., served as master of ceremonies. Opening and
closing prayers were offered, respectively, by our Prelate Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), Armenian Ambassador to the
United States Tatoul Markarian, and Republic of Nagorno Karabagh
Representative Robert Avetisyan, spoke about the importance of the
annual Capitol Hill commemoration and ongoing international efforts to
secure justice for the Armenian Genocide.
Archbishop Oshagan greets genocide survivor, 106-year-old Yeretzgin
Sirarpi Khoyan.
With Congressman Frank Pallone (New Jersey).
With Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (New York).
With Congressman Adam Schiff (California).
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ISSUES MESSAGE FOR
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
received a letter from the General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, about the WCCs 2011
message for Armenian Remembrance Day.
The Secretary General wrote, I am glad to inform Your Holiness that
the WCC, together with Conference of European Churches (CEC), being
aware of this tragedy in the history of all Armenians and based on the
previous efforts undertaken by the WCC and CEC in supporting the
public recognition of the Armenian Genocide, issued a common letter,
signed by their general secretaries, in which the fellowship of member
churches is asked to pray for their Armenian brothers and sisters from
all around the world as well as for the victims of the genocide.
The WCC has a long history of solidarity with the Armenians. The
question of the Genocide was put on the agenda of the WCCs General
Assembly in Uppsala in 1968 by Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian, of
blessed memory. Archbishop Karekin, who was subsequently elected
Karekin II of Cilicia and Karekin I of Etchmiadzin, served as
Vice-Moderator of the WCC for seven years. Through the efforts of
Archbishop Aram Keshishian (later Aram I of Cilicia), first as a
delegate, and later as Moderator of the WCC for 16 years, the Armenian
Genocide remained a priority and April 24 was added to the Prayer
Cycle of the World Council of Churches, a prayer book used by member
churches. In 1984 the Catholicosate of Cilicia proposed that the
Commission of International Affairs of the WCC publish a background
information document on the Armenian Genocide. The Commission in
collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches published
Armenia: the Continuing Tragedy, in the four !
official languages of the WCC (English, French, German, Spanish), and
in Arabic. This publication followed the participation of
Prof. Shavarsh Toriguian, who, representing the Catholicosate of
Cilicia at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission, on behalf of
the World Council of Churches, raised the question of the Armenian
Genocide.
To read the 2011 message issued by the WCC click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777882/24882/goto:http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/wider-ecumenical-movement-incl-wcc/message-for-the-armenian-genocide-remembrance-day.html
).
ARCHBISHOP NAREG ALEMEZIAN WILL RECEIVE DOCTORATE
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer for the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, will be awarded his Doctor of Ministry
degree from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver School of
Theology. The graduation ceremony will take place at Christ Church
Cathedral in Vancouver, this Monday evening, May 9.
On Sunday, May 8, Archbishop Nareg will deliver the sermon at
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Vancouver. Following
the Liturgy there will be a reception.
Before assuming his current position of service at the Catholicosate,
Archbishop Nareg served as pastor of St. Gregory Church in Vancouver,
and later served as the pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church in
Ridgefield, New Jersey.
We extend our prayers and joyful congratulations to Archbishop Nareg
on his grand achievement.
MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON
The annual Mothers Day Luncheon hosted by the Prelacy Ladies Guild
took place last Monday, May 2, at the lovely Palace Hotel in New York
City.
Well-known musical artist Lucy Ishkanian was honored as the Woman of
the Year, and in a surprise presentation His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan also conferred upon her the highest award given by the
Prelacy, the Queen Zabel award.
Full details and photographs will be given in the next Crossroads.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM:
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS MAY 15
The 25th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Christian
Studies Program, for youth ages 13-18, will take place at the St. Mary
of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from July 3-10,
2011. By popular demand, the Institute this year will again extend the
week-long program with a three-day retreat (optional) from June
30-July 3.
The summer program is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC). For information and registration, contact the AREC
office by telephone at 212-689-7810, by email at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or click
here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777883/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/index.php/departments/arec/datev-institute
) or join us on our Facebook (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777884/24882/goto:http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Gregory-of-Datev-Institute/105187422899322
) page.
BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, May 8, Green Sunday are: Luke 6:12-45; Acts
9:23-31; 1 Peter 2:1-10; John 2:23-3:12; Matthew 8:18-9:8; Mark
3:6-12.
After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their
plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night
so that they might kill him; but his disciples took him by night and
let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and
they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a
disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and
described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had
spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of
Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly
in the name of the Lord. H spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but
they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it,
they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace
and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort
of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:23-31)
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777885/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelacy/PDF/2011dbr-05.pdf
).
GREEN SUNDAY
This Sunday, May 8, is Green Sunday (Ganach Giragi), also known as
Sunday of the World Church (Ashkharhamadoor). The concept of Green
Sunday most probably comes from an ancient folk holiday celebrating
spring. Our forefathers, seeing mother earth bloom after long winter
months, glorified the Creator with an act of thanksgiving and
celebrated by decorating the church and themselves with greenery. The
reawakening of nature is also symbolic of the Resurrection. Green is
the color of life, freshness and promise. After a barren winter we are
filled with hope, life, and love.
Green Sunday is also known as World Church Sunday in the sense of the
church belonging to the whole world beginning with Christ and the
Apostles who met regularly to pray and partake of the Holy Sacrament
of Communion.
Green Sunday is also an appropriate time for us to remember our
obligations to be good stewards of the earth and the gifts that have
been given to us by God.
ARMENIAN CULTURAL AWARENESS WEEKEND
The Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and the Armenian
Cultural Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College
(Flushing, New York), have partnered with the Kupferberg Holocaust
Resource Center at Queensborough Community College to present a unique
program of exhibits, lectures, food, films, music and dance, during
the weekend of May 13 to 15. The college campus (222-05 56th Avenue,
Bayside, New York) will be open to the general public with exhibits on
Armenian history and culture, free food samples, and activities
designed to educate and entertain both adults and young people about
the vibrant Armenian community in New York City.
Friday evening at 7:30 pm, the program will include Voice Verses,
singing of Genocide and Holocaust survivors experiences performed by
the Serenity Quartet and featured speaker Dr. Dennis
Papazian. Saturday at 3 pm, the films Forty Days of Musa Dagh, and
William Saroyans short, Hello Out There, will be shown; at 7:30 pm the
program will feature Armenian Hip Hop dancers, the PT Grimm Avante
Guard Rock Band and featured speaker Bryan Armen Graham from Sports
Illustrated. Sunday at 5:30 pm the Armenian Antranig Dancers and the
Israeli Shalom Dancers will perform traditional folk and modern
dances. Featured speaker will be Shant Mardirossian. For information:
718-428-5650.
QUEENS COLLEGE LIBRARY IN SPECIAL EXHIBITION
OF BOOKS & MEMORABILA ON THE GENOCIDE
An exhibit of books, documents, photographs, and memorabilia,
entitled, Genocide: The Armenians, 1915-1922, is currently on display
and will continue until June 30, at the Queens College Benjamin
S. Rosenthal Library, Barham Rotunda, 3rd Floor. The selections are
from the personal library of Professor Hratch Zadoian, former Queens
College Vice President for Business and Finance, who currently teaches
in the Political Science department. Professor Zadoian has donated the
collection to the library.
TODAY IS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Today, Thursday, May 5, is National Day of Prayer by presidential
proclamation. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the
Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming
a nation, the call to prayer has continued through U.S. history,
including President Abraham Lincolns proclamation of a day of
humility, fasting, and prayer in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by
Congress signed by President Harry Truman declared an annual, national
day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President
Ronald Reagan permanently setting the day on the first Thursday of the
month of May. Each year the president signs a proclamation encouraging
all Americans to pray on this day.
In his proclamation for 2011, President Barack Obama said in part: Let
us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to
worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience,
and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that
we often take for granted. I invite all citizens of our Nation, as
their own faith or conscience directs them, to join me in giving
thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I ask all people of faith
to join me in asking God for guidance, mercy, and protection for our
Nation.
To read the entire proclamation click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777886/24882/goto:http://nationaldayofprayer.org/news/2010-presidential-proclamation/2011-proclamation
).
ANDDONT FORGET: SUNDAY IS MOTHERS DAY. CALL YOUR MOTHER!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May 7St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Fourth Annual
Celebration of International Cuisine, Simply the Best Party, 8
pm. Enjoy a special evening of tasting gourmet cooking and dancing to
the tunes of DJ Allen. Reservations a must; donation $50 in advance;
$60 at door; children under twelve, $25. Reservations: church office,
718-224-2275.
May 11-14National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted
by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
May 13Mothers Day Dinner and Cultural Program sponsored by ARS Mayr
Chapter, New York, honoring Mother of the Year Mrs. Azniv
Ebrimian. Armenian Center, Woodside, New York, 8 pm, donation
$40. Contact Anais (718) 392-6982 or Maria (516) 921-0563.
May 21An event not to be missed, A Benefit Dinner Dance Extravaganza,
sponsored by the Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence,
Rhode Island, at the West Valley Inn, 4 Blossum Street, West Warwick,
Rhode Island. Twenty-seven musicians from New England area are
generously donating their talent and time. Dinner at 6 pm; adults $35,
children (under 16) $25. Dance only $20. Dinner tickets by advance
sale only. Contact Joyce Bagdasarian, 401-434-4467.
May 21Walk Armenia, sponsored by New York Mayr and Erebouni chapters
of the Armenian Relief Society, to benefit Camp Haiastan, Franklin,
Massachusetts. Registration 12 noon at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston,
New York. Walk (approximately 4 miles) begins at 1 pm; rest halfway at
Armenian Society, Little Neck, New York. Participation fee $25. For
information: Hasmik Israelian 516-330-5290 or Nayda Voskerijian
516-603-2809.
May 22Celebration of the 95th anniversary of St. Illuminators
Cathedral, New York City, will take place at the Terrace on the Park,
Flushing Meadow Park, under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan. Cocktails 5 pm; Dinner 6 pm.
June 11St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, presents
Armenian Food Festival, 11 am to 7 pm. Buffet served all day; take-out
available. Pastries, handmade jewelry, Armenian gifts, raffles, and
much more. For information contact church office, 978-685-5038.
June 16Second Annual Cigar Night & Dinner in memory of Rev. Fr. Vartan
Kassabian, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts. Featuring hors doeuvres with cold seafood buffet at 6
pm, followed by Filet Mignon & Stuffed Lobster dinner at 7:30
pm. Premium Cigars and Top Shelf Complimentary Bar. Donation: $100
per person. For information/reservations contact church office
978-685-5038.
October 23Student Festival in celebration of the Year of the Armenian
Child. Details will follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys 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])
From: A. Papazian
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
May 5, 2011
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY WILL CONVENE
NEXT WEEK IN PHILADELPHIA
The National Representative Assembly (NRA) will convene next week in
Philadelphia at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church. The clergy
conference will begin on Wednesday, May 11; the full Assembly will
convene on Thursday, May 12 at 11 a.m., and continue through to
Saturday, May 14. Archbishop Oshagan will deliver the keynote address
on Thursday and the banquet will take place Friday evening, May 13, at
the Double Tree Hotel. All of the meetings and meals during the
Assembly will be at St. Gregory Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia.
The NRA is the highest ecclesiastical and administrative body of the
Prelacy. It is composed of a ratio of one-seventh clergy and
six-sevenths lay delegates. The clergy delegates are elected by the
Clergy Conference and the lay delegates by their respective
parishes. The number of delegates from the parishes depends on the
number of members. The minimum number of delegates for a parish is two
delegates; the maximum is seven delegates.
For more information about the 2011 NRA click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777880/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/index.php/nra
).
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO MARYLAND
This Sunday, May 8, Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine
Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland. The Liturgy will be celebrated by the parish priest,
Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian.
PRELATE DELIVERS INVOCATION AT TIMES SQUARE GATHERING
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the Divine Liturgy last Sunday, May
1, at St. Illuminators Cathedral in New York City. Following the
Liturgy he attended the gathering at Times Square commemorating the
96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The annual gathering is
organized by the Knights of Vartan with the sponsorship and
participation of all Armenian churches and major organizations. His
Eminence delivered the invocation. In his prayer the Prelate noted
that New generations of Armenians have stood by their obligation not
only by remembering the past and honoring the martyrs, but also by
dedicating themselves to the pursuit of justice for their Armenian
nation. This is a promise we made to our survivor generation. This is
a promise we will honor.
To read His Eminences invocation click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777881/24882/goto:http://armenianprelacy.org/index.php/prelate/messages/2011-invocation-at-times-square
).
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ATTENDS ANNUAL
CAPITOL HILL OBSERVANCE
About two dozen members of Congress gathered at the historic Kennedy
Senate Caucus Room on Capitol Hill on April 14 along with hundreds of
Armenian Americans, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, the
Embassy of Armenia, and the Office of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
and reaffirmed their support for a truthful and just resolution of the
Armenian Genocide.
Chuck Yessaian, Jr., served as master of ceremonies. Opening and
closing prayers were offered, respectively, by our Prelate Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), Armenian Ambassador to the
United States Tatoul Markarian, and Republic of Nagorno Karabagh
Representative Robert Avetisyan, spoke about the importance of the
annual Capitol Hill commemoration and ongoing international efforts to
secure justice for the Armenian Genocide.
Archbishop Oshagan greets genocide survivor, 106-year-old Yeretzgin
Sirarpi Khoyan.
With Congressman Frank Pallone (New Jersey).
With Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (New York).
With Congressman Adam Schiff (California).
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ISSUES MESSAGE FOR
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
received a letter from the General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, about the WCCs 2011
message for Armenian Remembrance Day.
The Secretary General wrote, I am glad to inform Your Holiness that
the WCC, together with Conference of European Churches (CEC), being
aware of this tragedy in the history of all Armenians and based on the
previous efforts undertaken by the WCC and CEC in supporting the
public recognition of the Armenian Genocide, issued a common letter,
signed by their general secretaries, in which the fellowship of member
churches is asked to pray for their Armenian brothers and sisters from
all around the world as well as for the victims of the genocide.
The WCC has a long history of solidarity with the Armenians. The
question of the Genocide was put on the agenda of the WCCs General
Assembly in Uppsala in 1968 by Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian, of
blessed memory. Archbishop Karekin, who was subsequently elected
Karekin II of Cilicia and Karekin I of Etchmiadzin, served as
Vice-Moderator of the WCC for seven years. Through the efforts of
Archbishop Aram Keshishian (later Aram I of Cilicia), first as a
delegate, and later as Moderator of the WCC for 16 years, the Armenian
Genocide remained a priority and April 24 was added to the Prayer
Cycle of the World Council of Churches, a prayer book used by member
churches. In 1984 the Catholicosate of Cilicia proposed that the
Commission of International Affairs of the WCC publish a background
information document on the Armenian Genocide. The Commission in
collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches published
Armenia: the Continuing Tragedy, in the four !
official languages of the WCC (English, French, German, Spanish), and
in Arabic. This publication followed the participation of
Prof. Shavarsh Toriguian, who, representing the Catholicosate of
Cilicia at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission, on behalf of
the World Council of Churches, raised the question of the Armenian
Genocide.
To read the 2011 message issued by the WCC click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777882/24882/goto:http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/wider-ecumenical-movement-incl-wcc/message-for-the-armenian-genocide-remembrance-day.html
).
ARCHBISHOP NAREG ALEMEZIAN WILL RECEIVE DOCTORATE
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer for the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, will be awarded his Doctor of Ministry
degree from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver School of
Theology. The graduation ceremony will take place at Christ Church
Cathedral in Vancouver, this Monday evening, May 9.
On Sunday, May 8, Archbishop Nareg will deliver the sermon at
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Vancouver. Following
the Liturgy there will be a reception.
Before assuming his current position of service at the Catholicosate,
Archbishop Nareg served as pastor of St. Gregory Church in Vancouver,
and later served as the pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church in
Ridgefield, New Jersey.
We extend our prayers and joyful congratulations to Archbishop Nareg
on his grand achievement.
MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON
The annual Mothers Day Luncheon hosted by the Prelacy Ladies Guild
took place last Monday, May 2, at the lovely Palace Hotel in New York
City.
Well-known musical artist Lucy Ishkanian was honored as the Woman of
the Year, and in a surprise presentation His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan also conferred upon her the highest award given by the
Prelacy, the Queen Zabel award.
Full details and photographs will be given in the next Crossroads.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM:
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS MAY 15
The 25th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Christian
Studies Program, for youth ages 13-18, will take place at the St. Mary
of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from July 3-10,
2011. By popular demand, the Institute this year will again extend the
week-long program with a three-day retreat (optional) from June
30-July 3.
The summer program is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC). For information and registration, contact the AREC
office by telephone at 212-689-7810, by email at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or click
here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777883/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/index.php/departments/arec/datev-institute
) or join us on our Facebook (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777884/24882/goto:http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Gregory-of-Datev-Institute/105187422899322
) page.
BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, May 8, Green Sunday are: Luke 6:12-45; Acts
9:23-31; 1 Peter 2:1-10; John 2:23-3:12; Matthew 8:18-9:8; Mark
3:6-12.
After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their
plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night
so that they might kill him; but his disciples took him by night and
let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and
they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a
disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and
described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had
spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of
Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly
in the name of the Lord. H spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but
they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it,
they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace
and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort
of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:23-31)
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777885/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelacy/PDF/2011dbr-05.pdf
).
GREEN SUNDAY
This Sunday, May 8, is Green Sunday (Ganach Giragi), also known as
Sunday of the World Church (Ashkharhamadoor). The concept of Green
Sunday most probably comes from an ancient folk holiday celebrating
spring. Our forefathers, seeing mother earth bloom after long winter
months, glorified the Creator with an act of thanksgiving and
celebrated by decorating the church and themselves with greenery. The
reawakening of nature is also symbolic of the Resurrection. Green is
the color of life, freshness and promise. After a barren winter we are
filled with hope, life, and love.
Green Sunday is also known as World Church Sunday in the sense of the
church belonging to the whole world beginning with Christ and the
Apostles who met regularly to pray and partake of the Holy Sacrament
of Communion.
Green Sunday is also an appropriate time for us to remember our
obligations to be good stewards of the earth and the gifts that have
been given to us by God.
ARMENIAN CULTURAL AWARENESS WEEKEND
The Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and the Armenian
Cultural Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College
(Flushing, New York), have partnered with the Kupferberg Holocaust
Resource Center at Queensborough Community College to present a unique
program of exhibits, lectures, food, films, music and dance, during
the weekend of May 13 to 15. The college campus (222-05 56th Avenue,
Bayside, New York) will be open to the general public with exhibits on
Armenian history and culture, free food samples, and activities
designed to educate and entertain both adults and young people about
the vibrant Armenian community in New York City.
Friday evening at 7:30 pm, the program will include Voice Verses,
singing of Genocide and Holocaust survivors experiences performed by
the Serenity Quartet and featured speaker Dr. Dennis
Papazian. Saturday at 3 pm, the films Forty Days of Musa Dagh, and
William Saroyans short, Hello Out There, will be shown; at 7:30 pm the
program will feature Armenian Hip Hop dancers, the PT Grimm Avante
Guard Rock Band and featured speaker Bryan Armen Graham from Sports
Illustrated. Sunday at 5:30 pm the Armenian Antranig Dancers and the
Israeli Shalom Dancers will perform traditional folk and modern
dances. Featured speaker will be Shant Mardirossian. For information:
718-428-5650.
QUEENS COLLEGE LIBRARY IN SPECIAL EXHIBITION
OF BOOKS & MEMORABILA ON THE GENOCIDE
An exhibit of books, documents, photographs, and memorabilia,
entitled, Genocide: The Armenians, 1915-1922, is currently on display
and will continue until June 30, at the Queens College Benjamin
S. Rosenthal Library, Barham Rotunda, 3rd Floor. The selections are
from the personal library of Professor Hratch Zadoian, former Queens
College Vice President for Business and Finance, who currently teaches
in the Political Science department. Professor Zadoian has donated the
collection to the library.
TODAY IS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Today, Thursday, May 5, is National Day of Prayer by presidential
proclamation. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the
Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming
a nation, the call to prayer has continued through U.S. history,
including President Abraham Lincolns proclamation of a day of
humility, fasting, and prayer in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by
Congress signed by President Harry Truman declared an annual, national
day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President
Ronald Reagan permanently setting the day on the first Thursday of the
month of May. Each year the president signs a proclamation encouraging
all Americans to pray on this day.
In his proclamation for 2011, President Barack Obama said in part: Let
us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to
worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience,
and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that
we often take for granted. I invite all citizens of our Nation, as
their own faith or conscience directs them, to join me in giving
thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I ask all people of faith
to join me in asking God for guidance, mercy, and protection for our
Nation.
To read the entire proclamation click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/9337645306/3628855/105777886/24882/goto:http://nationaldayofprayer.org/news/2010-presidential-proclamation/2011-proclamation
).
ANDDONT FORGET: SUNDAY IS MOTHERS DAY. CALL YOUR MOTHER!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May 7St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Fourth Annual
Celebration of International Cuisine, Simply the Best Party, 8
pm. Enjoy a special evening of tasting gourmet cooking and dancing to
the tunes of DJ Allen. Reservations a must; donation $50 in advance;
$60 at door; children under twelve, $25. Reservations: church office,
718-224-2275.
May 11-14National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted
by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
May 13Mothers Day Dinner and Cultural Program sponsored by ARS Mayr
Chapter, New York, honoring Mother of the Year Mrs. Azniv
Ebrimian. Armenian Center, Woodside, New York, 8 pm, donation
$40. Contact Anais (718) 392-6982 or Maria (516) 921-0563.
May 21An event not to be missed, A Benefit Dinner Dance Extravaganza,
sponsored by the Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence,
Rhode Island, at the West Valley Inn, 4 Blossum Street, West Warwick,
Rhode Island. Twenty-seven musicians from New England area are
generously donating their talent and time. Dinner at 6 pm; adults $35,
children (under 16) $25. Dance only $20. Dinner tickets by advance
sale only. Contact Joyce Bagdasarian, 401-434-4467.
May 21Walk Armenia, sponsored by New York Mayr and Erebouni chapters
of the Armenian Relief Society, to benefit Camp Haiastan, Franklin,
Massachusetts. Registration 12 noon at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston,
New York. Walk (approximately 4 miles) begins at 1 pm; rest halfway at
Armenian Society, Little Neck, New York. Participation fee $25. For
information: Hasmik Israelian 516-330-5290 or Nayda Voskerijian
516-603-2809.
May 22Celebration of the 95th anniversary of St. Illuminators
Cathedral, New York City, will take place at the Terrace on the Park,
Flushing Meadow Park, under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan. Cocktails 5 pm; Dinner 6 pm.
June 11St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, presents
Armenian Food Festival, 11 am to 7 pm. Buffet served all day; take-out
available. Pastries, handmade jewelry, Armenian gifts, raffles, and
much more. For information contact church office, 978-685-5038.
June 16Second Annual Cigar Night & Dinner in memory of Rev. Fr. Vartan
Kassabian, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts. Featuring hors doeuvres with cold seafood buffet at 6
pm, followed by Filet Mignon & Stuffed Lobster dinner at 7:30
pm. Premium Cigars and Top Shelf Complimentary Bar. Donation: $100
per person. For information/reservations contact church office
978-685-5038.
October 23Student Festival in celebration of the Year of the Armenian
Child. Details will follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys 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])
From: A. Papazian