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/
November 15, 2012
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE (http://e2.ma/click/w1nwc/4f4cee/kkegw) AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.
The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
DEIR ZOR GENOCIDE MEMORIAL CHURCH DAMAGED
Holy Martyrs Armenian Church, the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Memorial
in Deir Zor, was severely damaged as a result of shelling. The lower
level of the museum and memorial, where the remains of victims of the
Genocide are kept, was also damaged. The entire area in and around
Deir Zor has been
the site of heavy clashes between the rebels and the Syrian army.
Click here (http://e2.ma/click/w1nwc/4f4cee/0cfgw) to view video
footage of the destruction.
The Genocide Memorial in Deir Zor was consecrated in 1991.
ARMENIA FUND'S THANKSGIVING TELETHON
This year's Armenia Fund Thanksgiving Day Telethon is dedicated to
`Our Village,' with emphasis on improvements for Infrastructure,
Education, Health Care, and Community Life. This is the 15th
International Armenia Fund Telethon; the money raised has been
responsible for the many worthwhile and essential projects that
Armenia Fund has undertaken.
We urge you to tune in on Thanksgiving Day to enjoy Armenian
entertainment, music and news. The telethon will be broadcast from 11
am to 11pm (EST). You can watch it live via satellite and cable. The
full live broadcast of the Telethon will also be available on the
internet at www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org
(http://e2.ma/click/w1nwc/4f4cee/g5fgw).
Tune in and give generously to this worthy endeavor. Information about
the broadcast schedule and channels is on Armenia Fund's web site.
Note: This year, 10% of telethon funds will be used to help Armenians
in Syria.
IN MEMORIAM
MRS. QUEENIE (TAKOUHI) BAGIAN
Mrs. Queenie Bagian, considered one of Philadelphia's greatest and
ardent community activists, died on November 12, 2012.
Together with her husband Albert, who predeceased her in February
2011, she was an active and generous supporter of St. Gregory Church,
Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Sisters Academy, the Knar Choral
Group, and the
ARF and the ANCA.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will preside at the funeral services
tomorrow, Friday, November 16, 11 am, at St. Gregory Church, 8701
Ridge Avenue, Philadephia. Interment will follow at Arlington
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory are being
accepted for St. Gregory Church and ARS Artemis chapter.
PRELATE WILL PRESIDE OVER 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. SARKIS CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan will join parishioners of St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, to celebrate the parish's 50th Golden
Jubilee. His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy this Sunday,
November 18, and
deliver the sermon. Later in the afternoon the Prelate will preside
over the parish's Jubilee Banquet at Leonard's, Great Neck, New York.
VICAR WILL ATTEND CONFERENCE IN MASSACHUSETTS
Bishop Anoushavan will attend a two-day conference devoted to
=80=9CCivil Society and Orthodoxy' at Holy Cross Theological Seminary
in Massachusetts with Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of
St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, tomorrow and Saturday, November 16
and 17. The conference is organized by the Inter-parliamentary
Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO).
BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN WILL ATTEND JUBILEE CELEBRATION
Bishop Anoushavan will attend the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, on Sunday, November 18, and the Jubilee Banquet
in celebration of the parish's 50th anniversary. His Grace served as
pastor of St. Sarkis for fourteen years, before being called to full
time duties as Vicar General of the Prelacy and Ecumenical Officer in
the United
States on behalf of the Holy See of Cilicia.
48th ANNIVERSARY MARKED AT SOORP KHATCH CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan joined the parish of Soorp Khatch Church in
Bethesda, Maryland, last weekend to celebrate the parish's 48th
anniversary. His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday and
delivered the sermon. He was assisted at the altar by Rev. Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian, pastor of Soorp Khatch Church. Saturday evening His
Eminence presided over the anniversary banquet.
Archbishop Oshagan and Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian with members of the
Board of Trustees and National Representative Assembly delegates at
Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda.
Archbishop Oshagan and Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian with altar servers
and choir members.
Certificates of Merit were awarded to Mrs. Sossy Khatchessian and Miss
Barbara Tutelian.
The Anniversary Cake is cut by the Honorary Chairmen, Mr. and
Mrs. Sebouh and Maro Asatorian.
EXPLORE THE EUCHARIST
Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Prelacy's Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), will present a four-session program,
=80=9CExploring the Eucharist: Living our Baptismal Identity,'
beginning November 28 and continuing on December 5, 12, and 19. The
sessions will take place at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, 221 East 27th
Street, New York. Each of the four sessions will begin with dinner
from 6:30 to 7:30, followed by the lecture from 7:30 to 8:45 pm. The
program is sponsored
by St. Illuminator's Cathedral and AREC. For details and registration
click here (http://e2.ma/click/w1nwc/4f4cee/wxggw).
LEBANON'S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Bishop Anoushavan will attend a reception organized by the Consul
General of Lebanon in New York, on the occasion of Lebanon's
Independence Day, on Monday, November 19.
VETERANS HONORED BY DEARBORN PARISH
Last Sunday, November 11, which was Veterans' Day, the St. Sarkis
Church in Dearborn, Michigan, presented each veteran with a red, white
and blue lapel ribbon upon entering the church. Following the
services, a special fellowship was hosted by the Board of
Trustees. Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian invited everyone to stand for a
minute of silence honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the
United States. He expressed thanks to the veterans in attendance for
their service to our country. Michael Hagopian, chairman of the Board
of Trustees, also expressed thanks to the veterans and invited Movses
Movsesian, a veteran, to act as MC. Mr. Movsesian shared stories from
his service in the U.S. Army as did other veterans present. The
fellowship concluded with the singing of the U.S. National Anthem.
The veterans honored at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.
PROVIDENCE SUPER ARMENIAN FEST
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, once again hosted
their two-day annual Armenian Fest at the Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, with
more than 2,000 people in attendance. Providence is noted for its
variety of delicious Armenian offerings. This year was no different,
with lots of good food, pastries, dancing, and raffles.
More than 2,000 people attended the two-day Armenian Fest.
Entertainment included dance performances.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, November 18, Tenth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross, Eve of the Fast of Advent, are: Isaiah 25:9-26;
Philippians 1:1-11; Luke 9:44-50.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the
bishops and deacons:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy
in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in
the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that
the one
who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day
of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of
you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's
grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all
of you with the compassion
of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow
more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine
what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and
blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes
through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. (Philippians
1:1-11)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://e2.ma/click/w1nwc/4f4cee/cqhgw).
PAREGENTAN OF THE FAST OF ADVENT
This Sunday, November 18, is the Eve (Paregentan) of the Fast of
Advent (Hisnag). This is a week-long fast (Monday to Friday) leading
up to the first Sunday of Advent, which is next Sunday, November 25.
Advent is the period that guides us up to the birth and baptism of
Christ. It begins fifty days before January 6. Advent is intended to
be a solemn and quiet time for prayer, reflection, and meditation in
preparation for the mystery of the incarnation.
Traditionally the entire fifty-day period of Advent was a period of
fasting. Now there are three week-long fasts during Advent (along with
the
regular fasting days of Wednesday and Friday). The three week-long
fasts are known as: The Fast of Advent (Hisnagats Bahk); The Fast of
St. James (Sourp Hagopah Bahk); and the Fast of the Nativity
(Dznuntyan Bahk).
PRESENTATION OF THE HOLY MOTHER TO THE TEMPLE
This Wednesday, November 21, the Armenian Church commemorates the
Presentation of the Holy Mother to the Temple (Undzayoum Sourp
Asdvadzadzini), one of the eight feast days devoted to Mary in the
Armenian Liturgical Calendar. This feast is always commemorated on
November 21 in remembrance of
the presentation of the Holy Mother to the Temple when she was three
years
old. She remained in the house of God for twelve years. At a time when
education was generally denied to females, she studied with scholars,
under the care of Zachariah, father of John the Baptist.
POPE AND CATHOLICOS EXCHANGE LETTERS
After his trip to Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI sent a personal letter
to Catholicos Aram I in which he expressed the high regard he has for
the Armenian Church and the Holy See of Cilicia. The Pope expressed
regret that
he was unable to meet with the Catholicos to discuss ecumenical
issues.
Catholicos Aram responded and reminded Pope Benedict of the
long-standing relationship between the two churches founded on
theological discussions and ecumenical relations since the Kingdom of
Cilicia. The Catholicos shared his concern for the Christian presence
in the Middle East and the need for all churches in the region to work
together to affirm the rights of Christians.
The Catholicos welcomed the recent Catholic Bishops Synod on The New
Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith and said,
=80=9CThe Church cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in the
world. Fifty years ago Vatican II responded to the world events of
that time. Therefore, I would propose you begin preparations for a
Vatican III that would impact all churches.'
ARAM I RECEIVES PARTICIPANTS OF SYRIAC CONFERENCE
Last week theologians and specialists on Syriac spirituality, who were
in Beirut to participate in a conference, paid a visit to His Holiness
Aram I.
His Holiness welcomed the participants and praised the conference
noting that `the achievements of the past should not be forgotten;
they should be assessed and revived in the present.' His Holiness told
the scholars that during the Kingdom of Cilicia, the theology of the
Armenian Church developed along with the discourses of the Syriac,
Greek, and Latin theologians. Then, as now, the Catholicos said, the
Armenian Church affirmed its own specificity, while remaining open to
dialogue.
During the visit the participants expressed interest in the
Catholicos's insight about the current challenges to the ecumenical
movement. He said that theological dialogue among churches should
continue because of past misunderstandings and differences. He
emphasized that `these dialogues today must take into consideration
social issues, because those issues are also linked to the life of the
churches.'
Death of Hovhannes Masehian (November 18, 1931)
Hovhannes Masehian (1864-1931) was a Persian Armenian diplomat and
writer, who became the foremost translator of Shakespeare into
Armenian. He
was born in Tehran in 1864. His father, Dzeruni Khan Masehian, was the
chief jeweler of Shah Naser al-Din (1848-1896). From 1870 to 1878 he
studied at the newly opened Haigazian School in Tehran. Afterwards, he
went to Tabriz to continue his studies with his maternal uncle, Andon
Khan Yervandian, who was the tutor of the heir prince. After three
years of studies, in 1881 he went to Paris where he studied
philosophy, law, political economy, and literature at the College de
France.
Masehian returned to Tehran in 1884, where he taught at the Haigazian
School and was hired as a translator at the royal court. He traveled
to
London in 1897 as the chief translator for the Persian delegation sent
to participate in the fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen
Victoria. Ten years later, he would be the first secretary of another
delegation sent to London for the Queen's sixtieth
anniversary. Meanwhile, in 1895 he had been named head of office of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Persia. He managed different
positions in the ministry until 1901, when he was designated counselor
to the Persian ambassador in Berlin. He became chargé d'affairs in
1906 and held the position until his return to
Persia in 1911.
By that time, Masehian had also become a household name in Armenian
letters. As the official translator of the Shah's court (he knew some
ten languages), he had translated around 30 books into Persian, of
which there is no trace. In 1894 he published his first version of
Shakespeare's Hamlet in Tiflis. The famous Eastern Armenian poet,
Hovhannes Hovhannisian, wrote, `This translation of Hamlet leaves a
very beautiful impression on us; first, because . . . the translator
knows his mother
tongue very well and uses his knowledge with confidence, an advantage
that
many of our famous authors and translators may envy; second, because
that language is rich and poetic, a necessary condition to translate
authors such as Shakespeare.' Other translations followed: As You Like
It, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and Merchant of Venice. Masehian was
unable, however, to publish his translations of Otello, Macbeth, and
The Tempest. He continued his work until 1901, when he traveled to
Europe as a diplomat; by 1909, he had translated nine Shakespearean
plays and had translated anew his
unpublished works.
In 1912, after spending a year in Tehran as chief of the secretariat
of the Persian court, Masehian was faced with an unprecedented
task. It was unheard of a Christian to represent diplomatically an
Islamic country like Persia. However, disputes among the officers of
young Ahmad Shah (1909-1925) ended when in 1912 the sovereign signed
the decree that designated the Armenian diplomat as Ambassador of
Persia in Germany. He held this position until March 1916, when he
went to Paris, probably commissioned by the Shah. In 1919 he
represented Persia in the Peace Conference at Versailles.
In the meantime, in 1916 Masehian had been officially invited to
London as a speaker in the festivities of the 300th anniversary of
Shakespeare's birth. Between 1921 and 1923, he was able to publish
several more of his translations in the presses of the Mekhitarist
Congregation, in Vienna: Hamlet, Otello, Macbeth, and Merchant of
Venice. Indeed, Hamlet and
The Merchant of Venice were published in new versions. In the 1910s he
had
also translated Antonio and Cleopatra, Much Ado about Nothing, Julius
Caesar, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Between 1923 and 1931, the
indefatigable translator finished new translations: Coriolanus, Timon
of Athens,
and Winter's Tale. `I am convinced that the translation of
Shakespeare's works,' he wrote to his friend, the poet Avetik
Isahakian, `will leave a deep influence on our literature. If the
giants of German literature have been impacted by Shakespeare, how
much more our writers need that impact? This is why I have devoted
myself to that task with all my energy.' He also was a translator of
works by other literary giants: Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Lord George
Byron, Heinrich Heine, Omar Khayyam, and Rabindranath Tagore.
In 1927 Masehian was elected to the Persian Parliament. In the same
year, he was designated as Ambassador to London. He held the position
until 1929, when Persia established diplomatic relations with Japan
and Masehian became the first ambassador to that country from
1929-1931. Because of illness, in 1931 he tended his resignation to
Reza Shah (1925-1941) and left
Tokyo to return to Persia. However, on his way he died in Harbin
(China) on November 18, 1931. The efforts of the Armenian community of
China and the
special permission of Reza Shah allowed for his remains to be moved
from China to Persia and be buried in Tehran on April 1, 1932.
A school of Shakespeare studies was developed in Soviet Armenia and
several good translators appeared in the next decades. However,
according
to many specialists, Masehian's translations remain unsurpassed.
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
BOOKS BY KRIKOR BELEDIAN
Krikor Beledian is a prolific writer, literary critic, and
translator. He has written dozens of volumes of poetry, as well as
novels, essays, and literary criticism. In April 2012, he was awarded
the Narekatsi Medal of Achievement for outstanding contributions to
Armenian culture by the Friends of UCLA Armenian Language and Culture
Studies.
HAGAKERTOUVATZ ANTI POEM
By Krikor Beledian
Translated by Ralph Setian
Published in 1979 as part of the `Armenian Diaspora' series, this
bilingual collection of poems by Krikor Beledian stands the test of
time. The side-by-side Armenian and English complement each other.
46 double pages, soft cover, $20.00 (plus shipping and handling)
Other available titles by Krikor Beledian:
Badgere, 306 pages, soft cover, $20.00
Yergounk, 549 pages, soft cover, $20.00
Neshan, 272 pages, soft cover, $20.00
Tebi Medz Pokhaperoutyune, 61 pages, soft cover, $15.00
To order these or any other books, contact the Prelacy Bookstore by
email at [email protected] or telephone, 212-689-7810.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 16-Thanksgiving Family Night, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, 6 pm at Jaffarian Hall. Traditional
Thanksgiving dinner with an assortment of desserts prepared by the
Ladies Guild. Rev. Fr. Karekin will give a presentation on the current
situation in Syria and the relief efforts. For information:
978-685-5038.
November 16-17-Fall Food Festival at Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove
Street, Worcester, Massachusetts. Join us on Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm
and
Saturday from noon to 4 pm for shish kebab, losh kebab, chicken kebab,
or kheyma dinners. Visit our country store and bake table. Stock up on
katah, choreg, manti, porov kufte, simit, and much more.
November 16-18-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Bazaar and Food Festival. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday,
Children's Activities, Vendors. Homemade Manti, Kufte, Sou Buereg,
Choreg, and more. Traditional Kavourma dinner on Sunday. Extensive
Mezze and desert menu for your Thanksgiving table available for
take-out.
November 18-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, 50th Golden
Jubilee Celebration Banquet, under the auspices of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. Leonard's of Great Neck, 555
Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, New York, at 4 pm. Donation $100 per
person. For information and reservations: 718-224-2275.
November 18-Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, 7 pm at the Trinitarian
Congregational Church, North Andover, Massachusetts. Service led by
members of the North Andover Clergy Association. Rev. Fr. Karekin
Bedourian, pastor of St. Gregory Church, will be the preacher.
December 1-Annual Holiday Bake Sale, St. Paul Church, 645 S. Lewis
Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 9 am to 3 pm. Enjoy authentic Armenian and
American pastries and plan to stay for lunch at St. Paul Café. For
information or pre-orders, 847-244-4573.
December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar, 11 am to 5 pm at the Christian Reform Church Fellowship
Hall, corner of East and Cross Streets, Whitinsville. Come meet old
and new friends and enjoy the day, good dinners, great baked goods,
fabulous silent auction, Armenian boutique, craft tables, Country
Store, and more.
December 9-Simply Christmas 2012. A Holiday Concert following Church
Services at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, under the
auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. A
Christmas celebration with Hasmik Mekhanejian, Mezzo-Soprano; Solange
Merdinian, Mezzo-Soprano; Sami Merdinian, Violin; Sofya Melikian,
Piano. Free admission. Reception following concert.
December 16-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual Sunday School pageant and concert following Badarak. Christmas
coffee hour 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] 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]