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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/
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, November 25, First Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 36:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 12:13-31.
Someone in the crowd said to him: `Teacher, tell my brother
to divide the family inheritance with me.' But he said to him,
=80=9CFriend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?' And he
said to them, `Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.'
Then he told them a parable: `The land of a rich man produced
abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have
no place to store my crops?' Then he said, `I will do this: I will
pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all
my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample
goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God
said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of
you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is
with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich
toward God.'
He said to his disciples, `Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will
wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than
clothing. Consider
the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse
nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than
the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your
span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that,
why do you worry about
the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed
like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more
will he clothe you=80'you of little faith! And do not keep striving
for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep
worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all
these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead,
strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as
well.(Luke 12:13-31)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://e2.ma/click/w91wc/4f4cee/82whw).
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, November 25, is the first Sunday of Advent (from the
Latin adventus, meaning `coming'). Advent is a season of penitence,
anticipation and preparation. Advent serves as a reminder of the
original anticipation of the birth of Christ, as well as the waiting
of Christians for Christ's return. Ideally, it should be a time of
quiet reflection and meditation. In modern times the period leading to
Christmas is far from calm, and is more accurately described as
frenetic. It is a good
time to pause and reflect on the proper observance of the birth of our
Lord and Savior.
In the true spirit of Christmas remember that this time of the year,
although filled with joy for most, can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out to an elderly person living alone, someone who is
ill, or someone who is mourning the loss of a loved one.
INTRODUCTION OF THE `DRAM'
AS ARMENIA'S CURRENCY (November 22, 1993)
The first independent Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) used Russian
rubles as currency. The Armenian banknotes, which kept `rubli'
(Õ¼Õ¸Ö=82Õ¢Õ¬Õ«, ruble) as the name of the currency, were designed by
painter Arshag Fetvadjian (1866-1947). They were under printing in
Europe when Armenia became a Soviet republic in December 1920
and were never put into circulation.
After the second independence, the Central Bank of Armenia was created
on March 27, 1993. The new Armenian monetary unit was called dram
(Õ¤Ö=80Õ¡Õ´); the name, which means `money' in Armenian, was also the
name of the silver coins in circulation during the Armenian kingdom of
Cilicia (1199-1375). Interestingly, the word Õ¤Ö=80Õ¡Õ´, pronounced
tram, designates `money' in Western Armenian; Eastern Armenian uses
the word Ö=83Õ¸Õ² (pogh) to designate `money.' Pogh was also the name
of a certain type of copper coins in the Armenian state of Cilicia.
The devaluation of the Russian ruble (which initially continued as the
currency in the former Soviet Union following the collapse of the
state) prompted the replacement of old currency by new one, and a
flood of worthless old Russian rubles into Armenian forced the
introduction of the dram, earlier than anticipated, on November 22,
1993. The initial value was 1 dram = 200 Russian rubles, while 1
American dollar equaled 14 drams. The high inflation of the period
1993-1994 in Armenia depreciated the dram to a value of 1 U$S = 100
AMD. It reached 420 drams per dollar in March 1995 and stabilized
afterwards (450 AMD per dollar in 1997). On November 19, 2012,
the exchange rate was 407 dram per American dollar.
The banknotes issued in 1993-1995 were put out of circulation in
2005. Their value went from 10 to 5,000 drams. This old series, which
today only has a historical value, featured different national
symbols: for instance, the 10 dram note showed the Yerevan Central
Train Station and the statue of David of Sassoun (across the station)
on the obverse and Mount Ararat
on the reverse, while the 5000 dram note exhibited the pagan temple of
Garni on the obverse and the head of goddess Anahit kept in the
British Museum
on the reverse.
A new series of banknotes, currently in circulation, was issued
starting in 1998. The first six values, from 50 to 20,000 drams (the
notes of 50, 100, and 500 were later put out of circulation and
replaced by coins), featured six figures of twentieth century Armenian
culture and an image related to them: Aram Khachaturian, Victor
Hambardzumian, Alexander Tamanian, Yeghishe Charents, Hovhannes
Tumanian, and Avetik Isahakian. The 50,000 dram banknote was issued in
2001, on the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in
Armenia, and featured the cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. The highest
value, 100,000 dram, pictured King Abgar V of Edessa, who according to
tradition received the painting (portrayed alive) of Jesus Christ from
St. Thaddeus
(http://e2.ma/click/w91wc/4f4cee/ovxhw)
FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF
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/w91wc/4f4cee/4nyhw) 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.
THANKSGIVING TELETHON
Armenia Fund's 2012 Telethon is dedicated to helping =80=9COur
Villages,' with improvements for infrastructure, education,
health care, and community life.
This is the 15th International Armenia Fund Telethon that has been
responsible for many projects to improve living conditions in Armenia
and Artsakh.
Tune in on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy Armenian entertainment, music,
and news. The telethon will be broadcast from 11 am to 11 pm
(EST). Information about the broadcast schedule and channels is on
Armenia Fund's web site (www.armeniafundusa.org
(http://e2.ma/click/w91wc/4f4cee/kgzhw)).
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]
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/
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, November 25, First Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 36:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 12:13-31.
Someone in the crowd said to him: `Teacher, tell my brother
to divide the family inheritance with me.' But he said to him,
=80=9CFriend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?' And he
said to them, `Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.'
Then he told them a parable: `The land of a rich man produced
abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have
no place to store my crops?' Then he said, `I will do this: I will
pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all
my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample
goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God
said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of
you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is
with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich
toward God.'
He said to his disciples, `Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will
wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than
clothing. Consider
the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse
nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than
the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your
span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that,
why do you worry about
the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed
like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more
will he clothe you=80'you of little faith! And do not keep striving
for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep
worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all
these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead,
strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as
well.(Luke 12:13-31)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://e2.ma/click/w91wc/4f4cee/82whw).
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, November 25, is the first Sunday of Advent (from the
Latin adventus, meaning `coming'). Advent is a season of penitence,
anticipation and preparation. Advent serves as a reminder of the
original anticipation of the birth of Christ, as well as the waiting
of Christians for Christ's return. Ideally, it should be a time of
quiet reflection and meditation. In modern times the period leading to
Christmas is far from calm, and is more accurately described as
frenetic. It is a good
time to pause and reflect on the proper observance of the birth of our
Lord and Savior.
In the true spirit of Christmas remember that this time of the year,
although filled with joy for most, can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out to an elderly person living alone, someone who is
ill, or someone who is mourning the loss of a loved one.
INTRODUCTION OF THE `DRAM'
AS ARMENIA'S CURRENCY (November 22, 1993)
The first independent Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) used Russian
rubles as currency. The Armenian banknotes, which kept `rubli'
(Õ¼Õ¸Ö=82Õ¢Õ¬Õ«, ruble) as the name of the currency, were designed by
painter Arshag Fetvadjian (1866-1947). They were under printing in
Europe when Armenia became a Soviet republic in December 1920
and were never put into circulation.
After the second independence, the Central Bank of Armenia was created
on March 27, 1993. The new Armenian monetary unit was called dram
(Õ¤Ö=80Õ¡Õ´); the name, which means `money' in Armenian, was also the
name of the silver coins in circulation during the Armenian kingdom of
Cilicia (1199-1375). Interestingly, the word Õ¤Ö=80Õ¡Õ´, pronounced
tram, designates `money' in Western Armenian; Eastern Armenian uses
the word Ö=83Õ¸Õ² (pogh) to designate `money.' Pogh was also the name
of a certain type of copper coins in the Armenian state of Cilicia.
The devaluation of the Russian ruble (which initially continued as the
currency in the former Soviet Union following the collapse of the
state) prompted the replacement of old currency by new one, and a
flood of worthless old Russian rubles into Armenian forced the
introduction of the dram, earlier than anticipated, on November 22,
1993. The initial value was 1 dram = 200 Russian rubles, while 1
American dollar equaled 14 drams. The high inflation of the period
1993-1994 in Armenia depreciated the dram to a value of 1 U$S = 100
AMD. It reached 420 drams per dollar in March 1995 and stabilized
afterwards (450 AMD per dollar in 1997). On November 19, 2012,
the exchange rate was 407 dram per American dollar.
The banknotes issued in 1993-1995 were put out of circulation in
2005. Their value went from 10 to 5,000 drams. This old series, which
today only has a historical value, featured different national
symbols: for instance, the 10 dram note showed the Yerevan Central
Train Station and the statue of David of Sassoun (across the station)
on the obverse and Mount Ararat
on the reverse, while the 5000 dram note exhibited the pagan temple of
Garni on the obverse and the head of goddess Anahit kept in the
British Museum
on the reverse.
A new series of banknotes, currently in circulation, was issued
starting in 1998. The first six values, from 50 to 20,000 drams (the
notes of 50, 100, and 500 were later put out of circulation and
replaced by coins), featured six figures of twentieth century Armenian
culture and an image related to them: Aram Khachaturian, Victor
Hambardzumian, Alexander Tamanian, Yeghishe Charents, Hovhannes
Tumanian, and Avetik Isahakian. The 50,000 dram banknote was issued in
2001, on the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in
Armenia, and featured the cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. The highest
value, 100,000 dram, pictured King Abgar V of Edessa, who according to
tradition received the painting (portrayed alive) of Jesus Christ from
St. Thaddeus
(http://e2.ma/click/w91wc/4f4cee/ovxhw)
FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF
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/w91wc/4f4cee/4nyhw) 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.
THANKSGIVING TELETHON
Armenia Fund's 2012 Telethon is dedicated to helping =80=9COur
Villages,' with improvements for infrastructure, education,
health care, and community life.
This is the 15th International Armenia Fund Telethon that has been
responsible for many projects to improve living conditions in Armenia
and Artsakh.
Tune in on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy Armenian entertainment, music,
and news. The telethon will be broadcast from 11 am to 11 pm
(EST). Information about the broadcast schedule and channels is on
Armenia Fund's web site (www.armeniafundusa.org
(http://e2.ma/click/w91wc/4f4cee/kgzhw)).
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]
From: A. Papazian