Crossroads E-Newsletter - March 28, 2013 - Armenian Diaspora News Forum

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Crossroads E-Newsletter - March 28, 2013

03-29-2013, 05:02 AM

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/

March 28, 2013

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem
(Kovya Yeroosaghem Uzder)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Christ is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To Him who is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To him that enlightened the world, alleluia!

Krisdos haryav ee merelots
Orhnyal eh harootyoonn Krisdosi

Today the angels on high rejoice with mankind and having come
down from the heavens they announce good news to the world; rejoice
today Christ
is risen from the dead.

Today the angel on the stone in thunderous voice of joy
proclaimed to the myrrh-bearing holy women, go tell his disciples:
`Rejoice today Christ is risen from the dead."

Today the rock of the faith and the beloved John the one
before the other hastened to the tomb of the risen One and having seen
it they proclaimed what they had seen. Christ is risen from the dead.

Today let us also be filled with the joy of this feast God has
had mercy, let us embrace each other with love and let us cry out with
one voice: Christ is risen from the dead.
(Canon for Holy Easter from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Church)

PRELATE'S EASTER MESSAGE

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CROSS

Here is your mother. (John 19:27)

One of the most beautiful examples of the human nature of our
Savior, Jesus Christ, is the words spoken on the cross to his beloved
disciple John, `Here is your mother.

The Holy Virgin Mary was experiencing the most painful time
for a mother. With a wounded heart the Holy Mother was witnessing her
son's torment, punishment on the cross, and death. She was inseparable
from her child. Perhaps she could not totally comprehend the trial and
verdict of the Roman and Hebrew leaders; however, the love of a mother
impelled her to be with her child, aching and suffering with him.

On the other hand, her son, Jesus, in spite of the torture and
anguish on the cross, turned to John, his cherished young disciple,
and entrusted his mother to his care. Precisely as today, when on the
occasion of the good tidings of the Holy Resurrection, all faithful
Christians seek the gift of motherhood from the Holy Virgin Mary, our
universal mother.

Mother love has had a great influence on our nation, as
powerful as the Holy Virgin. A mother's love is so strong that it can
bring back to life our tortured and dead spirit. Mother love can shape
us into a total and complete individual; it can transform us into a
new person if we have been felled by misfortune, sinfulness, or
hopelessness. Mother love is capable of bringing peace to the world.

Here is your mother. During the Vigil service of Tenebrae we
are emotionally stirred and our memories of being a child are shaken
with the hymn, `Where are you, O Mother, my sweet mother?' In the
darkness of the church we hear Jesus' voice, we see our mother, we are
emotionally touched with the power of that moment and our souls are
transformed, because for the Armenian Church and Armenian nation the
mother has been, and is, the foundational pillar that keeps our
family, as well as our nation, steady and pure. Without any doubt
about this fact, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of
Cilicia, declared 2013 as the `Year of the Armenian Mother,' with
conviction and testimony. Wisely gathering our nation's centuries of
experience in this respect, in his message His Holiness highlighted
the virtues of the Armenian mother and her traditional role as
educator, and as the keeper of the family's healthy environment. The
Armenian mother has been the source of our faith, the custodian of our
national character, and truly, the creator of the individual person.

On the eve of Holy Easter, Jesus speaks to all of us when he
says, `Here is your mother.' Here is the mother in her sanctity, in
her kindness, in her noble mission, and the mother who is undeniably
worthy of the love and esteem shown by her child.

Christ's resurrection is a holy day of hope, strengthening of
faith, and the formation of love in the hearts of mankind, in
compensation for the love that God gave us, `For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
may not perish but may have eternal life,' (John 3:16). For us, along
with hope and faith, the Holy Resurrection is faith in our everlasting
Mother Church, our Mother Country, and our Mother Tongue and Culture.

Christ is risen from the dead. Good tidings of new life. Let us
live this new life with love, virtue, sweetness, and peace.

Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.

Խոհե�=80�=9D �'�=80իստոսի Խաչէն

`Ահա�=82ասիկ մայ�=80դ' (�=85հ 19.27)

�=84ե�=80 �`�=80կչին�=9D �=85իսո�=82ս �'�=80իստոսի մա�=80դկային բնո�=82թեան գեղե�=81իկ �=85�=80ինակնե�=80էն
մէկն է այն �-�=85ս�=84ը, ո�=80 ա�=80տասանե�=81 �-աչին վ�=80այ, ո�=82ղղո�=82ած ի�=80 սի�=80ելի աշակե�=80տին�=9D �=85ովհաննէսին -
`Ահա�=82ասիկ մայ�=80դ'�=89

�=84�=85�=80 մը ապ�=80ո�=82մնե�=80ո�=82ն ամենէն
�=81ա�=82ալի պահը կ�ապ�=80է�=80 �=8Dո�=82�=80բ Կոյս �=84ա�=80իամը�=9D անիկա �-ո�=81ոտո�=82ած
սի�=80տով կը հետե�=82է�=80 ի�=80 ո�=80դիին չա�=80չա�=80ան�=84նե�=80ո�=82ն, �-աչի պատիժին ո�=82 մահո�=82ան�=89 Անբաժան է�=80 ի�=80 զա�=82ակէն�=89 Թե�=80ե�=82ս չէ�=80 կ�=80նա�=80 լ�=80ի�=82 ըմբռնել հռոմայե�=81ի ե�=82 հ�=80եայ ղեկավա�=80նե�=80ո�=82ն դատողո�=82թի�=82նն ո�=82 ո�=80ոշո�=82մը, սակայն մայ�=80ական սէ�=80ը կը մղէ�=80 զին�=84 ըլլալո�=82 ի�=80 ո�=80դիին հետ, �=81ա�=82ելով ո�=82 տառապելով անո�=80 հետ�=89

�=84ի�=82ս կողմէ, �=85իսո�=82ս�=9D ի�=80 ո�=80դին, հակառակ �-աչին վ�=80այ ո�=82նե�=81ած ի�=80 չա�=80չա�=80ան�=84ին ո�=82 �=81ա�=82ին, կը դառնա�=80 ե�=82 մտե�=80իմ
ե�=80իտասա�=80դ աշակե�=80տին�=9D �=85ովհաննէսին կը յանձնէ�=80 ի�=80 մայ�=80ը�=89 �=83իշդ այնպէս ինչպէս այս�=85�=80 ալ, յատկապէս �=8Dո�=82�=80բ �=85ա�=80ո�=82թեան ա�=82ետաբե�=80 տ�=85նին առիթով, ի�=82�=80ա�=84անչի�=82�=80 �=84�=80իստոնեայ հա�=82ատա�=81եալ իբ�=80ե�=82 նո�=82է�=80 պիտի ո�=82զէ�=80 ո�=82նենալ �=8Dո�=82�=80բ Կոյս �=84ա�=80իամը ո�=80պէս ի�=80 մայ�=80ը, մե�=80 բոլո�=80ին մայ�=80ը�=89

�=84այ�=80ական սէ�=80ը մե�=80 ժողովո�=82�=80դին համա�=80 այն�=84ա�=9Cն նե�=80գո�=80ծող
է եղած, ո�=80�=84ան աստո�=82ածային ոյժը�=89 �=84այ�=80ական սէ�=80ը զ�=85�=80եղ է այն�=84ան, ո�=80 կ�=80նայ վե�=80ակենդանա�=81նել մե�=80 մէջ տառապող ո�=82 մահա�=81ող ոգին�=89 �=84այ�=80ական սէ�=80ը կ�=80նայ մեզ լ�=80ի�=82 ո�=82 ամբողջական անձ դա�=80ձնել, նո�=9B�=80 մա�=80դո�=82
վե�=80ածել�=9D եթէ ինկած են�=84 �=83ո�=80ձո�=82թեան, մեղանչո�=82մի ե�=82 յո�=82սահատո�=82թեան մէջ�=89 �=84այ�=80ական սէ�=80ը կա�=80ող է աշ�-ա�=80հին �-աղաղո�=82թի�=82ն
տալ�=89

`Ահա�=82ասիկ մայ�=80դ'�=89 Խա�=82ա�=80ման գիշե�=80ո�=82ան ա�=80ա�=80ողո�=82թեան ընթա�=81�=84ին ո�=80�=84ա�=9Cն
յո�=82զիչ ե�=82 ո�=80դիական մե�=80 զգա�=81ո�=82մնե�=80ը �=81ն�=81ող է
`�=88�=9E�=82�=80 ես, մայ�=80 իմ, �=84աղ�=81�=80 ե�=82 անոյշ' ե�=80գը�=89 Եկեղե�=81�=82ոյ �-ո�=80հ�=80դա�=82ո�=80 մթո�=82թեան մէջ կը լսեն�=84 �=85իսո�=82սին ձայնը, կը տեսնեն�=84 մե�=80 մայ�=80ը, կ�ազդո�=82ին�=84 այդ պահո�=82ան զ�=85�=80ո�=82թենէն ե�=82 կը հոգե�=83ո�-ո�=82ին�=84, ո�=80ովհետե�=82 �=80այ Եկեղե�=81�=82ոյ ե�=82
�=80այ Ժողովո�=82�=80դին համա�=80 մայ�=80ը
եղած է ե�=82 է�=9B այն հիմնասի�=82նը, ո�=80 անսասան ո�=82 վճիտ կը պահէ մե�=80 ընտանի�=84ը ե�=82 անո�=80 միջո�=81ա�=82�=9D մե�=80
ժողովո�=82�=80դը�=89 Անկասակած այս հաստատո�=82մին համոզո�=82մով ո�=82 վկայո�=82թեամբ, �=84եծի �=8Fանն Կիլիկիոյ �=8Eեհա�=83առ �=80այ�=80ապետը�=9D �=86ո�=80ին �=8Dո�=82�=80բ �=95ծո�=82թի�=82ն
Ա�=80ամ Ա. Կաթողիկոսը 2013 տա�=80ին կը յայտա�=80ա�=80է�=80 `�=80այ �=84�=85�=80 �=8Fա�=80ի'�=89 Այնտեղ, մե�=80 ժողոդո�=82�=80դի դա�=80ա�=82ո�=80
�=83ո�=80ձառո�=82թենէն �=84աղած ի�=80 իմաստո�=82թեամբ, �=86ո�=80ին �=8D�=80բո�=82թի�=82նը կը շեշտէ�=80 �=80այ մ�=85�=80 ո�=82նե�=81ած առա�=84ինո�=82թի�=82ննե�=80ը ե�=82 սպասելի դե�=80ակատա�=80ո�=82թի�=82նը ընտանեկան առողջ ե�=82 �=85�=80ինակելի մթնոլո�=80տին ո�=82 դաստիա�=80ակո�=82թեան�=89 �=88�=80ովհետե�=82 �=80այ մայ�=80ը հա�=82ատ�=84ի աղբի�=82�=80 եղած է, ազգային նկա�=80ագ�=80ի կե�=80տիչ, ի�=80ա�=82 մա�=80դո�=82
ա�=80ա�=80իչ�=89

�=8Dո�=82�=80բ �=85ա�=80ո�=82թեան տ�=85նին նա�-�=85�=80եակին, �=85իսո�=82ս
բոլո�=80իս կ�ըսէ.
`Ահա�=82ասիկ մայ�=80դ'�=89 �=84այ�=80ը ի�=80 ս�=80բո�=82թեան մէջ, մայ�=80ը ի�=80 բա�=80ո�=82թեան մէջ, մայ�=80ը ի�=80 ազնի�=82 առա�=84ելո�=82թեան մէջ, մայ�=80ը�=9D ո�=80 անո�=82�=80անալի կե�=80պով ա�=80ժանի է ի�=80 զա�=82ակին կողմէ �=81ո�=82�=81աբե�=80ո�=82ած սի�=80ոյն ո�=82 գո�=82�=80գո�=82�=80ան�=84ին�=89

�'�=80իստոսի յա�=80ո�=82թի�=82նը յոյսի
տ�=85ն է, հա�=82ատ�=84ի ամ�=80ապնդո�=82մ ե�=82 մա�=80դո�=81 մէջ սի�=80ոյ հաստատո�=82մ�=89 �`ո�-ա�=80էն հատո�=82�=81ո�=82մը այն սի�=80ոյն, ո�=80 Աստո�=82ած յայտնե�=81 մա�=80դկո�=82թեան - `Աստո�=82ած այն�=84ան սի�=80ե�=81 աշ�-ա�=80հը, ո�=80 մինչե�=82 ի�=80 միածին �=88�=80դին տո�=82ա�=82'
(�=85հ 3.16)�=89 �=84եզի համա�=80, յոյսի ե�=82 հա�=82ատ�=84ի կռանո�=82մին առընթե�=80, �=8Dո�=82�=80բ �=85ա�=80ո�=82թի�=82նը հա�=82ատա�=80մո�=82թի�=82նն է յա�=82ե�=80ժական
մե�=80 �=84այ�=80 Եկեղե�=81�=82ոյ, �=84այ�=80 �=80այ�=80ենի�=84ին ե�=82 �=84այ�=80ենի լեզո�=82ին ո�=82
մշակոյթին�=89

�'�=80իստոս յա�=80եա�=9C�=82 ի մեռելո�=81�=89
�=86ո�=80 կեան�=84ի ա�=82ետիս�=89 Ապ�=80ին�=84 այս նո�=80 կեան�=84ը սի�=80ով, բա�=80ո�=82թեամբ, �=84աղ�=81�=80ո�=82թեամբ ե�=82 �-աղաղո�=82թեամբ�=89
�=95�=80հնեալ է յա�=80ո�=82թի�=82նն �'�=80իստոսի�=89

PALM SUNDAY LEADS US INTO HOLY WEEK

The parishes of the Eastern Prelacy were filled with faithful
parishioners for Palm Sunday services. Most parishes had the
traditional procession of children. Dressed in their finest attire and
carrying decorated candles, they proudly walked in a procession around
the church in celebration of the triumphal entry of Christ into
Jerusalem.

On Holy Monday the church commemorated the events concerning
the barren fig tree that did not bear fruit and was condemned by
Christ. (Matthew
21:18-22)

On Holy Tuesday parishes commemorated the parable of the ten
maidens (Matthew 25:1-13). Five were prepared with extra oil for their
lamps, and five were not. The parable teaches us to always be ready
for Christ's return. `Watch therefore, for you know neither the day
nor the hour.'

Yesterday, Holy Wednesday, the church commemorated the story
of the sinful woman who repents and anoints Jesus with expensive oil
and kisses his feet (Matthew 26:3-13), unlike Judas, who betrays
Christ for money.

Today, Holy Thursday the church remembers the events of the
Last Supper, including the Washing of the Feet (John 13:1-17). The
Tenebrae service late Thursday evening vigil commemorates the
betrayal, arrest, torture, passion and trial of Christ up to the hour
of crucifixion.

On Holy Friday the church is in deep mourning commemorating the
crucifixion and death of our Lord. The readings from the Old Testament
are from the Messianic prophecies; the Gospel readings are from
Christ's passion, crucifixion and death on the Cross.

On Holy Saturday the evening services begin the Easter
celebration, because the liturgical cycle of the day always begins in
the evening. Prior to the Divine Liturgy, the Old Testament readings
of creation and the prophecies are read. At the Easter Eve Liturgy
(Jrakalooyts) the altar curtain is open and the church discards its
mournful nature with the introit for Easter, `Christ is Risen from the
dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs
bestowing life.'

PALM SUNDAY & HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan celebrated Palm Sunday Liturgy and
delivered the sermon at St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian celebrated Palm Sunday Liturgy and
delivered the sermon at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. His
Grace and Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor, are on the front steps of
church with the deacons, altar servers, and members of the
congregation.

Archpriest Fr. Zareh Sahakian, pastor of All Saints Church, Glenview
Illinois, with deacons and altar servers and the scouts who helped
distribute the palms. (Photos courtesy Tina Tcholakian Photography)

Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian leads the Palm Sunday procession (Tapor) at
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

Holy Tuesday services at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan,
commemorating the parable of the ten maidens (Matthew 25:1-13). The
ten participants are recent graduates of the parish's Sunday School.

Holy Tuesday services at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York with
Bishop Anoushavan, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, and Choirmaster Armen
Ardzivian.

Turunpatsek service at Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland,
officiated by the parish's priest Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian. Young
Simon Soghomonian had the honor of opening the curtain ("door") during
the service.

HOLY WEEK VISITS BY PRELATE AND VICAR

Monday, March 25: Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan were joined
with Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian in the
clergymen's Easter visit to the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New
Jersey, where the principal, Mrs. Anahid Garmiryan, faculty members,
and students of the upper grades welcomed them.

Monday, March 25: Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan,
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian visited the
Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Emerson, New Jersey, where
they conducted a Home Blessing service for the residents. The
clergymen were welcomed by the chair of the Board, Andrew Torigian, as
well as administrative and nursing staff members and the Friends of
the Armenian Home.

Wednesday, March 27: Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan and
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian visited the Armenian Old Age Home in
Flushing, New York, where they conducted a Home Blessing service for
the residents, administration, and staff.

EASTER-THE MOVEABLE FEAST

Easter is the holiest of holidays for Christendom. Since the
time of the early church, determining the date of Easter has been a
matter of argument. The date of Easter is calculated to be on the
Sunday immediately following the following the Full Moon after the
Equinox (canon established by the Council of Nicea in 325 AD). Most
of Christendom, including the Armenian Church (except in Jerusalem),
follows the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox churches still use
the Julian calendar (for calculating the date of Easter). This is
partly why the dates are rarely the same. The date for Easter in the
Armenian Church can range from March 22 to April 25.

There have been a number of attempts to unify the Easter
dates. In 1965 the World Council of Churches (WCC) began a discussion
on the topic that continued for a number of years. In 1997 the WCC and
the Middle East Council of Churches hosted a meeting in Aleppo, Syria,
and they came up with a suggestion not for a fixed date, but a fixed
formula. The churches could not come to an agreement. And although it
is generally agreed that the Last Supper was the Passover meal,
Passover and Easter do not always coincide, because the date for
Passover is calculated according to the Hebrew calendar.

MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY

In observance of the tradition of the Armenian Church, the day
following each of the five major feast days is Memorial Day, or
Remembrance of the Dead. On this day the faithful visit the graves of
their loved ones to give them the good news of the Resurrection.

EXCITING ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN 2013 MUSICAL ARMENIA CONCERT

The annual, highly anticipated, Musical Armenia concert series
presented by the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and
the Prelacy Ladies Guild, will take place Friday, April 19, 2013 at 8
p.m., in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The
high standards of professionalism and exceptional talent as
represented by the roster of artists featured during the past years
continue with this celebratory 30th concert of the series. Two young
musicians are being presented who have already established their
presence on the American and international music scenes: Nune
Melikian, violinist, born in Siberia, and Narine Ojakhyan, soprano,
born in Yerevan.

Nune Melikian, a child prodigy, began her musical studies with
piano lessons at the age of four and at the age of six entered
Grigoriy Freivert's violin class. One year later she made her
orchestra debut in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic Society of
Kazan.

Nune's talent continued to develop in the Central Music School
in Moscow, the Gnessin Music College and later at the Moscow
conservatory. She received a two year scholarship to continue her
studies at the University of Montreal in Canada with Professor
Vladimir Landsman, receiving her Master's Degree in 2011. At present,
she is studying with Professor Albert Markov in New York.

Nune has performed as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral
violinist throughout Russia, Europe and Canada. She has received
grants from the Vladimir Spivakov Musical Fund and the David Oistrakh
Musical Fund. Nune has also participated in music festivals and master
classes including the `Stars of XXI century' with Vladimir Spivakov in
Moscow Russia, Copenhagen, Denmark and Rome, Italy.

Narine Ojakhyan, a graduate of the Yerevan State Conservatory
in the studio of Marianna Harutiunyan, continued her education at the
Royal Academy of Music in London and received her post graduate
diploma in performance and Master's Degree from the opera
program. Narine has also participated in many prestigious
festivals. She has studied with Joy Mammen and Jonathan Papp at the
Royal Academy and coached with renowned artists Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,
Fredrica Von Stade, Barbara Bonney and Dennis O'Neill.

In the summer of 2012, Narine was chosen to participate in the
Caramoor festival. She has also participated in the Verbier Festival
2010 in Switzerland, performing the operatic roles of Mimi in La
Boh�me, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Sir Colin
Davis and John Copley and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor for
the Iford Arts in England. Narine is a winner of several competitions
including the Opera Rara Patric Schmid Bel Canto Prize in London and
3rd place winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
(Western region) in 2010.

With such credentials by both artists, the audience will
surely experience and enjoy a beautiful concert program of selections
from the classical and Armenian repertoire.

Tickets for the concert are $25 and may be purchased through
the Carnegie Hall Box Office or by calling the Prelacy at (212)
689-7810.

(Lucy Ishkanian)

DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM

St. Gregory of Datev Institute will hold its 27th annual Summer
Program for youth ages 13-18 at the St. Mary of Providence Center in
Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 30 - July 7, 2013. The Program is
sponsored b6y the Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC). For registration and information, please contact the AREC
office at 212-689-7810 or at [email protected] or click here
(http://e2.ma/click/4rt8c/4f4cee/kkuwz).

STUDENTS FROM ROSE & ALEX PILIBOS SCHOOL VISIT CATHEDRAL

The 8th grade students of the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian
School in Los Angeles, California, visited St. Illuminator's Cathedral
on March 20. Accompanied by the principal of the school, Dr. Alina
Dorian, and three teachers, they visited the Cathedral during a class
trip to New York and Washington, DC.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, gave the
students a tour and spoke to them about the history of the Cathedral
and answered the many questions posed by the students. Der Mesrob
presented Armenian crosses to the students as a memento of their
visit.

Eighth grade students of the Rose & Alex Pilibos School at
St. Illuminator's Cathedral in New York, with Der Mesrob and the
principal and teachers accompanying the students.

Students praying at the Martyrs' Altar at the Cathedral.

HUYSER MUSIC ENSEMBLE PERFORMS

The Huyser Music Ensemble, under the sponsorship of
St. Illuminator's Cathedral, presented `Project I-International
Rhythms,' on March 16, at the Cathedral's John Pashalian Hall that had
been beautifully decorated. The concert included many international
rhythms with Spanish guitar music as well as English, Italian, and
Armenian music. The program also included a guest performance by
international singer/songwriter, Monica Lofgren of Sweden.

The Ensemble expressed appreciation for the presence of
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator's Cathedral, and
Rev. Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan, pastor of the Armenian Church of the
Holy Martyrs, Bayside, New York, along with representatives of many
different Armenian organizations.

The Ensemble's director, Harout Barsoumian, created a friendly
and relaxed atmosphere that encouraged the audience to interact with
the performers including a sing-a-long encore.

This concert was the first of a series planned that will lead
the group to its upcoming big show in the fall.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian and Board of Trustee members with the
Cathedral's Huyser Musical Ensemble.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, March 31, Easter Sunday are: Acts
1:15-26; Mark 16:2-8. Evening Gospels: Luke 24:13-36; John 20:1-18;
John 5:24-30; John 19:31-37; John 20: 19-25.

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had
risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another,
`Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?'
When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large,
had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a
young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and
they were alarmed. But he said to them, `Do not be alarmed; you are
looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised;
he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell
his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee;
there you will see him, just as he told you.' So they went out and
fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they
said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:2-8)

For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://e2.ma/click/4rt8c/4f4cee/0cvwz).

Palm Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in
Antelias, Lebanon.

DELEGATION AT ENTHRONEMENT OF POPE FRANCIS

A delegation representing the Holy See of Cilicia attended the
enthronement of Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica on March 19 at
the Vatican. The delegation included Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, Archbishop Nareg
Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Holy See of Cilicia, and
benefactors Alecco and Annie Bezdikian. The delegation met with the
Pope the next day and conveyed to him the greetings of Catholicos Aram
I. The Pope in return asked the delegation to extend his greetings to
the Catholicos.

INSTALLATION OF ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Bishop Justin Welby was installed as the 105th Archbishop of
Canterbury on March 21 at the Canterbury Cathedral in
England. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western
Prelacy, attended the installation service as a representative of His
Holiness Aram I. Archbishop Welby succeeds Archbishop Rowan Williams
as the leader of the Church of England.

In a letter to the new Archbishop of Canterbury, His Holiness
Aram expressed his good wishes and expressed the hope that ecumenical
relations between the two churches would be strengthened.

PRIME MINISTER OF KARABAGH VISITS ANTELIAS

His Holiness Aram I welcomed the Prime Minister of Karabagh,
Ara Haroutiounian, and his delegation on March 20 to the
Catholicosate. The Prime Minister and delegation were visiting Lebanon
to discuss new business partnerships. His Holiness hosted a reception
for his guests where they met members of the Executive Council of the
Catholicosate, representatives of the three Armenian political
parties, and about 200 business executives.

In his welcoming words, the Catholicos spoke about the measures
the President and Prime Minister are taking to strengthen the economy
of Karabagh and encouraged the local business community to help in
every way possible.

Previous `This Week in Armenian History' entries are on the Prelacy's
web page.

Go to www.armenianprelacy.org (http://e2.ma/click/4rt8c/4f4cee/g5vwz)
and click on the icon.

Death of Kristapor Kara-Murza (March 27, 1902)

This year is the 160th anniversary of the birth of composer
Kristapor Kara-Murza, introducer of choral music in Armenian
culture. He was born on March 2, 1853 (February 18, according to the
old Julian calendar) in the town of Gharasu-Bazar, currently
Bielogorsk, in the Crimea (Ukraine). He started to play piano and
flute at age 8 and also took private lessons from music teachers in
the town. He developed his abilities to read and write music. He was
just a teenager when he started to organize and offer concerts.

He moved to Tiflis, the capital of the viceroyalty of the
Caucasus, in 1882, and then to Baku from 1885-1892. He was the editor
of musical criticism for the daily Mshak, edited by Grigor
Artzruni. Kara-Murza offered the first concert of choral music in
Armenian history, with a program of patriotic songs, at the theater
founded by Artzruni in Tiflis. This was a novelty, as Armenian music
was fundamentally written on a one-voice basis, as opposed to European
four voices (polyphony). During the next seventeen

years, until his premature death at the age of 49, the composer
organized some 90 choral groups in fifty cities of Armenia and outside
the country, including Tiflis, Baku, Etchmiadzin,
Nakhichevan-on-the-Don, Odessa, Batum, Moscow, Kars, Shushi,
Constantinople, and others, and gave more than 250 concerts with the
participation of 6,000 people.

Kara-Murza's most important achievement was the collection of
Armenian religious and popular songs, and their musical arrangement
and conversion into polyphonic music. In 1887 he premiered his
arrangement of the Divine Liturgy in a concert in Baku. He taught
music at the Kevorkian Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1892-1893, and
later settled back in Tiflis, where he gave special courses to musical
conductors.

He also composed songs with lyrics by Armenian poets, as well
as music a cappella, and also arranged operatic melodies. He presented
in Baku fragments of Faust, the famous opera of French composer
Charles Gounod (1818-1893), in Armenian translation. Kara-Murza
arranged 300 choral and popular songs, among them such classics as
`Dzidzernag,' `Zinch oo zinch,' `Kezi mernim,' `Khorodig,' `Lepho
lele.' He also composed and transcribed popular dances, and became
the precursor to the modern song and dance ensembles.

In recent years, Kara-Murza has been credited with the
composition of the music of the song `Mer Hairenik,' with lyrics by
Mikael Nalbandian (1829-1866), which he premiered in Tiflis, in
1885. His music was the basis for the arrangement by Parsegh Ganachian
(1885-1967), one of Gomidas' disciples, which is performed today as
the Armenian national anthem.

Encouraged by the favorable reception of `This Week in Armenian
History,' which has been running in `Crossroads' for the past ten
months, the Armenian National Education Committee launches a new
series this week. `The Armenian Language Corner' will be published in
Crossroads every two weeks. We hope this, like the history series,
will be of general interest as well as helpful for our students and
teachers.

The First Letter of Christ and the Last Letter of Armenia

The letter �=84 (k'), called �=84է (ke), is the last of the
36-letter alphabet created by St. Mesrob Mashdots in the early fifth
century A.D. As it is well known, the letters o and �=86 were added to
the alphabet in the late Middle Ages.

The pronunciation of this letter is a bit problematic in
Western Armenian. The loss of aspiration of the consonants (the
pronunciation of �=84 should be something like the k in kite) has led
us to not differentiate between �=84 and գ (kim), a problem that is
also present in the pairs �=83 (piur)-բ (pen) and դ (ta)-թ
(toh). We will use the transliteration k', which is utilized in
scholarly texts, to show that phonetic difference in writing.

It was certainly fitting that the last letter of the alphabet
was the one used to write the name of Christ: �'�=80իստոս
(K'ristos). The passage of Revelation 1:8, `I am the Alpha and the
Omega' (omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet) was translated
into Classical Armenian as the equivalent `Ես եմ Այբ ե�=82
ես եմ �'է'. As a matter of fact, the letter �' is equivalent to
the Greek Χ (Χ�=81ι�=83�=84ο�=82) and, indeed, to the ch used in
words such as Christopher (�'�=80իստա�=83ո�=80),
chrysantemus(�=84�=80իզանթեմ),
chronicle(�=84�=80ոնիկ). When German physicist Wilhelm R�ntgen
discovered X-rays in 1895, the equivalence between �=84 and the Greek
Χ led to translate the word X-ray as `�' ճառագայթ' (K
jarakayt) in Armenian.

Most interestingly, this letter had a double function in
Classical Armenian (krapar). It served as a plural suffix. For
instance, the plural of the word գի�=80(kir) `letter' was kirk'
(`letters') and this created in time the word kirk' (`book'). In
Modern Armenian (ashjarhapar), the function of the k' was mostly taken
up by the suffixes -ner and -er; thus, today we say kirk'er (`books'),
where the root is kirk' and there is no longer awareness of k' being a
plural suffix.

However, this does not always work. One way or another, krapar
is always alive in our current usage of ashjarhapar. There are some
words used in plural interchangeably with the suffix k' or the
suffixes er/ner; however, we cannot (we should not) use both of them
together. For instance, we say dghak' or dghaner (`boys'); it is
grammatically incorrect to say dghak'ner.

This plural use of the k' gave birth to its use as a suffix for
place names. For instance, the plural of hay `Armenian' was hayk'
(`Armenians'), and this became the name of the country of the
Armenians: Hayk' (�=80այ�=84). Thus, throughout history we have
used the words Medz Hayk' (�=84եծ �=80այ�=84) and P'ok'r Hayk'
(�`ո�=84�=80 �=80այ�=84) to designate =80=9CGreater Armenia' and
`Lesser Armenia.' Additionally, we should remember that every time we
use the word hayots (հայո�=81), as in hayots badmoutioun, we are
using krapar: hayots is the declined form of hayk,' and hayots
badmoutioun is the standard way to say `history of the Armenians' (in
krapar, it also meant... `History of Armenia').

Comments or suggestions for future columns are welcome and can be sent
to [email protected].

(http://e2.ma/click/4rt8c/4f4cee/wxwwz)

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 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.

YOUNG ADULTS JOIN TO AID SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY WITH BENEFIT
CONCERT ON APRIL 6

According to the United Nations this week the number of Syrian
refugees passed the one million mark. In an op-ed article in the New
York Times on March 5, Antonio Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees, called it `A milestone in human tragedy.' Our large and
vibrant Armenian community in Syria is part of that human tragedy.

Determined to help, young adults from the metropolitan area
joined forces in a Pan Armenian Youth Alliance and have organized a
benefit concert for the Syrian Armenian community. The entire metro
area community is supporting this benefit concert that will feature
four Armenian dance groups and more than 16 artists. The event will
take place on Saturday, April 6 at 7 pm, at Felician College, 262
South Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey.

The concert is under the auspices of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern Diocese), the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
(Eastern Prelacy), and is sponsored by the following organizations:
ACYOA, AGBU, AMAA, ARS, AYF, Columbia University Armenian Students,
Fordham University Armenian Club, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, Hovnanian
School Alumni, Hye Doon, Knights of Vartan, Rutgers Armenian Students
Association, and Tekeyan Cultural Association.

Dance groups participating include Hamazkayin Dance Group,
Yeraz Dance Ensemble, Antranig Dance Ensemble, and Akhtamar Dance
Ensemble.

Artists participating include: Jaq Hagopian, Garo Gomidas,
Eduardo Diamante, Nishan Tchaghatsbanian, Antoinette Kassas, Alyne
Corrigan, Rubik Vardanyan, Vicken Makoushian, Samvel Nerisyan, Armine
Vardanyan, Anoosh Barclay, Hasmik Mekhanedjian, Karine Ojakhyan,
Anahit Zakaryan, Karine Poghosyan, and Diana Vasilyan. Appo Jabarian
will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, along with remarks by Garbis
Kazanjian, and poetry recitation by Karine Kocharyan.

Tickets that are priced at $35 and $50 can be purchased by
contacting the following individuals:

Talar Ardzivian, (631) 807-7398

Anahid Kaprielian, (551) 427-8765

Lori Pilibosian, (248) 321-2043

Maral Kaprielian, (201) 289-6486

George Khorozian, (201) 390-5678

Hagop Hagopian, (201) 736-1078

Or through the Prelacy office by email ([email protected]) or
telephone (212-689-7810, Ext. 26).

(http://e2.ma/click/4rt8c/4f4cee/cqxwz)

ARMENIAN CROSS

The Cross was the first image of veneration for early
Christians. The reverence shown toward the Cross by the Armenians is
particularly strong and creative. Throughout history Armenians adorned
the Cross with intricate decorations and floral pedestals. Thus, the
Armenian Cross is distinctive and instantly recognizable, and seen as
a `living' cross. This beautiful Armenian Cross will grace your home
throughout the years. It comes in a lovely box and is suitable as a
gift for a special person or family. It is approximately 8 inches in
height.

SPECIAL FOR THE EASTER SEASON: $35.00 (including shipping & handling)
(Regularly $50 plus shipping & handling)

To order contact the Prelacy Bookstore by email
([email protected]) or by telephone (212-689-7810).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 2-International Children's Book Day at the Armenian Library &
Museum of America (ALMA), 65 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts,
with author Lucine Kasbarian and book review editor Wilda Williams,
7:30 pm. Suggested donation: $5. Copies of Lucine Kasbarian's books
will be available for purchase. For information: Caroline Ly, Programs
Manager ([email protected]).

April 4-Avak Luncheon at noon, St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts. Speaker, Joe Almasian, `A Return to the 1994 World
Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, as part of Armenia's bobsled
team.'

April 6-Pan Armenian Youth Alliance presents `Syrian Armenian Benefit
Concert,' under the auspices of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
and sponsorship of ACYOA, AGBU, AMAA, AYF, Columbia ASA, Fordham
Armenian Club, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, Hovnanian Alumni, Hye Doon,
Knights of Vartan, Rutgers ASA, Tekeyan. Featuring, Hamazkayin Dance
Group, Yeraz Dance Ensemble, Antranig Dance Ensemble, Akhtamar Dance
Ensemble, Jaq Hagopian, Garo Gomidas, Eduardo Diamante, Nishan
Tchaghasbanian, Antoinette Kassas, Alyne Corrigan, and
others. Felician College, 262 South Main Street, Lodi, New
Jersey. Tickets $35 and $50.

April 13-Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for pastors, boards of
trustees, and delegates, organized by Prelacy Religious and Executive
Councils, and hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, 10 am
to 4 pm.

April 13-Second Annual Benefit Dance sponsored by the Armenian
Churches of Worcester County. Proceeds benefit worthy Armenian
charities, including the Armenian community in Syria. The host
churches are: Armenian Church of the Martyrs; Armenian Church of Our
Savior; Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church; Soorp Asdvadzadzin
Armenian Apostolic Church.

April 14-Walk Armenia sponsored by the Armenian Relief Society
(Eastern), organized by the New York Mayr and Erebuni Chapters, for
the benefit of Camp Haiastan. Registration is at noon at
St. Illuminator's Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York; walk begins
at 1 pm (approximately two miles). Participation fee is
$25. Participants are encouraged to secure as many sponsors as
possible. For information: Nayda Voskerijian, by email
([email protected]) or telephone (516-739-0805); and Anahid
Ugurlayan by email ([email protected]) or telephone (917-751-4916).

April 14-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Membership Meeting, immediately after the Divine Liturgy.

April 14-`A New Atlas for a New Generation.' Speaker: Dr. Vartan
Matiossian, Executive Director of Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC), St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, following the
Divine Liturgy in Founders Hall. Copies of the Atlas of Historical
Armenia will be available for sale.

April 17-28-Online Charity Auction by Armenian Relief Society Eastern
USA, to benefit worldwide programs of the ARS Eastern USA. To bid on
auction items or make online donations visit
www.biddingforgood.com/arseastusa
(http://e2.ma/click/4rt8c/4f4cee/siywz) or contact committee at
[email protected].

April 19-The 30th Musical Armenia concert, Weill Recital Hall at
Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York City. Featured
artists: Narine Ojakhyan, soprano and Nune Melikiian,
violin. Sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy and the Prelacy Ladies Guild.

April 21-98th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Times Square
(43rd and Broadway, New York), 2 to 4 pm, organized by the
Mid-Atlantic chapters of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan, and
co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian
Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian
Council of America, and the Armenian Democratic
League-Ramgavars. Participating organizations: Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Catholic
Eparchy for U.S. and Canada, the Mid-Atlantic Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America, Armenian Youth Federation, Armenian youth
organizations, and Armenian university and college clubs.

May 5-`A New Atlas for a New Generation.' Speaker: Dr. Vartan
Matiossian, Executive Director of Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC), St. Illuminator's Cathedral, following the Divine
Liturgy in Pashalian Hall. Copies of the Atlas of Historical Armenia
will be available for sale.

May 7-`Treasured Objects,' an illustrated interactive lecture by
Dr. Susan Pattie, at Graduate Center at the City University of New
York Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center, 365 Fifth Avenue,
New York City, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Copies of her most recent book,
`Treasured Objects: Armenian Life in the Ottoman Empire,' coauthored
with colleagues at the Armenian Institute in London, will be available
for purchase. For information: [email protected].

May 12-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Mother's Day
celebration organized by the Senior Citizens Committee.

May 16, 17, 18-National Representative Assembly hosted by Soorp Khatch
Church, Bethesda, Maryland.

May 16 and 17-National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) Conference
in conjunction with the National Representative Assembly, hosted by
Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland. This year's raffle drawing
will benefit the Mother and Child Clinic in the Akhorian region of
Armenia and the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund. To purchase ($10 each;
three for $25) contact NALG Executive (Sharke Der Apkarian at
[email protected] or 978-685-7243.

June 30-July 7-27th Annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute, at St. Mary
of Providence Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania, sponsored by the
Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education Cou8ncil (AREC). For
information contact the AREC office3 by email
([email protected]) or phone (212-689-7810).

July 4-11-4th Annual Summer Camp for Orphans will take place in
Dzaghgztazor, Armenia, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy. Orphans ages
13 to 16 who are enrolled in the Prelacy's Orphan Sponsorship program
are eligible to attend to learn about the Armenian Church and
history. The week long program includes Bible study and prayers and
meditation combined with summer fun activities and fellowship with
other campers. For more information contact Archpriest Fr. Aram
Stepanian by email ([email protected]) or by phone (508-865-2454).

July 14-`A Hye Summer Night VII' Dinner Dance sponsored by Ladies
Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church and Armenian Relief Society `Ani'
Chapter of Providence, Rhode Island, at the Providence Marriott Hotel,
One Orms Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02904, 6 pm to 1
am. Featuring: Joe Kouyoumjian (oud), Brian Ansbigian (oud), David
Ansbigian (oud), Leon Janikian (clarinet), Ken Kalajian (guitar),
Jason Naroian (dumbeg), Armen Janigian (Daf). For tickets ($50 per
person) and information: Joyce Bagdasarian (401-434-4467); Joyce
Yeremian (401-354-8770).

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

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

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

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

Crossroads E-Newsletter - March 28, 2013

Crossroads E-Newsletter - March 28, 2013