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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/
December 18, 2014
Faithful to Our God; Faithful to Our People
`All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you,
or been false to your covenant.' (Psalm 44:17)
People who have gone through the difficulties and turmoil of life
understand and unwillingly accept that suffering and persecution are
events that happen to human creatures. This experience pounds into
them a mindset to endure human relationship's most difficult
conditions. They become =80=9Cabove' man, a `super' man, while at the
same
time reinforcing the supernatural secret of endurance and survival.
During these days leading to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
joyful Christian world forgets anxieties and pain and enjoys the
happiness that hope brings. Our Christian faith comes to us to spread
the news that God's supreme love was revealed to us with the birth of
Jesus, while at the same time proclaiming love and mercy toward all
humankind. Christ's merciful touch fills the faithful with complete
obedience to Him. His
mercy deeply kindles the love and trust of the faithful in Him.
The road to salvation that Christ brought to humankind also became the
road for our people. In spite of centuries of difficulties and
persecution, our fathers carried the cross with Him, and walked toward
Golgotha; many times they were crucified, but at no time did they
break the covenant they sealed with God. We maintained our
faithfulness and fought to survive with hope
and the faith of resurrection. And we survived, always celebrating
through
the remembrance of Christ's birth, our continuous resurrection,
budding, and strength in the lives of our people.
We are in the closing days of December 2014, with the year 2015
opening before us.
How deeply we would have wanted the peace, love, and solidarity of
Christ's birth to be pure for us! We have carried with us a deep and
bloody pain for one hundred years and every year we experience the
stress of the remembrance and gird ourselves with hope and resolve as
we relive the memory and legacy of the millions of victims of the
Genocide.
`I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the
Lord,' (Psalm 118:17)
Contrary to their cruel death, the martyrs did not die. Their
posterity lived in order to relate their martyrdom, to live through
them with the same resolve. Their death became the inspiration for
those who followed, and behold, one hundred years later, through our
lives and our deeds we recount their martyrdom of blood and are
witness to the lives we live according to our will and faith.
We witnessed the best vow to gain life through martyrdom, when in
November
all of the bishops of the Armenian Church met under the presidency of
the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II and the
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, and
agreed to sainthood for our faithful martyrs (the sanctification will
take place on the forthcoming 2015 Martyrs day). Thereafter, we will
no longer pray for their immortal
souls, but will rather beseech them to intercede and hear our
prayers. Behold the miracle of gaining life through martyrdom.
And this must be our duty and our song, just as the Hebrew people
during their exile sang with longing for their land. It is necessary
for us to affirm that the Armenian people and our Motherland are the
object of our purpose and the summit of our goal.
`How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?' (Psalm 137:4)
Yes, we can, if our Motherland becomes an impelling force and the
focus of
our everyday life; if being Armenian becomes an everyday concern; if
our goal becomes the perpetuity of our nation.
Christ was born and revealed.
May our people be re-born with new hope and the power to overcome.
60th ANNIVERSARY OF GRANITE CITY'S ST. GREGORY CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the
sermon last Sunday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite
City, Illinois. His Eminence presided over the celebration of the
parish's 60th anniversary during which six members of the parish were
honored for their service to the church. The honorees were: Susan
Hagopian, Janet Haroian, Takouhie Kakligian, Stanley Karibian, Leslie
Lovett, and Marlene Manoogian.
Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory
Church, Granite City, with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Torkom
Chorbajian assisting.
Archbishop Oshagan with the honorees.
VICAR ATTENDS COAF DINNER
Bishop Anoushavan attended the Children of Armenia Fund's (COAF) 11th
annual holiday gala last Friday in New York. The gala raised $2.4
million to help children in rural Armenia. Ara Arslanian was honored
with the Humanitarian Award and Alexis Ohanian received the Save the
Generation Award.
Bishop Anoushavan with COAF founder Garo Armen.
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION DISCUSSED AT
ST. ILLUMINATOR'S CATHEDRAL
Joseph Garrett and Bared Maronian visited St. Illuminator's Cathedral
in New York last week for a working session regarding the
commemoration
of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Garrett, a
digital media executive and internet entrepreneur, is the
great-grandson of Cleveland H. Dodge, one of the founders and the
first president of Near East Relief (now Near East Foundation) that
was founded in 1915 as `The American Committee for Syrian and Armenian
Relief,' in response to the massive humanitarian crisis precipitated
by the Ottoman Empire.
Mr. Maronian, a four-time Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, is
the
director of the `Orphans of the Genocide' documentary. Currently he is
working on the documentary `Women of 1915' that will bring to light
the lesser known, but equally compelling stories of compassion and
humanitarian relief provided by Armenian and non-Armenian women from
the United States, Canada, and Europe. The documentary will highlight
the integral role Armenian women played in their families and
communities, coupled with the courage and resolve shown to save their
children and their Christian faith from forced Islamization.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with Bared Maronian (left) and John Garrett
at the Martyrs Memorial Altar at St. Illuminator's Cathedral.
ST. STEPHEN CHURCH HONORS ELDERS
The year 2014 was designated as `The Year of the Elderly,'
by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. In
order
to bring this year-long focus to a close in a memorable way,
St. Stephen's Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, and the Armenian
Relief Society Social Services honored the elderly on December 6 in a
festive event with
more than 170 people attending.
Following the invocation by the parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Antranig
Baljian, and table fellowship, Der Hayr spoke about why elders have
been looked upon as an essential part of the community and have played
such an important role in society as described in scripture and
recognized throughout Armenian history. Four individuals were honored
for their years of service within the community. Der Hayr presented
Certificates of Merit to Mrs. Hasmig Der Vartanian, Mrs. Zona
Zerdelian, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Florence Markarian.
>From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Hasmig Der Vartanian (Honoree),
Nartouhi Abrimian and Der Antranig.
>From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Sonia Zerdelian Iradian (Honoree),
Nartouhi
Abrimian and Der Antranig.
>From left, Der Antranig and honorees Florence and Joe Markarian.
LITURGICAL CALENDAR POSTER
The 2015 color poster of the Liturgical Calendar of the Armenian
Apostolic
Church is now available at the Prelacy. This 27x36 inch poster belongs
in every classroom, church hall and home.
The Armenian Apostolic Church uses a liturgical calendar to mark its
feasts and fasts and seasons, like all traditional churches but with
its own unique features. As one can readily see, the Armenian Church
year has eight seasons, depicted on the poster in different colors
with the names of the seasons indicated in the outermost ring: 1)
Nativity and Epiphany, 2) Lent, 3)
Easter, 4) Pentecost, 5) Transfiguration, 6) Assumption of the Holy
Mother
of God, 7) Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 8) Advent. The innermost ring
shows the months.
The weeks of the year are represented by the sectors of the circle,
starting with Sunday and moving towards the center, with slots for
each day of the week. Sunday is the first day of the week,
mi-ya-shapat (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1), the day Jesus rose
from the dead. Christians from the earliest times designated Sunday as
`the day of the Lord' (deroonee / deroonagan). The word geeragee
(Sunday) comes from the Greek Kyriaki, meaning dominical, lordly,
royal. Thus, all Sundays are dominical days, commemorating and
celebrating the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ (along with
other dominical celebrations, such as the ascension, transfiguration,
and so forth). Some dominical feasts could also be celebrated during
the week, for instance, the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord Jesus
Christ
on January 6.
In addition to dominical (deroonee) feasts, we also have feasts
dedicated to saints. On saints' days the church remembers and
celebrates those Christians who have bore an exemplary witness to
Jesus Christ and to his gospel-these include the apostles, the
martyrs, the confessors, teachers, ascetics, bishops, priests,
deacons, kings, queens, princes, and people from all walks of life,
male and female, young and old. In our tradition, saints are
commemorated and celebrated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays, except during the weekdays of Great Lent and the 50 days of
Easter. This coming year, the Armenian Church will canonize the
martyrs of 1915 genocide as saints.
The church does not always celebrate. There are also days of fasting,
set aside for self-restrain and self-examination; hence festivities
are not compatible with the ethos of the days of fasting. In the
Armenian tradition, Wednesdays and Fridays are designated as days of
fasting, except during the eight days of the Christmas festivities and
during the forty days after Easter festivities. We also have ten
weeklong fasts preceding major feasts and
commemorations, observed from Monday through Friday, except for the
fast of the Nativity which is six days. And there is the great fast
(medz bahk) of Great Lent, preceding the feast of feasts: the
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter).
The liturgical calendar poster indicates all these with names and
dates=80'showing all Sundays and other dominical days, saints' days,
and days of fasting.
As part of the celebration and commemoration of feasts and saints'
days, as well as observing days of fasting, the Armenian Church has
assigned Bible readings for all these days. To see the daily Bible
readings prescribed in our lectionary, please visit the Prelacy's
website at armenianprelacy.org
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/8y9cqb). And for more info
about Feast and Fast, please click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/oradqb).
To order copies of the liturgical calendar poster, please contact the
Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or at [email protected]. The cost of
the poster is $5.00 plus shipping and handling.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, December 21, Fifth Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 40:18-31; Hebrews 4:16-5:10; Luke 18:9-14.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they
were
righteous and regarded others with contempt. `Two men went up to the
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The
Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you
that I
am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my
income.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to
heaven,
but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather
than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all
who
humble themselves will be exalted.' (Luke 18:9-14)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/4jbdqb).
DAVID THE PROPHET KING; HOLY APOSTLE JAMES
This Tuesday, December 23, the Armenian Church commemorates David the
Prophet King and James the Brother of the Lord.
David was the youngest of eight brothers and was brought up to be a
shepherd where he learned courage, tenderness, and caring. David
became the second King of Israel. In the Bible, the name David belongs
solely to him, which
indicates the unique place he had as an ancestor and forerunner of our
Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament there are more than 50
references to David, including the title given to Jesus-Son of
David. David was a poet and the author of some of the Psalms.
James the Apostle, called `Brother of the Lord,' probably because of
his close relationship with Jesus, was granted a special appearance of
the Lord after the Resurrection. He is believed to have been a first
cousin of the Lord, or as some biblical scholars have suggested, a son
of Joseph. After the Resurrection and the Ascension, while the other
apostles scattered all over the world, James remained in Jerusalem
where he served as the Bishop and became a leading spokesman of the
early church.
SAINT STEPHEN, FIRST DEACON
Next Thursday, December 25, the Armenian Church commemorates
St. Stephen, the first deacon and proto-martyr. After Christ's
ascension, the apostles went about spreading the Word. It soon became
apparent that more people were needed to serve the growing church
community. Seven worthy individuals were called upon to serve the Holy
Altar and called `deacons' (sarkavag). The most noteworthy of the
seven was Stephen, described
as a `man full of faith and the Holy Spirit' (Acts 6:5). The Feast of
St. Stephen is a popular and important commemoration in the Armenian
Church. It is also a day to honor all deacons of the
church. St. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church
and is therefore called
the `proto-martyr.' The only information about his life and death is
in the Book of Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:8 and 8:2).
HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
On Saturday, December 27, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Apostles Peter and Paul, perhaps the two individuals who had the
greatest role in
the growth of Christianity. It is, therefore, appropriate that the
Church honors them together.
After the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and asked
him to tell the other apostles of His appearance and to give them His
message (Luke 24:34-35). Peter was renowned for his oratory skills,
and he used his talent to spread the Word. He preached in Rome and
founded the church there. He is considered to be the first Bishop of
Rome. According to tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome upside down
because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the
Lord. He was buried in Rome and his relics are enshrined under the
high altar of the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica.
Paul (Saul) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia. He was an oppressor of the
early Christians until on the road to Damascus he converted when a
brilliant light blinded him and he heard, `Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?
I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Enter the City and you will be
told what to do,' (Acts 9:4-6; 26:12-16). Saul was baptized and
renamed Paul and he went on to become the greatest preacher of the new
religion, traveling and writing extensively. Many theologians credit
him for shaping the
future of the Church. His fourteen epistles comprise more than
one-third of the New Testament, not including the Book of Acts, which
although written
by Luke, primarily is an account of Paul's preaching.
CHRISTMAS WORLDWIDE
Next Thursday, December 25, is Christmas for most of the Christian
world.
Originally all of Christendom celebrated the birth, baptism, visit of
the Magi, and the First Miracle at Cana, on January 6. Of course the
actual date of Christ's birth is not known. Rome changed the
celebration to December 25 in the year 336, and this date gradually
became accepted; December 25 was officially adopted as the birthday of
Christ at the Council
of Chalcedon (451)-a Council the Armenian Church did not attend and
never accepted. Therefore, the Armenian Church to this day has
remained faithful to the original date of January 6.
Our parents were wise to celebrate both December 25 and January 6. It
is nearly impossible to escape the holiday activity leading up to
December 25. For us January 6th was a more religious event; we
attended the long church service from beginning to end as a family,
and then spent the rest of the day with extended family. My late
mother used to tell us, `Our Lord is worthy of two birthday
celebrations.'
SOUND OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC IN PHILLY
The Sanctuary of St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia was filled with
joy, peace, the `sound of music,' last Saturday evening as
parishioners joined in singing and praising God during the parish's
first
Advent concert. Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian welcomed the worshippers,
explained the meaning of `Advent' and the concert as a way of escaping
the secularism and stress of the world during this special season and
embracing the true message of Christmas-the birth of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Ara Eloian, master organist, offered two Advent
selections that were followed with four Christmas selections, Gospel
readings from the Book of Luke, group caroling, and a candle lighting
ceremony and the
collective signing of `Silent Night' in English and Armenia in a
darkened Sanctuary lit only by candlelight. A reception took place in
Terhanian Hall, where all gathered for shared fellowship.
The popular Christmas carol, `Silent Night,' is sung in the darkened
sanctuary.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT IN NORTH ANDOVER
Children presented a beautiful Christmas pageant at St. Gregory Church
of Merrimack Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts, last week, to the
delight
of parishioners that included parents, grandparents, friends and
relatives. (photos by Violet Dagdigian)
The angels of North Andover in the Christmas pageant.
The star of Bethlehem guides the pageant.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ST. SARKIS
The St. Sarkis Church community of Douglaston, New York, enjoyed a
Simply Wonderful Christmas recital last Sunday. The annual Christmas
tradition is now in its 6th year and has become an event the
parishioners look forward to each year. This year, following the
Divine Liturgy, parishioners were overjoyed to enjoy a beautifully
orchestrated concert, featuring the beautiful
voice of Hooshere, and talented musicians Elizabeth Kalfayan (cello)
and Peter Douskalis (acoustic guitar). A reception took place in the
parish's main hall following the concert.
Traditional Christmas Carols were presented with an Armenian twist.
CATHEDRAL SENDS SHOES TO SISTER COMMUNITY
St. Illuminator Cathedral's sister community in Lchkadzor, Armenia,
received the first 200 pairs of winter and summer shoes from the
Prelacy's St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The donation
became possible after Archbishop Oshagan's recent visit to
Armenia. The
shoes have been distributed to school children in the community as
well as
to needy families.
Shipment of winter shoes are being distributed to children in
Lchkadzor, Armenia, through the St. Nerses the Great Charitable
Organization with the sponsorship of St. Illuminator's Cathedral.
PROJECT SAVE AT ST. STEPHEN'S SCHOOL
Principal Houry Boyamian of St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School,
and Ruth Thomasian, Executive Director of Project SAVE Armenian
Photograph Archives, both located in Watertown, Massachusetts, have
entered into a
teaching collaboration to engage fourth-grade students in discovering
their Armenian heritage through vintage photographs. On October 23,
2014, as part of their Armenian Cultural Day celebration, students
were introduced to this discovery process with a unique classroom
program presented by Ruth, a
former elementary school teacher herself.
Using enlargements of vintage photographs from the collections of
Project SAVE Archives, Ruth engaged students in observing details and
using these clues to `read' the photographs and discover their deeper
meaning. She asked students to observe all the many `things' in the
photo, and then went on to ask `What-do-you-think?' types of questions
followed by, `And your reason is?' In this way students learned to
support their thoughts with the details they have observed. The
challenge for students was to be observant and to support their ideas
with visible details. St. Stephen's will incorporate Project SAVE
Archives' `Reading Photographs' into the fourth grade enrichment
program every year.
Project SAVE Archives' mission is to preserve and promote Armenian
heritage through photograph. Its `Reading Photographs' program at
St. Stephen's School is both a contribution to the community and a
thank-you for local support of its archives and educational
programs. St. Stephen's is fully accredited by the Association of
Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the accrediting body for
independent elementary schools. AISNE has commended the school `for
creating an environment where all the students love to read and appear
committed to academic excellence and for recruiting a remarkably
talented and dedicated staff.'
St. Stephen's Armenian School fourth-grade students hold a Project
SAVE Archives photo enlargement that they have just `read'
in an exercise to help develop observational and critical thinking
skills.
This year's fifth graders also participated so that they would
experience `Reading Photographs' before moving on to middle
school. Staff, left to right, principal Houry Boyamian, teachers Cathy
Bass and Mark Boylan, Ruth Thomasian, executive director of Project
SAVE Archives, and Armenian teacher Ardemis Megerdichian.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Closure of the Kevorkian Lyceum (December 21, 1917)
In the nineteenth century, the Armenian Church did not have an
institution
that provided superior religious education and prepared its future
members. At the beginning of his tenure, Catholicos Kevork IV
(1866-1882) met Russian czar Alexander II (1855-1881) and asked for
permission to found such an
institution. The construction of the lyceum (jemaran) started on May
25, 1869 and the grand opening was held five years later, on September
28, 1875.
The bylaws approved by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Empire
in the same year established that the lyceum would have two sections:
a six-year school and a three-year auditory, and would provide higher
religious education. After the death of the Catholicos, the lyceum was
named in his honor.
Despite many efforts, Kevork IV did not see any graduate becoming a
celibate priest during his tenure. A secularist spirit predominated in
the lyceum. His successor Magar I (1885-1891) played an important role
to redirect the institution into its actual purpose. He invited a
qualified faculty, which included Bishop Maghakia Ormanian, future
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. The latter became the teacher of
theological subjects, and thanks to
his efforts, four graduates were consecrated celibate priests in 1888.
The level education at the lyceum was quite high. At the school level,
the
following subjects were taught: Armenian history and geography,
general history and geography, ancient Armenian literature, Armenian
and foreign (Russian, French, German) languages, natural sciences,
astronomy, mathematics, the Bible, religious music, logics, etc. The
auditory section included Armenian language (Classical and Modern),
Armenian history, religious literature, Armenian literature, European
literature, philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, political economy,
history of the Armenian Church, Armenian religious law, ritual
studies, ancient Greek, etcetera.
The graduates presented final essays, which were defended before an
examining committee and then they became clerics or continued their
higher studies in Russian and European universities.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the lyceum had 20 paying
students and 230 others with scholarships. It was maintained through
the incomes of the monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as
fundraisers and donations.
The Catholicos was the principal, who followed the activities of the
lyceum through the Educational Council and the dean. The deans
included Bishop Gabriel Ayvazovsky (brother of the famous painter),
Rev. Garegin Hovsepiants
(future Catholicos of Cilicia), Rev. Mesrop Ter-Movsisyan, and other
names, generally but not exclusively ecclesiastics. Among the teachers
of the Kevorkian lyceum were such luminaries of Armenian culture as
Manuk Abeghian, Hrachia Ajarian, Leo, Stepan Lisitsian, Gomidas, Hakob
Manandian, and many others. Those teachers were partly graduates of
the same lyceum.
Within the frame of the lyceum there was an intensive intellectual
activity: preparation of Armenian schools programs, writing of
textbooks and handbooks, as well as many historiographic,
philological, pedagogical, and theological works. The faculties of the
Armenian schools of the Caucasus were filled by graduates of the
Kevorkian lyceum for more than half a century.
Due to the political and military unfavorable conditions at the end of
1917, Catholicos Kevork V (1911-1930) decided to cease temporarily the
activities of the lyceum on December 21, 1917. Attempts to reopen the
Kevorkian Lyceum during the first independent Republic did not
succeed. The unique and rich collection of its library (45,000
volumes) became one of the starting points of the collections of the
National Library of Armenia and the Matenadaran.
The Etchmiadzin lyceum was finally reopened in 1945 and continues its
activities until today.
Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History' can be
read on the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.
Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your
pocketbooks.
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
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/kccdqb) AND SELECT SYRIAN
ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR
DONATION TO:
Armenian Prelacy
138 E. 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Checks payable to: Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief
Thank you for your help
ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
New Armenian Words Not in Your Dictionary
1) Password
Any person with some reasonable knowledge of the Armenian language may
invent a word, especially compound words. The old `watchword,'
related to military issues, has found its equivalent in the
twenty-first century as `password.' How should we say it in Armenian?
If you get into the business of literal translation, you may put
together ants-nil (Õ¡Õ¶Ö=81Õ¶Õ«Õ¬) `to pass' and par (Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼) `word'
to obtain antsapar =80=9Cpassword.' However, there is not always the
need to translate literally. A password is a secret (encrypted) word
or text used to `pass' the obstacle; for instance, to enter a
computer. People came up with a better solution that has become most
used: kaghdnapar (Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼). This word combines kaghdni
(Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ« `secret') and par, the same as we have kaghdnakir
(Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80) to say... `cryptogram.'
2) Upload and download
Anyone may get a load of something or, otherwise, load something (for
instance, on a vehicle). The Armenian word for `load' is perr (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼)
and the verb, perrtsnel (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬). How do you deal with
`upload' and `download' in Armenian?
You may hear, here and there, partzratsnel
(Õ¢Õ¡Ö=80Õ±Ö=80Õ¡Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬) and ichetsnel
(Õ«Õ»Õ¥Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬). However, these words are standard Armenian for `to
raise' and `to lower.' They give the `up' and `down' idea of the
English term, but not the
concept of `loading.' Since `to load' has a clear meaning of putting
up something, but not putting down, you cannot use perrtsnel either.
Someone went to the roots and found the solution: to turn perr
(`load') into a new verb, perrnel, to give the idea of putting up
something. The new verb perrnel (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬) became the Armenian
word for `upload,' and, combined with the prefix ner (Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80), which
means `under, intro, down,' helped create the Armenian word for
`download': nerpernel (Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬).
3) Audiobook
The world of books has gone through unprecedented transformation in
the past ten years. Readers of paper books are now sharing their world
with other
media, like e-books and audiobooks.
We do not have many audiobooks in Armenian yet, but what do we call
the ones we have?
The problem is with `audio.' As the reader knows, the word
is related to hearing. The immediate answer would be something related
to lsel (Õ¬Õ½Õ¥Õ¬ `to hear'). Since we have lsaran (Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Ö=80Õ¡Õ¶
`audience'), Why
not lsakirk (Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80Ö=84), with l(i)s =80=9Caudio' and kirk
`book'?
Again, it is a matter of being creative. More than hearing, an
audiobook is about the voice (tzayn) as the means to transmit the
information. Doesn't tzaynakirk (Õ±Õ¡ÕµÕ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80Ö=84) sound better?
We already have tzaynakrutiun (Õ±Õ¡ÕµÕ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö=80Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö= 82Õ¶) for
`audio recording.' Let's continue the word family.
Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner' can be read on the
Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
NEXT ISSUE OF CROSSROADS
Our next issue of Crossroads will be on Tuesday, December 30.
THE CHILDREN OF PESHAWAR
Home and school are two places where children should be safe and
sound. This week, during the season of hope, peace, and good will, the
world witnessed another horror of inhumanity. On Tuesday morning nine
militants stormed into a public school in Peshawar, Pakistan, and
murdered 145 people, 132 of
whom were school children whose only crime was being children
attending school. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their
loved ones in yet another senseless and cowardly crime.
We pray for the day when the peace of our Lord will descend upon all
humankind.
`But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my
refuge. He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for
their wickedness.' (Psalm 94:22-23)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 21-Armenian Chamber Music, presented by St. Illuminator's
Cathedral and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society
of New York, at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street,
New York City, at 2 pm. Featuring: Noune Karapetyan (soprano), Sargis
Karapetyan (violin), Nune Hakobyan (piano). Program includes works of
Armenian contemporary composers. Musical notes by Krikor Pidedjian
(musicologist). Aram Satian, president of the Composers Union of
Armenia will attend. Admission: $20. For information and/or tickets:
St. Illuminator's Cathedral, [email protected] or
212-689-5880.
February 7, 2015-Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shakeh Chapter presents
`The Sound of Music' (in Armenian), performed by the Bedros Atamian
Theatrical Group of Hamazkayin Sanahin Chapter, Montreal,
Canada. Director and playwright, Lena Khacherian, at Fort Lee High
School, 3000 Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Tickets: $50, $35,
$25. Contact: Ani Keshishian 201-417-0204; Anik Kechichian
201-394-4408; Lena Tarakjian 201-592-7991.
February 9-11, 2015-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the
Eastern Prelacy.
March 13-15, 2015-`Responsibility 2015,' International conference for
Armenian Genocide's centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York,
featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and
artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under
the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America,
Eastern Region. www.responsibility2015.com for information.
March 20, 2015-Musical Armenia, presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm, Carnegie Hall, New
York City. Featured artists Patil Harboyan, piano and Heather Tuach,
cello, will present a program dedicated to the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide that will include works of Armenian composers
Atamian, Babajanian, Gomidas,
Khatchaturian, Saradjian, Stepanian, and Talalyan. Tickets are $25 and
will be on sale after December 20th at the box office and the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.
March 13-15, 2015-International conference, `Responsibility 2015'
marking the Armenian Genocide's centennial, at Marriott Marquis Hotel,
New York City. Organized by the ARF Eastern United States Centennial
Committee, under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial
Committee of America, Eastern Region. For information visit the web
site (www.responsibility2015.com).
April 25, 2015-Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the
Connecticut State Capitol. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris
Bohjalian.
April 26, 2015-Centennial commemoration of Genocide. Joint united
Divine Liturgy in New York City (site to be announced), presided by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. To be
followed by Times Square gathering `100 Years to Remember.'
May 7, 8, 9, 2015-National Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration
in Washington, DC, organized under the patronage of the Diocese and
the
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Presided by His Holiness
Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia. May 7, Ecumenical Service at the National Cathedral, 7 pm;
May 8, A Journey Through Armenian Music at the Music Center at
Strathmore, 7:30 pm; May 8 & 9, Exhibits, Films, and Events at various
venues; May 9, Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception, 10 am; May 9, A Time to Give Thanks,
banquet, 6 pm (location to be announced).
May 10 to June 4, 2015-Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the
Eastern Prelacy.
July 18, 2015-Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I,
at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias,
Lebanon.
October 5-9, 2015-Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian
Prelacies.
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: Baghdasarian
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/
December 18, 2014
Faithful to Our God; Faithful to Our People
`All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you,
or been false to your covenant.' (Psalm 44:17)
People who have gone through the difficulties and turmoil of life
understand and unwillingly accept that suffering and persecution are
events that happen to human creatures. This experience pounds into
them a mindset to endure human relationship's most difficult
conditions. They become =80=9Cabove' man, a `super' man, while at the
same
time reinforcing the supernatural secret of endurance and survival.
During these days leading to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
joyful Christian world forgets anxieties and pain and enjoys the
happiness that hope brings. Our Christian faith comes to us to spread
the news that God's supreme love was revealed to us with the birth of
Jesus, while at the same time proclaiming love and mercy toward all
humankind. Christ's merciful touch fills the faithful with complete
obedience to Him. His
mercy deeply kindles the love and trust of the faithful in Him.
The road to salvation that Christ brought to humankind also became the
road for our people. In spite of centuries of difficulties and
persecution, our fathers carried the cross with Him, and walked toward
Golgotha; many times they were crucified, but at no time did they
break the covenant they sealed with God. We maintained our
faithfulness and fought to survive with hope
and the faith of resurrection. And we survived, always celebrating
through
the remembrance of Christ's birth, our continuous resurrection,
budding, and strength in the lives of our people.
We are in the closing days of December 2014, with the year 2015
opening before us.
How deeply we would have wanted the peace, love, and solidarity of
Christ's birth to be pure for us! We have carried with us a deep and
bloody pain for one hundred years and every year we experience the
stress of the remembrance and gird ourselves with hope and resolve as
we relive the memory and legacy of the millions of victims of the
Genocide.
`I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the
Lord,' (Psalm 118:17)
Contrary to their cruel death, the martyrs did not die. Their
posterity lived in order to relate their martyrdom, to live through
them with the same resolve. Their death became the inspiration for
those who followed, and behold, one hundred years later, through our
lives and our deeds we recount their martyrdom of blood and are
witness to the lives we live according to our will and faith.
We witnessed the best vow to gain life through martyrdom, when in
November
all of the bishops of the Armenian Church met under the presidency of
the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II and the
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, and
agreed to sainthood for our faithful martyrs (the sanctification will
take place on the forthcoming 2015 Martyrs day). Thereafter, we will
no longer pray for their immortal
souls, but will rather beseech them to intercede and hear our
prayers. Behold the miracle of gaining life through martyrdom.
And this must be our duty and our song, just as the Hebrew people
during their exile sang with longing for their land. It is necessary
for us to affirm that the Armenian people and our Motherland are the
object of our purpose and the summit of our goal.
`How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?' (Psalm 137:4)
Yes, we can, if our Motherland becomes an impelling force and the
focus of
our everyday life; if being Armenian becomes an everyday concern; if
our goal becomes the perpetuity of our nation.
Christ was born and revealed.
May our people be re-born with new hope and the power to overcome.
60th ANNIVERSARY OF GRANITE CITY'S ST. GREGORY CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the
sermon last Sunday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite
City, Illinois. His Eminence presided over the celebration of the
parish's 60th anniversary during which six members of the parish were
honored for their service to the church. The honorees were: Susan
Hagopian, Janet Haroian, Takouhie Kakligian, Stanley Karibian, Leslie
Lovett, and Marlene Manoogian.
Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory
Church, Granite City, with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Torkom
Chorbajian assisting.
Archbishop Oshagan with the honorees.
VICAR ATTENDS COAF DINNER
Bishop Anoushavan attended the Children of Armenia Fund's (COAF) 11th
annual holiday gala last Friday in New York. The gala raised $2.4
million to help children in rural Armenia. Ara Arslanian was honored
with the Humanitarian Award and Alexis Ohanian received the Save the
Generation Award.
Bishop Anoushavan with COAF founder Garo Armen.
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION DISCUSSED AT
ST. ILLUMINATOR'S CATHEDRAL
Joseph Garrett and Bared Maronian visited St. Illuminator's Cathedral
in New York last week for a working session regarding the
commemoration
of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Garrett, a
digital media executive and internet entrepreneur, is the
great-grandson of Cleveland H. Dodge, one of the founders and the
first president of Near East Relief (now Near East Foundation) that
was founded in 1915 as `The American Committee for Syrian and Armenian
Relief,' in response to the massive humanitarian crisis precipitated
by the Ottoman Empire.
Mr. Maronian, a four-time Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, is
the
director of the `Orphans of the Genocide' documentary. Currently he is
working on the documentary `Women of 1915' that will bring to light
the lesser known, but equally compelling stories of compassion and
humanitarian relief provided by Armenian and non-Armenian women from
the United States, Canada, and Europe. The documentary will highlight
the integral role Armenian women played in their families and
communities, coupled with the courage and resolve shown to save their
children and their Christian faith from forced Islamization.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with Bared Maronian (left) and John Garrett
at the Martyrs Memorial Altar at St. Illuminator's Cathedral.
ST. STEPHEN CHURCH HONORS ELDERS
The year 2014 was designated as `The Year of the Elderly,'
by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. In
order
to bring this year-long focus to a close in a memorable way,
St. Stephen's Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, and the Armenian
Relief Society Social Services honored the elderly on December 6 in a
festive event with
more than 170 people attending.
Following the invocation by the parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Antranig
Baljian, and table fellowship, Der Hayr spoke about why elders have
been looked upon as an essential part of the community and have played
such an important role in society as described in scripture and
recognized throughout Armenian history. Four individuals were honored
for their years of service within the community. Der Hayr presented
Certificates of Merit to Mrs. Hasmig Der Vartanian, Mrs. Zona
Zerdelian, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Florence Markarian.
>From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Hasmig Der Vartanian (Honoree),
Nartouhi Abrimian and Der Antranig.
>From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Sonia Zerdelian Iradian (Honoree),
Nartouhi
Abrimian and Der Antranig.
>From left, Der Antranig and honorees Florence and Joe Markarian.
LITURGICAL CALENDAR POSTER
The 2015 color poster of the Liturgical Calendar of the Armenian
Apostolic
Church is now available at the Prelacy. This 27x36 inch poster belongs
in every classroom, church hall and home.
The Armenian Apostolic Church uses a liturgical calendar to mark its
feasts and fasts and seasons, like all traditional churches but with
its own unique features. As one can readily see, the Armenian Church
year has eight seasons, depicted on the poster in different colors
with the names of the seasons indicated in the outermost ring: 1)
Nativity and Epiphany, 2) Lent, 3)
Easter, 4) Pentecost, 5) Transfiguration, 6) Assumption of the Holy
Mother
of God, 7) Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 8) Advent. The innermost ring
shows the months.
The weeks of the year are represented by the sectors of the circle,
starting with Sunday and moving towards the center, with slots for
each day of the week. Sunday is the first day of the week,
mi-ya-shapat (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1), the day Jesus rose
from the dead. Christians from the earliest times designated Sunday as
`the day of the Lord' (deroonee / deroonagan). The word geeragee
(Sunday) comes from the Greek Kyriaki, meaning dominical, lordly,
royal. Thus, all Sundays are dominical days, commemorating and
celebrating the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ (along with
other dominical celebrations, such as the ascension, transfiguration,
and so forth). Some dominical feasts could also be celebrated during
the week, for instance, the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord Jesus
Christ
on January 6.
In addition to dominical (deroonee) feasts, we also have feasts
dedicated to saints. On saints' days the church remembers and
celebrates those Christians who have bore an exemplary witness to
Jesus Christ and to his gospel-these include the apostles, the
martyrs, the confessors, teachers, ascetics, bishops, priests,
deacons, kings, queens, princes, and people from all walks of life,
male and female, young and old. In our tradition, saints are
commemorated and celebrated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays, except during the weekdays of Great Lent and the 50 days of
Easter. This coming year, the Armenian Church will canonize the
martyrs of 1915 genocide as saints.
The church does not always celebrate. There are also days of fasting,
set aside for self-restrain and self-examination; hence festivities
are not compatible with the ethos of the days of fasting. In the
Armenian tradition, Wednesdays and Fridays are designated as days of
fasting, except during the eight days of the Christmas festivities and
during the forty days after Easter festivities. We also have ten
weeklong fasts preceding major feasts and
commemorations, observed from Monday through Friday, except for the
fast of the Nativity which is six days. And there is the great fast
(medz bahk) of Great Lent, preceding the feast of feasts: the
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter).
The liturgical calendar poster indicates all these with names and
dates=80'showing all Sundays and other dominical days, saints' days,
and days of fasting.
As part of the celebration and commemoration of feasts and saints'
days, as well as observing days of fasting, the Armenian Church has
assigned Bible readings for all these days. To see the daily Bible
readings prescribed in our lectionary, please visit the Prelacy's
website at armenianprelacy.org
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/8y9cqb). And for more info
about Feast and Fast, please click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/oradqb).
To order copies of the liturgical calendar poster, please contact the
Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or at [email protected]. The cost of
the poster is $5.00 plus shipping and handling.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, December 21, Fifth Sunday of Advent, are:
Isaiah 40:18-31; Hebrews 4:16-5:10; Luke 18:9-14.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they
were
righteous and regarded others with contempt. `Two men went up to the
temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The
Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you
that I
am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my
income.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to
heaven,
but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather
than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all
who
humble themselves will be exalted.' (Luke 18:9-14)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/4jbdqb).
DAVID THE PROPHET KING; HOLY APOSTLE JAMES
This Tuesday, December 23, the Armenian Church commemorates David the
Prophet King and James the Brother of the Lord.
David was the youngest of eight brothers and was brought up to be a
shepherd where he learned courage, tenderness, and caring. David
became the second King of Israel. In the Bible, the name David belongs
solely to him, which
indicates the unique place he had as an ancestor and forerunner of our
Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament there are more than 50
references to David, including the title given to Jesus-Son of
David. David was a poet and the author of some of the Psalms.
James the Apostle, called `Brother of the Lord,' probably because of
his close relationship with Jesus, was granted a special appearance of
the Lord after the Resurrection. He is believed to have been a first
cousin of the Lord, or as some biblical scholars have suggested, a son
of Joseph. After the Resurrection and the Ascension, while the other
apostles scattered all over the world, James remained in Jerusalem
where he served as the Bishop and became a leading spokesman of the
early church.
SAINT STEPHEN, FIRST DEACON
Next Thursday, December 25, the Armenian Church commemorates
St. Stephen, the first deacon and proto-martyr. After Christ's
ascension, the apostles went about spreading the Word. It soon became
apparent that more people were needed to serve the growing church
community. Seven worthy individuals were called upon to serve the Holy
Altar and called `deacons' (sarkavag). The most noteworthy of the
seven was Stephen, described
as a `man full of faith and the Holy Spirit' (Acts 6:5). The Feast of
St. Stephen is a popular and important commemoration in the Armenian
Church. It is also a day to honor all deacons of the
church. St. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church
and is therefore called
the `proto-martyr.' The only information about his life and death is
in the Book of Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:8 and 8:2).
HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
On Saturday, December 27, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Apostles Peter and Paul, perhaps the two individuals who had the
greatest role in
the growth of Christianity. It is, therefore, appropriate that the
Church honors them together.
After the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and asked
him to tell the other apostles of His appearance and to give them His
message (Luke 24:34-35). Peter was renowned for his oratory skills,
and he used his talent to spread the Word. He preached in Rome and
founded the church there. He is considered to be the first Bishop of
Rome. According to tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome upside down
because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the
Lord. He was buried in Rome and his relics are enshrined under the
high altar of the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica.
Paul (Saul) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia. He was an oppressor of the
early Christians until on the road to Damascus he converted when a
brilliant light blinded him and he heard, `Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?
I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Enter the City and you will be
told what to do,' (Acts 9:4-6; 26:12-16). Saul was baptized and
renamed Paul and he went on to become the greatest preacher of the new
religion, traveling and writing extensively. Many theologians credit
him for shaping the
future of the Church. His fourteen epistles comprise more than
one-third of the New Testament, not including the Book of Acts, which
although written
by Luke, primarily is an account of Paul's preaching.
CHRISTMAS WORLDWIDE
Next Thursday, December 25, is Christmas for most of the Christian
world.
Originally all of Christendom celebrated the birth, baptism, visit of
the Magi, and the First Miracle at Cana, on January 6. Of course the
actual date of Christ's birth is not known. Rome changed the
celebration to December 25 in the year 336, and this date gradually
became accepted; December 25 was officially adopted as the birthday of
Christ at the Council
of Chalcedon (451)-a Council the Armenian Church did not attend and
never accepted. Therefore, the Armenian Church to this day has
remained faithful to the original date of January 6.
Our parents were wise to celebrate both December 25 and January 6. It
is nearly impossible to escape the holiday activity leading up to
December 25. For us January 6th was a more religious event; we
attended the long church service from beginning to end as a family,
and then spent the rest of the day with extended family. My late
mother used to tell us, `Our Lord is worthy of two birthday
celebrations.'
SOUND OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC IN PHILLY
The Sanctuary of St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia was filled with
joy, peace, the `sound of music,' last Saturday evening as
parishioners joined in singing and praising God during the parish's
first
Advent concert. Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian welcomed the worshippers,
explained the meaning of `Advent' and the concert as a way of escaping
the secularism and stress of the world during this special season and
embracing the true message of Christmas-the birth of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Ara Eloian, master organist, offered two Advent
selections that were followed with four Christmas selections, Gospel
readings from the Book of Luke, group caroling, and a candle lighting
ceremony and the
collective signing of `Silent Night' in English and Armenia in a
darkened Sanctuary lit only by candlelight. A reception took place in
Terhanian Hall, where all gathered for shared fellowship.
The popular Christmas carol, `Silent Night,' is sung in the darkened
sanctuary.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT IN NORTH ANDOVER
Children presented a beautiful Christmas pageant at St. Gregory Church
of Merrimack Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts, last week, to the
delight
of parishioners that included parents, grandparents, friends and
relatives. (photos by Violet Dagdigian)
The angels of North Andover in the Christmas pageant.
The star of Bethlehem guides the pageant.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ST. SARKIS
The St. Sarkis Church community of Douglaston, New York, enjoyed a
Simply Wonderful Christmas recital last Sunday. The annual Christmas
tradition is now in its 6th year and has become an event the
parishioners look forward to each year. This year, following the
Divine Liturgy, parishioners were overjoyed to enjoy a beautifully
orchestrated concert, featuring the beautiful
voice of Hooshere, and talented musicians Elizabeth Kalfayan (cello)
and Peter Douskalis (acoustic guitar). A reception took place in the
parish's main hall following the concert.
Traditional Christmas Carols were presented with an Armenian twist.
CATHEDRAL SENDS SHOES TO SISTER COMMUNITY
St. Illuminator Cathedral's sister community in Lchkadzor, Armenia,
received the first 200 pairs of winter and summer shoes from the
Prelacy's St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The donation
became possible after Archbishop Oshagan's recent visit to
Armenia. The
shoes have been distributed to school children in the community as
well as
to needy families.
Shipment of winter shoes are being distributed to children in
Lchkadzor, Armenia, through the St. Nerses the Great Charitable
Organization with the sponsorship of St. Illuminator's Cathedral.
PROJECT SAVE AT ST. STEPHEN'S SCHOOL
Principal Houry Boyamian of St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School,
and Ruth Thomasian, Executive Director of Project SAVE Armenian
Photograph Archives, both located in Watertown, Massachusetts, have
entered into a
teaching collaboration to engage fourth-grade students in discovering
their Armenian heritage through vintage photographs. On October 23,
2014, as part of their Armenian Cultural Day celebration, students
were introduced to this discovery process with a unique classroom
program presented by Ruth, a
former elementary school teacher herself.
Using enlargements of vintage photographs from the collections of
Project SAVE Archives, Ruth engaged students in observing details and
using these clues to `read' the photographs and discover their deeper
meaning. She asked students to observe all the many `things' in the
photo, and then went on to ask `What-do-you-think?' types of questions
followed by, `And your reason is?' In this way students learned to
support their thoughts with the details they have observed. The
challenge for students was to be observant and to support their ideas
with visible details. St. Stephen's will incorporate Project SAVE
Archives' `Reading Photographs' into the fourth grade enrichment
program every year.
Project SAVE Archives' mission is to preserve and promote Armenian
heritage through photograph. Its `Reading Photographs' program at
St. Stephen's School is both a contribution to the community and a
thank-you for local support of its archives and educational
programs. St. Stephen's is fully accredited by the Association of
Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the accrediting body for
independent elementary schools. AISNE has commended the school `for
creating an environment where all the students love to read and appear
committed to academic excellence and for recruiting a remarkably
talented and dedicated staff.'
St. Stephen's Armenian School fourth-grade students hold a Project
SAVE Archives photo enlargement that they have just `read'
in an exercise to help develop observational and critical thinking
skills.
This year's fifth graders also participated so that they would
experience `Reading Photographs' before moving on to middle
school. Staff, left to right, principal Houry Boyamian, teachers Cathy
Bass and Mark Boylan, Ruth Thomasian, executive director of Project
SAVE Archives, and Armenian teacher Ardemis Megerdichian.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Closure of the Kevorkian Lyceum (December 21, 1917)
In the nineteenth century, the Armenian Church did not have an
institution
that provided superior religious education and prepared its future
members. At the beginning of his tenure, Catholicos Kevork IV
(1866-1882) met Russian czar Alexander II (1855-1881) and asked for
permission to found such an
institution. The construction of the lyceum (jemaran) started on May
25, 1869 and the grand opening was held five years later, on September
28, 1875.
The bylaws approved by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Empire
in the same year established that the lyceum would have two sections:
a six-year school and a three-year auditory, and would provide higher
religious education. After the death of the Catholicos, the lyceum was
named in his honor.
Despite many efforts, Kevork IV did not see any graduate becoming a
celibate priest during his tenure. A secularist spirit predominated in
the lyceum. His successor Magar I (1885-1891) played an important role
to redirect the institution into its actual purpose. He invited a
qualified faculty, which included Bishop Maghakia Ormanian, future
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. The latter became the teacher of
theological subjects, and thanks to
his efforts, four graduates were consecrated celibate priests in 1888.
The level education at the lyceum was quite high. At the school level,
the
following subjects were taught: Armenian history and geography,
general history and geography, ancient Armenian literature, Armenian
and foreign (Russian, French, German) languages, natural sciences,
astronomy, mathematics, the Bible, religious music, logics, etc. The
auditory section included Armenian language (Classical and Modern),
Armenian history, religious literature, Armenian literature, European
literature, philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, political economy,
history of the Armenian Church, Armenian religious law, ritual
studies, ancient Greek, etcetera.
The graduates presented final essays, which were defended before an
examining committee and then they became clerics or continued their
higher studies in Russian and European universities.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the lyceum had 20 paying
students and 230 others with scholarships. It was maintained through
the incomes of the monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as
fundraisers and donations.
The Catholicos was the principal, who followed the activities of the
lyceum through the Educational Council and the dean. The deans
included Bishop Gabriel Ayvazovsky (brother of the famous painter),
Rev. Garegin Hovsepiants
(future Catholicos of Cilicia), Rev. Mesrop Ter-Movsisyan, and other
names, generally but not exclusively ecclesiastics. Among the teachers
of the Kevorkian lyceum were such luminaries of Armenian culture as
Manuk Abeghian, Hrachia Ajarian, Leo, Stepan Lisitsian, Gomidas, Hakob
Manandian, and many others. Those teachers were partly graduates of
the same lyceum.
Within the frame of the lyceum there was an intensive intellectual
activity: preparation of Armenian schools programs, writing of
textbooks and handbooks, as well as many historiographic,
philological, pedagogical, and theological works. The faculties of the
Armenian schools of the Caucasus were filled by graduates of the
Kevorkian lyceum for more than half a century.
Due to the political and military unfavorable conditions at the end of
1917, Catholicos Kevork V (1911-1930) decided to cease temporarily the
activities of the lyceum on December 21, 1917. Attempts to reopen the
Kevorkian Lyceum during the first independent Republic did not
succeed. The unique and rich collection of its library (45,000
volumes) became one of the starting points of the collections of the
National Library of Armenia and the Matenadaran.
The Etchmiadzin lyceum was finally reopened in 1945 and continues its
activities until today.
Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History' can be
read on the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.
Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your
pocketbooks.
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
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cmiyf/4f4cee/kccdqb) AND SELECT SYRIAN
ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR
DONATION TO:
Armenian Prelacy
138 E. 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Checks payable to: Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief
Thank you for your help
ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
New Armenian Words Not in Your Dictionary
1) Password
Any person with some reasonable knowledge of the Armenian language may
invent a word, especially compound words. The old `watchword,'
related to military issues, has found its equivalent in the
twenty-first century as `password.' How should we say it in Armenian?
If you get into the business of literal translation, you may put
together ants-nil (Õ¡Õ¶Ö=81Õ¶Õ«Õ¬) `to pass' and par (Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼) `word'
to obtain antsapar =80=9Cpassword.' However, there is not always the
need to translate literally. A password is a secret (encrypted) word
or text used to `pass' the obstacle; for instance, to enter a
computer. People came up with a better solution that has become most
used: kaghdnapar (Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼). This word combines kaghdni
(Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ« `secret') and par, the same as we have kaghdnakir
(Õ£Õ¡Õ²Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80) to say... `cryptogram.'
2) Upload and download
Anyone may get a load of something or, otherwise, load something (for
instance, on a vehicle). The Armenian word for `load' is perr (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼)
and the verb, perrtsnel (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬). How do you deal with
`upload' and `download' in Armenian?
You may hear, here and there, partzratsnel
(Õ¢Õ¡Ö=80Õ±Ö=80Õ¡Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬) and ichetsnel
(Õ«Õ»Õ¥Ö=81Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬). However, these words are standard Armenian for `to
raise' and `to lower.' They give the `up' and `down' idea of the
English term, but not the
concept of `loading.' Since `to load' has a clear meaning of putting
up something, but not putting down, you cannot use perrtsnel either.
Someone went to the roots and found the solution: to turn perr
(`load') into a new verb, perrnel, to give the idea of putting up
something. The new verb perrnel (Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬) became the Armenian
word for `upload,' and, combined with the prefix ner (Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80), which
means `under, intro, down,' helped create the Armenian word for
`download': nerpernel (Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80Õ¢Õ¥Õ¼Õ¶Õ¥Õ¬).
3) Audiobook
The world of books has gone through unprecedented transformation in
the past ten years. Readers of paper books are now sharing their world
with other
media, like e-books and audiobooks.
We do not have many audiobooks in Armenian yet, but what do we call
the ones we have?
The problem is with `audio.' As the reader knows, the word
is related to hearing. The immediate answer would be something related
to lsel (Õ¬Õ½Õ¥Õ¬ `to hear'). Since we have lsaran (Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Ö=80Õ¡Õ¶
`audience'), Why
not lsakirk (Õ¬Õ½Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80Ö=84), with l(i)s =80=9Caudio' and kirk
`book'?
Again, it is a matter of being creative. More than hearing, an
audiobook is about the voice (tzayn) as the means to transmit the
information. Doesn't tzaynakirk (Õ±Õ¡ÕµÕ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Ö=80Ö=84) sound better?
We already have tzaynakrutiun (Õ±Õ¡ÕµÕ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö=80Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö= 82Õ¶) for
`audio recording.' Let's continue the word family.
Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner' can be read on the
Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
NEXT ISSUE OF CROSSROADS
Our next issue of Crossroads will be on Tuesday, December 30.
THE CHILDREN OF PESHAWAR
Home and school are two places where children should be safe and
sound. This week, during the season of hope, peace, and good will, the
world witnessed another horror of inhumanity. On Tuesday morning nine
militants stormed into a public school in Peshawar, Pakistan, and
murdered 145 people, 132 of
whom were school children whose only crime was being children
attending school. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their
loved ones in yet another senseless and cowardly crime.
We pray for the day when the peace of our Lord will descend upon all
humankind.
`But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my
refuge. He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for
their wickedness.' (Psalm 94:22-23)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 21-Armenian Chamber Music, presented by St. Illuminator's
Cathedral and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society
of New York, at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street,
New York City, at 2 pm. Featuring: Noune Karapetyan (soprano), Sargis
Karapetyan (violin), Nune Hakobyan (piano). Program includes works of
Armenian contemporary composers. Musical notes by Krikor Pidedjian
(musicologist). Aram Satian, president of the Composers Union of
Armenia will attend. Admission: $20. For information and/or tickets:
St. Illuminator's Cathedral, [email protected] or
212-689-5880.
February 7, 2015-Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shakeh Chapter presents
`The Sound of Music' (in Armenian), performed by the Bedros Atamian
Theatrical Group of Hamazkayin Sanahin Chapter, Montreal,
Canada. Director and playwright, Lena Khacherian, at Fort Lee High
School, 3000 Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Tickets: $50, $35,
$25. Contact: Ani Keshishian 201-417-0204; Anik Kechichian
201-394-4408; Lena Tarakjian 201-592-7991.
February 9-11, 2015-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the
Eastern Prelacy.
March 13-15, 2015-`Responsibility 2015,' International conference for
Armenian Genocide's centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York,
featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and
artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under
the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America,
Eastern Region. www.responsibility2015.com for information.
March 20, 2015-Musical Armenia, presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm, Carnegie Hall, New
York City. Featured artists Patil Harboyan, piano and Heather Tuach,
cello, will present a program dedicated to the 100th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide that will include works of Armenian composers
Atamian, Babajanian, Gomidas,
Khatchaturian, Saradjian, Stepanian, and Talalyan. Tickets are $25 and
will be on sale after December 20th at the box office and the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.
March 13-15, 2015-International conference, `Responsibility 2015'
marking the Armenian Genocide's centennial, at Marriott Marquis Hotel,
New York City. Organized by the ARF Eastern United States Centennial
Committee, under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial
Committee of America, Eastern Region. For information visit the web
site (www.responsibility2015.com).
April 25, 2015-Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the
Connecticut State Capitol. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris
Bohjalian.
April 26, 2015-Centennial commemoration of Genocide. Joint united
Divine Liturgy in New York City (site to be announced), presided by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. To be
followed by Times Square gathering `100 Years to Remember.'
May 7, 8, 9, 2015-National Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration
in Washington, DC, organized under the patronage of the Diocese and
the
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Presided by His Holiness
Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia. May 7, Ecumenical Service at the National Cathedral, 7 pm;
May 8, A Journey Through Armenian Music at the Music Center at
Strathmore, 7:30 pm; May 8 & 9, Exhibits, Films, and Events at various
venues; May 9, Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception, 10 am; May 9, A Time to Give Thanks,
banquet, 6 pm (location to be announced).
May 10 to June 4, 2015-Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the
Eastern Prelacy.
July 18, 2015-Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I,
at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias,
Lebanon.
October 5-9, 2015-Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian
Prelacies.
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: Baghdasarian