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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 30, 2014
WELCOMING 2015
As we enter the centennial year of the Armenian Genocide we pray to
our Lord, who is our refuge and strength, to guide our nation and to
make His presence known to us. May He make us truly wise in our quest
for truth and justice that we seek in the spirit of Christ and for the
honor and glory of His beloved name. Our hearts are set on Your
faithful promise that You will be with us now and forever. Amen.
`To the exiles of the Dispersion...who have been chosen and destined
by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus
Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be
yours in abundance.' (I Peter 1:1-2)
`I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your
welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.' (Jeremiah
29:11)
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WE WISH ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR FILLED WITH
THE LOVE AND PROTECTION
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
2015 ENCYCLICAL OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
READ IN PRELACY PARISHES LAST SUNDAY
Parishes within the Eastern Prelacy last Sunday read the Encyclical
issued
by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House
of Cilicia, concerning the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations
during the year of 2015.
In his message, His Holiness said, `The Armenian Genocide has left
an indelible imprint on the collective memory of the Armenian
people. There is no Armenian in the world whose blood has not been
forged, or whose life has not been engulfed by the Armenian
Genocide. There is no Armenian on earth whose family has not
experienced genocide, exile, homelessness, or dispersion.'
His Holiness emphatically stated, `It is also necessary to look beyond
the 100th anniversary. The ever-changing world conditions and
priorities often need re-examination of approaches, way of acting, and
emphasis so that the effort in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause
becomes compatible with the reality that surrounds us. It is a duty
for us to be alert and always
united in our purpose. It is also necessary to properly read `signs of
the times.' The Armenian Cause is the cause of each Armenian and all
Armenians. It is our martyrs' cause, the cause of our future
generations. So every Armenian is called upon to contribute in our
pan-Armenian efforts to regain our rights.'
Read Catholicos Aram's Encyclical in Armenian
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/82cmqb) or English
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/ovdmqb).
Archbishop Oshagan reads the Encyclical issued by His Holiness Aram I,
about the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, at St. Stephen's Church
in Watertown, Massachusetts last Sunday. Prior to the reading the
Encyclical was escorted around the church in a procession.
In New Jersey's Sts. Vartanantz Church, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian holds
the Encyclical in the procession that went around the church.
NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD
In keeping with the Armenian tradition, the Feast of the Nativity and
Theophany commemorates the birth of Christ and His baptism by John the
Baptist.
The Armenian Church, among all of the Christian churches in the
world, has preserved to this day an ancient tradition that predates
the celebration of Christmas on December 25.
In his Christmas message, `Faithful to Our God; Faithful to Our
People,' Archbishop Oshagan describes how at Christmas the joyful
Christian world forgets anxieties and pain and enjoys the happiness
that hope brings. In remembrance of the memorial year of 2015-the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide-His Eminence reminded the
faithful that, `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.'
Archbishop Oshagan's Christmas message can be read in Armenian
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/4nemqb) and English
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/kgfmqb).
A BLESSED AND HOLY NATIVITY
This Tuesday, January 6, is Christmas. The Armenian Church has
remained faithful to the celebration of the Nativity and Epiphany on
January 6. All Christians celebrated Christmas on January 6 until the
mid-fourth century when the Roman Church separated the two events,
celebrating the birth on December 25 and the baptism and visit of the
magi on January 6 (thus the twelve days of Christmas).
On Christmas Eve a solemn Mass is celebrated, preceded by readings
taken from various parts of the Bible about the birth or the coming of
the Messiah. The third chapter from the book of Daniel is read,
usually by a deacon and three young men representing Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, the youths who would not renounce their faith
in spite of torture. Following Christmas
Eve services, traditionally choir members would go from house to house
singing hymns, spreading the Good News of the birth of our Savior.
On Christmas day, after the Divine Liturgy, a special service is
performed
symbolizing the baptism of Jesus, which was a turning point in His
life and the beginning of His ministry. This service, which is called
Blessing of the Water (Churorhnek) commemorates the Baptism and the
Manifestation of Christ recognizing Him as the true Son of God.
Light sent from the Father, you came down from heaven and became flesh
from the Holy Virgin; you are the Lamb of God and Son of the Father.
Today you appeared in the cave as Savior and accepted adoration from
the magi and seeing you the shepherds said: You are the Lamb of God
and Son of the Father.
Having seen the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, John cried out
saying: This is the Lamb of God and Son of the Father.
(Canon for the seventh day of Theophany according to the Liturgical
Canons
of the Armenian Apostolic Church).
PRELATE WILL ORDAIN ACOLYTES IN NEW JERSEY
Archbishop Oshagan will ordain five altar servers during the Divine
Liturgy this Sunday, January 4, at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey. The five to be ordained to rank of acolyte are: Armand
Charkhutian, Shaunt K. Doghramadjian, Antranig Essendir, Arthur
Kesenci, and Aram Kouyoumdjian. A reception, hosted by Mr. &
Mrs. Sarkis and Mary Ohanessian, will take place following the
services.
NATIVITY AND EPIPHANY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan:
On Christmas Eve, Monday, January 5, His Eminence will preside at the
Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy services at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
On Christmas Day, Tuesday, January 6, His Eminence will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon and officiate the Blessing of Water
Service at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City.
Vicar General, Bishop Anoushavan:
On Christmas Eve, Monday January 5, His Grace will preside at
Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy Services at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
On Christmas Day, Tuesday, January 6, His Grace will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Water Service at Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF REMEMBRANCE
During the coming new year of 2015 Armenians worldwide will
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that many
believed to be the death-knell of the Armenian people. The narrative
of the resilience of the Armenian people, the strength of the
survivors through their faithfulness to
their Lord is truly a miraculous story.
Special events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., May 7 to 9, 2015,
that include an ecumenical prayer service, a Pontifical Divine
Liturgy, memorial concert, and a banquet that will honor organizations
and individuals who came to the aid of Armenian survivors. The
Catholicoi, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be
present to preside over the events. Armenians from all over the United
States are expected to participate in solidarity and unity.
In New York, commemorative events will take place on April 24, 25, and
26,
including the annual Times Square program that is sponsored each year
by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
Below are details of the events in Washington, D.C.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, January 4, Seventh Sunday of Advent: Isaiah
51:15-52:3; Hebrews 13:18-25; Luke 22:24-30.
Bible readings for Monday, January 5, Christmas Eve (Jragalouyts):
Genesis
1:1-3:24; Isaiah 7:10-17; Exodus 14:24-15:21; Micah 5:2-7; Proverbs
1:1-9;
Isaiah 9:5-7; Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 35:3-8; Isaiah 40:10-17; Isaiah
42:1-8; Daniel 3:1-90. Divine Liturgy: Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 2:1-12;
Dismissal: Luke 2:8-14.
Bible readings for Christmas and Epiphany: Titus 2:1-15; Matthew
1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17. Blessing of Water: 1
Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17.
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
proclaiming, `Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' This
is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, `The voice
of one crying out in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.'' Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was
locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea
were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they
were baptized
by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, `You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath
to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to
yourselves, `We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God
is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now
the ax
is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not
bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
`I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful
than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is
in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his
wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire.'
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by
him.
John would have prevented him, saying, `I need to be baptized by you,
and do you come to me?' But Jesus answered him, `Let it
be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all
righteousness.' Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized,
just as he
came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he
saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a
voice
from heaven said, `This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well
pleased.' (Matthew 3:1-17)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/08fmqb).
MEMORIAL DAY
Wednesday, January 7, the day after Christmas, is Memorial Day. As is
the custom in the Armenian Church, the day after each of the five
great tabernacle feasts is a Memorial Day. Traditionally, the Divine
Liturgy is celebrated on Memorial Day and afterwards the faithful go
to the cemetery to honor their loved ones and have their graves
blessed.
SAINT STEPHEN, THE FIRST DEACON
Parishes throughout the Eastern Prelacy celebrated the Feast of Saint
Stephen last Sunday. St. Stephen is described as `a man full of faith
and the Holy Spirit' (Acts 6:5). He became the first martyr of the
Christian church and is therefore called the `proto-martyr.'
St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, celebrated their
parish's patron saint, Saint Stephen, the first deacon and
proto-martyr last Sunday. Presiding over the services was the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan, who read Catholicos Aram's 2015 Encyclical during
the Divine
Liturgy (see first item).
St. Stephen's Church celebrated its patron saint last Sunday and
honored their deacons. First row, from left, sub-deacon Ara
Barsoumian, Deacons Zadour Bedoyan, Hovaness Doursounian, and Setrag
Panian. Second row, from left, sub-deacon Albert Barsoumian, His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, and
sub-deacon Jiro Barsoumian.
At Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, the deacons who
were honored included, from left, Harout Takvorian, Vahan
Kouyoumdjian, Zohrab Zakarian (choir master), Kostan Charkhutian, and
Hagop Tekeyan are shown here with the pastor Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian.
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. And for more info about Feast and
Fast, please click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/g1gmqb).
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 FOR 2015
Bible Readings for the entire year of 2015 are now on the web
page. Click here (https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/wthmqb).
MURONORHNEK PILGRIMAGE
A Pilgrimage to experience the Blessing of the Holy Oil (Muronorhnek)
in Antelias, Lebanon, is being organized with two options: Option A,
to Lebanon
only (July 12-21); Option B, to Lebanon, Armenia and Artsakh (July
12-28).
Space is limited; reservations must be made by February 12. Check
details below:
SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PHILLY
DONATE TO FUND FOR SYRIAN RELIEF
Following the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
Philadelphia, on Sunday, December 21, the Sunday School held its
annual Christmas Pageant in Founders Hall in the presence of
Archbishop Oshagan who presided over the Liturgy and the Pageant. The
youngest students, ages 2 to 5, delighted the audience with a
selection of three songs that reminded people of God's love for them
and their remembrance of Jesus' birthday in a pre-Pageant
performance. The older students, via Gospel readings,
carols, and hymns in Armenian and English, reenacted the story of the
Nativity. Unique to this year's Pageant were flashbacks to and from
the
21st and 1st centuries and how the celebration has changed throughout
time, but ultimately remembering the true reason for the season.
Santa presented the children with gifts, but first presented
Archbishop Oshagan a gift from the Sunday School-a check for one
hundred dollars
for the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief from the children from Philly
for the children of Syria, `to keep the Armenian schools open and to
meet the educational needs of all children in Syria.' The Prelate
accepted the gift with heartfelt appreciation and he told the
students, =80=9CThis means more to me than one million dollars!'
Archbishop Oshagan and Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian with the Sunday
School students.
Before distributing gifts to the children, Santa Claus presents a
check to
Srpazan on behalf of the Sunday School students to help children in
Syria.
CONCERT OF ARMENIAN CHAMBER MUSIC
Fourteen works of chamber music by thirteen Armenian contemporary
composers, in their first U.S. performance was offered on Sunday,
December 21, at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, co-sponsored with
Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society (New York
Chapter) and the Composers Union of Armenia.
The concert featured three performers from Armenia, soprano Noune
Karapetyan, violinist Sarkis Karapetyan and pianist Nune Hakobyan, who
presented an
array of compositions in various genres that were received with
enthusiasm
by the audience.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, delivered opening
remarks. Musicologist Krikor Pidedjian, who was instrumental in
organizing the concert together with composer Konstantin Petrossian,
followed with an introduction.
Composer Aram Satian, president of the Composers Union of Armenia, who
was
especially invited, made closing remarks and played his composition,
Ave Maria, which was rendered by a guest in the audience, soprano
Narine Ojakhyan. A reception followed in the Cathedral's John
Pashalian Hall.
Concert performers and organizers, from left, Mrs. Berjouhi Yessaian,
Mr. Zaven Varanian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Mr. Aram Satian,
Mrs. Asdghig Sevag, Mr. Sargis Karapetyan, Ms. Noune Karapetyan,
Mr. Krikor Pidedjian and Mr. Konstantin Petrossian.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Russian Victory in the Battle of Sarikamish (January 4, 1915)
The alignment of the Ottoman Empire with the Central Powers (Germany
and Austria-Hungary) and its declaration of war against Russia brought
inevitably a winter campaign in the Caucasus. Russia had taken Kars
during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and feared a campaign aimed at
retaking Kars and the port of Batum in Georgia.
An initial Russian offensive in the first half of November was stopped
25 kilometers inside Turkish territory along the Erzerum-Sarikamish
axis. War Minister Enver Pasha devised an operation plan and decided
to take personal
charge and execute his plan through a winter offense. The Turkish
Third Army included 83,000 regular troops, reserves, and personnel of
the Erzerum fortress added to 118,000. The Russian Caucasus Army was a
well-equipped 100,000 troops. It included two battalions of Armenian
volunteers, commanded by Hamazasp (Servantzdian) and Keri.
The Turkish plan was two-step: a sudden initial attack and a second
step with two corps (Ninth and Tenth) of the army proceeding at full
speed. After
a very hard march under heavy snow in the mountainous territory, and
various delays, the Turkish army started its attack on Sarikamish on
December 29, instead of December 25 as planned. The troops were worn
out, half-starved, and short of guns and ammunition. Enver thought
that the Russians, who had initially evacuated Sarikamish, were
retreating to Kars, when they were actually executing an encircling
movement.
The IX and X Turkish Corps, totaling 12,000 men, began to attack
Sarikamish. At the end of the day, they were driven off, losing 6,000
troops. Enver's positive mood was replaced with disappointment when he
received information that the Russians were preparing to encircle his
forces with a force of five regiments. On January 1, the commander of
the XI Corps pressed a frontal attack on Sarikamish lasting for the
next 4 days; after that the heavy fighting began to lose
momentum. Snow hindered advancing forces which were supposed to bring
the relief.
On January 2, Russian artillery fire caused severe casualties. Enver
Pasha
received two reports; both were saying that they did not have any
capacity
to launch another attack. The Russians were advancing now and the
circle was getting narrower. On January 4, Turkish Brigadier General
Hafız Hakkı Pasha toured the front line and saw that the fight was
over.
Afterwards, Turkish divisions started to surrender. Hafız Hakkı
ordered a total retreat on January 7. The Ottoman Third Army started
with 118,000 fighting power and was reduced to 42,000 effectives in
January 1915.
Russian losses were 16,000 killed in action and 12,000 who died of
sickness, mostly due to frostbite.
Enver was the strategist of the operation and the failure was blamed
on him. Beyond his faulty estimate on how the encircled Russians would
react, his failure was on not keeping operational reserves that
matched the needs of
the conditions. He did not have enough field service to factor the
hardships faced by the soldiers and analyzed the operational
necessities theoretically rather than contextually. Carrying out a
military plan in the winter was not the major failure of the
operation, but the level of its execution.
The Armenian detachment units are credited no small measure of the
success
which attended by the Russian forces, as they were natives of the
region, adjusted to the climatic conditions, familiar with every road
and mountain path, and had real incentive to fierce and resolute
combat.
On his return to Constantinople, Enver Pasha blamed his failure on the
actions of the local Armenians, initiating the repressive measures
against the
empire's Armenian population that were an early stage of the Armenian
Genocide.
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/0sfzf/4f4cee/cmimqb) 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)
Two Other Ways to Say `New Year' in Armenian
1. Amanor
As anyone knows, `new year' is nor dari (Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80 Õ¿Õ¡Ö=80Õ«) in
Armenian, and of course, New Year = Nor Dari (Õ=86Õ¸Ö=80
Õ=8FÕ¡Ö=80Õ«). But, unlike English, the Armenian language has a
second, much older and `fancy' way to name the first day of the
forthcoming year as Amanor (Ô±Õ´Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80).
Someone may suppose that this word is related to aman (Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¶)
`vessel' and nor (Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80) `new,' and that it designated a custom of
replacing the old china on New Year. Besides the fact that such a
pricey custom did not exist among Armenians, this would go against
language rules. In that case, the word would be amananor or amannor,
which has never existed.
They would be partly right, however: the second part of Amanor is nor
=80=9Cnew.'
What about the first? This is the Classical Armenian (Krapar) word am
(Õ¡Õ´ `year'), derived from the Proto-Indo-European word
sama. The word am does not exist alone in Modern Armenian, but it
appears in compound words. Besides Amanor, how do you say, for
instance, `decade' in Armenian? Dasn-am-eag
(Õ¿Õ¡Õ½Õ¶-Õ¡Õ´-Õ¥Õ¡Õ¯). What about `biennial' or `that happens every
two years'? Yerg-am-ea (Õ¥Ö=80Õ¯Õ¡Õ´Õ¥Õ¡Õµ).
In the same way that Latin annus lives in English annual, Krapar am
lives in Modern Armenian amenamea (Õ¡Õ´Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ´Õ¥Õ¡Õµ). Don't put
aside Latin and Krapar!
2. Gaghant
Did you know that Armenian Gaghant (Ô¿Õ¡Õ²Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤) and the English word
calendar are related?
English calendar comes from Old French, and then from Latin
calendarium (`account book'), which has its origin in calendae
(=80=9Cthe first day of the month').
This Latin word was also the source for the Greek word khalándai,
which actually took a different meaning, `new year.' The word and the
meaning went into Classical Armenian as gaghant (kaghant, in Classical
Armenian pronunciation). Most interestingly, the word was only
inherited by Western Armenian.
The familiar figure of Gaghant Baba (Ô¿Õ¡Õ²Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤
Õ=8AÕ¡ÕºÕ¡), incidentally, is only known to Western Armenians too;
Eastern Armenians know him as Tsemer Babig (Õ=81Õ´Õ¥Õ¼
Õ=8AÕ¡ÕºÕ«Õ¯, `Grandfather Winter'). Gaghant Baba appears to be the
Armenian version of French Père Noël ("Father Christmas"), but unlike
his French colleague, the name is unrelated to Christmas, because it
means `Father New Year.' Since Père Noël and Santa Claus bring
presents on Christmas, perhaps this is why many people mistakenly
think that Gaghant is a synonym of Dzenunt
(Ô¾Õ¶Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶Õ¤, `Christmas'), which
is a mistake. Gaghant Baba has a different timing: he actually comes
to Armenian children in the wee hours of New Year. By the way, if
people tell you that they are coming for a visit on Gaghant, be aware:
this means January
1.
Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner' can be read on the
Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
Komitas: Victim of the Great Crime
By Meline Karakashian, PhD
This is a well-researched account of the life of musicologist and
priest, Komitas Vartabed (1869-1935) in English. An Armenian edition
was published earlier. The book provides information about Komitas's
development,
his immense contribution to the preservation of Armenian folk music,
and his psychiatric hospitalizations following the Genocide of
1915. This volume
encapsulates the story of the Great Crime whose 100th anniversary will
be commemorated in 2015, and its psychological consequences, with
Komitas Vartabed being a prime example of a victim and survivor.
Komitas: Victim of the Great Crime, 224 pages, $20.00 plus shipping &
handling
Ô»Õ´ Õ¸Ö=82Õ²Õ¥ÕºÕ¡Õ¿Õ¸Ö=82Õ´Õ¨ (Eem Ooghebadoome)
(My Travelogue - Memoirs)
By Vrej-Armen
Vrej-Armen Artinian, a prolific editor and writer based in Montreal,
presents his memoirs, from his birth and early life in Egypt to his
settlement in Canada in the 1960s to current days. Profusely
illustrated with photographs, drawings, and handwritten texts, the
book is the story of a life, but it is also a valuable recollection
about life in the Armenian community of Egypt at its heyday in the
1940s-1960s, and the development of the Canadian Armenian community
since then.
Eem Ooghebadoome, 317 pages, softcover, $30.00, plus shipping and
handling.
To order books or for information contact the Prelacy Bookstore by
email ([email protected]) or by telephone (212-689-7810)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 7-Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shakeh Chapter presents
=80=9CThe 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-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the Eastern
Prelacy.
March 1-One Nation, One Culture: A Cultural Evening of Song & Dance
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide 100th Anniversary, Felician
College, 262 South Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey at 4 pm. Organized by
the New Jersey
chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, with
co-sponsorship of AGBU Ararat NY, Homenetmen Regional Executive,
Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, and Tekeyan Cultural
Association of Greater New York.
March 5-Official opening of Exhibit on Armenian textiles, `Stitching
to Survive: Handwork of Armenian Women,' 6-8 pm, at the United
Nations, New York. Reception to follow. Organized by the Armenian
Relief Society, Inc., and the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN.
March 6-Conference, `Rebuilding a Nation: The Armenian Woman's Century
of Resistance and Empowerment,' 10 am-4 pm, at
Salvation Army Auditorium, 221 East 52nd Street, New York
City. Organized by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of the
Armenian Relief Society, Inc.
March 13-15-`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-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-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-Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the
Connecticut State Capitol. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris
Bohjalian.
April 26-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-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-Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the
Eastern Prelacy.
July 18-Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I, at
the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias,
Lebanon. For
details click here.
October 5-9-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 30, 2014
WELCOMING 2015
As we enter the centennial year of the Armenian Genocide we pray to
our Lord, who is our refuge and strength, to guide our nation and to
make His presence known to us. May He make us truly wise in our quest
for truth and justice that we seek in the spirit of Christ and for the
honor and glory of His beloved name. Our hearts are set on Your
faithful promise that You will be with us now and forever. Amen.
`To the exiles of the Dispersion...who have been chosen and destined
by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus
Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be
yours in abundance.' (I Peter 1:1-2)
`I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your
welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.' (Jeremiah
29:11)
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Õ=8FÔ±Õ=90Ô» ÔµÕ'
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Õ'Õ=90Ô»Õ=8DÕ=8FÕ=88Õ=8D Ô¾Õ=86Ô±Õ' ÔµÕ' Õ=85Ô±Õ=85Õ=8FÕ=86ÔµÕ`Ô±Õ'
WE WISH ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR FILLED WITH
THE LOVE AND PROTECTION
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
2015 ENCYCLICAL OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
READ IN PRELACY PARISHES LAST SUNDAY
Parishes within the Eastern Prelacy last Sunday read the Encyclical
issued
by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House
of Cilicia, concerning the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations
during the year of 2015.
In his message, His Holiness said, `The Armenian Genocide has left
an indelible imprint on the collective memory of the Armenian
people. There is no Armenian in the world whose blood has not been
forged, or whose life has not been engulfed by the Armenian
Genocide. There is no Armenian on earth whose family has not
experienced genocide, exile, homelessness, or dispersion.'
His Holiness emphatically stated, `It is also necessary to look beyond
the 100th anniversary. The ever-changing world conditions and
priorities often need re-examination of approaches, way of acting, and
emphasis so that the effort in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause
becomes compatible with the reality that surrounds us. It is a duty
for us to be alert and always
united in our purpose. It is also necessary to properly read `signs of
the times.' The Armenian Cause is the cause of each Armenian and all
Armenians. It is our martyrs' cause, the cause of our future
generations. So every Armenian is called upon to contribute in our
pan-Armenian efforts to regain our rights.'
Read Catholicos Aram's Encyclical in Armenian
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/82cmqb) or English
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/ovdmqb).
Archbishop Oshagan reads the Encyclical issued by His Holiness Aram I,
about the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, at St. Stephen's Church
in Watertown, Massachusetts last Sunday. Prior to the reading the
Encyclical was escorted around the church in a procession.
In New Jersey's Sts. Vartanantz Church, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian holds
the Encyclical in the procession that went around the church.
NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD
In keeping with the Armenian tradition, the Feast of the Nativity and
Theophany commemorates the birth of Christ and His baptism by John the
Baptist.
The Armenian Church, among all of the Christian churches in the
world, has preserved to this day an ancient tradition that predates
the celebration of Christmas on December 25.
In his Christmas message, `Faithful to Our God; Faithful to Our
People,' Archbishop Oshagan describes how at Christmas the joyful
Christian world forgets anxieties and pain and enjoys the happiness
that hope brings. In remembrance of the memorial year of 2015-the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide-His Eminence reminded the
faithful that, `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.'
Archbishop Oshagan's Christmas message can be read in Armenian
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/4nemqb) and English
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/kgfmqb).
A BLESSED AND HOLY NATIVITY
This Tuesday, January 6, is Christmas. The Armenian Church has
remained faithful to the celebration of the Nativity and Epiphany on
January 6. All Christians celebrated Christmas on January 6 until the
mid-fourth century when the Roman Church separated the two events,
celebrating the birth on December 25 and the baptism and visit of the
magi on January 6 (thus the twelve days of Christmas).
On Christmas Eve a solemn Mass is celebrated, preceded by readings
taken from various parts of the Bible about the birth or the coming of
the Messiah. The third chapter from the book of Daniel is read,
usually by a deacon and three young men representing Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, the youths who would not renounce their faith
in spite of torture. Following Christmas
Eve services, traditionally choir members would go from house to house
singing hymns, spreading the Good News of the birth of our Savior.
On Christmas day, after the Divine Liturgy, a special service is
performed
symbolizing the baptism of Jesus, which was a turning point in His
life and the beginning of His ministry. This service, which is called
Blessing of the Water (Churorhnek) commemorates the Baptism and the
Manifestation of Christ recognizing Him as the true Son of God.
Light sent from the Father, you came down from heaven and became flesh
from the Holy Virgin; you are the Lamb of God and Son of the Father.
Today you appeared in the cave as Savior and accepted adoration from
the magi and seeing you the shepherds said: You are the Lamb of God
and Son of the Father.
Having seen the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, John cried out
saying: This is the Lamb of God and Son of the Father.
(Canon for the seventh day of Theophany according to the Liturgical
Canons
of the Armenian Apostolic Church).
PRELATE WILL ORDAIN ACOLYTES IN NEW JERSEY
Archbishop Oshagan will ordain five altar servers during the Divine
Liturgy this Sunday, January 4, at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey. The five to be ordained to rank of acolyte are: Armand
Charkhutian, Shaunt K. Doghramadjian, Antranig Essendir, Arthur
Kesenci, and Aram Kouyoumdjian. A reception, hosted by Mr. &
Mrs. Sarkis and Mary Ohanessian, will take place following the
services.
NATIVITY AND EPIPHANY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan:
On Christmas Eve, Monday, January 5, His Eminence will preside at the
Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy services at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
On Christmas Day, Tuesday, January 6, His Eminence will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon and officiate the Blessing of Water
Service at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City.
Vicar General, Bishop Anoushavan:
On Christmas Eve, Monday January 5, His Grace will preside at
Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy Services at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
On Christmas Day, Tuesday, January 6, His Grace will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Water Service at Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF REMEMBRANCE
During the coming new year of 2015 Armenians worldwide will
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that many
believed to be the death-knell of the Armenian people. The narrative
of the resilience of the Armenian people, the strength of the
survivors through their faithfulness to
their Lord is truly a miraculous story.
Special events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., May 7 to 9, 2015,
that include an ecumenical prayer service, a Pontifical Divine
Liturgy, memorial concert, and a banquet that will honor organizations
and individuals who came to the aid of Armenian survivors. The
Catholicoi, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be
present to preside over the events. Armenians from all over the United
States are expected to participate in solidarity and unity.
In New York, commemorative events will take place on April 24, 25, and
26,
including the annual Times Square program that is sponsored each year
by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
Below are details of the events in Washington, D.C.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, January 4, Seventh Sunday of Advent: Isaiah
51:15-52:3; Hebrews 13:18-25; Luke 22:24-30.
Bible readings for Monday, January 5, Christmas Eve (Jragalouyts):
Genesis
1:1-3:24; Isaiah 7:10-17; Exodus 14:24-15:21; Micah 5:2-7; Proverbs
1:1-9;
Isaiah 9:5-7; Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 35:3-8; Isaiah 40:10-17; Isaiah
42:1-8; Daniel 3:1-90. Divine Liturgy: Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 2:1-12;
Dismissal: Luke 2:8-14.
Bible readings for Christmas and Epiphany: Titus 2:1-15; Matthew
1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17. Blessing of Water: 1
Corinthians 10:1-4; Matthew 3:1-17.
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
proclaiming, `Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.' This
is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, `The voice
of one crying out in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.'' Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was
locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea
were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they
were baptized
by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he
said to them, `You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath
to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to
yourselves, `We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God
is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now
the ax
is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not
bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
`I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful
than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is
in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his
wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire.'
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by
him.
John would have prevented him, saying, `I need to be baptized by you,
and do you come to me?' But Jesus answered him, `Let it
be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all
righteousness.' Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized,
just as he
came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he
saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a
voice
from heaven said, `This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well
pleased.' (Matthew 3:1-17)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/08fmqb).
MEMORIAL DAY
Wednesday, January 7, the day after Christmas, is Memorial Day. As is
the custom in the Armenian Church, the day after each of the five
great tabernacle feasts is a Memorial Day. Traditionally, the Divine
Liturgy is celebrated on Memorial Day and afterwards the faithful go
to the cemetery to honor their loved ones and have their graves
blessed.
SAINT STEPHEN, THE FIRST DEACON
Parishes throughout the Eastern Prelacy celebrated the Feast of Saint
Stephen last Sunday. St. Stephen is described as `a man full of faith
and the Holy Spirit' (Acts 6:5). He became the first martyr of the
Christian church and is therefore called the `proto-martyr.'
St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, celebrated their
parish's patron saint, Saint Stephen, the first deacon and
proto-martyr last Sunday. Presiding over the services was the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan, who read Catholicos Aram's 2015 Encyclical during
the Divine
Liturgy (see first item).
St. Stephen's Church celebrated its patron saint last Sunday and
honored their deacons. First row, from left, sub-deacon Ara
Barsoumian, Deacons Zadour Bedoyan, Hovaness Doursounian, and Setrag
Panian. Second row, from left, sub-deacon Albert Barsoumian, His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, and
sub-deacon Jiro Barsoumian.
At Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, the deacons who
were honored included, from left, Harout Takvorian, Vahan
Kouyoumdjian, Zohrab Zakarian (choir master), Kostan Charkhutian, and
Hagop Tekeyan are shown here with the pastor Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian.
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. And for more info about Feast and
Fast, please click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/g1gmqb).
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 FOR 2015
Bible Readings for the entire year of 2015 are now on the web
page. Click here (https://t.e2ma.net/click/0sfzf/4f4cee/wthmqb).
MURONORHNEK PILGRIMAGE
A Pilgrimage to experience the Blessing of the Holy Oil (Muronorhnek)
in Antelias, Lebanon, is being organized with two options: Option A,
to Lebanon
only (July 12-21); Option B, to Lebanon, Armenia and Artsakh (July
12-28).
Space is limited; reservations must be made by February 12. Check
details below:
SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PHILLY
DONATE TO FUND FOR SYRIAN RELIEF
Following the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
Philadelphia, on Sunday, December 21, the Sunday School held its
annual Christmas Pageant in Founders Hall in the presence of
Archbishop Oshagan who presided over the Liturgy and the Pageant. The
youngest students, ages 2 to 5, delighted the audience with a
selection of three songs that reminded people of God's love for them
and their remembrance of Jesus' birthday in a pre-Pageant
performance. The older students, via Gospel readings,
carols, and hymns in Armenian and English, reenacted the story of the
Nativity. Unique to this year's Pageant were flashbacks to and from
the
21st and 1st centuries and how the celebration has changed throughout
time, but ultimately remembering the true reason for the season.
Santa presented the children with gifts, but first presented
Archbishop Oshagan a gift from the Sunday School-a check for one
hundred dollars
for the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief from the children from Philly
for the children of Syria, `to keep the Armenian schools open and to
meet the educational needs of all children in Syria.' The Prelate
accepted the gift with heartfelt appreciation and he told the
students, =80=9CThis means more to me than one million dollars!'
Archbishop Oshagan and Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian with the Sunday
School students.
Before distributing gifts to the children, Santa Claus presents a
check to
Srpazan on behalf of the Sunday School students to help children in
Syria.
CONCERT OF ARMENIAN CHAMBER MUSIC
Fourteen works of chamber music by thirteen Armenian contemporary
composers, in their first U.S. performance was offered on Sunday,
December 21, at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, co-sponsored with
Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society (New York
Chapter) and the Composers Union of Armenia.
The concert featured three performers from Armenia, soprano Noune
Karapetyan, violinist Sarkis Karapetyan and pianist Nune Hakobyan, who
presented an
array of compositions in various genres that were received with
enthusiasm
by the audience.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, delivered opening
remarks. Musicologist Krikor Pidedjian, who was instrumental in
organizing the concert together with composer Konstantin Petrossian,
followed with an introduction.
Composer Aram Satian, president of the Composers Union of Armenia, who
was
especially invited, made closing remarks and played his composition,
Ave Maria, which was rendered by a guest in the audience, soprano
Narine Ojakhyan. A reception followed in the Cathedral's John
Pashalian Hall.
Concert performers and organizers, from left, Mrs. Berjouhi Yessaian,
Mr. Zaven Varanian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Mr. Aram Satian,
Mrs. Asdghig Sevag, Mr. Sargis Karapetyan, Ms. Noune Karapetyan,
Mr. Krikor Pidedjian and Mr. Konstantin Petrossian.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Russian Victory in the Battle of Sarikamish (January 4, 1915)
The alignment of the Ottoman Empire with the Central Powers (Germany
and Austria-Hungary) and its declaration of war against Russia brought
inevitably a winter campaign in the Caucasus. Russia had taken Kars
during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and feared a campaign aimed at
retaking Kars and the port of Batum in Georgia.
An initial Russian offensive in the first half of November was stopped
25 kilometers inside Turkish territory along the Erzerum-Sarikamish
axis. War Minister Enver Pasha devised an operation plan and decided
to take personal
charge and execute his plan through a winter offense. The Turkish
Third Army included 83,000 regular troops, reserves, and personnel of
the Erzerum fortress added to 118,000. The Russian Caucasus Army was a
well-equipped 100,000 troops. It included two battalions of Armenian
volunteers, commanded by Hamazasp (Servantzdian) and Keri.
The Turkish plan was two-step: a sudden initial attack and a second
step with two corps (Ninth and Tenth) of the army proceeding at full
speed. After
a very hard march under heavy snow in the mountainous territory, and
various delays, the Turkish army started its attack on Sarikamish on
December 29, instead of December 25 as planned. The troops were worn
out, half-starved, and short of guns and ammunition. Enver thought
that the Russians, who had initially evacuated Sarikamish, were
retreating to Kars, when they were actually executing an encircling
movement.
The IX and X Turkish Corps, totaling 12,000 men, began to attack
Sarikamish. At the end of the day, they were driven off, losing 6,000
troops. Enver's positive mood was replaced with disappointment when he
received information that the Russians were preparing to encircle his
forces with a force of five regiments. On January 1, the commander of
the XI Corps pressed a frontal attack on Sarikamish lasting for the
next 4 days; after that the heavy fighting began to lose
momentum. Snow hindered advancing forces which were supposed to bring
the relief.
On January 2, Russian artillery fire caused severe casualties. Enver
Pasha
received two reports; both were saying that they did not have any
capacity
to launch another attack. The Russians were advancing now and the
circle was getting narrower. On January 4, Turkish Brigadier General
Hafız Hakkı Pasha toured the front line and saw that the fight was
over.
Afterwards, Turkish divisions started to surrender. Hafız Hakkı
ordered a total retreat on January 7. The Ottoman Third Army started
with 118,000 fighting power and was reduced to 42,000 effectives in
January 1915.
Russian losses were 16,000 killed in action and 12,000 who died of
sickness, mostly due to frostbite.
Enver was the strategist of the operation and the failure was blamed
on him. Beyond his faulty estimate on how the encircled Russians would
react, his failure was on not keeping operational reserves that
matched the needs of
the conditions. He did not have enough field service to factor the
hardships faced by the soldiers and analyzed the operational
necessities theoretically rather than contextually. Carrying out a
military plan in the winter was not the major failure of the
operation, but the level of its execution.
The Armenian detachment units are credited no small measure of the
success
which attended by the Russian forces, as they were natives of the
region, adjusted to the climatic conditions, familiar with every road
and mountain path, and had real incentive to fierce and resolute
combat.
On his return to Constantinople, Enver Pasha blamed his failure on the
actions of the local Armenians, initiating the repressive measures
against the
empire's Armenian population that were an early stage of the Armenian
Genocide.
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/0sfzf/4f4cee/cmimqb) 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)
Two Other Ways to Say `New Year' in Armenian
1. Amanor
As anyone knows, `new year' is nor dari (Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80 Õ¿Õ¡Ö=80Õ«) in
Armenian, and of course, New Year = Nor Dari (Õ=86Õ¸Ö=80
Õ=8FÕ¡Ö=80Õ«). But, unlike English, the Armenian language has a
second, much older and `fancy' way to name the first day of the
forthcoming year as Amanor (Ô±Õ´Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80).
Someone may suppose that this word is related to aman (Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¶)
`vessel' and nor (Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80) `new,' and that it designated a custom of
replacing the old china on New Year. Besides the fact that such a
pricey custom did not exist among Armenians, this would go against
language rules. In that case, the word would be amananor or amannor,
which has never existed.
They would be partly right, however: the second part of Amanor is nor
=80=9Cnew.'
What about the first? This is the Classical Armenian (Krapar) word am
(Õ¡Õ´ `year'), derived from the Proto-Indo-European word
sama. The word am does not exist alone in Modern Armenian, but it
appears in compound words. Besides Amanor, how do you say, for
instance, `decade' in Armenian? Dasn-am-eag
(Õ¿Õ¡Õ½Õ¶-Õ¡Õ´-Õ¥Õ¡Õ¯). What about `biennial' or `that happens every
two years'? Yerg-am-ea (Õ¥Ö=80Õ¯Õ¡Õ´Õ¥Õ¡Õµ).
In the same way that Latin annus lives in English annual, Krapar am
lives in Modern Armenian amenamea (Õ¡Õ´Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ´Õ¥Õ¡Õµ). Don't put
aside Latin and Krapar!
2. Gaghant
Did you know that Armenian Gaghant (Ô¿Õ¡Õ²Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤) and the English word
calendar are related?
English calendar comes from Old French, and then from Latin
calendarium (`account book'), which has its origin in calendae
(=80=9Cthe first day of the month').
This Latin word was also the source for the Greek word khalándai,
which actually took a different meaning, `new year.' The word and the
meaning went into Classical Armenian as gaghant (kaghant, in Classical
Armenian pronunciation). Most interestingly, the word was only
inherited by Western Armenian.
The familiar figure of Gaghant Baba (Ô¿Õ¡Õ²Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤
Õ=8AÕ¡ÕºÕ¡), incidentally, is only known to Western Armenians too;
Eastern Armenians know him as Tsemer Babig (Õ=81Õ´Õ¥Õ¼
Õ=8AÕ¡ÕºÕ«Õ¯, `Grandfather Winter'). Gaghant Baba appears to be the
Armenian version of French Père Noël ("Father Christmas"), but unlike
his French colleague, the name is unrelated to Christmas, because it
means `Father New Year.' Since Père Noël and Santa Claus bring
presents on Christmas, perhaps this is why many people mistakenly
think that Gaghant is a synonym of Dzenunt
(Ô¾Õ¶Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶Õ¤, `Christmas'), which
is a mistake. Gaghant Baba has a different timing: he actually comes
to Armenian children in the wee hours of New Year. By the way, if
people tell you that they are coming for a visit on Gaghant, be aware:
this means January
1.
Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner' can be read on the
Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
Komitas: Victim of the Great Crime
By Meline Karakashian, PhD
This is a well-researched account of the life of musicologist and
priest, Komitas Vartabed (1869-1935) in English. An Armenian edition
was published earlier. The book provides information about Komitas's
development,
his immense contribution to the preservation of Armenian folk music,
and his psychiatric hospitalizations following the Genocide of
1915. This volume
encapsulates the story of the Great Crime whose 100th anniversary will
be commemorated in 2015, and its psychological consequences, with
Komitas Vartabed being a prime example of a victim and survivor.
Komitas: Victim of the Great Crime, 224 pages, $20.00 plus shipping &
handling
Ô»Õ´ Õ¸Ö=82Õ²Õ¥ÕºÕ¡Õ¿Õ¸Ö=82Õ´Õ¨ (Eem Ooghebadoome)
(My Travelogue - Memoirs)
By Vrej-Armen
Vrej-Armen Artinian, a prolific editor and writer based in Montreal,
presents his memoirs, from his birth and early life in Egypt to his
settlement in Canada in the 1960s to current days. Profusely
illustrated with photographs, drawings, and handwritten texts, the
book is the story of a life, but it is also a valuable recollection
about life in the Armenian community of Egypt at its heyday in the
1940s-1960s, and the development of the Canadian Armenian community
since then.
Eem Ooghebadoome, 317 pages, softcover, $30.00, plus shipping and
handling.
To order books or for information contact the Prelacy Bookstore by
email ([email protected]) or by telephone (212-689-7810)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 7-Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shakeh Chapter presents
=80=9CThe 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-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the Eastern
Prelacy.
March 1-One Nation, One Culture: A Cultural Evening of Song & Dance
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide 100th Anniversary, Felician
College, 262 South Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey at 4 pm. Organized by
the New Jersey
chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, with
co-sponsorship of AGBU Ararat NY, Homenetmen Regional Executive,
Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, and Tekeyan Cultural
Association of Greater New York.
March 5-Official opening of Exhibit on Armenian textiles, `Stitching
to Survive: Handwork of Armenian Women,' 6-8 pm, at the United
Nations, New York. Reception to follow. Organized by the Armenian
Relief Society, Inc., and the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN.
March 6-Conference, `Rebuilding a Nation: The Armenian Woman's Century
of Resistance and Empowerment,' 10 am-4 pm, at
Salvation Army Auditorium, 221 East 52nd Street, New York
City. Organized by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of the
Armenian Relief Society, Inc.
March 13-15-`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-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-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-Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the
Connecticut State Capitol. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris
Bohjalian.
April 26-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-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-Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the
Eastern Prelacy.
July 18-Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I, at
the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias,
Lebanon. For
details click here.
October 5-9-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