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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/
CATHOLICOS ARAM STRESSES REVIVAL OF THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY IN SYRIA AS PRIORITY FOR ALL
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, said that
the revival of the Armenian community in Syria must be a priority for
all Armenians. In his sermon on Christmas day at the Cathedral of
St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, that was telecast
worldwide, His Holiness spoke on the theme of peace, specifically
emphasizing the message of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, through his
parables and his blessing of the peacemakers. The Catholicos said,
`The peace of Jesus was built on justice and mutual love, and the
Church is called to make peace the core of its vocation.'
Catholicos Aram spoke of the suffering in Syria, and told the
faithful, =80=9CWe must go beyond thinking and praying for the
suffering Armenian community. We must help them materially until the
day when they recover for the current tragedy and rebuild their
lives.'
The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is continuing its efforts to help
sustain the beleaguered Syrian Armenian community. The Fund has
already remitted $400,000 for humanitarian aid to the people. Please
help us continue this
sacred duty. Make your donation now.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE (http://e2.ma/click/ks06d/4f4cee/wdtg9) AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.
The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
Thank you for your help
LITURGICAL AND SANCTIFICATION COMMITTEES MEET
With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, the Liturgical Committee and the Sanctification Committee met
in Antelias, Lebanon last week. The two committees, with
representation from Etchmiadzin and Cilicia, are continuing their
regularly scheduled deliberations. The next meeting for both
committees is scheduled to take place in May 2014 in Etchmiadzin.
Catholicos Aram I with members of the Liturgical Committee.
Catholicos Aram I with members of the Sanctification Committee.
GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING
The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the Priests will take place February 24 to 26. Clergy
from the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies will be meeting jointly this
year at Holy Cross Church
in Troy, New York.
MUSICAL ARMENIA: MARCH 28
The 31st Musical Armenia concert will take place Friday evening (8
pm), March 28, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, featuring Narek
Arutyunian (clarinet) and Friends (Hahnsol Kim, violin; and Yunqing
Zhou, piano). For more information click here.
SAVE THE DATES FOR NRA
The 2014 National Representative Assembly (NRA), along with the Clergy
Conference, and the Conference of the National Association of Ladies
Guilds (NALG), will take place May 13-17, hosted by St. Sarkis Church,
Dearborn, Michigan. Watch for details.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, February 2, Third Sunday after Nativity,
are: Isaiah 62:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:15-19; John 6:39-47.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of
truth. Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and
more impiety, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth by claiming
that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the
faith of some. But God's firm
foundation stands, bearing this inscription: `The Lord knows those
who are his,' and, `Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
turn away from wickedness.' (2 Timothy 2:15-19)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://e2.ma/click/ks06d/4f4cee/c6tg9).
ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN
This Saturday, February 1, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of
St.
Gregory the Theologian, also known as Gregory of Nazianzus, who is
considered to be one of the four great doctors of the Church during
the fourth century, along with Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, and
Athanasius the Great. He served as Archbishop of Constantinople and he
is noted for being
an accomplished and eloquent speaker. He is described as `a
classically trained speaker and philosopher and the most accomplished
thetorical stylist of the patristic age.' He is also known as one of
the Cappadocian Fathers, along with Basil the Great and Gregory of
Nyssa. Some of his sermon s and poetry have survived.
NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE
CENTRAL RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS CONCLUDE MEETINGS
The meetings of the Central Religious and Executive Councils of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia concluded. The members of the councils
reviewed the programs and budgets proposed by the World General
Assembly and approved the following priorities for 2014: Construction
projects; preparatory activities for the 100th anniversary
commemoration of the Genocide; activities of the committee to protect
the Western Armenian language; the program and budget of the Khatcher
Kaloustian Pedagogical Center.
At the end of the deliberations of the two councils, the Central
Executive
Committee met in plenary session and highlighted the following
concerns: Assistance to the community in Syria to stay and rebuild its
life; cooperation between the two Holy Sees of Etchmiadzin and Cilicia
on the basis of the
decisions taken during the meeting of Bishops; and proposals related
to the dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
His Holiness Aram I closed the meeting with the following message:
=80=9CIn humility and without overrating our achievements, our task is
to serve our people by recovering the spirituality of the Church in
our daily lives, promoting educational activities, safeguarding our
cultural heritage, serving our members in need and promoting
ecumenical relations. We lack neither commitment, nor faith, nor
vision. What we lack is finances. I pray and
remain confident that our faithful will support the work of our Church
as approved by you, their representatives.'
CATHOLICOS LECTURES AT NEAR EAST SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
His Holiness Aram I presented a lecture on `The Challenges facing the
Ecumenical Movement,' this week at the Near East School of
Theology. The Catholicos first described some of the challenges that
the ecumenical movement currently is facing and then reflected on the
Middle East Council of Churches and some of its achievements including
moving the churches
from alienation to collaboration; giving visibility to the Christian
presence in the Middle East; emphasized the importance of
Christian-Muslim dialogue; promoted human rights, peace, and justice;
and became a bridge between
eastern and western Christianity.
In his conclusion, His Holiness stated that the churches are
challenged to
take the ecumenical movement more seriously. `Being ecumenical,
engaging in the ecumenical movement is no longer an option; it is the
raison d'être of the church. We feel that more existentially in our
part of the world,' His Holiness said.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Birth of Zabel Yesayan
(February 4, 1878)
Zabel Yesayan was a gifted novelist. Hagop Oshagan, her contemporary
and another great writer and literary critic, assessed her in the
following terms: `The work of Madam Yesayan is a whole. Its two big
poles, the soul of individuals and the collective sensitivity of
peoples, have been eternally conquered in indestructible
works. Z. Yesayan is the most complete success of Western Armenian
literature.' But she was also an activist
for the rights of women and the rights of her people. `Women have not
come to the world just to be pleasing,' she wrote. `Women have come to
develop their mind and their intellectual, moral, and physical
qualities. The ideal of all self-respecting women should not be just
to
please, but to become a beneficial element on this world.'
Born Zabel Hovhannesian in Scutari (nowadays Uskudar), a suburb of
Constantinople, she attended the local Surp Khach School, and her aim
was to become a writer. She managed to go to Paris at the age of
seventeen, in 1895, and study literature and philosophy at the
Sorbonne. Her prolific literary career started in the same year with a
prose poem published in the literary periodical Tsaghik, published by
Arshak Chobanian in Constantinople. She went on to publish short
stories, literary essays, articles, and translations,
both in French and in Armenian, in periodicals such as Mercure de
France, Masis, Anahit, and Arevelian Mamoul. She would also publish
two novels, In the Waiting Room (1903) and Decent People (1907).
She first signed with her maiden name, and soon, after she married
painter
Dikran Yesayan (1874-1921), she adopted her nom de plume that made her
famous. They would have two children, Sophie and Hrant.
After the Ottoman Revolution of 1908, Zabel Yesayan returned to
Constantinople, where she was active in literary and public
affairs. After the Adana massacres of 1909, she was a member of the
Investigative Commission set up by the Armenian Patriarchate and was
sent to Cilicia in this capacity. The tragic fate of the Armenians in
Cilicia inspired her masterpiece testimony of the catastrophe, Amid
the Ruins (1911), as well as a series of articles,
a novella, and short stories.
She was the only woman in the list of intellectuals to be arrested and
deported on the fateful night of April 23-24, 1915, but she was able
to avoid that dubious honor and to find refuge in Bulgaria months
later. She was later joined by her mother and her son (her daughter
lived with her husband in
Paris).
She went to the Caucasus, and worked actively for the next three
years, both in Tiflis and Baku, gathering testimonies of survivors,
which she also translated in order to provide information to the
French press. After reaching Paris in 1919, she went to Cilicia and
Beirut in 1920-1921 to collaborate in the relocation of refugees and
orphans.
Returning to Paris, she published the novellas The Last Cup and My
Soul Exiled, the latter being another of her best works. She published
other works
in the 1920s, when she also left the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, of
which she had been a member, and took a pro-Soviet orientation. She
visited Soviet Armenia in 1926 and wrote down her impressions in a
travelogue entitled Prometheus Unchained (1928). Finally, she settled
down in Yerevan in 1933 with her children. She taught French
literature at Yerevan State University and participated in the first
Congress of Soviet Writers in Moscow (1934). She published two books
during her last years, most importantly her childhood memoir, The
Gardens of Silihdar (1935), considered her masterpiece.
Zabel Yesayan, holding the Armenian Tricolor, with her family in
Paris.
After surviving 1915, it was an irony that she returned to Armenia to
contribute in the rebuilding of the country, only to become yet
another victim of the regime four years later. The Stalinist purges
claimed her life, together with her younger colleagues Yeghishe
Charents, Axel Bakunts, Vahan Totovents, and others, whom she tried to
defend. She was arrested and deported
in 1937. Going from prison to prison, she managed to write a few
letters to her daughter and her daughter-in-law. The last one was sent
from Baku in late 1942. Afterwards, there was complete silence.
As she wrote in The Gardens of Silihdar, `... I take refuge in them
[the gardens] every time ominous dark clouds pile up on the horizon of
my
life.' Perhaps that helped her resist almost six years of exile and
physical and moral suffering. One unconfirmed version says that she
was drowned in the Caspian Sea in late 1942 or early 1943, at the age
of 65. But
her works lived to turn her into the `great lady' of Armenian
literature.
Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History' are on
the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Love Is a Tricky Thing
If you hear the phrase `He married a girl,' you will understand that
some man tied the knot with a woman. But what will you get from the
literal translation `[Ô±Õ¶] Õ¡Õ´Õ¸Ö=82Õ½Õ¶Õ¡Ö=81Õ¡Ö=82 Õ¡Õ²Õ»Õ«Õ¯
Õ´Õ¨' ([An] amoosnatsav aghchig me)? You can only understand that
. . .
`a girl married'!
This is the risk of thinking in one language when talking or writing
in another. Sometimes, you fall into amusing traps. In this case, you
can solve it by using the proper expression `[Ô±Õ¶]
Õ¡Õ´Õ¸Ö=82Õ½Õ¶Õ¡Ö=81Õ¡Ö=82 Õ¡Õ²Õ»Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ´Õ¨ Õ°Õ¥Õ¿' (which literally
would be =80=9CHe married with a girl' in English).
Since we are in the field of sentimental issues, let us remind our
readers
of another troublemaker:
`I fell in love with him'
`I fell in love with her beauty.'
It does not matter whether it is a physical person or a non-physical
quality. In Armenian you don't fall in love with someone or
something. There is no `with' (hed) there: `ÔµÕ½
Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Ö=80Õ¥Ö=81Õ¡Õµ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80/Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ¶' (Yes siraharetsa
anor/iren), «ÔµÕ½ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Ö=80Õ¥Ö=81Õ¡Õµ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80
Õ£Õ¥Õ²Õ¥Ö=81Õ¯Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶' (Yes siraharetsa anor keghetsgootyan).
But not everything is different.
English love has a direct object: `I love my wife,' =80=9CI love my
dog,' `I love soccer.' Armenian love is no different; you love someone
or something: `[ÔµÕ½] Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´ Õ¯Õ«Õ¶Õ½' ([Yes] guh sirem
ginus), `ÔµÕ½ Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´ Õ·Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶Õ½' ([Yes ] gue sirem
shoonus), «[ÔµÕ½] Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´ Õ¸Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ¶Õ¤Õ¡Õ¯Õ¨' ([Yes] guh
sirem vodnakuntaguh).
But many people are fond of loving to someone or something. For
instance, when they want to declare their love, they mistakenly say
`ÔµÕ½ Ö=84Õ¥Õ¦Õ« Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´' (Yes kezi guh sirem), instead of
`ÔµÕ½ Ö=84Õ¥Õ¦ Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´' (Yes kez guh sirem). In this case,
kezi means `to you.' Do you love `to' her? Or him?
Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner' are on the
Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
Armenian Kesaria/Kayseri and Cappadocia
UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series
Edited by Richard G. Hovannisian
The 12th volume in the Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces series
has just been released. All volumes in this series are based on papers
presented
at international conferences at UCLA. Kesaria had a large Armenian
community that maintained its identity during centuries of foreign
rule, and Cappadocia had a pivotal role in early Christianity and the
evangelization of Armenia.
368 pages, soft cover
$35.00 plus shipping & handling
Note: Other volumes in this series are also available.
To place an order, contact the Armenian Prelacy Bookstore by email
([email protected]) or by phone (212-689-7810).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2014 Prelacy Lenten Program, on Wednesdays, starting March 5, at
St. Illuminator's Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (New York City),
Sponsored by
the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies
Guild (PLG), and the St. Illuminator's Cathedral Ladies Guild. For
information, please contact the Prelacy office at 212.689.7810, or
[email protected] or the Church office at 212-689-5880 or
[email protected].
January 31-Memorial Program dedicated to Sos Sargsyan, Armenian actor,
playwright, people's artist, and political activist, organized
by Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York,
featuring Karine Kocharyan, Voice of Armenians TVNY, at the Armenian
Center, 69-23 47th Street, Woodside, New York. Suggested donation:
$7.00. For information: 718-565-8397.
February 1-Valentine's Day Dinner Dance, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
February 2-St. Sarkis Men's Club, Dearborn, Michigan, presents Super
Bowl Party, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.
February 6-Avak luncheon, noon, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street,
North Andover, Massachusetts; p4rogram, Joe Almasian's 20th
anniversary representing Armenia in World Olympic Games at
Lillehammer, Norway.
February 9-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Book Presentation by
Deacon Shant Kazanjian following the Divine Liturgy at Lillian
Arakelian Hall.
February 9-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Bishop
Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
sermon. Following the services, His Grace will make a presentation
commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the passing of Catholicos Zareh I, and the 30th
anniversary
of the passing of Catholicos Khoren I.
February 24-26-Annual Clergy Ghevontiantz Gathering hosted by Holy
Cross Church, 255 Spring Avenue, Troy, New York.
March 1-St. Sarkis Sunday School, Dearborn, Michigan, Poon Paregentan
Costume Party for everyone, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.
March 8-Sunday Teachers' Seminar for NY-NJ region, at
St. Illuminator's Armenian Cathedral (New York City), sponsored by the
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme: The Nicene Creed.
March 26-St. Sarkis Ladies Guild, Dearborn, Michigan, Mid-Lenten
Luncheon following the Lenten morning service, Lillian Arakelian Hall.
March 28-Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm,
featuring
Narek Arutyunian (clarinet) & Friends, Hahnsol Kim (violin) and
Yunqing Zhou (piano).
March 27-April 6-Third Annual Online Auction hosted by Armenian Relief
Society, Eastern USA, Inc. Auction items include Weekend Getaways,
Unique Gifts, Restaurants, Hotels, Spa and Salon Services, Jewelry,
Electronics, Artwork, Sports Memorabilia, and more. To view and bid on
auction items during the auction dates:
www.biddingforgood.com/arseastusa. To contact the ARS Auction
committee: [email protected].
April 5-Sunday School Teachers' Seminar - New England region, at
St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme:
The Nicene Creed.
May 13-17-Clergy Conference and National Representative Assembly, and
Annual Conference of the National Association of Ladies' Guilds
(NALG) of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan.
June 1-Ladies Guild Annual Brunch, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
June 1-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Toronto Children's Choir
concert in the church sanctuary.
June 29-July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program for youth
ages 13-18 at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) of the Eastern Prelacy. For information, contact the
AREC office at 212.689.7810 or at [email protected].
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]
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/
CATHOLICOS ARAM STRESSES REVIVAL OF THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY IN SYRIA AS PRIORITY FOR ALL
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, said that
the revival of the Armenian community in Syria must be a priority for
all Armenians. In his sermon on Christmas day at the Cathedral of
St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, that was telecast
worldwide, His Holiness spoke on the theme of peace, specifically
emphasizing the message of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, through his
parables and his blessing of the peacemakers. The Catholicos said,
`The peace of Jesus was built on justice and mutual love, and the
Church is called to make peace the core of its vocation.'
Catholicos Aram spoke of the suffering in Syria, and told the
faithful, =80=9CWe must go beyond thinking and praying for the
suffering Armenian community. We must help them materially until the
day when they recover for the current tragedy and rebuild their
lives.'
The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is continuing its efforts to help
sustain the beleaguered Syrian Armenian community. The Fund has
already remitted $400,000 for humanitarian aid to the people. Please
help us continue this
sacred duty. Make your donation now.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE (http://e2.ma/click/ks06d/4f4cee/wdtg9) AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.
The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
Thank you for your help
LITURGICAL AND SANCTIFICATION COMMITTEES MEET
With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, the Liturgical Committee and the Sanctification Committee met
in Antelias, Lebanon last week. The two committees, with
representation from Etchmiadzin and Cilicia, are continuing their
regularly scheduled deliberations. The next meeting for both
committees is scheduled to take place in May 2014 in Etchmiadzin.
Catholicos Aram I with members of the Liturgical Committee.
Catholicos Aram I with members of the Sanctification Committee.
GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING
The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the Priests will take place February 24 to 26. Clergy
from the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies will be meeting jointly this
year at Holy Cross Church
in Troy, New York.
MUSICAL ARMENIA: MARCH 28
The 31st Musical Armenia concert will take place Friday evening (8
pm), March 28, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, featuring Narek
Arutyunian (clarinet) and Friends (Hahnsol Kim, violin; and Yunqing
Zhou, piano). For more information click here.
SAVE THE DATES FOR NRA
The 2014 National Representative Assembly (NRA), along with the Clergy
Conference, and the Conference of the National Association of Ladies
Guilds (NALG), will take place May 13-17, hosted by St. Sarkis Church,
Dearborn, Michigan. Watch for details.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, February 2, Third Sunday after Nativity,
are: Isaiah 62:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:15-19; John 6:39-47.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of
truth. Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and
more impiety, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth by claiming
that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the
faith of some. But God's firm
foundation stands, bearing this inscription: `The Lord knows those
who are his,' and, `Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
turn away from wickedness.' (2 Timothy 2:15-19)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(http://e2.ma/click/ks06d/4f4cee/c6tg9).
ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN
This Saturday, February 1, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of
St.
Gregory the Theologian, also known as Gregory of Nazianzus, who is
considered to be one of the four great doctors of the Church during
the fourth century, along with Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, and
Athanasius the Great. He served as Archbishop of Constantinople and he
is noted for being
an accomplished and eloquent speaker. He is described as `a
classically trained speaker and philosopher and the most accomplished
thetorical stylist of the patristic age.' He is also known as one of
the Cappadocian Fathers, along with Basil the Great and Gregory of
Nyssa. Some of his sermon s and poetry have survived.
NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE
CENTRAL RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS CONCLUDE MEETINGS
The meetings of the Central Religious and Executive Councils of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia concluded. The members of the councils
reviewed the programs and budgets proposed by the World General
Assembly and approved the following priorities for 2014: Construction
projects; preparatory activities for the 100th anniversary
commemoration of the Genocide; activities of the committee to protect
the Western Armenian language; the program and budget of the Khatcher
Kaloustian Pedagogical Center.
At the end of the deliberations of the two councils, the Central
Executive
Committee met in plenary session and highlighted the following
concerns: Assistance to the community in Syria to stay and rebuild its
life; cooperation between the two Holy Sees of Etchmiadzin and Cilicia
on the basis of the
decisions taken during the meeting of Bishops; and proposals related
to the dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
His Holiness Aram I closed the meeting with the following message:
=80=9CIn humility and without overrating our achievements, our task is
to serve our people by recovering the spirituality of the Church in
our daily lives, promoting educational activities, safeguarding our
cultural heritage, serving our members in need and promoting
ecumenical relations. We lack neither commitment, nor faith, nor
vision. What we lack is finances. I pray and
remain confident that our faithful will support the work of our Church
as approved by you, their representatives.'
CATHOLICOS LECTURES AT NEAR EAST SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
His Holiness Aram I presented a lecture on `The Challenges facing the
Ecumenical Movement,' this week at the Near East School of
Theology. The Catholicos first described some of the challenges that
the ecumenical movement currently is facing and then reflected on the
Middle East Council of Churches and some of its achievements including
moving the churches
from alienation to collaboration; giving visibility to the Christian
presence in the Middle East; emphasized the importance of
Christian-Muslim dialogue; promoted human rights, peace, and justice;
and became a bridge between
eastern and western Christianity.
In his conclusion, His Holiness stated that the churches are
challenged to
take the ecumenical movement more seriously. `Being ecumenical,
engaging in the ecumenical movement is no longer an option; it is the
raison d'être of the church. We feel that more existentially in our
part of the world,' His Holiness said.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Birth of Zabel Yesayan
(February 4, 1878)
Zabel Yesayan was a gifted novelist. Hagop Oshagan, her contemporary
and another great writer and literary critic, assessed her in the
following terms: `The work of Madam Yesayan is a whole. Its two big
poles, the soul of individuals and the collective sensitivity of
peoples, have been eternally conquered in indestructible
works. Z. Yesayan is the most complete success of Western Armenian
literature.' But she was also an activist
for the rights of women and the rights of her people. `Women have not
come to the world just to be pleasing,' she wrote. `Women have come to
develop their mind and their intellectual, moral, and physical
qualities. The ideal of all self-respecting women should not be just
to
please, but to become a beneficial element on this world.'
Born Zabel Hovhannesian in Scutari (nowadays Uskudar), a suburb of
Constantinople, she attended the local Surp Khach School, and her aim
was to become a writer. She managed to go to Paris at the age of
seventeen, in 1895, and study literature and philosophy at the
Sorbonne. Her prolific literary career started in the same year with a
prose poem published in the literary periodical Tsaghik, published by
Arshak Chobanian in Constantinople. She went on to publish short
stories, literary essays, articles, and translations,
both in French and in Armenian, in periodicals such as Mercure de
France, Masis, Anahit, and Arevelian Mamoul. She would also publish
two novels, In the Waiting Room (1903) and Decent People (1907).
She first signed with her maiden name, and soon, after she married
painter
Dikran Yesayan (1874-1921), she adopted her nom de plume that made her
famous. They would have two children, Sophie and Hrant.
After the Ottoman Revolution of 1908, Zabel Yesayan returned to
Constantinople, where she was active in literary and public
affairs. After the Adana massacres of 1909, she was a member of the
Investigative Commission set up by the Armenian Patriarchate and was
sent to Cilicia in this capacity. The tragic fate of the Armenians in
Cilicia inspired her masterpiece testimony of the catastrophe, Amid
the Ruins (1911), as well as a series of articles,
a novella, and short stories.
She was the only woman in the list of intellectuals to be arrested and
deported on the fateful night of April 23-24, 1915, but she was able
to avoid that dubious honor and to find refuge in Bulgaria months
later. She was later joined by her mother and her son (her daughter
lived with her husband in
Paris).
She went to the Caucasus, and worked actively for the next three
years, both in Tiflis and Baku, gathering testimonies of survivors,
which she also translated in order to provide information to the
French press. After reaching Paris in 1919, she went to Cilicia and
Beirut in 1920-1921 to collaborate in the relocation of refugees and
orphans.
Returning to Paris, she published the novellas The Last Cup and My
Soul Exiled, the latter being another of her best works. She published
other works
in the 1920s, when she also left the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, of
which she had been a member, and took a pro-Soviet orientation. She
visited Soviet Armenia in 1926 and wrote down her impressions in a
travelogue entitled Prometheus Unchained (1928). Finally, she settled
down in Yerevan in 1933 with her children. She taught French
literature at Yerevan State University and participated in the first
Congress of Soviet Writers in Moscow (1934). She published two books
during her last years, most importantly her childhood memoir, The
Gardens of Silihdar (1935), considered her masterpiece.
Zabel Yesayan, holding the Armenian Tricolor, with her family in
Paris.
After surviving 1915, it was an irony that she returned to Armenia to
contribute in the rebuilding of the country, only to become yet
another victim of the regime four years later. The Stalinist purges
claimed her life, together with her younger colleagues Yeghishe
Charents, Axel Bakunts, Vahan Totovents, and others, whom she tried to
defend. She was arrested and deported
in 1937. Going from prison to prison, she managed to write a few
letters to her daughter and her daughter-in-law. The last one was sent
from Baku in late 1942. Afterwards, there was complete silence.
As she wrote in The Gardens of Silihdar, `... I take refuge in them
[the gardens] every time ominous dark clouds pile up on the horizon of
my
life.' Perhaps that helped her resist almost six years of exile and
physical and moral suffering. One unconfirmed version says that she
was drowned in the Caspian Sea in late 1942 or early 1943, at the age
of 65. But
her works lived to turn her into the `great lady' of Armenian
literature.
Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History' are on
the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
Love Is a Tricky Thing
If you hear the phrase `He married a girl,' you will understand that
some man tied the knot with a woman. But what will you get from the
literal translation `[Ô±Õ¶] Õ¡Õ´Õ¸Ö=82Õ½Õ¶Õ¡Ö=81Õ¡Ö=82 Õ¡Õ²Õ»Õ«Õ¯
Õ´Õ¨' ([An] amoosnatsav aghchig me)? You can only understand that
. . .
`a girl married'!
This is the risk of thinking in one language when talking or writing
in another. Sometimes, you fall into amusing traps. In this case, you
can solve it by using the proper expression `[Ô±Õ¶]
Õ¡Õ´Õ¸Ö=82Õ½Õ¶Õ¡Ö=81Õ¡Ö=82 Õ¡Õ²Õ»Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ´Õ¨ Õ°Õ¥Õ¿' (which literally
would be =80=9CHe married with a girl' in English).
Since we are in the field of sentimental issues, let us remind our
readers
of another troublemaker:
`I fell in love with him'
`I fell in love with her beauty.'
It does not matter whether it is a physical person or a non-physical
quality. In Armenian you don't fall in love with someone or
something. There is no `with' (hed) there: `ÔµÕ½
Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Ö=80Õ¥Ö=81Õ¡Õµ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80/Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ¶' (Yes siraharetsa
anor/iren), «ÔµÕ½ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Ö=80Õ¥Ö=81Õ¡Õµ Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö=80
Õ£Õ¥Õ²Õ¥Ö=81Õ¯Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ¥Õ¡Õ¶' (Yes siraharetsa anor keghetsgootyan).
But not everything is different.
English love has a direct object: `I love my wife,' =80=9CI love my
dog,' `I love soccer.' Armenian love is no different; you love someone
or something: `[ÔµÕ½] Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´ Õ¯Õ«Õ¶Õ½' ([Yes] guh sirem
ginus), `ÔµÕ½ Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´ Õ·Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶Õ½' ([Yes ] gue sirem
shoonus), «[ÔµÕ½] Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´ Õ¸Õ¿Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ¶Õ¤Õ¡Õ¯Õ¨' ([Yes] guh
sirem vodnakuntaguh).
But many people are fond of loving to someone or something. For
instance, when they want to declare their love, they mistakenly say
`ÔµÕ½ Ö=84Õ¥Õ¦Õ« Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´' (Yes kezi guh sirem), instead of
`ÔµÕ½ Ö=84Õ¥Õ¦ Õ¯Õ¨ Õ½Õ«Ö=80Õ¥Õ´' (Yes kez guh sirem). In this case,
kezi means `to you.' Do you love `to' her? Or him?
Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner' are on the
Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
Armenian Kesaria/Kayseri and Cappadocia
UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series
Edited by Richard G. Hovannisian
The 12th volume in the Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces series
has just been released. All volumes in this series are based on papers
presented
at international conferences at UCLA. Kesaria had a large Armenian
community that maintained its identity during centuries of foreign
rule, and Cappadocia had a pivotal role in early Christianity and the
evangelization of Armenia.
368 pages, soft cover
$35.00 plus shipping & handling
Note: Other volumes in this series are also available.
To place an order, contact the Armenian Prelacy Bookstore by email
([email protected]) or by phone (212-689-7810).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2014 Prelacy Lenten Program, on Wednesdays, starting March 5, at
St. Illuminator's Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (New York City),
Sponsored by
the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies
Guild (PLG), and the St. Illuminator's Cathedral Ladies Guild. For
information, please contact the Prelacy office at 212.689.7810, or
[email protected] or the Church office at 212-689-5880 or
[email protected].
January 31-Memorial Program dedicated to Sos Sargsyan, Armenian actor,
playwright, people's artist, and political activist, organized
by Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York,
featuring Karine Kocharyan, Voice of Armenians TVNY, at the Armenian
Center, 69-23 47th Street, Woodside, New York. Suggested donation:
$7.00. For information: 718-565-8397.
February 1-Valentine's Day Dinner Dance, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
February 2-St. Sarkis Men's Club, Dearborn, Michigan, presents Super
Bowl Party, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.
February 6-Avak luncheon, noon, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street,
North Andover, Massachusetts; p4rogram, Joe Almasian's 20th
anniversary representing Armenia in World Olympic Games at
Lillehammer, Norway.
February 9-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Book Presentation by
Deacon Shant Kazanjian following the Divine Liturgy at Lillian
Arakelian Hall.
February 9-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Bishop
Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
sermon. Following the services, His Grace will make a presentation
commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the passing of Catholicos Zareh I, and the 30th
anniversary
of the passing of Catholicos Khoren I.
February 24-26-Annual Clergy Ghevontiantz Gathering hosted by Holy
Cross Church, 255 Spring Avenue, Troy, New York.
March 1-St. Sarkis Sunday School, Dearborn, Michigan, Poon Paregentan
Costume Party for everyone, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.
March 8-Sunday Teachers' Seminar for NY-NJ region, at
St. Illuminator's Armenian Cathedral (New York City), sponsored by the
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme: The Nicene Creed.
March 26-St. Sarkis Ladies Guild, Dearborn, Michigan, Mid-Lenten
Luncheon following the Lenten morning service, Lillian Arakelian Hall.
March 28-Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm,
featuring
Narek Arutyunian (clarinet) & Friends, Hahnsol Kim (violin) and
Yunqing Zhou (piano).
March 27-April 6-Third Annual Online Auction hosted by Armenian Relief
Society, Eastern USA, Inc. Auction items include Weekend Getaways,
Unique Gifts, Restaurants, Hotels, Spa and Salon Services, Jewelry,
Electronics, Artwork, Sports Memorabilia, and more. To view and bid on
auction items during the auction dates:
www.biddingforgood.com/arseastusa. To contact the ARS Auction
committee: [email protected].
April 5-Sunday School Teachers' Seminar - New England region, at
St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme:
The Nicene Creed.
May 13-17-Clergy Conference and National Representative Assembly, and
Annual Conference of the National Association of Ladies' Guilds
(NALG) of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan.
June 1-Ladies Guild Annual Brunch, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
June 1-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Toronto Children's Choir
concert in the church sanctuary.
June 29-July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program for youth
ages 13-18 at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) of the Eastern Prelacy. For information, contact the
AREC office at 212.689.7810 or at [email protected].
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]