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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/
June 26, 2014
PONTIFICAL BLESSINGS
THIS SUNDAY FOR
CATHOLICOS ARAM
By order of the Prelate, parishes of the Eastern Prelacy will offer
Pontifical Prayers and Blessings this Sunday, June 29, on the occasion
of the 19th anniversary of the election and consecration of His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia.
His Holiness was consecrated Catholicos on July 1, 1995, after serving
as Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox community in Lebanon for fifteen
years.
Catholicos Aram was ordained a celibate priest in 1968 and earned the
title `Vartabed' (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. He received
his Episcopal ordination in 1980. Born in Beirut in 1947, His Holiness
studied at the Holy See's Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon,
and the Near East School of Theology before attending the American
University of Beirut. He pursued his graduate education at the
Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Oxford University, and Fordham
University, earning two Master's degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D).
During the past 19 years, His Holiness has enriched the legacy of the
Holy
See especially through its Seminary which has produced outstanding
clerical and lay leaders for the Armenian Church, and the ecumenical
encounters that have elevated the Armenian Church presence in the
greater Christian family. During Catholicos Aram's pontificate the
Catholicosate's prolific printing press has produced an impressive
list of books on theology, history, biography, music, and literature.
We wish His Holiness good health and many more years of his devoted
leadership.
RETURN OF CHURCHES PASSES CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a religious freedom measure
early this morning holding Turkey accountable for the return of
thousands of stolen Christian holy sites and urging the immediate
opening of the Halki Theological Seminary. The Seminary, which was
founded in 1844, was the main school of theology of the Eastern
Orthodox Church's Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The
Turkish government forced its closure in 1971 with a law banning
private higher education institutions.
Committee chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and ranking Democrat Eliot Engel
(D-NY)
led the effort that received broad bipartisan support despite a last
minute campaign led by pro-Turkey lobbyists. An amended version of
H.R. 4347 was
adopted by voice vote.
Introduced in March by Royce and Engel, H.R. 4347 requires that the
U.S. Department of State formally report to Congress on an annual
basis about the
status of Turkey's return of stolen Christian churches and properties
in Turkey and occupied Cyprus.
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, was in Washington for the vote and
he extended thanks on behalf of the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan to the
committee members and praised the grassroots movement that generated
strong support of the resolution. He praised the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) for the exceptional effort it made to
garner the support of Armenian Americans and various Hellenic American
groups.
Bishop Anoushavan greets Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and
Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY).
Bishop Anoushavan thanks Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, who along with Congressman Engel led
the effort to pass H.R. 4347.
TRUSTEES OF PASHALIAN FUND MEET
The annual meeting of the trustees of the Pashalian Family Education
Fund took place this week at the Prelacy offices in New York. The
trustees, who oversee the fund which is part of the Prelacy's
Endowment Fund, meet annually to discuss the Fund's future growth and
to discuss the candidates for the annual grants. The 2014 grants will
be announced in September.
The Pashalian Fund was established in the early 1990s, through the
foresight and benevolence of Mr. and Mrs. Levon Pashalian, devoted
parishioners of
St. Illuminator's Cathedral. Mr. Pashalian was born in the historic
Armenian village of Palou-Havav. He survived the Genocide, immigrated
to the United States, and like many of his fellow villagers opened a
small grocery store on the east side of Manhattan. He and his wife
worked long hours
and raised a family, a son John Levon, and a daughter, Siroon. The
family faced a tremendous tragedy when son John was killed in an
accident in 1973.
Some years later the Pashalian Family established the Fund with an
initial
contribution of $138,000 with the stipulation that the earned proceeds
from the investments be used to promote and support Armenian language
schools and students in the United States.
Current trustees of the Fund are: Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate
and
President, Dr. George Dermksian, Mr. Michael Derian, and Ms. Sossi
Essajanian. A founding trustee, Ms. Gloria Tarsy, died two years ago.
`The Pashalian Family Education Fund is a model example of the good
that can be accomplished by foresighted individuals,' said Archbishop
Oshagan. `The Pashalian family has left a lasting impact on Armenian
education in the United States while perpetuating the memory of their
family.'
For information about the Prelacy's Endowment Fund and how you can
establish a Fund contact the Prelacy office by email
([email protected]) or by telephone at 212-689-7810.
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE
SUMMER PROGRAM BEGINS SUNDAY
Forty-one students (ages 13-18) and 17 clergymen and lay leaders will
gather at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania,
from June 29-July 6, 2014, for a week of fellowship, prayer, and
instruction in the elements of our Christian faith and traditions,
under the auspices
of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.
Sponsored by the Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC), the Summer Program offers a unique opportunity for our
teenagers to learn some of the basic elements of the Christian faith
in general and how that faith is expressed in the Armenian Apostolic
Church in particular.
Each day, the program begins with a Morning Service at 7:15 am;
classes are held from 8:30am to 12:30pm. In the afternoons, the
students enjoy recreational activities, such as volleyball, soccer,
basketball, and swimming. Classes resume in the evening form
7:00-9:00pm, and the day comes to a close with the Compline Service
(Husgoom) at 9:45 pm.
The weeklong program this year will be directed by Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen's Armenian Church in Watertown,
Massachusetts.
For information about the St. Gregory of Datev Institute, please visit
the
Prelacy website at http://www.armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cucze/4f4cee/k4lrhb)
Local Datevatsies came to the Prelacy yesterday to assemble program
materials for the participants of the Datev Summer Program that will
begin this Sunday.
Archbishop Oshagan with Ambassador
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
PRELATE AND VICAR WELCOME ARMENIA'S REPRESENTATIVE
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan visited and welcomed
Armenia's new Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan at the Mission's headquarters in Manhattan, on
Monday, June 23.
Mr. Mnatsakanyan, an experienced diplomat, has the diplomatic rank of
=80=9CAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.' His Excellency
most recently was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Negotiator
for the EU-Armenia Association Agreement, and Ambassador of the
Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg France. He
was decorated with
the Medal of Mkhitar Gosh of Armenia in 2011 for distinguished service
in diplomacy.
FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR AMBASSADOR MARKARIAN
Archbishop Oshagan attended a farewell reception for Ambassador and
Mrs. Tatoul Markarian, on June 24. Mr. Markarian has served as the
ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States for the
past nine years. The reception took place in Kavookjian Hall of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church, under the sponsorship of the Armenia
Fund USA.
The Ambassador served with distinction and earned the respect of the
Armenian American community. He is an experienced diplomat with
advanced degrees
(Masters and PhD) from the School of Advanced International Studies at
the
Johns Hopkins University, and the London School of Economics and
Political
Science.
Archbishop Oshagan and Ambassador Tatoulian at the reception with,
left to
right, Mrs. Anahid Grigorian, Mrs. Lalig Vartanian, Archbishop
Oshagan, Ambassador Markarian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Richard
Sarajian, Esq.
INDUCTION SERVICE AT CATHEDRAL
Induction service for the recently elected Board of Trustees of
St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City, took place last Sunday
during the
Divine Liturgy under the auspices of Archbishop Oshagan and with the
participation of Bishop Anoushavan.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor, described the ceremony as being a
=80=9Cvery special and a unique opportunity to recognize our
volunteers and express our gratitude for their dedication and
compassion on behalf of our Mayr Yegeghetsi.'
Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Der Mesrob with the members
of the Board of Trustees, from left to right, Antranig Vartanian,
alternate, Alex Alahverdian, advisor, Michael Yetemian, secretary,
Lalig Vartanian, advisor, Antranig (Tony) Vartanian, vice-chairman,
Viken Najarian, chairman, Yervant Kasparian, treasurer, and Dr. Artur
Martirosyan, advisor.
RETREAT IN MICHIGAN
Seventeen Sunday school students, grades 7 through 10, from St. Sarkis
Church in Dearborn, Michigan, attended the second overnight religious
retreat at Colombiere Retreat Center in Clarkston, Michigan. The
two-day retreat took place June 16 and 17 under the general theme of
`DO SOMETHING.' Lecturers included Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, pastor,
Roupina Carman, Michael Crane, Sebouh Sarkisian, and Diane
Changelian. Activities and games were organized by Marina Pilibosian
and Karoun Tcholakian. The students were engaged and enthusiastic
participants in all of the activities.
Services were an important part of the two-day retreat.
The participants in the Retreat with Der Hayr, lecturers and leaders.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IN DEARBORN
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, is sponsoring a Vacation Bible
Camp
this week with the theme of `Faith and Family.' Thirty students are
participating in the program that consists of biblical message of
the day, followed with singing, dancing, activities, arts and crafts,
and games.
Thirty students are enjoying the various activities of Vacation Bible
Camp
at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn.
Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian leads the students in the `Bible message of
the day.'
DEDICATION AND APPRECIATION AT CATHEDRAL
A special Dedication Service took place following the Divine Liturgy
last Sunday at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City. The service
was on the occasion of the generous donation made by Mr. and
Mrs. Armen and Mary Boyajian of three stained glass windows for the
Cathedral's sanctuary in memory of their parents and in honor of their
children and grandchildren. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian expressed his
heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for their dedication to the
Cathedral and their ongoing support.
Archbishop Oshagan also thanked the Boyajian family and recalled how
many years ago when he was a student in the United States, he knew
Armen and Mary as faithful parishioners along with their young
children who now are grown with families of their own. `It is
heartwarming to see all of you
today in our beloved Cathedral that you have faithfully cherished
through the years,' he said.
Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Der Mesrob with the
Boyajian Family.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, June 29, Third Sunday after Pentecost, Eve
of the Fast of our Holy Father St. Gregory the Illuminator, are:
Isaiah 1:2-15;
Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 12:1-8.
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; his
disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to
eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, `Look, your
disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.' He said
to them, =80=9CHave you not read what David did when he and his
companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread
of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to
eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on
the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are
guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But
if you had known what this means, `I desire mercy and not sacrifice,'
you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord
of the Sabbath.' (Matthew 12:1-8)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cucze/4f4cee/0wmrhb).
ST. NERSES THE GREAT AND BISHOP KHAT
This Saturday, June 28, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos
Nerses
the Great and Khat the Bishop. Nerses the Great was the father of
Catholicos Sahak I. He succeeded two catholicoi whose reigns were
unexceptional, and the people were eager to return to the line of
their beloved Gregory the Illuminator. Nerses was a student of
St. Basil of Caesarea, one of three great Cappadocian Fathers. Nerses'
pontificate was the beginning of a
new era. He brought the church closer in service to the people, rather
than to royals and nobles. He convened the Council of Ashtishat that
resulted in numerous laws on issues related to marriage, worship, and
customs. He built many schools, hospitals, and monasteries. He sent
monks to preach the Gospel throughout the country. His bold actions
resulted in great displeasure by the royal family and in 373 he was
reportedly poisoned by the king. His accomplishments for the spiritual
and social well-being of the common people earned him the gratitude of
the entire nation and the honorific =80=9CGreat.'
Khat the Bishop worked closely with St. Nerses the Great. Like Nerses
he had great passion for social issues, especially helping the
poor. Nerses entrusted most of the benevolent work of the church to
Khat. He is so closely associated with St. Nerses that the church
honors them on the same day.
By the light of unspeakable grace of your divine knowledge you arose
on the land of Armenia, merciful heavenly Father; have compassion on
us who have
sinned. Saint Nerses, pure in soul, from birth you were chosen to
inherit the paternal lot of shepherding righteously and lawfully. You
adorned the Church with the laws of truth and established good order
within it; through his prayers have mercy on us, O Christ.
(Canon to the Holy Patriarch Nerses the Great from the Liturgical
Canons of the Armenian Church)
CONSTANTINE AND HIS MOTHER HELENA
This Tuesday, July 1, the Armenian Church remembers Constantine the
Great and his mother, Helena. Constantine was the first Christian
emperor of Rome. In 330 he founded Constantinople as a `second Rome,'
and considered himself to be a servant of God. He was buried amid the
apostles in the basilica he founded in their honor in
Constantinople. Helena followed her son in becoming a Christian and
devoted her life to charitable work. She built many churches and
monasteries and is believed to have played an important role in the
recovery of the true cross in Golgotha. She is also believed to have
helped find Christ's exact place of burial where later the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher was built.
SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crises in Syria, including the recent upheaval in Kessab, require
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/cucze/4f4cee/gpnrhb) 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
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
Fall of Hromkla (June 28, 1292)
Hromkla means `Roman Castle' (Qal'at al-Rum in Arabic, Rumkale in
Turkish ). It was the Armenian name of a fortress built on the right
bank of the Euphrates River, on the place of its confluence with the
Parzman (Merzumen) Creek, 50 kilometers west of Urfa (Edesa).
A strategic border crossing during Byzantine domination of the area,
Hromkla was surrounded by water on three sides and by inaccessible
rocks on the remaining, with a four-layer wall.
Around 1080-1086 the fortress was occupied by the short-lived Armenian
princedom of Philartos (Filaret) Varajnuni, and afterwards by the
Armenian prince Kogh Vasil. After the death of the latter (1112), the
dux Baldwin II of
Edessa seized the fortress from his son, also called Vasil, and
offered it
to his relative, Joscelin I de Courtenay, who would succeed him as
Count of Edessa (1119-1131).
The Seljuk invasions had forced to move the Holy See of the Armenian
Apostolic Church outside Armenia in the middle of the eleventh
century. After various moves, Catholicos Grigor III Pahlavuni
(1113-1166) settled in Hromkla
in 1149 and two years later bought the fortress from Beatrice, wife of
count Joscelin II de Courtenay, who had been imprisoned in 1150 after
the fall
of Edessa in 1144.
Catholicos Grigor III rebuilt the fortifications of Hromkla and
founded two magnificent churches, St. Gregory the Illuminator and
St. Mary. The church of St. Savior was built at a later time. Hromkla
became a cultural center
during the tenure of Grigor III's successor, the famous Catholicos
St. Nerses IV Shnorhali (1166-1173). Many old manuscripts were
collected and illustrated, and new ones were copied and
written. Hromkla was famous for its school of miniatures. Two councils
held there in 1178 and 1179, with the participation of almost all
Armenian archbishops and bishops, studied and rejected the proposal to
join the Greek Orthodox, and recognized the authority of the
Catholicosate over all Armenians.
Hromkla was a domain of the Catholicos until the beginning of the
thirteenth century, when King Levon I of Cilicia (1198-1219) turned
the fortress into part of the court domains.
In May 1292 the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, Melik-al-Ashraf, besieged the
fortress. After a heroic resistance of 33 days by the population and
the Armenian troops, the superior number of the attackers and the
impossibility to obtain outside help forced the defenders to surrender
on June 28. The guardians were killed, the fortress was ransacked, and
most of the population, including Catholicos Stepanos IV, was taken
prisoner. The fall of Hromkla was considered by contemporary
historians as a catastrophe. The seat of the Catholicosate was moved
to Sis, in Cilicia proper where it would remain until 1920.
The church of St. Mary was turned into a mosque after the sixteenth
century, during Ottoman dominion, and the other churches were ruined
(the remains of the Catholicoi Grigor III and Nerses IV were buried at
the church
of St. Gregory the Illuminator). The bombing by Ibrahim Pasha of
Egypt, in
1839, destroyed Hromkla for good. Until the beginning of the twentieth
century, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church was a sanctuary for
Armenians and Yezdies (who called it Der Nerses).
Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History' are on
the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cucze/4f4cee/whorhb))
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
100th Anniversary of Genocide at the Bookstore
The Prelacy's Bookstore has an extensive collection of books in
Armenian and English about the Genocide including histories,
historical novels, memoirs, eye witness testimonies, essays, and
poetry. Through next April
we will feature one or two books each week from the Bookstore's
collection.
LETTERS FROM SYRIA 1921-1923
A Response to the Armenian Tragedy
By Nellie Miller-Mann
Nellie Miller-Mann was one of thirty Mennonites who volunteered to
serve under the Near East Relief organization between 1919 and 1923,
ministering to the needs of the orphans and refugees. As a gifted
writer and photographer, she chronicled the drama of the tragedy of
the genocide and the attempt t9o help the survivors. The book includes
her stories of people she encountered and places she visited.
Softcover, $16.00, plus shipping & handling
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To order these or other books, contact the Prelacy Bookstore by email
at [email protected] or telephone, 212-689-7810.
15TH ANNIVERSARY OF PASSING OF CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
This Sunday is the 15th anniversary of the passing of His Holiness
Karekin
I, Catholicos of All Armenians. His Holiness died on June 29, 1999, in
Etchmiadzin after a long and debilitating illness, just four years
after he was elected Catholicos of All Armenians.
With an outpouring of tributes, he was mourned not only by Armenians
worldwide but all of Christendom. A prominent theologian said,
`Catholicos Karekin was a great priest and distinguished leader of the
Universal Church. He was in the forefront of the ecumenical movement
and a loving pastor
and father to his people. I feel privileged to have enjoyed his
friendship. His loss is mourned not only by the Armenian Apostolic
Church but by the Church Universal.'
We remember and honor the memory of his distinguished service to Our
Lord,
and to the Armenian Church and people.
May the memory of the righteous we forever blessed and never
forgotten.
`Let us water the tree of faith. The tree of faith is the Church and
the water is our sweat, the sweat of honest labor shed for rebuilding
and revitalizing our Church. Without light the world is merely a blind
existence; in like manner, without spiritual and intellectual light,
our souls become blind entities.' (From a message delivered in 1997)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 28-St. Stephen's Church, New Britain, Connecticut, Ladies Guild
Cooking Class, `Short Cuts to Armenian Cooking,'
11 am, Mock Manti. $15 for each class; $40 for three classes.
June 29 - July 6, 2014: 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). For information, contact the AREC office at
212.689.7810
or at [email protected].
June 29-St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, Annual Armenian Picnic
and `Madagh' blessing at 11 am, by Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, pastor of
St. Hagop Church, at Johnson Park, 6200 Northwestern Avenue. Shish
kebab and chicken dinners, sarma, penelee, khurabia, and more. Live
Armenian music; children's activities, raffle drawing. For
information: Zohrab at [email protected].
July 14-39th Annual St. Sarkis Golf & Tennis Classic, Meadowbrook
Country Club, Northville, Michigan. $250 donation for golf breakfast,
lunch, and banquet. $125 donation banquet only. Reservations:
313-336-6200.
July 19-`A Hye Summer A Night IX,' sponsored by the Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, and Armenian Relief Society Ani
Chapter, 7 pm to 12 midnight. Dinner Dance at Alpine Country Club,
Pippen Orchard Drive, Cranston, Rhode Island, featuring Hachig
Kazarian,
John Berberian, Ken Kalajian, and Jason Naroian. Dinner-Dance, $50;
dance only after 8:30 pm, $35 (with student ID $25). RSVP before June
30. Call Joyce Yeremian, 401-354-8770, [email protected] or Joyce
Bagdasarian, 401-434-4467, sweetano6aol.com.
July 26-St. Stephen's Church, New Britain, Connecticut, Ladies Guild
Cooking Class, `Short Cuts to Armenian Cooking,'
11 am, Boereg. $15 for each class; $40 for three classes.
August 4-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, Annual
Golf Tournament.
August 17-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, Annual
Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes.
August 17-St. Sarkis Church (Dearborn) Grape Blessing Family Fun
Picnic at Kensington Park, Kensington, Michigan. Good food, music,
biking, soccer, dancing, magician, swimming, playscape, kids games,
door prizes, face painting, tavloo tournament and more.
August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes, 1-5 pm at Saddle River County Park,
Wild Duck Pond area. Music, delicious Armenian food and desserts, arts
and
crafts, and playground for children, cards, and tavloo, and more.
September 18-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 12th
Annual Golf Classic, River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New
Jersey. Rain or Shine. 11 am registration and Grilled Lunch Buffet; 1
pm Tee Off. Format: Shotgun Scramble (All player levels welcome). Golf
Outing Reservation: $195; limited to first 128 paid golf
reservations. Reservation includes: Grilled lunch buffet, dinner
banquet, golf, cart, and range balls. Contests and
Prizes. Sponsorships available. For information: 201-943-2950.
October 3-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday
School Dinner Dance Gala.
October 19-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will ordain sub-deacon Ara Stepanian
during the Divine Liturgy and preside over the parish's 57th Annual
Banquet.
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/
June 26, 2014
PONTIFICAL BLESSINGS
THIS SUNDAY FOR
CATHOLICOS ARAM
By order of the Prelate, parishes of the Eastern Prelacy will offer
Pontifical Prayers and Blessings this Sunday, June 29, on the occasion
of the 19th anniversary of the election and consecration of His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia.
His Holiness was consecrated Catholicos on July 1, 1995, after serving
as Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox community in Lebanon for fifteen
years.
Catholicos Aram was ordained a celibate priest in 1968 and earned the
title `Vartabed' (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. He received
his Episcopal ordination in 1980. Born in Beirut in 1947, His Holiness
studied at the Holy See's Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon,
and the Near East School of Theology before attending the American
University of Beirut. He pursued his graduate education at the
Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Oxford University, and Fordham
University, earning two Master's degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D).
During the past 19 years, His Holiness has enriched the legacy of the
Holy
See especially through its Seminary which has produced outstanding
clerical and lay leaders for the Armenian Church, and the ecumenical
encounters that have elevated the Armenian Church presence in the
greater Christian family. During Catholicos Aram's pontificate the
Catholicosate's prolific printing press has produced an impressive
list of books on theology, history, biography, music, and literature.
We wish His Holiness good health and many more years of his devoted
leadership.
RETURN OF CHURCHES PASSES CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a religious freedom measure
early this morning holding Turkey accountable for the return of
thousands of stolen Christian holy sites and urging the immediate
opening of the Halki Theological Seminary. The Seminary, which was
founded in 1844, was the main school of theology of the Eastern
Orthodox Church's Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The
Turkish government forced its closure in 1971 with a law banning
private higher education institutions.
Committee chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and ranking Democrat Eliot Engel
(D-NY)
led the effort that received broad bipartisan support despite a last
minute campaign led by pro-Turkey lobbyists. An amended version of
H.R. 4347 was
adopted by voice vote.
Introduced in March by Royce and Engel, H.R. 4347 requires that the
U.S. Department of State formally report to Congress on an annual
basis about the
status of Turkey's return of stolen Christian churches and properties
in Turkey and occupied Cyprus.
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, was in Washington for the vote and
he extended thanks on behalf of the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan to the
committee members and praised the grassroots movement that generated
strong support of the resolution. He praised the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) for the exceptional effort it made to
garner the support of Armenian Americans and various Hellenic American
groups.
Bishop Anoushavan greets Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and
Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY).
Bishop Anoushavan thanks Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, who along with Congressman Engel led
the effort to pass H.R. 4347.
TRUSTEES OF PASHALIAN FUND MEET
The annual meeting of the trustees of the Pashalian Family Education
Fund took place this week at the Prelacy offices in New York. The
trustees, who oversee the fund which is part of the Prelacy's
Endowment Fund, meet annually to discuss the Fund's future growth and
to discuss the candidates for the annual grants. The 2014 grants will
be announced in September.
The Pashalian Fund was established in the early 1990s, through the
foresight and benevolence of Mr. and Mrs. Levon Pashalian, devoted
parishioners of
St. Illuminator's Cathedral. Mr. Pashalian was born in the historic
Armenian village of Palou-Havav. He survived the Genocide, immigrated
to the United States, and like many of his fellow villagers opened a
small grocery store on the east side of Manhattan. He and his wife
worked long hours
and raised a family, a son John Levon, and a daughter, Siroon. The
family faced a tremendous tragedy when son John was killed in an
accident in 1973.
Some years later the Pashalian Family established the Fund with an
initial
contribution of $138,000 with the stipulation that the earned proceeds
from the investments be used to promote and support Armenian language
schools and students in the United States.
Current trustees of the Fund are: Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate
and
President, Dr. George Dermksian, Mr. Michael Derian, and Ms. Sossi
Essajanian. A founding trustee, Ms. Gloria Tarsy, died two years ago.
`The Pashalian Family Education Fund is a model example of the good
that can be accomplished by foresighted individuals,' said Archbishop
Oshagan. `The Pashalian family has left a lasting impact on Armenian
education in the United States while perpetuating the memory of their
family.'
For information about the Prelacy's Endowment Fund and how you can
establish a Fund contact the Prelacy office by email
([email protected]) or by telephone at 212-689-7810.
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE
SUMMER PROGRAM BEGINS SUNDAY
Forty-one students (ages 13-18) and 17 clergymen and lay leaders will
gather at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania,
from June 29-July 6, 2014, for a week of fellowship, prayer, and
instruction in the elements of our Christian faith and traditions,
under the auspices
of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.
Sponsored by the Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC), the Summer Program offers a unique opportunity for our
teenagers to learn some of the basic elements of the Christian faith
in general and how that faith is expressed in the Armenian Apostolic
Church in particular.
Each day, the program begins with a Morning Service at 7:15 am;
classes are held from 8:30am to 12:30pm. In the afternoons, the
students enjoy recreational activities, such as volleyball, soccer,
basketball, and swimming. Classes resume in the evening form
7:00-9:00pm, and the day comes to a close with the Compline Service
(Husgoom) at 9:45 pm.
The weeklong program this year will be directed by Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen's Armenian Church in Watertown,
Massachusetts.
For information about the St. Gregory of Datev Institute, please visit
the
Prelacy website at http://www.armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cucze/4f4cee/k4lrhb)
Local Datevatsies came to the Prelacy yesterday to assemble program
materials for the participants of the Datev Summer Program that will
begin this Sunday.
Archbishop Oshagan with Ambassador
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
PRELATE AND VICAR WELCOME ARMENIA'S REPRESENTATIVE
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan visited and welcomed
Armenia's new Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan at the Mission's headquarters in Manhattan, on
Monday, June 23.
Mr. Mnatsakanyan, an experienced diplomat, has the diplomatic rank of
=80=9CAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.' His Excellency
most recently was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Negotiator
for the EU-Armenia Association Agreement, and Ambassador of the
Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg France. He
was decorated with
the Medal of Mkhitar Gosh of Armenia in 2011 for distinguished service
in diplomacy.
FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR AMBASSADOR MARKARIAN
Archbishop Oshagan attended a farewell reception for Ambassador and
Mrs. Tatoul Markarian, on June 24. Mr. Markarian has served as the
ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States for the
past nine years. The reception took place in Kavookjian Hall of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church, under the sponsorship of the Armenia
Fund USA.
The Ambassador served with distinction and earned the respect of the
Armenian American community. He is an experienced diplomat with
advanced degrees
(Masters and PhD) from the School of Advanced International Studies at
the
Johns Hopkins University, and the London School of Economics and
Political
Science.
Archbishop Oshagan and Ambassador Tatoulian at the reception with,
left to
right, Mrs. Anahid Grigorian, Mrs. Lalig Vartanian, Archbishop
Oshagan, Ambassador Markarian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Richard
Sarajian, Esq.
INDUCTION SERVICE AT CATHEDRAL
Induction service for the recently elected Board of Trustees of
St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City, took place last Sunday
during the
Divine Liturgy under the auspices of Archbishop Oshagan and with the
participation of Bishop Anoushavan.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor, described the ceremony as being a
=80=9Cvery special and a unique opportunity to recognize our
volunteers and express our gratitude for their dedication and
compassion on behalf of our Mayr Yegeghetsi.'
Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Der Mesrob with the members
of the Board of Trustees, from left to right, Antranig Vartanian,
alternate, Alex Alahverdian, advisor, Michael Yetemian, secretary,
Lalig Vartanian, advisor, Antranig (Tony) Vartanian, vice-chairman,
Viken Najarian, chairman, Yervant Kasparian, treasurer, and Dr. Artur
Martirosyan, advisor.
RETREAT IN MICHIGAN
Seventeen Sunday school students, grades 7 through 10, from St. Sarkis
Church in Dearborn, Michigan, attended the second overnight religious
retreat at Colombiere Retreat Center in Clarkston, Michigan. The
two-day retreat took place June 16 and 17 under the general theme of
`DO SOMETHING.' Lecturers included Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, pastor,
Roupina Carman, Michael Crane, Sebouh Sarkisian, and Diane
Changelian. Activities and games were organized by Marina Pilibosian
and Karoun Tcholakian. The students were engaged and enthusiastic
participants in all of the activities.
Services were an important part of the two-day retreat.
The participants in the Retreat with Der Hayr, lecturers and leaders.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IN DEARBORN
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, is sponsoring a Vacation Bible
Camp
this week with the theme of `Faith and Family.' Thirty students are
participating in the program that consists of biblical message of
the day, followed with singing, dancing, activities, arts and crafts,
and games.
Thirty students are enjoying the various activities of Vacation Bible
Camp
at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn.
Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian leads the students in the `Bible message of
the day.'
DEDICATION AND APPRECIATION AT CATHEDRAL
A special Dedication Service took place following the Divine Liturgy
last Sunday at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City. The service
was on the occasion of the generous donation made by Mr. and
Mrs. Armen and Mary Boyajian of three stained glass windows for the
Cathedral's sanctuary in memory of their parents and in honor of their
children and grandchildren. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian expressed his
heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for their dedication to the
Cathedral and their ongoing support.
Archbishop Oshagan also thanked the Boyajian family and recalled how
many years ago when he was a student in the United States, he knew
Armen and Mary as faithful parishioners along with their young
children who now are grown with families of their own. `It is
heartwarming to see all of you
today in our beloved Cathedral that you have faithfully cherished
through the years,' he said.
Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Der Mesrob with the
Boyajian Family.
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, June 29, Third Sunday after Pentecost, Eve
of the Fast of our Holy Father St. Gregory the Illuminator, are:
Isaiah 1:2-15;
Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 12:1-8.
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; his
disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to
eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, `Look, your
disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.' He said
to them, =80=9CHave you not read what David did when he and his
companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread
of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to
eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on
the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are
guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But
if you had known what this means, `I desire mercy and not sacrifice,'
you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord
of the Sabbath.' (Matthew 12:1-8)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cucze/4f4cee/0wmrhb).
ST. NERSES THE GREAT AND BISHOP KHAT
This Saturday, June 28, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos
Nerses
the Great and Khat the Bishop. Nerses the Great was the father of
Catholicos Sahak I. He succeeded two catholicoi whose reigns were
unexceptional, and the people were eager to return to the line of
their beloved Gregory the Illuminator. Nerses was a student of
St. Basil of Caesarea, one of three great Cappadocian Fathers. Nerses'
pontificate was the beginning of a
new era. He brought the church closer in service to the people, rather
than to royals and nobles. He convened the Council of Ashtishat that
resulted in numerous laws on issues related to marriage, worship, and
customs. He built many schools, hospitals, and monasteries. He sent
monks to preach the Gospel throughout the country. His bold actions
resulted in great displeasure by the royal family and in 373 he was
reportedly poisoned by the king. His accomplishments for the spiritual
and social well-being of the common people earned him the gratitude of
the entire nation and the honorific =80=9CGreat.'
Khat the Bishop worked closely with St. Nerses the Great. Like Nerses
he had great passion for social issues, especially helping the
poor. Nerses entrusted most of the benevolent work of the church to
Khat. He is so closely associated with St. Nerses that the church
honors them on the same day.
By the light of unspeakable grace of your divine knowledge you arose
on the land of Armenia, merciful heavenly Father; have compassion on
us who have
sinned. Saint Nerses, pure in soul, from birth you were chosen to
inherit the paternal lot of shepherding righteously and lawfully. You
adorned the Church with the laws of truth and established good order
within it; through his prayers have mercy on us, O Christ.
(Canon to the Holy Patriarch Nerses the Great from the Liturgical
Canons of the Armenian Church)
CONSTANTINE AND HIS MOTHER HELENA
This Tuesday, July 1, the Armenian Church remembers Constantine the
Great and his mother, Helena. Constantine was the first Christian
emperor of Rome. In 330 he founded Constantinople as a `second Rome,'
and considered himself to be a servant of God. He was buried amid the
apostles in the basilica he founded in their honor in
Constantinople. Helena followed her son in becoming a Christian and
devoted her life to charitable work. She built many churches and
monasteries and is believed to have played an important role in the
recovery of the true cross in Golgotha. She is also believed to have
helped find Christ's exact place of burial where later the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher was built.
SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crises in Syria, including the recent upheaval in Kessab, require
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/cucze/4f4cee/gpnrhb) 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
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
Fall of Hromkla (June 28, 1292)
Hromkla means `Roman Castle' (Qal'at al-Rum in Arabic, Rumkale in
Turkish ). It was the Armenian name of a fortress built on the right
bank of the Euphrates River, on the place of its confluence with the
Parzman (Merzumen) Creek, 50 kilometers west of Urfa (Edesa).
A strategic border crossing during Byzantine domination of the area,
Hromkla was surrounded by water on three sides and by inaccessible
rocks on the remaining, with a four-layer wall.
Around 1080-1086 the fortress was occupied by the short-lived Armenian
princedom of Philartos (Filaret) Varajnuni, and afterwards by the
Armenian prince Kogh Vasil. After the death of the latter (1112), the
dux Baldwin II of
Edessa seized the fortress from his son, also called Vasil, and
offered it
to his relative, Joscelin I de Courtenay, who would succeed him as
Count of Edessa (1119-1131).
The Seljuk invasions had forced to move the Holy See of the Armenian
Apostolic Church outside Armenia in the middle of the eleventh
century. After various moves, Catholicos Grigor III Pahlavuni
(1113-1166) settled in Hromkla
in 1149 and two years later bought the fortress from Beatrice, wife of
count Joscelin II de Courtenay, who had been imprisoned in 1150 after
the fall
of Edessa in 1144.
Catholicos Grigor III rebuilt the fortifications of Hromkla and
founded two magnificent churches, St. Gregory the Illuminator and
St. Mary. The church of St. Savior was built at a later time. Hromkla
became a cultural center
during the tenure of Grigor III's successor, the famous Catholicos
St. Nerses IV Shnorhali (1166-1173). Many old manuscripts were
collected and illustrated, and new ones were copied and
written. Hromkla was famous for its school of miniatures. Two councils
held there in 1178 and 1179, with the participation of almost all
Armenian archbishops and bishops, studied and rejected the proposal to
join the Greek Orthodox, and recognized the authority of the
Catholicosate over all Armenians.
Hromkla was a domain of the Catholicos until the beginning of the
thirteenth century, when King Levon I of Cilicia (1198-1219) turned
the fortress into part of the court domains.
In May 1292 the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, Melik-al-Ashraf, besieged the
fortress. After a heroic resistance of 33 days by the population and
the Armenian troops, the superior number of the attackers and the
impossibility to obtain outside help forced the defenders to surrender
on June 28. The guardians were killed, the fortress was ransacked, and
most of the population, including Catholicos Stepanos IV, was taken
prisoner. The fall of Hromkla was considered by contemporary
historians as a catastrophe. The seat of the Catholicosate was moved
to Sis, in Cilicia proper where it would remain until 1920.
The church of St. Mary was turned into a mosque after the sixteenth
century, during Ottoman dominion, and the other churches were ruined
(the remains of the Catholicoi Grigor III and Nerses IV were buried at
the church
of St. Gregory the Illuminator). The bombing by Ibrahim Pasha of
Egypt, in
1839, destroyed Hromkla for good. Until the beginning of the twentieth
century, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church was a sanctuary for
Armenians and Yezdies (who called it Der Nerses).
Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History' are on
the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/cucze/4f4cee/whorhb))
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
100th Anniversary of Genocide at the Bookstore
The Prelacy's Bookstore has an extensive collection of books in
Armenian and English about the Genocide including histories,
historical novels, memoirs, eye witness testimonies, essays, and
poetry. Through next April
we will feature one or two books each week from the Bookstore's
collection.
LETTERS FROM SYRIA 1921-1923
A Response to the Armenian Tragedy
By Nellie Miller-Mann
Nellie Miller-Mann was one of thirty Mennonites who volunteered to
serve under the Near East Relief organization between 1919 and 1923,
ministering to the needs of the orphans and refugees. As a gifted
writer and photographer, she chronicled the drama of the tragedy of
the genocide and the attempt t9o help the survivors. The book includes
her stories of people she encountered and places she visited.
Softcover, $16.00, plus shipping & handling
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To order these or other books, contact the Prelacy Bookstore by email
at [email protected] or telephone, 212-689-7810.
15TH ANNIVERSARY OF PASSING OF CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
This Sunday is the 15th anniversary of the passing of His Holiness
Karekin
I, Catholicos of All Armenians. His Holiness died on June 29, 1999, in
Etchmiadzin after a long and debilitating illness, just four years
after he was elected Catholicos of All Armenians.
With an outpouring of tributes, he was mourned not only by Armenians
worldwide but all of Christendom. A prominent theologian said,
`Catholicos Karekin was a great priest and distinguished leader of the
Universal Church. He was in the forefront of the ecumenical movement
and a loving pastor
and father to his people. I feel privileged to have enjoyed his
friendship. His loss is mourned not only by the Armenian Apostolic
Church but by the Church Universal.'
We remember and honor the memory of his distinguished service to Our
Lord,
and to the Armenian Church and people.
May the memory of the righteous we forever blessed and never
forgotten.
`Let us water the tree of faith. The tree of faith is the Church and
the water is our sweat, the sweat of honest labor shed for rebuilding
and revitalizing our Church. Without light the world is merely a blind
existence; in like manner, without spiritual and intellectual light,
our souls become blind entities.' (From a message delivered in 1997)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 28-St. Stephen's Church, New Britain, Connecticut, Ladies Guild
Cooking Class, `Short Cuts to Armenian Cooking,'
11 am, Mock Manti. $15 for each class; $40 for three classes.
June 29 - July 6, 2014: 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). For information, contact the AREC office at
212.689.7810
or at [email protected].
June 29-St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, Annual Armenian Picnic
and `Madagh' blessing at 11 am, by Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, pastor of
St. Hagop Church, at Johnson Park, 6200 Northwestern Avenue. Shish
kebab and chicken dinners, sarma, penelee, khurabia, and more. Live
Armenian music; children's activities, raffle drawing. For
information: Zohrab at [email protected].
July 14-39th Annual St. Sarkis Golf & Tennis Classic, Meadowbrook
Country Club, Northville, Michigan. $250 donation for golf breakfast,
lunch, and banquet. $125 donation banquet only. Reservations:
313-336-6200.
July 19-`A Hye Summer A Night IX,' sponsored by the Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, and Armenian Relief Society Ani
Chapter, 7 pm to 12 midnight. Dinner Dance at Alpine Country Club,
Pippen Orchard Drive, Cranston, Rhode Island, featuring Hachig
Kazarian,
John Berberian, Ken Kalajian, and Jason Naroian. Dinner-Dance, $50;
dance only after 8:30 pm, $35 (with student ID $25). RSVP before June
30. Call Joyce Yeremian, 401-354-8770, [email protected] or Joyce
Bagdasarian, 401-434-4467, sweetano6aol.com.
July 26-St. Stephen's Church, New Britain, Connecticut, Ladies Guild
Cooking Class, `Short Cuts to Armenian Cooking,'
11 am, Boereg. $15 for each class; $40 for three classes.
August 4-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, Annual
Golf Tournament.
August 17-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, Annual
Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes.
August 17-St. Sarkis Church (Dearborn) Grape Blessing Family Fun
Picnic at Kensington Park, Kensington, Michigan. Good food, music,
biking, soccer, dancing, magician, swimming, playscape, kids games,
door prizes, face painting, tavloo tournament and more.
August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes, 1-5 pm at Saddle River County Park,
Wild Duck Pond area. Music, delicious Armenian food and desserts, arts
and
crafts, and playground for children, cards, and tavloo, and more.
September 18-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 12th
Annual Golf Classic, River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New
Jersey. Rain or Shine. 11 am registration and Grilled Lunch Buffet; 1
pm Tee Off. Format: Shotgun Scramble (All player levels welcome). Golf
Outing Reservation: $195; limited to first 128 paid golf
reservations. Reservation includes: Grilled lunch buffet, dinner
banquet, golf, cart, and range balls. Contests and
Prizes. Sponsorships available. For information: 201-943-2950.
October 3-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday
School Dinner Dance Gala.
October 19-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will ordain sub-deacon Ara Stepanian
during the Divine Liturgy and preside over the parish's 57th Annual
Banquet.
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]