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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/
October 2, 2014
The Armenian Prelacy =99¦ 138 East 39th Street =99¦ New York, NY
10016
tel: 212-689-7810 =99¦ Fax: 212-689-7168 =99¦ Email:
[email protected]
ORDINATIONS IN PROVIDENCE
By the Grace of God and in accordance with the sacred canons and rites
of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Oshagan will ordain and consecrate
two candidates to the holy order of the priesthood this weekend at
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island.
Deacon Harold Nazarian, a member of Sts. Vartanantz Church
(Providence) and Deacon Diran Der Khosrofian, a member of
St. Asvadzadzin Church (Whitinsville), will be ordained in the
presence of family and friends in services that will take place over a
two-day period, Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4. Bishop
Anoushavan, Vicar of the Prelacy, is the sponsoring priest and
presenter of the two candidates. Godfathers are Dr. Andre Markarian
and Mr. Ara Getzoyan. In addition to the Prelate and Vicar, ten
clergymen serving
the Eastern Prelacy will participate.
For more than two years both candidates followed a special program of
study developed by Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious Council. In
addition, they received regular individual instruction by Bishop
Anoushavan and other clergy and lay specialists. Early this year they
traveled to Lebanon where for a period of three months they received
further instruction and preparation.
The attendance and prayers of the faithful are welcomed on this joyous
occasion.
Click on the image below to listen to an interview with the two
candidates
as part of this week's podcast by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor
of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York.
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/wlvrlb)
PONTIFICAL VISIT OF CATHOLICOS ARAM
TO EASTERN PRELACY ANNOUNCED
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive
Councils of the Eastern Prelacy are pleased to announce that His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia, will visit the Eastern Prelacy in May 2015.
Originally planned to take place in October 2012, but postponed due to
the
civil strife in Syria, His Holiness, who will be traveling to the
United States in May for the joint commemoration of the centennial of
the Armenian Genocide in Washington, DC, will extend his stay to
fulfill the pontifical visit that had been scheduled more than two
years ago.
The visit will begin on May 15, 2015 and end on June 4, when His
Holiness will open the Eastern Prelacy's National Representative
Assembly (NRA) in Watertown, Massachusetts, before returning to the
Holy See in Antelias.
Jack Mardoian, Esq., a member of All Saints Church in Glenview,
Illinois, and a former chairman of the Executive Council, is serving
as chairman of the National Steering Committee. Under the presidency
of Archbishop Oshagan,
the executive members of the steering committee are: His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, John Daghlian, Vazken Ghougassian, Tamar
Harutunian, Jack
Mardoian, Iris Papazian, and Kristen Santerian. The steering committee
will oversee the visit and will guide the work of a number of
sub-committees that have been formed, especially at a local parish
level. Read more about the pontifical visit here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/cewrlb).
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA WILL PURSUE RETURN
OF HISTORIC ECCLESSIASTICAL CENTER OF SIS
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia, recently announced that the Catholicosate will take legal
action to claim ownership of the historic headquarters of the
Catholicosate of Sis, the
seat of the Catholicos since 1293, in the capital city of the Armenian
Kingdom of Cilicia. The last Catholicos to occupy the throne in the
city of Sis was Catholicos Sahag II Khabayan, who was exiled in 1921
along with his people in the aftermath of the Genocide. After a period
of uncertainty and peregrination, Catholicos Sahag settled in
Antelias, Lebanon, the site of a Near East Relief orphanage.
In his announcement about the legal action at the recent
Armenia-Diaspora Conference, His Holiness said, `We cannot remain
indifferent towards the abuse of the rights of the Armenian
nation. Indifference amounts to the betrayal of the nation.'
His Holiness said that the Catholicosate has been working with a legal
team for two years to take the case to Turkey's Constitutional Court,
and is also prepared to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights
if necessary. `This certainly does not mean that efforts on the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be abandoned,
but recognition should provide for compensation,' His Holiness said.
His Holiness expressed the confidence that the Armenian people will
support this legal initiative that will require significant commitment
and funding.
PRELATE AND VICAR IN NEW JERSEY
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz
Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, October 5. Following
the Liturgy, Bishop Anoushavan will make a presentation about
St. Ephrem the Syrian. The Vicar recently published two books devoted
to the Prayer of St. Ephrem, in separate Armenian and English
versions. Copies of the two books will be available for purchase.
Ephrem was a 4th century Syriac deacon and prolific hymnographer and
theologian. Many Christian denominations, including the Armenian
Church, venerate him as a saint. He wrote a wide variety of hymns,
poems, and sermons, as well as biblical exegesis. Although many of his
works survived, some were lost, and some exist only in other
languages, especially in Armenian.
MIDDLE EAST TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, pastor of St. Gregory Church, Indian
Orchard, Massachusetts and Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York, will
speak on the current Middle East Crisis and Its Affect on Middle East
Christians, on Wednesday, October 8 at 7 pm, at Delmar Presbyterian
Church, 585 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York. The event is sponsored
by St. George Orthodox Christian Church (Albany), Holy Cross Armenian
Apostolic Church (Troy), and Delmar Presbyterian Church. A native of
Aleppo, Syria, with family members still living there, Der Bedros will
speak about the current situation and also share personal experiences
as an Armenian Christian who grew up in Aleppo.
MUSICAL ARMENIA APPLICATIONS
The Musical Armenia committee is accepting applications from young
Armenian musicians who would like to be featured in a concert at
Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in New York City. Those interested
in applying should visit the Prelacy's web site
(www.armenianprelacy.org) or click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/s6wrlb).
The Prelacy inaugurated the Musical Armenia series in 1982 in order to
promote the careers of talented young Armenian musicians from all over
the world. Since then, the annual concerts have remained faithful to
the objectives of the series. The 2015 concert will take place on
Friday, March 20. Applications should be sent no later than October
30, 2014.
ANEC DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA
Dr. Vartan Matiossian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Education Committee, traveled to Armenia, where he will participate in
the workshop organized by the Society of Armenian Studies (SAS) to
mark the 40th anniversary of its founding on October 3-5, with the
participation of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. The
workshop will bring together twenty scholars from abroad and twenty
from Armenia.
Dr. Matiossian will also participate in the 13th general conference of
the
International Association for Armenian Studies (AIEA) that will take
place
at the Matenadaran from October 9-11. He will present a paper entitled
=80=9C'Haiko': The Last Unknown Participant in Talaat Pasha's
Liquidation.'
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, October 5, Fourth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross are, Isaiah 17:7-14; 2 Corinthians 13:5-13; Mark
11:27-33.
Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, `By
what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority
to do them?' Jesus said to them, `I will ask you one question; answer
me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the
baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer
me.' They argued with one another, `If we say, `From heaven,' he will
say, `Why then did you not believe him?' But shall we say, `Of human
origin'?-they were afraid
of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they
answered Jesus, `We do not know.' And Jesus said to them, `Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.' (Mark
11:27-33)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/8yxrlb).
STS. SAHAG AND HAMAZASP, THE PRINCES
Today, Thursday, October 2, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives
of the brothers Sahag and Hamazasp Ardzroonik, who together with other
Armenian nobles revolted against Arab rule of Armenia in 786. When
captured they were given the choice of renouncing the Christian
religion or death. They refused and were tortured and put to death.
72 HOLY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
This Saturday, October 5, the Armenian Church commemorates the 72 Holy
Disciples of Christ. The reference comes from the Gospel of Luke
(Chapter 10, Verse 1): `After this the Lord appointed seventy others
and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where
he himself intended to go.' (Note: Some sources say 72 disciples;
others say 70). These disciples remained true to the Lord and their
calling, and spread the Gospel. They were not random choices, but
rather true disciples whose labors
carried the message of the Lord throughout the Roman Empire and
beyond. All of the saints are remembered individually in the
liturgical calendar of the church, but this day is set aside to
remember them collectively.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
The Council of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church by Karekin Sarkissian
was
written in 1959 as a thesis for the degree of B. Litt from the
University of Oxford. Since its original publication by S.P.C.K. in
England, it has been reprinted a number of times. This paperback
edition was published by the
Prelacy in 1975. The most recent reprint is Volume 7 in the `Karekin I
Series'-a long-term project of publishing all of the major writings of
His Holiness. The series is currently up to Volume 15, with several
more volumes to come.
Opening of the Council of Chalcedon (October 8, 451)
The fourth ecumenical council that convened in Chalcedon became a
turning point in the history of the Armenian Church, even though the
Armenian Church was not represented at Chalcedon.
The first ecumenical council at Nicea (325) determined that Jesus
Christ was God, `consubstantial' with the Father. This meant that God
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are `of one being' in that the Son is
`born' or `begotten' `before all ages' or `eternally of the Father's
own being, from which the Spirit also eternally `proceeds.' The
confession of Nicea, recited in every Holy Mass of the Armenian
Church, states: `We believe (...) in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, begotten of God the Father, only-begotten, that is of the
substance of the Father (...) who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven, took body, became man, was born perfectly of
the holy Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. By whom he took body, soul
and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance.'
This was reaffirmed at the first council of Constantinople (381) and
the council of Ephesus (431). One of the fathers of the Church, Cyril
of Alexandria (d. 444) taught that `There is only one nature (physis),
since it is the Incarnation, of God the Word,' which was held as
orthodoxy.
In 446, an aged monk from Constantinople named Eutyches started
teaching a
subtle variation of this doctrine. His teachings were considered
heretical, but he was rehabilitated in a council marred with scandal,
held again at Ephesus (449) and supported by Byzantine emperor
Theodosius II (408-450) where he publicly professed that while Christ
had two natures before the incarnation, the two natures had merged to
form a single nature after the incarnation. Pope Leo I denounced the
council as a `synod of robbers' and refused to accept its decisions.
The threat of a schism led the new Byzantine emperor, Marcian
(450-457), to hold a new council at Chalcedon (451) from October 8 -
November 1, 451, which condemned the work of the council of 449 and
professed the doctrine of the incarnation presented in Leo's Tome, a
document prepared by the Pope, which confessed that Christ had two
natures, and was not of
or from two natures. A special committee appointed by the Council
decided unanimously in favor of the orthodoxy of Leo's Tome, and
determined
that it was compatible with the teachings of Cyril of Alexandria. The
confession of Chalcedon stated: `We, then, following the holy Fathers,
all with one consent, teach people to confess (...) one and the same
Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures,
inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.'
The formula on the nature of Christ adopted by the Council of
Chalcedon was severely criticized by various Oriental sees. Many local
councils rejected that doctrine. Resistance reached the point that
Byzantine emperor Zeno I
(474-491) issued a document called Henotikon in 482, which considered
the doctrinal resolutions of the first three councils (Nicea,
Constantinople, and Ephesus), while the Council of Chalcedon and Leo's
Tome were not
mentioned at all.
At the time of the Council of Chalcedon, Armenia was in crisis. A few
months before, in May 451, the battle of Avarair had been fought, and
the Armenian Church was in no position to have its say on the
issue. The situation changed after the Treaty of Nvarsak (484), when
the situation stabilized with Persian Armenia under the government of
Vahan Mamikonian. The Armenian Church adopted the doctrine of the
Henotikon, and this position was officially confirmed by the Council
of Dvin (506).
The followers of the Council of Chalcedon have frequently accused the
Armenian Church of monophysitism, but this is not true: the Armenian
Church follows the doctrine of Cyril of Alexandria established at the
third ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431) that reaffirmed the
decisions of the Councils of
Nicea and Ephesus.
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 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/8m0df/4f4cee/oryrlb) 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
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
The Prelacy 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. From now through next April we will feature one or two books
each week from the Bookstore's collection.
The Tragedy of Bitlis
By Grace H. Knapp
The Tragedy of Bitlis (originally published in 1919) is one of the few
English language primary accounts of the Armenian Genocide in
Bitlis. This is another disturbing account of the systematic
murder. It is relatively unknown and deserves more attention.
Soft cover, $20.00 plus shipping & handling
>From Istanbul to Aghtamar:
An Armenian Pilgrimage
By Hagop Nersoyan
This travelogue is a well-written account of a trip that took the
author from Istanbul to the island of Aghtamar in a time when such a
trip was not common. It is filled with insights and valuable
information about the history of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul
and the Armenians of Turkey, particularly in the 20th century.
Soft cover, $10.00 plus shipping & handling
To order these or other books contact the Prelacy Bookstore by phone
(212-689-7810) or email ([email protected]).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 2-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Avak
Luncheon at noon at Jaffarian Hall. Presentation by Charlie Larkin
(mother is Goshgarian), who will discuss the growing number of young
professionals and how they are building our Armenian communities
throughout the world. Owner of Johnny Appleseed Models, a startup firm
manufacturing products for scale modelers, and teacher of driver's
education.
October 3-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday
School Dinner Dance Gala.
October 3 & 4-Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Diran Der
Khosrofian and Deacon Harold Nazarian, at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, Rhode Island, by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan. Banquet
to immediately follow at the Providence Marriott Hotel. Please contact
the Church Office at 401-831-6399 for reservations/information.
October 11-Armenian Friends of America presents Kef 5, 7:30-12:30,
Michael's Function Hall, 12 Alpha Street, Haverhill,
Massachusetts. Tickets $50; students 21 and under, $40. Proceeds will
benefit Armenian churches of Merrimack Valley. Individually served
mezza platters and pastries; musicians, Mal Barsamian (clarinet), John
Berberian (oud), Bob Raphaelian (violin), Bruce Jigarjian (guitar),
Jason Naroian (dumbeg & vocals). Advance ticket sales only. John
Arzigian, 603-560-3826; Lucy Sirmaian, 978-683-9121; Peter Gulezian,
978-375-1616, Sandy Boroyan, 978-251-8687.
October 12-15-Prelacy Clergy Gathering for Reflection and Renewal at
St. Mary of Providence Retreat Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania.
October 18-Annual Armenian Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, 135 Goodwin
Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 10 am to 7 pm. Favorite
Armenian dinners including shish, losh, and chicken kebab and rice
pilaf; stuffed grape leaves, cheese and spinach pie, pickled
vegetables; traditional Armenian and American baked goods;
raffle. Take-out available. For information: (413) 543-4763.
October 19-St. Stephen's Church, New Britain, Connecticut,
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will ordain Ara Stepanian as Deacon
during
the Divine Liturgy and preside over the parish's 89th Annual
Banquet.
October 26-Celebration of 80th anniversary of Armenian Weekly and
115th anniversary of Hairenik, at home of Carmen and Avo Barmakian, 58
Matthew Lane, Waltham, Massachusetts. Keynote speaker, Professor
Richard G. Hovannisian, professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History
at UCLA. Reservations by October 18, Heather Krafian, 617-932-1965.
November 2-All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois, 71st Anniversary
under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, following the Divine
Liturgy, at Shahnasarian Hall, 1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois.
November 7-8-9-Rouben Mamoulian Film Festival, 7 pm, at the Museum
of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York. Sponsored by the
Anthropology Museum of the People of New York, the Armenian Cultural
Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College, and The Museum
of the Moving Image. Opening night and reception will feature Love Me
Tonight, the 1932 musical comedy film produced and directed by
Mamoulian, with music by Rodgers and Hart, starring Jeanette MacDonald
and Maurice Chevalier. For tickets and information:
[email protected] or 718-428-5650.
November 7 & 8-St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 58th
Armenian Bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at Armenian Cultural & Educational
Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts. Meals served from
11:30 am to 8:30 pm (take out is available). Enjoy delicious meals,
Armenian pastries, gourmet items, arts and crafts, books, raffles,
attic treasures. For information: 617-924-7562.
November 15 &16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
Armenian Fest 2014 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston,
Rhode
Island. Largest indoor festival in Rhode Island. Delicious shish and
losh kebob, chicken and kufta dinners and Armenian pastry available
all day. Live dance music. The Mourad Armenian School and Providence
Hamazkayin dance groups will perform on Saturday and Sunday at 5
pm. Hourly raffles, silent auction, country store, gift baskets,
flea-market, arts and crafts. Main raffle prizes worth total $2,700.
Fun for all ages. Free admission, parking and valet. For information:
401-831-6399 or www.stsvartanantzchurch.org.
November 21, 22, 23-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar, Food Festival, and Hantes. Mezze and Kebab dinners
(chicken, shish, luleh); dessert table and trays of home-made
delicacies; Boutique
Booths; Chinese Auction; Supervised Game Room for children;
Pre-packaged Monte, Sou Buereg, Kufteh, and Lehmejun; Take-out
available; Live Music for dancing and listening. Traditional Kavourma
dinner on Sunday served immediately after church service. For
information: 201-943-2950.
December 6-Armenian Winter Dessert Festival, Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland.
December 6-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
Annual Bazaar at Christian Reform Church, Whitinsville, 10 am to 5 pm.
December 7-Ladies Guild of St. Stephen's Church of New Britain and
Hartford, Connecticut, will host a Wine Tasting Party at noon in the
church hall, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain. A wine talk and tasting
will be provided by Taylor Brooke Winery, Woodstock, Connecticut,
owned by Linda Varjabedian Auger.
December 7-8th Annual ANC Eastern Region Banquet, Ritz-Carlton Battery
Park, NY. Freedom Award Honoree: former Manhattan District Attorney
Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family; Vahan Cardashian Award
Honoree: ANCA activist Alice Movsesian. Tickets are $250. For
reservations and information, please visit www.anca.org/erbanquet or
917.428.1918.
December 12-Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) 11th Annual Holiday Gala,
Cipriani 42nd Street, New York City. Cocktails and Silent Auction, 7
pm; Dinner & Program, 8 pm; Dancing & After Party, 10 pm. For tickets
and information www.coafkids.org or 212-994-8234.
February 9-11, 2015-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the
Eastern Prelacy.
March 1, 2015-`One Nation-One Culture,' cultural evening of song and
dance dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Felician College, 262 S. Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey. For
information: [email protected].
March 13-15, 2015-`Responsibility 2015,' International conference for
Armenian Genocide's centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York,
featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and
artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under
the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America,
Eastern Region. www.responsibility2015.com for information.
October 5-9, 2015-Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian
Prelacies.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy's web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] to your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]
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/
October 2, 2014
The Armenian Prelacy =99¦ 138 East 39th Street =99¦ New York, NY
10016
tel: 212-689-7810 =99¦ Fax: 212-689-7168 =99¦ Email:
[email protected]
ORDINATIONS IN PROVIDENCE
By the Grace of God and in accordance with the sacred canons and rites
of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Oshagan will ordain and consecrate
two candidates to the holy order of the priesthood this weekend at
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island.
Deacon Harold Nazarian, a member of Sts. Vartanantz Church
(Providence) and Deacon Diran Der Khosrofian, a member of
St. Asvadzadzin Church (Whitinsville), will be ordained in the
presence of family and friends in services that will take place over a
two-day period, Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4. Bishop
Anoushavan, Vicar of the Prelacy, is the sponsoring priest and
presenter of the two candidates. Godfathers are Dr. Andre Markarian
and Mr. Ara Getzoyan. In addition to the Prelate and Vicar, ten
clergymen serving
the Eastern Prelacy will participate.
For more than two years both candidates followed a special program of
study developed by Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious Council. In
addition, they received regular individual instruction by Bishop
Anoushavan and other clergy and lay specialists. Early this year they
traveled to Lebanon where for a period of three months they received
further instruction and preparation.
The attendance and prayers of the faithful are welcomed on this joyous
occasion.
Click on the image below to listen to an interview with the two
candidates
as part of this week's podcast by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor
of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York.
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/wlvrlb)
PONTIFICAL VISIT OF CATHOLICOS ARAM
TO EASTERN PRELACY ANNOUNCED
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive
Councils of the Eastern Prelacy are pleased to announce that His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia, will visit the Eastern Prelacy in May 2015.
Originally planned to take place in October 2012, but postponed due to
the
civil strife in Syria, His Holiness, who will be traveling to the
United States in May for the joint commemoration of the centennial of
the Armenian Genocide in Washington, DC, will extend his stay to
fulfill the pontifical visit that had been scheduled more than two
years ago.
The visit will begin on May 15, 2015 and end on June 4, when His
Holiness will open the Eastern Prelacy's National Representative
Assembly (NRA) in Watertown, Massachusetts, before returning to the
Holy See in Antelias.
Jack Mardoian, Esq., a member of All Saints Church in Glenview,
Illinois, and a former chairman of the Executive Council, is serving
as chairman of the National Steering Committee. Under the presidency
of Archbishop Oshagan,
the executive members of the steering committee are: His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, John Daghlian, Vazken Ghougassian, Tamar
Harutunian, Jack
Mardoian, Iris Papazian, and Kristen Santerian. The steering committee
will oversee the visit and will guide the work of a number of
sub-committees that have been formed, especially at a local parish
level. Read more about the pontifical visit here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/cewrlb).
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA WILL PURSUE RETURN
OF HISTORIC ECCLESSIASTICAL CENTER OF SIS
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia, recently announced that the Catholicosate will take legal
action to claim ownership of the historic headquarters of the
Catholicosate of Sis, the
seat of the Catholicos since 1293, in the capital city of the Armenian
Kingdom of Cilicia. The last Catholicos to occupy the throne in the
city of Sis was Catholicos Sahag II Khabayan, who was exiled in 1921
along with his people in the aftermath of the Genocide. After a period
of uncertainty and peregrination, Catholicos Sahag settled in
Antelias, Lebanon, the site of a Near East Relief orphanage.
In his announcement about the legal action at the recent
Armenia-Diaspora Conference, His Holiness said, `We cannot remain
indifferent towards the abuse of the rights of the Armenian
nation. Indifference amounts to the betrayal of the nation.'
His Holiness said that the Catholicosate has been working with a legal
team for two years to take the case to Turkey's Constitutional Court,
and is also prepared to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights
if necessary. `This certainly does not mean that efforts on the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be abandoned,
but recognition should provide for compensation,' His Holiness said.
His Holiness expressed the confidence that the Armenian people will
support this legal initiative that will require significant commitment
and funding.
PRELATE AND VICAR IN NEW JERSEY
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz
Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, October 5. Following
the Liturgy, Bishop Anoushavan will make a presentation about
St. Ephrem the Syrian. The Vicar recently published two books devoted
to the Prayer of St. Ephrem, in separate Armenian and English
versions. Copies of the two books will be available for purchase.
Ephrem was a 4th century Syriac deacon and prolific hymnographer and
theologian. Many Christian denominations, including the Armenian
Church, venerate him as a saint. He wrote a wide variety of hymns,
poems, and sermons, as well as biblical exegesis. Although many of his
works survived, some were lost, and some exist only in other
languages, especially in Armenian.
MIDDLE EAST TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, pastor of St. Gregory Church, Indian
Orchard, Massachusetts and Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York, will
speak on the current Middle East Crisis and Its Affect on Middle East
Christians, on Wednesday, October 8 at 7 pm, at Delmar Presbyterian
Church, 585 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York. The event is sponsored
by St. George Orthodox Christian Church (Albany), Holy Cross Armenian
Apostolic Church (Troy), and Delmar Presbyterian Church. A native of
Aleppo, Syria, with family members still living there, Der Bedros will
speak about the current situation and also share personal experiences
as an Armenian Christian who grew up in Aleppo.
MUSICAL ARMENIA APPLICATIONS
The Musical Armenia committee is accepting applications from young
Armenian musicians who would like to be featured in a concert at
Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in New York City. Those interested
in applying should visit the Prelacy's web site
(www.armenianprelacy.org) or click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/s6wrlb).
The Prelacy inaugurated the Musical Armenia series in 1982 in order to
promote the careers of talented young Armenian musicians from all over
the world. Since then, the annual concerts have remained faithful to
the objectives of the series. The 2015 concert will take place on
Friday, March 20. Applications should be sent no later than October
30, 2014.
ANEC DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA
Dr. Vartan Matiossian, Executive Director of the Armenian National
Education Committee, traveled to Armenia, where he will participate in
the workshop organized by the Society of Armenian Studies (SAS) to
mark the 40th anniversary of its founding on October 3-5, with the
participation of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. The
workshop will bring together twenty scholars from abroad and twenty
from Armenia.
Dr. Matiossian will also participate in the 13th general conference of
the
International Association for Armenian Studies (AIEA) that will take
place
at the Matenadaran from October 9-11. He will present a paper entitled
=80=9C'Haiko': The Last Unknown Participant in Talaat Pasha's
Liquidation.'
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, October 5, Fourth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross are, Isaiah 17:7-14; 2 Corinthians 13:5-13; Mark
11:27-33.
Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the
chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, `By
what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority
to do them?' Jesus said to them, `I will ask you one question; answer
me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the
baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer
me.' They argued with one another, `If we say, `From heaven,' he will
say, `Why then did you not believe him?' But shall we say, `Of human
origin'?-they were afraid
of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they
answered Jesus, `We do not know.' And Jesus said to them, `Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.' (Mark
11:27-33)
For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
(https://t.e2ma.net/click/8m0df/4f4cee/8yxrlb).
STS. SAHAG AND HAMAZASP, THE PRINCES
Today, Thursday, October 2, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives
of the brothers Sahag and Hamazasp Ardzroonik, who together with other
Armenian nobles revolted against Arab rule of Armenia in 786. When
captured they were given the choice of renouncing the Christian
religion or death. They refused and were tortured and put to death.
72 HOLY DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
This Saturday, October 5, the Armenian Church commemorates the 72 Holy
Disciples of Christ. The reference comes from the Gospel of Luke
(Chapter 10, Verse 1): `After this the Lord appointed seventy others
and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where
he himself intended to go.' (Note: Some sources say 72 disciples;
others say 70). These disciples remained true to the Lord and their
calling, and spread the Gospel. They were not random choices, but
rather true disciples whose labors
carried the message of the Lord throughout the Roman Empire and
beyond. All of the saints are remembered individually in the
liturgical calendar of the church, but this day is set aside to
remember them collectively.
THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
The Council of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church by Karekin Sarkissian
was
written in 1959 as a thesis for the degree of B. Litt from the
University of Oxford. Since its original publication by S.P.C.K. in
England, it has been reprinted a number of times. This paperback
edition was published by the
Prelacy in 1975. The most recent reprint is Volume 7 in the `Karekin I
Series'-a long-term project of publishing all of the major writings of
His Holiness. The series is currently up to Volume 15, with several
more volumes to come.
Opening of the Council of Chalcedon (October 8, 451)
The fourth ecumenical council that convened in Chalcedon became a
turning point in the history of the Armenian Church, even though the
Armenian Church was not represented at Chalcedon.
The first ecumenical council at Nicea (325) determined that Jesus
Christ was God, `consubstantial' with the Father. This meant that God
(Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are `of one being' in that the Son is
`born' or `begotten' `before all ages' or `eternally of the Father's
own being, from which the Spirit also eternally `proceeds.' The
confession of Nicea, recited in every Holy Mass of the Armenian
Church, states: `We believe (...) in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, begotten of God the Father, only-begotten, that is of the
substance of the Father (...) who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven, took body, became man, was born perfectly of
the holy Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. By whom he took body, soul
and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance.'
This was reaffirmed at the first council of Constantinople (381) and
the council of Ephesus (431). One of the fathers of the Church, Cyril
of Alexandria (d. 444) taught that `There is only one nature (physis),
since it is the Incarnation, of God the Word,' which was held as
orthodoxy.
In 446, an aged monk from Constantinople named Eutyches started
teaching a
subtle variation of this doctrine. His teachings were considered
heretical, but he was rehabilitated in a council marred with scandal,
held again at Ephesus (449) and supported by Byzantine emperor
Theodosius II (408-450) where he publicly professed that while Christ
had two natures before the incarnation, the two natures had merged to
form a single nature after the incarnation. Pope Leo I denounced the
council as a `synod of robbers' and refused to accept its decisions.
The threat of a schism led the new Byzantine emperor, Marcian
(450-457), to hold a new council at Chalcedon (451) from October 8 -
November 1, 451, which condemned the work of the council of 449 and
professed the doctrine of the incarnation presented in Leo's Tome, a
document prepared by the Pope, which confessed that Christ had two
natures, and was not of
or from two natures. A special committee appointed by the Council
decided unanimously in favor of the orthodoxy of Leo's Tome, and
determined
that it was compatible with the teachings of Cyril of Alexandria. The
confession of Chalcedon stated: `We, then, following the holy Fathers,
all with one consent, teach people to confess (...) one and the same
Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures,
inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.'
The formula on the nature of Christ adopted by the Council of
Chalcedon was severely criticized by various Oriental sees. Many local
councils rejected that doctrine. Resistance reached the point that
Byzantine emperor Zeno I
(474-491) issued a document called Henotikon in 482, which considered
the doctrinal resolutions of the first three councils (Nicea,
Constantinople, and Ephesus), while the Council of Chalcedon and Leo's
Tome were not
mentioned at all.
At the time of the Council of Chalcedon, Armenia was in crisis. A few
months before, in May 451, the battle of Avarair had been fought, and
the Armenian Church was in no position to have its say on the
issue. The situation changed after the Treaty of Nvarsak (484), when
the situation stabilized with Persian Armenia under the government of
Vahan Mamikonian. The Armenian Church adopted the doctrine of the
Henotikon, and this position was officially confirmed by the Council
of Dvin (506).
The followers of the Council of Chalcedon have frequently accused the
Armenian Church of monophysitism, but this is not true: the Armenian
Church follows the doctrine of Cyril of Alexandria established at the
third ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431) that reaffirmed the
decisions of the Councils of
Nicea and Ephesus.
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 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/8m0df/4f4cee/oryrlb) 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
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
The Prelacy 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. From now through next April we will feature one or two books
each week from the Bookstore's collection.
The Tragedy of Bitlis
By Grace H. Knapp
The Tragedy of Bitlis (originally published in 1919) is one of the few
English language primary accounts of the Armenian Genocide in
Bitlis. This is another disturbing account of the systematic
murder. It is relatively unknown and deserves more attention.
Soft cover, $20.00 plus shipping & handling
>From Istanbul to Aghtamar:
An Armenian Pilgrimage
By Hagop Nersoyan
This travelogue is a well-written account of a trip that took the
author from Istanbul to the island of Aghtamar in a time when such a
trip was not common. It is filled with insights and valuable
information about the history of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul
and the Armenians of Turkey, particularly in the 20th century.
Soft cover, $10.00 plus shipping & handling
To order these or other books contact the Prelacy Bookstore by phone
(212-689-7810) or email ([email protected]).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 2-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Avak
Luncheon at noon at Jaffarian Hall. Presentation by Charlie Larkin
(mother is Goshgarian), who will discuss the growing number of young
professionals and how they are building our Armenian communities
throughout the world. Owner of Johnny Appleseed Models, a startup firm
manufacturing products for scale modelers, and teacher of driver's
education.
October 3-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday
School Dinner Dance Gala.
October 3 & 4-Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Diran Der
Khosrofian and Deacon Harold Nazarian, at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, Rhode Island, by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan. Banquet
to immediately follow at the Providence Marriott Hotel. Please contact
the Church Office at 401-831-6399 for reservations/information.
October 11-Armenian Friends of America presents Kef 5, 7:30-12:30,
Michael's Function Hall, 12 Alpha Street, Haverhill,
Massachusetts. Tickets $50; students 21 and under, $40. Proceeds will
benefit Armenian churches of Merrimack Valley. Individually served
mezza platters and pastries; musicians, Mal Barsamian (clarinet), John
Berberian (oud), Bob Raphaelian (violin), Bruce Jigarjian (guitar),
Jason Naroian (dumbeg & vocals). Advance ticket sales only. John
Arzigian, 603-560-3826; Lucy Sirmaian, 978-683-9121; Peter Gulezian,
978-375-1616, Sandy Boroyan, 978-251-8687.
October 12-15-Prelacy Clergy Gathering for Reflection and Renewal at
St. Mary of Providence Retreat Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania.
October 18-Annual Armenian Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, 135 Goodwin
Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 10 am to 7 pm. Favorite
Armenian dinners including shish, losh, and chicken kebab and rice
pilaf; stuffed grape leaves, cheese and spinach pie, pickled
vegetables; traditional Armenian and American baked goods;
raffle. Take-out available. For information: (413) 543-4763.
October 19-St. Stephen's Church, New Britain, Connecticut,
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will ordain Ara Stepanian as Deacon
during
the Divine Liturgy and preside over the parish's 89th Annual
Banquet.
October 26-Celebration of 80th anniversary of Armenian Weekly and
115th anniversary of Hairenik, at home of Carmen and Avo Barmakian, 58
Matthew Lane, Waltham, Massachusetts. Keynote speaker, Professor
Richard G. Hovannisian, professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History
at UCLA. Reservations by October 18, Heather Krafian, 617-932-1965.
November 2-All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois, 71st Anniversary
under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, following the Divine
Liturgy, at Shahnasarian Hall, 1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois.
November 7-8-9-Rouben Mamoulian Film Festival, 7 pm, at the Museum
of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York. Sponsored by the
Anthropology Museum of the People of New York, the Armenian Cultural
Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College, and The Museum
of the Moving Image. Opening night and reception will feature Love Me
Tonight, the 1932 musical comedy film produced and directed by
Mamoulian, with music by Rodgers and Hart, starring Jeanette MacDonald
and Maurice Chevalier. For tickets and information:
[email protected] or 718-428-5650.
November 7 & 8-St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 58th
Armenian Bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at Armenian Cultural & Educational
Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts. Meals served from
11:30 am to 8:30 pm (take out is available). Enjoy delicious meals,
Armenian pastries, gourmet items, arts and crafts, books, raffles,
attic treasures. For information: 617-924-7562.
November 15 &16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
Armenian Fest 2014 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston,
Rhode
Island. Largest indoor festival in Rhode Island. Delicious shish and
losh kebob, chicken and kufta dinners and Armenian pastry available
all day. Live dance music. The Mourad Armenian School and Providence
Hamazkayin dance groups will perform on Saturday and Sunday at 5
pm. Hourly raffles, silent auction, country store, gift baskets,
flea-market, arts and crafts. Main raffle prizes worth total $2,700.
Fun for all ages. Free admission, parking and valet. For information:
401-831-6399 or www.stsvartanantzchurch.org.
November 21, 22, 23-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar, Food Festival, and Hantes. Mezze and Kebab dinners
(chicken, shish, luleh); dessert table and trays of home-made
delicacies; Boutique
Booths; Chinese Auction; Supervised Game Room for children;
Pre-packaged Monte, Sou Buereg, Kufteh, and Lehmejun; Take-out
available; Live Music for dancing and listening. Traditional Kavourma
dinner on Sunday served immediately after church service. For
information: 201-943-2950.
December 6-Armenian Winter Dessert Festival, Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland.
December 6-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
Annual Bazaar at Christian Reform Church, Whitinsville, 10 am to 5 pm.
December 7-Ladies Guild of St. Stephen's Church of New Britain and
Hartford, Connecticut, will host a Wine Tasting Party at noon in the
church hall, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain. A wine talk and tasting
will be provided by Taylor Brooke Winery, Woodstock, Connecticut,
owned by Linda Varjabedian Auger.
December 7-8th Annual ANC Eastern Region Banquet, Ritz-Carlton Battery
Park, NY. Freedom Award Honoree: former Manhattan District Attorney
Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family; Vahan Cardashian Award
Honoree: ANCA activist Alice Movsesian. Tickets are $250. For
reservations and information, please visit www.anca.org/erbanquet or
917.428.1918.
December 12-Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) 11th Annual Holiday Gala,
Cipriani 42nd Street, New York City. Cocktails and Silent Auction, 7
pm; Dinner & Program, 8 pm; Dancing & After Party, 10 pm. For tickets
and information www.coafkids.org or 212-994-8234.
February 9-11, 2015-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the
Eastern Prelacy.
March 1, 2015-`One Nation-One Culture,' cultural evening of song and
dance dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Felician College, 262 S. Main Street, Lodi, New Jersey. For
information: [email protected].
March 13-15, 2015-`Responsibility 2015,' International conference for
Armenian Genocide's centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York,
featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and
artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under
the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America,
Eastern Region. www.responsibility2015.com for information.
October 5-9, 2015-Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian
Prelacies.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy's web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] to your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]