PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER: April 22, 2004
89th ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The various commemorations of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide by the Ottoman Turkish government will take place during the coming
few days and into next week. Archbishop Oshagan urges all of our faithful to
attend the commemorations to honor the memory of our martyrs. This year
April 24 falls on a Saturday, just as it did in 1915.
This afternoon Archbishop Oshagan will attend an intimate gathering in
the New York City offices of Governor Pataki to receive the Proclamation
issued by New York State.
Tomorrow evening, Friday, April 23, he will deliver the invocation at
ceremonies in New York City Hall, sponsored by the Armenian National
Committee of New York and the City of New York. Peter Balakian of Colgate
University and Robert Melson of Purdue University will be the keynote
speakers. The event is made possible by the sponsorship of New York City
Council members Melinda Katz and Speaker A. Gifford Miller. Buses will
depart from areas in Queens at 4:30 p.m., including Baruir’s Grocery in
Sunnyside, Holy Martyrs Church in Bayside, St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston,
the Iranian Armenian Center in Little Neck, and the Armenian Center in
Woodside.
On Saturday, April 24, His Eminence will preside at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral in New York City. V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the
Prelacy, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon. A requiem
service for the martyrs will take place at the Martyrs Altar. The Divine
Liturgy will begin at 11 a.m.
On Sunday, April 25, Srpazan Hayr will deliver the invocation at the
Times Square gathering sponsored by the Knights of Vartan, beginning at 2
p.m. There is free bus transportation to and from Times Square from all of
the metropolitan area churches and centers. Contract your local church or
center for details about transportation.
On April 28, Archbishop Oshagan will deliver the invocation at
commemorative events on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, sponsored by the
Armenian National Committee of America.
NEW YORK TIMES CHANGES POLICY
ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The New York Times has recently revised its guidelines for editors
regarding the Armenian genocide. The new policy says, After careful study of
scholarly definitions of genocide we have decided to accept the term in
references to the Turks mass destruction of Armenians in and around 1915.
The expression Armenian genocide may be used freely and should not be
qualified with phrasing like what Armenians call, etc. By most historical
accounts, the Ottoman empire killed more than one million Armenians in a
campaign of death and mass deportation aimed at eliminating the Armenian
population throughout what is now Turkey. While we may of course report
Turkish denials on those occasions when they are relevant, we should not
couple them with the historians’ findings, as if they had equal weight.
(Source: International Association of Genocide Scholars)
CANADA RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The House of Commons adopted a motion recognizing the Armenian Genocide
by a majority of 153 votes. The passing of this resolution was the
culmination of a 25-year process which encompassed similar resolutions being
passed by city councils, provinces, and the Canadian Senate. Canada now
joins a long list of nations including France, Switzerland and Russia which
have recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
(Source: Assembly of Armenians of Europe)
MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON
The Prelacy Ladies’ Guild’s annual Mothers’ Day Luncheon and Fashion
Show has become both traditional and anticipated in the tri-state area. The
luncheon, which is expected to attract a capacity attendance, will take
place Monday, May 3, at the Versailles Room of The St. Regis, Two East 55th
Street, New York City.
As in previous years the luncheon will feature a fashion show. The
Spring 2004 Collection will be presented by Neiman Marcus of Paramus, New
Jersey.
Above all else, the luncheon is an opportunity for mothers and
daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, aunts and nieces to share an
afternoon, enjoying the company of new and old friends, amidst joyous,
congenial and elegant surroundings. The reception begins at 11:30 a.m., with
luncheon at 12:30 p.m.
MENK HAYEREN CHENK KEEDER
TO BE PRESENTED MAY 22
The Hamasdegh Armenian School will present, Menk Hayeren Chenk Keeder
(We do not know Armenian), by A. Saroukhan on Saturday, May 22, 7:00 p.m. at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. The
event is organized by New Jersey’s Nareg Saturday School. The production is
directed by Onnig Moutafian. The Hamasdegh School and Nareg School are
affiliated with the Armenian National Education Committee. For information,
201-461-1254.
ADULT EDUCATION SEMINAR
PLANNED FOR MID-ATLANTIC AREA
The Armenian Religious Education Council is planning an adult education
program for the Mid-Altantic region, June 25-27, at St. Mary of Providence
Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. The main portion of the seminar will
explore Critical Issues of Life and Faith: An Armenian Orthodox Perspective
led by Vigen Guroian, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Loyola College in
Baltimore, Maryland.
The seminar will feature lectures, Bible studies, panel discussions,
small group discussions, and worship services. Topics discussed will include
issues of modern life including gay marriage, reproductive technology,
abortion, suicide, and cremation.
Watch for complete details next week on the Prelacy’s web page.
OOPS! JEOPARDY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP IS MAY 23
One more time! The championship jeopardy tournament will take place on
Sunday, May 23 (not May 22 as reported last week), at St. Gregory Church in
Philadelphia. Sorry for the confusion. In the old days we would blame such
errors on the printers devil. I suppose these days we can blame it on that
old devil in cyberspace.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
WILL CONVENE IN PHILADELPHIA IN MAY
The National Representative Assembly will convene May 19-21, hosted by
St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. The NRA meets each May to review the past
year’s accomplishments and draft new directives for the coming year. The
host church’s web site provides complete details:
GREEN SUNDAY
This Sunday, April 25, the third Sunday of Easter is Green Sunday
(Ganach Giragee) also called World Church Sunday (Ashkharhamadoor). The name
Green Sunday most probably has its origins in an ancient folk holiday. Our
forefathers, seeing mother earth bloom after long winter months, glorified
the Creator with an act of thanksgiving, and celebrated by bedecking
themselves with greenery. Green is the color of life, freshness, and
promise. When nature is painted green by the brush of the Almighty after a
barren winter, it creates a deep awareness of hope, life and love.
It is also called World Church Sunday in the sense of the church
belonging to the whole world beginning with Christ and the Apostles who met
regularly to pray and partake of the Holy Sacrament of Communion.
The thought of the week is from poet Vahan Tekeyan, a genocide survivor:
We who survived, we who lived on after our companions, assuredly have been
spared to honor them, that neither their thoughts, nor their spirit, nor the
people who gave them life nor the land that nourished them might perish and
be lost forever. We who survived, live on to magnify their spirit, to give
life to their sacred dreams. We who survived, bear not joy in our hearts,
but scars of toil and sacrifice. And so we shall, we must continue to labor
for the sake of those who perished, for the realization of their dreams.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
