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: May 7, 2004
THE PASSING OF ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVOURIAN
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, the Religious and Executive
Councils of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America,
announce with deepest sadness the passing of His Eminence Archbishop Zareh
Aznavourian, on Friday, April 30, 2004, in Antelias, Lebanon. His Eminence
was 57 years old.
Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Apostolic Church as an
ordained celibate priest for 38 years, most of which was spent at the
Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, except for
two years in Rome where he pursued higher education and three years as the
Prelate of Cyprus.
Archbishop Zareh was an eminent teacher at the Cilician See’s
Theological Seminary and director of the Holy See’s Christian Education
Department. He was a noted composer of both religious and secular music, a
gifted scholar, a Biblical translator, and an author of textbooks and
commentaries. He was considered to be one of the most noted Biblical
scholars within the Armenian Church.
Many of our faithful came to know, love and respect him during the
various times he was in the United States for medical treatment. He lectured
last year during the Lenten Lectures series and he conducted the sacraments
and preached in some of our parishes. His death is a great loss for the
Armenian Church.
The Extreme Unction took place during a solemn Divine Liturgy service at
the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, on Monday, May 3.
Interment followed in the Zarehian Mausoleum of the Holy See of Cilicia.
Archbishop Oshagan traveled to Lebanon to participate in the services.
PRELATE WILL VISIT WAUKEGAN THIS WEEKEND
Upon his return from Lebanon, Archbishop Oshagan will immediately travel
to St. Paul Church of Waukegan, Illinois, where he will join the parish
members in welcoming their new priest, Rev. Fr. Arsen Kassabian at a banquet
Saturday evening. The parish will also bid a fond farewell to Rev. Fr.
Arshag Daghlian who has been serving the community as an outreach priest for
nearly fifteen years.
On Sunday Oshagan Srpazan will officiate at the Divine Liturgy and also
preside over the ordination of deacons, sub-deacons, and acolytes.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
WILL CONVENE IN PHILADELPHIA
The National Representative Assembly (NRA) of the Eastern Prelacy will
convene in Philadelphia, May 19 through 21, during which time the clergy and
lay delegates will deliberate on current issues as well as long-range
planning for the future. The host church is St. Gregory the Illuminator, one
of the Eastern Prelacy’s largest and most vibrant parishes.
The NRA is the highest authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, and is charged with the task of supervising the ecclesiastical and
administrative bodies of the Eastern Prelacy. The first session will begin
Wednesday afternoon, May 19 and continue through Friday, May 21. The NRA
will conclude with a closing banquet Friday evening.
The Keynote Address will be delivered by Professor Vigen Guroian, who
will speak about The Armenian Christian Family Under Fire. Dr. Guroian is
professor of theology and ethics at Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland.
Various coveted awards will be presented including: Woman of the Year,
to Mrs. Alice Sachaklian and the Spirit of Armenia award to Aram Hamparian.
K. Yervant Terzian will receive the Knight of Cilicia insignia issued by His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
For more details visit the Prelacy web-site:
PRELACY LADIES GUILD MOTHERS DAY
LUNCHEON ATTRACTS MANY
Once again the annual Mothers Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy
Ladies Guild (PLG) attracted an over-flow attendance from the tri-state area
and beyond at the St. Regis in midtown Manhattan.
In a surprise announcement the current PLG members were honored rather
than one individual as the Mother of the Year. V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, represented the Prelate, Archbishop
Oshagan, who was in Lebanon for the funeral of his spiritual brother,
Archbishop Zareh. Hayr Anoushavan explained how it was the wish of Srpazan
that the current members of the PLG be honored this year on the occasion of
the 30th anniversary of the Guild. In his message printed in the special
30th anniversary program booklet, His Eminence said: “This year’s luncheon
has special significance because it also marks the 30th anniversary of the
Prelacy Ladies Guild. It can be said that the Prelacy Ladies Guild has
fulfilled the duties of a mother for the Prelacy. For the past three decades
these dedicated and loving women have generously given their time,
resources, and talents to tend to the needs of the Prelacy. Just like a
loving mother, they have done this without any expectations of glory and
thanks. They have done it simply because of love.”
PRELACY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WILL DELIVER PAPER AT UCLA
Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, the Executive Director of the Prelacy, will be
traveling to California on Wednesday, May 12, where he will participate in
the UCLA international conference series on historic Armenian cities and
provinces. The conference will concentrate on the history and culture of the
Armenian communities of Iran from ancient to modern times. The three-day
conference will bring together an impressive gathering of scholars and
specialists.
Dr. Ghougassian, a graduate of Columbia University, will speak about
Armenian Rural Settlements in Central Iran, 17th to 19th Centuries. He is
the author of The Emergence of the Armenian Diocese of New Julfa in the 17th
Century, published by Scholars Press.
The conference is organized by Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, holder
of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at
UCLA, and is co-sponsored by the Armenian Society (Iranahay Miutiun) of Los
Angeles and the UCLA International Institute, G.E. von Grunebaum Center for
Near Eastern Studies, and the Center for European and Russian Studies.
The conference program may be viewed at
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
BRINGS YOUTH TOGETHER
The annual summer program of the St. Gregory of Datev Institute brings
together junior and senior high school age students in one of the best youth
programs available. The Datev Summer Program will take place June 27 to July
4, at the St. Mary of Providence Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania. For
registration and information visit the Prelacy website at
and also read all the comments from
Datevatzies who have attended the program.
The Datev Institute is organized and sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC) as part of the youth programs of the Eastern
Prelacy.
It has been a life-changing experience for many who have attended in the
past.
THIS SUNDAY MARKS APPARITION OF THE HOLY CROSS
According to the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church this Sunday,
May 9, the Apparition of the Holy Cross (Yerevman Sourp Khachi). It is the
fifth Sunday of Hinounk and commemorates the apparition of the cross in
Jerusalem.
In the year 351, the sign of the cross was seen in the sky in Jerusalem,
stretching from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives. It remained for hours and
all the people of Jerusalem viewed it as it overshadowed the sun.
Awe-stricken at this miraculous sight, the faithful led by the clergy rushed
to church to offer their thanks to God. Patriarch Giuregh in a letter
addressed to Constantine of Byzantium, related this miraculous event and
advised him to remain firm in his faith. Only the Armenian and Greek
Churches observe the Feast of the Apparition of the Cross. The Greeks
celebrate it always on May 7 while the Armenians celebrate it on the fifth
Sunday of Easter (fourth Sunday after Easter). Just as the people of
Jerusalem did centuries ago, it has become a custom for people to go to
church on this feast day and glorify God.
THIS SUNDAY IS MOTHERS DAY
This Sunday is also Mothers Day. It is a day to honor our mothers and to
praise motherhood, and to remember those mothers who have passed on to the
eternal kingdom of God.
Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. (Proverbs 31:29)