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 27, 2004
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES IN
PHILADELPHIA WITH BANQUET; AWARDS PRESENTED
The National Representative Assembly concluded last Friday evening with
a banquet in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. The host parish was St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia.
During the banquet, presentations were made to a number of local
parishioners in recognition of their many years of service to the church.
The Prelacy honored three individuals: Mrs. Alice Sachaklian was named the
Person of the Year; Aram Hamparian was presented with the Spirit of Armenia
award; and K. Yervant Terzian was bestowed with the Prince of Cilicia
insignia, the highest honor given by the Catholicate of Cilicia. The local
parishioners who were honored with certificates of merit included: Philip D.
Pilibosian, Martin Shelengian, Ralph Jehanian, Albert Soltanian, Jack
Papazian, Asdghig Kazanjian, Jeanette Nazarian and the St. Gregory Church
Choir. The Prelacy’s Youth Awards were given to: Garen Nigon, Paul
Sookiasian, Ani Jilozian, Peter Yeremian, Katrina Selverian, and Niki
Arakelian, Jr.
Archbishop Oshagan expressed his profound thanks to all of the delegates
and especially to the Philadelphia community for the warm hospitality they
provided.
RAFFLE WINNERS
The annual raffle drawing of the Prelacy took place at the conclusion of
the banquet. The winners were: First prize, Nerme & Albert Sarkessian,
Melrose Park, PA; Second prize, Zaven Sarkissian, Toronto; Third prize,
Amalia Deravedisian, Springfield, PA; Fourth Prize, Bedros Givelekian,
Flushing, NY; Fifth prize, Dr. V. Khachadurian, Franklin Square, NY.
Congratulations to the winners; and thanks to all the purchasers. The
raffle is a major source of funding for many of the educational programs
instituted by the Prelacy. In that respect we are all winners.
CALLING ALL PARISHES: ENCOURAGE YOUNG
PARISHIONERS TO ATTEND DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
Parishes should encourage their junior and senior high school age
parishioners to make plans to attend the St. Gregory of Datev Summer
Institute. The annual program takes place at the St. Mary of Providence
Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, June 27 to July 4, 2004. For registration
and information visit the Prelacy website at
or contact Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian,
212-689-7810.
CRITICAL ISSUES OF LIFE AND FAITH ARE FOCUS
OF SEMINAR FOR ADULTS
Interest is mounting for the adult seminar that is planned for June
25-27, 2004, at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. The
three-day seminar will focus on critical issues of life and faith with an
Armenian Orthodox perspective.
On Saturday, June 26, Professor Vigen Guroian will be the main speaiker.
Professor Guroian is professor of theology and ethics at Loyola College,
Baltimore, Maryland.
The program will include Bible studies, panel discussions, small group
discussions and worship services. Some of the issues discussed include:
Marriage, Reproductive technologies, abortion, suicide, and cremation.
Participation fee is only $90 per person, which includes lodging and
meals.
Visit the Prelacy web site for more information,
or contact Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, 212-689-7810.
ST. SARKIS CHURCH, DOUGLASTON, HOPES TO
ACQUIRE ADJACENT PROPERTY
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, has embarked on a campaign to
purchase an adjacent piece of property that belongs to the city of New York.
St. Sarkis has the first option to acquire the land, which would fulfill
a long-time goal of the parish. Last Sunday, May 23, the parish sponsored a
“Land and Vision” gala fund-raising banquet under the auspices of His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. State Senator Frank Padavan was
honored for his assistance during the past two years concerning this piece
of land.
The tentative plans include new construction for a day care center that
would serve both the Armenian community and the surrounding community.
PRELATE WILL VISIT SYRACUSE COMMUNITY
Archbishop Oshagan will visit the St. John the Baptist Church community
in Syracuse, New York, this Sunday, where he will officiate at Morning
Services and Requiem Services for the founders and other departed members of
the community. A banquet will follow the services at which time several
members of the community will be honored including: Vartkas Minasian, Zephyr
Minasian, Harry B. Telian, Nevart Apikian, Arpina Mesrobian and Anoush
Minasian Santangelo.
Accompanying the Prelate will be Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, Noubar
Megerian, Executive Council member and Karen Jehanian, former member of the
Executive Council.
SUNDAY IS PENTECOST
This Sunday, May 30, is Pentecost (Hogegaloust). Pentecost, which is
fifty days after Easter, commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost on the
disciples.
The New Testament describes the descent of the Holy Ghost on the
disciples:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house, where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to
speak with other tongues. (Acts 2:1-3).
The Apostles were ordinary people of Galilee, who did not possess the
ability to transmit the Truth of the Word to the many different people with
different backgrounds, culture, and languages. Christ advised His disciples
not to start their teaching immediately after the Ascension, but rather to
wait for the Descent of the Holy Spirit so that they would be empowered with
the ability to convey the new faith to all.
And behold, I send you the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the
city, until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)
MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY
This Monday, May 31, is Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day,
it is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan,
national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed
on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and
Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to
officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was
recognized by all of the northern states. The South did not officially
accept the date until after World War I when the holiday changed from
honoring just those who died in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died
fighting in any war. It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last
Monday in May.
Unfortunately, most of us have forgotten the true meaning and traditions
of Memorial Day and it has become the symbolic start of summer, the barbecue
season, and of course, sales in shopping malls. To help remind Americans of
the true meaning of Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance
resolution was passed in December 2000 which asks that at 3 pm local time
all Americans observe in their own way a moment of silence.
WE END WITH ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND
POETIC STATEMENTS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE:
THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this
continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or
any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a
great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that
field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that
that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should
do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-we
cannot hollow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled
here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The
world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated
here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so
nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we
here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this
nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of
the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Visit our website at