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: info@armenianprelacy.org
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER: July 1, 2004
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
ON THE WEB PAGE
Press releases about the National Representative Assembly (NRA), which
took place in May in Philadelphia, are now posted on the Prelacy web site.
Also posted are the texts of the message delivered by the Prelate, His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, and the keynote address given by
Professor Vigen Guroian. A gallery of photographs by our talented and
dependable photographer, Bedo Der Bedrossian, is also on the web page. For a
direct link to the NRA page click here
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE IN FULL SWING
AT ST. MARY OF PROVIDENCE CENTER IN PENNSYLVANIA
Seventy-seven Datevatzies (junior and senior high school students) from
various parts of the country are at Datev this week learning, playing, and
strengthening their bond with God.
We are receiving daily updates, including photographs and impressions of
Datevatzies, which we are posting on our web page immediately.
Yesterday, June 30, Archbishop Oshagan, accompanied by Judge Sarkis
Teshoian and Mrs. Ardemis Teshoian, visited the Datevatzies. Oshagan Srpazan
was very impressed with the general atmosphere and the quality of the
students attending. His Eminence said: The atmosphere was joyful and very
respectful. I told the students that they are part of our family and they
have the love of God and our Church in their hearts.
Judge Teshoian addressed the students telling them the importance of
being Armenian in our society and what it means to be an Armenian American.
Utilizing experiences from his own life, Judge Teshoian advised the students
to be good citizens and meet the challenges ahead. Don’t think that others
are better than you, or that you are better than others. He told them that
participation in both Armenian and American society is very important. He
also stressed the importance of education and the knowledge of other
languages, not just Armenian and English. In this age of globalization, he
said, the one who knows more will be hired and will advance up the ladder of
success. He told them: Remember that just as you get happy when you read
about a successful and famous Armenian, that someday an Armenian youngster
will read about you and your success and become very happy.
Daily updates, photographs and comments of Datevatzies are on the
Prelacy web page:
REGIONAL SEMINAR IN PENNSYLVANIA
About 25 people attended the first of three regional seminars for adults
sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). The seminar
topic was Critical Issues of Life and Faith-an Armenian Orthodox
Perspective. The keynote speaker was Dr. Vigen Guroian, Professor of
Theology and Ethics at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. Panelists
included V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian and Dr. Meline Karakashian.
The weekend began with Bible Studies on Friday evening followed by an
evening service. The discussion on Saturday centered on Christian ethics and
ethical issues that surround us in our daily lives and what the Bible tells
us on these subjects. Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Executive Director of AREC,
welcomed the group and set the stage for the day providing a framework for
learning, understanding, and sharing points of view. The weekend ended on
Sunday with Badarak and lunch.
To quote a participant (Alice Movsesian from New Jersey), The weekend
was fulfilling, nourishing, and enlightening. I would return next year and
encourage others to do the same.
The second of the three regional adult religious seminars will take
place in New England in October 2004, followed by a third in the Midwest. It
is planned that these seminars will be conducted on an annual basis.
Reported by Karen Jehanian
THREE PRELATES OF NORTH AMERICAN PRELACIES
MEET IN CALIFORNIA
The Western Prelacy hosted a meeting of the three prelates of North
America on June 23 and 24, in California. Participating were His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy; His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of Canada; and His Eminence Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy.
This meeting was an outgrowth of meetings that took place several months
ago with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
members of the Central Executive Committee, and representatives of the three
prelacies.
Topics discussed included: Christian Education; preparation of deacons
and acolytes; programs for Bible study groups; youth groups; organization
and re-vitalization of parish activities; improving the work of the clergy;
the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Armenian Theological Seminary;
canonical issues; communications and publications; programs to help Armenia,
Artsakh and Javakh; ecumenical relations.
OFFICIALS FROM ARMENIA VISIT PRELATE
This morning, Thursday, July 1, His Excellency Armen Martiroyan, Armenia
‘s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Manouk Vardanyan,
Chairman of the State Committee of the Real Property Cadastre of the
Republic of Armenia, and Hayk Sahakian, chairman of the International
Committee of the same agency, paid a courtesy call to the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan. The Prelate and his guests discussed the current
situation in Armenia, as well as ways that the Diaspora can assist.
NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF ELECTION AND
CONSECRATION OF CATHOLICOS ARAM I
The ninth anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, was celebrated in all
churches under the jurisdiction of the Cilician See, including all parishes
of the Eastern Prelacy.
On this occasion the Catholicos said: The ninth anniversary celebration
is for me a prime occasion to give thanks to God for His gifts of life and
ministry which made me put the whole of my life and ability in service of
His Church. I have always perceived my ministry as one of mission and I will
continue in faithful obedience to the call of God to carry on my God-given
mission and renewed faith and strong commitment. The ninth anniversary
celebration is also an occasion for me to look back and realistically and
objectively identify the failures and successes of my ministry at home and
abroad, in my Church and in the ecumenical movement at large. Looking back
must help us to look ahead clearly and courageously. Our Church is faced
with tremendous challenges and concerns; we cannot simply avoid to be a
responsible Church which in the context of the present day world means to
take these issues very seriously. It means to be relevant and a credible
Church. This is how I see the future of our Church and the way we must
follow.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND
HOMENETMEN GAMES
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will attend the HMEM Eastern Region USA 14th
Inter-Chapter games this weekend. The games and related events will take
place in the greater Boston area.
ARMENIAN ROYAL FAMILY REMEMBERED THIS WEEK
This Saturday, July 3, the Armenian Church commemorates King Trdat,
Queen Ashkhen and Khosrovidoukht-all members of the royal family at the time
of Armenia’s official acceptance of Christianity as a state religion. It was
the King’s sister, Khosrovidoukht, who suggested that Gregory (who was
imprisoned by the king in a deep pit) could cure the king’s mysterious
madness. Gregory was released and brought to Vagharshapat where Trdat asked
for forgiveness. Gregory replied: I am a man like you, and I have a body
like yours. But do you recognize your creator, who made heaven and earth,
the sun and moon and stars, the sea and the dry land. He is able to heal
you.
THE FOURTH OF JULY
And of course, Sunday is the Fourth of July-Independence Day, the
birthday of the United States. The document that we know as the Declaration
of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson wrote the
first draft of the Declaration as a member of a committee that included John
Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The principles embodied in the Declaration have
resounded throughout the world in all the years since 1776. The words from
the Declaration have been recited wherever and whenever people have fought
against undemocratic regimes.
Some of us old-timers remember when all holidays were celebrated on
their rightful day. Many years ago, by an act of Congress, most holidays
were moved to the weekend to give American citizens the much-desired long
weekend. In the United States today only four of our major holidays are
still celebrated on their proper calendar days: Halloween, Christmas, New
Year’s and Independence Day. Any suggestion to change the July 4th date has
been met with outrage (thankfully!). The general feeling of the sanctity of
America’s Independence day was best expressed in a quotation from the
Virginia Gazette of July 18, 1777: Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious
and ever memorable day, be celebrated throughout America, by the sons of
freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen and Amen.
Happy Birthday, America.
Visit our website at