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
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Contact: Iris Papazian
Eastern Prelacy: CROSSROADS August 12, 2004
PAN-DIASPORA CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
The international conference on Armenian education came to a successful
conclusion. The conference took place in Bikfaya, Lebanon, the site of the
Cilician See’s Theological Seminary. The theme of the conference was
Armenian Education in the Diaspora.
In his opening address His Holiness Aram I identified the concerns and
challenges facing the Armenian Christian educational context of pluralistic
societies. He addressed a number of critical issues, and then posed two
questions: What does it mean to be an Armenian Christian? How should we
form the Armenian Christian for tomorrow? His Holiness underscored the
crucial importance of re-evaluating and renewing our educational
methodologies, strategies and programs by making them more relevant. His
Holiness proposed that Armenia and the Diaspora together engage in a process
of developing a Pan-Armenian educational policy with particular emphasis on
the worldwide Armenian Diaspora.
The agenda of the conference included the following topics: The actual state
of education in different continents where Armenian communities live; the
implications of globalization to education; the role of the church in
Armenian Christian formation; the family as an important educational
instrument; the impact of pluralistic societies on Armenian Education; the
use and misuse of technology in education; the role of the textbooks and the
extra curricula activities; human resources; formation and training; the
contribution of Saturday schools, Sunday schools and children’s camps to
education; the importance of new community schools for the Armenian
communities established in the West.
In his closing remarks His Holiness identified three words which should
occupy a central place in our educational work: relevance, coherence and
integrity. He said, We are living in different contexts. We must, therefore,
develop different educational procedures and strategies. We are citizens of
different countries, yet we are Armenians and part of the globalized world.
We have our own convictions, values and norms, but we are living in a new
environment. Hence, it is vitally important that we develop the educational
policy that provides integrity, relevance and coherence to our educational
work, at the same time preserving our Armenian Christian identity. This is a
great challenge before us and we must take it seriously and responsibly.
ARARAT PARADISE IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS
As reported last week, Archbishop Oshagan, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian,
and Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian went upstate last Saturday to Mountaindale,
NY, in the Catskill Mountains, where 23 years ago a group of Armenians
purchased a property with 24 rustic homes, and named it Ararat Paradise.
Through the years the families have formed into a tight unit and each summer
they spend their summers, or part thereof, enjoying the cool, clean mountain
environment.
On Saturday, Archbishop Oshagan, Hayr Anoushavan, and Dn. Shant, spent an
enjoyable day with the group. They conducted the traditional Andastan
service and the Blessing of the Grapes. The day-long activities included
lots of good food, speeches and singing with Hayr Anoushavan acting as the
Master of Ceremonies.
Archbishop Oshagan noted how pleasant it was to spend the day in Ararat
Paradise, in its peaceful surroundings. He recalled how 23 years ago when
the group of Armenians purchased this property, he and Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian, of blessed memory, had gone there to bless the land.
PILLARS OF THE PRELACY
Last year the Prelacy inaugurated an annual giving program called Pillars of
the Prelacy. The modest start of the program was very promising and this
year the effort will go beyond the New York metropolitan area with three
regional receptions already in the works: St. Stephens Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, will host a reception on September 10; Sts. Vartanantz Church
in Providence, Rhode Island, will host a reception on October 10 and St.
Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan will host a reception on October 11.
The goal of the pillars program is to raise funds annually to sustain and
expand the services and programs the Prelacy provides.
DATEV INSTITUTE: A SCHOOL FOR ARMENIAN CHRISTIAN FORMATION
The St. Gregory of Datev Institute which has been taking place every summer
for the past eighteen years is one of our community’s most successful
youth-based programs.
Worship framed the communal life of the 76 students from 13 parishes who
attended the 18th annual Institute at St. Mary of Providence Center in
Elverson, Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) under the directorship of the Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr.
Anoushavan Tanielian.
To read about the Datev Institute and view a photo gallery of more than 50
photographs click here.
ONE-DAY SEMINAR ON CRITICAL ISSUES OF LIFE & FAITH
St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Dearborn, Michigan, is sponsoring a one-day
seminar on Critical Issues of Life & Faith: An Armenian Orthodox
Perspective, on Saturday, September 18, 2004, at the Church, 19300 Ford
Road, Dearborn, Michigan. The main speaker will be Dr. Vigen Guroian,
Professor of Theology and Ethics at Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland. The
program will include the lecture, small group discussions, followed by group
reports and discussions. Topics to be discussed include Marriage,
Reproductive Technologies, Abortion, Suicide, Cremation.
The day-long seminar will end with an organ/piano concert featuring Marianna
Abrahamyan at 7:00 p.m. For further information contact the church office,
313-336-6200.
ASSUMPTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD;
THE BLESSING OF THE GRAPES
This Sunday, August 15, is the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
(Verapokhoum). Although in modern Armenian Verapokhoum means change again,
in Classical Armenian it means transport up. For fifteen years after the
Crucifixion Mary remained in Jerusalem under the watchful eyes of the
apostles, especially John to whom she had been entrusted. When she died all
of the apostles were present at her burial, except Bartholomew. When he
returned to Jerusalem he went to her grave to pay his respects. The apostles
gathered in the cemetery, but when the gravestone was lifted, they were
surprised to find that her body was not there, instead there was an
exceeding sweet fragrance. It was believed that Mary was physically taken
into heaven. Based on this the church fathers established the Feast of the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessing of the Grapes, although not connected with the Assumption, is
generally commemorated on the same day. First the special hymn of the day is
sung, then passages from the Gospel are read, after which the prayer
pertaining to the blessing of grapes, which was composed by Catholicos
Nerses is read. In this prayer it is mentioned that on the third day of
Creation, God created the fruit-yielding trees and vegetation on earth. The
prayer seeks the blessing of God to be bestowed on those who give the first
yield of their vineyards as gifts to the church, and asks the Lord to
protect the crops and gardens from harm. After the prayers, the grapes are
blessed and distributed to the congregation.
The chapel in Bikfaya, Lebanon, site of the summer residence of the
Catholicate, and also site of the Seminary, is named St. Astvadzadzin. We
recall attending the weekend commemoration of the Assumption and the
Blessing of Grapes there some years ago and still vividly remember the
beautiful services in the mountain hills and the hundreds of pilgrims who
came even in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War.
Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. She has prepared a
great banquet. Proverbs 9:L1-2
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