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 – November 11, 2004
PHILADELPHIA IS WELCOMING ALTAR SERVERS
AND PARISH LEADERS FOR SEMINAR AND MEETING
As we told you in detail last week, St. Gregory Church of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, is hosting two events this Saturday, November 13.
Altar servers from the Mid-Atlantic area will attend a seminar to
further their knowledge of the Armenian Church services. The new Badarak CD
will be introduced as a teaching tool to establish uniformity in our
churches in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. A total of twenty altar
servers will participate representing the following parishes: St.
Illuminators Cathedral, New York City; St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York; Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey; Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland; and St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia parish is also hosting the regional meeting of boards
of trustees with the executive council, on Saturday. This is part of a
continuing program that started two years ago to establish a better chain of
communications between the boards and the religious and executive councils.
CHRISTMAS FAMILY CONCERT IS SOLD OUT
All tickets for the Prelacy’s Christmas Family Concert have been sold.
The concert featuring NVAIR and Friends and Taline from California on
December 4 at the Alliance Francaise in New York City is the culmination of
the Prelacy’s year-long celebration of the “Year of the Family.” Thank you
all for your support.
PRELATE WILL BE IN WASHINGTON, DC THIS SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will be in the Washington, DC area where on
Sunday, November 14 he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Sourp Khatch
Church in Bethesda, Maryland. He will also attend the banquet marking the
40th anniversary of the church.
PRESIDENT OF KARABAGH WILL VISIT PRELACY
ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Arkady Ghougassian, the President of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh
will visit the Prelacy office next Tuesday, November 16, at 3 pm, to meet
with the Prelate and a select group of individuals. President Ghougassian is
in the United States in support of the Armenian Fund’s annual Thanksgiving
telethon.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND BENEFIT DINNER
Archbishop Oshagan will attend a benefit dinner reception hosted by Mr.
and Mrs. Raffi and Haigouhi Megerian on Tuesday evening, November 16. The
benefit on behalf of the Armenia Fund USA will take place at the home of the
hosts in Bayville, New York. His Excellency Arkady Ghougasian will be a
special guest. Proceeds of the event will benefit the rehabilitation of the
drinking water distribution project in Stepanakert.
PRELATE AND VICAR WILL PARTICIPATE IN
WCC EVENT
Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar, will participate next week in the WCC International Affairs and
Advocacy Week. During the week the WCC will host a high level delegation of
ecumenical church leaders from around the world. The goal is to spark
dialogue amongst member churches in order to further develop revitalized and
prioritized WCC advocacy role within the United Nations. The seminars and
reception will be attended by key International Affairs people from the
ecumenical community from all over the world.
The World Council of Churches Commission of the Churches on
International Affairs has a historic relationship with the United Nations.
The Commission was present during the foundation of the UN. Its historic
goal has been to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war through
the establishment of mechanisms in society, which promote human rights for
all persons.
The closing reception will take place next Thursday, November 18, at the
Church Center for the United Nations, 777 U.N. Plaza, 2nd floor, New York
City.
CATHOLICOS ARAM I CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT BUSH
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, sent a
message to President George W. Bush congratulating him on his re-election on
behalf of the Cilician See and the United States Eastern and Western
Prelacies. His Holiness emphasized the important role the United States
plays in the struggle for justice and human rights, understanding between
nations, and peace on earth.
OPENING OF ACADEMY FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN ANTELIAS
Catholicos Aram I presided over the official opening of the Academy for
Religious Studies, in Antelias on November 1. The opening was under the
sponsorship of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, with the support of the
Christian Education Department, as well as the ecumenical information, and
youth departments of the Catholicosate. Classes will be held regularly every
Monday and Thursday evenings. The first semester will take place during
November, December and January. The second semester will take place March,
April and May.
SAYAT NOVA DANCE COMPANY TO PERFORM
AT BENEFIT FOR ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL
Massachusetts area Armenian Americans will have the opportunity to
attend an encore performance of the Sayat Nova Dance Ensemble and support
the St. Stephens Armenian Elementary School at the same time.
The Ensemble will perform this Sunday, November 14, at the Brookline
High School, 115 Greenough Street, at 5 pm. Proceeds from the performance
will benefit the 2005 graduating class trip to Armenia. For information call
617-899-8823.
LEVON SARYAN ARTICLE IN JOURNAL
We recently became aware of an article written by Dr. Levon Saryan that
appeared in the American Journal of Numismatics. The article is titled, An
Unpublished Silver Double Tram of Gosdantin I (1298-1299), King of Cilician
Armenia.
The article presents a unique silver double tram of King Gosdantin I of
Cilician Armenia, who ruled for about one year between 1298 and 1299.
Dr. Saryan was ordained a deacon of the Armenian Church last month by
Archbishop Oshagan in Racine, Wisconsin.
WINTER IN OUR GARDEN
We experienced our first frost this week in the Mid-Atlantic area,
bringing an end to the last remnants of life in our garden. Even the herbs,
so hearty against the elements, seemed to say, Enough, it is time for us to
sleep. We gave in and performed the necessary winter maneuvers. We cleared
the dead plants, pulled up the stakes, shut the water, gathered the hoses,
prepared the soil, and cleaned the shed. Ready for winter. And, yes, for
spring, too.
VETERANS DAY
Today is Veterans Day, a federal holiday in the United States. We
related the history of the day last week. This week we simply express the
wish that every soldier of every country will return safely home.
We leave you with the last two stanzas of a poem by Khrimian Hayrig, The
Memorial of the Lamenting Soldier:
O Jesus, Savior bringing peace.
Our world you came and saw.
Men are insane; they have not yet
Mastered your Gospel’s law.
Angel of love incarnated.
You said all men that live
Are brethren; give to us your peace,
Which this world cannot give.
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