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
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Contact: Iris Papazian

CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – December 9, 2004

CATHOLICOS ARAM ISSUES STATEMENT ABOUT
BOMBING OF CHRISTIAN SITES IN IRAQ
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, issued a
statement about the bombings in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul that took
place on Tuesday, December 7. The attacks were against an Armenian Catholic
church and the residence of the Chaldean Bishop.
His Holiness said that it is impossible to understand fully and
accurately the history of the Middle East, with its upheavals and challenges
and achievements, without the Christian-Moslem coexistence which remains a
vital dimension of the history of the region.. For centuries Christians and
Moslems have talked to each other and have lived together, worked together,
dreamed and struggled together and have sustained their life by common moral
and ethical values.
Referring to the latest bombings, His Holiness said: I cannot understand
nor accept these bombings of churches in Iraq, [and] how such a thing
happens between followers of two religions who have lived together for
centuries as one community and as good neighbors. I cannot understand such
an attitude towards Christians who have been an inseparable part of the
Middle Eastern society and have played a major role in all aspects of
society life.
The Catholicos appealed to the leaders of the Christian and Moslem
communities in Iraq to come together and to reaffirm the Christian-Moslem
coexistence.

PRELACY 2005 POCKET DIARY CELEBRATES SEMINARY ANNIVERSARY
The 2005 pocket diary is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the
Zarehian Seminary of the Cilician See located in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Next year
all of the dioceses within the jurisdiction of the Cilician See will mark
this anniversary with gala celebrations.
The Prelacy diary has been published every year since 1974. Watch the
mail for your copy, and use it throughout the year as a reminder of Armenian
holidays and the Seminary which during the past 75 years has produced an
impressive number of clergymen, choir directors, educators, and leaders.

PHILLY CHURCH HAS TRAINING SESSION FOR ALTAR SERVERS
St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia conducted a training session for all
altar servers last Saturday, December 5. Twenty candle bearers and seven fan
bearers attended the two hour hands-on training.
Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, the pastor, welcomed the students and thanked
them for their desire to serve God and the Church on the altar. He reminded
them that God rejoices in all of our service and that the effort of everyone
is equally important in God’s eyes.
The servers not only learned what to do, but why they do it. Questions
were asked and answered. Deacon Vartan pointed out that what is done on the
altar is always to honor and please God, and is done with joy and in a
spirit of teamwork.
Reported by Garabed Sarkessian

WCC COMMISSION ON COMMUNICATIONS MEETS IN ANTELIAS
The World Council of Churches Commission on Communications met on
December 5, at the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in
Antelias, Lebanon. The Commission includes experts in the area of
communication and information, who come from different parts of the world.
The Commission is chaired by Ms Manoushag Boyajian, Dean of the Yeghishe
Manougian College and Chairperson of the Ecumenical Committee of the
Catholicosate. Also attending were the director and the staff of the WCC
Communications department.

UNITED BIBLE SOCIETY AND CATHOLICOS MEET IN ANTELIAS
Rev. Dr. Miller Milloy, Director and General Secretary of the United
Bible Societies (UBS) met with His Holiness Aram I on Sunday, December 5, in
Antelias, Lebanon. Discussed were items pertaining to the new projects,
collaborations with the Orthodox churches, and the translation of the Bible
into modern Armenian undertaken by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and
the UBS.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT BRINGS JOY TO CHILDREN
With a capacity audience of children and parents, the Christmas Family
Concert brought wide smiles to the faces of children and adults alike, as
Nvair and Taline presented a wonderful array of songs and dances. The stage
was bedecked with a beautiful Christmas tree and huge red poinsettia plants.
Favors, made in Armenia, were presented to the children.
Yes, Gaghant Baba was there, and guess what? He speaks Armenian! Great
fun.

CROSSROADS AND SPAM
A cautionary word to our readers: It has come to our attention that
occasionally Crossroads does not reach the electronic mailboxes of some of
our devoted readers. Please note that Crossroads is transmitted every week
on Thursday afternoon to our entire email list. After investigation we have
found that occasionally (usually AOL accounts) Crossroads may find its way
into your spam folder. (We at Crossroads were mortified to learn of this
abomination). Should this travesty occur to you please come to our rescue
and identify us as not spam. We also remind you that Crossroads is on the
Prelacy web page,

THIS SUNDAY IS THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT;
AND FIRST ANNIVERSARY SERVICES FOR ARCHBISHOP ASHJIAN
This Sunday, December 12, is the third Sunday of Advent. Advent is a
good time to be extra kind to people. There are many people who dread the
holiday season because of personal losses, or because of some other tragedy
that has touched them. Seek them and make their lives a bit brighter.
We remind you that this Sunday, Requiem Services for the late, beloved
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian will take place in all Prelacy churches. Contact
your area parish for details. On this occasion, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
will be at St. Illuminator Cathedral in New York City where the former
Prelate of Aleppo, Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, will officiate, deliver the
sermon, and preside over the Requiem Service. Madagh will be offered
following the Service.

TOMORROW IS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Fifty-six years ago on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor
Roosevelt, the wife of the 32nd President, helped draft the document and was
a passionate advocate of its adoption. Following its adoption, the General
Assembly called upon all member countries to publicize the text and to cause
it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools
and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the
political status of countries or territories.
While the struggle for human rights has greatly benefited from the
Declaration, for many people around the world the doctrine of the
Declaration has yet to take on real meaning and purpose in all areas of
human rights, i.e., civil, political, social, and economic.

Now, Therefore, the General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of
Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all
nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society,
keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and
education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by
progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal
and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member
states themselves and among the peoples of territories under their
jurisdiction.
>From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Eleanor Roosevelt

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