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 – December 16, 2004
PRELACY MOURNS DEATH OF JOHN O. VARTAN:
PRINCE OF CILICIA AND BENEFACTOR
The Prelacy received the news of the passing of John O. Vartan with deep
regret. Mr. Vartan died yesterday, December 15.
Mr. Vartan was a supporter and benefactor of the Eastern Prelacy where
he established the Vartan Family Fund. He was honored with the Prince of
Cilicia insignia by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia, in recognition of his life-long support of the Armenian Church. He
was a major philanthropic contributor to many charities around the world and
especially in Pennsylvania and the Harrisburg area.
Mr. Vartan was the founder of the Vartan Group, Inc., headquartered in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, comprising of Vartan National Bank, Vartan
Construction Company, Vartan Enterprises, Vartan Inventory Company, Vartan
Management Company, Vartan Supply Company, and Parev Restaurant.
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, expressed his sincere
condolences to Mrs. Maral Vartan and the Vartan family.
The Prelate said: The memory of John Vartan can never be forgotten by
the Armenian Church, an institution he was devoted to on many levels. We
pray that our Lord will provide comfort to his loving family. His life and
deeds will surely remain an indelible part of our history and serve as an
inspiration for generations to come.
REQUIEM SERVICES FOR ARCHBISHOP ASHJIAN
OFFERED BY PRELACY PARISHES LAST SUNDAY
Requiem Services on the occasion of the first anniversary of the passing
of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the Eastern
Prelacy, took place last Sunday in all Prelacy parishes. The late Archbishop
served as the Prelate of the Eastern United States and Canada from 1978 to
1998.
In New York City, the services were under the auspices of Archbishop
Oshagan at St. Illuminator Cathedral, where Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, the
former Prelate of Aleppo, officiated over the Divine Liturgy and Requiem
Service. Archbishop Souren gave an eloquent sermon in honor of the late
Archbishop’s life and service. Following the services a traditional memorial
meal (madagh) was offered in his memory.
PRELATE ISSUES CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Archbishop Oshagan issued his annual Christmas Message to the faithful.
His message for Christmas 2005 is based on the theme, GOD IS WITH US. His
Eminence stressed the importance togetherness through God gifts of
friendship, comfort, sympathy and strength.
To read the entire message go to:
MUSICAL ARMENIA WILL FEATURE BARITONE OSHIN GREGORIAN
AND THE WORKS OF COMPOSER ERIC HACHIKIAN
The 2005 Musical Armenia concert, which will take place on Sunday,
January 30, 2005, will feature the baritone Oshin Gregorian and the works of
composer Eric Hackikian. The concert will take place at Weill Recital Hall
at Carnegie Hall, New York City, at 2 p.m.
Mr. Gregorian is currently a member of the Boston University Opera
Institute, an intensive performance-based program for emerging operatic
artists. He graduated from Boston University and received a Masters degree
from the Manhattan School of Music. He will perform works by Mozart,
Donizetti, Gomidas, and Sayat Nova.
Mr. Hachikian has won numerous awards and grants for his compositions.
He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is currently a graduate
student at New York University. His works will be performed by the Motyl
Chamber Ensemble.
Tickets for Musical Armenia, which are $25, can be purchased through the
Prelacy, 212-689-7810, or at the box office, 212-247-7800.
CATHOLICOS ARAM CONGRATULATES
JAROSLAV PELIKAN
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
congratulated the renowned church historian Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan who was
recently awarded the John W. Kluge prize for lifetime achievement in the
humanities and social sciences. His Holiness said: You deserve such a
prestigious award for your outstanding achievements as historian and
theologian. In fact, your numerous publications are eloquent testimonies of
your vast scholarship, rich knowledge and perceptive and analytical mind.
Your contribution particularly to church history and doctrine remains
unprecedented in the modern history of world Christendom.
Some of our readers will recall that Professor Pelikan was the main
speaker at the 1700th anniversary commemoration organized by the Eastern
Prelacy that took place October 4, 2000. Catholicos Aram presided over the
commemoration. Professor Pelikan spoke about the paradox of church and
national identity. He said:
For good or ill or some combination of the two, it has been the historic
Eastern pattern to establish and nurture a close bond between Church and
national identity. From that pattern has come the historical paradox I want
to examine tonight, by exploring two Orthodox traditions that have often
come into bitter conflict with each other but that in fact display deep
parallels: the Armenian Orthodox tradition to which most of you so proudly
and gratefully trace your roots; and the Slavic Orthodox tradition in which
I have my roots and have found my spiritual home, no less gratefully and no
less proudly.
DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE
ASSOCIATION VISITS ARAM I
His Grace Mgr. Robert Stern, the director of the Catholic Near East
Welfare Association, visited His Holiness Aram I this week in Antelias,
Lebanon. The Catholic Association serves the humanitarian needs of Christian
communities in countries of the Near East.
ARTICLE IN TIMES OF LONDON
ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND TURKEY
The December 15 issue of the Times of London featured an article
entitled, Turkey will not Apologize for Armenian Genocide, written by
Anthony Browne.
The article stated that Turkey has reacted angrily to a demand by France
that it accept responsibility for a genocide against Armenians. Michel
Barmier, the French Foreign Minister insisted that Turkey must officially
recognize the 1915 genocide before it joins the European Union.
ST. JAMES OF NISIBIS IS REMEMBERED
This Saturday, December 18, the Armenian Church commemorates the life of
St. James of Nisibis, one of the participants at the first ecumenical
council in Nicea in 325 A.D. St. James was educated in Caesarea and was a
first-cousin of St. Gregory the Illuminator. He was the first bishop of
Nisibis, an important Christian center.
St. James (Hagop) is one of the most beloved saints of the Armenian
Church. Gregory of Narek dedicated one of his hymns to him. According to
tradition he was the first person to try to reach the summit of Mt. Ararat
in search of the Ark. A fragment of the Ark, which he found, is displayed in
Etchmiadzin.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 16, is the fourth Sunday of Advent in our journey
toward Christmas Day, January 6. A line from a popular Christmas Carol, Let
every heart prepare him room, is a good description of Advent: A time to
make room for Jesus in our lives.
It is the season when in our search for narrow and selfish worldly
wishes and desires we expose universal values-freedom, love, respect,
humility, meekness, charity and goodness. Let us strive to find all these
that truly keep us in a pleasant condition, so that we feel the presence of
God, proclaim our faithfulness toward Him and His commandments, and never
feel alone.. On the occasion of the New Year and the Holy Birth, let us feel
the descent of God in our hearts and recognize it as a gift distributed to
us. Let us act such that our work and life will be a Christian gift first to
God and then to each other, turning our New Year to thanksgiving.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
>>From Christmas 2005 Message
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