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 – February 2, 2005
MUSICAL ARMENIA CONCERT RECEIVES
ACCLAIM OF CAPACITY AUDIENCE
The Musical Armenia concert last Sunday, January 30, was received
enthusiastically by the sold-out audience.
The first part of the program featured the baritone Oshin Gregorian, who
thrilled the audience with his renditions of works by Gomidas, Mozart,
Donizetti, Puccini, Ravel, Ganatchian, Gregorian and Sayat Nova.
The second part featured the works of the young composer Eric Hachikian
played with great expression and feeling by the Motyl Chamber Ensemble. The
audience was enthralled with Voyage to Amasia and Saint Sarkis Suite.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, expressed his deep appreciation of
the exceptional talent of these two young artists. He noted that the
creative art a nation produces is the best indicator of the health of that
nation.
The Musical Armenia series began in 1982 and has continued its
commitment to promote young Armenian artists.
CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES ENCYCLICAL
ON THE OCCASION OF THE 1600TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE CREATION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET
His Holiness Aram I has issued an Encyclical concerning the 1600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet. His Holiness has
directed all dioceses within the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia to
mark this milestone anniversary with appropriate commemorations during 2005.
The Eastern Prelacy in conjunction with the Armenian Chair at Harvard
University will host an international conference on this occasion during the
month of October 2005.
To read the Encyclical by Aram Vehapar go the catholicosate web site at
TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH AMBASSADOR
John Evans, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, will host a series of town
hall meetings in the United States this month. He will be accompanied by
USAID Director Robin Phillips and colleagues from the U.S. Department of
State.
The schedule includes the following: February 11-12, New York/New
Jersey; February 14-15, Boston; February 15-17, Los Angeles, Glendale,
Pasadena; February 18, Fresno; February 19, San Francisco; February 22-23,
Washington, DC.
YOUNG ORGANIST FILLS KEY ROLE
Without doing any extensive research we can say with fair certainty that
Vahe Hovhannisyan is the youngest organist in any Armenian Church, and
perhaps, any Church in the country. Vahe, at age nine (he will turn 10 next
month), plays the entire Divine Liturgy each Sunday at St. Stephen Armenian
Church in New Britain, Connecticut.
Last year, the long-time organist of the church, Shirley Kevorkian,
wanted a respite from her duties. Vahe came forward and told the priest,
Rev. Fr. Krikoris Keshishian, that he would play the organ. And he did and
continues to accompany the choir and deacons for the more than two-hour
service each Sunday. Last year the Hartford Courant featured a front-page
article about the young organist.
The next issue of Outreach will feature the full story about this
exceptional young man.
VARTANANTZ COMMEMORATION
Tomorrow is the Feast of Vartanantz, perhaps one of the most popular
feast days for Armenians. It is always observed on the Thursday before the
beginning of Great Lent.
Vartanantz commemorates the memory of Vartan Mamigonian and his soldiers
who went into battle against the mighty Persians to defend their faith and
preserve their identity. The definitive battle between the Armenians and the
Persian forces (with three times the strength of the Armenians) took place
on the fields of Avarayr in 451. It was a fierce battle, and ultimately
Vartan and most of his men were martyred. The Armenian Church showed its
great respect for them by consecrating the entire group collectively as the
Saints of Vartanantz. Armenian resistance to Persian rule continued with a
nephew of Vartan, Vahan Mamikonian, who conducted guerilla warfare with a
number of successes. In 485 King Vagharsh of Persian sent envoys to a
village named Nvarsak (northwestern corner of Iran), to meet with Vahan and
Armenian nobles. Ultimately they signed a treaty (Treaty of Nvarsag) that
guaranteed the right of the Armenians to practice their religion, among
other provisions. The Treaty of Nvarsag is rightfully regarded as one of the
first (if not the first) human rights documents.
In a sense, it can be said that it was on the battlefield of Avarair,
where Vartan and his men fell, that Christianity truly became an indelible
part of the national identity of Armenians.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL BE WITH
STS. VARTANANTZ PARISHES IN NEW JERSEY AND RHODE ISLAND
Tomorrow, on the occasion of Vartanantz, Archbishop Oshagan will
officiate over the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield,
New Jersey. Attending the services and partaking Communion will be students
of the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey. As in previous year, the
students will present a Vartanantz program during the luncheon that will
follow the services.
On Saturday and Sunday, February 5 and 6, His Eminence will visit the
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island. On Sunday he will
officiate at the Divine Liturgy.
SUNDAY IS POUN PAREGENTAN
This Sunday, February 6, is Poun Paregentan. Poun means main and
Paregentan means good living or mardi gras. The Armenian liturgical calendar
has many occasions of Paregentan, but Poun Paregentan is associated with the
start of the long period of abstinence leading to Easter and the Feast of
the Holy Resurrection.
Traditionally, Poun Paregentan is a day of lavish tables, rich foods,
and festive family gatherings.
Monday begins the Medz Bahk (Great Fast), which is accompanied with
prayer and introspection. In the Armenian tradition during this period no
animal based food is permitted, including dairy products, eggs and fish. The
diet is confined to vegetables and grains and vegetable oils.
COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE COMMEMORATED
This Saturday, February 5, the Armenian Church commemorates the first
Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, which took place in 381 by order of
Emperor Theodosius.
It is traditionally accepted that the Armenian Catholicos, Nerses the
Great, attended this Council, although there is no hard and fast proof. The
Armenian Church accepts and commemorates this and two other Ecumenical
Councils.
PASSION NARRATIVES FOCUS
OF LENTEN PROGRAM
The Prelacy Lenten program will focus on passages from the passion
narratives. The program will begin Wednesday, February 9, and continue each
Wednesday during Lent. The Lenten programs will take place at St.
Illuminator Church, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, beginning with a
Lenten Service at 7:30 pm and Bible Study at 8:00 pm, followed by Fellowship
with a Lenten meal prepared by the Prelacy Ladies Guild. The Bible Study
will be conducted by Deacon Shant Kazanjian with the following schedule:
February 9: The Passion of Jesus-Predicted and Interpreted
February 16: The Last Supper
February 23: The Trial
March 2: The Crucifixion
March 9: The Burial
March 16: The Resurrection
All are welcome to the series sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council and the Prelacy Ladies Guild. For information contact the
AREC office, 212-689-4481.
AND, FINALLY, THIS FROM A SOON TO BE PUBLISHED BOOK:
.Yazdigerd tried to persuade the Armenian princes to accept
Zorastrianism by pledging to grant them a status equal to that of the
Persian nobility. They refused, whereupon Yazdigerd issued a decree ordering
all of the nations in the empire to become “worshippers of the sun,” as
Eghishe characterizes the Zorastrians.
When the Armenians, together with the other Christian nations of the
Caucasus, refused, Yazdigerd summoned their cavalries together and had them
tortured. Even in the face of torture, they would not renounce Christianity.
He sent some of the nobility off into the distant desert to fight against
the Huns, who were attacking the eastern parts of the empire. Yazdigerd also
imposed heavy taxes on the Armenians, and for the first time taxed the
churches and monasteries. He appointed a Persian governor for Armenia. And
he ordered the chief magus to compose a letter refuting Christianity and
presenting Zorastrianism as the true religion.
When the Armenians received the letter, the bishops gathered together
and wrote a response. The bishops letter, as Eghishe presents it, is an
important document. The bishops did not challenge the political authority of
the Persian king. Rather, they pledged loyalty to him as long as they were
free to remain Christians:
All our possessions and properties are in your hands and our bodies
stand before you; do [with them] whatever you will. If you leave us with
[our] faith we shall not exchange you for another lord on earth.
There was no room for compromise over Christianity, however:
From this faith no one can shake us, neither angels nor men, neither
sword nor fire nor water nor any kind of cruel torture.
>From LIGHT FROM LIGHT: An Introduction to the History and Theology of the
Armenian Church by Michael B. Papazian
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