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
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – March 10, 2005
DELEGATIONS OF CATHOLICATE OF ALL ARMENIANS
AND CATHOLICATE OF CILICIA ISSUE COMMON DECLARATION
A meeting of delegations from the Catholicate of All Armenians and the
Catholicate of Cilicia took place in Holy Etchmiadzin on March 4 and 5. The
meeting was held under the patronage of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, with the
aim of further developing the mission of the Armenian Church and to further
strengthen internal unity. The main purpose of the meeting was to prepare an
outline for discussions around the theme, “The Imperative of Renewal for the
Armenian Church.”
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Bishop Michael Atchabahian, Mr. Rafayel
Babaian, Mr. James Kaloustian represented the Catholicate of All Armenians.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Mr. Yervant Pamboukian
and Mr. Arsen Tanielian represented the Catholicate of Cilicia.
On Friday, March 4, His Holiness Karekin II met with the two delegations
and clarified his expectations as well as those of His Holiness Aram I.
The representatives prepared an outline containing nine main
points, as follows:
1. The canonical status of the Armenian Church: Ecclesiological,
administrative and canonical definition.
2. Christian and Armenian education: Mission and protection of
spiritual and cultural values.
3. Liturgical Life.
4. Formation of clergy and revitalization of monastic life.
5. Inter-church and inter-faith relations.
6. Attitudes towards modern social and moral issues.
7. Church-State and Church-Society relations.
8. The Church and the pursuit of the rights of the Armenian people.
9. Use of modern technology.
Each of these main points was divided into sub-categories and general
discussion were held around each, as an initial analyses and future adoption
of relevant approaches.
PLANS FOR COMMEMORATION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CONTINUE IN NEW YORK
New York City will be the site of the joint united commemoration of the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The committee and sub-committees
of leading Armenian organizations are meeting weekly to plan commemorative
events at Times Square and St. Patricks Cathedral on Sunday, April 24. For
up-to-date information make regular visits to:
For inquiries send an e-mail to [email protected].
CATHOLICATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES
IN WCC ECUMENICAL OFFICERS MEETING
A meeting of the ecumenical officers of the World Council of Churches
took place in the council headquarters in Geneva in February. Bishop Nareg
Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicate of Cilicia participated in
the meeting and was elected as a member of the executive committee. Rev.
Hovagim Manougian represented the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
Fifty religious and secular representatives from various churches in the
Middle East, Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa and Asia
participated in the meeting. The participants discussed issues concerning
the Ecumenical Movement on local, regional and international levels.
ST. GREGORY CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
APPROVES BUILDING EXPANSION
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia, approved a motion
adopting the recommendation of the Building Committee, for expansion of
their facilities, during its recent General Membership meeting. The
expansion will provide the church with two new classrooms, a multipurpose
room, additional storage space, and renovations to Terhanian Hall. The
motion approved the start of a fundraising campaign for the addition and
renovation which are estimated to cost $1.4 million.
PRELACY LENTEN BIBLE STUDIES CONTINUE
Last evening the study of the Passion narratives continued under the
leadership of Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC). Last night the Bible study focused on the Burial.
The final session of the series will take place next Wednesday, March 16
with the Resurrection as the focal point.
The Bible study takes place at St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221 E. 27th
Street, New York City, with a Lenten service at 7:30, Bible study at 8 pm,
and fellowship at 8:45. Co-sponsored by AREC and the Prelacy Ladies Guild, a
faithful group of attendees have followed the six-week program that began
with the prediction and interpretation and the events leading to the
Resurrection.
All are welcome to attend. Whether or not you have attended the previous
evenings, you will gather much from the final lecture next week.
LENTEN PROGRAM IN PHILADELPHIA
All of our parishes have lectures and/or Bible studies during Lent. Our
correspondent from Philly, Jeanette Nazarian, sent us the following:
In keeping with the tradition he initiated a few years ago, Der Nerses
Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church conducted the weekly
Lenten lecture series again this year. Following a meditative Vesper service
that encourages the active participation of the congregation, the faithful,
after being fed spiritually, gather in Terhanian Hall to feed their minds
through the teachings of Der Hayr, and their stomachs through the generous
donation of Lenten meals by the church family.
The theme this year is the Armenian Church Canon. After a general
introduction, Der Hayr presents canons each week pertaining to the sacrament
of baptism, issues of marriage and divorce, sexual morality, the theological
foundation of orthodox Christian ethics, social and moral issues, as well as
religious and ritual practices of our faith.
PARISH ANNUAL MEETINGS
This Sunday St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut, will convene
its annual general membership meeting:
LAMENTATION & LIBERATION CONCERT
This information came to our attention recently about a concert, which
will take place Tuesday, March 29, at St. Peters Lutheran Church at Citicorp
Center, Lexington Ave. at 54th Street, New York City, at 8 pm. This is part
of a series under the title Lamentation & Liberation.
The program includes the world premiere of a work by Jakoulov entitled
Narek from the Book of Sorrowful Songs by Gregor Narekatsi. There are
several Armenians on the program including Tatyana Vartapetyan-Margulis,
cello; Aram Tchobanian, tenor; Vagharshak Ohanyan, baritone; Rubik
Vartanyan, duduk/zurna. Besides the Nareg piece the program includes works
by Bach, Beethoven, Kohn, Grunfeld, Ledec, Domazlicky.
For information: 212-239-5906.
ARA BERBERIAN, 74
We note with sadness the passing of Ara Berberian, whose beautiful bass
voice enriched the Metropolitan Opera for more than 20 years, in over 300
performances. Mr. Berberian died on February 21 at his home in Boynton
Beach, Florida. He was 74 years old.
Mr. Berberian shared his great talent generously with the Armenian
American community. He participated in a number of concerts and
commemorations sponsored by the Prelacy during the past 30 years. He is
survived by his wife, Ginny, and children Harry Artin, Ara Jon, and Suzanne.
SUNDAY OF THE ADVENT
This Sunday, March 13, the sixth Sunday of Lent, is Sunday of the Advent
(Galstyan Kiraki). We are now more than half way through Lent and Holy Week
is approaching. On Advent Sunday we are asked to ponder on the mystery of
the First Coming of Christ and especially His Second Coming, which is
mentioned in the prayers on this Sunday. Christ came to this world for the
salvation of mankind. He will come again for the judgment of sinners, and
when the righteous will become worthy of entering the Kingdom of God.
Advent Sunday has its own special hymn, which proclaims that the
apostles knew the mystery of the advent of Christ. The story of the
expulsion from paradise is repeated and an appeal is made to Christ to ask
the Heavenly Father to establish peace on earth.
ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR COMMITMENT TO THE PIT
This Saturday, March 12, the Armenian Church commemorates one of three
days in the Armenian liturgical calendar in memory of St. Gregory the
Illuminator, the founder of the Armenian Church and considered to be the
greatest figure of the Armenian Church.
The three remembrances of St. Gregory are: Entrance into the Pit;
Emergence from the Pit, and Discovery of his remains. This Saturday is the
commemoration of his entrance into the pit.
Gregory stood fast to his faith and refused to renounce Christ. He
endured many tortures and his final punishment was banishment into a deep
pit (Khor Virap) where he remained for a period of 13 or more years.
Miraculously he survived the ordeal, thanks in large part to a woman (whose
identity is not known) who secretly lowered food into the pit.
PILGRIMAGE DAY IN ANTELIAS, LEBANON
Consecrated relics of St. Gregory are kept in Holy Etchmiadzin and the
Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. This Saturday is the major day
of pilgrimage at the Holy See of Cilicia. Thousands of pilgrims come to the
Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator to have an opportunity to see the
sacred relic of the saint. It is brought out each year on the occasion of
the entrance into the pit. The golden arm, which contains the relics, is
also used every seven years during the consecration of the Holy Chrism
(Muron).
KHOR VIRAB TODAY
Khor Virab Monastery today is a major destination for tourists and
pilgrims who visit Armenia. The church complex was built on the exact
location where St. Gregory was imprisoned. The pit is still preserved and it
is possible for visitors to climb down on the ladder leading into the pit.
There are 27 steep steps down (yes, we counted them!).
The church of St. Astvatsatsin dates to the 17th century. The area is
one of the most beautiful in Armenia, and those of us who have seen Ararat
from the vantage point of both Turkey and Armenia can attest to the
indisputable fact that the view of Ararat from the Monastery of Khor Virab
situated on a hill near the Arax River is the most spectacular. It is
breathtakingly beautiful and a true spiritual experience.
And there took place a council of many bishops in the city of Caesarea so
that they might ordain Saint Gregory; and they handed on to him the honor of
the humility of Christ’s priesthood, and the highness of the episcopacy of
God’s glory-great honor and glory. Holding the holy gospel the assembled
bishops, of whom the chief was Leontius, placed their hands on him that he
might receive authority in heaven and on earth to receive the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, to bind and loose on earth.
Description of the ordination of Gregory to the episcopacy, as recorded by
Agathangelos
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