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: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – March 17, 2005
PRELATE ISSUES EASTER MESSAGE
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan issued his Easter message this week. His
message entitled, Resurrected Bones, focuses on the words of the prophet
Ezekiel, He said, Can these bones live? I said, O Lord, you know. (Ezekiel
37:3).
The Prelate said, in part:
As a nation we have witnessed Christ’s Resurrection. As a nation we have
miraculously been restored to life through our unshakable faith in Christ.
And when as a nation this year we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the
1915 Genocide, we turn to the Holy Bible, where God’s plan with regard to
the massacred nation is reflected in the resurrection and renewal of life in
God’s mighty intervention.
To read the entire message go to:
PRELACY, DIOCESE AND ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO COMMEMORATE
90th ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE ON APRIL 24
Led by the Prelacy and Diocese, the major organizations have joined to
form a united commemorative committee to mark the milestone 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.
Armenian Americans all along the east coast and the midwest are planning
to gather in New York for a mass gathering at Times Square at noon, followed
by ecumenical and requiem services at St. Patricks Cathedral. Buses will be
available from various communities. For up to the minute information please
check the following web site on a regular basis:
For inquiries write to [email protected]
For bus information check with your local parish.
PRELATE ATTENDS CEREMONY AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
Archbishop Oshagan attended ceremonies at Fordham University yesterday
evening conferring the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to Walter Cardinal
Kasper, President, Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
The ceremony took place at the Fordham University of Law, at the Lincoln
Center campus.
BEAST ON THE MOON PREPARES FOR NEW YORK PREMIERE
Beast on the Moon, the internationally acclaimed play about two Armenian
genocide survivors is now in rehearsal and preparing for previews and its
official opening. The producer of this off-Broadway presentation is asking
the assistance of the Armenian community to pack the theatre for the first
five weeks which he says will give a jumpstart period to this story of
Armenian survival and the potential to run for many months, being seen by
thousands of people.
Beast on the Moon, which won best play in Paris and Buenos Aires, will
be performed in the Century Center for the Performing Arts, 111 East 15th
Street, New York City. Many parishes and local organizations have purchased
block tickets. Check with your local parish or call telecharge for tickets,
212-239-6200 (mention code BMNAA39).
CAPITOL HILL EVENT WILL COMMEMORATE
90TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
U.S. representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), co-chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,
announced a Capitol Hill event in Washington to commemorate the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The event is being organized under the auspices of the Armenia Caucus
and the Armenian Embassy, with the full cooperation and participation of all
the Armenian American organizations. The event will take place in the Cannon
Caucus Room (Room 345) of the Cannon House Office Building, on Wednesday,
April 20, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
UCLA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GENOCIDE
An international conference, After Nine Decades-the Enduring Legacy of
the Armenian Genocide, will take place in Pasadena and on the UCLA campus
beginning Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 3. The conference is sponsored by
the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History in
cooperation with the UCLA International Institute, Center for Near Eastern
Studies, and Center for European and Eurasian Studies. The conference
organizer is A.E.F. Chair Holder Richard G. Hovannisian. Participants
include scholars from Argentina, Armenia, France, Lebanon, Syria, and from
throughout the United States. The conference program can be seen at
APPLY NOW FOR DATEV SUMMER INSTITUTE
Yes, it is that time of the year again. All of the new information,
including application forms, for the 2005 St. Gregory of Datev Summer
Institute is now on the Prelacy web page. The dates of the summer studies
program are July 3 to 10. Early bird registration deadline is May 15. For
full details go to:
ANEC PARTICIPATES IN COMPETITION
With the invitation of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia,
the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) has invited schools within
its jurisdiction to participate in a contest dedicated to the 90th
anniversary of the genocide.
The competition is open to students 13 to 26 years of age. For details
contact the ANEC office, 212-689-7810.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND FAREWELL RECEPTION
FOR AMBASSADOR ARMAND KIRAKOSSIAN
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Washington, DC, tomorrow, Friday,
March 18, where he will attend a farewell reception for Ambassador Arman
Kirakossian, who has served as the ambassador from Armenia to the United
States for the past five years. Ambassador Kirakossian will return to
Yerevan to continue to work at the Foreign Ministry.
VICAR WILL ATTEND RECEPTION IN NEW YORK FOR CARDINAL SFEIR;
PRELATE WILL ATTEND LUNCHEON
Very Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, will attend a
reception in honor of His Beatitude Mar Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir,
Friday evening, at the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations,
hosted by the consul general Mr. Ibrahim Assaf.
On Monday, March 21, Archbishop Oshagan will attend a luncheon in honor
of Cardinal Sfeir given by Cardinal Egan at the Catholic Center.
NALG CONFERENCE ON APRIL 16
The National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) and the Ladies Guild of
Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church will host the 2005 regional religious
conference on Saturday, April 16, 10 am to 3 pm at the church in Bethesda,
Maryland.
The keynote speaker will be Yeretzgin Joanna Baghsarian, from
Providence, Rhode Island. Her presentation, in English and Armenian, will be
about women of integrity taken from the Bible. Mary Derderian, adjunct
instructor at George Washington University and Stratford University, will
conduct a short workshop for special event coordination, implementation and
evaluation.
For information contact Mary Derderian, 703-759-3908, or email
[email protected].
CATHOLICOS ARAM EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
emphasized the need to create harmony and coherence inside the Armenian
communities, in a speech given in St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia,
Cyprus. His Holiness said:
Diversity is a natural phenomenon in our lives. On many occasions we
have stressed the importance of preserving diversity as enriching factors in
various aspects of our lives. But when diversity is not expressed
harmoniously, it can lead us to polarization. When distinction is not
transformed to cooperation, it can become a source of internal tension.
In the second part of his speech, His Holiness spoke about the true
understanding of life, calling on believers to adopt the true values of life
given to humanity through Jesus Christ.
SEE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN WORLD MISSION CONFERENCE
The Holy See of Cilicia participated in the inter-orthodox preparatory
consultation for the World Mission Conference, organized by the World
Council of Churches (WCC). The preparatory consultation took place in
Athens, March 3 to 9, with 35 representatives from Orthodox and Oriental
Orthodox Churches to prepare for the World Mission Conference which will
take place in May in Athens, where 700 spiritual and secular representatives
from the WCC member churches, as well as the Roman Catholic, Protestant and
Benedictine churches will participate.
V. Rev. Fr. Khoren Doghramdjian, Primate of the Diocese of Greece, and
V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer of the Catholicate of
Cilicia, participated in the preparatory consultation.
ARMENIAN CHURCHES SPORTS ASSOCIATION
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
The Armenian Churches Sports Association (ACSA) completed another
successful year. The championship games took place last Sunday, March 13,
with the following results:
Jr. Boys: Holy Martyrs (beat St. Sarkis)
Girls: St. Leon (beat Holy Martyrs)
Sr. Boys: Sts. Vartanantz beat St. Leon
Men: St. Vartan Cathedral (beat St. Sarkis)
The ACSA originally started with senior boys and later added leagues for
junior boys, girls, and men. Churches participating include: Sts. Vartanantz
(Ridgefield, NJ); St. Sarkis (Douglaston, NY); St. Illuminator Cathedral
(New York City); St. Vartan Cathedral (New York City); Holy Martyrs
(Bayside, NY); St. Thomas (Tenafly, NJ); St. Leon (Fairlawn, NJ); St. Mary
(Livingston, NJ); Armenian Presbyterian Church (Paramus, NJ).
PRELATE WILL CELEBRATE PALM SUNDAY IN BOSTON
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Massachusetts this weekend to St.
Stephen Church in Watertown, where he will officiate Palm Sunday services
and deliver the Sermon this Sunday.
NEXT WEEK IS HOLY WEEK
The last Sunday of Lent is Palm Sunday (Tzaghkazard). The week preceding
the Resurrection (Easter) is marked in the life of Jesus with a series of
events that were ordained or prophesied. These events include the
resurrection of Lazarus and the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem,
which we commemorate on Palm Sunday. Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, as
described centuries earlier by the prophet Zechariah. A large enthusiastic
crowd greeted him with olive and palm branches and with the words, Hosanna!
Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. (John 12: 13)
On Palm Sunday the curtain, closed since the beginning of Lent (Boun
Barekendan), is opened, traditionally following Drnbatsek (opening the door)
ceremony in the morning.
During the Andastan service (Blessing of the Four Corners of the World),
the palms are blessed and passed out to the faithful.
A procession of young boys and girls carrying decorated candles is an
old custom on Palm Sunday, which continues to be an impressive sight to see
all of the young children of the parish dressed in their best clothes parade
around the church.
Each day of Holy Week (Avag Shabat) is a holy day. It is gratifying to
see that these commemorations, many of which had been discontinued, are
being revived by many of our parishes.
Monday commemorates the barren fig tree. (Matthew 21:18-20)
Tuesday commemorates the Ten Virgins. (Matthew 25:13)
Wednesday commemorates the Anointment and Betrayal of Christ.
Thursday is Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the command of Christ
(mandatum in Latin) that His disciples should love one another (John 13:34).
In the morning the Divine Liturgy is celebrated and Communion given. In the
early evening the Washing of the Feet (Votunlva) ceremony takes place in
remembrance of the events of the Last Supper. In late evening the betrayal
and torment of Christ, Tenebrae (Khavaroom) is commemorated, in a ceremony
that many consider to be the most impressive and emotional service in the
Armenian Church. Twelve small candles and one large candle are placed on the
altar. During the service seven chapters are read from the Gospel, depicting
Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, and denial by
Peter. Interspersed with the readings, hymns composed by Nerses Shnorhali
are sung. After each reading a candle from each side is extinguished in the
darkened sanctuary.
Good Friday commemorates the death and burial of Jesus and is the most
solemn and sacred day in the Christian calendar. In the Armenian Church
tradition, during evening Vespers a tomb is prepared and decorated with
flowers and candles. It is also a tradition in the Armenian Church for the
congregation to bring flowers and decorate the tomb throughout the service.
SPRING IS HERE
Sunday, March 20 is the first day of spring. It is a welcome sign of the
coming rebirth of nature after a dormant, but necessary, winter.
And, it is time to begin the planting for the growing season ahead. Our
late father, an extraordinary gardener, used to tell us that we must get the
sugar snap peas planted by St. Patricks Day, which is today, March 17. We
here at Crossroads have been planning our gardens in our minds since
Christmas. Thinking and planning for spring provides warmth for the soul and
hope for the future.
We leave you this week with these words from Inheriting Paradise:
Meditations on Gardening, by Vigen Guroian:
Every experienced Christian gardener knows that there is a spiritual
spring which comes just as surely as nature’s spring. The Lenten spring is
God’s invitation to prayer, fasting, and penance. Like the deep-rooted
thistle weed, some of our worst habits withstand all but the most
persistent, persevering, and strenuous exercise. A quick pull on the root,
however, will not do the trick, not with an aggressive chop of the hoe.
Patience is needed, and the humble willingness to drop down on one’s knees
and work carefully with the hand fork and trowel. The Christian gardener
patiently picks sin from the soul’s soil and cultivates it with care and
attention to the tender new growth of faith.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress