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
May 12, 2005
EASTERN PRELACY FORMS COMMITTEE
TO CELEBRATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEMINARY
The first meeting of the Steering Committee which will plan the visit of
His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy in the fall on the occasion of
the 75th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Cilician See’s
Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, took place last week, Tuesday,
May 3, in New York City.
The Catholicos’s visit to the Eastern Prelacy will begin on October 19
and continue through to November 1. During this time he will attend various
events in the New York metropolitan area, as well as in Washington, DC,
Boston, and Chicago.
The main focus of the trip is the 75th anniversary of the Seminary. His
Holiness will also participate in two symposiums. One in New York
co-sponsored by the Prelacy and the World Council of Churches, under the
general theme of “Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement in the 21st
Century”; and one in Cambridge, Massachusetts, co-sponsored by the Prelacy
and Harvard University, dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the creation
of the Armenian alphabet.
CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES ENCYCLICAL ON THE OCCASION
OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEMINARY
An Encyclical dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of
the Seminary of the Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, was read in
the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, last Sunday, May
1. Fr. Bartev Gulumian, the Dean of the Seminary, read the encyclical during
the Divine Liturgy.
The encyclical focuses on the history of the Seminary’s re-establishment
following the Genocide and the important role it has played in the education
of a new generation of leaders.
ST. GREGORY CHURCH OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS WILL HOST
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK
The National Representative Assembly (NRA) will convene next week in
Granite City, Illinois, hosted by the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.
The clergy will begin their meetings on Tuesday, May 17. The next day the
full Assembly of religious and lay delegates will convene. The NRA is the
highest authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Eastern
United States, and is charged with the task of supervising the
ecclesiastical and administrative bodies of the Eastern Prelacy.
Thursday afternoon, May 19, delegates and visitors will participate in a
special session dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the
Armenian alphabet. Under the title of Celebrating our Heritage, the keynote
address will be delivered by Dr. Hratch Zadoian, of Queens College. This
will be followed with presentations on: Armenian Epigraphic Heritage, by Dr.
Vazken Ghougassian, Executive Director of the Prelacy; Themes in Armenian
Christian Literature, by Dr. Michael Papazian, chair of the Religion and
Philosophy Department, Berry College, Georgia; Understanding the Divine
Liturgy, by Ms. Nayiri Baljian, and Closing Remarks by V. Rev. Fr. Shahe
Panossian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ.
CATHOLICOS CALLS ON GERMAN CHURCHES TO SUPPORT
RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
His Holiness Aram I sent a letter to the spiritual head of the German
Protestant Churches, His Grace Bishop Wolfgang Huber, expressing his desire
that the German churches support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
His Holiness praised the efforts of the German Parliament in adopting a
resolution concerning the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness also praised
German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, for bringing up the issue during his
latest visit to Turkey.
BEAST ON THE MOON IS CONTINUING
ITS OFF-BROADWAY PRESENTATION
Beast on the Moon, the play about two Armenian genocide survivors, has
been playing to full audiences and its presentation has been extended for at
least another five weeks. If you have not seen it, we recommend you purchase
tickets immediately. Some of us here at Crossroads have seen it twice and
hope to see it again before it concludes its off-Broadway run.
Here are just a few comments the play has elicited:
“An extraordinary play. A first class performance, finely directed, with
heart stopping performances. Simply magnificent!” (Backstage)
“The play is compassionate and humane. The luminous Lena Georgas is a
delight to watch!” (The New Yorker)
“There’s a reason the play has been such an international success: its
themes strike a nerve. Metwally and Georgas find touching human dimensions
within the emotional cartwheels required of them. They have the guilty
electricity of survivors: stubborn sparks of life in the shadow of
atrocity.” (TimeOut, New York)
Visit or contact telecharge at 212-947-8844.
There is a special five-week offer for tickets (code No. BMNWS25) at $35
(regularly $65).
“TO YOUR HEALTH!” AT ST. SARKIS THIS SUNDAY
Well-known health professionals will speak this Sunday, May 15,
beginning at 1:30 pm at St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston,
NY. For information contact Dr. Arthur Kubikian, 718-786-3842 or the church
office, 718-224-2275.
ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL CONTINUES 20TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS WITH GALA CONCERT
St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, Watertown, MA, is continuing
its 20th anniversary celebrations with a gala concert to take place at the
Longy School of Music on Friday, June 3, at 7:30 pm. The artists who will be
performing are: mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan; tenor Yeghishe
Manucharyan; pianist Noune Karapetyan; violinist Sarkis Karapetyan; and
pianist Vardan Ovsepian. For information: Araz at 617-852-8189 or Arev at
617-980-1906.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED TRANSLATION IS FETED
Commentary on Genesis by Eghishe, based on the scholarly work of Levon
Khachikyan, was recently published in a bilingual (Classical
Armenian-English) edition by the Matenadaran (Mashtots Institute of Ancient
Manuscripts) in Armenia.
The translator, Professor Michael Papazian, was honored last night on
the occasion of its publication by his colleagues and friends at Berry
College, in Georgia, where he is chair of the Religion and Philosophy
Department.
The book is available at the Prelacy Bookstore.
FIFTH VOLUME IN KAREKIN I SERIES IS PUBLISHED
The fifth volume, entitled Theology, in the Karekin I Theological and
Armenological Studies Series was recently published. The ongoing series is a
long-range project of publishing the major works of His Holiness Karekin I,
Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch, who died in 1999.
The works published to date are: Karekin I: In His Own Words; The
Theology of the Armenian Church According to her Hymns; Armenian Church and
Culture: Images and Themes; Building Bridges: The Ecumenical Journey of
Karekin I; and Theology.
At least two more volumes will be published this year, including his
well known and respected, Council of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church, and
Think and Enter, an English translation of Khoreh yev Medir which the late
Catholicos wrote decades ago and which has never been translated into
English.
The Karekin I Series was established by Haig and Elza Didizian of
London, in memory of His Holiness Karekin I. All of the books published in
the series are distributed to libraries, theological seminaries and
religious centers. The series editors are Dr. Vazken Ghougassian and Iris
Papazian.
For information about the series contact the Prelacy Bookstore,
212-689-7810.
THIS SUNDAY IS PENTECOST
This Sunday, May 15, fifty days after Easter, is Pentecost
(Hogegaloust). The religious observance of Pentecost has roots in the Old
Testament. The New Testament clearly shows that Pentecost was celebrated in
the first century and took on a special Christian significance. The apostles
were ordinary men and Jesus knew that they needed to be endowed with special
talents in order to spread the word in different parts of the world.
Accordingly, Jesus advised His disciples not to begin teaching immediately
but rather to wait for the “Descent of the Holy Spirit.” In the Acts of the
Apostles, we read that on the day of Pentecost, the eleven apostles, as well
as others, had gathered in the Upper Room and suddenly a sound came from
heaven like the rush of a mighty wind. The disciples were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages. Many of the people in
Jerusalem on that day were from foreign lands. The apostles were able to
communicate with these people in their own native language, thus being able
to fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go therefore to all nations and make them my
disciples.” (Matthew 28:19).
As a result of the events on Pentecost the early disciples became
anointed, inspired, effective, and prophetic witnesses.
SPRINGTIME IN NEW YORK CITY
For those who are not intimately familiar with Manhattan, the name
conjures up images of tall buildings of concrete and steel. In truth the
seasons are quite visible and beautiful. Right now spring flowers of tulips
and daffodils are everywhere along the streets in super-large containers.
Rows and rows of beauty! A very walkable city at anytime of the year, it is
particularly pleasant now to walk the streets and enjoy the multi-colored
flowers, bringing to mind the words of poet William Wordsworth: And then my
heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils.
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