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
May 26, 2005
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY CONVENES
SUCCESSFULLY IN GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS
The National Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy convened
last week in Granite City, Illinois. The small parish of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church hosted the NRA for the first time in its 50-year history.
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, praised the parish for the extraordinary
job they did telling them, “You are not small anymore. You grew up!”
In his message to the Assembly, Archbishop Oshagan spoke about the
important commemorative dates during 2005: “The year 2005 presented to us
remembrances that have profound importance for our nation’s spiritual
advancement, collective memory of affliction, and the education and training
of our clergy,” referring to the 1600th anniversary of the founding of the
Armenian alphabet, the 90th anniversary of the Genocide of 1915, and the
75th anniversary of the re-establishment of the theological seminary of the
Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.
A mini-symposium in commemoration of the 1600th anniversary of the
alphabet took place on Thursday afternoon with presentations offered by
Professor Hratch Zadoian in a keynote address, followed by presentations by
Dr. Vazken Ghougassian (Written on Stone: The Armenian Heritage of Stone
Epigraphy); Dr. Michael Papazian (Themes in Armenian Christian Literature);
Ms. Nayiri Baljian (Understanding the Divine Liturgy); and V. Rev. Fr. Shahe
Panossian (concluding remarks).
Complete information about the NRA, including texts of messages and
speeches, and photographs are being posted on the Prelacy web site:
PRELATE IS IN FLORIDA TODAY AND TOMORROW;
WILL ATTEND AYF SEMINAR IN PITTSBURGH SATURDAY
Archbishop Oshagan is in Florida today and tomorrow conferring with the
parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator and architects for the parish’s new
church in Boynton Beach.
On Saturday His Eminence will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where
he and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, will attend
the AYF junior seminar.
SCHOOL IN MOUGHNI, ARMENIA, IS DEDICATED
TO ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
On Tuesday, May 24, ceremonies took place in Moughni, Armenia, where the
local school was re-named in honor of the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.
Villagers and prominent individuals from Yerevan attended the ceremony
which was organized by the Eastern Prelacy’s St. Nerses the Great Charitable
Organization and the Hamazkayin of Armenia, with the sponsorship of Mr. &
Mrs. Dikran Hadjetian of Canada.
Moughni is the site of the 13th century Sourp Kevork of Moughni
Monastery which the late Archbishop renovated with donations received on the
occasion of the 35th anniversary of his ordination during his tenure as
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy. The village of Moughni is located in the
Aragatsotn region of Armenia. During the last five years of his life,
Archbishop Mesrob was a familiar and beloved figure in the area.
SIAMANTO ACADEMY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN
HAMAZKAYIN CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Students of the Siamanto Academy, sponsored by the Armenian National
Education Committee, participated in the New York Hamazkayin choral
performance on Sunday, May 22, at Flushing Town Hall in New York. The event
was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Vagharshak
Ohanian was the artistic director of the chorus, with accompaniment by David
Allahverdian on piano and Isabella Alexandrovki on kanon. The program also
included recitations by Dr. Herand Markarian and Lucine Jerjerian.
CATHOLICOS ARAM I VISITS MONASTERY IN ISFAHAN
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has been
on an official visit to the three dioceses in Iran. On May 22 His Holiness
arrived in Isfahan where he visited the 400-year-old St. Amenapergitch
Monastery.
His Holiness laid a wreath at the Genocide monument outside the church,
asking God to rest the souls of more than one and one-half million martyrs
in peace.
During his two-week visit, the Catholicos has also visited the dioceses
of Tehran and Tabriz.
CATHOLICATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN CONFERENCE
ON WORLD MISSION AND EVANGELISM
The conference on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of
Churches (WCC) took place in Athens, May 9-16. The theme of the conference
was “Come Holy Spirit, heal and reconcile. We are called by Jesus to become
reconciling and healing communities.”
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, ecumenical officer of the Catholicate, and
Bishop Khoren Doghramdjian, Prelate of Greece, attended the conference on
behalf of the Catholicate.
TURKISH GOVERNMENT CLOSES CONFERENCE
The Turkish government pressured organizers of an unprecedented
conference on the Armenian Genocide that was set to open yesterday in
Istanbul, to indefinitely postpone (which probably means “cancel”) the
conference which was entitled, “Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the
Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy.”
Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek accused conference organizers of
committing treason. More than 700 individuals were scheduled to participate
in the three-day conference.
PROFESSOR VIGEN GUROIAN WILL DELIVER
FLOROVSKY MEMORIAL LECTURE
The 2005 annual Florovsky Memorial Lecture will be delivered by
Professor Vigen Guroian, on Friday, June 10, 7:30 pm, at St. Vladimir’s
Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York. His lecture, entitled
“I Confess the Cross Because I Know of the Resurrection,” will take place in
the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. Professor Guroian is professor of
theology and ethics at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. He has written
eight books and more than 150 articles.
The Florovsky Memorial Lecture, held in different locations each year,
honors Fr. Georges Florovsky, eminent Orthodox theologian, historian, and
Slavic scholar who was the dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary from 1949-1955.
ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN FEATURED IN JUNE OPERA NEWS
The cover and lead article of the June issue of Opera News is devoted to
Isabel Bayrakdarian. “All About Isabel Bayrakdarian,” by Megan McKinney, is
accompanied with stunning photographs and vividly describes her upbringing
in a traditional Armenian family. “The church and its music are so much a
part of Armenian life-and my life. The haunting quality of Armenian
liturgical music speaks to my heart. I have sung it every Sunday since I was
four. I can join the choir in any Armenian church in the world, and suddenly
I am home,” she is quoted.
THIS SATURDAY ARMENIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES
ST. GREGORY DELIVERANCE FROM THE PIT
This Saturday, May 28, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Gregory the
Illuminator and his deliverance from the pit. St. Gregory is revered as the
founder of the Armenian church. The Armenian liturgical calendar
memorializes its first Catholicos based on three important events in his
life: Entrance into the Pit; Emergence from the Pit; and Discovery of his
remains. In addition to these specific events, there are several other
feasts in honor of events that are closely connected to St. Gregory, such
as, Feasts of St. Hripsimian, St. Gayanian, Shoghakat, Holy Etchmiadzin,
King Tiridates.
SUNDAY IS FEAST OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
This Sunday, May 29, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the
Holy Cathedral of Etchmiadzin. The Cathedral was built in 303, based on a
vision that came to St. Gregory. The Cathedral has been devastated and
plundered during the course of the centuries, but it has always been
reconstructed and renovated. It continues to be the spiritual center of the
Armenian nation
REMEMBERING THE ARMENIAN REPUBLIC OF 1918
This Saturday, May 28, we commemorate the 87th anniversary of the
independent republic of Armenia of 1918.
“O Lord, hearken the voice of the supplication of your servants and keep
unshaken the Armenian Republic which was restored by your mercy. Increase
the wisdom of all those ministers who are appointed for the leadership of
the Republic in order that they may lead your people with equity to justice.
Those who respect wisdom will rule forever. Grant abundantly the spirit of
courageousness to our generals and armies in order that their arrows
straightly aim at their targets. Plant in all of us the love of holiness,
wisdom and good sense, to know the wisdom and instruction and bring our part
to the observance of all laws that are useful for our nation. Pour into our
hearts the mercy of your benevolence, in order that we may manifest through
good works our love towards our homeland. For if the words are not
accompanied with good works of virtue, according to the Proverbs, the hearts
of such people are like ashes, their hope aimless, and their life worse than
clay.”
From “Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Republic of Armenia,” by Archbishop
Torkom Koushagian, prepared in Cairo, Egypt, in 1920.
MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY
Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day, it is
a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John A.
Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first
observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union
and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to
officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. After World War I,
the holiday changed from honoring those who died in the Civil War to
honoring all Americans who died fighting in any war. It is now celebrated in
every state on the last Monday in May.
Unfortunately, the day has now become a day for picnics and shopping
malls. Some of us “old-timers” here at Crossroads remember when no stores
were open on Memorial Day and everyone marked the day with appropriate
remembrance.
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
(from a poem by Moina Michael)
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