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
CROSSROADS – September 1, 2005
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN APPEALS FOR HELP
FOR GULF COAST VICTIMS OF HURRICANE
Archbishop Oshagan issued an appeal today on behalf of the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. In his message to the press and to all parishes under the
jurisdiction of the Eastern Prelacy, the Prelate wrote, in part:
“The impact of hurricane Katrina to large areas of the Gulf Coast
affecting the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, is enormous.
The city of New Orleans is particularly hard hit. Immediate aid to thousands
and thousands of people who have lost their homes and all of their
possessions is imperative. Emergency workers who are in the devastated areas
use the words “massive,” “horrendous,” and “unprecedented.” The needs of the
elderly and the very young are especially urgent.
“The American public has an impressive history of responding to the
charitable needs of their fellow human beings, wherever the need might be. I
am urging all Armenian Americans to join in this relief operation, which is
expected to be one of the largest in U.S. history. The best, quickest, and
most efficient way to help is through monetary donations. This will permit
the experienced relief organizations to utilize the money for what is needed
the most.
“I am instructing all of our parishes to offer special prayers for the
victims and survivors and to have an offering specifically for Gulf Coast
relief on the next two Sundays, September 4 and September 11. The sermons on
these days should reflect on the recent tragedy. On Sunday, September 11,
prayers should remember the victims of the terrorist attacks four years ago
in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania..
“May our Lord bring solace and comfort to thousands of our fellow
Americans who are suffering in the aftermath of this great disaster.”
Crossroad readers who wish to help may send their donation to their
local parish or directly to the Eastern Prelacy, 138 E. 39th Street, New
York, NY 10016. Checks should be payable to “Armenian Apostolic Church of
America.” Indicate for “Gulf Relief” in the memo area.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND AYF OLYMPICS
THIS WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Continuing a long tradition, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to
Washington, D.C., this weekend, where the Armenian Youth Federation is
hosting its 72nd annual Olympic Games.
His Eminence will greet the young athletes and thousands of participants
and officially open the competitive games on Sunday, September 4.
INTER-DIOCESE YOUTH MEETING IN BIKFAYA
The inter-diocese youth meeting of the Catholicate of Cilicia took place
last week in St. Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon, the
Catholicate’s summer residence and home of the Seminary. The meeting brought
together about thirty young men and women from the worldwide dioceses under
the jurisdiction of Cilicia.
His Holiness Aram I welcomed the participants and talked about the
challenges today’s youth face. His Holiness said he considers church-youth
mutual relationships to be one of these challenges. He talked about the
difficulties this relationship faces and meaning it should be given in today’s
world. The Catholicos said:
“The church should attract its youth and delegate important tasks and
responsibilities to them. The youth succeeds when it discusses tomorrow’s
agenda today.. The youth should not assume the role of observers. They
should play the role of participants. They should not be passive players;
they should be leaders.. The youth should avoid the tendency to preserve
what is old, but also from the recklessness of destroying what’s at hand.
What we have today in our lives might be old and worn out, but it has been
built up by the hard work, sweat and blood of many long years. What we have
today includes our nation’s collective experience and memory and thus cannot
be destroyed by one strike. On the other hand, we should not keep them as
they are. Rather, we should renew them; make them fit today’s challenges.
Destroying is easy; but building is very difficult.”
THE VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I TO THE EASTERN PRELACY
October 19-November 1, 2005
The visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
to the Eastern Prelacy, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the
establishment of the Cilician Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, will extend
from October 19 to November 1. His Holiness will visit New York, New Jersey,
Washington, DC, Boston and Chicago. The steering committee has released the
following schedule of public events:
Wednesday, October 19-Arrival, New York.
Thursday, October 20-Hrashapar Service and Achahampooyr at St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7:30 pm.
Friday, October 21-Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Seminary at
Antelias, Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New
Jersey, 7:30 pm. Reception will follow the commemorative program.
Saturday, October 22-“Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement in the 21st
Century,” a symposium sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy in conjunction with
the United States Conference of the World Council of Churches. World Council
of Churches Center, New York City. 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Sunday, October 23-Pontifical Divine Liturgy, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park
Avenue (between 50th and 51st Streets), New York City, 1:30 pm.
Banquet in honor of His Holiness and the 75th anniversary of the Seminary,
The Pierre, Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, New York City, 5:00 pm.
Tuesday, October 25-Hrashapar Service, 75th anniversary celebration and
Achahampooyr, Soorp Khatch Armenian Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda,
Maryland, 7:30 pm.
Thursday, October 27-Hrashapar Service, 75th anniversary celebration and
Achahampooyr, St. Stephen Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown,
Massachusetts, 7:30 pm.
Friday & Saturday, October 28 & 29-International Conference dedicated to the
1600th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Alphabet. Sponsored by
the Eastern Prelacy and Harvard University. His Holiness will open and
address the Conference Friday evening.
Saturday, October 29-75th anniversary commemoration and Achahampooyr, All
Saints Armenian Church, 1701 North Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois, 7:00 pm.
Sunday, October 30-Pontifical Divine Liturgy, All Saints Armenian Church,
Glenview, Illinois. Banquet, 4 pm at Fountain Blue, Des Plaines, Illinois.
COUNCIL OF NICAEA REMEMBERED THIS SATURDAY
This Saturday, September 3, the Armenian Church remembers the Council of
Nicaea (325 A.D.) and the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. The
Armenian Church had a direct and distinct part in the Council. Armenia’s
participation is chronicled by Moses of Khoren, the Father of Armenian
historiography. He writes, “In that time a letter of invitation arrived from
Constantinople to our King Tiridates, asking him to proceed to the Council
together with Gregory.” Tiridates and Gregory did not attend (for various
reasons), but sent Aristakes (Gregory’s son) as their representative. Moses
of Khoren writes that Aristakes began his journey together with the
Patriarchs John of Ctesiphon, James of Nisibis and Euphtaly of Edessa and
the four of them met Archbishop Leontius at Caesarea and together they
proceeded to Nicaea. The Nicene Creed originated at this Council.
FAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, September 4, begins the Fast leading to the Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachveratz), which is next Sunday, September
11. Because this is a Great or Tabernacle Feast, it is preceded by a week of
fasting.
BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Next Thursday, September 8, the Church commemorates the birth of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The Armenian Church has celebrated this feast since the
13th century. Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, were of an advanced age and
childless. In response to their prayers, their only child, Mary, was born.
She is prominent in the New Testament stories of the birth of Jesus Christ
and thereafter is in the background until the Crucifixion when she is at the
foot of the cross (John 19:25) and in the Upper Room at Jerusalem (Acts
1:14).
WORLD WAR II BEGAN 66 YEARS AGO
There has been a lot of talk about the end of World War II. Let us take
a moment and remember that World War II began 66 years today when Nazi
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The United States did not
officially enter the war until December 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed
Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, effectively destroying the U.S. naval fleet.
MONDAY IS LABOR DAY
Yes, believe it or not, we have come to the “unofficial” end of summer.
Monday, September 5, is Labor Day, celebrated in the United States and
Canada. Always the first Monday in September, Labor Day was created by the
labor movement more than 120 years ago. Theoretically it is dedicated to the
social and economic achievements of workers and their contributions to the
strength, prosperity, and well being of their country. Through the years it
has become the “end marker” of summer (with Memorial Day as the beginning
marker) and punctuated with family gatherings, picnics, and a final long
weekend before the start of school and normal routine. And, of course,
shopping at the malls!
So many of you have asked about the state of our garden (not good!). We
will give an update next week with the varied and numerous events. As we
told one of our readers, “We keep wondering when the locusts are coming.”
FINALLY..
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a stunned nation on December
8, 1941, with hard facts, but with hope:
“It will not only be a long war, it will be a hard war. That is the
basis on which we now lay all our plans. This is the yardstick by which we
measure what we shall need and demand: money, materials, doubled and
quadrupled production-ever increasing. The production must be not only for
our own Army and Navy and air forces. It must reinforce the other armies and
navies and air forces fighting the Nazis and the warlords of Japan
throughout the Americas and the world.. We are going to win the war and we
are going to win the peace that follows.”
Calendar of Events
September 18-Banquet to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the consecration
of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, and
honor the Church Godfathers. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will deliver
the keynote address. For more information, 508-852-2414.
September 25-35th anniversary of St. Gregory Armenian Church of North
Andover, Massachusetts, presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan.
For more information, 978-685-5038.
September 26-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, will host its second annual golf tournament at the Raceway
Golf Club in Thompson, Connecticut, to benefit the church’s Capital Fund.
For information: 508-872-9629.
October 19-November 1-Visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, to the Eastern Prelacy, commemorating the 75th anniversary
of the establishment of the Cilician Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon.
October 28-29-Mashtots Conference celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the
founding of the Armenian alphabet, at Harvard University. Jointly sponsored
by the Eastern Prelacy and Harvard University Mashtots Chair, Department of
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.
November 6-St. Stephen Armenian Apostolic Church of Hartford-New Britain,
Connecticut, will celebrate its 80th anniversary. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan will be the keynote speaker. The program will include a slide show
presentation two non-Armenian Peace Corps volunteers who recently returned
from serving in Armenia.
November 11-13-Mini-Datev program for the Midwest parishes.
March 17-19, 2006-Sunday School Teachers’ Conference at the Wonderland
Conference and Retreat Center in Sharon, MA.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
info@armenianprelacy.org
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress