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
October 6 2005
CATHOLICOS ARAM CONCLUDES CANADIAN VISIT;
CURRENTLY IN CALIFORNIA; WILL ARRIVE IN NY OCT. 19
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, concluded
his successful Pontifical Visit to Canada, and has now arrived in Los
Angeles to begin his visit to the Western Prelacy. Following his 15-day
visit to California the Catholicos will arrive in New York on October 19 to
begin his visit to the Eastern Prelacy.
For details about His Holiness’s visit to the Eastern Prelacy
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND WCC ANNUAL MEETING
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will attend the World Council of Churches
(WCC) Annual Meeting in Chicago, October 10-12. His Eminence is currently in
California where he joined the Catholicos’s entourage.
The Annual Meeting and the Pre-Assembly Youth Gathering are in
preparation of the WCC’s 9th General Assembly, which will convene next year
in Brazil.
ARMENIA FUND, USA, PREPARES FOR ANNUAL TELETHON
Armenia Fund, USA, has announced its plans for its 2005 telethon. The
annual event will be aired on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, throughout the
world. During the 12-hour broadcast Armenians worldwide will have an
opportunity to raise funds needed to embark on a three-year “Rebirth of
Artsakh” Regional Development Program, which includes programs of
agricultural and economic support to the region. For information about the
broadcast go to or contact Armenia Fund at
866-446-6237.
BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
A new session of Bible Study will begin at the Prelacy the first and
third Mondays of the month starting November 7, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm. The
five-session course will focus on the birth stories of Jesus as presented in
the Gospels according to Matthew (1-2) and Luke (1-2). The study will be led
by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC). For further information contact the AREC office at 212-689-7810.
A MINI-DATEV PROGRAM WILL TAKE PLACE IN ILLINOIS
A Mini-Datev program for junior and senior high school students will
take place in Techny, Illinois, November 11 to 13. The weekend program will
be a short version of the popular annual summer Datev program in
Pennsylvania, acclaimed by scores of participants as one of the most
successful youth events. The “Mini-Datev” program will include interactive
presentations, discussions, Bible studies, worship services, fellowship and
activities.
V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, and Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) will
conduct the program. Space at the retreat center is limited. Enrollment is
on a first-come first-serve basis. Participation fee is $60, which includes
lodging, meals, seminar materials, and activities.
For information contact the AREC office, 212-689-7810 or Dr. Arsen
Mekaelian, 847-309-0408.
AREC SEMINAR IN GRANITE CITY
A one-day seminar on “The Church” by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC) will take place on Saturday, October 15, at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church, 1014 W. Pontoon Road, Granite City, Illinois.
The morning session, following Sunrise Service and breakfast, will be
led by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, who will speak about “The Church According to
the New Testament.” The afternoon session, following a lunch break, will be
led by Dr. Robert Phenix and Dr. Cornelia Horn.
To register or for additional information contact the church at
618-451-7884.
HOLY TRANSLATORS REMEMBERED
This Saturday, October 8, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives and
accomplishments of the Holy Translators, including Mesrob, Yeghishe, Moses
the Poet, David the Philosopher, Gregory of Narek, and Nerses the Graceful.
The Feast of the Holy Translators is one of our most popular feasts.
There are, in fact, two commemorations. One is on the Thursday following the
fourth Sunday after Pentecost which occurs either in June or July, and on
the second Saturday of October.
The October commemoration focuses on the invention of the Armenian
alphabet (405) and on the accomplishments of the Holy Translators. Mesrob
Mashtots, the founder of the alphabet, and Catholicos Sahak, together with
some of their students, translated the Holy Bible (Astvadzashounch, Breath
of God). Schools were opened and the works of world-renowned scholars were
translated. Their efforts gave the Armenian Church a distinct national
character.
In more recent times, the entire month of October has been designated as
a “Month of Culture.” Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia mark
this with a variety of cultural events not only in remembrance of the past,
but also in celebration of modern-days scholars and translators.
1600th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALPHABET
This year the commemoration of the Holy Translators takes on a special
meaning because we are celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the creation of
the Armenian alphabet. As part of this worldwide celebration, the Eastern
Prelacy and Harvard University are sponsoring an international conference
bringing together noted scholars and specialists. The conference will take
place at Harvard University, October 28 and 29. During the Friday evening
opening, His Holiness Aram I, who is currently on a visit to North America,
will be present and offer his message. The keynote address of the conference
will be given by Professor Michael Stone, Professor of Armenian Studies,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
For more information click here
“.the alphabet created by Mesrob became a spiritual and intellectual force
in the formation of our people’s national identity. It became the bright sun
illuminating the road of our people’s history. It became the ever-flowing
spring irrigating the life of our people with spiritual values. Furthermore,
it became a powerful stronghold fortifying our struggle to survive. And, in
addition to all this, the golden Armenian language embodied by the alphabet
became the supreme gift sent by God and the road to eternity securing and
grounding the unity of our people. The Armenian alphabet, flowing from the
lips of Armenian children, rising to heaven through prayers of Armenian
priests, flowing from the limpid springs of the Armenian mind and soul,
became and remains for us the living and life-preserving presence of God in
the life of our people.
>From the encyclical issued by Catholicos Aram I in commemoration of
the 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian alphabet
Calendar of Events
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. For full
details click here
October 21-St. Stephen’s Elementary Day School PTO (Watertown), “Food & Wine
Festival,” 7 p.m. at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown,
Massachusetts.
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 4, 5, 6-Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz Church,
461 Bergen Blvd., Ridgefield, NJ. For information, 201-943-2950.
November 4 & 5-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, annual bazaar
at the Armenian Cultural & Educational Center.
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, Techny Towers
Conference Center, Techny, Illinois, for junior and senior high school
students. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). For
information and registration contact AREC, 138 E. 39th Street, New York, NY
10016, 212-689-7810.
December 4-St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church of Granite
City, Illinois, will celebrate its 51st anniversary, with the presence of H.
E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.
December 31-New Years Eve dinner-dance, Sts. Vartanantz (NJ) and ARF Dro
Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton. Information: 201-943-2950 or 201-945-0011.
February 26-Musical Armenia 2006 concert, 2 p.m., at Carnegie Hall’s Weil
Recital Hall, New York City. Featuring Duo Maesteso (California) and Zulal
(New York). Watch for details.
March 5-Sts. Vartanantz (NJ) 2006 membership meeting.
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:
[email protected]
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