PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 7, 2005
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIMATE
ANNOUNCING THE 1600TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET
On the Occasion of the Feast of the Holy Translators
October 8, 2005
“Now my dear Armenian people: Continue to hold our authentic Mashdotsian
alphabet close to your heart!” wrote His Holiness Karekin II, the
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, earlier this year, as
he announced the 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian
alphabet. In roughly A.D. 405, St. Mesrob Mashdots, with the support of
Catholicos St. Sahak Bartev, created an alphabetic script to give form
and literary weight to the spoken Armenian language. The alphabet
opened a new chapter for our people, allowing them for the first time to
understand and implement the word of God.
Our own Diocese will launch the celebration of this milestone on the
Feast of the Holy Translators, and related activities will occur through
the following year. Simultaneously, our Diocese is in the midst of its
“Year of the Youth: Carrying the Flame.” Its objective is to reach out
to our younger generation, inspiring and preparing them to be leaders of
our church. We want them to accept and carry the bright flame of our
heritage. And for us as Armenian Christians, that flame has two parts.
At its hot blue core is the light of Christ, which guided the wise men
to Bethlehem, shined on our homeland 1,703 years ago, and illuminates us
to this day.
Topping off that core, surrounding it, and feeding off it, is the yellow
fire of Armenian culture. That is what constitutes the “uniqueness” of
our church. And no development has contributed more to that uniqueness
than the Armenian alphabet. It strengthens our identity as a people and
church, and gives us the opportunity to maintain and develop the
Armenian Church. The conjunction of our “Carrying the Flame” theme with
the 1600th anniversary year is therefore fitting.
Many have noted that in important ways, the invention of the alphabet
was more momentous than what had come before. Previously, there had
simply been a church in Armenia, as there had been elsewhere. But with
Mashdots’ innovation, henceforth it would be an Armenian Church. Or
rather, the Armenian Church: a home for all the Armenian people.
Essentially, the creation of the alphabet “Armenized” Christianity, and
jump-started a new era, a golden age, for our nation. Amid the
flowering of literature and translations came the birth of the Armenian
Bible, through which the gospels, psalms, and by extension the liturgy,
all were reincarnated as Armenian possessions. And in this way, our
flame grew larger, stronger, and brighter.
Clearly, as we reflect on the 1600 years of progress from the alphabet’s
invention to the present day, we can see that the Armenian language is
not separate from our faith. There is a unity among them, and teaching
the faith and language ought not to be seen as two different things.
Here at the Eastern Diocese, we view the 1600th anniversary year as an
opportunity to celebrate the conjunction of faith and culture that makes
our church unique. We are committed to employing new technologies,
creating new programs, and finding new ways to convey our language,
faith, and identity. And in this “Year of the Youth,” we are committed
to helping young people to understand and carry forward that
identity-that wonderful flame-in a way relevant to our own time.
Regional meetings, local parish programs, publications, and Internet
tools are among the concrete steps we are committed to taking in the
year to come. You will be hearing more about these initiatives in the
weeks to come.
I invite everyone-from our leadership to each and every parishioner-to
be a part of this commitment. Naturally, it is not a commitment for one
year only: in many ways, it is only the beginning of a period of even
greater outreach. Like the Holy Translators of 1600 years ago, our goal
will be to help our people understand and implement the word of God.
Simply put, this 1600th anniversary year is an opportunity to add fuel
to, and fan the fire of, a flame that has nourished and guided our
people for 17 centuries. May our risen Lord continue to shine His light
on our church and people, and grant us the strength to achieve all our
aspirations.
With prayers,
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Primate