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
October 14, 2005
CATHOLICOS ARAM I IN CALIFORNIA;
WILL ARRIVE ON EAST COAST NEXT WEEK
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, is
continuing his tour of California where large and enthusiastic crowds are
greeting him. Yesterday evening he was welcomed by the congregation of
Forty Martyrs Armenian Church in Santa Ana.
Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, joined the entourage in Canada and went on
to California with the Catholicos. On Monday and Tuesday, October 10 and 11,
Archbishop Oshagan was in Chicago where he represented the Catholicosate of
Cilicia at the World Council of Churches (WCC) annual meeting.
Amidst the various welcoming events and 75th anniversary celebrations of
the Seminary, His Holiness will participate in a number of other important
events. Today, Friday, October 14, he will lecture at the World Affairs
Council in Los Angeles, under the general topic of “Christianity in the
Context of the Present Day Middle East.” On Saturday, October 15, he will
participate in a symposium organized by the Western Prelacy, USC Institute
of Armenian Studies and USC Center for Religious and Civic Culture. The
theme of the symposium is “Christian Response to Violence.”
On Sunday, October 16, the Catholicos will officiate at the consecration
of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Pasadena.
Wednesday evening, October 19, His Holiness will arrive in New York to
begin his visit to the Eastern Prelacy.
HRASHAPAR SERVICE AT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL
Next Thursday evening, October 20, His Holiness will be officially
welcomed at a Hrashapar Service followed by Achahampouyr and reception, at
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, at 7:30 pm.
For details of His Holiness’ visit to the Eastern Prelacy click here,
PRELATE AND VICAR WILL BE IN MICHIGAN THIS WEEKEND
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar, will be in Dearborn, Michigan this weekend.
The Prelate will officiate at the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church,
Dearborn, and attend the anniversary celebration that follows.
The Vicar will lecture on Armenian culture on the occasion of the 1600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, Saturday evening, in
the church hall. For information contact the church, 313-336-6200.
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES
IN SYNOD OF BISHOPS IN THE VATICAN
The eleventh Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church convened October 2
and will continue to October 23. Participating in the Synod are 250 Catholic
Bishops and 12 representatives from the Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox,
Anglican and Evangelical Churches. Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical
Officer of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, is participating on behalf of the
Catholicosate.
DATEV YOUTH PROGRAM IN MIDWEST
The acclaimed St. Gregory of Datev Summer Religious Institute is
reaching out and for the first time has organized a “Mini Datev” program,
which will take place at the Techny Towers Conference Center in Techny,
Illinois, November 11 to 13.
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the
program for youth ages 13 to 18 will be conducted by V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar General, and Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of AREC.
For more information and registration contact the AREC office at
212-689-7810 or by email at arec@armenianprelacy.org, or contact Dr. Arsen
Mekaelian at 847-309-0408.
SUNDAY SCHOOL IN MICHIGAN RAISES
$1,155 FOR HURRICANE RELIEF
The St. Sarkis Sunday School (Dearborn, Michigan) has raised $1,155 for
hurricane relief for the American Red Cross. The students had a Red Cross
donation basket during registration and raised $340. Later they held a
spaghetti dinner after church on October 2 and were able to realize $815.
The donated money was sent to the American Red Cross. Congratulations to the
Sunday school students and their teachers.
A PHILADELPHIA STORY
We have this story from Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory
Church in Philadelphia.
Der Hayr received an e-mail from an eight-year-old (who wishes to remain
anonymous) asking if he could collect money for Hurricane Katrina’s victims.
With Der Nerses positive answer, the child went on to collect $217 in a
short period of time for hurricane relief.
Congratulations to this altruistic youngster.
ST. SARKIS LECTURE ON SUNDAY
A reminder that this Sunday, October 16, Dr. Dennis Papazian will
lecture at St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York). Dr. Papazian’s topic is
“Yeghishe and the Real Story Behind the Vartanantz War.” The lecture is
scheduled for 1:30 pm, following Divine Liturgy. St. Sarkis Church is
located at 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, NY.
For information contact Dr. Arthur H. Kubikian, 718-786-3842.
BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
The Infancy Narratives of Jesus-a five-session course on the birth
stories of Jesus as presented in the Gospels according to Matthew (1-2) and
Luke (1-2) will take place at the Prelacy on the first and third Mondays of
the month starting November 7, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm. The sessions will be
conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC). For further information contact the AREC office at
212-689-7810 or arec@armenianprelacy.org.
HOLY EVANGELISTS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN
This Saturday, October 15, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the authors of the four gospels.
Matthew is considered to be the patron of the mission of the Church. The
Gospel attributed to him closes with this command by Jesus to his disciples
and followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, and the
eternal words, And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world.”
Mark is considered to have had significant influence on the advancement
of Christianity. Although the Gospel according to Mark is a narrative of the
life of Jesus, theologians consider it to be a virtual handbook of
discipleship. The dominant message is that being a Christian is not only
believing in Jesus Christ. More importantly, it is living according to the
example set by Jesus.
Luke is the author of the third gospel and the book of Acts. He is
considered to be the patron of physicians and artists. The Gospel according
to Luke is greatly concerned with Jesus as “the healer of a broken world.”
Luke is also noted for his concern for the poor, the marginalized, women,
and social outcasts. His Gospel does not end with the Resurrection, but
rather continues with Pentecost and the eternal presence of Christ in the
world.
John, often called the “Beloved Disciple,” is the author of the fourth
gospel and the book of Revelation. Jesus entrusted his mother to John’s care
on the day of the Crucifixion. Perhaps the most famous verse in his gospel
is, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).
ST. JOSEPH REMEMBERED ON OCTOBER 17
On Monday, October 17, the Armenian Church commemorates the life of St.
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He was a carpenter by profession, and a
descendant of King David. The last reference to him in the Bible is Luke
2:48-51.
BOOKS BY CATHOLICOS ARAM I
As we prepare to welcome His Holiness Aram I next week to the Eastern
Prelacy, we remind our readers that the Prelacy Bookstore has copies of many
of the books written by His Holiness, such as: The Challenge to be a Church
in a Changing World; In Search of Ecumenical Vision; Conciliar Fellowship: A
Common Goal; The Armenian Church Beyond the 1700th Anniversary; The
Christian Witness at the Crossroads in the Middle East; Orthodox
Perspectives on Mission; With the People (Armenian); Nation, Church and
Fatherland (Armenian); Journey to Restoration (Armenian).
Contact the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810 or
books@armenianprelacy.org, for details.
IN CONCLUSION. . .
CROSSROADS is one day late this week, being sent out on Friday rather
than the customary Thursday. During the next two weeks, during the time of
His Holiness’s visit to the Eastern Prelacy, we will transmit additional
issues of Crossroads as needed to provide up-to-date information.
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
further information 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:
info@armenianprelacy.org
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