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
MARCH 23, 2006
KALOUST SOGOIAN LAID TO REST IN MICHIGAN
Kaloust (Karl) Sogoian, a long-time supporter of the Eastern Prelacy as
well as the worldwide Armenian Church and nation, was laid to rest last
Friday, March 17.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan presided over the Homecoming (Wake) service
on March 16 at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, Michigan. Funeral
services the next day were presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and
Archbishop Oshagan. During the services messages of condolence from His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, were read.
Mr. Sogoian and his wife, Emma, were ardent supporters of many Armenian
charities and projects. Archbishop Oshagan noted that even in his final days
on this earth Mr. Sogoian thought about the church he sponsored-St. Dertad
Church in the Vayk, Armenia. Literally days before his death he made a new
donation to the church for a current building project.
Archbishop Oshagan described Mr. Sogoian as an exceptionally benevolent,
humble and kind person with unique ideas and clear ideals and goals.
PRELATE IN NEW JERSEY THIS WEEKEND
On Sunday Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. In the afternoon he will
attend the Festival of Schools sponsored by the Armenian National Education
Committee, which will take place at Dwight Englewood School Auditorium in
Englewood, New Jersey. The program will begin at 3 pm bringing together more
than 100 students from various schools of the Mid-Atlantic area.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND SIGNING CEREMONY FOR AID TO ARMENIA
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Washington, DC, on Monday, March 27,
to participate in the Compact Signing Ceremony with the Republic of Armenia
and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The signing by Armenia’s Foreign
Minister, Vartan Oskanian and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice
will take place in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of
State.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation was established on January 23,
2004, after President Bush’s call for a “new compact for global
development.” With funds provided by Congress, the Corporation provides aid
to “those countries that rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage
economic freedom.” Armenia will receive 235 million dollars in aid.
NAGORNO KARABAGH OFFICIALS VISIT PRELACY
Vardan Barseghian, (left), permanent representative of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabagh to the United States, and Massis Mayelian, Deputy Foreign
Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh paid a visit to Archbishop
Oshagan at the Prelacy yesterday, Wednesday, March 22. The guests enjoyed an
exchange of ideas with the Prelate about Diasporan issues as well as the
future needs of the Republic.
PRELATE AND CLERGY TO VISIT OLD AGE HOME IN FLUSHING
AND SENIORS OF ST. SARKIS
Next Wednesday, March 29, Archbishop Oshagan and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
and the clergy serving Prelacy parishes in the New York-New Jersey area will
visit the New York Old Age Home in Flushing where they will conduct a Lenten
Arevakal (Sunrise) Service, followed by a visit with the residents of the
Home.
In the afternoon they will lunch with the seniors of St. Sarkis Church
in Douglaston, New York.
“GENOCIDE THEN AND NOW” AT UNITED NATIONS
Archbishop Oshagan and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian will attend a
forum next Thursday, March 30, at the United Nations, entitled “Genocide
Then and Now: Lessons Learned for the 21st Century.”
The forum is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United
Nations and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations and is
co-sponsored with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
Speakers include: Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary General, Special
Advisor on Africa at the UN; Vahakn Dadrian, Director of Genocide Research,
Zoryan Institute; and Juan Mendez, Special Advisor to the UN
Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. Ms. Andrea Kanapell,
Assistant Foreign Editor of the New York Times, will moderate the
discussion. The forum will discuss the first and last genocides of the 20th
century with respect to lessons learned for the 21st century and for United
Nations reforms.
REPRESENTATIVE OF WCC VISITS CATHOLICOSATE
The supervisor of the World Council of Church’s (WCC) Middle East desk,
Dr. Nseir, visited His Holiness Aram I last Sunday, March 18. They discussed
the possibility of strengthening the cooperation between the WCC and the
churches of the region, pursuing the accomplishment of several joint
projects related to the WCC and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC),
the upcoming meeting in Geneva for evaluating the 9th Assembly of the WCC
and other issues.
DELEGATION FROM CHURCHES OF WALES VISIT CATHOLICOSATE
A delegation representing the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches
in Wales visited the Catholicosate on March 18. The delegation met with His
Holiness Aram I and gave him a letter from the Most Rev. Dr. Barry Morgan,
Archbishop of Wales. The delegation included senior spiritual leaders and
members of the European Parliament.
The purpose of the delegation’s visit to the region is to get closely
acquainted with the churches of the Middle East. His Holiness briefly
reported on the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East, encouraging
discussions about the region’s political, religious, social and economic
circumstances.
NEW TITLES AT PRELACY BOOKSTORE
The Prelacy Bookstore receives new books regularly. This week we call to
your attention “Armenian Identity in a Changing World,” by Levon Abrahamian.
The 406-page softcover volume discusses the old and the new constituents of
Armenian identity, such as language, religion, or shared history in broader
Transcaucasian and former Sovet Union context. The 16 chapters in the book
are based on lectures the author gave at Columbia University in 2001. The
Preface is written by Professor Marc Nichanian. To order contact the
bookstore, 212-689-7810.
ANEC SCHOOL VISITS PLANNED
Ms. Nayiri Balanian, chair of the Armenian National Education Committee
(ANEC), will visit the Armenian Sisters Academy and St. Stephen Elementary
School in Massachusetts, on Friday, March 31.
LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES
The Prelacy’s Lenten series, sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), and the Prelacy Ladies Guild, continued last night
with Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston,
NY, presenting a thoughtful mediation on verses 15 to 18 of St. Nerses
Shnorhali’s prayer, “In Faith I Confess.” The Lenten programs take place
Wednesdays during Lent at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street,
New York City. Husgoom Service starts at 7:30 pm, followed by a short
meditation at 8:00 pm.
Next week’s meditation on Wednesday, March 29, will be based on verses
19 to 21 presented by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral in New York City.
The author of this popular prayer, Catholicos St. Nerses Shnorhali (the
Gracious), was born in 1102. He was Catholicos from 1166 until his death in
1173. “In Faith I Confess” has been translated into 36 languages and is the
most popular of the prolific writings of this noted theologian, poet and
musician. Comprised of 24 short verses, this small prayer book is reverently
carried by many of the faithful to strengthen faith and hope. The small
prayer books are available at the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 13-18;
20TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE MARKED THIS YEAR
Plans are underway for the 20th annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute
Summer Christian Studies Program. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), the weeklong program will take place at the St.
Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA
This Saturday, March 25, the Armenian Church commemorates the Forty
Martyrs of Sebastia.
Although the background and identity of the forty young soldiers are not
known for sure, it is believed that they came from Lesser Armenia. They
served in the Roman army in the region of Cappadocia.
During a general purge of Christians from the ranks, it became rumored
that in Sepastia there was an elite military unity whose members were
Christians. Forty youths of the unit confirmed being Christians and remained
steadfast to their faith.
The young soldiers were tried and condemned to death by stoning.
Miraculously, when the sentence was being carried out, the stones would not
reach the intended targets, but rather “boomeranged” striking those throwing
the stones. The young soldiers were then thrown into a frozen lake and
forced to stay there, with the admonition that should they renounce their
faith they would be allowed to come out of the cold water and into a warm
bath. Of the forty, one chose to accept this offer, but he died
nevertheless. As one by one the youths died, halos came down upon them.
Seeing this, one of the guards threw himself into the lake and joined the 39
bringing the number to 40 again.
Subsequently some of our great church fathers, such as Basil, Gregory of
Nyssa, Ephraem the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics about
the forty martyrs.
Their memory is commemorated each year during Lent on the Saturday
following the median day of Lent (Meechink), The Armenians have also built
and named churches in their memory in various parts of the world.
SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE
This Sunday, March 26, the fifth Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday of the
Judge (Datavori Kiraki).
The Gospel read on this day describes the parable told by Jesus about a
widow and a judge (Luke 18:2-5). In a certain city there was a judge, who
neither feared God, nor had respect for people. In that city there was a
widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my
opponent.” For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, “Though I
have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps
bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by
continually coming before me.”
Jesus told the parable of the stubborn widow to encourage his followers
to persevere in prayer and to never cease to struggle against injustice.
Through this story Jesus assures us that God will do justice in the end.
AND NOW.A MODERN DAY PARABLE
We here are Crossroads admit that we are big fans of a special feature
printed every Monday in the New York Times, called “Metropolitan Diary.” The
column prints little vignettes sent in by readers depicting life in The
City. Last Monday’s edition had the following story (sent in by Aaron
Garretson) we just cannot resist sharing with you:
The other day on the A train, a large man dressed in a camouflage
sweatsuit was being grilled by a woman about not going to church enough.
He defended himself, saying he showed his devotion to God through his
actions, but the woman wasn’t satisfied.
She said he had to go to church to win his place in heaven.
Just then, a young woman about 30 feet away doubled over and collapsed.
The man in camouflage was the first on his feet to help her. He propped
her head with his backpack and sat on the floor to hold her hand while he
directed others to alert the conductor.
When the train stopped at 14th Street, the conductor announced that
there would be a delay for a sick passenger, and the man’s church friend
rushed across the platform to catch a local train.
Meanwhile, he continued to sit with the young woman, holding her hand.
After the police helped her off (she was a cancer patient), the man put
on his earphones and returned to his pew in the greater church of New York.
IT IS SPRING!
Spring arrived this past Monday afternoon. It’s still cold and windy,
but there definitely is the “feel” of spring with daylight already
noticeably longer.
Yes, as so many of you have reminded us, “it is planting season, what is
happening in your garden.”
Right now, not much. We are late.the cool weather crops like sugar snap
peas should have been planted by last Friday, St. Patrick’s Day. We will
give you an update next week.
Calendar of Events
March 26-School Festival presented by the Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC), at Dwight Englewood School, Englewood, New Jersey. Watch
for details.
April 2-Annual Ladies Guild Lenten Luncheon, Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Immediately following church services.
April 2-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester,
Massachusetts, traditional Lenten Dinner in Danielian Hall immediately
following church services. For additional information, 508-852-2414.
April 8-Ladies Guild Annual Bake Sale, 10 a.m., Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
April 17-“The Armenian Genocide,” a new documentary will be shown on most
PBS stations. Please check your local listings.
April 23-Commemoration of the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at
Times Square-the crossroads of the world. Organized by the Mid-Atlantic
Knights and Daughters of Vartan, co-sponsored by ArmenPac and with
participation of area Armenian organizations. Featuring Prof. Israel W.
Charny, Andrew Goldberg, Edward Korkoian, Asien Surmeian, Annie Totah, Aram
Hamparian, Curtis Sliwa, and more. More details to follow.
April 29-Presentation by comedian Vahe Berberian at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York. For details 718-224-2275.
May 5-Reunion of all students beginning from the 1930s who attended St.
Illuminator Armenian School in New York. Dinner Dance at Terrace on the
Park, Corona, NY. For reservations or information contact the St.
Illuminator’s Day School, 718-478-4073.
May 7-Mothers’ Day celebration at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
May 8-Mothers’ Day Luncheon by Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Regis, New York
City.
May 12-Exhibition of the works of artist Emma Gregoryan at the Prelacy, 138
E. 39th Street, New York City.
May 13-Dinner-Dance organized by the St. Sarkis Church Ping-Pong Club. For
details 718-224-2275.
May 17-19-National Representative Assembly (NRA), hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
May 16 and 17-Conference of Yeretzgeens in conjunction with the National
Representative Assembly, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey.
May 20-Saturday School year end Hantes, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
May 21-Sunday School year end Hantes, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.
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