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
JUNE 29, 2006
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE BEGINS SUNDAY
Seventy students (ages 13 to 18) from thirteen parishes, and ten
clergymen, will gather at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, this Sunday, July 2, for the 20th annual weeklong St. Gregory
of Datev Institute Armenian Christian Studies Program, under the
directorship of His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the
Prelacy.
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the
Prelacy, the Institute offers a unique opportunity for the youth to enrich
their Armenian Christian faith in a wholesome and nurturing environment.
Each day the program begins with Morning Service at 7:15 a.m., followed by
four classes until 12:30 pm. After lunch the students participate in various
recreational activities. In the evening there is a general lecture from 7:30
to 8:20, followed by three concurrent Bible studies from 8:30 to 9:30 for
different age groups. The day comes to a close with the Compline Service
(Husgoom) from 9:45 to 10:30 pm.
Instructors this year are: His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, V.
Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Khoren
Habeshian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr.
Sarkis Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Arsen
Mekaelian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, a prominent biblical scholar from St. Vladimir’s
Orthodox Theological Seminary (NY) will teach four classes to the upper
level students, and he will conduct a three-hour session with the clergy.
20th ANNIVERSARY OF DATEV TO BE MARKED NEXT WEEK
In conjunction with the weeklong Datev Institute program, this year the
20th anniversary of the Institute will be marked with special events.
On Saturday, July 8, a special seminar led by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi and
Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian will take place at the St. Mary of Providence
Center where the Datev Institute takes place. That evening a 20th
anniversary celebratory banquet will take place at the nearby Holiday Inn
(Morgantown, Pennsylvania) for Institute participants, alumni, and friends.
On Sunday, July 9, the 2006 Datev Institute will conclude with Divine
Liturgy celebrated at St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, followed by a
farewell picnic on the church grounds.
For more information on Datev click
PRELATE IN WASHINGTON, DC YESTERDAY
Archbishop Oshagan attended a reception yesterday at the U.S. Capitol
building in Washington DC, in honor of His Excellency Ashot Ghulian, Speaker
of the Nagorno Karabagh National Assembly, and His Excellency Georgi
Petrosian, Nagorno Karabagh Foreign Minister.
The reception was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the
Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee of America,
and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the U.S., in cooperation
with the co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Representatives
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
VICAR WILL ATTEND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, will represent Archbishop
Oshagan and the Prelacy at the 160th anniversary celebration of the Armenian
Evangelical Movement on Saturday evening, May 1, in New Jersey.
CILICIAN SEMINARY CONCLUDES ACADEMIC YEAR
The Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia concluded its
76th academic year with commencement ceremonies on June 23 in Bikfaya,
Lebanon.
Addressing the graduates, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, said: "A person is a value in as much as he serves the
collective values of the church and nation. It is with this spirit and
commitment that we formed you under this roof to send you off to our people.
Whether you serve as spiritual or as secular servants, you will live the
Bible and bring it to life in the lives of the faithful. Go and take with
you what you received in the Seminary and use it in your service to our
people."
It was recently announced that V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian (currently
pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ) has been invited by His
Holiness to assume the leadership of the Seminary beginning with the
2006-2007 academic year.
DISCOVERY OF RELICS OF ST. GREGORY
This Saturday, July 1, the Armenian Church commemorates one of three
feast days dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator: The Discovery of His
Remains. The other two commemorative days are Entrance into the Pit and
Deliverance from the Pit.
St. Gregory is the greatest figure of the Armenian Church. The Christian
Dictionary published by Thomas Nelson publishers describes Gregory the
Illuminator as "Apostle of Armenia," and says: "A Parthian of royal descent,
he converted King Tiridates of Armenia to the Christian faith and thus
established the first national Christian church. He was consecrated
catholicos, and the episcopate remained in his family for a few generations.
His son Aristakes attended the Council of Nicaea. His biography was written
by Agathangelos, the first Armenian historian."
FEAST OF STS. SAHAG AND MESROB
Next Thursday, July 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives of the
Holy Translators, St. Sahag Bartev and St. Mesrob Mashtots. The feast of the
Holy Translators is one of the most beloved feast days for the Armenian
faithful. It is celebrated two times during the liturgical year: on the
Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (can occur in June or
July), and on the second Saturday of October.
Catholicos Sahag Bartev was the son of St. Nerses the Great. He received
his primary and higher education in Caesarea and Byzantium. He was a very
learned and literary person who guided Armenia’s Golden Age following the
invention of the Armenian alphabet. He was a mentor and supporter of St.
Mesrob in his quest for an alphabet.
St. Mesrob was born in the province of Daron. He learned Greek and
Persian at an early age, and came to realize the vital need of an alphabet
for the Armenian language. According to tradition, while meditating in a
cave near the village of Palu, he had a vision where "the hand of God wrote
the alphabet in letters of fire."
The first words to be translated into Armenian were from the Book of
Proverbs: "That you may know wisdom and instruction, and understand words of
insight." (Proverbs 1:2).
REMEMBERING CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
Today, June 29, is the 7th anniversary of the death of His Holiness
Karekin I, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians from 1995 to
1999; Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia from 1977 to 1995, and
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1973 to 1977.
To date seven volumes of his works have been printed in the Karekin I
Series, undertaken by "The Karekin I Theological and Armenological Studies
Series," under the sponsorship of "The Haig and Elza Didizian Fund." The
8th volume will be published this fall, with others to follow, until all of
his major works (Armenian and English, published and unpublished) are
printed. The editors of the series are Vazken Ghougassian and Iris Papazian,
both of whom worked closely with the late Catholicos during his years of
extraordinary service to church and nation.
THE FOURTH OF JULY
On Tuesday, July 4, we commemorate the 230th anniversary of the adoption
of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Thirty-three year old Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the
Declaration as a member of a committee that included John Adams and Benjamin
Franklin. Some changes were made in the draft, but it remains primarily the
work of Jefferson that was adopted on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. It was
the most daring document ever produced at a time when it was unheard of a
fledgling, divided country made up of thirteen separate colonies having the
boldness to produce a damning document against the most powerful country of
the time demanding "certain unalienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
The Fourth of July, as the holiday is popularly called, quickly became a
time for joyous and boisterous celebration, including ringing of bells,
firecrackers, concerts and merriment. John Adams, the second president of
the U.S. would be pleased. He had written that the day should "be celebrated
by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be
celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells,
bonfires, and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other.."
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM TURNS 50
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Federal Interstate Highway System
Act, which was signed on June 29, 1956. It was the beginning of the vast
Interstate highways from coast to coast, which when completed prompted the
late broadcaster and traveler Charles Kuralt to quip: "We can now go coast
to coast without seeing anything."
OUR BARREN GARDEN. . .
We end this week with a statement about our vegetable garden, because so
many of you have inquired about its status and the lack of a report thus
far.
We are sorry to report that for the first time in many decades our large
vegetable garden is barren and will remain dormant this year. As many of you
have followed from last season, last summer’s crop was decimated by a family
of very hungry groundhogs. The crops were gone, one by one overnight.
Decisions had to be made for this year. The answer-offered by many of
you-was to put up a fence around the garden. One person, perhaps recognizing
the futility of it all, simply advised, "Move!" V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian
consoled us with this: "Just consider that you are feeding some of God’s
creatures." (We are still contemplating that statement!)
Moving, at this time at least, was not an option. A fence was a
possibility until we were advised that to keep groundhogs out a fence must
start at least four feet below ground. Then suddenly the weather became
unusually and prematurely hot, then very cold, and then came the
never-ending rain. It was too late to do anything. So, we are giving the
land a rest this year-which is a good thing, we are told. But we confess
that we sorely miss the morning outings in our garden, weeding and
cultivating, cajoling and harvesting in the silence and coolness and
freshness of early morning.
Perhaps, next year. We shall see.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 2-9-St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute. For details click here
July 22-Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
and Ani Chapter of Armenian Relief Society co-host gala dance at Greek
Orthodox Annunciation Church. For information, 401-286-8107.
August 8-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Annual Golf Tournament, 11:30 am registration. Blackstone
Valley Country Club, Sutton, MA. For details contact David, 508-234-3261.
August 13-Annual picnic, Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York.
August 13-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual picnic at Camp
Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.
August 20-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Annual Church Picnic, 12 noon on the church grounds. For
details: 508-234-3677.
September 28-4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.
October 22-Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.
November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual "Armenian Fest" at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
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