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
JULY 27, 2006
CATHOLICOS ARAM I CONFERS WITH WCC OFFICIALS
ON SITUATION IN LEBANON
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and
former moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC), has been conferring
with Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the WCC, and the office of the
U.S. Conference of the WCC, concerning the situation in Lebanon.
His Holiness discussed proposals for political and humanitarian
initiatives. In the political realm, the Catholicos emphasized the following
three inter-related points: (1) An urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire
and cessation of all hostilities; (2) Development of a solid framework for a
political solution to the crisis; and (3) Build on this framework for a
permanent settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, with the goals of
justice, peace and prosperity for the region.
In the area of humanitarian initiatives, His Holiness appealed to all
ecumenical churches and organizations to mobilize and reach out and help the
needy in Lebanon through the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
PRELATE CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR PEACE;
CATHOLICOS EXPRESSES THANKS
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan continues to ask for prayers
for peace in the Middle East and an end to the hostilities that have
disrupted life in Lebanon causing loss of life and destruction.
The Prelate and Vicar are maintaining regular contact with His Holiness
Aram I, to keep informed about the general conditions in Lebanon and the
specific situation and needs of the Armenian community.
In an e-mail message V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chifjian, Communications
Officers of the Catholicosate, stated today: "His Holiness Aram I instructed
me to convey his deep appreciation and warm thanks to all those, who by
telephone, by fax or e-mail, have expressed their concern and solidarity,
and have included in their prayers Lebanon in general, and the Armenian
Church and people in particular. We pray and hope that with the help of the
international community and people of good will, peace with justice and
reconciliation among nations will prevail in the Middle East."
V. REV. FR. SHAHE PANOSSIAN IS ASSIGNED
DEAN OF THE CILICIAN SEMINARY
V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, who has been serving as the pastor of Sts.
Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ, for the past two years, will become Dean
of the Cilician See’s Theological Seminary. Several months ago His Holiness
Aram I asked Fr. Shahe to return to Lebanon to assume this important post
beginning with the 2006-2007 academic year.
Hayr Shahe will perform his final Badarak as pastor of Sts. Vartanantz
this Sunday, July 30. Next Sunday, August 6, the Board of Trustees is
hosting a reception/luncheon with the dual purpose of saying farewell to
Hayr Shahe and welcoming the parish’s new priest, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian
and his family. The luncheon will take place immediately after the Divine
Liturgy on August 6 which will be celebrated by Der Hovnan.
For information contact the parish office, 201-943-2950.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL TRAVEL TO ARMENIA
Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, Executive Director of the Eastern Prelacy, will
travel to Armenia tomorrow where he will remain for ten days conferring with
the Prelacy’s charitable agency in Armenia, St. Nerses the Great Charitable
Organization. The Prelacy has many charitable projects including the
sponsorship of more than 700 children, aid to orphanages, and the quarterly
distribution of food parcels to the elderly.
ANEC PRESENTS ANNUAL HISTORICAL COIN AWARDS
With the ending of the school year, some lucky (and exceptional)
students at Armenian schools heard an extra jingle in their pockets. The
jingle was not the traditional noise of change, but ancient coins depicting
Armenian royalty, specifically during the reign of King Levon II of Cilicia.
The coins, donated by Mr. Gary Setian of Massachusetts, are awarded each
year by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) during the year-end
ceremonies at Armenian schools. Students are selected on the basis of their
excellence in Armenian studies and their participation in the Armenian
community.
GRADUATION DAY AT SIAMANTO ACADEMY
Five students graduated from the Siamanto Academy in ceremonies that
took place on June 24 in Woodside, New York. This year marks the 25th
anniversary of the establishment of the Siamanto Academy, under the
sponsorship of the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC).
The Academy is designed for high school students who are graduates of
Armenian schools. It offers accredited, college-level courses in Armenian
studies, with accomplished faculty members including Christian educators,
literature professors, historians, and guests speakers in various
disciplines.
ENCOUNTERING ECUMENISM
The Department for Ecumenical Relations of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
has issued a booklet entitled Encountering Ecumenism: Two Young Armenian
Women’s Experience as Delegates to the 9th Assembly of the World Council of
Churches.
The booklet has two articles, "The Holy See of Cilicia Leaves its Mark
on the WCC 9th Assembly," by Vanna T. Kitsinian, Esq., and "Encountering
Ecumenism at the 9th Assembly of the WCC," by Nayiri D. Baljian. Ms.
Kitsinian is an attorney living in Los Angeles and Ms. Baljian is a graduate
student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts.
Catholicos Aram said: "I was very pleased to see the young delegates of
our church actively and seriously involved in all spheres of the life and
work of the Assembly. The intervention particularly of our two young women
delegates from Los Angeles and Boston in the plenary sessions made me proud.
They reminded me of my first intervention as a young delegate at the 5th
Assembly in Nairobi in 1975. The contribution, the zeal and the seriousness
of our youth give me hope for the future of the ecumenical movement and the
active ecumenical role of our church."
A limited number of booklets are available. If you would like to have a
copy please contact Crossroads at [email protected]
FEAST OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH
Today, July 27, the Armenian Church marks the Feast of the Prophet
Isaiah, who lived 700 years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah is called the
Messianic Prophet because so many of his prophecies referred to a coming
Messiah and a new world. Matthew makes many references to Isaiah’s
prophecies concerning Jesus’s birth in his gospel and John says, "These
things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him" (John 12:41).
STS. THADDEUS AND SANDOUKHT REMEMBERED
This Saturday, July 29, the Armenian Church celebrates the lives of St.
Thaddeus and St. Sandoukht. According to the historian Movses Khorenatsi,
the apostle Thaddeus came to Edessa where he healed the sick and baptized
King Abgar. Khorenatsi writes that from Eddessa Thaddeus went to Armenia
where he preached and converted the Armenian king, Sanatrouk, and the king’s
daughter, Sandoukht. When faced with the opposition of his governors, the
king recanted his conversion. Sandoukht however refused to renounce the
Christian faith. She was imprisoned and executed by order of her father, and
thus became Armenia’s first martyr. Thaddeus was martyred at Artaz (in
present day northern Iran). The Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus is built
on the apostles’ tomb. During the early 20th century the monastery was an
important crossroad for the defense of the Armenian population of Van, Daron
and surrounding areas. A popular annual pilgrimage by Armenians from around
the world takes place in July. During the four-day festival thousands gather
in tents pitched on the monastery grounds, attend services, sing and dance
in remembrance of St. Thaddeus, one of two apostles who brought Christianity
to Armenia. St. Thaddeus Monastery and the other famous Armenian monastery
in northern Iran, St. Stephen Monastery on the banks of the Arax River, have
undergone major renovations in recent years. In the late 1970s Armenian
youth throughout the Diaspora spent their summers living and working
together and, under the supervision of experts, helped restore the ancient
monasteries and beautify the surrounding grounds.
"See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and
some from the land of Syene," (Isaiah 49:12-13).
IN GOD WE TRUST
Sunday, July 30, is the 50th anniversary of the adoption of "In God We
Trust" as the U.S. national motto. The original motto of the United States
was E Pluribus Unum (Latin, meaning "One from many’). In 1956, at the height
of the cold war, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution to replace the
existing motto with "In God We Trust." The president, Dwight Eisenhower,
signed the resolution into law on July 30, 1956. The phrase had been in use
prior to 1956-it is actually taken from one of the stanza of the Star
Spangled Banner-but it became official 50 years ago.
Two weeks ago the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution which
requests all American citizens "To commemorate, celebrate, and reaffirm the
national motto of the United States on the 50th anniversary of its formal
adoption."
ONE WEEK HIATUS FOR CROSSROADS
Crossroads will not be published next Thursday, August 3. The next issue
will be transmitted on Thursday, August 10.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 6-St. Stephen Church picnic at Camp Haiastan. For information
781-326-5764.
August 6-Reception in honor of V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian and Rev. Fr.
Hovnan Bozoian following church services at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. All are invited to attend.
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 Blessing of the Grapes picnic, sponsored by Sts. Vartanantz
Church at Dunkerhook Park (Pavilion D), Paramus, New Jersey, 1 to 5 pm. For
information, 201-943-2950.
August 13-Annual picnic, Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York.
August 13-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual picnic at Camp
Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.
August 13-Annual picnic of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts, on the church grounds.
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 10-Annual picnic of St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.
September 10-Annual picnic of St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack
Valley, at the American Legion grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
September 15-Family Night at St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 6 pm at Jaffarian Hall.
September 18-11th Annual ACEC/School golf outing at Stow Acres Country Club,
Stow, Massachusetts. For information, 781-326-5764.
September 24-36th Anniversary Luncheon and program, St. Gregory Armenian
Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts.
September 25-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 3rd Annual Golf Outing and Award Dinner at Raceway Golf
Course, Thompson, Connecticut. Registration 7:30 a.m. For information
508-872-9629 or church office 508-852-2414.
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 1-Banquet honoring Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian on the occasion of
his recent elevation, at Terrace in the Park, Flushing, New York, 3 pm.
Details will follow.
October 8-81st anniversary celebration of St. Stephen Church, New Britain,
Connecticut.
October 22-Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.
November 5-Annual bazaar, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.
November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual "Armenian Fest" at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
