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
November 30, 2006
YOUTH GATHERING WITH CATHOLICOS THIS WEEKEND
This weekend, December 2 and 3, is the youth gathering with His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in Dearborn, Michigan. His
Holiness is on a short visit to the United States where he has been invited
to deliver the keynote address at a conference on "Faith and Healing" at
Notre Dame University on Tuesday, December 5. On Wednesday, December 6, the
Catholicos will be awarded the 2006 Pax Christi Award by St. John’s Abbey
and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. In a press release issued by the
University, the Catholicos was praised for "his leadership in opening the
manuscript collection of the Catholicosate to the Hill Museum and Manuscript
Library," and "his leadership in ecumenism." To read the press release
issued by the University click
tm.
Archbishop Oshagan left New York this morning and will greet the
Catholicos who is scheduled to arrive in Michigan tomorrow. The Prelacy’s
vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, will travel to Michigan tomorrow to participate in
the various events, and Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC) will travel to Michigan on Saturday.
PRELATE AND VICAR EXTEND CONDOLENCES
IN ASSASSINATION OF PIERRE GEMAYEL
Tuesday morning, November 28, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan
visited the offices of the Consul General of Lebanon in New York City, where
they expressed their condolences following the assassination of Pierre
Gemayel. The 34-year-old Gemayel served in the Lebanese Parliament and was
Minister of Industy, and a member of one of Lebanon’s most prominent
Christian political dynasties. The Prelate and Vicar met with the Consul
General, Mohamed El-Harake, and expressed sympathy on behalf of the Eastern
Prelacy.
REQUIEM SERVICE THIS SUNDAY FOR
ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
The third anniversary of the passing of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who
served as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1978 to 1998, will be
commemorated with a solemn requiem service, immediately following the Divine
Liturgy, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City,
this Sunday, December 3. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral,
will officiate. The faithful are invited to attend the service in
remembrance of the late Archbishop and his extraordinary service to the
Armenian Church in the Diaspora and Armenia.
Copies of Living Faith: The Life and Service of Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian, a beautiful tribute to Archbishop Mesrob, published by the Prelacy,
are available. For information contact books@armenianprelacy.org or
212-689-7810.
SPIRITUAL HEADS OF MIDDLE EAST ORIENTAL ORTHODOX
CHURCHES MEET IN EGYPT
Two of the three leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle
East met at the Coptic Patriarchate in Cairo, Egypt, on November 22-24. The
summit brought together Patriarchs Shnouda III, head of the Syrian Orthodox
Church, and Zakka I, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Catholicos Aram I,
head of the Cilician See of the Armenian Church, cancelled his scheduled
trip to Egypt because of the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, Industry
Minister of Lebanon. However, the Coptic and Syrian Patriarchs remained in
constant contact with Catholicos Aram throughout the meeting, consulting him
on various issues related to the agenda.
BIBLE STUDY AT PRELACY CONTINUES
The eight-session course on the Letter to the Hebrews continues this
Monday, December 4, at the Prelacy from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm. The group meets
on the first and third Mondays of the month. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the course is led by Deacon
Shant Kazanjian.
50th ANNIVERSARY OF REV. FR. MOUSHEGH DER KALOUSTIAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 17
On Sunday, December 17, the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev.
Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian will be commemorated at the Terrace on the Park
in Flushing Meadows, New York. Prior to the luncheon commemoration, Der
Moushegh will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in
New York City, where he served for many years. For reservations and/or
information about this event contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
As we reported in the last issue of Crossroads, Archbishop Oshagan
attended the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Gorun Shrikian
in Dearborn, Michigan, on November 19, and Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian’s golden
anniversary was celebrated at St. Stephen Church in Watertown,
Massachusetts, in June. The next issue of Outreach (January/February) will
highlight these events honoring the three clergymen who this year marked
their 50 years of service to the Armenian Church.
PROGRAMS OF INTEREST ON TELEVISION
Two interesting television programs you may want to watch this month.
One, which we told you about several weeks ago, is "The Spear of Christ," a
one-hour documentary on the History Channel’s "Decoding the Past" series
scheduled for Thursday, December 21, at 9 pm (check your local listings).
Armenia is one of the places visited for this documentary.
"Picturing Mary," is a production of New York’s PBS station, Channel 13
and will be distributed this month nationwide to public television stations.
Check your local listings. "Picturing Mary" is a one-hour program that takes
viewers on an artistic journey through history from the earliest times to
the present day, offering viewers a visually stunning array of art from
twelve locations in eight different countries, representing various faiths
and traditions of how the image of the Blessed Mother has provided a global
mother-figure.
SAINTS THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
This Saturday, December 2, the Armenian Church remembers Saints Thaddeus
and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers
of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its
apostolic identity and earning them the title, "First Enlighteners of
Armenia." Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He
was martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian
monastery of St. Thaddeus (now Iran) where a chapel was built in the third
century. Bartholomew is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He
was martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.
REMEMBERING KING APKAR
On Tuesday, December 5, the Armenian Church remembers King Apkar, who
according to tradition was afflicted with a skin ailment. The King wrote a
letter to Christ asking for His assistance. Christ replied by sending a
cloth with His image and the promise to send one of His apostles. St.
Thaddeus was sent and subsequently the King had a miraculous recovery. King
Apkar and his family accepted Christianity and the King wrote to other
leaders (including his cousin King Sanadrook of Armenia) to accept
Christianity.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 3, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a
season of waiting for the coming of Christ, which gives us reason to live in
hope regardless of the many challenges and vicissitudes facing us on many
fronts. John the Baptist is the great Advent figure (read Matthew, Chapter
3; and Luke, Chapter 3).
And remember that this time of the year can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out with a visit, a note, or a telephone call to an elderly
person who lives alone, or someone who is ill, or someone who recently lost
a loved one.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 2-3-Gathering of the Youth with Catholicos Aram I, Hyatt Regency,
Dearborn, Michigan. For details click
December 3-Requiem service in memory of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian on the third anniversary of his passing, St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian will
preside.
December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 10-52nd anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.
December 10-General Membership meeting and elections of auditing and
nominating committees, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.
December 10-Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York, Archbishop
Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy.
December 13-Thanksgiving Luncheon with the local NYPD and Fire Fighters, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.
December 16-"A Celebration of Service" in honor of past chairmen and board
of trustees members. Under auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, 8 pm. For information and
reservations 718-224-2275.
December 16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Men’s Club and
Ladies’ Guild Christmas Party and Dinner Dance, 7 pm, $40 per person.
Reservations a must. For information: 201-943-4056 (Kiledjian); 201-461-4283
(Mirakian).
December 17-50th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Archpriest Fr.
Moushegh Der Kaloustian, sponsored by the Prelacy Religious Council, at
Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. Der Moushegh will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221 E. 27th Street, New
York City) on Sunday morning.
December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact the church
office 201-943-2950.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston,
New York.
January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
January 6-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party and
special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.
January 28-Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.
February 4-St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of the church
and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.
February 11-General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
February 17-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Annual
Membership Meeting.
February 18-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress