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
December 28, 2006
FAST OF THE NATIVITY; SIXTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 31, is the sixth, and final, Sunday of Advent.
Tomorrow, Friday, December 29 is the Barekentan of the Fast of the Nativity.
There are ten week-long fasts that precede major feasts in the Armenian
Church. All of the Fasts are observed for five days, Monday through Friday,
except for the Fast of the Nativity which lasts 6 days, December 30 to
January 4.
VICAR WILL ATTEND INTERFAITH BREAKFAST
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will attend
an Interfaith Breakfast hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the New York
Public Library in Manhattan, tomorrow, Friday, December 29.
PRELATE WILL BE IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
This Sunday, December 31, the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
will visit the Sts. Vartanantz Church parish in Providence, Rhode Island.
SAINTS’ DAYS THIS WEEK
In the Armenian Orthodox tradition, saints are commemorated on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This week there are a number of such
commemorations including the following:
Today, December 28, we commemorate the Holy Apostles James and John.
(Mark 10:35-41). They were nicknamed "Sons of Thunder" by Jesus because of
their excitable and quick-natured character. James was a Galilean fisherman
who was called along with his brother John to be one of the twelve apostles.
They, together with Peter, formed the inner core among the twelve who were
present at the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the transfiguration, and
the agony of Gethsemane. James is sometimes referred to as "James the
Greater" to differentiate from the other James. He was the first of the
apostles to be martyred, by order of King Herod Agrippa I, to please the
opponents of Christianity (Acts 12:1-2). He is the patron saint of Spain and
according to tradition his body was brought from Jerusalem to Spain to
Santiago de Compostela, which remains a popular destination for pilgrims.
John is called "the Divine." It was to John that Jesus from the cross
entrusted the care of his mother. Paul names John and James along with Peter
as the pillars of the church (Gal. 2:9).
On Saturday, December 30, we commemorate the Holy Fathers Basil of
Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Sylvester of Rome and Ephrem the Syrian.
St. Basil (329-379) was a learned doctor and father of the Church, who
did much to spread Christianity. He became Bishop of Caesarea and a defender
of orthodox Christianity. He established many charitable projects such as
hospitals, hospitality inns for travelers, food kitchens for the needy, and
worked for prison reform.
Gregory of Nyssa (330-400), was the younger brother of Basil. He was
Bishop of Nyssa, and Archbishop of Sepastia. He participated in the second
ecumenical Council at Constantinople, where he was called "Father of the
Fathers." He was a pillar of orthodoxy and defender of the faith.
Sylvester of Rome, whose date of birth is not known, died in 335. He was
Bishop of Rome. During his pontificate he built great churches in Rome.
Ephrem the Syrian (306-373) was born in Mesopotamia and spent his entire
life there. He was baptized at age 18. He served under Saint James of
Nisibis, was head of his school, and most probably accompanied him to the
Council of Nicaea (325).
2007-A NEW YEAR
Monday, January 1, is the first day of the New Year (In Armenian Nor
Dari, Amanor or Gaghand). For many centuries the Armenians celebrated the
beginning of the New Year on the first day of the month of Navassard (August
11 in the current calendar). It was in the 18th century that the Armenians
(by decree of Catholicos Simeon Erevantsi) accepted January 1 as the start
of the New Year. The New Year is a time of joy, happiness and festivities.
Traditionally Armenians exchange gifts on New Year’s Day, rather than
Christmas. It is a time to celebrate the renewal of life and prosperity, to
put aside anger and grudges, and renew friendships through mutual
visitations. Lavish tables including dried fruits and nuts are part of the
commemorative traditions.
BIBLE READINGS FOR 2007
The daily Bible readings for 2007, according to the liturgical calendar
of the Armenian Church, are on the Prelacy web page. For this week’s
readings click
THE BIBLE ON OUR LIPS
We use phrases from the Bible (especially from the King James Version)
every day, at times without realizing the source. Some years ago, Bruce
Metzger, a scholar at Princeton Theology Seminary, creatively showed how
much the Bible has influenced Western culture. Here’s a small sampling:
A person may be said to behave like the great "I Am" (Ex. 3:14), or to
have "the mark of Cain" (Gen. 4:15). People are tempted to eat forbidden
fruit (Gen. 2:17), desire the fleshpots of Egypt (Ex. 16:3), and give up
something worth having for a mess of pottage (Gen. 25:29-34).
Yet "one does not live by bread alone" (Deut. 8:3), and finally each
must go the way of all flesh (cf. Gen. 6:12; Josh. 23:14) and return to dust
(Gen. 3:19). For the moment, those who find themselves "at their wits end"
(Ps. 107:27) may still escape by the "skin of their teeth" (Job 19:20), but
others find themselves in the position of a "scapegoat" (Lev. 16:8-10).
Nevertheless, "a soft answer turns away wrath" (Prov. 15:1).
Unfortunately, a leopard cannot change its spots (Jer. 13:23). The
wicked "sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (Hos. 8:7), and because they
ignore the "writing on the wall" (Dan. 5:24), they are fated "to lick the
dust" (Ps. 72:9). Inevitably, "pride goeth.before a fall" (Prov. 16:18), and
anything that hinders success is a "fly in the ointment" (Eccles. 10:1). The
wise know that "you can’t take it with you" (Eccles. 5:15), and that "there
is nothing new under the sun" (Eccles. 1:9).
Who has not known a "good Samaritan" (Luke 10:30-37), a person who will
"go a second mile" (Matt. 5:38). Some seek the "pearl of great price" (Matt.
13:46), while others, like the Prodigal Son, waste their lives "in riotous
living" (Lk. 6:24). "A house divided against itself will not stand" (Mk.
3:25), nor can "the blind lead the blind" (Mt. 15:14). It is useless to
"cast pearls before swine" (Mt. 7:6).
In antiquity a "talent" was a unit of weight or money, but because of
Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30), the word has come to mean
natural endowment or ability. To disregard these abilities is to "hide one’s
light under a bushel" (Mt. 5:15). Even those who have never opened a Bible
recognize the Golden Rule of doing to "others as we would have them do to
us" (Mt. 7:12).
Finally, expressions from the letters of Paul: "The letter kills, but
the spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:3); "The love of money is the root of all
evil" (1 Tim. 6:10); "To see through a glass darkly" (1 Cor. 13:12); and "a
thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7).
NEXT ISSUE OF CROSSROADS
The next issue of Crossroads (Thursday, January 4) will be a special
Christmas issue. Until then.Happy New Year to all.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.
January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
January 6-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual Christmas
luncheon hosted by the Ladies’ Guild following church services on Saturday,
January 6. Adults $15; children 12 and under $10. For
reservations/information, 201-943-2950.
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.
March 25-Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, 2 pm.
Featured artists: Aleksandr Nazaryan (viola) and Serge Barseghian (basso).
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