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
May 31, 2007
VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO FLORIDA
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, will travel
to Ocala, Florida, this weekend, to visit the parish of Holy Cross Armenian
Church. Michael Hagopian, vice chairman of the Prelacy Executive Council,
will accompany the Vicar.
2007 DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
The 21st annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Christian summer studies
program will take place July 1 to 8 in Elverson, Pennsylvania. For details
click
IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
To read the message of His Holiness in Armenian click
.
To read the message of His Holiness in English click
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language. In celebration of this
year-long tribute, each week we will offer an interesting tidbit about the
Armenian language and literature:
Hagop Baronian (1843-91) and Yervant Odian (1869-1926) were the greatest
satirists in modern Armenian literature.
Baronian’s satire attacked everyone-writers, journalists, politicians,
academics, clergymen, lay leaders of the church, etc. He possessed very
perceptive observation skills and an acerbic pen that exposed incompetence,
hypocrisy, and immorality. His writings were very popular-read by many, but
paid for by few!
Odian was a prolific writer whose satire, humorous rather than scornful,
reduced his targets into caricatures. His greatest work is the Comrade
Panchounie trilogy that relates the hilarious activities of a Marxist field
worker. Mostly his writings highlight the absolute absurdity of persons and
situations.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, May 31, are: Romans 2:12-24; Matthew 8:28-34.
All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the
law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it
is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the
doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess
the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having
the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is
written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness;
and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day
when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the
secret thoughts of all. But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law
and boast of your relations to God and know his will and determine what is
best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you
are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector
of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of
knowledge and truth, you, then, that reach others, will you not teach
yourself? What you preach against stealing, do you steal? You that forbid
adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as
it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you. Matthew 8: 28-31
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
.
THE PROPHET ELIJAH
This Sunday, June 3, the Armenian Church commemorates the prophet
Elijah, the great prophet of the Old Testament as recorded in I and II
Kings. Elijah is commemorated on a Sunday because he is considered to be the
greatest among the prophets, he appeared at the Transfiguration as the
prophet of life and the new covenant. Elijah did not experience death as we
know it, but was taken to heaven, and like the Holy Mother of God
(Theotokos) was enumerated among the heavenly. In the hymn Ee Verin, Elijah
is described in a resplendent fashion living in old age. He is a beloved and
cherished prophet of the Armenian Church (and all the Eastern churches) and
held in high esteem.
SAINTS HRIPSIMEH AND COMPANIONS;
SAINTS GAYANE AND COMPANIONS
This Monday and Tuesday, June 4 and 5, the Armenian Church remembers the
virgin saints Hripsimeh and Gayane and their companions. Thirty-three nuns,
led by Gayaneh, left Rome and sought refuge in Armenia hoping to escape the
Roman Emperor who desired one of the nuns, beautiful Hripsimeh. In Armenia,
King Drtad, was equally captivated by Hripsimeh’s beauty, and sought to wed
her. She refused. Enraged, the King had Hripsimeh (and the others) tortured
to death.
St. Gregory had chapels built over the relics of the nuns, and later
Catholicos Sahag Barthev rebuilt the chapels. During the 7th century
Catholicos Gomidas had two beautiful cathedrals built. The Cathedral of St.
Hripsimeh is considered to be a masterpiece of architecture. Catholicos
Gomidas also wrote a sharagan (hymn) in their memory, "Antsink Nviryalk."
PBS IN PHILADELPHIA AREA WILL AIR DOCUMENTARY
ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
WHYY-TV, the Public Broadcasting Station in the greater Philadelphia
area, is celebrating the diverse community of its area during its June
membership drive. On Tuesday, June 5, at 7:30, it will show the documentary
of the Armenian Genocide produced by Andrew Goldberg, which has been shown
widely on PBS throughout the country. Mr. Goldberg will be in the WHYY
studio discussing the documentary during the pledge breaks. The documentary
was filed in six countries, the United States, France, Germany, Belgium,
Turkey and Syria. Mr. Goldberg captured stories and discussions with Kurdish
and Turkish citizens in Turkey who speak openly about the stories shared
with them by their parents and grandparents.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 3-"To Your Health"-a healthy and wellness program at St. Sarkis Church,
38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New York, at 1:15 pm. Presentations by:
Carlo Bayrakdarian, M.D, "A Trip on Memory Lane"; Nyree
Demirdjian-Boyadjian, R.Ph, "Drug Interactions; Aurora Dogaru, M.D.,
"Anxiety and Depression; Daniel N. Kubikian, D.M.D., "Dental Implants and
Esthetics"; Edmond Sarkissian, M.D., "Diabetes Complications"; Alina
Stanciu, M.D., "The Latest in Eye Care"; Janet Vanessian, P.A., "The Yearly
Physical Exam." For information: 718-224-2275.
June 10-17th anniversary of the new St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
under the auspices of the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan. His Eminence will
ordain the following altar servers as acolytes: Gerard Barikian, Shont
Voskerichian, James Mengouchian, Daniel Megerian, Christapor Megherian,
Peter Boyadjian and Sarkis Nersessian. Banquet and artistic program
following church services. For information: 718-224-2275.
July 1-8-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, 21st annual summer Christian
studies program for junior and senior high school students, at St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. For information click here.
July 7-St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, gathering at the
home of the parish priest, Rev. Father Bedros Shetilian.
July 9 to July 20-St. Sarkis Church Summer Camp, Douglaston, New York, for
ages 5 to 12. Prayers and hymns, Armenian classes, introduction to the
bible, arts and crafts, sports, and much more. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to
3:00 pm. Lunch and snack will be served. Summer camp is sponsored by Mr. and
Mrs. Antranig and Marion Boudakian. Enrollment limited to 30 students.
Registration deadline June 5. Minimum donation $75. For information,
718-224-2275.
July 21-Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Providence, Rhode Island, and
ARS Ani Chapter present "A Hye Summer Night 2." For information
401-286-8107.
August 7-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual golf
tournament at Blackstone Country Club.
August 19-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church picnic.
September 9-Annual picnic of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley at
American Legion Grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
September 27-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 5th Annual Golf
Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. Registration
begins at 11 a.m. and tee time at 1 p.m. For information, 201-943-2950.
September 29-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 50th
anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley.
November 4-37th anniversary of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley and
ordination of Nishan Dagley to the office of acolyte and stole bearer.
Presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the
Prelacy.
December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar.
December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.
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