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 12, 2007
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ATTENDS HMEM GAMES
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, attended the 17th annual eastern USA
regional athletic games of the HMEM last week in Detroit, Michigan. Hundreds
of athletes participated.
VICAR ATTENDS ARS CONVENTION
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, traveled to Washington, DC, today,
to attend the annual regional convention of the Armenian Relief Society
(Eastern), representing the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan.
AGBU PRESIDENT VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, received
Mr. Berj Setrakian, President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU), last Monday, July 9, in the St. Mary Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon,
where the See’s Theological Seminary and Catholicosal summer residence are
located. The Pontiff and Mr. Setrakian discussed various issues related to
the Diaspora communities, Armenia-Diaspora relations, the improvement of
Armenian schools, as well as other national issues.
Mr. Setrakian informed His Holiness of the AGBU’s activities in Armenia
and the Diaspora. The Catholicos praised the work carried out by the AGBU,
stressing the need to achieve that on a pan-national scale and paying
special attention to Armenian schools in the Diaspora.
ARAM I VISITS ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT
His Holiness Aram I began an official visit to Addis Ababa this week
upon the invitation of the spiritual leader of the Ethiopian Church,
Patriarch Paulos. In addition to visiting the Ethiopian Church, the visit
aims at reconciling the differences between the Ethiopian and Coptic
churches, a task to which Catholicos Aram has been dedicated during the past
few years.
The Catholicos met with the President of Ethiopia, Gima Woldegiorgis,
yesterday, July 11. Accompanied by his Ethiopian counterpart His Holiness
will visit Cairo, Egypt, where a meeting with the spiritual leader of the
Coptic Church, Patriarch Shnouda III, is scheduled.
A joint statement by Aram I and Patriarch Paulos was issued urging the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Accompanying the Catholicos on this trip are Bishop Nareg Alemezian,
Ecumenical Officer, V. Rev. Krikor Chitjian, Communications Officer, and
Armenian philanthropist Gabriel Chemberdjian.
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE
Year after year the St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute grows, and
attracts many new and returning students. Ari Nalbandian from the parish of
Sts. Vartanantz of Providence, Rhode Island, a post graduate student, had
this to say: "My first year as a post-graduate at Datev was quite a
spiritual experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the mature level of
conversation that took place in my classes. My classes this year deepened my
understanding of our beautiful badarak. Der Nerses’s classical Armenian
classes allowed me to begin ‘decoding’ all the krapar prayers and sharagans
we all say but never really understand without an English translation handy.
I was especially enlightened by Deacon George Leylegian’s presentations,
which showed me how our liturgy is intertwined with Scripture. My
understanding of the badarak was deepened this past week and I hope to carry
that knowledge back with me to Providence."
To see photographs from this year’s Datev Institute click
FEAST OF TRANSFIGURATION
This Sunday, July 15, the Armenian Church celebrates one of her five
Tabernacle Feast days: Transfiguration (Aylakerputiun / Vartavar). The Feast
of Transfiguration is marked fourteen weeks after Easter, and therefore can
fall between June 28 and August 1. It commemorates an episode in the New
Testament recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Peter.
The Transfiguration took place on the "holy mountain" (believed to be
Mt. Tabor) where Jesus had gone with Peter, James, and John to pray. As He
was praying, "His face shone like the sun and His garments became white as
light." The Patriarch Moses and Prophet Elijah appeared at His side (Mt.
17:1-8). It was at this moment that His appearance was transfigured
revealing Himself as God to His disciples as a voice from above said, "This
is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."
As in many other instances, a pagan feast was joined with the new
Christian holiday. In this case, the pagan feast of Vartavar, when Armenians
would decorate the temple of the Goddess of Asdghig with roses, doves would
be released, and people would engage in water games, was combined with the
Feast of the Transfiguration. Asdghig was the goddess of love, beauty,
fertility, and water.
According to tradition, the fifth century historian Yeghishe, wrote the
prayer that is read in the church on this feast day: "O Lord, bless the
harvest of this year and defend from all the perils, and may Your Right
Hand, O Lord, protect us for the whole year."
Vartavar was a traditional day of pilgrimage to churches named after
John the Baptist. The most popular destination was the Monastery of Sourp
Garabed of Moush, whose main church was named in honor of St. John the
Baptist.
Vartavar is the name day for those named Vartkes, Vartavar, Vart,
Alvart, Zevart, Lousvart, Nevart, Baidzar, Vartanoush, Vartiter, Varvar.
In the Armenian tradition, the day after each of the five major feast
days is designated as a Memorial Day or Remembrance of the Dead. The
faithful visit the cemeteries to venerate their departed loved ones.
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:
"According to literary evidence, Armenian illumination had begun soon
after the invention of the Armenian alphabet, at the beginning of the fifth
century, when large scriptoria were established in different provinces. But
with the exception of two leaves bound in a Gospels of later date, no
illustrated manuscript prior to the second half of the ninth century is
preserved. However, from that time to the end of the seventeenth century,
and even the early years of the eighteenth, there is an almost uninterrupted
series of richly illustrated works. The large number that had survived
despite the destruction wrought by time and man testifies to the important
place they occupied in the lives of the people. The manuscripts were
considered as pledges for the salvation of the donors, as imperishable
treasures set in heaven, and this also explains the fact that Armenian
manuscripts are rarely anonymous productions. The sponsors, as well as the
scribes and the painters, wished to record their names in testimony of their
pious act and so that they might be recalled in the prayers of all those who
had occasion to use these manuscripts."
Sirarpie Der Nersessian, from An Introduction to Armenian Manuscript
Illumination: Selections from the Collection in the Walters Art Gallery,
Baltimore, Maryland, 1974.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, July 12, are: Romans 15:30-16:16; Matthew
15:29-38.
After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and
he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him,
bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many
others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was
amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking,
and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Then Jesus called
his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because
they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do
not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." The
disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to
feed so great a crowd?" Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They
said, "Seven, and a few small fish." Then ordering the crowd to sit down on
the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks
he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to
the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken
pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand
men, besides women and children. Matthew 15:29-38.
For listing of the entire week’s Bible readings click
.
WE’VE BEEN READING AT THE PRELACY BOOK STORE..
MUSA DAGH by Edward Minasian, 385 pages.
You thought you knew about the saga of Franz Werfel’s Forty Days of Musa
Dagh and its trials and tribulations in Hollywood spanning more than forty
years? Well, think again. When you read this book you realize how little you
knew. It is a page-turner, well-written, well researched and well
documented. This book takes you through the entire history, at times sordid,
and the more than dozen scripts that were written and discarded, the blatant
and paranoid interference of the Turkish government, and the incredible and
intrusive meddling of our own State Department, right up to the
disappointing movie that was finally produced in the 1980s.
SKYLIGHT FARM by Antonia Arslan, 288 pages.
Translated from Italian by Geoffrey Brock
Skylight Farm is a beautifully crafted story, albeit painful at times,
about a family struggling to survive during the Armenian Genocide. The
author tells her story in two main sections. The first introduces the major
characters in their homeland environment, and the second describes their
arduous journey of survival and their quest to reach Italy where a family
member had settled years before.
Although a novel, Skylight Farm is based on the actual experiences of
the author’s family. The Kirkus Review of Books describes it as "an Armenian
Schindler’s List."
For information about these books and others contact the bookstore, by email
at [email protected] or by phone at 212-689-7810. For other books
and gifts available at the Prelacy Bookstore click
&q uot;Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at
all."
Henry David Thoreau
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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. For information
or 508-234-3677.
August 12-Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Divine Liturgy
and Blessing of the Grapes St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City.
Luncheon, organized and prepared by the Cathedral’s Ladies Guild, will
follow the services. For information 212-689-5880.
August 12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual church
picnic at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts. For information
401-831-6399.
August 19-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church picnic. For information or 508-234-3677.
August 19-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Annual church
picnic and Blessing of the Grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion D, Paramus,
New Jersey. For information 201-943-2950.
September 9-Annual picnic of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley at
American Legion Grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
September 25-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 4th annual golf outing at Juniper Hill Golf Course,
Northboro, Massachusetts. Registration at 8 am. Tee off at 9 am. $125
includes golf cart, dinner and prizes. For information 508-852-2414.
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. For information
or 508-234-3677.
October 21-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, celebrating the
20th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, under the
auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan. For information
or 215-482-9200.
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.
November 10-11-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual
"Armenian Fest," at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island. For
information 401-831-6399.
December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar. For information or 508-234-3677.
December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.
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