The Armenian Church eNewsletter
March 13, 2008
Prayer for the Week
Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016
Contact Us <mailto:publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org>
Diocesan News
PRIMATE TO VISIT ST. THOMAS CHURCH IN TENAFLY, N.J.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Thomas Church in
Tenafly, N.J. on Palm Sunday, March 16.
On behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, Archbishop Barsamian will present the St. Nersess Shnorhali
Medal and an Encyclical to Dr. Levon and Mrs. Ani Capan. The Capans are
active members of the St. Thomas community: Dr. Capan is the Parish Council
chairman while Mrs. Capan serves as principal of the Kirikian Armenian
School of St. Thomas.
"They are the pillars of St. Thomas," said Very Rev. Fr. Papken Anoushian,
pastor at St. Thomas Church. "Their dedication and love to the Armenian
Apostolic Church in general, and to St. Thomas of Tenafly in particular, are
of the highest degree."
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Primate will preside at a banquet to be
held in honor of Mrs. Arsaluys Sahinyan, mother of Mrs. Capan, who has been
named Parishioner of the Year. Mrs. Sahinyan donated more than $30,000 for
the church’s new baptistery, which was consecrated a few months ago. The
Akhtamar Dance Ensemble of St. Thomas will perform at the banquet.
_____________________________
DIOCESAN LEGATE ADDRESSES PARTICIPANTS AT ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY DAYS IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Speaking at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington D.C., on Sunday,
March 9, Diocesan Legate and President of the National Council of Churches
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian reminded Christians that they have a
responsibility to promote peace and to relieve poverty worldwide.
Lasting security can be best achieved through faith, not through military
intervention, Archbishop Aykazian said, stressing that there is a need to
find new approaches to the war in Iraq, the instability in Lebanon and other
crises across the globe.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian addresses participants at the Ecumenical Advocacy
Days organized by the National Council of Churches in the Washington, D.C.
area.
"Today I tell you that security means freedom from fear. It means freedom
>From anxiety," Archbishop Aykazian said. "Peace and security can be
achieved, but only via justice and freedom."
Ecumenical Advocacy Days is organized by the National Council of Churches
USA to bring together the Christian community and to press for advocacy on
an array of domestic and international issues. The theme of this year’s
event, which drew more than 700 people, was "Claiming a Vision of True
Security."
To read more, visit <;
.
________ _____________________
ACYOA YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON THE ARMENIAN CHRISTIAN
FAMILY
Thinking about love and marriage in the context of the Armenian Christian
family was the focus of last weekend’s ninth annual Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America’s Young Adult Leadership Conference, held March 7 to
9 at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point, N.Y.
A record number of 76 participants from 27 parishes, including
representatives from the Western and Canadian Diocese, attended the
three-day event.
Participants at the ACYOA Young Adult Leadership Conference discuss
relationships and marriage in a small-group workshop.
"You are young leaders and as such, have a responsibility to carry your
faith and your identity into the world – into school, the workplace, the
home," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern). "You need to explore and discover for yourselves just how
you will do that."
To read more, visit <;
.
________ _____________________
HOLY WEEK AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will observe Holy Week starting Sunday, March
16, with a series of services culminating in the Easter Sunday celebration
on March 23. All services will be held at the Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue,
New York, N.Y. For more information, call 212-686-0710.
View < > the complete Holy
Week schedule or read the Primate’s Easter Message in Armenian
< terarm.pdf> or English
< ereng.pdf> .
_____________________________
CHURCH AND HOME: NEW MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE
We are pleased to announce that a wealth of new Church and Home materials
are now available on our Web site,
<http://www.armenianchur ch.net/> . Click on the "Church and Home" button on
the homepage and you will be directed to a listing of a variety of online
tutorials and programs designed to offer "Back to the Basics" educational
tools that can be used from the comfort of your home. Learn about the
Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and classical Armenian and much
more!
_____________________________
FAR PREPARES FOR 2008 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TRIP
The 12th annual Fund for Armenian Relief Young Professionals Trip will be
May 31 to June 12. The two-week trip to Armenia will include tours of the
entire country, with overnights in Yerevan, Gyumri, Dzoraget, Lake Sevan and
Goris. Participants will visit FAR’s projects as well as meet with
high-ranking officials in Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, at
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The FAR trip provides the ideal opportunity for young professionals between
the ages of 23 and 40 to travel to Armenia as a group. Participants in FAR’s
Young Professionals Trip do more than just see the country’s sites. They
learn about Armenia’s place in the world – the country’s religious,
political and economic heritage – and engage government and religious
leaders in official state visits. The FAR trip is a great way to discover
Armenia’s treasures.
Participants visit Gandzasar Monastery in Martakert during the 2007 FAR
Young Professionals Trip.
"I returned to the States with a heart full of a rekindled love for my
heritage and culture, a suitcase full of souvenirs and a photo memory stick
full of, well, memories," said Natalie Gabrelian, who participated in FAR’s
Young Professionals Trip last year.
The cost, which includes airfare and hotel accommodations, is $3,050. Space
is limited. To sign up, contact Arto Vorperian at 212-889-5150 or
arto@farusa.org.
_____________________________
DEACON TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE HELD AT ST. JAMES CHURCH IN WATERTOWN, MASS.
ON SATURDAY
Diocesan Music Ministry Coordinator Maestro Khoren Mekanejian will lead a
training program for deacons at St. James Church in Watertown, Mass. on
Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Using the "Guidebook to the Divine Liturgy," Maestro Mekanejian will help
deacons improve their understanding of the songs and music of the service.
All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact St. James Church at
617-923-8860.
_____________________________
S T. NERSESS SEMINARY’S ARMENIAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE LECTURE SERIES
Haroutune C. Merzian, an independent scholar from Los Angeles, will give a
lecture entitled "People of the Cross: The Meaning of Khatchkars" at St.
Nersess Theological Seminary on Monday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m.
The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow. St.
Nersess Seminary is located at 150 Stratton Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804.
For more information, please visit
< ; or call 914-636-2003.
_____________________________
ALTE RNATIVE SPRING BREAK UNDERWAY
Students are wrapping up an exciting week in Charlotte, N.C., where they
have been working at a Habitat for Humanity construction site as part of
College Ministry’s Alternative Spring Break program. On Friday, students
will meet with Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian and members of the local Armenian
community at St. Sarkis Church and participate in a Hankusdian (Rest)
Service.
Next week, another group of students will travel to Lakeland, Fla., to take
part in a similar program. They will build with Lakeland’s Habitat, then
join St. Hagop Church in Pinellas Park, Fla., as the parish celebrates Holy
Week. For more information on the College Ministry Program, email Julie
Hoplamazian at julieh@armeniandiocese.org.
Holy Savior, Jesus Christ, You are the true Light that shined on the people
of Armenia through the preaching of St. Gregory. Remove from my life the
darkness of despair, sadness and sin; and replace them with the joy of Your
radiant love. For You are the light of my salvation. Blessing and glory to
You now and always and forever. Amen.
More prayers
< .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <;
Scripture for the Week
Song 1:1-2:3
Zec 9:9-15
Phil 4:4-7
Mt 20:29-21:17
Saints & Feasts
3/15 Remembrance of the Raising of Lazarus
3/16 Palm Sunday
3/18 Remembrance of the Ten Virgins
3/20 Holy Thursday
3/21 Holy Friday
3/22 Holy Saturday (Easter Eve)
3/23 Easter Sunday