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
Email: email@armenianprelacy.org
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

JUNE 12, 2008

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF CILICIAN BROTHERHOOD CONCLUDES
The two-day General Assembly of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
Brotherhood ended on June 6 with the concluding remarks of His Holiness Aram
I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, who praised the constructive
participation of the Brotherhood members in the discussions that took place.
He expressed thanks to those who participated in the discussions and those
who delivered talks, expressing their viewpoints and concerns on various
important issues. Discussions took place after each presentation.
In his concluding remarks, the Catholicos shed light on some of the
expressed concerns and difficulties, giving new impetus to the Brotherhood’s
calling to serve the church. His Holiness called upon the Brotherhood
members to overcome these difficulties and face the identified challenges
through dedicated service, which he considered to be one of the unique
characteristics of the Cilician Brotherhood.
"Service is our glory, our strength, our reputation. However, our
Brotherhood should constantly subject itself to reassessment and renewal. It
is our Brotherhood that brings into life our Holy See’s mission. Therefore,
our strict policy towards spiritual-intellectual formation is essential. In
order to speak with the current world, we need to know the language, the
problems and challenges of the current world," His Holiness emphasized.
Speaking about the Church’s true character and its service, His Holiness
said: "It is necessary to preserve the specific identity of our church’s
mission in its spiritual, social, educational and cultural aspects. Our
church is not simply a national structure, but a Godly mission in our people’s
lives."

BLESSING OF MURON
The Blessing of the Holy Muron was performed by His Holiness Aram I on
the special platform built for this occasion in front of the entrance of the
Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon.
Representatives from all of the dioceses of the Cilician See were present.
Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, Primate of the Diocese of France, and Bishop
Yezras Nersisian (Primate of the Diocese of Russia) representative the
Catholicate of All Armenians, Etchmiadzin, Armenia. The Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem was represented by the Grand Sacristan of the
Saint Hagop Cathedral, Archbishop Nourhan
Manougian. Patriarchal Vicar, Archbishop Shahan Sevadjian, attended on
behalf of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He headed a delegation formed
of Rev. Fr. Tatoul Anoushian and Father Vagharshak Serovpian. Joining the
Catholicos on the platform, and participating in the service, were the
diocesan prelates of the Cilician see, including our Prelate, Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan.
Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world filled the Cilician See’s
courtyard to witness this ceremony which generally takes place every seven
years.
The lid of the special cauldron was opened and His Holiness added the
main ingredient of the Muron, the Balsam, and the old Muron, which includes
oil that the Apostles used. Saint Thaddeus, one of the apostles of Armenia,
is said to have brought a part of this oil to Armenia. Catholicos Aram also
added a sample of Holy Muron blessed in Holy Etchmiadzin, as a symbol of the
unity of the Armenian Church. During the service, the representative of the
Catholicos of All Armenians read the message sent by His Holiness Karekin
II, in which he welcomed the blessing of Muron in Antelias and expressed his
brotherly affection for His Holiness Aram I.
At the most sacred moment of the service, Catholicos Aram stirred the
new Muron with the Holy Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator,
sanctifying the new Muron with the blessings of the patron saint of the
Armenian Church.

SEMINAR FOR YOUTH IN SEPTEMBER
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the
jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia, a youth seminar/retreat will take
place September 26-28, 2008. The retreat, open to anyone ages 18 to 35, will
take place at the St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Retreat Center in Charlton,
Massachusetts. The event is being planned and prepared for youth by youth,
in collaboration with the Prelate, the Vicar General, and the Prelacy
Executive Council. The agenda will feature a variety of excellent speakers
and two workshops on the Badarak, all aimed to educate and enrich the youth
of the Armenian Church. Complete details, as well as agenda, registration
form, etc., will be available on the Prelacy website by mid-June. In the
meantime if you have any questions regarding this event send an email to
youth@armenianprelacy.org.

MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Major renovation of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City has
begun. Until the renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy will be offered
every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Street,
Woodside, New York.

SUMMER CAMP AT ST. SARKIS
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, will once again have a summer
camp for children from age 5 to 12. The camp will take place at the church
facilities from Monday, July 7 to Friday, July 18, from 10 am to 3 pm. The
program includes arts and crafts, music, dance, prayer, Armenian language
and history, introduction to the Bible, sports, games..and more. See
calendar of events below for more details.

2008 DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
We are nearing the final countdown to the 2008 St. Gregory of Datev
Institute’s Summer Program. For details click here.

PAN-DIASPORA YOUTH CONFERENCE
A pan-Diaspora youth conference will take place in Antelias, Lebanon, on
August 14-16. Under the theme, "The Armenian youth face the challenges of
the 21st century," the conference will feature lectures, and round table and
group discussions. More than 100 youth from the various dioceses within the
Catholicosate of Cilicia will participate. Travel subsidies are available.
For information contact your local parish or the Prelacy office,
212-689-7810.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, June 12, feast of our holy
translators, Sts. Sahag and Mesrob are: Wisdom 8:7-10; Isaiah 61:6-9; 1
Corinthians 12:4-11; Luke 12:32-40.
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your
land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you
shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the
nations, and in their riches you shall glory. Because their shame was
double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall
possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be their. For I the Lord
love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them
their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their
descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the
peoples; all who se them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the
Lord has blessed. Isaiah 61:5-9)

READING OF NEW PLAY BY RICHARD KALINOSKI THIS MONDAY
A reading of Richard Kalinoski’s new play, A Crooked Man, will take
place on Monday, June 16, 7 pm at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street,
New York City. Kalinoski is the author of the highly acclaimed and
successful Beast on the Moon which played to large audiences in New York and
other cities in 2006. This new play brings to the stage the fictional story
of an Armenian genocide survivor, Hagop Hagopian. This reading is being
staged as part of the 10th annual TRU Voices New Play Reading Series. TRU
gives three playwrights a staged reading of their work in front of
established Broadway and Off-Broadway producers and general managers in
order to take the plays to the next level of production. This year’s three
winning plays were chosen from 64 entries. This reading is being sponsored
by award winning writer, actor and producer Nora Armani and Pemart (for
information ).

HOLY TRANSLATORS SAINTS SAHAG AND MESROB
Today, June 12, the Armenian Church remembers the Holy Translators, Sts.
Sahag Bartev and Mesrob Mashtots. The feasts dedicated to the Holy
Translators are among the most popular and beloved celebrations for the
Armenians. Their lives and accomplishments are commemorated two dimes during
the liturgical year, on the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after
Pentecost (which is today), and on the second Saturday in October.
Sahag Bartev was the son of St. Nerses the Great. He received his
primary and higher education in Caesarea and Byzantium. He married and had
one daughter, Sahaganoush, who married into the Mamigonian family and was
the mother of Vartan, Hmayak and Hasmazasb. Sahag became Catholicos in 387,
during a period of turmoil because in 390 Armenia was divided between Persia
and Byzantium.
Mesrob Mashtots was born in the village of Hatsegats in the province of
Daron. He learned both Greek and Persian at an early age and served in the
Armenian Royal Court. He decided to enter the ranks of the clergy and was
preaching in the province of Koghtn in 395. He realized the great need of an
alphabet for the Armenian people, so he petitioned Catholicos Sahag and
together they requested the blessings and help of King Vramshabouh.
According to tradition, while meditating in a cave near the village of Palu,
Mesrob had a vision and "the hand of God wrote the alphabet in letters of
fire."

KING TIRIDATES, QUEEN ASHKHEN, PRINCESS KHOSROVITOUKHT
This Saturday, June 14, the Armenian Church commemorates King Tiridates
(Drtad), Queen Ashkhen, and Princess Khosrovitoukht. After torturing and
condemning St. Gregory to the pit (khor virab) and because of his fatal
treatment of the Hripsimayan nuns, King Tiridates became inflicted with
strange maladies. His wife, "Ashkhen, and his sister, Khosrovitoukht (who
had already secretly become Christian) convinced the king that only Gregory
could cure him. Thus, Gregory was released from the pit. With the king’s
subsequent recovery, all three helped to spread Christianity throughout the
land. When Gregory returned from Caesarea where he was ordained a bishop,
the king and his family and entire court and army met him en route and they
were all baptized in the Euphrates River. In their later years, the queen
and the princess lived in the fortress of Garni, and the king retired to St.
Gregory’s final place of retreat, Mt. Sebouh.

SATURDAY IS FLAG DAY
This Saturday, June 14, is Flag Day, marking the 231st anniversary of
the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the national flag (flag
resolution of 1777). The flag, as we know it today, has a blue field of 50
white stars representing the 50 states, and thirteen red and white stripes
representing the original thirteen colonies. The last state to be admitted
was Hawaii on July 4, 1960.
Although many states designated special days as "flag day," it was President
Woodrow Wilson who officially established flag day on May 30, 1916. While
Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s
proclamation, it was not until August 3, 1949, that President Harry S Truman
signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag
Day.

FROM THE BOOKSTORE THIS WEEK..

HE FLIES THROUGH THE AIR WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE, a William Saroyan
Reader, edited by William E. Justice with foreword by Herbert Gold.
This year is the centennial year of the birth of William Saroyan, and there
seems to be a growing interest in this writer who at one time was the "rage"
and "darling" of American literature. His popularity waned somewhat in the
1960s and 70s, but he is definitely on an upswing now and is still
considered one of America’s most important 20th century writers. With more
than 600 pages, this volume is almost a "complete Saroyan," and
includes previously unpublished works, as well as his short stories, plays,
excerpts of novels, and essays. Paperback, $24.95 plus shipping and
handling.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACY’S WEB SITE, OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY
EMAIL AT books@armenianprelacy.org OR BY TELEPHONE 212-689-7810.

AND DON’T FORGET YOUR DAD..
This Sunday, June 15, is Fathers’ Day. The United States is one of the few
countries with an official day for fathers. Although there are many
different stories of who and where the first fathers’ day was celebrated,
there is general agreement that the most ardent proponent of the holiday was
Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who wanted to honor her father
who raised six children after the untimely death of his wife. It is believed
that the first Fathers’ Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane.
States began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Fathers Day. President
Woodrow Wilson approved the idea in 1916 as did President Calvin Coolidge
who in 1924 suggested that it be a national event. However, it did not
become an official holiday until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson signed a
proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Fathers’ Day. Don’t
forget. Call your Dad.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 21-Armenian Food Fair sponsored by the Ladies Guild of St. Gregory
Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall from 11 a.m. to 7 pm.

June 22-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Anniversary
Celebration, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Special program
and exhibit dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy’s affiliation
with the Holy See of Cilicia. Also honored will be the Ladies Guild of St.
Sarkis Church. For reservations contact the church office, 718-224-2275.

June 22-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Divine Liturgy, Luncheon
and Program dedicated to Father’s Day. Organized by the Cathedral’s Ladies
Guild. Mardo Anastasian will be honored as Father of the Year. Information
and reservations: 212-689-5880.

June 24-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, 5th annual Golf Outing,
Juniper Hill Golf Course, Northboro, Massachusetts. For information
508-852-2414.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council.

June 29-St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, celebrate summer at Seroonian
Community Center, "Vartavar Family Picnic," at 1 pm.

July 7 to July 18-Summer Camp at St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New
York. For children age 5 to 12. 10 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday, lunch and
snack included. Minimum donation is $150. Summer camp is sponsored by Mr. &
Mrs. Antranig and Marion Boudakian. Registration deadline is June 8. For
information contact the church office, 718-224-2275.

July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.

August 5-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 9th annual
golf outing at Blackstone National Golf Club, Summon, Massachusetts.
Information: 508-234-3261.

August 17-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, picnic and
blessing of the grapes, officiated by Archbishop Oshagan and New England
area clergy. On church grounds, beginning at 12 noon. For information:
508-234-3677 or

August 17-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, Feast of the Assumption of the Holy
Mother of God and Blessing of the Grapes, and picnic, at the Armenian
Center, Woodside, NY. For information 212-689-5880.

September 7-Annual picnic Festival of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, at American Legion Grounds, Haverhill, Massachusetts,
beginning at 12 noon.

August 3-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Blessing of the
Grapes picnic. Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, noon to 6 pm, rain or
shine.

August 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. Annual
picnic on church grounds. Free admission; free parking.

August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual church
picnic and blessing of the grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion D, Paramus,
NJ. For information 201-943-2950.

September 14-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Celebration of
the Holy Cross and Madagh. For information 201-943-2950.

September 21-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, annual
church banquet. Details to follow.

September 25-Sixth annual golf outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For information contact Richard Krikorian 201-784-2236 or church office
201-943-2950.

September 26-28-National Youth Conference at Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

September 29-30-Clergy conference at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

October 17-18-Annual Fall Fair of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall.

October 21, November 1 and 2-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.

November 9-38th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, and 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the Holy See of
Cilicia, presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan at Jaffarian Hall
following Divine Liturgy.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.

November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
email@armenianprelacy.org to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
info@armenianprelacy.org

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress