PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:
Email: Prelacy@mindspring.com
April 2, 2009
FAITHFUL FLOCK TO THEIR CHURCHES FOR HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Prelacy parishes all reported large turnout of the faithful throughout
Holy Week and for Easter Sunday services. Archbishop Oshagan
celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Sarkis
Church in Douglaston, New York.
We have now entered the fifty day period that follows Easter
(Hinoonk).
40th DAY REQUIEM SERVICES FOR REV. FR. VARTAN KASSABIAN
Archbishop Oshagan has instructed all parishes within the Eastern
Prelacy to observe 40th day requiem services for Rev. Fr. Vartan
Kassabian, who died on March 12.
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy and Requiem
Service at Der Vartans home parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator of
Merrimack Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts. The Liturgy will be
celebrated by Rev. Fr. Vazken Bekiarian. The Prelate will deliver the
Sermon.
Tributes to Der Vartan continue to pour in from near and far. May he
rest in peace and may our Lord grant comfort to Yn. Pauline and
family.
To read a remembrance by Archpriest Antranig Baljian in English click
here
( 65243081/goto: 9a.html).
To read a remembrance by Archpriest Nerses Manoogian in Armenian click
here ( to:(Arm).p df).
SECOND OF QUARTERLY FORUMS TONIGHT
An overflow audience is expected tonight for the second in a series of
forums that take place at the Prelacy offices in Manhattan. Yn. Joanna
Baghsarian and her Youth Bible Study students from Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Providence, Rhode Island, will make a special presentation
based on their research on the Armenian clergymen lost during the
genocide.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL OFFER OPENING PRAYER TOMORROW EVENING AT CITY
HALL GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION
Archbishop Oshagan will attend and deliver the opening prayer at the
Armenian Genocide Commemoration tomorrow, April 17, sponsored by the
New York City Council, and organized by the Armenian National
Committee of New York. It will take place at New York City Hall, City
Hall Chambers, corner of Chambers Street and Broadway.
Panel on Armenian Turkish Relations will feature Taner Akcam, Harut
Sassounian, Bilgin Ayata, Aram Hamparian, and Khatchig Mouradian.
Complimentary round-trip bus service from select locations is
available. For information 646-288-6979.
RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS WILL MEET
The Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy will meet
tomorrow and Saturday, April 17 and 18, at the Prelacy offices in
Manhattan.
PASHALIAN TRUSTEES TO MEET
The trustees of the Pashalian Family Education Fund will meet on
Monday, April 20, at the Prelacy for their annual meeting.
PRELATE AND VICAR WILL VISIT ST. ILLUMINATOR SCHOOL
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan will visit the
St. Illuminators School in Woodside, New York, Tuesday morning. April
21.
YEAR OF THE YOUTH
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated the year 2009 as the Year of The Youth. To read His
Holiness message in Armenian click here
( 79/goto: doc/Pontifical%20Messages/messages68.htm).
To read His Holiness message in English click here
( 78/goto: cal.pdf).
BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM CONTINUES
A six-part program on Great Prayers of the Bible which began last week
will continue every other Thursday, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm (March 19,
April 2, 23, 30 and May 14), at the Prelacy.
The program will include a number of biblical prayers that have been
incorporated into the liturgical prayers and services of the Armenian
Church. Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Prelacys Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC), will conduct the Bible
studies. The program is open to all and is free of charge. To
register, please send an email to arec@armenianprelacy.org
(mailto:arec@armenianprel acy.org) or call 212-689-7810.
EXTENDED BOOKSTORE HOURS
On Bible Study evenings, the Prelacy Bookstore will remain open until
7 pm. The dates of the upcoming Bible Study series are: March 5, 19,
April 2, 16, 30, and May 14.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM: MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The 23rd annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for
youth ages 13-18, is scheduled to take place at the St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 28 to July 5,
2009, preceded by a weekend retreat (optional) from June 26-28,
2009. The Program is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC).
For more information click here
( 71/goto:).
PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON
The Prelacy Ladies Guilds annual Mothers Day luncheon is going to take
place on Thursday, May 21, beginning at 12:30 pm. The luncheon is
being hosted by Rene and Linda Chirinian at their home in New Canaan,
Connecticut. A donation of seventy-five dollars per person will
benefit the charitable work of the PLG.
To make reservations and obtain directions to the Chirinian residence
please contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
PILGRIMAGE TO DEIR ZOR
As part of the year-long celebration of the Year of the Youth, the
dioceses of Aleppo and Lebanon organized a pilgrimage to Deir Zor for
the youth. A group of youthful pilgrims, led by Catholicos Aram I, is
currently in Deir Zor.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible reading for today, Thursday, April 16 are: Acts 4:13-31; James
1: 13-27; Matthew 5:1-12; Evening Gospels: Luke 24:36-40; Matthew
5:1-12.
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and
said to them,
Peace be with you. They were startled and terrified, and thought that
they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, Why are you frightened, and
why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see
that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh
and bones as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed
them his hands and his feet. (Luke 24:36-40)
For listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here
( 77/goto: df).
NEW SUNDAY
This Sunday, April 19, is New Sunday. Easter Sunday is followed by a
period of fifty days (Hinoonk) during which there are no fasting days
or saints days. This period from the Resurrection to Pentecost
(Hogegaloost) is dedicated to the glorification of the
Resurrection. Each of the seven Sundays of Hinoonk has a separate
name. This Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, is called New Sunday
(Nor Kiraki), since the first day of the week through Christs
resurrection became consecrated and Sunday became a dominical day. By
virtue of its being the eighth day of Easter and a day similar to
Easter, it is also called Second Easter (Grgnazadig), which literally
means Easter repeated.
One of the readings on New Sunday is from the powerful first chapter
of the Gospel according to St. John, which proclaims Jesus as the Son
of God, the Word made flesh.
Today, you new peoples, with the heavenly and radiant angels let us
sing to the renewer of the human race who died and arose for us,
saying: May your resurrection be glorified.
Today, sons of Sion, born sons of God by grace in the font for the
renewal for the tomb, saying, May your resurrection be glorified.
Children of faith, celebrating today the feast of Jerusalem on high,
renew the garment of your souls and with the sons of light of the new
Sion bless Christ the King, saying: May your resurrection be
glorified.
From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church for New Sunday
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
This week New Yorkers welcomed and celebrated the installation of the
new Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, Timothy M. Dolan. Our
archive photo this week was taken on April 4, 1968, at the
installation of Archbishop Terence J. Cooke as the new leader of Roman
Catholics in New York, succeeding Cardinal Spellman. In this photo
Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian (center of photo), Prelate
of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, takes part
in the procession of clergy during the installation. The other
Armenian clergyman (on the right) is Archbishop Torkom Manoogian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (now Patriarch of
Jerusalem). On the same day Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated
in Memphis, Tennessee, sparking riots in major cities nationwide.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 9 through May 5 The Uprooted: Genocides, the works of artist
Lucy Janjigian will be on display at the Carole and Norman Barham
Rotunda from April 9 through May 5.
Hosted by the Queens College Benjamin Rosenthal Library and The
Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and the Armenian
Museum. The library is open from 9 am to 10 pm, Monday through
Thursday; 9 am to 5 pm Friday, and 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday and
Sunday. A Power Point presentation will take place on April 22, 2 pm,
in the Presidents Conference room. For reservations to the Power Point
presentation, reception and parking passes, call 718-428-5650.
April 16Prelacys Quarterly Forum Series. Yn. Joanna Baghsarian of
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, will speak about the untold story
of the Armenian clergymen lost to the Genocide and the Stalin purges,
at the Prelacys Hovnanian Hall. Program will begin promptly at 7:15
pm. Reception will follow. Admission is free but RSVP is
required. Contact events@armenianprelacy.org
(mailto:events@armenian prelacy.org) or 212-689-7810.
April 17
Armenian Genocide Commemoration, sponsored by the New York City
Council, City Hall, corner of Chambers Street & Broadway. Featured
panel on Armenian-Turkish Relations:
Taner Akcam, Harut Sassounian, Bilgin Ayata, Aram Hamparian, Khatchig
Mouradian. For information info@ancny.org (mailto:info@ancny.org) or
646-288-6979.
APRIL 19
On the Road (Jampoun Vrah) by Levon Shant (U.S. Premiere), directed by
Dr. Herand Markarian, at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Avenue,
Woodside, New York, at 8:05 pm. Sponsored by the Hamazkayin Armenian
Educational and Cultural Society of New York.
APRIL 19St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois, is
presenting a Chamber Concert at 2 pm, featuring members of the
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (English Horn and strings), sponsored by
the St. Gregory Fellowship Club, through the St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra Community Partnership program. Program will include the
Yegmalian Hayr Mer, as well as two original compositions by
Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, one in memory of Rev. Fr. Vartan
Kassabian. Light reception will follow. Free will offering.
April 23New six-part Bible Studies program at the Prelacy continues on
the following Thursdays: April 23, 30, May 14, from 7:15 to 8:45
pm. Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education
Council will lead the sessions. Open to all and free of charge. For
registration and information contact arec@armenianprelacy.org
(mailto:arec@armenianprel acy.org) or 212-689-7810. The Prelacy
bookstore will remain open from 5 to 7 pm on each of these evenings.
April 24Flag raising ceremony on the grounds of the Connecticut State
Capitol Building in Hartford at noon.
April 24Armenian Genocide Commemoration, organized by the Armenian
National Committee of New Jersey, at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461
Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Requiem services at 7 pm;
program at 8 pm. Guest speaker: Hovan Tashjian from Los Angeles. Also
participating in the program: AYF-YOARF Arsen Chapter, Homenetmen of
NJ, Nareg Armenian School, and Ms. Eugene Mukeshimana, a survivor of
the Rwandan Genocide and Genocide Panelist at the United Nations.
April 25Commemorative program and memorial service in the House
Chambers in Hartford, Connecticut, 11 a.m., followed by Madagh in the
Hall of Flags. Keynote speaker, Attorney Matthew Karanian.
APRIL 25Cultural Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, 7 pm, at the
Armenian Center, Woodside, New York. Participation from the New York
community including: New York City Dignitaries, Cultural and Arts
Organizations, Armenian Churches, Armenian Schools, Youth
Organizations, Community Organizers. For information: info@ancny.org
(mailto:info@ancny.org) or 646-288-6979.
April 26Martyrs day Requiem Service at St. Stephens Armenian Church,
167 Tremont Street, New Britain, Connecticut, followed by memorial
dinner in the churchs Aurora Kework Hall.
April 2694th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,
sponsored by the Knights of Vartan and participating organizations, at
Times Square (NYC), 2 pm. For information
(http: //e2ma.net/go/1914305347/1753367/65243076/goto:htt p://).
April 22 & April 29Introduction to the Divine Liturgy, St. Gregory
Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts. (Please
note: originally scheduled for January; dates have been changed.)
May 3Holy Trinity Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, will present the
musical Hello Ellis Island, by Hourig Papazian Sahagian, performed by
the musical ensemble The Way We Were, Sunday, May 3, 2 pm at
Quinsigamond Community Colleges Hebert Auditorium, 670 West Boylston
Street, Worcester. For information: 508-852-2414.
May 350th anniversary celebration of consecration of Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Divine Liturgy celebrated by
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, followed by luncheon and program.
May 3Senior Hye Prom, sponsored by St. Stephen Church Sunday School,
Watertown, Massachusetts. Senior members of the community are invited
to attend the Prom following Badarak for lunch and a musical program
featuring golden oldies. For reservations and information contact the
church office at 617-731-6051, or by email to Audrey Guzelian at
Audrey.vartkes@verizon.net (mailto:Audrey.vartkes@verizon.net).
May 7-9National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
All Saints Armenian Apostolic Church, Glenview, Illinois. Clergy
Conference begins May 6.
May 9Step into Spring, Silent Auction and Wine Tasting, at Holy
Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 7 pm to 10
pm. General admission: $25; seniors and students: $15. For information
508-852-2414.
June 28Annual Madagh Picnic, St. Hagop Church (Racine), at Johnson
Park Picnic Grounds, 6200 Northwestern Ave., Racine, Wisconsin, 10:30
to 7 pm.
June 29 July 5St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute, St. Mary of
Providence Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania.
July 18Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Ladies
Guild/ARS Chapter present a Hye Summer Night 4 Dance at The
Annunciation Greek Church, Cranston, Rhode Island. For information
401-434-4467.
August 2Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Annual
Picnic and Blessing of Madagh and Grapes at Camp Haiastan, Franklin,
Massachusetts, 12 noon to 6 pm, rain or shine. Music by John
Berberian and Ensemble.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add email@armenianprelacy.org (mailto: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 (mailto:info@armenianprelacy.org)