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: [email protected]
April 30, 2009
5th ANNIVERSARY OF PASSING OF ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVORIAN
Today, April 30, is the fifth anniversary of the passing of His
Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian. One of the most learned and
capable clergyman of the Armenian Church, his death at age 57 was a
great loss.
Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Church as an ordained
celibate priest for 38 years, most of which was spent at the
Catholicate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. He was an
eminent teacher at the Cilician Sees Theological Seminary and director
of the Christian Education Department. He was a noted composer of both
religious and secular music, a gifted scholar, a Biblical scholar and
translator, and author of textbooks and commentaries.
Many of the faithful of the Eastern Prelacy had the blessed
opportunity to know, love and respect him during the times he was in
the United States for medical treatment.
Throughout his illness he continued to lecture, celebrate the
sacraments, preach, as well as continue his theological research and
Bible translation.
His life and work will keep his memory alive forever. May he rest in
peace.
STS. VARTANANTZ (NJ) WILL CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ON SUNDAY
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, will celebrate its
50th anniversary this Sunday, May 3. The church was consecrated
exactly 50 years ago on May 3, 1959, by Archbishop Khoren Paroyian,
Nuncio of His Holiness Zareh I, Catholicos of Cilicia.
The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy
Sunday morning and a special commemorative service immediately after
the Liturgy. A celebratory luncheon will follow in the churchs large
hall.
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar, will also attend the services and
festivities. During his student days in the United States, Bishop
Anoushavan frequently preached at Sts. Vartanantz, as well as other
local parishes where he assisted in organizing Bible studies, youth
seminars, and lecture series.
PRELATE PARTICIPATES IN VARIOUS APRIL 24TH EVENTS; EXPRESSES
DISAPPOINTMENT IN PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Last week Archbishop Oshagan participated in a number of activities
related to the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
On Friday, April 17, he delivered the invocation at the commemoration
sponsored by the New York City Council and organized by the Armenian
National Committee of New York. In his prayer the Prelate said, We
gather here with the leadership of our great city of New York to
remember the loss of nearly one-half of the Armenian nation. We seek
your guidance in all our endeavors. We especially ask that you spread
your grace over our leaders because strong and wise leadership is
vital to the well being of any nation and society.Remember the souls
of our martyrs and the survivors who were cast out of their ancestral
homeland. Bring them eternal peace through your justice.
On Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, he was in Washington, DC,
where he attended the commemoration organized by the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, and visited a number of congressional
leaders encouraging them to support the Armenian Martyrs Day
resolution. In his invocation Wednesday evening, His Eminence said in
part, we stand before you today with sadness and melancholy, but still
we are filled with hope. We are filled with the hope of the
Resurrection. We are filled with the hope of the promises of truth and
change. Ninety-four years ago we witnessed the very worst of
humankinds capacity for evil. Today we stand before you and reaffirm
our pledge to give voice to all victims of genocide and tyranny and we
rededicate ourselves to the struggle for truth and justice.
On Friday evening, April 24, His Eminence presided over the
Divine Liturgy and Requiem Service, celebrated by Bishop Anoushavan at
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. Archbishop Oshagan delivered
the sermon based on the theme Lord, Lord Why did you Forsake Me? On
Saturday evening, April 25, His Eminence and Bishop Anoushavan
attended commemorative events organized by the Armenian National
Committee of New York, which took place at the Armenian Center in
Woodside, New York.
On Sunday, April 26, Archbishop Oshagan delivered the invocation at
the Times Square gathering organized by the Knights of Vartan, with
the participation of all the major Armenian institutions and
organizations. His Eminence noted in his prayer, We confess before you
Lord and in the presence of the few remaining survivors, that our
hearts are heavy with sadness. We are disheartened that our president
in his otherwise powerful statement did not honor his promise to
recognize the truth of the Armenian GenocideThe blood of the martyrs,
as predicted by a noted writer of the time, produced a heroic
posterity. New generations of Armenians stand by their obligations not
only by remembering the past and honoring the martyrs, but also by
dedicating themselves to the pursuit of justice for the Armenian
nation and for other suffering people.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK
The Eastern Prelacys National Representative Assembly (NRA) will take
place next week, hosted by All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois. The
clergy conference will begin on Tuesday, May 5. The full Assembly,
clergy and lay delegates will begin their deliberations next Thursday,
May 7. The theme of the Assembly will focus on the youth in keeping
with the 2009 Year of the Youth. Keynote speakers on and by the youth
will be delivered by Nayiri Baljian Bell and Levon Barsoumian. Topics
for the panel discussions include religious education, Armenian
education, By-Laws, Youth, Board of Trustees workshop, and financial.
During the banquet Friday evening the 2009 Man of the Year award will
be presented to Antranig Ovasapian and the Spirit of Armenia award
will be awarded to Congressman Mark Kirk from Chicago who is co-chair
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL EXHIBIT IN NEW JERSEY
A photographic exhibit, Spirit of Survival is on exhibit at Bergen
Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, New Jersey, through May
22. The exhibit is the work of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph
Archives. Ruth Thomasian, founder and executive director of Project
SAVE gave a brief talk on the history behind the photographs on the
opening day of the exhibit. The exhibit chronicles the Armenian people
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Ottoman and Russian
empires, and then later in Soviet Armenia and the Diaspora. It
features 40 large photographs with text documenting Armenians life
before, during, and after the Genocide when their culture, religion,
language, and very existence were threatened.
For more information
( 62279214/1796096/66723483/goto:http://www.projects ave.org/).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, KAREN JEHANIAN TO RECEIVE ENGINEERING AWARD
On Wednesday, May 13, the American Society of Civil Engineers will
honor Karen Jehanian, a member of the Prelacys Executive Council, as
the Transportation Engineer of the Year. The award will be presented
during an event that will take place at the Loews Hotel in center city
Philadelphia. Karen is the founder and president of KMJ Consulting,
Inc., specializing in transportation engineering and planning, traffic
engineering, transit planning and transportation systems.
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
( 82/goto: doc/Pontifical%20Messages/messages68.htm).
To read His Holiness message in English click here
( 32/goto: cal.pdf).
BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM CONTINUES
The six-part Bible study program on Great Prayers of the Bible
continues with two more sessions, tonight, April 30, and May 14. The
program has been studying 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), conducts the Bible studies. The
program is open to all and is free of charge. For information send an
email to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
call 212-689-7810.
EXTENDED BOOKSTORE HOURS
On Bible Study evenings, the Prelacy Bookstore will remain open until
7 pm. The upcoming dates are April 23, 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
( 33/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.
ARS SUMMER STUDIES PROGRAM
The Armenian Relief Society, Eastern Region, is sponsoring a Youth
Connect Program which will take place at Bentley University in
Waltham, Massachusetts, from May 31 to June 7. College students are
encouraged to attend this week-long program. Lodging, meals and other
expenses will be provided by the ARS. There is an application fee of
$100 and participants are responsible for transportation to and from
Boston. For information, 617-926-3801.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible reading for
today, Thursday, April 30 are: Luke 8:1-21; Acts 11:1-26; Acts
11:1-26; 1 Peter 3:10-22; John 4:24-42; Matthew 9:35-10:15; Mark 4:1-9.
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming
and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with
him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and
infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone
out, and Joanna, the wife of Herods steward Chuza, and Susanna, and
many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to
him, he said in a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he
sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the
air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered
for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with
it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and whn it grew, it
produced a hundredfold. As he said this, he called out, Let anyone
with ears to hear listen! Then his disciples asked him what this
parable meant. He said, To you it has been given to know the secrets
of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that
looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not u
understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the
path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the
word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The
ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it
with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in
a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these
are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by
the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not
mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when
they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear
fruit with patient endurance.
No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a
bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the
light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is
anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay
attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be
given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have
will be taken away.
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach
him because of the crowd. And he was told, Your mother and your
brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you. But he said to
them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and
do it. Luke 8:1-21
For listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here
( ).
RED SUNDAY
This Sunday, May 3, is the fourth Sunday of Eastertide, known as Red
Sunday (Karmir Kiraki). The name does not have an ecclesiastical
origin, but rather is similar to last weeks Green Sunday. The name Red
Sunday is believed to refer to the burst of color that comes forth
from the land after a barren winter.
(Think of red tulips in the green fields). It is a celebration of
nature, especially the rebirth after the Resurrection we celebrated a
few weeks ago. The Gospel reading for this Sunday (John 5:19-30)
emphasizes the life-giving word of Jesus.
AS I SEE IT: THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME
I recently had the opportunity to re-read the first inaugural address
of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, delivered on March 4, 1933,
and I was amazed at how relevant the message is 76 years later. The
country was in the depths of the Great Depression. Millions of people
were out of work, and confidence in the future was as low as it could
be. Here is a short excerpt:
This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will
prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only
thing we have to fear is fear itselfnameless, unreasoning, unjustified
terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into
advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of
frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the
people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that
you will again give the support to leadership in these critical days.
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy
of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral
stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of
evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if
they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but
to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
In our progress toward a resumption of work we require two safeguards
against a return of the evils of the old order; there must be a strict
supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be
an end to speculation with other peoples money, and there must be
provision for an adequate but sound currency We now realize as we have
never realized before our interdependence on each other; that we can
not merely take but we must give as well, that if we are to go
forward, we must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice
for the good of a common discipline, because without such discipline
nor progress is made, no leadership becomes effective.. For the trust
reposed in me I will return the courage and the devotion that befit
the time. I can do no less.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 9 through May 5The 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 23Bible Studies program at the Prelacy continues on April 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
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
212-689-7810. The Prelacy bookstore will remain open from 5 to 7 pm on
each of these evenings.
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 [email protected].
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.
May 17The Ladies Guild of St. Stephens Armenian Church of Hartford-New
Britain, Connecticut, is sponsoring an Armenian Tea Party. There will
be a Tea Talk from Bigelow Tea Company, a tea tasting, and a tea
luncheon. Immediately after church services in the church hall.
May 21Mothers Day Luncheon, sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild,
12:30 pm. The luncheon is being hosted by Rene and Linda Chirinian at
their home in New Canaan, Connecticut. A donation of $75 per person
will benefit the charitable work of the PLG. For reservations call the
Prelacy office, 212-689-7810.
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.
July 22Gathering of North American youth in Los Angeles, organized by
the Western Prelacy with the participation of the Eastern and Canadian
Prelacies.
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.
September 25-26-27Prelacy Linked-In. Gathering of the youth. Details
will follow.
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Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
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Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])