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Crossroads E-Newsletter – May 7, 2009

May 7, 2009

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY CONVENES IN CHICAGO

The Eastern Prelacys National Representative Assembly (NRA) convened
today, May 7.
The clergy conference began yesterday prior to the full assembly
meeting of today. The NRA is hosted this year by All Saints Armenian
Apostolic
Church, Glenview, Illinois. The major theme this year is the Year of
the Youth as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia.
The delegates watched a video message sent by His Holiness Aram
I. This was followed
by the keynote address by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy.
In his
address, Archbishop Oshagan thanked the host parish and Archpriest
Fr. Zareh Sahagian for their warm welcome. His Eminence touched upon
the long
history of the Armenian diaspora and the need to strengthen the
Armenian identity. We belong to the Armenian nation and Armenian
Church, His Eminence said. Our identity is usually molded by our
families, churches, schools, centers, and by our national and
religious education. This belonging becomes brilliant when we become
more intimately familiar with our historychurch and
nation.
A major part of the Prelates address was devoted to the 2009 Year of
the Youth.
It is clear that we want the young and lively faithful to carry on a
role and show vitality in their work, but at the same time being
careful
not to hurt our national and ecclesiastical understanding, traditions
and way of work which has a foundation centuries old and which has put
a
definitive seal on the Armenian identity and belonging. We commend
highly the ambition of our young generation and congratulate them
every time when
they brighten our ecclesiastical and organizational Armenian life in
general in this blessed land of America through their useful and
constructive
thoughts, planning and work.
Later this afternoon, two addresses will be presented to the delegates
from representatives of the younger generations, specifically Nayiri
Baljian Bell and Levon Barsoumian.
The
NRA will continue through to Saturday afternoon. Tomorrow evening at
the banquet various honors will be accorded including the Spirit of
Armenia
award, Man of the Year, and Youth Leadership Awards.

STS. VARTANANTZ (NJ) CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
CONSECRATION
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, celebrated the 50th
anniversary of the
churchs consecration last Sunday, May 3. The church was consecrated by
Archbishop Khoren Paroyian, Nuncio of His Holiness Catholicos Zareh I,
exactly fifty years ago on May 3, 1959.
Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and a candle lighting
ceremony for the 50th anniversary that followed the
Liturgy. Participating in the services were Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar General; Rev. Fr.
Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz; and Archpriest Fr. Moushegh
Der Kaloustian, who was a participant fifty years ago during the
consecration.
During the Liturgy, His Eminence honored Der Hovnan with the right to
wear the pectoral cross in
celebration of the fifth anniversary of his ordination. A luncheon
followed the services in the churchs large hall with the presence of
many
parishioners who were present at the consecration fifty years
ago. Richard Sarajian, Master of Ceremonies, introduced the
dignitaries attending
including local councilmen and the mayor of Ridgefield.
In his sermon, the Prelate praised the founders of the
church who against all odds pursued their dream and were able to build
this church. The Prelate said that all of us need to have that
same dedication and excitement that the founding generation had.

Photos: (1) Young parishioners participate in a special candle
lighting ceremony following the
Liturgy. (2) Archbishop Oshagan with Bishop Anoushavan, Archpriest
Moushegh Der Kaloustian, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, with some of the
Sunday
school students who performed during the luncheon. (3) A scene from
the luncheon that followed the church services.

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
( 88380112/1818306/67950394/goto:http://www.projects ave.org/).

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
( 89/goto: doc/Pontifical%20Messages/messages68.htm).
To read
His Holiness message in English click
here
( 67956216/goto: ncyclical.pdf).

BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM CONTINUES
The Bible
study program on Great Prayers of the Bible concludes next week with
the final session on Thursday, 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
arec@armenianprelacy.org (mailto:arec@armenianprelacy.org) or call
212-689-7810.
DATEV SUMMER
PROGRAM
The 23rd annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for
youth ages 13-18, is
rapidly approaching. As in previous years it will 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
( 17/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.

PRESIDENT OF AGBU VISITS ANTELIAS
Berge
Setrakian, president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union visited
His Holiness Aram I last week. Hagop Atechian, a member of the Central
Committee
of the National Council of the Catholicosate of Cilicia was also
present. Discussions focused on the relationship between the Armenian
Church and the
AGBU and ways to strengthen cooperation. Also discussed were issues
concerning Armenia-Diaspora relations.

ECUMENICAL VISITS IN ANTELIAS
Several
ecumenical visits took place last week at the Catholicosate in
Antelias, Lebanon, including:
His Holiness
received Jean Bouchebel, director-Resource Development of World
Vision. World Vision and the Catholicosate have been cooperating
during the past
several years on relief and development endeavors.
Dr. Elie Mukhaiber, a member of the executive committee of
Middle East Council of Churches, representing the Greek Orthodox
Patriarchate of Antioch, visited His
Holiness.
Mr. Andrew Torigian, Executive Director of the Armenian Missionary
Association of America
visited His Holiness. Rev. Meguerditch Karageuzian, president of the
Armenian Evangelical Union of the Near East accompanied
Mr. Torigian. They
discussed the cooperation between the Armenian Orthodox and Armenian
Evangelical churches.
Metropolitan George
Saliba of Mount Lebanon, visited Antelias on behalf of Patriarch
Ignatius Zakka Iwas I, and met with His Holiness Aram I. Also
attending were:
Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, deputy to Armenian Orthodox Patriarch
Torkom Manoogian of Jerusalem; Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Director of
Ecumenical
Relations of the Catholicosate, and Dr. Gerges Saleh, General
Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches. Discussion focused
on various
ecumenical issues pertaining to bilateral relations between the
Armenian and Syrian Orthodox Churches, the Middle East Council of
Churches, as well as
issues related to Armenian-Syrian church relations in Jerusalem.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for
today, Thursday, May 7 are: Luke 10:25-42; Acts 15:1-29; 2 Peter
2:9-22; John 6:22-38; Matthew 13:1-23; Mark
6:1-6.
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he said, what
must I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in
the law? What do you read there? He answered,
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all
your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and
your
neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have given the right
answer; do this, and you will
live.
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, And who is my
neighbor? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat
him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was
going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other
side. So
likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on
the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and
when he saw
him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds,
having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal,
brought
him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two
denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, Take care of him; and
when I
come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. Which of these
three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands
of the
robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. Jesus said to him, Go
and do
likewise.
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where
a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister
named Mary, who sat at the Lords feet and listened to what he was
saying.
But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and
asked, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the
work
by myself? Tell her then to help me. But the Lord answered her,
Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there
is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will
not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:25-42)

For listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click
here ().

A PPARITION OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday,
May 10, the Armenian Church commemorates the Apparition of the Cross
(Yerevoumun Sourp Khatch). The Apparition of the Holy Cross is the
third
feast of the Holy Cross in the Armenian liturgical calendar. It is
celebrated on the fifth Sunday of Easter, in remembrance of the
apparition of the
sign of the cross that appeared over the city of Jerusalem in 351 A.D,
and remained in the sky for about a week. The apparition, which
extended from
Golgotha to the Mount of Olives (about 2 miles), was brighter than the
sun and seen by all of Jerusalem. This event is celebrated by the
Armenian and
Greek churches. The Greeks observe it on a fixed day of May 7th. The
Armenians observation is moveable depending on the date of Easter; it
is
celebrated on the fifth Sunday of Easter (which is the fourth Sunday
afterEaster).

FROM THE BOOKSTORE

ARMENIAN GOLGOTHA
A Memoir of the Armenian Genocide,
1915-1918
By Grigoris Balakian
Translated by Peter Balakian and Aris Sevag
For the first time this eyewitness account of the
Armenian Genocide is available in English. On April 14, 1915, Grigoris
Balakian, a celibate priest in the Armenian Church, was arrested along
with
other intellectuals and leaders of Constantinoples Armenian
community. It was the beginning of a four-year ordeal for Very
Rev. Fr. Grigoris
Balakian. He managed to escape and was able to write this riveting
memoir. Hayr Grigoris was later elevated to Bishop. He died in
Marseilles in
1934.
509 pages, with photographs and maps.
$35.00, plus shipping and handling.

TO ORDER THIS OR OTHER BOOKS, OR FOR INFORMATION CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE
BY EMAIL AT BOOKS@ARMENIANPRELACY.ORG
(mailto:BOOKS@ARMENIANPR ELACY.ORG) OR BY TELEPHONE AT 212-689-7810.

SUNDAY IS MOTHERS DAY
This Sunday, May 10,
is Mothers Day. Wherever you are, dont forget to call your mother. I
wish I could call mine.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 7-9National Representative Assembly of Eastern
Prelacy, hosted by All Saints Armenian Apostolic Church, Glenview,
Illinois.

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.

May 23St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, 52nd annual banquet, presided by Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan. On Sunday, May 24, the Prelate will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and
deliver the sermon.

May 31St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Special meeting for Parish building project.

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.

August 16Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey, annual picnic and Blessing of the Grapes.

August 16St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, picnic and Blessing of the Grapes.
September 25-26-27Prelacy Linked-In. Gathering of the youth. Details
will follow.

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@armenianprel acy.org)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://www.projectsave.org/
http://e2ma.net/go/19
http://e2ma.net/go/1988380112/1818306/679503
http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/v04/
http://e2ma.net/go/1988380112/1818306/
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/2009E
http://e2ma.net/go/1988380112/1818306/679562
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/datev.htm
http://www.armenianprelacy.org/DBR2009-5.pdf
Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS
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