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]
June 25, 2009
14th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PONTIFICATE OF
HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS ARAM
I
The 14th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be marked in
all Prelacy churches this Sunday, June 28. Pontifical Prayers and
Blessings will be offered during the Divine Liturgy. Catholicos Aram
was consecrated on July 1, 1995, by His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos
of All Armenians.
PRELATE WILL BE IN NEW JERSEY ON SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy and the
Pontifical Prayer for His Holiness Aram I, at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, June 28. His Eminence will
deliver the sermon on this occasion.
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM BEGINS THIS SUNDAY IN
PENNSYLVANIA
Sponsored by the Prelacys Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC),
the 23rd
St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program begins this
weekend. Over fifty students (mostly ages 13-18) from eleven Prelacy
parishes, and several
clergymen, will gather at the St. Mary of Providence Center in
Elverson, Pennsylvania, beginning Sunday, June 28, for the annual
summer program under
the directorship of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, the Vicar General of
the Eastern Prelacy. A number of the participants will attend the
weekend
retreat starting Friday, June 26.
The Institute offers a unique opportunity for our youth to learn the
essentials of Armenian Christianity in a wholesome and nurturing
environment. Each day the program begins with Morning Service from
7:15 am to 7:45
am. Four classes are held from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. In the afternoons,
the students enjoy recreational activities, such as volleyball,
soccer,
basketball, and swimming. In the evening there is a panel discussion
from 7:30 to 8:20, followed by three concurrent Bible studies from
8:30 to 9:30
for different age groups. The day comes to a close with the Compline
Service (Husgoom) from 9:45 to 10:30
pm.
The Instructors of the Institute this year are: Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Rev. Fr. Khoren Habeshian,
Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. James
Haddad,
Mrs. Denise Borekjian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
This year the Institute is privileged to have three guest
instructors: Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of Biblical Studies at
St. Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary; Michael Papazian,
Associate
Professor and Chairman of the Religion and Philosophy Department of
Berry College, and Edward G. Matthews, Recurring Visiting Professor of
Early
Christian Languages and Literature and Director of Research at
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
We thank Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Kouyoumdjian and Dr. & Mrs.
Drtad Manguikian for their generous assistance in sponsoring the Datev
Summer Institute.
For more information
about the Datev Institute click
here (
4882/goto:
).
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA VISITS PRELACY
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, the United States ambassador to the
Republic of Armenia, visited the
Prelacy Tuesday, June 23. The Ambassador met privately with the
Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, prior to a reception where
representatives of area
Prelacy parishes and affiliate organizations listened to the
Ambassadors presentation. The Prelate welcomed the Ambassador and her
assistant,
Susan Christy to the Prelacy and hoped that there would be additional
opportunities of mutual conversation. He acknowledged the presence of
His
Excellency Armen Martirosian, the Republic of Armenias Permanent
Representative to the United Nations.
Ms. Yovanovitch spoke about the need for accountability and the
struggle against a culture of corruption at all levels of government
and civil
society. She spoke about irregularities in elections, including the
recent election in Yerevan. Speaking about the economic conditions of
the country,
she noted that the World Bank has projected that Armenias poverty rate
will go from 23 to 28 percent by next year. She stressed that U.S.
assistance is making Armenia more competitive and economically
viable. She spoke about the benefits of open borders between Armenia
and Turkey,
predicting that Armenias GDP would go up. We believe that Turkey and
Armenia will find they have more that unites them than divides
them.
A lively question and answer period followed with questions about the
reduced U.S. aid to
Armenia, the double-standard shown by the U.S. concerning the Karabagh
issue. Questions were raised about the U.S. attitude about the
Armenian
Genocide, specifically President Obamas statement this
year. Ms. Yovanovitch responded, I know there is disappointment and
even anger
at President Obamas April 24th statement, but he went further in his
statement than any previous American
president.
After the Q & A, the Ambassador spoke with many of the attendees,
listening to their
concerns and answering their questions.
HOUSE COMMITTEE REJECTS AID CUTS TO ARMENIA
The House Committee on Appropriations reversed the nearly 40% cut
requested by the Obama administration and maintained funding for
Armenia at
last years allocation of $48 million. In addition, $10 million was
allocated for Nagorno Karabagh and the Committee restored military
parity between Armenia and Azerbajian. The Committee also rejected the
20% funding increase for Azerbaijan proposed by the administration. A
vote in
the House may take place next week.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND HAMAZKAYIN RECEPTION
Archbishop Oshagan will attend the opening ceremony and reception of
the 33rd regional convention of the Hamazkayin (Eastern U.S.), which
will take
place tomorrow, Friday, June 26, at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. The weekend event is in celebration of
Hamazkayins 81
years of cultural and educational service.
RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS WILL MEET
The Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy will meet
this weekend, Friday evening and Saturday, June 26 and 27, at the
Prelacy
offices in Manhattan.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND HOVNANIAN SCHOOL
GRADUATION
Archbishop Oshagan will attend the 8th grade graduation ceremonies of
the Hovnanian School
in New Milford, New Jersey, this Sunday afternoon, June 28.
ST. STEPHENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
GRADUATION
The St. Stephens Armenian Elementary School in Watertown,
Massachusetts, completed
its 25th academic year with kindergarten graduation ceremonies on June
18 and elementary graduation ceremonies on June
19.
John Daghlian, chairman of the St. Stephens Board of Trustees and
Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian,
pastor of St. Stephens Church, expressed their appreciation to the
administration and faculty for their dedication and
effort.
Kindergarten graduates were: Nareg Aboyan, Arek Adourian, Antranig
Atinizian, Isabella Balian, Berj
Chekijian, Ani Davidian, Lori Ganjian, Angelina Halibian, Ani
Haroutunian, Shant Karamousayan, Knar Krafian, Elizabeth Krmzian,
Karina Melkonian,
Lilit Michaelian, Vahan Nadjarian, Ani Ourfalian, Garen Sahakian,
Gacia Vosbigian, and Isabella Yeghiayan.
Elementary School graduates were: Melanie Aftandilian, Shant Arouyan,
David Babikian, Tina Barsoumian, Koko Boyajian, Soleen Ghahraman,
Tenny
Gregorian, Ani Hackett, Kevork Hamparian, Antranig Kechejian, Varak
Mouradian, Jonathan Orchanian, Lori Sahakian, Parkev Terzian, and Ani
Vehapetian.
SERVICES IN FLORIDA
On Sunday, June 21, Armenians in the Orlando area, came together to
celebrate several holidays. The parish of Holy Cross Church came
together at the
St. Francis Anglican Church for the Divine Liturgy, as well as the
flag blessing and thanksgiving service for the Republic of
Armenia. The
guest celebrant was Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, pastor of St. Sarkis
Church in Dearborn, Michigan. Prior to the sermon, Der Daron conducted
the
thanksgiving service and flag blessing. The day also served as a
celebration of Mothers Day and Fathers Day.
After church services the parishioners gathered in the hall and the
tents outside in great fellowship, enjoying the shish kebob dinner and
games for
the children.
HRANUSH HAKOBIAN WILL VISIT PRELACY NEXT
THURSDAY
Hranush Hakobian, the Armenian Republics Minister of the Diaspora will
visit the
Prelacy next Thursday, July 2. The Ministrys mission is stated as: To
carry out state policy aimed at deepening and development
of Diaspora-Homeland cooperation. Ms. Hacobian will confer with the
Prelate, as well as community leaders about the important relationship
between the Diaspora and the Homeland, and how these ties can be
strengthened.
2009 PRELACY LINKED IN WEEKEND
The 2009
Prelacy LINKED IN weekend for young adults will take place September
25-27, at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.
For more information click here (
4882/goto: 9.htm
).
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 (
4882/goto: 4/doc/Pontifical%20Messages/messages68.htm
).
To
read His Holiness message in English click
here (
4882/goto: 9.htm
).
CATHOLICOS ARAM CHAIRS G8 PREPARATORY
MEETING
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, chaired
the deliberative
sessions of the G8 Preparatory Meeting on June 17th in Rome. In his
brief introduction he urged the participants to work together in order
to overcome
the current economic crisis. He then invited the participants to share
the priority concerns of their regions.
ONE DAY ADULT SEMINAR THIS SATURDAY
A
one-day seminar for adults will take place this Saturday, June 27, at
St. Mary of Providence Retreat Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, prior
to the
beginning of the St. Gregory of Datev Institute summer studies
program. The seminar is organized by the Christian Education Committee
of St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia. Guest lecturers Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, and Archpriest Fr. Nerses
Manoogian, pastor
of St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, will discuss spirituality in the
Armenian Church.
For more information
click here (
4882/goto: SeminarFlyer.pdf
) and for a
registration form click here (
4882/goto: SeminarForm.pdf
).
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for
today, Thursday, June 25, are: Isaiah 1:21-31; Romans 7:25-8:11;
Matthew 12:38-45.
Then some of
the scribes and Pharisees said to him, Teacher, we wish to see a sign
from you. But he answered them, An evil and adulterous
generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the
sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three
nights in
the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the
Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh
will rise up
at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they
repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than
Jonah is
here! The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth
to listen
to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is
here!
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through
waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then
it
says, I will return to my house from which I came. When it comes, it
finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings
along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and
live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the
first. So will it
be also with this evil generation. (Matthew 12:38-45)
For listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click
here (
4882/goto: .pdf
).
FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF RELICS OF ST.
GREGORY
This Saturday, June 27, the Armenian Church commemorates one of the
three feast days
dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator: The Discovery of His
Remains. The other two commemorations are his entrance into the pit
and his deliverance
from the pit.
St. Gregory is the greatest figure in the Armenian Church. He is
considered to be the
Apostle of Armenia. After years of evangelizing, St. Gregory sought
solitude and an ascetic life. He eventually chose a cave on Mount
Sepouh as his permanent living place. It was here that Gregory died
alone. Some shepherds found his body and without realizing who he was,
buried him
under a pile of stones. Later a hermit, Garnik of Pasen, who had been
a disciple of St. Gregory, saw a vision and went to Mount Sepouh where
he found
the site of Gregorys burial. He took the remains to the village of
Tordan for burial, where King Trtad was buried. Relics of St. Gregory
were
retained and sent to different locations as was the custom of the
time. Relics from the right hand of St. Gregory are at the Holy See of
Etchmiadzin
and the Holy See of Cilicia. The Catholicoi mix the new muron (chrism)
with the old muron with the golden Right Hand that contains the
relics.
REMEMBERING CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
This
Monday, June 29, is the tenth anniversary of the passing of His
Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
from 1995 to
1999; Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia from 1977 to 1995; and
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1973 to
1977.
Tenth anniversary requiem service, as well as other memorial events
are scheduled to take place in Holy
Etchmiadzin in September.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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 8National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG)
religious seminary hosted by the Ladies Guild of St. Gregory Churchy
of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 781-762-4253.
August 9St. Stephens Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, annual picnic and blessing of madagh and grapes at Camp
Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts. Starts at 12 noon, rain or
shine. Live
music.
August 9Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts, annual picnic and blessing of the grapes.
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 13Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts, 75th anniversary Holy Mass and banquet,
under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.
September 21St. Stephens (Watertown, MA)
Armenian School/ACEC 14th annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country
Club. $165 includes golf, lunch, dinner, and contests. For information
contact
Astor at 781-326-5764.
September 25-26-27Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the
youth. For details click
here (
4882/goto: 9.htm
).
October 1Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents
7th annual Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New
Jersey. $175 includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and
enjoy a great
day and support the church. For information contact Mark,
201-483-3200.
October 10National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG)
annual conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. 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 protected] (mailto:[email protected]) 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: [email protected]
(mailto:info@armenianprel acy.org)