July 2, 2009
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM UNDERWAY;
PRELATE VISITS
DATEVATZIS ON TUESDAY
Sponsored by the Prelacys Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC),
the 23rd St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program is in full
swing with more than fifty students (mostly ages 13-18) from eleven
Prelacy
parishes. The program is under the directorship of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, the Vicar General of the Eastern
Prelacy.
The Institute offers a unique opportunity to learn the essentials of
Armenian Christianity in a
wholesome and nurturing environment at the St. Mary of Providence
Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
On
Tuesday, June 30, the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, traveled to
Elverson to spend a day with the Datevatzis. The annual program ends
this weekend with
a July 4th picnic on Saturday, and the Divine Liturgy and luncheon at
St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia.
HRANUSH HAKOBIAN VISITS
PRELACY
Archbishop Oshagan welcomed Hranush Hakobian, the Armenian Republics
Minister of the
Diaspora, to the Prelacy this afternoon, Thursday, July 2. The
Minister met with the Prelate and community leaders and discussed
cooperation
between the Diaspora and the Homeland, as well as a number of issues
of mutual concern.
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
).
PRELATE WILL ATTEND HOMENETMEN EVENT
This
weekend Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to
attend the 19th Inter-Chapter Regional Athletic Games, sponsored by
the
Homenetmen Eastern U.S. Regional Executive and hosted by the
Providence chapter.
His Eminence will preside
over the Gala Banquet on Saturday, July 4th, at the Rhode Island
Convention Center in Providence, and the closing ceremonies on Sunday,
July 5, at
Hope High School, Providence.
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: lical.pdf
).
REPRESENTATIVE OF POPE VISITS CATHOLICOS ARAM
I
Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, a representative of Pope Benedict XVI,
visited His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, this week, following his
visit with the President of Lebanon.
A
high-level delegation, including the personal representative of the
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, accompanied the
Cardinal. The
Cardinal and his delegation discussed the political situation in
Lebanon and relations between the Vatican and the Armenian Orthodox
Church.
BISHOP NAREG CHAIRS JOINT COMMITTEE
Bishop
Nareg Alemezian, the Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia, chaired the annual meeting of the joint committee of the
World Council of
Churches and Secretaries of Christian World Communions, last week in
Antelias. In his welcoming words, Bishop Nareg expressed his optimism
about the
work of the committee and noted, I am convinced that our cooperation
as churches through councils and Christian world communions will
continue
bearing its fruit as we continue to respond together to the challenges
of the 21st century. Brief reports were presented by the
participants. The
committee discussed modes of cooperation on a number of issue.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for
today, Thursday, July 2, are: Wisdom 8:7-10; Isaiah 61:6-9; 1
Corinthians 12:4-11; Luke 12:32-40.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are
varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of
services,
but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is
the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given
the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given
through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the
utterance of knowledge
according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to
another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of
miracles,
to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another
various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of
tongues. All these
are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one
individually just as the Spirit chooses. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
For listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click
here (
4882/goto: .pdf
).
FEAST OF HOLY TRANSLATORS SAINTS SAHAG AND
MESROB
Today, Thursday, July 2, the Armenian Church remembers the Holy
Translators, Saints 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 are commemorated two times during the liturgical year, on the
Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (which is today),
and on the
second Saturday of October.
KING TIRIDATES, QUEEN ASHKHEN, PRINCESS
KHOSROVITOUKHT
This Saturday, July 4, the Armenian Church celebrates King Tiridates
(Drtad), Queen
Ashkhen, and Princess Khosrovitoukht. After torturing and condemning
St. Gregory to the pit and because of the cruel and fatal treatment of
the
Hripsimiantz nuns, King Tiridates became inflicted with strange
maladies. Queen Ashkhen and the Kings sister, Princess Khosrovitoukht
(who had
already secretly become a Christian) convinced the King that only
Gregory could cure him. Thus, Gregory was released from the pit. With
the
Kings subsequent recovery, all three helped Gregory in spreading
Christianity throughout Armenia. In their later years the Queen and
the
Princess lived in the fortress of Garni and the King retired to
St. Gregorys place of retreat on Mt. Sepouh.
THE FOURTH OF JULY
This Saturday is July
4ththe 233rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that
created the United States of America.
Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old when he wrote the draft of the
Declaration as a member of a committee that included John Adams and
Benjamin
Franklin. Minor changes were made to Jeffersons draft, but the final
document remained primarily the work of Jefferson. With unforgettable
phrases, Jefferson expressed the thoughts that were upper most in the
minds and hearts of the American people. It was the most daring
document ever
produced. Imagine a fledgling, divided country made up of thirteen
separate colonies having the boldness (some would say audacity) to
produce a
document against the most powerful country in the world at that time
with demands for certain unalienable rights, that among these are
life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
If you have never read this remarkable document, we suggest
you take a few minutes and read it this July Fourth. To read the
Declaration of Independence click here (
4882/goto: ument/index.htm
).
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
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:
hyeguin@yahoo.com (mailto:hyeguin@yahoo.com) 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@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)