August 20, 2009

NORTH AMERICAN PRELATES MEET IN MONTREAL

The three North American Prelates, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
(Eastern U.S.); Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian (Western U.S.); and
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian (Canada), have been meeting in Montreal
yesterday and today to discuss general issues that are of concern to
the three prelacies, including religious, administrative, economic,
and organizational issues, as well as preparing reports on issues that
will be presented in November during a meeting of the three North
American prelacies with the Central Religious and Lay Councils in
Antelias, Lebanon. Photo: Archbishops Oshagan, Khajag, and Moushegh
during their meeting yesterday.

BISHOPS IN MONTREAL
As noted above, the three North American Prelates are in
Montreal. Coincidentally four other bishops were in Montreal creating
this great photo opportunity. Photo left to right: Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, and Bishop Papken Tcharian.

BIBLE TRANSLATION CONTINUES

While in Montreal the Bible translation team (Archbishop Oshagan,
Archbishop Khajag, and Bishop Anoushavan) continued its Bible
translation project.
SEMINAR CONCLUDES IN BIKFAYA

The third ecumenical formation seminar successfully concluded last
week at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. The program
included presentations, plenary discussions, and round tables on the
Armenian Church, its history, liturgy, feasts and rituals, as well as
inter-church and inter-religious relations. Participants reflected on
the overall theme of the seminar, "Who is my friend?" during daily
morning Bible studies.

Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Director of the Office of Ecumenical
Relations, and Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian, the Moderator of the
committee, invited the participants to assess their experiences. After
expressing their thanks for this opportunity to learn about the church
and ecumenism, they asked the committee to organize such events more
often to deepen their understanding of the church and its traditions,
the ecumenical movement, and the nature of inter-religious dialogue in
general and Christian-Muslim dialogue in particular. They requested
that thematic seminars be organized on a rotating basis in the
dioceses in different regions. They also suggested that the committee
strengthen the work on a diocesan level.

In his concluding remarks, His Holiness Aram I expressed his
appreciation of the contribution of the participants, and he said that
living in a diaspora situation, the Armenian Church is in touch with
different religions and cultures. These interactions must be taken
seriously by our church in its ecumenical and inter-religious
engagement. His Holiness reaffirmed the ecumenical commitment of the
Armenian Church and reminded the participants that relations,
collaboration and reflection constitute the interrelated dimensions of
ecumenical vision and action.
NOW IS THE TIME TO FINALIZE YOUR PLANS FOR 2009 PRELACY LINKED IN WEEKEND

In his sermon delivered during the Feast of the Assumption, His
Holiness Aram I said this about our youth: "On this day of the Feast
of the Assumption of the Theotokos, I pray to her to intercede with
her Son on behalf of our youth. We declared 2009 as the Year of the
Youth to remind ourselves that youth are both our present and future,
and therefore, we should listen and respond to them. Today, our youth
are facing many problems. We should enable them to discover the
spiritual foundations of our church, the ethical values arising from
the teaching of our church, and the cultural traditions shaped by our
Armenian roots."

With the words of His Holiness in mind, the 2009 Prelacy LINKED IN
weekend for young adults will take place September 25-27, at the Holy
Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts, as part of
the ongoing Year of the Youth activities. Here in the northeast it
seems that summer just started this week, when we finally experienced
real summer weather. But, truth be told, Labor Day is looming ahead,
so make your plans now for this inspiring LINKED IN weekend of
September 25-27..

Under the general theme of "Know Your Church," presentations will be
made by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, Professor Michael Papazian, and Yeretzgin Margaret
Stepanian. The weekend gathering will also feature prayer services,
meditations, bible studies, and panel discussion.

For more information and registration form click here
( 82/goto: htm ).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA

The Prelacy’s Executive Director, Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, will be in
Armenia next week where he will confer with the staff of the Prelacy
office, The St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The Prelacy
continues its various programs in Armenia, including the highly
successful orphan sponsorship program, aid to orphanages, and aid to
families. Visits to oversee the work of the Yerevan office are made
during the year by the Executive Director and by the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan.

While in Armenia, Dr. Ghougassian will attend the conference for the
heads of Armenian libraries and library collections which will take
place next week. The conference will convene under the auspices of His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and is being
coordinated by the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). The Prelacy’s
Hovsep and Suzanne Hagopian Library, on the third floor of the Prelacy
office building in Manhattan, contains a rich collection of more than
13,000 volumes.

MORE IMPRESSIONS FOR DATEV

We have received two more impressions written by 2009 Datev attendees,
which we are pleased to share with you:

I have been involved with Datev, even longer than I have been involved
with Sunday school and church choir. As a Post Graduate Student, the
classes are more advanced than the first four levels. The classes were
illuminating and gave us an opportunity to think more about the Bible,
church history, and the church fathers. For one week all the
Datevatsis are united into a family that prays, eats, worships, and
learns together. That’s why anticipation builds every year when Datev
comes around, we all can’t wait to be together and see each other.
Ani Yaghmourian (Post Graduate)

In the beginning, I was a little nervous about going to Datev. I
thought I wasn’t going to know anyone, but when I got there it felt
like I knew everyone for a long time. I also met new friends from
different states. I had a good time. It felt like God was
everywhere. Whoever is there feels like they’re in the presence of
God. I learned a lot about Armenian language, religion, culture,
hymns, and the Bible. When I came back, my father asked me, "Did you
like it?" I answered, "Yes, but now I have to wait 51 weeks."
Unfortunately it is only one week.
Celina Bozoian (1st year student)

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, August 20, are: Proverbs
11:30-12:4; Zechariah 2:10-13; 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Luke 1:39-56.

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple
of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among
them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore
come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and
touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your
father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the
fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
( ).

BLESSING OF THE GRAPES IN OUR PARISHES

Last Sunday was the Feast of the Assumption and the Blessing of the
Grapes. Many of our parishes perform the Blessing of Grapes ceremony
outside in the open air. Here are two more photographs.

Photo: Bishop Anoushavan, Archbishop Oshagan, and Rev. Fr. Bedros
Shetilian last Sunday during the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony at
Holy Cross Armenian Church, Troy, New York.

Photo: Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian and deacons during the Blessing of
Grapes of Sts. Vartanantz, Providence, Rhode Island, at the parish’s
picnic which took place at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.

CATHEDRAL PASTOR AND PARISHIONERS HELP KEEP THE TRADITION FOR
RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK HOME FOR AGED

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in
New York, and 27 of his parishioners visited the Armenian Home for the
Aged in Flushing, New York, on August 19.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob performed the Blessing of Grapes ceremony for the
residents and then blessed each one individually while distributing
the blessed grapes. Der Hayr presented the Home with a $500 donation
from the Cathedral, and the parishioners matched the amount.

Der Mesrob is a familiar face at the Armenian Home; he goes every
Wednesday and worships and visits with the residents.

Photo: Der Mesrob blesses the grapes at the Home for Aged in Flushing,
New York.

Photo: Cathedral Parishioners liven up the day for the residents.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 12–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Haigazian
Armenian School.
September 13–St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts, annual picnic on newly renovated church grounds, 158
Main St., North Andover. Enjoy food, music. Fellowship. For details
go to
church’s web site ( (
4882/goto:
)) or call 978-685-5038.
September 13–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Sunday
School.
September 13–Annual picnic of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of New
Britain and Hartford at the Quartette Club, 225 Wooster Street, New
Britain, Connecticut, beginning at noon, rain or shine. Live
music. Armenian
food. Free admission.
September 19-20–Re-consecration of the altar and the newly renovated
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday. Episcopal
Divine Liturgy and Madagh on Sunday.
September 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Lobster Fest. For
information: 215-482-9200.
September 20–St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York), annual picnic
on
the church grounds, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, beginning at 1 pm
immediately following church services and the blessing of the basil.
Delicious
Armenian kebabs, sweets, etc., along with games, music, dancing,
tavloo, basketball, volleyball, vendors and returning by popular
demand–"Kid-Z-One," with a host of activities for children. For
information 718-224-2275.
September 21–St. Stephen’s (Watertown, MA) Armenian School/ACEC 14th
annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf,
lunch, dinner, and contests. For information contact Astor at
781-326-5764.
September 25-26-27–Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the youth. For
details click here (
4882/goto: 9.htm
).
September 27–75th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Country
Club of Wilbraham, 859 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham,
Massachusetts. Special
performances by Dottie Bengoian and the St. Gregory Sunday School
children. For information: 413-596-9242.
September 28–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Golf Outing at
Talamore
Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania. For information: 215-482-9200.
September 28–Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, Massachusetts), 6th
annual Golf Outing, Sterling National Country Club, Sterling,
MA. Golf, breakfast, dinner, and prizes, $130 per person. For
information send email
to kappyk@verizon.net (mailto:kappyk@verizon.net), or telephone
508-872-9629.
October 1–Sts. 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 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 17–National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will
follow.
October 18–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s 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)