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:

December 3, 2009
PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO MID-WEST
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to the Mid-West this weekend where he
will preside over several events.
Tomorrow evening, Friday, December 4, His Eminence will
attend a benefit concert sponsored by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan. The concert, which is under the auspices of the Prelate,
features the acclaimed soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, accompanied by
Serouj Kradjian.
In his message in the concert booklet, Archbishop Oshagan
wrote: Ms. Bayrakdarians love of music originated in her family and in
the Armenian Church, where from the earliest days of her youth she
began singing in the choir. This is how we first came to become
acquainted with her and her family. It has, therefore, been personally
gratifying for us to se her immense success on the international stage
beginning in 2000 with a quick succession of first prize competition
wins, leading to her magical performances in the worlds major opera
houses, winning the high praises of audiences and critics alike.
On Saturday the Prelate will travel to Granite City,
Illinois, where he will meet with the Board of Trustees of St. Gregory
Church and in the evening attend a concert at St. Louis Symphony hall
at which time Maestro Peter Oundjian will be honored.
On Sunday, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy
and deliver the sermon at Granite Citys St. Gregory Church and preside
over the parishs anniversary celebration.

VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO DEARBORN
Bishop Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
Sermon at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, this Sunday,
December 6.

PRELATE ATTENDS AWARDS DINNER
Archbishop Oshagan attended the annual awards dinner of Common Cause
NY on December 1, a special evening to honor and celebrate the
extraordinary vision and outstanding citizenship of Dr. Vartan
Gregorian and Mr. Andrew Rasiej. Dr. Gregorian, who received the
Andrew Heiskill Lifetime Achievement Award was presented and
introduced by Thomas Kean, the former governor of New Jersey.

PRELATE WILL PRESIDE AT LUNCHEON
FOR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the annual Thanksgiving and
Christmas luncheon presented by St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York, in honor of the local New York City police and fire departments
(111th precinct). This popular annual event is attended by
parishioners as well as the members of the police and fire
departments.
AGHAVNI SHNORHIG BASHIAN, 61
Last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Aghavni Shnorhig Bashian (nee
Arslanian) went to her eternal rest after a valiant battle against the
disease that took her life. She was 61 years old.
Funeral services took place on Tuesday, December 1, at
Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey. The Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the services. Participating clergy
included the Vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, Rev. Fr. Aram Stepanian,
pastor of St. Azdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, Rhode Island, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St.
Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoyan,
pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

Aghavni was the Prelacys first full-time Executive Coordinator of
Christian Education. She was appointed to the newly created post in
1980 by the then Prelate, Bishop Mesrob Ashjian.
A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Aghavni received her B.A. in
English and Education from Haigazian College and an M.A. in Christian
Education from the Near East School of Theology. Our heartfelt words
of sympathy to her husband, John Bashian, and their son, Aram, as well
as to the entire Arslanian and Bashian families.
May she rest in peace with the Lord she served with so much
zeal and passion.
DARON AVEDISIAN, 48
Funeral services for Daron Avedisian, a member of the Central
Executive of the Cilcian Catholicate, took place on Tuesday, December
1, in Aleppo, Syria. The sudden passing of Mr. Avedissian at age 48
put the Armenian communities of Syria and Lebanon, in mourning.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
posthumously decorated Mr. Avedisian with the Knight of Cilicia
insignia. In a message of condolence the Catholicos described
Mr. Avedisian as a dedicated and gifted member of the community whose
service to the Armenian Church spans decades. His Holiness described
his friendship with the decedent whom he knew since Mr. Avedisians
early student days up to his service on the Central Executive. The
memories of his goodness, his faithfulness, and selfless service will
keep his vivid presence in the life of the Cilician Catholicate, said
His Holiness.
The Prelate and Religious and Executive Councils express
heartfelt condolences to His Holiness and to the Avedisian and
Hagopian families.

FIRST VOLUME OF SERIES ON ADANA TRAGEDY IS PUBLISHED
During the commemorative events of the Adana massacres, His Holiness
Aram I announced a project of publishing a special series of books and
documents about the Adana events. The first volume was recently
released: Cilician Tragedy, by Souren Bartevian, originally published
in Constantinople in 1909.

HASK ARMENOLOGICAL JOURNAL PUBLISHED
The recently issued 2009 issue of the Hask Armenological Journal is
devoted to the proceedings of the International Conference
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Adana massacres. The volume
includes documents on theology, culture, politics, and military
history of the period, published in their original languages. This
publication was made possible by the Gulbenkian Foundation.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, December 3, are: 1 Thessalonians
5:1-11; Luke 13 10-17.
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the
Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had
crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite
unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over
and said, Woman, you are set free from your ailment. When he laid his
hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising
God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had
cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, There are six days
9ohn which work ought to be done; come on those days aned be cured,
and not on the Sabbath day. But the Lord answered him and said, You
hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his
donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought
not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen
long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day? When he
said this, all his opponents were!
put to9 shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the
wonderful things that he was doing.
(1 Theassalonians 5:1-11)

PAREGENDAN OF FAST OF ST. HAGOP (JAMES)
This Sunday, December 6, is the eve (paregentan) of the Fast of
St. James (Hagop) of Nisibus. This five-day fast (Monday to Friday)
leads us to the Feast of St. James, which is next Saturday, December
12.

FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY Next Wednesday,
December 9, we commemorate the Feast of the Conception of the Holy
Virgin Mary by her parents Joachim and Anna. This is one of the eight
feast days devoted to the Virgin Mary in the Armenian Churchs
Liturgical Calendar. This feast day always falls on December 9, and
is part of the churchs preparation for Christmas. The faithful rejoice
in the event, which celebrates Marys conception in fulfillment of the
prayers of her parents.

CONCERTS OF CLASSICAL AND TRADITIONAL
ARMENIAN MUSIC IN PHILLY, NEW YORK, AND DC
World-renowned violinist Kim Kashkashian teams with composer-pianist
Tigran Mansurian and percussionist Robyn Schulkowky in three upcoming
concerts performing classical and traditional Armenian music.
Philadelphia: Sunday, December 6, 3 pm at the Settlement
Music School presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
New York: Sunday, December 6, 9:30 pm at Le Poisson Rouge,
158 Bleecker Street, New York.
Washington, DC: Tuesday, December 8, 7:30 pm at Baird
Auditorium, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
For information: ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com
(mailto:Classica lCommunications@gmail.com)

NY HAMAZKAYIN WILL PRESENT REMEMBRANCE
Tomorrow evening, December 4, the Hamazkayin of New York will present
an evening in honor of the 140th anniversary of Hovhannes
Toumanian. The lecturer will be Liza Yessaian, with performance by
soprano Anoush Barclay, and readings by Seda Melikyan, Tamar
Lakissian, Mardig Tcholakian and Vahan Haroutunian.
The evening is dedicated to the memory of Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of his passing.
The event will begin at 8:05 pm at the Armenian Center, 69-23
47th Avenue, Woodside, New York. For information:
Hamazkayinny@yahoo.com (mailto:Hamazkayinny@yahoo.com).

REQUIEM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP ASHJIAN
A requiem service will take place this Sunday, December 6, at
St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, in
memory of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who served as Prelate of the
Eastern United States and Canada from 1978 to 1998.
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
THE EVERLASTING LANTERN OF KATCHAZ
By Ararat Aghasyan

This new volume is dedicated to the life and work of the well-known
Armenian American artist Katchaz (Katchazuni Kechejian,
1924-2004). The artists life story is told here interspersed with
reproductions of his work. Text is in Armenian and English.
128 pages, $25.00 plus shipping and handling.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OR OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACYS WEB SITE, (
4882/goto:
) OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE AT BOOKS@ARMENIANPRELACY.ORG
(mailto:BOOKS@ARMENIANPR ELACY.ORG) OR BY TELEPHONE, 212-689-7810.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 4Special benefit concert for St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan, featuring Isabel Bayrakdarian at the Dearborn Performing
Arts Center.
December 5Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
annual bazaar. Come one, come all.
December 5Saint Gregory (North Andover, Massachusetts) Ladies Guild
Christmas Luncheon and Yankee Swap at the Phoenician at Michaels
Function Hall, Route 110 in Haverhill.
December 5Annual Christmas Bake Sale and Lunch at Cafe St. Paul, St.
Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois, 9 am to 3 pm.
December 12Second Armenian Holiday Food Fair, St. Hagop Church, 4100
Newman Road, Racine, Wisconsin, noon to 5 pm. For information:
262-632-2033.
December 13Christmas Boutique by ARS Mayr and Erebouni chapters of New
York at St. Sarkis Church Pagoumian Hall, 38-65 234th Street,
Douglaston, New York, following church services. New and pretty gifts,
homemade delicacies, gifts from Armenia, original art, and more.
December 20St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School Christmas
Pageant.
December 31St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Years Eve celebration.
December 31Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New Years
Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
February 6St. Stephens (Watertown, Massachusetts) Ladies Guild Mardi
Gras celebration, 7 pm at church hall. Costumes optional, masks are a
must. For information: Mary Derderian, hyeguin@yahoo.com
(mailto:hyeguin@yahoo.com) or 781-762-4253.
July 17A Hye Summer Night V, dance hosted by Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode
Island. Watch for details.
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@armenianprelacy.org)