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 17, 2009
PRELATES CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Archbishop Oshagan issued his 2010 Christmas message this week. With
the theme The Good News of the Sun of Righteousness, His Eminence
writes about the birth of Christ which illuminated all Mankind. That
light, he says, penetrates the soul, heart and mind of all Christians
to make them more faithful, more benevolent, and more righteous in
their thoughts and deeds. The Sun of Righteousness, like justice
itself, represents eternal truth and is Gods presence in us and
amongst Mankind to see and do His will. During the days preceding the
festive days many and various thoughts and concerns come to us. The
most beautiful thing we can do is to be introspective and to see in us
the fullness of Jesus presence and to see ourselves with Him, so that
the light He brings with His birth never diminishes or darkens within
us.
To read the Prelates Christmas message in Armenian click here
(
897/24882/goto: es/prelacy/PDF/2010christmasmessagearmenian.pdf
).
To read the Prelates Christmas message in English click here (
4882/goto: /news/press-releases/86-pr121709
).
SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT PRELACY
Last Saturday members of the Sunday school youth group of
Sts. Vartanantz Church of New Jersey visited the Prelacy offices where
they were welcomed by the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, and the Vicar,
Bishop Anoushavan.
ARMEN RUSTAMYAN VISITS PRELACY
Last Saturday afternoon, Armen Rustamyan, member of Armenias National
Assembly and representative of the ARF in Armenia, paid a courtesy
visit to the Prelacy where he met with His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan
and Executive Council members Zohrab Tazian and Raffi Ourlian. In the
photo, left to right: Raffi Ourlian, Hrair Baronian, Archbishop
Oshagan, Valout Atakhanyan, and
Armen Rustamyan.
SENATE CANDIDATE VISITS PRELATE
Tuesday afternoon, December 15, Daniel John Tarkanian, a candidate for
the U.S. Senate in the state of Nevada, visited the Prelacy where he
met with the Prelate. Also in attendance were Rev. Fr. Mesrob
Lakissian, Jerry Agajian, and Setrak Agonian.
2010 DIARY PUBLISHED
By now most of you have received the Prelacys 2010 pocket diary. The
2010 diary is dedicated to the Great House of Cilicia, which in 2010
is marking the 80th anniversary of its re-establishment in Antelias,
Lebanon after the centuries-old Catholicosate was forced to leave its
home in Cilicia.
ARTICLE IN CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
FOCUSES ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The Chronicle of Higher Education in its December 8, 2009 issue
published an article entitled Of Minarets and Massacres, by Carlin
Romano. The article is about the Swiss vote last month banning
minarets on Mosques. The lengthy article focuses on the Armenian
Genocide.
The author writes Forgive me if I, too, do not weep that 57.5
percent of the Swiss, now hosts to a largely moderate Muslim
population of Turks and former Yugoslavs, want to keep their country a
quiet car among nations. I am still busy weeping for the Armenians,
the first people in their corner of the world to officially adopt
Christianity, almost eliminated from history due to regular massacres
by the Muslim Turks among whom they lived for centuries.
If you would like to read the entire article click here (
4882/goto: Massacres/49393/
).

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, December 17, are: Wisdom 3:1-8;
Jeremiah 30:18-22; 1 Peter 4: 12-19; John 15:17-25.

Thus says the Lord:
I am going to restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, and have
compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt upon its mound,
and the citadel set on its rightful site. Out of them shall come
thanksgiving, and the sound of merrymakers. I will make them many, and
they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be
disdained. Their children shall be as of old, their congregation shall
be established before me; and I will punish all who oppress
them. Their prince shall be one of their own, their prince shall be
one of their own, their ruler shall come from their midst; I will
bring him near, and he shall approach me, for who would otherwise dare
to approach me? Says the Lord. And you shall be my people, and I will
be your God. (Jeremiah 39:18-22)

For listing of this weeks Bible readings click here (
4882/goto: elacy/PDF/dbr2009-12.pdf
).

KING ABGAR
This Saturday, December 19, the Armenian Church remembers Saint Abgar,
a first century king, who was afflicted with a rare skin disease.
According to tradition, King Abgar wrote to Our Lord Jesus Christ
asking for help. Our Lord wrote back promising to send one of His
disciples, and sent to the king a cloth with His image. After the
Crucifixion and the Resurrection, St. Thaddeus, one of the apostles to
Armenia, went to see the King and the King was cured. Subsequently
King Abgar and his family accepted Christianity, and he wrote letters
to his cousin King Sanadrook of Armenia and other monarchs with the
news of his miraculous recovery and urged them to accept Christianity.

WINTER BEGINS TUESDAY
The winter solstice is this Monday, December 21, the first day of
winter, and the shortest day and longest night of the year.
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
KAREKIN I: THE GIFT OF FAITH
Iris Papazian, editor
This beautiful 320-page hardcover book was published on the occasion
of the tenth anniversary of the passing of His Holiness Karekin I,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The book includes a
detailed biography of His Holiness along with hundreds of photographs
in color and black and white, as well as some excerpts of the
Catholicos prolific literary output.
This volume is part of the Karekin I Theological and
Armenological Studies Series, published by the Haig and Elza Didizian
Fund. This tenth anniversary memorial remembrance is the 9th volume
in the series.
$40.00, plus shipping and handling.
TO ORDER THIS BOOK OR FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OR OTHER ITEMS AT THE
BOOKSTORE VISIT THE PRELACYS WEB SITE, (
4882/goto:http://
), OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE AT BOOKS@ARMENIANPRELACY.ORG
(mailto:BOOKS@ARMENIANPR ELACY.ORG) OR BY TELEPHONE, 212-689-7810.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 20St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Christmas
Pageant.
December 31St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, New Years Eve
celebration, Seroonian
Community Center.
December 31Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. New Years
Eve Dinner-Dance.
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)