The Armenian Church eNewsletter
March 27, 2008
Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016
Contact us <mailto:[email protected]>
Diocesan News
EASTER CELEBRATION AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL
Easter Sunday, March 23, was a time for worship and celebration for the more
than 1,500 people who attended services at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in
New York City.
It was also a time to remember the work of those who had built the Cathedral
four decades ago, striving to give Armenian-Americans a new home where they
could keep alive their Armenian Christian heritage and share it with future
generations.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy and officiated at the traditional
Release of Doves ceremony and Home Blessing service that followed.
"On Easter Sunday, the most important day of the year in our church
calendar, we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf," Archbishop
Barsamian said. "Christ is risen from the dead. He defeated death with
death, and through His Resurrection, He granted us life."
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and family members of some of the Cathedral’s
godfathers, including Dr. Haik Kavookjian, Sam Chapootian Jr. and Poozant
Piranian, release 12 doves symbolizing the 12 Apostles of Christ who were
dispatched to spread the Good News.
To read more, visit <;
. Or click to view a video <; and photos
< gt; .
_____________________________
EASTER SERVICES AT HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
On March 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, celebrated a pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Mother
Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, and delivered his message to the Armenian
people dispersed throughout the world on the occasion of the Feast of the
Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To read more or view a video, visit
<http://www.armenianchur ch.org/> and click on the link for March 23 under
"Latest News."
_____________________________
PRIMAT E, DIOCESAN STAFF CONDUCT CHURCH AND HOME WORKSHOP AT ST. JAMES CHURCH
IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), and members of the Diocesan Department of Youth and Education
conducted a Church and Home workshop at St. James Church in Evanston, Ill.
on Saturday, March 22, helping members of the parish leadership work
collectively to set goals and outline action steps to bolster the church’s
presence in the larger Armenian community.
The daylong workshop was part of a new Diocesan initiative that assists
parishes in coming up with ways to reach out to Armenian homes in their
geographic area and to strengthen the ties between church and home. A
similar workshop was held earlier this month at St. Mary’s Church in
Washington, D.C.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian looks on as Church and Home workshop
participants at St. James Church in Evanston, Ill. discuss goals and
brainstorm outreach ideas.
Despite a heavy snowstorm the day before, Dn. Levon Kirakosyan,
deacon-in-charge at St. James Church, was instrumental in bringing together
more than 20 representatives of the St. James parish leadership, including
Pastoral Intern Rev. Fr. Paren Galstyan and members of the Parish Council,
Women’s Guild, ACYOA, Sunday School, choir and other church groups.
"I appreciate your engagement and leadership in the life of the Armenian
Church," the Primate told participants. "As church leaders of St. James,
you have to reach out to all the Armenian homes in your region and equip
parents to teach their children our faith, culture and traditions."
To read more about the Church and Home workshops, visit
<; .
_____________________________
FAR TRIP PARTICIPANTS SPONSOR STUDENTS AT GYUMRI TRAINING CENTER
Past participants of the Fund for Armenian Relief’s Young Professionals Trip
to Armenia are helping sponsor students at the Gyumri Information Technology
Center, which is providing advanced computer training to the young people of
Gyumri. FAR offers GITC training free of charge to students as long as they
promise to remain in Gyumri for two years after graduation with the goal of
building up the area’s economy.
Participants from six past Young Professionals trips joined the effort to
provide sponsorship for GITC students. In total, they have raised funds to
support 11 students.
The first class of graduates from FAR’s Gyumri Information Technology Center
(GITC) is already making an impact on the local economy.
"Giving people the tools to better their lives is a far more powerful and
meaningful act than simply donating money," said Ara Bohchalian, a New York
City resident who went on FAR’s YP trip in 2000 and 2001. "Everyone in
Armenia should have a fair chance of competing against others their age
globally. We have the minds – all we need is the education and the funds to
take us to the next level."
To read more, visit <; .
_____________________________
PRIMATE VISITS ST. THOMAS CHURCH IN TENAFLY, N.J.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Thomas Church in Tenafly,
N.J. on Palm Sunday, March 16.
On behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, Archbishop Barsamian presented the St. Nersess Shnorhali
Medal and an Encyclical to Dr. Levon and Mrs. Ani Capan for their
contributions to the Armenian Church. Dr. Capan is the Parish Council
chairman at St. Thomas while Mrs. Capan serves as principal of the Kirikian
Armenian School of St. Thomas.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Primate presided at a banquet held in
honor of Mrs. Arsaluys Sahinyan, mother of Mrs. Capan, who has been named
Parishioner of the Year. Mrs. Sahinyan donated more than $30,000 for the
church’s new baptistery.
_____________________________
ARCHBISHOP VICKEN AYKAZIAN ATTENDS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL’S
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, DISCUSSES HABITAT PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA
Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian participated in a Habitat for
Humanity International’s Board of Directors meeting March 12 to March 15,
highlighting the organization’s progress in Armenia where more than 400
houses were put up in the last several years.
"This is a great achievement for Armenia," Archbishop Aykazian said after
the meeting held in Atlanta. "We are planning to construct more and more
houses in the future."
His Eminence, a member of Habitat’s Board of Directors, was recently elected
vice chair of Habitat’s Program Committee. In this position, Archbishop
Aykazian hopes to bring increased attention to expanding the availability of
affordable housing in Armenia.
To read more, visit <;
.
_____________________________
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN SCHEDULED
FOR SEPTEMBER
The Eastern Diocese will make a pilgrimage to the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin this fall to participate in the blessing of the Holy Muron
(Oil). This special ceremony occurs only once every seven years and dates
back to the days of St. Gregory the Enlightener.
The two-week pilgrimage begins in late September and concludes in early
October. The blessing of the Holy Muron will take place on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Itinerary highlights also include a special audience with His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a private
tour of Holy Etchmiadzin; visits to Khorvirab, Vanadzor, Sevan and Gyumri;
and other excursions.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
blesses the Holy Muron (Oil) with the relic of St. Gregory the Enlightener
in 2001. This special ceremony occurs once every seven years.
There is some flexibility in travel dates: pilgrims can opt to depart from
New York on Friday, Sept. 19 or Saturday, Sept. 20, and return to New York
on Friday, Oct. 3 or Saturday, Oct. 4. The cost per person, which includes
airfare and hotel accommodations, is $2,950.
For more information, please contact your local parish or Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at (212) 686-0710 ext. 213 or email [email protected].
Please note that the number of spaces is limited. Those interested in the
pilgrimage should make reservations without delay.
_____________________________
VATICAN COURTYARD NAMED AFTER ARMENIA’S PATRON SAINT
Pope Benedict XVI recently named a courtyard on the north side of St.
Peter’s Basilica after St. Gregory the Illuminator, Armenia’s patron saint.
A statue of St. Gregory was installed in a niche of the Basilica facing the
courtyard three years ago.
To read more, click
< ing-a-vatican-courtyard-after-armen
ias-patron-sai nt/> here.
_____________________________
PARISH NEWS
Providence, R.I. – Junior Choir of Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church to Perform at
Boston University
The Junior Choir of Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church of Providence, R.I. received
an invitation to perform in concert at the Tsai Performance Center at Boston
University on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. The Junior Choir will present
Armenian classical and popular songs. The AGBU Antranig Armenian Dance
Ensemble of New Jersey also will perform at the event.
For more information, click here
< f> .
Prayer for the Week
All merciful Lord, have mercy upon all those who believe in Thee, my
neighbors and strangers, my acquaintances and those unknown to me, the
living and the dead. Grant also to my enemies and to those who despise me
forgiveness of the wrongs they have committed against me, and turn them from
evil thoughts which they cherish against me in order that they may become
worthy of Thy compassion. Have mercy upon Thy creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.
More prayers
< .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <;
Scripture for the Week
Acts 5:34-6:7
Jas 3:1-12
Jn 1:1-17