PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – October 28, 2004
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CONCERT IS APPEALING TO FAMILIES
Judging by the brisk ticket sales, many families are already making
plans to attend the Family Christmas Concert sponsored by the Prelacy on
Saturday, December 4, 2004, at 3:00 pm. The joyous concert features Nvair
and her HYEfamily friends, with a special guest appearance by Taline from
California, and Gaghant Baba from the North Pole. The concert will take
place at Florence Gould Hall at the French Institute/Alliance Francaise, 55
E. 59th Street, New York City. Make your family plans now, otherwise you may
find tickets in short supply. Contact the Prelacy offices (212) 689-7810;
the FI/AF Box Office 212-355-6160; or Silva (201) 779-6744.
PRELATE VISITS ARMENIAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
This morning, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, accompanied by
the Vicar, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, went to Brooklyn to visit
Bishop Manvel Batakian, Exarch of the Armenian Catholics in the United
States, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination.
PRELATE WILL BE IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH ST. STEPHEN PARISH THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, October 31, Archbishop Oshagan will be with the St. Stephen
Church community in Watertown, Massachusetts. During the Divine Liturgy, His
Eminence will consecrate two icons. One is of Saint Stephen, the patron
saint of the church, and of Saint Hripsime, the young Roman nun who with her
superior (Gayane) fled persecution in Rome and arrived in Armenia where she
and her fellow nuns were martyred.
Sunday afternoon His Eminence will preside over the ribbon-cutting of
the new extension of the Kindergarten of St. Stephen Elementary School. His
Eminence will also meet with the Board of Trustees of the St. Stephen School
to discuss fundraising and the overall plans for enlarging the growing
school.
NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ADULT SEMINAR
FOCUSES ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
The E. Kent Swift Mansion, a turn of the century estate in Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, was the beautiful autumn setting for more than 30 people who
attended an ecumenical regional retreat entitled, We Are Family, sponsored
by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), last weekend.
The day began with a morning prayer service, which was followed by
presentations by Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, Dr. Joseph Lombardi, and
Dr. Paul Bombara.
Topics ranged from conflict resolution, the role that anger plays in
family life, components that make a strong family, the principles of a
strong family, and the handling of conflict and discipline of children.
NEW ENGLAND EDUCATORS SEMINAR
ATTRACTS TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
More than thirty educators from Rhode Island and Massachusetts gathered
for the New England Seminar in Providence, Rhode Island, last weekend. The
event was sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) and
hosted by the Mourad School. Following Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian’s opening
prayer, Gilda B. Kupelian, Executive Director of ANEC gave an account of the
pan-Diaspora conferences in Lebanon and Armenia, and presented new audio
visual resources, followed by a lecture on teaching methods for the
non-Armenian speaker.
Nayiri Balanian, chair of ANEC, gave a lively presentation on teaching
Armenian language and culture, with examples of proven techniques that
enhance the learning process. In addition to the teachers, four principals
and two representatives of the Armenian Relief Society were present.
IRANIAN DELEGATION MEETS WITH
CATHOLICOS ARAM I
A high-ranking Iranian delegation met with His Holiness Aram I in
Antelias. A number of concerns pertaining to the Armenian community in Iran,
and the Christian-Muslim dialogue occupied an important portion of the
agenda. The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian,
Primate of the Diocese of Tehran, and Mr. Kevork Vartanian, the Armenian
deputy in the Iranian Parliament.
During the meeting, His Holiness emphasized the importance of interfaith
dialogue and particularly Christian-Muslim dialogue. He said, We are living
in a world where dialogue is no more a question of choice. Globalization,
pluralistic societies and common threats and challenges of new times call
all religions, cultures and nations to engage themselves seriously and
actively in dialogue. Dialogue does not mean to accept the view of the
other. It means to listen to each other and respect each other the way we
are. Hence, I consider dialogue to be of crucial importance for the future
of humanity.
ARMENIAN CHURCH REMEMBERS
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM THIS SATURDAY
The Armenian Church commemorates the life of St. John Chrysostom this
Saturday. John, the patriarch of Constantinople, was given the name
Chrysostom which means “golden mouth,” because of the eloquence of his
sermons. John converted to Christianity in 368 when he was 21 years old. He
renounced a large inheritance and a promising legal career and went to live
in a mountain cave as a hermit, devoting himself to the study of the Bible.
He was eventually ordained and his sermons were soon attracting large
numbers. With the death of the patriarch of Constantinople in 389, John
became the favorite of the people who urged the emperor to appoint John. The
emperor agreed in spite of opposition of wealthy citizens, who disliked John
because of his challenge to wealthy Christians. Eventually the emperor’s
wife led a group of aristocrats and senior clergy against him and he was
forced into exile in Armenia. Amazingly, almost all of his writings have
survived, including hundreds of sermons, letters and treatises.
We should honor Christ in ways of which he would approve. He does not
want golden chalices, but he does want golden hearts. I am not saying that
you should not donate golden chalices, and other precious objects, to your
church; they are no substitute for giving to the poor. The Lord will not
refuse your gift to your church, but he prefers a gift to the poor. In the
case of a gift to the church, only you the donor benefit; in the case of a
gift to the poor, both the donor and the receiver benefit. The gift of a
chalice may be extravagant in its generosity; but a gift to the poor is an
expression of love.
from Sermon 50 by St. John Chrysostom
OOPS! WE GOOFED!
We thank one of our astute readers who noted that we had forgotten to
mention the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, Bayside, New York, as a
member of the Armenian Churches Sports Association, in Crossroads last week.
Our reader tells us that Holy Martyrs has the most championships in the
category of boys and men, and they also recently defeated Watertown HMEM in
the championship game of the ACYOA Archbishop Torkom Manoogian Invitational
Basketball Tournament in Watertown, Massachusetts, over the Columbus Day
weekend.
We apologize to Holy Martyrs and congratulate them on their victory and
sportsmanship.
STUDENTS OF BIRDS NEST ORPHANAGE
VISIT HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Children ranging in age from 3 to 13, residents of the Birds Nest
orphanage attended services at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator
in Antelias, Lebanon, and received the blessings of His Holiness Aram I.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the students performed for His Holiness and
others in attendance. The childrens chorus performed Armenian Church hymns,
as well as national and spiritual songs. On behalf of the children, words of
thanks were extended to His Holiness for his fatherly care. His Holiness
thanked the administrators of the Birds Nest for their devoted service.
SUNDAY IS HALLOWEEN
This Sunday, October 31, is Halloween. By the old Celtic calendar
October 31 was the last day of the year, its night being the time of witches
and ghosts. On the introduction of Christianity it was taken over as Eve of
All Hallows, or Eve of All Saints. In the United States it has become a
totally secular holiday, observed primarily by children who dress in costume
and visit homes seeking trick or treat. We here at Crossroads have always
thought it a curious thing to do. However, having learned this morning that
Americans will spend more than three billion dollars on Halloween this year,
we are most definitely in a minority. Enjoy the day, but be watchful and
vigilant over young children.
FALL BACK
Yes, it is time for the semi-annual adjustment of our clocks. This
weekend most of the country will be returning to standard time (rather than
daylight saving time). That means we need to set our clocks back one hour.
Fall back; spring forward. It will be lighter in the morning, hence a bit
easier to get out of bed. But darker at night for the commute home.
FINALLY, TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY
Tuesday, November 2, is Election Day. Congress established Election Day
in 1854, in response to abuses caused by the previous system of electing the
President and Vice-President. (We will save that story for another day).
November was selected because in most parts of the country the harvest
work was complete. Remember that in 1845, most Americans made their living
from agriculture. Tuesday was selected because many people had to travel the
day before to reach their polling place. For many voters this meant at least
an overnight trip on horseback or buggy. Since most people would not travel
on Sunday because of religious reasons, the powers that be did not want
Election Day to be on a Monday, necessitating travel on Sunday. They also
did not want it to fall on November 1 because this was a holy day for Roman
Catholics (All Saints Day) and also because many shopkeepers did their books
for the preceding month on the first day of the month. Thus was born the
formula: The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Of course, for most of us, the original reasons no longer apply. (We
here at Crossroads have not traveled to our polling places by horse and
buggy in years!)
Women were not allowed to vote in the United States until 1920 when the
required number of states ratified the 19th amendment to the Constitution
giving women the right to vote. We at Crossroads always like to point out
with pride that the First Armenian Republic of 1918 gave full voting rights
to women.
The bottom line is this: If you are a citizen of the USA and duly
registered as required by law, exercise your right to vote this Tuesday,
November 2.
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