May 21, 2009
JACK PAPAZIAN, 69
Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan and the Religious and Executive Councils announce with sorrow
the passing of Jack Papazian, a faithful member of St. Gregory the
Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jack entered into his eternal rest
on Tuesday, May 19. He was 69 years
old.
Jack has served as chairman of the board of trustees at St. Gregory
Church, NRA delegate, and chairman of
the National Representative Assembly. He and his wife have been
faithful Pillars of the Prelacy.
Funeral
services, which will be officiated by the Prelate His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, will take place tomorrow, Friday, May 22, at
St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19128. Friends may offer their condolences to the
family prior to the
service from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.
He is survived by his loving wife Armine; son David and his wife
Carol;
daughter Cindy and her husband Tim; and four grandchildren.
SHIRLEE KERBEYKIAN, 83
Mrs. Shirlee
Kerbeykian passed away on May 16. Shirlee, together with her husband
Edward, were founding members of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic
Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Archbishop Oshagan officiated the funeral
service on Wednesday, May 19, at Sts. Vartanantz Church. In his
eulogy, the Prelate
described Shirlee as a devoted wife and mother and a part of that
generation of Armenian Americans who remained faithful to their
Christian faith and
Armenian roots even under very difficult conditions.
Shirlee is survived by her husband, Edward, and a son,
Craig. Another son, Jeffery, died in 2002. She is also survived by her
sister, Marian Yagoobian, her daughter- in-law Sophie Kerbeykian, and
six
grandchildren.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
Information about the 2009 National Representative Assembly is now on
the Prelacys web page, including Prelates keynote address,
general press release and photographs, as well as other
presentations. Click here (
4882/goto: tml
).
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL TO WHITINSVILLE
FOR 52ND
ANNIVERSARY
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Whitinsville, Massachusetts, this
weekend, where on
Saturday evening, May 23, he will preside over the 52nd anniversary
banquet of St. Asdvadzadzin Church, and 50 years of growth and service
of the
Prelacy. The following day, Sunday, May 24, His Eminence will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon.
THE ARMENIAN CHURCH AND THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
MOVEMENT
The Student Council of the Theological Seminary of the Catholicate of
the Holy See of
Cilicia, organized an evening devoted to the Sunday school movement in
the Armenian Church. The speaker was Rev. Fr. Sarkis Sarkissian, a
member of
the Religious Council of the Diocese of Beirut and active in the
organization of Sunday schools. He concisely described the history of
the Sunday
school movement in the church and paid tribute to the two Catholicoi,
Sahag and Papken, who recognized the importance of Sunday schools for
the
spiritual growth of children and youth. He quoted from the Pontifical
Letter of Catholicos Sahag (1902-1939) announcing the beginning of
Sunday
schools in the Holy See of Cilicia. Rev. Fr. Sarkissian noted that the
Sunday schools must be a complement to the educational process that
begins at
home and school.
PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON TODAY
Archbishop
Oshagan traveled to Connecticut today to attend the Prelacy Ladies
Guild Mothers Day luncheon, hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Rene and Linda
Shirinian at their
home in New Canaan, Connecticut. Watch for more details in next weeks
Crossroads.
YEAR OF THE YOUTH
His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has designated the year 2009
as the Year of The Youth.
To read His Holiness message in Armenian click here (
4882/goto: 4/doc/Pontifical%20Messages/messages68.htm
).
To read His Holiness message in English click here (
4882/goto: lical.pdf
).
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
The 23rd annual St.
Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for youth ages 13-18, is
rapidly approaching. As in previous years it will take place at the
St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 28 to July 5,
2009, preceded by a weekend retreat (optional) from June 26-28,
2009. The Program
is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC).
For more information click here (
4882/goto:
).
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for
today, Thursday, May 21, the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ are:
Luke 18:1-14; Acts 1:1-14; Matthew 28:16-20; Matthew 19:1-15; Mark
10:13-27.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which
Jesus had directed
them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And
Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has
been
given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and
teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And
remember, I am with you always to the end of the
age.
For listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click
here ().
T ODAY IS THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION
Today,
Thursday, May 21, is the Feast of the Ascension (Hambardzoum) of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which comes forty days after the Resurrection. The
universal church has celebrated the Ascension since the fourth
century. According to Biblical scripture the Ascension took place in
the village of
Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, in the presence of our Lords
disciples. After giving them commandments and blessings, the Lord was
received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God, (Mark
16:19), and a cloud received him out of their sight,
(Acts 1:9). In the early centuries of Christianity, Hambardzoum was
one of the most popular feast days for the faithful and was celebrated
with merriment and festivities. There are many Armenian traditions
associated with this dominical feast. Perhaps the best known one being
fortune-telling (vijakakhakh).
The Divine Liturgy Introit for the Feast of the Ascension
is:
The supernal hosts were amazed as they beheld you seated in the fiery
chariot, and trembling they
shouted, Who is this, who comes from Edom, and coming enters with
glory into glory? O Lord, glory to you.
SUNDAY IS SECOND PALM SUNDAY
This Sunday,
May 24, is Second Palm Sunday (Yerkrort Tzaghkazard). The seventh
Sunday of Easter is called Second Palm Sunday, based on the readings
for
that day. Beginning with New Sunday, the Armenian Church reads from
the four Gospels every day in their proper order; Luke in the morning;
John at
midday; Matthew at the beginning of the evening hour; and Mark at the
end of the evening hour. The sections relating to Christs entry
into Jerusalem coincides with the seventh Sunday of Easter, hence the
designation, Second Palm Sunday.
We bless you today,
Creator of creatures who in marvelously wonderful fashion adorned the
Church, God of our fathers. We bless you today living One from all
eternity who
raised to heaven with glory our nature deadened by sin. We bless you
today who by your resurrection raised up with yourself to the Fathers
throne higher than original glory us, alienated as the result of our
transgressions. Bless the Lord, O all the works of the Lord, bless and
exalt him
forever. You nations of the gentiles who have ascended with the angels
and acquired glory word cannot describe; bless the Lord and exalt him
forever.
You priests and ministers, numbered with the cherubim, with one accord
with them bless the Lord and exalt Him forever.
>From the Canon
for the First Sunday after Christs Ascension, Second Palm Sunday
According to the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic
Church
FROM THE BOOKSTORE
Something different from the bookstore today.
HANDMADE JEWELRY by Hasmig
Kebranian Kalajian
One-of-a-kind designs, affordably priced.
Bookstore hours are 9 a.m. to 5
pm.
TO PLACE AN ORDER, OR FOR INFORMATION CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY EMAIL
AT [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) OR BY
TELEPHONE AT 212-689-7810.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May 21Hampartsoum Celebration, hosted by Young Adults
Bible Study Group, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. Vespers
Service at 6:30 pm; Vijagakhagh and light dinner, 7 pm. $15
donation. All
welcome.
May 21Mothers Day Luncheon, sponsored by the Prelacy
Ladies Guild, 12:30 pm. The luncheon is being hosted by Rene and Linda
Chirinian at their home in New Canaan, Connecticut.
May 23St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, 52nd annual banquet, presided by Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan. On Sunday, May 24, the Prelate will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and
deliver the sermon.
May 28St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church,
Whitinsville, Massachusetts, is offering a short film series and
discussions on 40 days of Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. The
series will begin
May 28 at 7 pm at the church, 315 Church Street, Whitinsville. The
public is invited and refreshments will be served. Come and bring
friends and enjoy
this uplifting series.
May 31St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Special meeting for Parish building project.
June 20Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian and the Young Adults
Bible Study Group of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, invite
you to attend a Seminar on Marriage and Family from 10 am to 4
pm. Presentations
by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian and Professor Joann C. Heaney-Hunter from
St. Johns University. Group discussions on topics of interest for
young
Armenian couples and families. Lunch and refreshments will be
served. Registration fee: $25 per couple. Contact church office,
718-224-2275.
June 28Annual Madagh Picnic, St. Hagop Church (Racine),
at Johnson Park Picnic Grounds, 6200 Northwestern Ave., Racine,
Wisconsin, 10:30 to 7 pm.
June 29 July 5St. Gregory of Datev Summer
Institute, St. Mary of Providence Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania.
July 18Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode
Island, Ladies Guild/ARS Chapter present a Hye Summer Night 4 Dance at
The Annunciation Greek Church, Cranston, Rhode Island. For information
401-434-4467.
July 22Gathering of North American youth in Los
Angeles, organized by the Western Prelacy with the participation of
the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies.
August 2Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode
Island, Annual Picnic and Blessing of Madagh and Grapes at Camp
Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, 12 noon to 6 pm, rain or
shine. Music by John
Berberian and Ensemble.
August 9St. Stephens Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, annual picnic and blessing of madagh and grapes at Camp
Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts. Starts at 12 noon, rain or
shine. Live
music.
August 9Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts, annual picnic and blessing of the grapes.
August 16Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey, annual picnic and Blessing of the Grapes.
August 16St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, picnic and Blessing of the Grapes.
September 13Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts, 75th anniversary Holy Mass and banquet,
under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.
September 25-26-27Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the
youth. Details will follow.
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 protected] (mailto:[email protected]) 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: [email protected]
(mailto:info@armenianprel acy.org)