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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 02/02/2005

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 02/02/2005

    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: http://www.armenianprelacy.org
    Contact: Iris Papazian

    CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER - February 2, 2005

    MUSICAL ARMENIA CONCERT RECEIVES
    ACCLAIM OF CAPACITY AUDIENCE
    The Musical Armenia concert last Sunday, January 30, was received
    enthusiastically by the sold-out audience.
    The first part of the program featured the baritone Oshin Gregorian, who
    thrilled the audience with his renditions of works by Gomidas, Mozart,
    Donizetti, Puccini, Ravel, Ganatchian, Gregorian and Sayat Nova.
    The second part featured the works of the young composer Eric Hachikian
    played with great expression and feeling by the Motyl Chamber Ensemble. The
    audience was enthralled with Voyage to Amasia and Saint Sarkis Suite.
    Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, expressed his deep appreciation of
    the exceptional talent of these two young artists. He noted that the
    creative art a nation produces is the best indicator of the health of that
    nation.
    The Musical Armenia series began in 1982 and has continued its
    commitment to promote young Armenian artists.

    CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES ENCYCLICAL
    ON THE OCCASION OF THE 1600TH ANNIVERSARY
    OF THE CREATION OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET
    His Holiness Aram I has issued an Encyclical concerning the 1600th
    anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet. His Holiness has
    directed all dioceses within the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Cilicia to
    mark this milestone anniversary with appropriate commemorations during 2005.
    The Eastern Prelacy in conjunction with the Armenian Chair at Harvard
    University will host an international conference on this occasion during the
    month of October 2005.
    To read the Encyclical by Aram Vehapar go the catholicosate web site at
    www.cathcil.org

    TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH AMBASSADOR
    John Evans, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, will host a series of town
    hall meetings in the United States this month. He will be accompanied by
    USAID Director Robin Phillips and colleagues from the U.S. Department of
    State.
    The schedule includes the following: February 11-12, New York/New
    Jersey; February 14-15, Boston; February 15-17, Los Angeles, Glendale,
    Pasadena; February 18, Fresno; February 19, San Francisco; February 22-23,
    Washington, DC.

    YOUNG ORGANIST FILLS KEY ROLE
    Without doing any extensive research we can say with fair certainty that
    Vahe Hovhannisyan is the youngest organist in any Armenian Church, and
    perhaps, any Church in the country. Vahe, at age nine (he will turn 10 next
    month), plays the entire Divine Liturgy each Sunday at St. Stephen Armenian
    Church in New Britain, Connecticut.
    Last year, the long-time organist of the church, Shirley Kevorkian,
    wanted a respite from her duties. Vahe came forward and told the priest,
    Rev. Fr. Krikoris Keshishian, that he would play the organ. And he did and
    continues to accompany the choir and deacons for the more than two-hour
    service each Sunday. Last year the Hartford Courant featured a front-page
    article about the young organist.
    The next issue of Outreach will feature the full story about this
    exceptional young man.

    VARTANANTZ COMMEMORATION
    Tomorrow is the Feast of Vartanantz, perhaps one of the most popular
    feast days for Armenians. It is always observed on the Thursday before the
    beginning of Great Lent.
    Vartanantz commemorates the memory of Vartan Mamigonian and his soldiers
    who went into battle against the mighty Persians to defend their faith and
    preserve their identity. The definitive battle between the Armenians and the
    Persian forces (with three times the strength of the Armenians) took place
    on the fields of Avarayr in 451. It was a fierce battle, and ultimately
    Vartan and most of his men were martyred. The Armenian Church showed its
    great respect for them by consecrating the entire group collectively as the
    Saints of Vartanantz. Armenian resistance to Persian rule continued with a
    nephew of Vartan, Vahan Mamikonian, who conducted guerilla warfare with a
    number of successes. In 485 King Vagharsh of Persian sent envoys to a
    village named Nvarsak (northwestern corner of Iran), to meet with Vahan and
    Armenian nobles. Ultimately they signed a treaty (Treaty of Nvarsag) that
    guaranteed the right of the Armenians to practice their religion, among
    other provisions. The Treaty of Nvarsag is rightfully regarded as one of the
    first (if not the first) human rights documents.
    In a sense, it can be said that it was on the battlefield of Avarair,
    where Vartan and his men fell, that Christianity truly became an indelible
    part of the national identity of Armenians.

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL BE WITH
    STS. VARTANANTZ PARISHES IN NEW JERSEY AND RHODE ISLAND
    Tomorrow, on the occasion of Vartanantz, Archbishop Oshagan will
    officiate over the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield,
    New Jersey. Attending the services and partaking Communion will be students
    of the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey. As in previous year, the
    students will present a Vartanantz program during the luncheon that will
    follow the services.
    On Saturday and Sunday, February 5 and 6, His Eminence will visit the
    Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island. On Sunday he will
    officiate at the Divine Liturgy.

    SUNDAY IS POUN PAREGENTAN
    This Sunday, February 6, is Poun Paregentan. Poun means main and
    Paregentan means good living or mardi gras. The Armenian liturgical calendar
    has many occasions of Paregentan, but Poun Paregentan is associated with the
    start of the long period of abstinence leading to Easter and the Feast of
    the Holy Resurrection.
    Traditionally, Poun Paregentan is a day of lavish tables, rich foods,
    and festive family gatherings.
    Monday begins the Medz Bahk (Great Fast), which is accompanied with
    prayer and introspection. In the Armenian tradition during this period no
    animal based food is permitted, including dairy products, eggs and fish. The
    diet is confined to vegetables and grains and vegetable oils.

    COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE COMMEMORATED
    This Saturday, February 5, the Armenian Church commemorates the first
    Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, which took place in 381 by order of
    Emperor Theodosius.
    It is traditionally accepted that the Armenian Catholicos, Nerses the
    Great, attended this Council, although there is no hard and fast proof. The
    Armenian Church accepts and commemorates this and two other Ecumenical
    Councils.

    PASSION NARRATIVES FOCUS
    OF LENTEN PROGRAM
    The Prelacy Lenten program will focus on passages from the passion
    narratives. The program will begin Wednesday, February 9, and continue each
    Wednesday during Lent. The Lenten programs will take place at St.
    Illuminator Church, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, beginning with a
    Lenten Service at 7:30 pm and Bible Study at 8:00 pm, followed by Fellowship
    with a Lenten meal prepared by the Prelacy Ladies Guild. The Bible Study
    will be conducted by Deacon Shant Kazanjian with the following schedule:
    February 9: The Passion of Jesus-Predicted and Interpreted
    February 16: The Last Supper
    February 23: The Trial
    March 2: The Crucifixion
    March 9: The Burial
    March 16: The Resurrection
    All are welcome to the series sponsored by the Armenian Religious
    Education Council and the Prelacy Ladies Guild. For information contact the
    AREC office, 212-689-4481.

    AND, FINALLY, THIS FROM A SOON TO BE PUBLISHED BOOK:
    .Yazdigerd tried to persuade the Armenian princes to accept
    Zorastrianism by pledging to grant them a status equal to that of the
    Persian nobility. They refused, whereupon Yazdigerd issued a decree ordering
    all of the nations in the empire to become "worshippers of the sun," as
    Eghishe characterizes the Zorastrians.
    When the Armenians, together with the other Christian nations of the
    Caucasus, refused, Yazdigerd summoned their cavalries together and had them
    tortured. Even in the face of torture, they would not renounce Christianity.
    He sent some of the nobility off into the distant desert to fight against
    the Huns, who were attacking the eastern parts of the empire. Yazdigerd also
    imposed heavy taxes on the Armenians, and for the first time taxed the
    churches and monasteries. He appointed a Persian governor for Armenia. And
    he ordered the chief magus to compose a letter refuting Christianity and
    presenting Zorastrianism as the true religion.
    When the Armenians received the letter, the bishops gathered together
    and wrote a response. The bishops letter, as Eghishe presents it, is an
    important document. The bishops did not challenge the political authority of
    the Persian king. Rather, they pledged loyalty to him as long as they were
    free to remain Christians:
    All our possessions and properties are in your hands and our bodies
    stand before you; do [with them] whatever you will. If you leave us with
    [our] faith we shall not exchange you for another lord on earth.
    There was no room for compromise over Christianity, however:
    From this faith no one can shake us, neither angels nor men, neither
    sword nor fire nor water nor any kind of cruel torture.

    >From LIGHT FROM LIGHT: An Introduction to the History and Theology of the
    Armenian Church by Michael B. Papazian

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org
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