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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 03/01/2007

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 03/01/2007

    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

    March 1, 2007

    40th DAY REQUIEM SERVICE FOR HRANT DINK
    Archbishop Oshagan has directed all parishes within the Eastern Prelacy
    to offer a requiem service this Sunday, March 4, on the occasion of the 40th
    day of the death of the Hrant Dink. The noted journalist was assassinated in
    Istanbul last month.
    In New York City, a united requiem service will take place at St. Vartan
    Cathedral, 34th Street and Second Avenue, with the participation of the
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); the Prelacy of the
    Armenian Apostolic Church of America; the Armenian Catholic Exarchate of
    America; and the Armenian Missionary Association of America. The requiem
    service will begin at 1:30 pm, following Sunday services in the individual
    churches. The guest preacher at the requiem service will be The Reverend
    Canon Francis V. Tiso, Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical
    and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
    Speakers during the reception/program that will follow the requiem service
    include Peter Steinfels, who covers religious news for the New York Times
    and writes the Beliefs column; Anna Kushner, coordinator of the Freedom to
    Write Program at PEN American Center; and Sonya Frye of the Overseas Press
    Club. The students of the Hovnanian School (New Jersey) will offer an
    audio/visual presentation about Hrant Dink.

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN URGES FAITHFUL
    TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
    ON HOLY FIRE CEREMONY CONTROVERSY
    In response to a worldwide appeal issued by the Armenian Patriarchate of
    Jerusalem, Archbishop Oshagan encourages everyone to voice their support of
    the Patriarchate on the ongoing dispute surrounding the Holy Fire Ceremony
    in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
    The Holy Fire Ceremony is a religious ceremony that takes place on the
    Saturday of Holy Week, within the Tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the
    Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Coptic
    Orthodox and Jacobite-Syrians, all participate in this miraculous Holy
    Saturday ceremony where the Holy Fire descends from Heaven and lights up the
    lamp within the Tomb of Christ. The ceremony is conducted according to
    precise and clear rules and arrangements, which have been in existence for
    hundreds of years. According to the centuries-old practice, the Greek
    Patriarch and Armenian Patriarch (or representative) enter the Holy Tomb
    together, kneel down in front of the Tomb together, and witness the miracle
    of the descent of the Holy Fire together. They then transfer the Holy Fire
    to members of the Eastern Churches through two windows located in the wall
    of the Angel's Chapel.
    During Easter of 2002, the newly elected Greek Patriarch, Irineos I (now
    deposed), incited a conflict inside the Holy Tomb with the Armenian
    Patriarch's representative, by demanding a change in the arrangements. Since
    that time the conflict has continued to escalate.
    The Armenian Patriarchate has made petitions and requests to the Israeli
    government for a decision on the matter. After five years only promises have
    been given without any decisions. The Patriarch is asking all Armenians to
    petition the Israeli government to act with a sense of duty and
    responsibility, and to uphold the centuries-old rights of the Armenian
    Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
    Archbishop Oshagan urges you to act immediately. For the names and
    addresses of the officials who should be contacted (via fax or email), and a
    sample letter click http://www.armenianchurch.ca/newsletters/HolyFire. pdf.

    PRELATE AND VICAR ATTEND MEETING TODAY
    Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan attended a meeting today of the
    "Christian Arab and Middle Eastern Churches Together (CAMECT)." The
    participating churches meet several times during the year to discuss common
    concerns and to assess the situation in the Middle East. Today's meeting
    took place at the headquarters of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association
    (CNEWA) in New York City.
    Today's meeting and luncheon was sponsored by Archbishop Oshagan, who is
    president of CAMECT, and was hosted by Msgr. Archimandrite Robert L. Stern,
    Secretary General of CNEWA. Addressing the gathering during lunch was
    Archbishop Celestino Migliori, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the
    United Nations.

    PRELATE WILL ATTEND AGBU CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
    This Saturday evening, March 3, Archbishop Oshagan will attend the AGBU
    Centennial Celebration at the New York Historical Society. The event will
    feature an exhibit of historic photographs from the AGBU Nubarian Library in
    Paris.

    PRELATE AND VICAR WILL ATTEND ROBERT FISK LECTURE
    On Sunday evening, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan will attend
    a lecture by Robert Fisk at Town Hall, New York City. The event is organized
    by the Nation Institute and the Lannan Foundation, and coordinated by the
    ANCA.

    PRELACY LENTEN MEDITATIONS CONTINUE
    The second of the six Prelacy Lenten Meditations took place yesterday
    evening, Wednesday, February 28. The 2007 Prelacy Lenten program focuses on
    the seven vices and seven virtues. Last evening, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian,
    pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, spoke about "Envy and Brotherly
    Love."
    Using examples from both the Old and New Testaments, Der Nareg showed
    the destructiveness of envy and the curative powers of love. Der Hayr urged
    everyone to utilize the Lenten season as a time of healing and forgiveness.
    Next Wednesday, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator's
    Cathedral, New York City, will continue the series on the seven vices and
    virtues by offering his meditation on "Anger and Patience."
    The annual Lenten series is sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, the
    St. Illuminator's Ladies Guild, and the Prelacy's Armenian Religious
    Education Council (AREC). All of the programs take place at St. Illuminator's
    Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, with the following general
    schedule: Lenten Service at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary; Lecture at 8 pm in
    Pashalian Hall, followed by a light Lenten meal and fellowship. For a
    complete schedule of lectures click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/lenten.htm

    LUMES OF LITERATURE SERIES
    FROM CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA
    Throughout the years, the publishing house of the Catholicosate of the
    Great House of Cilicia has produced hundreds of valuable books. Chief
    amongst these is the series on Armenian Literature, presenting the complete
    writings of the authors. Five volumes have already been published. The 6th,
    7th, and 8th in the series are expected to be issued within the next two
    months. The 6th volume (1,090 pages) includes the works of Soghomon
    Makenatsi, Krikoris Arsharouni, Sdepanos Sunetsi, Sahagtoukhd Sunetsi,
    Hovhannes Korebisgobos, Khosrovig Tarkmanitch, Ghevont Yerets, Ardavazt
    Vanahayr Yerashkhavor, Ishkhanian Hamazasb, Sahag Ardrouni, Yeznig
    Goghpatsi, Movses Khorenatsi, Yeghishe, Tavit Anhaght and Yeznig Yerets. The
    7th volume (920 pages) consists of the works of Hovhan Otsnetsi and Movses
    Kertogh. The 8th volume (670 pages) includes all the hymns of the Armenian
    Church.
    This series is being published in collaboration with the Department of
    Armenian Affairs of the Gulbenkian Foundation, and is under the direct
    supervision of His Holiness Aram I and Dr. Zaven Yegavian, Director of the
    Department of Armenian Affairs of the Gulbenkian Foundation.

    MUSICAL ARMENIA
    The 2007 Musical Armenia concert will take place Sunday, March 25, 2 pm,
    at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Tickets are $25.
    Featured artists are bass Serge Barseghyan (accompanied by Evan Solomon)
    and the Ararat Trio, comprised of Patil Harboyan, piano; Van Armenian,
    violin; and Hrant Parsamian, cello.
    Serge Barseghyan has appeared as a soloist in the United States and
    Europe, including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Barcelona, and Valencia.
    Patil Harboyan was awarded first prize at the Margo Babikian Piano
    Competition in Lebanon and the Armenian Allied Arts Association Competition
    in Los Angeles. Van Armenian has served as concertmaster of the Pacific
    Music Festival Orchestra in Japan and of the Colorado-based National
    Repertory Orchestra. Hrant Parsamian was awarded highest prizes at the
    Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Young Artist Competition and the Olga Koussevitzky
    Competition.
    The Musical Armenia concerts have been presented since 1982. Its goal is
    to showcase the talents of young Armenian artists. If you would like to
    purchase tickets and/or become a sponsor of this year's Musical Armenia
    concert please contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or by e-mail to
    [email protected].

    2007 DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
    The 21st annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Christian summer studies
    program will take place July 1 to 8 in Elverson, Pennsylvania. For details
    click http://www.armenianprelacy.org/datev.htm.

    40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF
    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN
    The 40th anniversary of the ordination of our Prelate, Archbishop
    Oshagan Choloyan, will take place in three different regions as follows:
    May 5-In the New England area in Providence, Rhode Island.
    May 12-In the Mid-Atlantic area in Teaneck, New Jersey.
    May 18-In the Mid-West in Dearborn, Michigan, during the National
    Representative Assembly.
    Watch for details.

    BUSINESSMAN FROM TAIWAN HELPS
    RENOVATION OF NOUBARASHEN ORPHANAGE
    For many years the Eastern Prelacy has sponsored the Noubarashen
    Orphanage in Yerevan for children with special needs. The building was built
    in 1970, but has been poorly maintained for decades. Thanks to the Edward
    Malkonian Fund, administered by the Prelacy, major renovations have been
    taking place during the past several years. Late last year, Steve Kao, a
    Taiwanese businessman, agreed to secure the funds necessary to renovate the
    orphanage's primitive kitchen. He and his local Rotary Club donated $15,000,
    and the renovation of the kitchen was just completed. The orphanage
    currently houses 120 handicapped children. Mr. Kao's only connection to
    Armenians is a trusted Armenian friend, Mr. Garbis Garboushian of
    Burlington, New Jersey, who suggested the project. Aside from this generous
    donation, Mr. Kao sponsors several orphans through the Prelacy's Orphan
    Sponsorship Program.
    If you would like to sponsor an orphan click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/orphan.htm.

    ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
    This Saturday, March 3, the Armenian Church remembers St. Cyril
    (315-386) of Jerusalem, a Doctor of the Church. St. Cyril had a pleasant and
    conciliatory disposition, but unfortunately he lived at a time when bishops
    were embroiled in bitter controversies and were quick to condemn any
    attempts at compromise as treason. Sixteen years of his thirty-five years as
    a bishop were spent in exile. When a famine hit Jerusalem, he sold some of
    the possessions of the church to raise money for the poor people who were
    starving to death. He was condemned for selling church property and was
    banished. His best-known work that survived, The Catechetical Lectures, is
    believed to be one of the earliest systematic accounts of Christian
    theology. The lectures consist of an introductory lecture, followed by
    eighteen lectures on the Christian faith that were used during Lent for
    those preparing to be baptized on Easter, and five lectures on the
    sacraments to be used after Easter. The lectures have been translated into
    many languages including English and Armenian, and are noted for their
    presentation of the Christian faith in a positive light and maintaining a
    balance between correct belief and holy action.

    SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON
    Our journey through Great Lent continues. This Sunday, March 4, is the
    Sunday of the Prodigal Son. The parable of the Prodigal Son is intended to
    show God's fatherly love and eagerness to forgive those who repent. The
    well-known story describes an errant son whose absence causes pain to his
    father. When the son returns the father welcomes him with open arms and
    jubilation much to the distress of an older son who had remained faithful.
    But the father says, "It is fitting to make merry and be glad, for your
    brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." You can
    read the story of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter
    15, verses 11 to 32.

    IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
    In spite of a long history of hostile neighbors, many invasions,
    occupations, and persecutions, the Armenian language was not lost,
    assimilated or changed. Even during the many long periods without political
    independence, the language survived as a vigorous medium of expression and
    many excellent works of literature were produced. The renaissance of
    Armenian literature in the 19th century, for example, which produced such
    writers as Raffi, Sundukian, and Apovian, occurred at a time when Armenia
    had no political independence and had been under foreign subjugation for
    five centuries. Working under such oppressive conditions, the Armenian
    language preserved its integrity, its vigor, and its beauty of expression,
    and continued to bring forth literary masterpieces.
    The Encyclical issued by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
    House of Cilicia, proclaiming 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language is
    on the Prelacy's web page. To read the encyclical in Armenian click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/2007Encyclical.pdf . To read the encyclical in
    English click http://www.armenianprelacy.org/021406a.htm.

    DAILY BIBLE READINGS
    Bible readings for today, March 1, are 1 Samuel 3:21-4:18; Proverbs
    3:11-4:14; Jeremiah 2:31-3:16.
    "And you, O generation, heed the word of the Lord. Have I been a
    wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people
    say, 'We are free, we will come no more to thee'? ... "And when you have
    multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they
    shall no more say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It shall not come
    to mind, or be remembered, or missed; it shall not be made again." (Jeremiah
    2:31-3:16).

    For listing of the entire week's Bible readings click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/dbr2007.htm#030107

    et us then, my brethren, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side by
    side with our hoping, so that the God of all the universe, as he beholds our
    intention, may cleanse us from our sins, fill us with high hopes from what
    we have in hand, and grant us the change of heart that saves. God has called
    you, and you have your calling."
    (from The Catechetical Lectures, by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who is
    remembered by the Armenian Church this Saturday).

    CALENDAR OF EVENTS

    8-2007 Prelacy Lenten Program, to be held at St. Illuminator's Cathedral,
    New York City, Wednesday evenings during Great Lent. Lenten service at 7:30
    pm; Lecture and Q/A at 8 pm; Lenten meal and fellowship at 8:45 pm. Theme:
    Seven Vices and Seven Virtues. For further information click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/lenten.htm.

    Febru ary 25-Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, Granite City, Illinois.

    February 25-First membership meeting, St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church,
    Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

    March 4-Second membership meeting, St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
    Massachusetts.

    March 4-Membership meeting, St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
    Massachusetts.

    March 4-Membership meeting, St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
    Massachusetts.

    March 4-Membership meeting, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

    March 18-Membership meeting, St. Illuminator Cathedral, New York City.

    March 18-Membership meeting, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.

    March 25-Musical Armenia 2007, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, 2 pm.
    Sponsored by Prelacy Ladies Guild. Featured performers are: vocalist Serge
    Barseghyan (bass); and Ararat Trio (Van Armenian, violin; Paul Harboyan,
    piano; Hrant Parsamian, cello).

    April 1-Ladies Guild Annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale, St. Stephen's Church,
    Watertown, Massachusetts.

    April 14-Ladies Guild Comedy Night featuring Mel Gibson, Meze and dessert
    will be served, St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. For
    information, 617-924-7562.

    May 5-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in the
    New England area will take place in Providence, Rhode Island.

    May 6-30th anniversary of St. Illuminator's Armenian Day School, Terrace on
    the Park, Corona, New York, at 5 pm.

    May 7-Prelacy Ladies Guild Mothers' Day Luncheon, St. Regis Hotel, New York
    City.

    May 12-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in Mid
    Atlantic area will take place at the Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New
    Jersey.

    May 12-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, 50th anniversary concert
    featuring Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian.

    May 18-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in
    Midwest will take place at the National Representative Assembly.

    May 20-"Hello Ellis Island" and Reception, St. Stephen's Church Hall,
    Watertown, Massachusetts. $20 per person. Information, 617-924-7562.

    July 1-8-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, 21st annual summer Christian
    studies program for junior and senior high school students, at St. Mary of
    Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. For information click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/datev.htm.

    August 7-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual golf
    tournament at Blackstone Country Club.

    August 19-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
    church picnic.

    September 29-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 50th
    anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley.

    December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
    church bazaar.

    December 9-St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
    celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org
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