Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 10/25/2007

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 10/25/2007

    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

    OCTOBER 25, 2007

    PRELATE TRAVELS TO LEBANON
    Archbishop Oshagan departed for Lebanon on Tuesday for the wedding of his
    nephew, Antranig, son of his late brother Sarkis. During his visit to
    Lebanon he will meet with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
    of Cilicia.

    VICAR WILL ATTEND LITURGY, BANQUET
    AND ECUMENICAL SERVICE
    Bishop Anoushavan will represent Archbishop Oshagan at the Divine Liturgy
    officiated by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, on
    Sunday, October 28, at St. Vartan Cathedral, New York City, as well as the
    banquet in honor of His Holiness at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
    On Monday, October 29, the Vicar will attend an ecumenical service organized
    by the Syrian Orthodox Church in honor of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin
    II.

    WCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET
    Bishop Anoushavan participated in the two-day meeting of the Board of
    Directors of the World Council of Churches (USA) October 24 and 25 in New
    York.

    NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS
    Twenty Sunday School teachers will attend the National Conference for
    Christian Educators this weekend in Charlton, Massachusetts, sponsored by
    the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Also attending will be all
    of the clergy from the New England area. The theme of the conference is
    "Prayer-Personal and Communal," and will feature presentations by Bishop
    Anoushavan Tanielian, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Ph.D., Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and
    Dr. Mary Olson.

    NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
    The new five-part series of Bible studies ("From Jesus' meals with sinners
    to the Lord's Supper") began on Monday, October 16, and will continue on the
    first and third Tuesdays of the month, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm, at the Prelacy.
    Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education Council
    (AREC) is leading the sessions. For information and registration, send email
    to [email protected] or telephone 212-689-7810.

    PRESENTATION BY VIGEN GUROIAN ON NOVEMBER 16
    A new series of booklets on contemporary ethical issues will be officially
    introduced on Friday, November 16, 7:30 pm at the Prelacy headquarters in
    New York. The series of seven booklets will be written by Vigen Guroian,
    Professor of Theology at Loyola College in Maryland. Professor Guroian will
    be present and will speak about the first of the series, "Homosexuality and
    Same Sex Union," which was recently published. Dr. Guroian's presentation
    will be followed by Q&A, discussion and reception.
    The various topics-all current issues of morality and ethics-are explored
    with an Orthodox perspective. The series is a pioneering effort not only for
    the Armenian Church, but for all of Orthodoxy.
    For information contact the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
    [email protected] or contact the Prelacy office at 212-689-7810.

    ARCHPRIEST NERSES MANOOGIAN
    Last Sunday, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his ordination to
    the priesthood, in appreciation of his dedicated service to the Armenian
    Church, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator
    Church in Philadelphia was elevated to Archpriest (Avak Kahana).

    CATHOLICOS ARAM I VISITS CHURCH IN NAPLES
    His Holiness Aram I paid an official visit to the Italian Catholic church
    named "Saint Gregory the Armenian" in Naples, Italy, on October 22.
    According to tradition, the skull of St. Gregory the Illuminator is in this
    church and therefore the church and the street on which it is located are
    named after St. Gregory. In 2001, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary
    of the adoption of Christianity as the official religion in Armenia, Pope
    John Paul II presented remnants from St. Gregory to the Catholicates of
    Etchmiadzin and Cilicia.
    His Holiness said prayers in the church prior to a guided tour of the church
    and monastery by the sisterhood of the church. The complex is full of
    artistic works depicting events in the life of St. Gregory and the Armenian
    nation's conversion to Christianity. A reception followed.
    As reported last week, His Holiness, was in Naples for a conference. During
    this period His Holiness met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan
    Williams, the President of the German Evangelical Churches, Bishop Huber;
    the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, the general secretary
    of the World Council of Churches; the general secretary of the Lutheran
    churches, and a number of senior officials from various denominations and
    prominent government officials.

    VATICAN REMAINS COMMITTED TO LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY
    His Holiness Aram I announced that the Vatican remains committed more than
    ever to the strengthening of the unity, independence and sovereignty of
    Lebanon. The Pontiff made the statement following his lunch with His
    Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and meeting with the Vatican's official
    secretary, His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

    DAILY BIBLE READINGS
    Bible readings for today, October 25, are: Wisdom 3:11-17; Isaiah
    51:22-52:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16; John 15:11-18.
    I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your
    joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
    have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life
    for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not
    call you servants' any longer, because the servant does not know what the
    master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to
    you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I
    chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,
    so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am
    giving you these commands so that you may love one another. If the world
    hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15:11-18)
    For listing of the entire week's Bible readings click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/dbr2007.htm#102507 .

    IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
    To read the message of His Holiness in Armenian click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/2007Encyclical.pdf .
    To read the message of His Holiness in English click
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/021407a.htm.
    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
    designated 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language. In celebration of this
    year-long tribute, each week we will offer an interesting tidbit about the
    Armenian language and literature:
    "Originally, as in many Eastern Churches, worship in the Armenian Church was
    said in the words of the bible. Worship was thought to be such a super-human
    act that it had to exclude words of purely human invention. The content of
    the worship was confined to the Lord's Prayer, the Psalms, and Scriptural
    readings. These remained the basic structural elements in Christian worship
    all along the course of the later developments.
    "The liturgy of the Armenian Church as outlined and established in the fifth
    century was a product of this same liturgical tradition and principle. That
    is the reason why even in its present elaborate form the Scriptural parts
    are so dominant and rich. Thus, the Old Testament is read on all Sundays
    preceding the readings of the Apostles and the Gospel. All the books are
    read except Judges, 1 Chronicles, 1 and 2 Esdras, Nehemiah, Tobit, 1 and 3
    Maccabees. Apart from the Psalms those which have the largest reading are
    the books of Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs, Job, Isaiah, and all the prophets
    without exception. The New Testament is entirely read [during the liturgical
    year] and the Gospels more than once a year. Holy Week and the fifty days
    following Easter are those periods of the liturgical year which are marked
    with an intensification of Scriptural readings."
    >From a lecture delivered by Vartabed Karekin Sarkissian during a Biblical
    Congress in Jerusalem in May 1962.

    FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY CROSS
    This Sunday, October 28, the Armenian Church commemorates the Discovery of
    the Cross (Giut Khatch). Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, was a devout
    Christian. While in Jerusalem she wanted to find the True Cross. She went to
    Golgotha (Calvary), which had become an obscure and neglected place. The
    Empress ordered excavation of the site, and three wooden crosses were found.
    In order to identify the True Cross, the three crosses were successively
    placed on the body of a youth who had just died. When one of the crosses was
    placed on him, the young man came to life. This cross was the True Cross.
    The commemoration of this event takes place on the Sunday closest to October
    26.
    Christ's exact burial site was also located and the Church of the Holy
    Sepulcher was built on that spot in 335. The church was destroyed by fire in
    614 when the Persians invaded Jerusalem, and subsequently rebuilt. The
    current dome dates back to 1870. Three denominations (Armenian Orthodox,
    Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic) administer and maintain the church and
    surrounding grounds (unfortunately, not always harmoniously). Agreements
    regulate times and places of worship for each denomination. Ironically, a
    neutral Muslim family has been the custodian of the keys for centuries. The
    Church, within the walled Old City of Jerusalem, is revered and continues to
    be a popular destination for pilgrims.

    "WE ALWAYS TEND TO SPEAK MUCH AND DO VERY LITTLE."
    The recent events-the controversy with the ADL and its No Place for Hate
    program, and the House of Representative's Resolution on the Armenian
    genocide-has generated an enormous amount of publicity. It has truly been a
    treasure trove for Armenians.
    In a recent interview Paul Rusesabagina, a Rwandan genocide survivor, had
    this to say when asked his opinion of the House Resolution on the Armenian
    Genocide: "We have to call each and anything by its name. A genocide has
    been defined by the Geneva Resolution of 1952. Anyone who commits a genocide
    is committing a genocide, and we should have the courage to call a genocide
    by its name. So I admire the U.S. government to have taken that decision but
    I would be happier if the U.S. administration goes farther than that. After
    calling it a genocide we should put our words into actions. We always tend
    to speak much and do very little."
    Incidentally the story of Paul Rusesabagina is told in the movie Hotel
    Rwanda. If you missed it, we suggest you get the DVD and watch an
    exceptional and riveting movie based on true events.

    OUTREACH ON LINE
    The latest issue of Outreach (October 2007) is in the mail. If you would
    like to read it on line click http://www.armenianprelacy.org/outreach.htm.

    WEEK LY CROSSROADS
    A reminder that Crossroads is transmitted every week (usually Thursday
    afternoon). Occasionally we receive complaints about the timely arrival of
    Crossroads. Please make sure that you put the Prelacy's email address
    ([email protected]) in your address book so that your computer does
    not identify it as "spam" and delete it.

    We also remind you that you can read current and past issues on the Prelacy's
    web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).

    CALENDAR OF EVENTS

    September 27 to November 29-Christian Education classes at Sourp Khatch
    Church in Bethesda, Maryland, 8 pm in the church sanctuary. Topic: The
    Badarak. Classes held second and fourth Thursdays of each month, except
    Thanksgiving week when classes will take place Friday. Armenian and English.
    Prior attendance is not a requisite. For information: 301-229-8742.

    October 16 to December 18-"From Jesus' meals with sinners to the Lord's
    Supper," a five part Bible study at the Armenian Prelacy will begin on
    October 16 and continue on the first and third Tuesday of the month, from
    7:15 to 8:45 pm. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
    Religious Education Council (AREC). For information and registration, please
    send e-mail to [email protected] or call 212-689-4481.

    October 18, 19, 20-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Annual Food
    Festival and Bazaar.

    October 19 & 20-Annual fall fair/bazaar, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
    Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, in newly renovated Jaffarian Hall.

    October 21-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, celebrating the
    20th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, under the
    auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan. For information
    www.saintgregory-philly.org or 215-482-9200.

    October 26-28-National Conference for Christian Educators, a conference for
    Sunday School teachers at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a Coptic
    Orthodox Retreat Center, in Charlton, Massachusetts. Theme: "Prayer-Personal
    and Communal." Presentations by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Bishop Anoushavan
    Tanielian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, and Dr. Mary Olson. For more information
    click http://www.armenianprelacy.org/prayer0700.htm.

    Oc tober 28-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, presents The Way We Were
    group in their new musical "Hello Ellis Island!' by Hourig
    Papazian-Sahagian. Immediately after Sunday services. Refreshments served.
    For information 718-224-2275.

    November 2-3-Golden Jubilee Annual Bazaar, St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
    Massachusetts.

    November 2-3-4-Sts. Vartanantz Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, 461 Bergen
    Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. For information 201-943-2950.

    November 7-Soorp Khatch (Bethesda, Maryland) Senior Citizens second reunion
    and Thanksgiving luncheon.

    November 11-37th anniversary of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley and
    ordination of Nishan Dagley to the office of acolyte and stole bearer.
    Presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the
    Prelacy.

    November 11-St. Stephen Church, Watertown, Massachussetts, 50th anniversary
    commemorative concert, 4 pm., church hall.

    November 10-11-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, annual
    "Armenian Fest," at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island. For
    information 401-831-6399.

    November 11-Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale and Armenian Children's
    Chorus, 7th annual gala concert and dinner, Armenian Church of Our Saviour
    Cultural Center. Advance tickets only. Barbara Baljian, 508-799-6972.

    November 16-Introduction to the new series of booklets on Contemporary
    Ethical Issues: An Armenian Orthodox Perspective, by Vigen Guroian.
    Professor Guroian will speak about the series and the first booklet newly
    published, "Homosexuality & Same-Sex Union." 7:30 pm at the Prelacy office
    in New York City. For information [email protected] or 212-689-7810.

    November 16 & 17-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
    Annual Bazaar. All are welcome. For information 508-852-2414.

    November 17-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 43rd Anniversary
    Banquet.

    November 18-Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Divine Liturgy
    celebrated by the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

    November 18-Thanksgiving luncheon, Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator's
    Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, following the Divine Liturgy
    at the Cathedral's John Pashalian Hall. For information 212- 689-5880.

    December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
    church bazaar. For information www.armenianchurchofwhit.org or 508-234-3677.

    December 2-Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the ordination of Rev.
    Archpriest Arshag Daghlian, sponsored by the Religious Council of the
    Eastern Prelacy and the Pastor and Board of Trustees of St. Stephen's
    Armenian Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 5 p.m. For information
    617-924-7562.

    December 9-St. Stephen's Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
    dinner dance, Marriott Hotel, Burlington. For information, (617) 924-7562.

    December 9-Family Christmas Concert sponsored by St. Illuminator's
    Cathedral, featuring Maggie Tune (from California) and Gaghant Baba, 4:30
    pm, at IS5 High School, 50-40 Jacobus Street, Elmhurst, New York. For
    information contact cathedral office, 212-689-5880.

    December 23-St. Stephen's Day Celebration, Watertown, Massachusetts. The
    Golden Jubilee celebration will come to a close with a commemoration of the
    church's patron saint, the first deacon and martyr, St. Stephen.

    December 31-New Year's Eve Dinner Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
    New Jersey, and ARF Dro Gomideh, The Sheraton Meadowlands, E. Rutherford,
    New Jersey. For information 201-943-2950.

    June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
    Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
    Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
    more information click http://www.armenianprelacy.org/datev.htm.
Working...
X