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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 12/02/2004

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter - 12/02/2004

    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 - December 2, 2004

    COMMITTEE FOR UNITED COMMEMORATION
    OF 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE FORMED
    Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
    of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and His Eminence Archbishop
    Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, a
    committee has been formed to organize a pan-Armenian American commemoration
    of the 90th anniversary of the Genocide next year. The commemoration will
    take place in New York City on Sunday, April 24, 2005.
    The joint commemorative committee convened its first meeting on October
    21. Roy Stepanian of St. Mary Armenian Church, Livingston, New Jersey, and
    Ken Sarajian of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey have been
    appointed by the Diocese and the Prelacy to serve as co-chairs. With the
    attendance and support of major Armenian American groups, the committee
    began its work. The immediate task will be the formation of subcommittees to
    plan specific events, prepare educational and press materials, and begin
    fundraising to underwrite the commemoration.
    >From press release issued by the Joint Committee

    ST. GREGORY CHURCH, GRANITE CITY
    CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEKEND
    His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, will be with the
    parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite City, Illinois, to
    celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church. His Eminence will travel to
    Granite City. On Saturday he will preside over services in the former church
    of the parish followed by a fellowship hour. His Eminence will officiate at
    the Divine Liturgy services on Sunday, assisted by Rev. Fr. Serop Azarian,
    pastor of the church. A celebratory banquet will follow.
    The original St. Gregory Church, a small church on Maple Street, was
    consecrated on December 5, 1954. A new and much larger church, a few miles
    from the original site, was built and consecrated on October 12, 1997. In
    2001 a Memorial was erected to honor the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide,
    along with a Walk of Remembrance that recognizes other family memorials.
    Saturday evening arrangements have been made for informal nostalgic
    remembrances with photographs and memorabilia covering the fifty-year
    history of the parish.
    In conjunction with the commemorations, parishioners will participate in
    a mortgage burning ceremony thanks to an aggressive fundraising drive, which
    enabled the church to pay its mortgage debt and establish an endowment fund.

    CATHOLICOS ARAM IN GENEVA
    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, left
    Antelias last Saturday, November 27, for Geneva where he will preside over
    the meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the World Council of
    Churches. His Holiness is the Moderator of the WCC. During his visit to
    Geneva and the headquarters of the WCC, His Holiness will deliver a prime
    lecture on Ecumenism in the 21st Century.

    CHRISTMAS FAMILY CONCERT ON SATURDAY
    CELEBRATES THE YEAR OF THE FAMILY
    During 2004, which was designated as The Year of the Family by His
    Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Prelacy has
    set its goals with the health and welfare of our families. Although the
    yearlong celebration will come to an end with a Family Christmas Concert
    this Saturday, December 4, certainly the Prelacy's focus on the family will
    continue as it has always.
    The December 4th concert at the Alliance Française in New York City,
    featuring Nvair and her HyeFamily friends and special guest from California,
    Taline, has been sold-out for more than a month.
    Youngsters attending with their parents are due for an exciting
    afternoon with many surprises.

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PARTICIPATES
    IN AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
    Archbishop Oshagan participated in the meetings this week of the
    National Church Leadership Council organized by the American Bible Society.
    The meetings took place in New York City, Monday and Tuesday, November 29
    and 30. The theme of the meetings was, An Effective Church in a Post-Modern
    World.

    ST. SARKIS WILL HONOR POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS
    Archbishop Oshagan will preside over special morning services and
    luncheon in honor of the police of the 111th precinct and fire fighters of
    Bayside, New York, organized by St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New
    York.
    This annual service and luncheon by St. Sarkis Church has helped bring
    the church and community closer together.

    THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
    This Saturday, December 4, the Armenian Church commemorates Sts.
    Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first
    evangelizers of Armenia and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church
    its apostolic identity.
    Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He was
    martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian monastery of
    St. Thaddeus (now Iran) where a chapel was built in the third century.
    Bartholomew is thought to have come to Armenia about 66 AD. He was
    martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.

    SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
    This Sunday, December 5, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent, the
    solemn period anticipating the birth of the Savior, is a period of
    contemplation. This week let us think of those less fortunate than us and
    take some action to help.

    NEXT TUESDAY IS 16TH ANNIVERSARY
    OF EARTHQUAKE IN ARMENIA
    Next Tuesday, December 7, is the 16th anniversary of the earthquake in
    Armenia that shook the very foundations of the Soviet Empire. Our thoughts
    and prayers are with the families that suffered great loss and continue to
    strive to reach normalcy. God rest the souls of those who perished and peace
    to those who survived.

    DECEMBER 7TH IS ALSO PEARL HARBOR DAY
    At dawn on Sunday, December 7, 1941, naval aviation forces of the Empire
    of Japan attacked the United States Pacific Fleet center at Pearl Harbor,
    Hawaii, and other military targets. The sneak attack against Pearl Harbor
    brought an immediate reaction of unprecedented unity from the American
    people. Families from every class sent their sons and daughters to war,
    bringing the U.S. into World War II in full force. Women joined the work
    force and took over the jobs that were generally reserved for men.
    Ultimately it was the industrial strength of the United States and the will
    of the people that was the foundation of the U.S. victory.

    TODAY MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH
    OF ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
    Today, December 2 marks the first anniversary of the passing of His
    Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian who died in New York City where he was
    visiting family and introducing his latest book, The Etchmiadzin Chronicles.
    Our community was shocked and stunned as the news of his sudden death
    spread.
    On Sunday, December 12, all Prelacy churches will observe the first
    anniversary of his passing with Requiem Services and Madagh. Archbishop
    Oshagan will be at St. Illuminator Cathedral in New York City, where the
    Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Souren
    Kataroyan, the former Prelate of Aleppo.
    Archbishop Ashjian served as Prelate of the Eastern United States and
    Canada for twenty years from January 1978 to May 1998. He also served as the
    Executive Secretary of the 1700th anniversary of Christian Armenia and he
    presided over a host of programs spreading the Light of Christianity and
    benefiting the general population of Armenia and Artsakh.
    Therefore, and we beseech you O heavenly Father, accept our deceased in
    your Upper Jerusalem, in the gathering of those, who have been registered
    first into the heavens. (from Armenian Requiem Hymn)
    We end this week with a quote from a 1995 New Year message by Archbishop
    Ashjian:
    Traditionally the New Year has come to symbolize a time to reflect on
    one's own life and the general condition of the human race. Somehow, with
    the coming of a new year-almost miraculously-life's slate seems to be clean
    and ready to be filled anew. This time, we think, we are determined to
    change our ways, to have better priorities, to make this year better than
    last. The changes that have taken place in our national lives in less than a
    decade are enough to fill half a century. For so many years we went along
    almost by rote with little, if any, deviation. And then on that fateful day
    of December 7, 1988, the earthquake in northern Armenia brought upheaval and
    change not only to Armenia but also to every corner of the Armenian
    Diaspora. Life has not been the same since, nor will it ever be.

    Visit our website at www.armenianprelacy.org
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