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PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
October 7, 2010
LINKED iN GATHERING THIS WEEKEND
The Prelacys annual LinkedIn gathering will begin tomorrow evening and
continue through Sunday, October 10, under the directorship of His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy. The
annual gathering is a popular educational and social weekend for young
professionals and college students, featuring informative and
thought-provoking lectures, spiritual enrichment through Bible
studies, meditations, and liturgical services, and bonding with peers
through discussion groups and fellowship hours.
The gathering takes place at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. This years general theme is The
Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Relationships.
CLERGY RETREAT
A retreat for the clergy serving the Eastern Prelacy will immediately
follow the Linked iN gathering at the same venue in Massachusetts. The
clergy retreat will take place October 10 to 13. The main topic of
this years retreat (October 10 to 13) is Holy Week services.
VICAR WILL PRESIDE OVER CELEBRATION
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, will preside over the 30th
anniversary celebration of the Armenian Independent Radio of Boston,
this Saturday evening, October 9, at the Armenian Cultural and
Educational Center in Watertown, Massachusetts.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I SPEAKS ABOUT THE
URGENCY OF CHRISTIAN UNITY
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, was
invited to address the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace 2010,
which took place in Barcelona. The meeting brought together a
selective number of religious leaders, statesmen and women,
politicians, and academics to discuss urgent issues of injustice and
conflict, possibilities for peace-building and offer intercessory
prayers.
In his address on the urgency of Christian unity, His Holiness
said that to speak about Christian unity means to speak about the
ecumenical movement. Indeed, he noted, unity is the raison detre of
the ecumenical movement. However, he said, churches have lost their
interest in multilateral ecumenism and they are more interested in
bilateral theological dialogue and inter-religious relations. Although
significant achievements have been made through the ecumenical
movement in the area of the visible unity of the church, Christian
unity is no more a top priority on the agenda of the churches and the
ecumenical movement. After outlining the significant progress that
has been made in the past, His Holiness explained the steps that must
now be taken to continue with renewed pace the endeavor for unity.
In concluding his remarks, the Catholicos reminded the
participants that unity is a gift of God and we must respond to it
obediently and faithfully. Unity is not a self-centered reality. It
must be at the service of mission, evangelism and Diakonia. In our
search for unity we must engage the whole people of God, clergy and
laity, youth and women, and people with different abilities. The
vision of visible unity must sustain the life and witness of the
churches in each and in all places, said His Holiness.
NORTH ANDOVER ARMENIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS
COMMENT ON MISSING CROSS ON AGHTAMAR CHURCH
Students at the Armenian School of St. Gregory Church in North
Andover, Massachusetts, were concerned about the lack of a cross on
the Soorp Khatch Church on the island of Akhtamar in Lake Van. This
sad situation caused the church hierarchy, including the Catholicos of
All Armenians, and the Catholicos of Cilicia, to decline to
participate in the Armenian Liturgy that recently took place.
The students in North Andover took pen in hand and expressed
just exactly how they felt about this situation. Here are just a few
of the comments:
The cross is the symbol of Christ, and you cant pray without
it. (Anna Shahtanian, age 10).
What bothers me more than the missing cross is why it took 95
years to celebrate a Badarak at this church, and why Armenians didnt
complain when it was turned into a museum. (Joanna Duffy, age 11).
Some might argue that the cross is with us spiritually, not
physically. If thats the case, then Jesus died on a cross that wasnt
there. (Nick Kochakian, age 14).
Nine year old Meline Almasian wrote that a lifetime of
hostility doesnt appear to be getting any better. Make peace, not
war. Thats the Christian way.
The reason behind the Badarak is because Turkey wants to look
good in the eyes of the European Union and show the world they arent
all that bad. (Denis Teague, age 14).
Aghavny Bebirian, age 17, would have attended the service and
prayed. By keeping our faith strong, were showing God our
dedication. Were proving to Turkey that Armenian Christianity will
never die, no matter how inconsiderate their actions may be.
(Taken from an article written by Tom Vartabedian)
Armenian School students write their thoughts about the Aghtamar
church.
BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM AT
ST. SARKIS CHURCH (DOUGLASTON, NY)
Women in the Bible, a five-part program is scheduled to be held at
St. Sarkis Armenian Church on five consecutive Tuesdays, starting
October 19 through November 16, 2010. The church is located at 38-65
234th Street, Douglaston, New York.
Sponsored by St. Sarkis Church and the Prelacys Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC), the program will take place in
Pagoumian Hall beginning at 8 pm with a 45-minute presentation
followed by Q and discusson (45 minutes), conducted by Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, Director of AREC.
For registration or information contact the church office at
718-224-2275 or the Prelacy offices at 212-689-7810.
GARIN HOVANNISIAN VISITS PRELACY
Archbishop Oshagan welcomed Garin K. Hovannisian to the Prelacy this
morning. After a private meeting with the Prelate, Vicar, and Iris
Papazian, Prelacy staff members joined in a round-table meeting with
the author of the newly-published book, Family of Shadows.
Garin answered the questions posed about his book and the
writing process about three generations of his family. Family of
Shadows, is an engrossing account of the Armenian story told through
three generations. Garin is the great-grandson of Kaspar, survivor of
the Armenian Genocide; grandson of Richard, the pioneer professor of
Armenian studies in the United States; and son of Raffi, the first
foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia, who renounced his
American citizenship in order to become a citizen of Armenia.
Garin is currently on a book tour, appearing at bookstores
along the east coast, and at various events sponsored by Armenian
American organizations. Tomorrow evening he will be at St. Leons
Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Family of Shadows: A Century of Murder, Memory and the Armenian
American Dream , is available at the Armenian Prelacy
Bookstore. Hardcover, 272 pages, $27.99, plus shipping & handling.
Archbishop Oshagan with Garin Hovannisian at the Prelacy this morning.
REMINDER: CHILDREN OF ARMENIA AUTHORAT RAMAPO COLLEGE TONIGHT
Michael Bobelian will discuss his recent book, Children of Armenia: A
Forgotten Genocide and the Century-long Struggle for Justice, at 7:30
pm tonight at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 201-684-7409.
BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, October 10, Fifth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross, are: Isaiah 19:1-11; Galatians 2:1-10; Mark
12:35-44.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, How can the
scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, by
the Holy Spirit, declared, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand, until I put your enemies under your feet. David himself calls
him Lord; so how can he be his son? And the large crowd was listening
to him with delight.
As he taught, he said, Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the
marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places
of honor at banquets! They devour widows houses and for the sake of
appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater
condemnation.
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd
putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A
poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a
penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, Truly I tell
you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of
their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:35-44)
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/8694964749/3145331/99231799/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelacy/PDF/2010dbr-10.pdf
).
FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS
This Saturday, October 8, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast
of the Holy Translators, one of our most popular feasts. There are, in
fact, two such commemorations in our liturgical calendar. One is on
the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, which can
occur in June or July, and the other on the second Saturday of
October.
The October commemoration focuses on the creation of the
Armenian alphabet (406) and on the accomplishments of the Holy
Translators. Mesrob Mashdots, the founder of the alphabet, and
Catholicos Sahak, together with some of their students, translated the
Bible. Schools were opened and the works of world-renowned scholars
were translated. Their work gave the Armenian Church a distinct
national identity.
In modern times the entire month of October has been designated
as a Month of Culture. Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia
mark this with cultural events not only in remembrance of the past,
but in celebration of modern-day scholars, theologians, writers, and
translators.
Specifically remembered this Saturday, along with Mesrob and
Sahak, are: Yeghishe, a renowned student of Sahag and Mesrob, who
served as secretary to Vartan Mamigonian and wrote the great history
of the Vartanantz wars; Movses of Khoren, also a student of Sahag and
Mesrob, is revered as the father of Armenian history; David the
Invincible was a student of Movses. He received most of his education
in Athens, where he was given the title Invincible because of his
brilliance in philosophy; Gregory of Narek, who is considered the
greatest poet of the Armenian nation and its first and greatest
mystic; and Nerses Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian,
and ecumenist.
O God, through the holy teacher you bestowed on us of the north divine
and heavenly gifts; through his prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you bestowed on the sons of Torgom the divinely-inspired
books in letters revealed to Saint Mesrob in a vision; through his
prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you generously spread your heavenly knowledge and
spiritual wisdom in the churches of the Armenians by the holy
translators; by their prayers have mercy on us.
(From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church for the
Holy Translators).
MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY
This Monday, October 11, is Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated in many
countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher
Columbuss arrival in the New World in 1492. A sailor on the Pinta
sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new era
of European exploration and expansion began. The next day the ninety
crew members of Columbuss three-ship fleet (Nina, Pinta, and Santa
Maria) landed on the Bahamian Island of Guanahan, ending a voyage that
began ten weeks earlier from Palos, Spain.
President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed October 12 a
national federal holiday in 1937. Since 1971, when the dates of
holidays were moved in the U.S. to create long weekends, Columbus Day
has been commemorated on the second Monday in October.
JUST ARRIVED AT THE BOOKSTORE
Armenian Constantinople
Edited by Richard G. Hovannisian and Simon Payaslian
This 493-page softcover book is the ninth published volume in the UCLA
series Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces. Scholars from various
disciplines offer the story of the Armenian presence in Constantinople
across the centuries.
$35.00 plus shipping & handling.
AND THE FINAL WORD:
Translators, in the precise and historical sense of the word, refers
to St. Sahag and St. Mesrob and their disciples of the 5th century
who translated the Holy Scriptures from Greek into Armenian. But, the
word translators has acquired a wider sense in our Armenian
understanding; it refers to all such Church Fathers who in the course
of the past centuries made a marked contribution to the growth of
Armenian culture taken in its entirety. It has become now a symbolic
name which is applied in this broadest sense to all those who
translate Gods Word to Gods people particularly through their literary
activities and cultural services. This is why October has been
proclaimed as The Month of Culture (Meshagouytee Amees). This means
that we are called to focus our thinking on the value of culture in
human life within our Armenian communities around the world.
>From a message delivered in Antelias, Lebanon on October 10, 1982 by
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 7The Aftermath of Genocide, a lecture by Michael Bobelian,
author of recently published Children of Armenia, at Trustee Pavilion
at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, sponsored by the Center for
Holocaust & Genocide Studies and the Armenian National Committee of
New Jersey, 7:30 pm, free and open to the public. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 201-684-7409.
October 8-10The Eastern Prelacys Linked In workshop weekend for young
adults at Holy Virgin Marys Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.
October 13Peter Balakian will read from Ziggurat, his recently
published book of poems, at National September 11 Memorial & Museum,
20 Vesey Street at Liberty Street and Broadway, New York City, at 6
pm. A suggested donation of $10 will help support the ongoing
programming.
October 1620th anniversary dinner-dance, honoring the ladies of
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. All ladies attending will be
honored. $60 per person, paid reservations required. For information
and reservations: Amy 718-476-3050; Louiza 516-248-2955; church
secretary, Raya 718-224-2275.
October 14-17Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar. Information: 301-229-8742.
October 15-16Annual Fall Fair/Bazaar, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 11 am to 7 pm each day. Full
menu, country store, handmade gifts, Armenian gifts, raffles, white
elephant table.
October 16Armenian Bazaar at St. Gregory Armenian Church, 135 Goodwin
Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 9 am to 8 pm. Shish kebob and
chicken kebob dinners, raffles, baked goods, forgotten treasures. Take
out available.
October 17St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, Hayrenikin, debut
of Huyser Musical Ensemble, 1 pm. Special appearance by the AGBU
Antranig Dance Group. Admission: $15.00. For information:
212-689-5880.
October 24St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New York,
celebrates the Year of the Armenian Woman. Lecture by Marilyn
Martone, Ph.D, professor at St. Johns University, Women in America,
immediately following church services.
October 30Comedy & Mezza Night, sponsored by the ARS of Eastern USA
(Agnouni & Spitak chapters), featuring comedian Vahe Berberian in a
new repertoire, 7 pm at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New
Milford, New Jersey. For information: [email protected].
October 31St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New York,
celebrates the Year of the Armenian Woman. Lecture by Mrs. Nayda
Voskerijian, member of Ladies Guild and Armenian Relief Society,
Armenian Women in America, immediately following church services.
November 5-6-7Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
November 767th anniversary, All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview,
Illinois.
November 13-14Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 46th
anniversary banquet Saturday evening. Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated
by the Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Oshagan. Information: 301-229-8742.
November 19-20Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival, Friday, November 19, 4 pm to 8 pm, with dinner
beginning at 5 pm. Saturday, November 20, 10 am to 4 pm with dinner
beginning at noon. Shish, Losh, and Chicken Kebob and Kheyma
sandwiches. Variety of baked goods and Armenian Country Store.
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:[email protected])
From: A. Papazian
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/
October 7, 2010
LINKED iN GATHERING THIS WEEKEND
The Prelacys annual LinkedIn gathering will begin tomorrow evening and
continue through Sunday, October 10, under the directorship of His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy. The
annual gathering is a popular educational and social weekend for young
professionals and college students, featuring informative and
thought-provoking lectures, spiritual enrichment through Bible
studies, meditations, and liturgical services, and bonding with peers
through discussion groups and fellowship hours.
The gathering takes place at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. This years general theme is The
Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Relationships.
CLERGY RETREAT
A retreat for the clergy serving the Eastern Prelacy will immediately
follow the Linked iN gathering at the same venue in Massachusetts. The
clergy retreat will take place October 10 to 13. The main topic of
this years retreat (October 10 to 13) is Holy Week services.
VICAR WILL PRESIDE OVER CELEBRATION
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, will preside over the 30th
anniversary celebration of the Armenian Independent Radio of Boston,
this Saturday evening, October 9, at the Armenian Cultural and
Educational Center in Watertown, Massachusetts.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I SPEAKS ABOUT THE
URGENCY OF CHRISTIAN UNITY
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, was
invited to address the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace 2010,
which took place in Barcelona. The meeting brought together a
selective number of religious leaders, statesmen and women,
politicians, and academics to discuss urgent issues of injustice and
conflict, possibilities for peace-building and offer intercessory
prayers.
In his address on the urgency of Christian unity, His Holiness
said that to speak about Christian unity means to speak about the
ecumenical movement. Indeed, he noted, unity is the raison detre of
the ecumenical movement. However, he said, churches have lost their
interest in multilateral ecumenism and they are more interested in
bilateral theological dialogue and inter-religious relations. Although
significant achievements have been made through the ecumenical
movement in the area of the visible unity of the church, Christian
unity is no more a top priority on the agenda of the churches and the
ecumenical movement. After outlining the significant progress that
has been made in the past, His Holiness explained the steps that must
now be taken to continue with renewed pace the endeavor for unity.
In concluding his remarks, the Catholicos reminded the
participants that unity is a gift of God and we must respond to it
obediently and faithfully. Unity is not a self-centered reality. It
must be at the service of mission, evangelism and Diakonia. In our
search for unity we must engage the whole people of God, clergy and
laity, youth and women, and people with different abilities. The
vision of visible unity must sustain the life and witness of the
churches in each and in all places, said His Holiness.
NORTH ANDOVER ARMENIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS
COMMENT ON MISSING CROSS ON AGHTAMAR CHURCH
Students at the Armenian School of St. Gregory Church in North
Andover, Massachusetts, were concerned about the lack of a cross on
the Soorp Khatch Church on the island of Akhtamar in Lake Van. This
sad situation caused the church hierarchy, including the Catholicos of
All Armenians, and the Catholicos of Cilicia, to decline to
participate in the Armenian Liturgy that recently took place.
The students in North Andover took pen in hand and expressed
just exactly how they felt about this situation. Here are just a few
of the comments:
The cross is the symbol of Christ, and you cant pray without
it. (Anna Shahtanian, age 10).
What bothers me more than the missing cross is why it took 95
years to celebrate a Badarak at this church, and why Armenians didnt
complain when it was turned into a museum. (Joanna Duffy, age 11).
Some might argue that the cross is with us spiritually, not
physically. If thats the case, then Jesus died on a cross that wasnt
there. (Nick Kochakian, age 14).
Nine year old Meline Almasian wrote that a lifetime of
hostility doesnt appear to be getting any better. Make peace, not
war. Thats the Christian way.
The reason behind the Badarak is because Turkey wants to look
good in the eyes of the European Union and show the world they arent
all that bad. (Denis Teague, age 14).
Aghavny Bebirian, age 17, would have attended the service and
prayed. By keeping our faith strong, were showing God our
dedication. Were proving to Turkey that Armenian Christianity will
never die, no matter how inconsiderate their actions may be.
(Taken from an article written by Tom Vartabedian)
Armenian School students write their thoughts about the Aghtamar
church.
BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM AT
ST. SARKIS CHURCH (DOUGLASTON, NY)
Women in the Bible, a five-part program is scheduled to be held at
St. Sarkis Armenian Church on five consecutive Tuesdays, starting
October 19 through November 16, 2010. The church is located at 38-65
234th Street, Douglaston, New York.
Sponsored by St. Sarkis Church and the Prelacys Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC), the program will take place in
Pagoumian Hall beginning at 8 pm with a 45-minute presentation
followed by Q and discusson (45 minutes), conducted by Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, Director of AREC.
For registration or information contact the church office at
718-224-2275 or the Prelacy offices at 212-689-7810.
GARIN HOVANNISIAN VISITS PRELACY
Archbishop Oshagan welcomed Garin K. Hovannisian to the Prelacy this
morning. After a private meeting with the Prelate, Vicar, and Iris
Papazian, Prelacy staff members joined in a round-table meeting with
the author of the newly-published book, Family of Shadows.
Garin answered the questions posed about his book and the
writing process about three generations of his family. Family of
Shadows, is an engrossing account of the Armenian story told through
three generations. Garin is the great-grandson of Kaspar, survivor of
the Armenian Genocide; grandson of Richard, the pioneer professor of
Armenian studies in the United States; and son of Raffi, the first
foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia, who renounced his
American citizenship in order to become a citizen of Armenia.
Garin is currently on a book tour, appearing at bookstores
along the east coast, and at various events sponsored by Armenian
American organizations. Tomorrow evening he will be at St. Leons
Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Family of Shadows: A Century of Murder, Memory and the Armenian
American Dream , is available at the Armenian Prelacy
Bookstore. Hardcover, 272 pages, $27.99, plus shipping & handling.
Archbishop Oshagan with Garin Hovannisian at the Prelacy this morning.
REMINDER: CHILDREN OF ARMENIA AUTHORAT RAMAPO COLLEGE TONIGHT
Michael Bobelian will discuss his recent book, Children of Armenia: A
Forgotten Genocide and the Century-long Struggle for Justice, at 7:30
pm tonight at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 201-684-7409.
BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, October 10, Fifth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross, are: Isaiah 19:1-11; Galatians 2:1-10; Mark
12:35-44.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, How can the
scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, by
the Holy Spirit, declared, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand, until I put your enemies under your feet. David himself calls
him Lord; so how can he be his son? And the large crowd was listening
to him with delight.
As he taught, he said, Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the
marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places
of honor at banquets! They devour widows houses and for the sake of
appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater
condemnation.
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd
putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A
poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a
penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, Truly I tell
you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of
their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:35-44)
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (
http://e2ma.net/go/8694964749/3145331/99231799/24882/goto:http://www.armenianprelacy.org/images/prelacy/PDF/2010dbr-10.pdf
).
FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS
This Saturday, October 8, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast
of the Holy Translators, one of our most popular feasts. There are, in
fact, two such commemorations in our liturgical calendar. One is on
the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, which can
occur in June or July, and the other on the second Saturday of
October.
The October commemoration focuses on the creation of the
Armenian alphabet (406) and on the accomplishments of the Holy
Translators. Mesrob Mashdots, the founder of the alphabet, and
Catholicos Sahak, together with some of their students, translated the
Bible. Schools were opened and the works of world-renowned scholars
were translated. Their work gave the Armenian Church a distinct
national identity.
In modern times the entire month of October has been designated
as a Month of Culture. Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia
mark this with cultural events not only in remembrance of the past,
but in celebration of modern-day scholars, theologians, writers, and
translators.
Specifically remembered this Saturday, along with Mesrob and
Sahak, are: Yeghishe, a renowned student of Sahag and Mesrob, who
served as secretary to Vartan Mamigonian and wrote the great history
of the Vartanantz wars; Movses of Khoren, also a student of Sahag and
Mesrob, is revered as the father of Armenian history; David the
Invincible was a student of Movses. He received most of his education
in Athens, where he was given the title Invincible because of his
brilliance in philosophy; Gregory of Narek, who is considered the
greatest poet of the Armenian nation and its first and greatest
mystic; and Nerses Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian,
and ecumenist.
O God, through the holy teacher you bestowed on us of the north divine
and heavenly gifts; through his prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you bestowed on the sons of Torgom the divinely-inspired
books in letters revealed to Saint Mesrob in a vision; through his
prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you generously spread your heavenly knowledge and
spiritual wisdom in the churches of the Armenians by the holy
translators; by their prayers have mercy on us.
(From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church for the
Holy Translators).
MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY
This Monday, October 11, is Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated in many
countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher
Columbuss arrival in the New World in 1492. A sailor on the Pinta
sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new era
of European exploration and expansion began. The next day the ninety
crew members of Columbuss three-ship fleet (Nina, Pinta, and Santa
Maria) landed on the Bahamian Island of Guanahan, ending a voyage that
began ten weeks earlier from Palos, Spain.
President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed October 12 a
national federal holiday in 1937. Since 1971, when the dates of
holidays were moved in the U.S. to create long weekends, Columbus Day
has been commemorated on the second Monday in October.
JUST ARRIVED AT THE BOOKSTORE
Armenian Constantinople
Edited by Richard G. Hovannisian and Simon Payaslian
This 493-page softcover book is the ninth published volume in the UCLA
series Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces. Scholars from various
disciplines offer the story of the Armenian presence in Constantinople
across the centuries.
$35.00 plus shipping & handling.
AND THE FINAL WORD:
Translators, in the precise and historical sense of the word, refers
to St. Sahag and St. Mesrob and their disciples of the 5th century
who translated the Holy Scriptures from Greek into Armenian. But, the
word translators has acquired a wider sense in our Armenian
understanding; it refers to all such Church Fathers who in the course
of the past centuries made a marked contribution to the growth of
Armenian culture taken in its entirety. It has become now a symbolic
name which is applied in this broadest sense to all those who
translate Gods Word to Gods people particularly through their literary
activities and cultural services. This is why October has been
proclaimed as The Month of Culture (Meshagouytee Amees). This means
that we are called to focus our thinking on the value of culture in
human life within our Armenian communities around the world.
>From a message delivered in Antelias, Lebanon on October 10, 1982 by
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 7The Aftermath of Genocide, a lecture by Michael Bobelian,
author of recently published Children of Armenia, at Trustee Pavilion
at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, sponsored by the Center for
Holocaust & Genocide Studies and the Armenian National Committee of
New Jersey, 7:30 pm, free and open to the public. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 201-684-7409.
October 8-10The Eastern Prelacys Linked In workshop weekend for young
adults at Holy Virgin Marys Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.
October 13Peter Balakian will read from Ziggurat, his recently
published book of poems, at National September 11 Memorial & Museum,
20 Vesey Street at Liberty Street and Broadway, New York City, at 6
pm. A suggested donation of $10 will help support the ongoing
programming.
October 1620th anniversary dinner-dance, honoring the ladies of
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. All ladies attending will be
honored. $60 per person, paid reservations required. For information
and reservations: Amy 718-476-3050; Louiza 516-248-2955; church
secretary, Raya 718-224-2275.
October 14-17Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar. Information: 301-229-8742.
October 15-16Annual Fall Fair/Bazaar, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 11 am to 7 pm each day. Full
menu, country store, handmade gifts, Armenian gifts, raffles, white
elephant table.
October 16Armenian Bazaar at St. Gregory Armenian Church, 135 Goodwin
Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 9 am to 8 pm. Shish kebob and
chicken kebob dinners, raffles, baked goods, forgotten treasures. Take
out available.
October 17St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, Hayrenikin, debut
of Huyser Musical Ensemble, 1 pm. Special appearance by the AGBU
Antranig Dance Group. Admission: $15.00. For information:
212-689-5880.
October 24St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New York,
celebrates the Year of the Armenian Woman. Lecture by Marilyn
Martone, Ph.D, professor at St. Johns University, Women in America,
immediately following church services.
October 30Comedy & Mezza Night, sponsored by the ARS of Eastern USA
(Agnouni & Spitak chapters), featuring comedian Vahe Berberian in a
new repertoire, 7 pm at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New
Milford, New Jersey. For information: [email protected].
October 31St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New York,
celebrates the Year of the Armenian Woman. Lecture by Mrs. Nayda
Voskerijian, member of Ladies Guild and Armenian Relief Society,
Armenian Women in America, immediately following church services.
November 5-6-7Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
November 767th anniversary, All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview,
Illinois.
November 13-14Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 46th
anniversary banquet Saturday evening. Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated
by the Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Oshagan. Information: 301-229-8742.
November 19-20Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival, Friday, November 19, 4 pm to 8 pm, with dinner
beginning at 5 pm. Saturday, November 20, 10 am to 4 pm with dinner
beginning at noon. Shish, Losh, and Chicken Kebob and Kheyma
sandwiches. Variety of baked goods and Armenian Country Store.
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:[email protected])
From: A. Papazian