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Crossroads E-Newsletter - November 29, 2012

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  • Crossroads E-Newsletter - November 29, 2012

    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/


    November 29, 2012


    REQUIEM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
    THIS SUNDAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR'S CATHEDRAL

    A Requiem Service for Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the
    Eastern Prelacy, will take place this Sunday, December 2, at
    St. Illuminator's Cathedral in New York City. His Grace Bishop
    Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, will officiate and deliver
    the sermon.

    Archbishop Mesrob passed away nine years ago, on December 2, 2003,
    during a visit to the United States. He served as Prelate for twenty
    years, from 1978 to 1998, after which he relocated to Armenia where he
    directed the 1700th anniversary commemorative committee, and later
    organized innumerable charitable and educational programs to benefit
    the people in Armenia and Artsakh.

    `O Christ, receive the souls of your servants into the assembly of
    the first-born in heaven. Receive from us spiritual sacrifice for them
    and
    grant them to find forgiveness on the last day. Be reconciled with
    them, Lord, by means of your holy body and blood and grant them to
    stand at your right hand.'
    (Canon for the Departed in Christ from the Liturgical Canons of the
    Armenian Church)

    Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, of blessed memory, at Holy Etchmiadzin.

    ST. HAGOP CHURCH MARKS 74TH ANNIVERSARY

    St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, celebrated the parish's 74th
    anniversary on Sunday, November 11. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated
    by Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, with Bishop Anoushavan presiding.

    Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian with altar servers and
    choir members following the Divine Liturgy at St. Hagop Church,
    Racine, on the parish's 74th anniversary.

    ST. SARKIS CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

    Parishioners and friends of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
    celebrated the parish's 50th anniversary on Sunday, November 18, with
    a joyous church service and a gala banquet.

    The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
    delivered the sermon in which he asked the St. Sarkis faithful to
    continue the marvelous duty of building and sustaining their house of
    worship. Following the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence consecrated the
    newly installed doors
    of the church.

    A gala banquet took place at Leonard's of Great Neck with the
    participation of local clergy, dignitaries, parishioners, and friends
    of
    St. Sarkis. Dr. Arthur Kubikian served as Master of
    Ceremonies. Speakers who spoke about the history of the church, the
    role the church has played in
    the life of the community, and their vision for the future of the
    church included Arthur Hairabedian, Bedros Givelekian, Aram Cazazian,
    Edward Barsamian, Michael Haratunian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, and
    Bishop Anoushavan.

    Archbishop Oshagan awarded the highest awards offered by the Prelacy,
    the `Eagle of the Prelacy' to Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian, and the `Queen
    Zabel' award to Dr. Louiza Kubikian.

    Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis, expressed his
    gratitude to his parishioners with heartfelt words. `Looking back to
    the
    past decade, I can confidently say that I have been privileged and
    honored
    to serve you as your pastor. I have been given the full support of
    church members, Board of Trustees and parishioners at large. You
    supported me first to continue all the wonderful programs that have
    been implemented in the past by your former pastors, Der Asoghig and
    Hayr Anoushavan. You also supported me to launch new programs that
    would fit the needs of our times. I am
    truly grateful to you.'

    The Prelate consecrates the newly installed doors at St. Sarkis
    Church.

    A scene from the 50th anniversary gala banquet.

    FUNDRAISING EFFORTS CONTINUE FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA

    Fundraising efforts to benefit the Armenian community in Syria are
    continuing. Funds raised through the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief
    are being transferred to the special fund that has been established in
    Lebanon by
    the Catholicosate of Cilicia to help the community, especially to keep
    the
    schools open, and to provide humanitarian aid to families who have
    been displaced or injured because of the ongoing civil strife.

    The Prelacy transferred $100,000 a few weeks ago and last week
    transferred an additional $50,000. A number of fundraising events have
    taken place, and more will take place in the coming weeks.

    PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
    COMMUNITY
    IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
    THE NEED IS REAL.
    THE NEED IS GREAT.

    DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
    TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE (http://e2.ma/click/k8kxc/4f4cee/cesow) AND
    SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.

    The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
    Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
    Eparchy; Armenian
    Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
    USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

    PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY COLLECTS FOR SYRIA

    The Philadelphia Armenian community raised $18,000 during a
    fundraising event attended by more than 250 persons that took place at
    St. Gregory
    the Illuminator's Founders Hall on November 9. Special guest speaker
    and editor of the Armenian Weekly, Khatchig Mouradian, provided a
    compelling presentation in Armenian and English that stressed the
    importance of providing assistance by relating his own experiences as
    a young boy caught in Lebanon's Civil War. He encouraged everyone to
    recognize the power they have to change lives by helping families in
    crisis, and saving our Armenian schools, churches, and organizations.

    The participating organizations included St. Gregory the Illuminator
    Church, Armenian Relief Society,Artemis and Ani Chapters, the Armenian
    Revolutionary Federation of Philadelphia, the Armenian Youth
    Federation, Sebouh Chapter, Hamazkayin of Philadelphia, and Homenetmen
    of Philadelphia.

    Founders Hall at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia
    was the site of a gathering that raised more than $18,000 for Syrian
    Armenian relief on November 9.

    NORTH ANDOVER PRIEST PRAYS AND PREACHES FOR PEACE

    Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, pastor of St. Gregory Church, North
    Andover, Massachusetts, is on a new mission these days, as reported by
    journalist Tom Vartabedian in an article entitled `A Holy Pitch for
    Syrian
    Relief.'

    Tom writes, `In addition to spreading the word of God, the young
    pastor of St. Gregory Church in North Andover is making an active
    pitch for Syrian relief efforts for his beloved city of Kessab and
    other Armenian districts throughout the land.'

    Der Hayr is doing his utmost to raise money to help the Syrian
    Armenian community and is also spreading the word to a wider
    audience. Most recently he gave the sermon at the annual Thanksgiving
    Interfaith Service in North Andover where he spoke about the situation
    in Syria and prayed for peace.

    Der Hayr was born and raised in Kessab, a mostly Armenian populated
    area in Syria, where recent intense clashes have disrupted a once
    tranquil
    lifestyle.

    Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian was invited to preach at the annual
    Thanksgiving Interfaith Service in North Andover.

    EXPLORING THE EUCHARIST (Soorp Badarak)

    The first of a four-part program on the Eucharist (Soorp Badarak) took
    place last night at St. Illuminator's Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in
    New York City, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian,
    pastor, cosponsored by the Prelacy's Armenian Religious Education
    Council (AREC) and the Cathedral. The speaker of the series is
    Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of AREC. The evening began with a meal
    fellowship (from 6:30-7:30 pm) followed by the lecture (7:30-8:45
    pm). The next session will take place on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.

    For information and registration, please visit www.armenianprelacy.org
    (http://e2.ma/click/k8kxc/4f4cee/s6sow) or call (212) 689-7810
    (Prelacy) or (212) 689-5880 (Cathedral).

    The first of a four-part program on the Eucharist took place last
    night.

    VICAR ATTENDS CONFERENCE IN MASSACHUSETTS

    Bishop Anoushavan recently attended a two-day Pan Orthodox conference
    devoted to `Civil Society and Orthodoxy' at Holy Cross Theological
    Seminary in Massachusetts with Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor
    of St. Stephen's Church, Watertown. The conference was organized by
    the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO).

    Bishop Anoushavan and Archpriest Antranig Baljian with Archbishop
    Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America.

    Srpazan and Der Hayr with Lily Vardanyan, Administrative
    secretary-translator of IAO and Professor Valery Alexeev, IAO advisor.

    ST. ILLUMINATOR'S HELPS HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS

    St. Illuminator's Cathedral in New York City has been collecting food
    and clothing for New York City residents affected by Hurricane
    Sandy. Last Wednesday, on the eve of Thanksgiving, Rev. Fr. Mesrob
    Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, and members of his family joined
    volunteers from
    the American Red Cross to deliver and distribute food to needy
    families.

    Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian joined American Red Cross volunteers to help
    distribute food to needy families in Far Rockaway, New York. The
    Rockaway peninsula was one of the hardest hit areas in New York.

    BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN WITH NEW JERSEY PARISH

    Bishop Anoushavan presided over the Divine Liturgy which was
    celebrated by Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, last Sunday at Sts. Vartanantz
    Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. His Grace delivered the sermon
    touching on the themes of Thanksgiving and the aftermath of the storm
    that devastated parts of New
    Jersey and New York.

    Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan and Yn. Ani Bozoian with the
    Sunday School staff and deacons at Sts. Vartanantz Church in New
    Jersey.

    Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan and Yn. Ani Bozoian with Sunday
    School staff and interns.

    VISIT TO ARMENIAN HOME IN NEW YORK

    Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of
    St. Illuminator's Cathedral, visited the residents of the Armenian
    Home in
    Flushing, New York, last Sunday, November 25, on the occasion of the
    Thanksgiving holiday.
    Members of the St. Illuminator's `Huyser' Ensemble
    entertained the residents, staff and guests with Armenian songs.

    Bishop Anoushavan and Der Mesrob in a service of thanksgiving at the
    Armenian Home in New York.

    The Cathedral's `Huyser' Ensemble entertained the residents.

    VICAR ATTENDS LEBANON'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

    Bishop Anoushavan with Consul General Magdi Ramadan at a celebration
    of Lebanon's Independence Day on November 19.

    BIBLE READINGS

    Bible readings for Sunday, December 2, Second Sunday of Advent, are:
    Isaiah 36:22-37:11; Thessalonians 4:1-11; Luke 13:1-9.

    At that very time there were some present who told him about the
    Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He
    asked them, `Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in
    this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell
    you; but unless
    you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who
    were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-do you think that
    they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No,
    I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they
    did.'

    Then he told the parable: `A man had a fig tree planted in his
    vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he
    said to the gardener, `See here! For three years I have come looking
    for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why
    should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, `Sir, let it alone for one
    more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears
    fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.''
    (Luke 13:1-9)

    For a listing of the coming week's Bible readings click here
    (http://e2.ma/click/k8kxc/4f4cee/8ytow).

    SAINTS THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW

    This Saturday, December 1, the Armenian Church commemorates Saints
    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 and earning them the title,
    `First Enlighteners of Armenia.'

    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 (Iran) where a chapel was built in the third
    century.

    Bartholomew is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He was
    martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.

    An apostle is `someone who is sent,'-an emissary or ambassador of the
    Kingdom of God, sent to announce the Kingdom's coming in Jesus Christ,
    and authorized to claim men and women's allegiance to him. `We are
    ambassadors for Christ, God making
    his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be
    reconciled to God,' (2 Corinthians 5:20).

    KING APKAR, THE FIRST BELIEVING KING

    Next Tuesday, December 4, the Armenian Church remembers King Apkar,
    known as the `first believing king.' He ruled in Edessa (Urfa) where
    many Armenians had migrated. Suffering from a debilitating skin
    disease, King Apkar sent a letter to Christ hoping to be cured, and
    received the answer that a disciple of Christ would visit
    him. According to tradition, Christ sent Apkar a linen cloth
    (Dastarak) with His image. After Christ's ascension Thaddeus went to
    see the king and cured him. King Apkar and his family became
    Christians and wrote to other kings urging them to
    accept Christianity.

    PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA VISITS CATHOLICOSATE

    Serge Sarkissian, the President of the Republic of Armenia, and his
    wife paid a visit to the Catholicosate in Antelias while on an
    official visit to Lebanon. Accompanying the President were the Foreign
    Minister and the Ministers of Education, Culture and Relations with
    the Diaspora. The Catholicos, the President, and his delegation went
    to the Chapel of the Martyrs
    of the Genocide where President Sarkissian placed a wreath and His
    Holiness prayed for the souls of the one-and-a-half million victims.

    His Holiness and the President held a private meeting prior to a
    reception attended by members of the National Council of the
    Catholicosate, the clergy and representatives of organizations of the
    Armenian community in
    Lebanon.

    The Catholicos thanked the President for his visit and for raising the
    issues of Genocide and defending the rights of the Armenians. As an
    expression of his appreciation, Catholicos Aram decorated the
    President with the `Cilician Cross.' The President thanked the
    Catholicos and noted, `I strongly believe that Armenia and the
    Diaspora strengthen one another. Inspired by this conviction, I remain
    committed to strengthening both. The Armenian community in Lebanon not
    only represents large numbers, it also embodies the aspirations and
    hopes of our people. The Catholicosate of Cilicia is more than a
    spiritual center; it is the foundation and the source of inspiration
    for safeguarding Armenian identity.'

    `WE WILL RENOVATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN DER ZOR'

    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, recently
    confirmed that renovations to the Armenian Martyrs Memorial in Der Zor
    will start as soon as security is restored. The memorial compound
    sustained considerable damage by shrapnel from aerial bombardment in
    the area. The memorial is dedicated to the victims of the Armenian
    Genocide of 1915.

    HIS HOLINESS CONGRATULATES NEW COPTIC POPE

    Archbishops Sebouh Sarkissian and Nareg Alemezian represented His
    Holiness Aram I at the enthronement of Tawadros II as the new Coptic
    Orthodox Pope. Archbishop Sebouh presented the Catholicos's message
    that referred to the long historical relations between the Coptic and
    Armenian Orthodox Churches since the Council of Chalcedon in 451
    AD. The Catholicos emphasized the importance of the ecumenical
    movement as an instrument of the churches to work together. `For
    centuries, Christians and Muslims have lived together in the Middle
    East. The two Monotheistic religions should continue living together
    by affirming their common values and by respecting their differences.'

    The Treaty of Alexandropol (December 2-3, 1920)

    The Armenian-Turkish war of 1920 put the Republic of Armenia on the
    brink of collapse. It also brought back the very real threat of
    physical disappearance for the Armenian people. The secret pact signed
    between the Turkish Great National Assembly led by Mustafa Kemal
    (Ataturk) and Soviet Russia in August 1920 had ensured the support of
    Bolshevism to the Turkish insurgents. The latter, unlike the Ottoman
    legal government, were leading the so-called `war of independence'
    against Greece in order to overturn the partition of the Ottoman
    Empire that included the division of current Turkey into different
    zones of influence and the loss of most of its territories.

    Turkish forces commanded by General Kiazim Karabekir had already
    reached Alexandropol (now Gumri) at the end of November 1920 when a
    ceasefire
    was forced upon the Armenian government. On the other side, a small
    group of Armenian Bolsheviks had crossed the border from Soviet
    Azerbaijan into Armenia on November 29 and proclaimed Armenia a Soviet
    republic, appealing for the intervention of the Red Army. The
    government of the Republic of Armenia, led by Prime Minister Simon
    Vratzian (who had assumed power on November 25), was forced to choose
    the lesser of two evils: to turn away the potential annihilation of
    Eastern Armenians, it decided to relinquish power to the
    Communists. The change of regime was legalized through the signature
    of an agreement between the authorities of the Republic of Armenia and
    Boris Legran, representative of the Russian Soviet Federative
    Socialist Republic (RSFSR), in the morning of December 2, 1920. It was
    enforced on the same day
    at 6 pm. It established that Armenia would become an independent
    Soviet Socialist republic within the frontiers that had been under the
    jurisdiction of the government before the Turkish invasion and a
    revolutionary committee
    would take power temporarily. On its final session of the same day,
    the government of the Republic of Armenia decided to resign
    power. After more than two and half years, the first independence had
    come to an end.

    The sovietization of Armenia did not end the Turkish menace. Karabekir
    threatened to resume his offensive unless his terms were accepted. The
    onerous terms obliged Armenia to renounce the Treaty of Sevres and all
    claims to Western Armenia and the province of Kars, and to accept
    temporary Turkish jurisdiction in Nakhichevan, among other
    issues. Alexander Khatisian, representative of the Republic of
    Armenia, signed the treaty in the wee hours of December 3.

    However, the Armenian government had already resigned and, therefore,
    Khatisian had no power whatsoever. On the other hand, Kiazim Karabekir
    represented the Great National Assembly of Turkey, with headquarters
    in Ankara, but the legal authority of Turkey, until November 1922, was
    in the hands of Sultan Mehmed VI and the Ottoman government in
    Constantinople. Legally, none of the signing parties had any
    attribution to stamp their signature under the document. Writes
    Richard Hovannisian: `Denounced and

    Alexander Khatisian

    branded a traitor by Soviet and other non-Dashnakist authors,
    Khatisian justified his action as an exigency measure taken with the
    knowledge of the new Erevan government and intended to give time for
    the Red Army to enter Armenia in sufficient numbers to block a further
    Turkish advance. Realizing that he had not legal jurisdiction,
    Khatisian hoped that the new Soviet government, with the support of
    Russia, would repudiate his action and force the Turks to withdraw, at
    least to the pre-war boundaries.'

    The Treaty of Alexandropol was never ratified and was replaced by the
    treaties of Moscow and Kars (March and October 1921). The latter was
    signed by the Great National Assembly of Turkey, Soviet Russia, Soviet
    Armenia, Soviet Georgia, and Soviet Azerbaijan. However, these
    treaties cannot be recognized as valid according to international
    law. Mustafa Kemal had not been invested with any powers by the
    legally recognized Ottoman government, and Soviet Armenia was not a
    legally recognized state anymore.

    (http://e2.ma/click/k8kxc/4f4cee/oruow)

    CALENDAR OF EVENTS

    December 1-Annual Holiday Bake Sale, St. Paul Church, 645 S. Lewis
    Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois, 9 am to 3 pm. Enjoy authentic Armenian and
    American pastries and plan to stay for lunch at St. Paul Café. For
    information or pre-orders, 847-244-4573.

    December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
    annual bazaar, 11 am to 5 pm at the Christian Reform Church Fellowship
    Hall, corner of East and Cross Streets, Whitinsville. Come meet old
    and new friends and enjoy the day, good dinners, great baked goods,
    fabulous silent auction, Armenian boutique, craft tables, Country
    Store, and more.

    December 2-ARS New York Mayr Chapter presents `An Afternoon of Food
    and Dance,' to benefit the Armenian community in Syria, Byblos
    Restaurant, 80 Madison Avenue (at 28th Street), New York City, at 2
    pm. Music by Varouj Vartanian, Manuel Vartanian, & Harout
    Barsoumian. Donation: $75 adults; $30 children under 12. For
    reservations: Anais 718-392-6982
    or Anahid 718-478-6249.

    December 7-New York Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
    Cultural Society presents dedication of a new book, `Gomidas: A
    Psychological Study,' by Meline Karakashian, Ph.D. The author will
    speak about her book that analyzes the life and mental health of
    Gomidas Vartabed from a new psychological perspective. Armenian
    Center, 69-23 47th Avenue, Woodside, New York, at 7:30 pm. Admission
    is free. Refreshments and book signing will follow presentation. For
    information: Ara Caprielian 718-459-2757 or Asdghig Sevag
    718-565-8397.

    December 9-Simply Christmas 2012. A Holiday Concert following Church
    Services at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, under the
    auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. A
    Christmas celebration with Hasmik Mekhanejian, Mezzo-Soprano; Solange
    Merdinian, Mezzo-Soprano; Sami Merdinian, Violin; Sofya Melikian,
    Piano. Free admission. Reception following concert.

    December 16-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
    annual Sunday School pageant and concert following Badarak. Christmas
    coffee hour to follow.

    Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy's web
    site.

    To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
    add
    [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]




    From: A. Papazian
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