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Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter 07/01/04

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  • Eastern Prelacy: Crossroads E-Newsletter 07/01/04

    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: July 1, 2004


    NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
    ON THE WEB PAGE
    Press releases about the National Representative Assembly (NRA), which
    took place in May in Philadelphia, are now posted on the Prelacy web site.
    Also posted are the texts of the message delivered by the Prelate, His
    Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, and the keynote address given by
    Professor Vigen Guroian. A gallery of photographs by our talented and
    dependable photographer, Bedo Der Bedrossian, is also on the web page. For a
    direct link to the NRA page click here
    http://www.armenianprelacy.org/nra0400.htm.

    ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE IN FULL SWING
    AT ST. MARY OF PROVIDENCE CENTER IN PENNSYLVANIA
    Seventy-seven Datevatzies (junior and senior high school students) from
    various parts of the country are at Datev this week learning, playing, and
    strengthening their bond with God.
    We are receiving daily updates, including photographs and impressions of
    Datevatzies, which we are posting on our web page immediately.
    Yesterday, June 30, Archbishop Oshagan, accompanied by Judge Sarkis
    Teshoian and Mrs. Ardemis Teshoian, visited the Datevatzies. Oshagan Srpazan
    was very impressed with the general atmosphere and the quality of the
    students attending. His Eminence said: The atmosphere was joyful and very
    respectful. I told the students that they are part of our family and they
    have the love of God and our Church in their hearts.
    Judge Teshoian addressed the students telling them the importance of
    being Armenian in our society and what it means to be an Armenian American.
    Utilizing experiences from his own life, Judge Teshoian advised the students
    to be good citizens and meet the challenges ahead. Don't think that others
    are better than you, or that you are better than others. He told them that
    participation in both Armenian and American society is very important. He
    also stressed the importance of education and the knowledge of other
    languages, not just Armenian and English. In this age of globalization, he
    said, the one who knows more will be hired and will advance up the ladder of
    success. He told them: Remember that just as you get happy when you read
    about a successful and famous Armenian, that someday an Armenian youngster
    will read about you and your success and become very happy.
    Daily updates, photographs and comments of Datevatzies are on the
    Prelacy web page: http://www.armenianprelacy.org/datev0400.htm

    REGIONAL SEMINAR IN PENNSYLVANIA
    About 25 people attended the first of three regional seminars for adults
    sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). The seminar
    topic was Critical Issues of Life and Faith-an Armenian Orthodox
    Perspective. The keynote speaker was Dr. Vigen Guroian, Professor of
    Theology and Ethics at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. Panelists
    included V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer of the
    Catholicosate of Cilicia, Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian and Dr. Meline Karakashian.
    The weekend began with Bible Studies on Friday evening followed by an
    evening service. The discussion on Saturday centered on Christian ethics and
    ethical issues that surround us in our daily lives and what the Bible tells
    us on these subjects. Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Executive Director of AREC,
    welcomed the group and set the stage for the day providing a framework for
    learning, understanding, and sharing points of view. The weekend ended on
    Sunday with Badarak and lunch.
    To quote a participant (Alice Movsesian from New Jersey), The weekend
    was fulfilling, nourishing, and enlightening. I would return next year and
    encourage others to do the same.
    The second of the three regional adult religious seminars will take
    place in New England in October 2004, followed by a third in the Midwest. It
    is planned that these seminars will be conducted on an annual basis.
    Reported by Karen Jehanian

    THREE PRELATES OF NORTH AMERICAN PRELACIES
    MEET IN CALIFORNIA
    The Western Prelacy hosted a meeting of the three prelates of North
    America on June 23 and 24, in California. Participating were His Eminence
    Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy; His Eminence
    Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of Canada; and His Eminence Archbishop
    Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy.
    This meeting was an outgrowth of meetings that took place several months
    ago with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
    members of the Central Executive Committee, and representatives of the three
    prelacies.
    Topics discussed included: Christian Education; preparation of deacons
    and acolytes; programs for Bible study groups; youth groups; organization
    and re-vitalization of parish activities; improving the work of the clergy;
    the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Armenian Theological Seminary;
    canonical issues; communications and publications; programs to help Armenia,
    Artsakh and Javakh; ecumenical relations.

    OFFICIALS FROM ARMENIA VISIT PRELATE
    This morning, Thursday, July 1, His Excellency Armen Martiroyan, Armenia
    's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Manouk Vardanyan,
    Chairman of the State Committee of the Real Property Cadastre of the
    Republic of Armenia, and Hayk Sahakian, chairman of the International
    Committee of the same agency, paid a courtesy call to the Prelate,
    Archbishop Oshagan. The Prelate and his guests discussed the current
    situation in Armenia, as well as ways that the Diaspora can assist.

    NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF ELECTION AND
    CONSECRATION OF CATHOLICOS ARAM I
    The ninth anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness
    Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, was celebrated in all
    churches under the jurisdiction of the Cilician See, including all parishes
    of the Eastern Prelacy.
    On this occasion the Catholicos said: The ninth anniversary celebration
    is for me a prime occasion to give thanks to God for His gifts of life and
    ministry which made me put the whole of my life and ability in service of
    His Church. I have always perceived my ministry as one of mission and I will
    continue in faithful obedience to the call of God to carry on my God-given
    mission and renewed faith and strong commitment. The ninth anniversary
    celebration is also an occasion for me to look back and realistically and
    objectively identify the failures and successes of my ministry at home and
    abroad, in my Church and in the ecumenical movement at large. Looking back
    must help us to look ahead clearly and courageously. Our Church is faced
    with tremendous challenges and concerns; we cannot simply avoid to be a
    responsible Church which in the context of the present day world means to
    take these issues very seriously. It means to be relevant and a credible
    Church. This is how I see the future of our Church and the way we must
    follow.

    ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL ATTEND
    HOMENETMEN GAMES
    Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will attend the HMEM Eastern Region USA 14th
    Inter-Chapter games this weekend. The games and related events will take
    place in the greater Boston area.

    ARMENIAN ROYAL FAMILY REMEMBERED THIS WEEK
    This Saturday, July 3, the Armenian Church commemorates King Trdat,
    Queen Ashkhen and Khosrovidoukht-all members of the royal family at the time
    of Armenia's official acceptance of Christianity as a state religion. It was
    the King's sister, Khosrovidoukht, who suggested that Gregory (who was
    imprisoned by the king in a deep pit) could cure the king's mysterious
    madness. Gregory was released and brought to Vagharshapat where Trdat asked
    for forgiveness. Gregory replied: I am a man like you, and I have a body
    like yours. But do you recognize your creator, who made heaven and earth,
    the sun and moon and stars, the sea and the dry land. He is able to heal
    you.

    THE FOURTH OF JULY
    And of course, Sunday is the Fourth of July-Independence Day, the
    birthday of the United States. The document that we know as the Declaration
    of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson wrote the
    first draft of the Declaration as a member of a committee that included John
    Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The principles embodied in the Declaration have
    resounded throughout the world in all the years since 1776. The words from
    the Declaration have been recited wherever and whenever people have fought
    against undemocratic regimes.
    Some of us old-timers remember when all holidays were celebrated on
    their rightful day. Many years ago, by an act of Congress, most holidays
    were moved to the weekend to give American citizens the much-desired long
    weekend. In the United States today only four of our major holidays are
    still celebrated on their proper calendar days: Halloween, Christmas, New
    Year's and Independence Day. Any suggestion to change the July 4th date has
    been met with outrage (thankfully!). The general feeling of the sanctity of
    America's Independence day was best expressed in a quotation from the
    Virginia Gazette of July 18, 1777: Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious
    and ever memorable day, be celebrated throughout America, by the sons of
    freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen and Amen.
    Happy Birthday, America.

    Visit our website at http://www.armenianprelacy.org
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