November 16, 2017

TELETHON 2017

Archbishop Oshagan has directed all Prelacy parishes to offer special plate collections this Sunday, November 19, and next Sunday, November 26, for the annual Thanksgiving Telethon that will benefit the continuing economic and social growth and progress of Artsakh. The 20 th annual telethon, under the theme of “Fruitful Arstakh” can be seen live on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, 10 am to 10 pm at www.ArmeniaFund.org . View the video message by His Holiness Aram I about the 2017 Telethon below.

PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO WHITINSVILLE

This weekend Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Whitinsville, Massachusetts where on Sunday he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and ordain three acolytes on the occasion of the 60 th anniversary of St. Asdvadzadzin Church. The acolytes to be ordained are Brian Der Kosrofian, Vahan Der Kosrofian, and Charles Whittlesey.

53 rd ANNIVERSARY OF SOORP KHATCH CHURCH

Last weekend Archbishop Oshagan was in Bethesda, Maryland, where on Sunday he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at Soorp Khatch Church. On Saturday evening His Eminence presided over the parish’s 53 rd anniversary banquet.  To see a video of the Prelate’s message at the anniversary banquet click here .

VICAR ORDAINS ALTAR SERVERS IN PHILLY

Bishop Anoushavan and Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian with altar servers and newly ordained acolytes at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia.

Last Sunday Bishop Anoushavan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia. During the Liturgy His Grace ordained two sub-deacons, Hovig Chapanian and Kevork Artin, and ten acolytes, Joseph Barton, Alex Dardarian, Adam Hox, John Kakoyan, Tomas Karakelian, Haig Shamlian, Armen Shirozian, Haig Shirozian, Hovig Chapanian and Xavier Yeremian.

50 TH JUBILEE CELEBRATION: KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DER NAREG

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York, was the keynote speaker at the October 29 th celebration of the 50 th anniversary of the ordination of Archbishop Oshagan. Der Nareg began his address by remembering that as a young seminarian he witnessed for the first time the Episcopal ordination of a priest—the year was 1994 and the priest was Archbishop Oshagan. Der Hayr related his own arrival in New York to work at the Prelacy office, his subsequent decision to enter the priesthood, and his relationship with “his boss,” the Prelate, as he recounted many of Archbishop Oshagan’s achievements. “If you study all the above projects you will see that Oshagan Srpazan is a leader who things long-term. He makes his investment in what will eventually benefit the church for the infinite future…. The day to day tasks are important to keep our church and our organizations running but sometimes they make us focus on the here and now and hinder us from planning for the future. Oshagan Srpazan’s monumental works and his investment in the life of our church will greatly benefit the future generations,” Der Nareg said. To view Der Nareg’s entire keynote address click here .

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, November 19, Tenth Sunday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Eve of the Fast of Advent), are: Isaiah 25:9-26; Philippians 1:1-11; Luke 9:44-50. “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thoughts of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” John answered, “Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.”  (Luke 9:44-50) *** Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ( Philippians 1:1-11) For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here . 

THE HOLY APOSTLES ANDREW AND PHILIP

The word apostle refers to the special inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, chosen by Jesus to accompany Him during His ministry, to learn from Him, follow His instructions and continue His work. This Saturday, November 18, the Armenian Church celebrates two Holy Apostles, Andrew and Philip. Andrew was a Galilean fisherman and the first-called of the followers of Christ, along with his brother Simon, who was later called Peter. Philip was from Bethsaida and after he had been called to be an apostle he brought in Nathanael (later called Bartholomew).

PAREGENTAN OF THE FAST OF ADVENT

This Sunday, November 19, is the Eve (Paregentan ) of the Fast of Advent ( Hisnag ). This is a week-long fast (Monday to Friday) leading up to the first Sunday of Advent, which is next Sunday. Advent is the period that guides us to the birth and baptism of Christ. It begins fifty days before January 6. Advent is intended to be a solemn and quiet time for prayer, reflection, and meditation in preparation for the mystery of the incarnation. Traditionally the entire fifty-day period of Advent was a period of fasting. Now there are three week-long fasts during Advent (along with the regular fasting days of Wednesday and Friday). The three week-long fasts are known as: The Fast of Advent ( Hisnagats Bahk ); The Fast of St. James ( Sourp Hagopah Bahk ); and the Fast of the Nativity ( Dznuntyan Bahk ).

PRESENTATION OF THE HOLY MOTHER TO THE TEMPLE

On Tuesday, November 21, the Armenian Church commemorates the Presentation of the Holy Mother to the Temple ( Unsayoum Sourp Asdvadzadzini ), one of the eight feast days devoted to Mary in the Armenian liturgical calendar. The doctrine of the Holy Mother as “Mother-of-God” ( Asdvadzamayr ) and Bearer-of-God ( Asdvadzadzin ) was established in the fifth century at the Holy Ecumenical Council of Ephesus.

PLEASE REMEMBER SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance. Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your pocketbooks. 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 AND SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR DONATION TO: Armenian Prelacy 138 E. 39th Street New York, NY 10016 Checks payable to: Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Memo: Syrian Armenian Relief) Thank you for your help.

ST. SARKIS CHURCH YOUTH GROUP FORMED

Salt & Light is the newly formed St. Sarkis Church Youth Group in Douglaston, New York. Last Friday evening the Salt & Light Youth Group had its first social gathering, which was a great way to get the community’s youth back together. The event started with an icebreaker followed by Fr. Nareg’s introductory remarks explaining the meaning of Salt & Light that derives from Matthew 5:13. The youth then played a fun game of Minute to Win it. After the games they sat together and shared a meal. During the meal some of the Youth Ministry Committee members introduced themselves and spoke about the objectives of the youth program. There are three key components to the “Salt & Light” program: faith formation, outreach and social. The faith formation component is facilitated by the youth ministry program of the Eastern Prelacy. The Salt & Light Youth Group will meet bimonthly, alternating between Fridays and Saturdays. The next meeting will be on Friday, January 19, 2018. A Youth Ministry Committee has been formed to direct the youth program.

ARMENIANS & POLITICAL CARTOONS EXPLORED

Last Sunday journalist and cartoonist Lucine Kasbarian delivered an informative and entertaining PowerPoint presentation titled “Armenians & Political Cartoons” before an audience of some 60 persons at St. Illuminator's Cathedral. The program was sponsored by the Cathedral and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational & Cultural Society’s Eastern Regional Executive. Following warm introductions by St. Illuminator’s Pastor, Rev. Mesrob Lakissian, and Hamazkayin Eastern Regional Executive Chair, Arevig Caprielian, Lucine described the origins of political cartooning with early examples from Europe and the United States. She outlined the history of cartooning among the Armenians, and showed examples of cartoons that Armenians and non-Armenians have been producing about the Armenian Cause and related subjects. She also explained how she herself began creating political cartoons following the murder of Hrant Dink in 2007 and offered examples of her own work, some of which are in her newest book, “Perspectives from Exile.” Drawing from hundreds of political cartoons in her collection, Lucine spotlighted Armenian artists such as Alexander Saroukhan, Massis Araradian, Krikor Keusseyan, Vrej Kassouny, MediaLab artists and others, including herself, whose works dealt with such topics as Armenia-Diaspora relations, the presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia, the war in Artsakh, and corruption and domestic violence in Armenia. She also featured the works of non-Armenians such as Khalil Bendib, Arend Van Dam, Carlos Latuff, Kaniwar Zidan and several others, whose cartoons dealt with the Armenian Genocide, the megalomania of Turkish President Erdogan, Turkey's support of ISIS, and Turkey's aspirations to join the EU. Lucine furnished examples from history of how satirical cartoons mobilized the people to act as agents for positive change. She pointed out that political leaders who abused their power have often persecuted cartoonists precisely because the latter's satirical work was so successful in targeting and exposing these politicians. In addition to her new book, she has produced the award-winning books “Armenia: A Rugged Land, an Enduring People” and “The Greedy Sparrow: an Armenian Tale.” She was also a consulting editor and contributor for a special publication called The Armenian-Americans. Kasbarian is a graduate of the NYU Journalism program and studied cartooning at the NY School of Visual Arts. 

ARS "MAYR" CHAPTER HOSTS FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with the ARS "Mayr" Chapter members and friends.

On Sunday, November 12, the New York ARS "Mayr" Chapter's fundraising luncheon took place at the Almayass Restaurant in New York. Mrs. Ani Nersissian, chairlady of the Mayr chapter, welcomed the guests and served as the master of ceremonies. Mrs. Talin Daghlian, Chairlady of the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, also offered remarks. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian delivered the invocation and encouraged everyone to make generous donations to help the wounded soldiers in Artsakh.

Birth of Taniel Bek-Pirumian (November 22, 1861) The decisive battles that led to the creation of the Republic of Armenia in 1918 had several professional officers among their leaders. Taniel Bek-Pirumian came from a region that gave many military leaders throughout history: Artsakh (Gharabagh). He was born on November 21, 1861, in the village of Nakhichevanik, in the district of Khachen. He graduated from the city lyceum of Shushi, then capital of Artsakh, and started his military service at the age of twenty. He studied at the infantry lyceum of Tiflis from 1881-1883. Three decades later, in 1913, he graduated from the courses of the school of artillery of Oranienbaum (nowadays Lomonosov, in the region of St. Petersburg, Russia). Meanwhile, he ascended in the ranks of the Russian army: sergeant in 1883, lieutenant in 1888, captain in 1890, and deputy colonel in 1913. He held positions as commander of squad, platoon, and battalion. Pirumian fought at the Caucasian front in the Russian army during World War I. He was ascended to the rank of colonel in 1915 and decorated with several medals for his bravery. Like many of his colleagues, Pirumian remained in the region after the evacuation of Russian troops following the October Revolution of 1917, helping organize the nascent Armenian army. In the decisive days of May 1918, Taniel Bek-Pirumian was entrusted with the general command of the front of Sardarabad, which was dangerously close to Etchmiadzin. On May 21, the Ottoman forces occupied the village and the railway station of Sardarabad, and advanced towards Ghamishlu. The next day, the battalion of the “Condemned to Death” (մահապարտների գունդ) of Gharabagh, headed by Poghos Bek-Pirumian (first cousin to Taniel), counterattacked and chased away the Ottoman troops up to Sardarabad, which was liberated in the late afternoon. The Ottomans fortified themselves in the surrounding heights and led a counteroffensive on May 24-26. The three-day battle was fiercely contested and ended in an Armenian victory. In those delicate moments, Taniel Bek-Pirumian’s military experience and his iron will played a fundamental role. He entered the fraught of the battle, leaving the command to Lieutenant Alexandre Chnéour, a Russian officer in the Armenian army. Personally heading a column of soldiers, he disrupted and repelled the Turkish advance in the central area of the battlefront. Bek-Pirumian continued his career in the Republic of Armenia and was ascended to the rank of major-general in late 1919. He was appointed military commander of Kars. However, he broke his leg in a car accident, and was taken prisoner by the Turks in October 1920 after the fall of Kars. In January 1921 he was transported to Alexandropol and delivered to the representatives of the 11 th Red Army. The Bolshevik terror was rampant in newly sovietized Armenia. In 1921, soon after being liberated from Turkish prison, Bek-Pirumian and other high-ranking Armenian officers were shot on the road of Gharakilise (nowadays Vanadzor) to Dilijan. The corpse of the unfortunate general was secretly moved to Etchmiadzin and buried in the cemetery of the church of St. Gayane. Another hero of Sardarabad, his cousin Poghos Bek-Pirumian, overwhelmed by the Bolshevik terror, took his own life. Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are on the Prelacy’s web site ( www.armenianprelacy.org ). 

FOOD FESTIVAL IN RHODE ISLAND

Selecting pastries and enjoying the festivities.

It is that time of the year when our parishes host their annual Food Festivals and Bazaars. Sts. Vartanantz Church of Providence, Rhode Island, each year produces one of the largest such events they call “Armenian Fest.”

Dancers performing.

Lots of good food and fun. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SIAMANTO ACADEMY— Meets every second Saturday of the month at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford, New Jersey. For information: anec@armenianprelacy.org or 212-689-7810.. November 2, 9, 16, 30 —Four-part Bible Study on “The Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians,” at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27 th Street, New York, presented by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of Christian Education at the Prelacy, sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) and St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm , Light Dinner; 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Bible Study. Register by email ( office@stilluminators.org ) or phone (212-689-5880). November 16 — Join Armenia Tree Project and Paros Foundation for a fundraiser to support kitchen renovations, beautification and environmental education at the school in Rind, Vayots Dzor. Featuring live performance by singer/songwriter Hooshere and silent auction featuring fine art and luxury gift items. Almayass Restaurant, 24 E. 21st Street, New York. 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Donation: $100 in advance, $125 at door. To buy tickets or to make a donation, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rind-school-root-restore-tickets-38099464524 . For more information, please contact info@armeniatree.org . November 17 & 18 —Annual Food Festival at Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester, Massachusetts. Open at 4:00pm Friday with dinner served from 5pm to 8pm and Saturday open at 10am with dinner being served from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Join us for kheyma, shish kebab, losh kebab or chicken kebab dinners or try our new vegetarian meal. Visit our Country Store and Bake Table. Stock up on choreg, katah choreg, porov kufta, simit, baklava, yalanchi, toorshi and much, much more. Free admission and free parking. For information: 508-852-2414. November 18 —“Personal God—Jesus Christ,” lecture and discussion by Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, pastor of St. Gregory Church of Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 10:30 am to 2 pm. Lecture: 10:30 to 12:00; Lunch: 12:00 to 12:30; Discussion: 12:30 to 2:00. Attend and learn. November 19 —60 th anniversary of Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts. H.E. Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, ordain acolytes, consecrate paintings, and preside over the Diamond Anniversary Banquet at Highfields Golf and Country Club, Grafton, Massachusetts. November 19 —Thanksgiving Luncheon and Celebration of the 107 th anniversary of the Armenian Relief Society, Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church, Shahnasarian Hall, 1701 North Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois. December 2 —SAVE THE DATE: ANCA Eastern Region Gala, International Place, Boston, Massachusetts. For information: https://ancaef.org/gala . December 3 --“Harry L. Koundakjian: 50 Years of PhotoJournalism,” hosted by St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27 th Street, New York City, 1-5 pm. The exhibit can also be viewed December 4 to December 10, from 12 to 4 pm Monday to Friday and 11 am to 2 pm on Sunday. December 3 --63rd anniversary celebration of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois. December 5-8 —World General Assembly of the Great House of Cilicia, at the Catholicosate in Antelias, Lebanon. December 10 —St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, 85 th Anniversary of the St. Sarkis community and 55 th Anniversary of the current church structure and campus. Soorp Badarak will be celebrated by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian. Lavish mezza reception in the Lillian Arakelian Fellowship Hall; Armenian sacred music performed in the church sanctuary by special guests, Soloist Onnik Dinkjian, accompanied on the organ by Ara Dinkjian. March 18, 2018 —35 th Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Prelacy Ladies Guild. Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57 th Street at 7 th Avenue, Sunday, March 18 at 2 pm. May 9-12, 2018 —Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly, hosted by St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts. The one-day clergy conference will take place on Wednesday, May 9. The full Assembly will convene on Thursday, May 10, at 11 am and will conclude on Saturday, May 12, at noon.

The Armenian Prelacy  Tel: 212-689-7810 ♦ Fax: 212-689-7168 ♦ Email: email@armenianprelacy.org Visit the Catholicosate webpage at  http://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/en/