AUGUST 24                                                                                                                                                                                                          33/2018   
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 
Tel. 202-363-1923
www.stmaryaac.org
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018
Morning Service
10:00 AM

Holy Badarak
10:30 AM 

Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
 
Ushers  
Elsy Melkonian and Armik Khatchatourians

Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Mark Krikorian, 
Mr. Garbis Chubukian and 
Mr. Onnik Sivaslian

Choir
Mr. Vartkes Keshishian
 
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan 
 
Bible Reading
Isaiah 9:8-19, 2 Corinthians1:1-11, Mark 4:35-41.
HOKEHANKIST 
REQUIEM SERVICE
For the Souls of:
Misak Mermer (40 days)
Hariknaz Ozbenian (2 years)

Requested by:
Maryam Mermer: Zadik Ozbenian; Aras, Jenna and Anayis Mermer: Gary and Juliette Ozbenian and children; John and Jacqueline Ozbenian and children. 

For the Soul of:
Der Dajad Davidian (40 days)

Requested by:
Der Hovsep and Parish Council 

For the Soul of:
Ruzanna Mirzoyan (40 days)

Requested by:
Liana Matevosian (Daughter)

Hospitality Table will be hosted by:
Matevosian and Mermer families in memory of their Loved Ones 
----------------------------------- --------------
To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service 
please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or E-mail 
stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
GRAPE BLESSING

We thank everyone who contributed towards
Grape Blessing Donations.
To see the list of names click here
ST. MARY CHURCH RENOVATION 

UPCOMING EVENTS
September 9
Shnorhali School new academic year 
2018-2019 

September 11
Knights and Daughters of Vartan 
presentation by Aram Bakshian


September 16
Feast of the Exaltation of t he Holy Cross


September 22
ACYOA Juniors Fall Cookout


September 24 and 25
 The Armenian Assembly of America National Advocacy Conference & Gala
   
October 4-7 
Armenian Fall Food Festival

December 31
Internationally Acclaimed
Bartev and His Band
New Year's Eve Celebration and DJ
 
CALENDAR OF FEASTS & EVENTS
August 26
Feast Day of the Discovery of the Belt of the Holy Mother of God

September 9
Shnorhali School new academic year 
2018-2019 

September 11
Knights and Daughters of Vartan
presentation by Dr. Aram Bakshian

September 16
Feast of the Exaltation of
The Holy Cross

September 22
ACYOA Juniors Fall Cookout

September 24 and 25
The Armenian Assembly of America National Advocacy Conference & Gala

September 28
Feast of Discovery of the Holy Cross

October 4, 5, 6 and 7
Fall Food Festival

November 18
Women's Guild Thanksgiving

December 1
Women's Guild Christmas Party

December 9
86th Anniversary Celebration

December 31
Internationally Acclaimed
Bartev and His Band
New Year's Eve Celebration and DJ
TOP STORIES



FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF ST. MARY'S BOX

This Sunday the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Discovery of St. Mary's Box. According to tradition, while en route to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage, two Greek princes come across a chest that once belonged to St. Mary. In Galilee, they see a large crowd gathered in front of a Jewish woman's house. They inquire and find that the sick are being healed due to the inexplicable power of the chest. The princes bring the box to Constantinople and present it to the Patriarch, who places it in the Church of St. Mary. The Patriarch then establishes the Feast of the Discovery of St. Mary's Box.

There are eight feast days dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. These include: Her Nativity, Her Presentation to the Temple, the Annunciation, The Conception, The Purification, The Assumption, the Discovery of the Belt, and the Discovery of the Box.
Voices: St. Gregory of Narek

Listen to Voices of the Armenian Church

This week marks the debut of a new video series from the Eastern Diocese.

Living Voices explores the stories and influence of great figures in Armenian Church history. The first to be profiled is St. Gregory of Narek.

As the composer of the most mystical prayers in the Divine Liturgy, St. Gregory of Narek ranks among the greatest thinkers and artists of the Armenian Christian tradition. Born around A.D. 950 in Andzevatsik, he lived at the monastery at Narek his whole priestly life, and taught at its monastic school. It was there that he wrote his masterpiece of spiritual poetry, known as the "Book of Lamentations" or "Narek." He died at the monastery around 1005.

The 10-minute video is narrated by Dr. Roberta Ervine of St. Nersess Seminary, and features dramatic recreations of Gregory and his world. Click on the link to encounter the "living voice" of St. Gregory of Narek.
PARISH NEWS

Our church office administrator Dee Vartabedian Rogers spent two mounts in Armenian this summer. The following is a short reflection on her volunteer work and experience in Armenia.

Volunteer In Armenia

This summer I accomplished my dream by being a volunteer in Armenia with the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC). After following AVC's well defined application process, I was assigned to Impact Hub Yerevan as a Professional Corps volunteer to mentor Fellows who desired my hands on business development experience to help them grow and prosper in their newly developed businesses. Impact Hub Yerevan, an innovation space and community with a mission to support social impact projects and enterprises, was a perfect match for my skills and it was a great meeting of the minds. The entrepreneurs I worked with are smart, talented, driven, and dedicated to becoming successful. I felt privileged to be associated with these bright young Armenian people.

As a "local" for nearly 2 months I found Yerevan to be electric with its nonstop flow of beautiful people. It was not uncommon for me to step outside my hotel lobby to hear the music of an accordion, duduk, oud, and watch the people break into dance on Northern Avenue. And of course, the food was spectacular. The opera was just up the street and I took advantage of the many ballets, operas, and symphonies performed throughout my stay. The architecture is remarkable and oozing with history as I was sure to capture Yerevan's beautiful buildings and sites with photos, and I far exceeded my goal of taking 10,000 steps daily.

AVC, and its sister organization Birthright Armenia, offered Armenian language speaking lessons which I began in earnest, although I was getting away with a great deal by simply saying Barev Dzez, Shnorhakalutyun, Intch Arje, and Tchem Haskanum. Funny how the sales girls in Parma Food Market sought me out so that they could practice their English on me. I even took advantage of the weekend excursions offered by AVC and Birthright to Khor Virap, Areni and Noravank.

If your hope is to connect deeper with your homeland, contact the Armenian Volunteer Corps at www.armenianvolunteer.org Their effective infrastructure makes volunteering in Armenia affordable, safe and fullfilling. They provide logistical support from airport pick up, to host family living arrangements, Armenian language class, and more, to help volunteers integrate into life in Armenia.

With the ease of social media and technology, I continue to stay in touch with my new found friends in Yerevan as it keeps my experience alive in my mind and heart.

Dee Vartabedian Rogers

Registration and the First Day of Shnorhali School 2018-2019

With great pleasure we are welcoming you to the 2018-2019 academic year of the Shnorhali School of St. Mary Armenian Church. The Shnorhali School is passionate about teaching our children the richness of our Armenian language, culture and faith.

The School Offers:
  • Religious Instruction (in English);
  • Armenian Language Classes (both in Eastern and Western Armenian);
  • Armenian History and Culture;
  • Extracurricular Activities (Children's Choir, Armenian Folk Dance, Acolyte Training Program, etc.).
  • School sessions are from September 2018 to June 2019.

Registration and First Day of School Begins on September 9, 2018.

Our Mission is to instill and teach the love of God, pride in our Armenian language, national identity and culture, in order to help our children and families live authentic Armenian Christian lives and become active members of the Armenian Church community.

The doors of our School are open to all members of our community with love, care and acceptance.

To learn more about Shnorhali School and download class scheduler and registration forms click here.
DIOCESAN AND OTHER NEWS

A Disaster in Kerala, India

This week the region of Kerala, in India, fell victim to one of the worst floods in the past century. A monsoon submerged cities and villages in flood waters, and the destruction, displacement, and loss of life will likely grow worse.

Kerala is the homeland of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, one of the ancient Oriental Orthodox churches. The Armenian Church has been in communion with this sister church for centuries, and the Eastern Diocese maintains the closest of ties with its people and clergy. Kerala is the land evangelized by Christ's apostle St. Thomas, even as Armenia was evangelized by Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew.

Diocesan Primate the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan was in touch with leaders of the Malankara churches in America, Archbishop Titus and Metropolitan Nicholovos, to extend the sympathies of the Diocese and its hand of outreach. Metropolitan Nicholovos, currently in Kerala, reported that the death toll has surpassed 300 lives, and is expected to increase, along with illness due to shortages of food, potable water, and other vital resources.

In a directive to Diocesan parishes, the Primate noted that: "a million people are estimated to have been displaced by the flood, with many of them currently homeless. It is a catastrophe of unimaginable scale. Naturally our hearts go out to the victims, and to all the people of the region. Please join me in praying to our Lord for their relief and consolation."

All parishes have been directed to offer prayers for the flood victims on Sunday, August 26. Additionally, parishes should hold special collections for flood relief in Kerala, India, on Sunday, September 9 (the first Sunday after Labor Day). The Diocese will work with its Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) to assist the flood victims, working through international relief organizations.

Peter Balakian Reveals "My Armenia"

The Travel section in this Sunday's New York Times will feature a warm-hearted "love letter" to the wonders of Armenia, by the distinguished poet Peter Balakian.

The online version is now available to the public, and features some splendid photography along with Balakian's evocative prose.

"Each time I've come to Yerevan in the past decade the city has surprised me with its evolving elegance and cultural richness," Balakian writes. "The downtown has an energy that is a long way from the sleepy Soviet city I first visited in the 1980s. Walking the shady avenues off Republic Square on a recent visit, I found the city has become a hip place, with wine bars, microbreweries, cafes, art galleries, boutiques selling crafts and carpets, an ever-new array of restaurants, as well as upscale hotels and clothing stores."

Read the whole thing by clicking here.

Watch as FAR Improves Nursing in Artsakh

Over the next three years, the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) will empower more than 400 nurses living and working in Artsakh. Already, 120 nurses from four regions of Artsakh - Hadrut, Martakert, Kashatagh, and Qarvacher - are receiving training in 2018.

The "Training of Artsakh Regional Nurses" program is made possible through the generosity of the Nazarian Family Foundation, with continuing guidance and support by longtime friend of FAR, Dr. Raffy Hovanessian.

Read more about the effort on FAR's blog, where you can also watch a short video on the project.
PODCAST: Is Mental Illness a Sin?
People sometimes assume that depression or anxiety are caused by lack of faith in God's providence, or ungratefulness for God's blessings.

More tragically, some assume that these disorders are punishment for sinfulness.

In the latest episode of the Diocese's "Bread & Salt" podcast series, Fr. Mesrop Ash, pastor of St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco, CA, reflects on his personal journey, and offers ways one can seek and receive help in the Armenian Church.
Click here to listen the podcast.
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES 

 Please Stay Current with Your Membership
St. Mary Church brings us together to worship, educate, and serve, yet we need your help to sustain this mission. We call upon you to renew, or become a new member, because dues are the largest part of our church income to help keep our beloved parish doors open.

Your Membership
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Help us fulfill our mission to sustain and grow our ministries, worship programs and activities 
to  strengthen our church family for generations to come. 
Thank you for your generosity and support.

To Learn More About Membership

To Become A Member
READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE 
 
  BIBLE READING
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

(Mark 4:35-41)

35 Այդ նոյն օրը, երեկոյեան դէմ, աշակերտներին ասաց. «Եկէք անցնենք ծովի միւս կողմը»: 36 Թողնելով ժողովրդին՝ նրան իրենց հետ տարան նաւակով, ինչպէս նաեւ՝ միւս նաւակները, որ նրա հետ էին: 37 Եւ մեծ մրրիկ բարձրացաւ ու ալիքները նաւակի մէջ էր թափում, այնպէս որ նաւակը գրեթէ լցւում էր: 38 Իսկ ինքը նաւախելի կողմը բարձի վրայ ննջում էր. նրան արթնացրին եւ ասացին. «Վարդապե՛տ, քեզ համար բնաւ հոգ չէ՞, որ ահա մենք կորչում ենք»: 39 Եւ նա արթնանալով սաստեց հողմին եւ ասաց ծովին. «Դադարի՛ր, լռի՛ր»: Եւ հողմը դադարեց, ու մեծ խաղաղութիւն եղաւ: 40 Եւ նրանց ասաց. «Ինչո՞ւ այդպէս վախկոտ էք. դեռեւս հաւատ չունէ՞ք»: 41 Եւ նրանք սաստիկ վախեցան եւ միմեանց ասում էին. «Ո՞վ է արդեօք սա, որ թէ՛ հողմը, թէ՛ ծովը հնազանդւում են սրան»:
(Մարկոս 4:35-41)
COME VISIT THE ST. MARY GIFT SHOP

Our gift shop is furnished with distinctive and unique items from Armenians all over the world. 
Some of the items are Armenian crosses, jewelry, paintings, religious tiles and tapestry icons, children 
and adult books, T-shirts, hats, bags, Armenian CDs, Armenian artwork, and much more. The Gift Shop is open every week after Sunday  Church services and by appointment.
    
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Serves the Greater Washington, DC and Baltimore communities. Our mission is to proclaim and grow together 
in our Apostolic Faith in Christ Jesus and to sustain our Christian Armenian identity. We celebrate our long and enduring legacy, the beautiful traditions of our religious and national heritage, with Christian servitude, and with love and reverence towards our Church. We invite you and welcome you to be a part of our church, 
worship with us, and experience the true love of Christ as we grow together as a community.

Sign-up and Stay Connected  with  St. Mary Church E-Newsletters and Correspondence.
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Relies on the generosity of individual donors so that it may continue ensuring service  to God and fellowship 
to the Armenian Community.  Your support is deeply appreciated.