Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Ushers
Mrs. Sara Arabian
Mr. Garbis Chubukian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Garbis Chubukian
Mr. Onnik Sivaslian
Mr. Eric Ashbahian
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Reading
Titus 2.11-15, Matthew 1.18-25
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
No Hokehankist this Sunday
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To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or E-mail
[email protected]
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We thank all of our parishioners and friends for making their
Yughakin, Poinsettias and In Lieu of Christmas Card Donations
On the Occasion of the Feast of Nativity and Theophani of our Lord
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ST. MARY CHURCH RENOVATION
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January 5
Schedule of Christmas Services
January 6
Ararat Avak Society Festive Luncheon
January 8, 15, 22, 29
February 5, 12 & 19
Bible Study
See Details here
January 12-13
Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and visit to Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit
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January 5
Eve of the Theophany and Nativity
January 6
Feast of the Theophany and Nativity
January 6
Ararat Avak Society Festive Luncheon
January 8, 15, 22 & 29
Bible Study
January 12 & 13
Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia exhibit
January 19
Badarak and Blessing of the Water Service Baltimore Armenian Community at Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church
February 5, 12 & 19
Bible Study
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FAR Chocolate Bank Project
Ayo! has launched its Chocolate Bank Project for 2018. This amazing initiative collects and then delivers chocolates and other Christmas sweets to children who live in poverty. This year the Ayo! and FAR team plans to visit daycares in 14 villages
- some of which have the coldest conditions in Armenia - to bring gifts of chocolate and other sweets, and to hold a celebration for children in need. Ayo! is also raising money to provide selected daycares with new bedding, including warm blankets and pillows, which will help them through the brutal winter. While the daycares generally have appropriate conditions for the children, they have a vital and urgent need for new bedding. Ayo! will be collecting chocolates, candies and cookies at FAR's Yerevan until December 25th
. Donations online will be collected until January 6th.
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SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS SERVICES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019
EVE OF THE THEOPHANY AND NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Evening Service and Reading of the Scriptures 6:15 PM
Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM
Home Blessing at the Church Hall hosted by Parish Council 8:30 PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2019
FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY AND NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Morning Service 10:00 AM
Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM
Blessing of the Water 12:00 Noon
Festive Luncheon by Avak Society 12:30 PM
Click here to view the special liturgical schedule in PDF
Click here to read about Theophany and Nativity in the Armenian Church
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Fr. Daniel Findikyan's Christmas Message 2019
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Happy New Year and Merry Christmas
Dearly Beloved Ones, I greet you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I like to remind people that the story of Christmas begins with a song: that marvelous song sung by the angels: "Glory to God in the heights of heaven. And on Earth peace, goodwill among all people."
In the sacred tradition of the Armenian Church, the angels' song is not a solo. As our famous Christmas hymn proclaims: "The shepherds sing together with the angels, announcing Good News to the world!"
It's really quite astounding. The Good News of the Savior's birth inspires those gritty, very worldly men to raise their voices in harmony with the heavenly chorus. Shepherds and angels sing as one. Heaven and Earth are united in a symphony. God is with us: "Emmanuel."
This is the mystery of Christmas, of the incarnation of the Son of God. When we open the ears of our hearts to the Good News of the Savior, like the Shepherds, we are filled with heavenly joy and divine hope. And we find ourselves in harmony with God and with all Creation.
During these holy days, my prayer for this world, for our precious Church, and for all of you is a life of harmony and hope; of peace and goodwill, in prayerful harmony with our Savior. May our Lord bless you and your loved ones at Christmas and throughout the New Year.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The Very Reverend Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Primate
WATCH THE MESSAGE IN ARMENIAN
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Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and V
isit to Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit
We are excited to announce St. Mary Church Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral on the 50th Anniversary of the
Cathedral Consecration and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit in New York City, January 12 & 13, 2019.
Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 13.
The price of the trip is Adults $100 / Children $70. Cost Includes: Round-trip Transportation Jan. 12 from St. Mary Church to the Museum and Hotel plus Museum Entrance Fee / and Jan. 13 from Hotel to Cathedral to St. Mary Church. Reservations accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Please complete form (available in the church office and on attached flyer) and return to the church office with your check.
Deadline is December 28, 2018
Overnight Stay at Crown Plaza Englewood Hotel, 401 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631.
You must contact the hotel directly by phone and make reservations on 1-800-227-6963. Reference Code SAINT MARY CHURCH to get our negotiated rate. A block of double-bed rooms are reserved, the rate is $131.82 per room, taxes and Breakfast for 2 included.
Deadline for hotel reservation is December 28, 2018.
Click here
to see the Pilgrimage flyer and details
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Blessing of Pomegranates
Pomegranates were blessed by Der Hovsep Karapetyan and Der Kapriel Mouradjian at St. Mary Church on Sunday, December 30. In 2015 the Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Church, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenian, Introduced a new service for the Blessing of the Pomegranates, one of the seven bilbilical species of fruits and grains, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Throughout the centuries, the pomegranate has been woven into Armenian architecture, cuisine, art, manuscripts, literature and liturgical vestments as it represents life, fertility, and abundance.
Pomegranates were blessed after the Badarak and distributed to the faithful with a wish to bring prosperity and abundance in the year 2019.
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New Year's Eve in Washington, D.C.
The Armenian community of Greater Washington and Baltimore ushered in the 2019 New Year at the ballroom of Hyatt Regency in downtown Bethesda, Maryland. Organized by the Armenian Community Events Planners, over 350 guests enjoyed the back drop of festive holiday lights and welcoming remarks by Kevork Marashlian thanking supporters in advancing the group's mission of bringing both area churches and its parishioners together. Der Hovsep Karapetyan of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church and Der Sarkis Aktavoukian of Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church were invited to offer their prayers and good wishes for the New Year and Soorp Dznount.
The evening's entertainer Bartev and his Band took the stage to warm up and welcome the crowd with Armenian music while everyone enjoyed a three-course dinner. Also enjoyed was dancing to the Armenian rhythms and pop songs selected by DJ Chris Habibian. At the stroke of midnight came cheer, champagne, and platters of choreg and cheese for each table and dancing until two in the morning.
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What to Say on a "Silent Night"
Armenians have a special way of greeting each other on Christmas. Learn what to say, and what it means, on this episode of "Hye Manners"-the Eastern Diocese's micro-video series on habits and customs of the Armenian Church.
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Home Blessing in the New Year
Throughout history, Armenian Christians have considered the home to be a sacred place: the tranquil sanctuary of the family, where habits of virtue, pious traditions, and life-affirming customs are passed from one generation to another.
Above all, the home is where one's faith in God is first kindled, and where that faith finds some of the most profound occasions for action.
According to the traditions of the Armenian Church, God is asked to bestow His blessing on homes during the period following the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord. In this season, clergy visit the homes of parishioners and perform the beautiful "Home Blessing" service.
Parishioners are encouraged to contact their local pastor and request a Home Blessing service for their own home. Click on the links to learn more about this tradition, to download the service booklet, and to watch a video about the Home Blessing ceremony.
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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
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READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE
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18 Յիսուս Քրիստոսի ծնունդը այսպէս եղաւ. նրա մայրը՝ Մարիամը, որ Յովսէփի նշանածն էր, նախքան նրանց իրար մօտենալը՝ Սուրբ Հոգուց յղիացած գտնուեց: 19 Եւ Յովսէփը՝ նրա մարդը, քանի որ արդար էր եւ չէր կամենում նրան խայտառակել, մտածեց առանց աղմուկի արձակել նրան: 20 Եւ մինչ նա այս բանի մասին էր մտածում, ահա Տիրոջ հրեշտակը երազում երեւաց նրան եւ ասաց. «Յովսէ՛փ, Դաւթի՛ որդի, մի՛ վախեցիր քեզ մօտ առնել Մարիամին՝ քո կնոջը, որովհետեւ նրա մէջ Ծնուածը Սուրբ Հոգուց է: 21 Նա մի Որդի պիտի ծնի, եւ նրա անունը Յիսուս պիտի դնես, քանի որ նա պիտի փրկի իր ժողովրդին իր մեղքերից»: 22 Սակայն այս ամէնը եղաւ, որպէսզի կատարուի, ինչ որ Տիրոջ կողմից ասուել էր Եսայի մարգարէի բերանով. 23 «Ահա Կոյսը պիտի յղիանայ եւ մի Որդի պիտի ծնի, եւ նրան պիտի կոչեն Էմմանուէլ, որ նշանակում է "Աստուած մեզ հետ"»: 24 Եւ Յովսէփը, քնից արթնանալով, արեց, ինչպէս հրամայել էր իրեն Տիրոջ հրեշտակը, եւ իր կնոջն առաւ իր մօտ: 25 Բայց նրան չգիտեցաւ, մինչեւ Մարիամը ծնեց իր անդրանիկ Որդուն եւ նրա անունը դրեց Յիսուս:
(Մատթեոս 1.18-25)
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
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"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,"
which means, "God is with us."
24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him JESUS.
(Matthew 1.18-25)
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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.
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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.
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Sign-up and Stay Connected
with
St. Mary Church E-Newsletters and Correspondence.
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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.
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