FEBRUARY 8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   6/2019  
www.stmaryaac.org                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 E-Newsletter Archive
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 
Tel. 202-363-1923
Email. stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019
Morning Service
10:00 AM

Holy Badarak
10:30 AM

Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Ushers
Mrs. Rouzanna Oganissian 
Mrs. Rebecca Petrosian

Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Jack Guiragossian
Mr. Zakar Shahverdian
Mr. Artur Sivaslian

Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Reading
Isaiah 61.10-62.9, Timothy 2.15-26, John 6.15-21
HOKEHANKIST 
REQUIEM SERVICE
HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE  

For the Souls of: 
Garo and Rose Bandazian, Barkev Kibarian, Simon and Yaghout Kibarian 

Requested by:
Mary Ann Kibarian, Maral and Bill Skelsey, Charlotte and Freddie Skelsey

-------------------------------------------------
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
UPCOMING EVENTS
Armenian Dance Classes

February 12 & 19
Bible Study

See details her

February 12
Knights and Daughter of Vartan
Public Discussion by: Emil Sanamyan

February 16
Knights and Daughter of Vartan
Valentine's Day Dinner Dance


February 23
ACYOA Juniors Youth 
Snow Tubing Event 


March 2
Women's Guild Paregentan 
Dinner and Dance 


April 7
Save The Date
The Trail of Soghomon Tehlirian A Play by Perch Zeytuntsyan

CALENDAR OF FEASTS & EVENTS
       February 10        
Parish Assembly

February 12
Knights and Daughter of Vartan
Public Discussion by: Emil Sanamyan

February 12 & 19
Bible Study

February 14
Presentation of the Lord to the Temple (Տեառնընդառաջ)

February 16
Knights and Daughter of Vartan
Valentine's Day Dinner Dance

February 23
ACYOA Juniors Youth
Snow Tubing Event

March 2 
Women's Guild Paregentan Event

March 3
Great Barekendan

April 7
Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

April 7
The Trail of Soghomon Tehlirian 
A Play by  Perch Zeytuntsyan
 
April 14
Palm Sunday

April 21
Easter Sunday

April 24
Feast of the Holy Martyrs of 
the Armenian Genocide

April 26
Dr. Akcam Lecture

May 17-19
Spring Food Festival

May 30
Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
FAR NEWS CORNER
Ayo!'s Out in the Wild Promotes Conservation and Ecotourism

Ayo! has teamed up with WWF Armenia to further realize a harmonious future for Armenia's people and envir onment. The small village of Artavan borders one of Armenia's most expansive ecological corridors, making it home to invaluable biodiversity necessary to preserve. With ecotourism on the rise globally, it is crucial for residents to leverage their environmental assets as a means of strengthening community development and their economy while maintaining a sustainable relationship in harmony with their surroundings. This project will raise money to build a wildlife observation hide set in the forest for visitors; it will also support the improvement of three locally-owned bed and breakfasts, thus ultimately contribute to making the community more of a destination. To read more, go to:  https://farusa.org/2019/01/29/ayo-ayos-out-in-the-wild-promotes-conservation-and-ecotourism/ To  support this project, go to:  https://weareayo.org/home  
TOP STORIES

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple

On February 14 each year, the Armenian Church celebrates Dyarnuntarach, literally "the bringing forward of the Lord." The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple is always 40 days after Armenian Christmas. Other names for the feast include Derendas (possibly a contraction of Dyarnuntarach) and Candlemas.

The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord is told in the Gospel of Luke 2:21-40. It is the combination of two Jewish rituals followed by families during Jesus' time. First, it represented the idea that 40 days after a woman gave birth, she would go to the temple and offer a pigeon and lamb as offerings of atonement and thus, she would be "purified". The feast also recognizes the long-standing tradition of Jews to symbolically dedicate their first-born son to God by giving a small gift to the temple.

When Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple, Mary was seen by Simeon, an elderly and devoutly religious Jew who had prayed to God to keep him alive so he would see the Saviour promised to mankind. When he saw Mary and her baby, Simeon suddenly sensed God's presence, and said: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32)
PARISH NEWS

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
Our Annual Parish Assembly will be held on Sunday, February 10 at 12:00 PM.
Church services will begin from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
A light lunch will be served from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Please make reservations for the luncheon - RSVP by email to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com.
Der Hayr and the Parish Council cordially invite all dues paying members of St. Mary Church to take
part in this important meeting and we look forward to seeing you.

Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew

St. Mary's new series of Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew began on Tuesday, January 8. It was well attended and will continue on regular bases every Tuesday until February 19.

Please join us to explore the Gospel of Matthew and take an in-depth journey into the heart of God. Enter into the drama of Christ's family tree, the birth of our Savior, His duel in the desert with Satan, and the life-changing truths of His Sermon on the Mount.  Experience the unfolding of Jesus' ministry through His miracles and parables. Be there as our Lord triumphantly enters into Jerusalem on His way to the cross, tomb, and resurrection. 

Click here to see flyer
DIOCESAN AND OTHER NEWS
Visiting the Armenian Church Down Under

This week His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, embarked on a Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Landing at Sydney Airport on February 1, His Holiness was welcomed by clergy of the diocese led by their Primate, Bishop Haigazoun Najarian. Bishop Najarian is a great friend of the Eastern Diocese of America, having spent many years of his ministry serving as pastor of several parishes and as Diocesan Vicar.

A hrashapar service on February 2 at Sidney's Holy Resurrection Church officially welcomed the Catholicos of All Armenians to the continent. A Pontifical Divine Liturgy on February 3 at the same church was attended by dignitaries of the Australian government.

In remarks on that occasion, Catholicos Karekin II admonished his listeners to "be responsible for our time. By our actions this will be recorded as a time of restoration. We should move forward with new accomplishments to rebuild the homeland and diaspora. Christ shows us the way; our fathers recognized him, and we know him, too."

2019 Diocesan Assembly to Meet in Watertown, MA

The 117th Diocesan Assembly will convene May 2-4, 2019, at the Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA. The St. James Church of Watertown, MA, will host the Diocesan Assembly, the concurrent Women's Guild Assembly, and the Clergy Conference (meeting April 29-May 1), bringing together hundreds of Armenian Church leaders from the Eastern Diocese. Diocesan Primate the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan will preside.
Clergy, Diocesan delegates, and parish council chairs will soon receive notification (via mail and e-mail) regarding registration. Information on the 117th Diocesan Assembly-including online registration and room reservations-will be available on the St. James parish website in the coming weeks.
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
15 Երբ Յիսուս իմացաւ, որ գալու են իրեն բռնել տանելու, որպէսզի իրեն թագաւոր անեն, դարձեալ միայնակ դէպի լեռը գնաց։ 16 Եւ երբ երեկոյ եղաւ, նրա աշակերտները ծովեզերք իջան։ 17 Եւ նաւակ նստելով՝ գալիս էին դէպի ծովի միւս կողմը, դէպի Կափառնայում։ Եւ երբ մութն ընկաւ, Յիսուս դեռ իրենց մօտ չէր եկել. 18 եւ ծովը հողմի ուժգին փչելուց փոթորկւում էր։ 19 Երբ շուրջ հինգ կամ վեց կիլոմետր թիավարելուց յետոյ տեսան Յիսուսին, որ քայլում էր ծովի վրայով եւ նաւակին մօտեցել էր, սաստիկ վախեցան։ 20 Եւ նա ասաց նրանց. «Ես եմ, մի՛ վախեցէք»։ 21 Եւ ուզում էին նրան նաւակի մէջ առնել. եւ նաւակը շուտով հասաւ այն տեղը, ուր գնում էին։
Հովհաննեսի 6.15-21

15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 
John 6:15-21
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.