E-Newsletter - July 31, 2020
Our Church doors are officially open!
You may join us for worship LIVE-STREAMED on Facebook, for a limited time.

You do not need to have a facebook account to be able to watch. You can have access to our facebook page through our website www.saintsarkis.org by scrolling down to the events section and clicking on the facebook LIVE link. Send us a message if you have any questions.

Sunday Morning Service: 9:15 am
Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am
Wednesday Vespers Service: 6:30 pm
Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, Pastor
Guidelines for Reopening St. Sarkis Church

It is with great joy, tempered with diligent precautions, that we announce the planned reopening of our church doors to the faithful on Sunday, June 14, 2020. This will be a gradual process as we observe all the guidance that has been provided by ...

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SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH WITH YOUR WEEKLY OFFERING

These are challenging times for all of us. The church is committed to supporting you in your spiritual and material needs, but it is a group effort. If you are able, please consider continuing to contribute to the church so that she can continue in her mission. Your Sunday offerings, collection plate and candle donations can all be done online or by mailing a check to the church.
LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE
Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered. The candle symbolizes that prayer.  🕯
On Sundays, and Wednesdays, Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian will lite a candle for every request received. If you would like to submit a request, you can contact Fr. Hrant, call the Church office at (313)336-6200, send us a message on social media , reply to this email, or click the button below.
Let's Read the Bible! Readings of the week.
  • Monday, August 3: Proverbs 29: 2-7; 2 Maccabees 6:18-7:42; Hebrews 11:32-40; Matthew 5:17-20
  • Tuesday, August 4: The Twelve Holy Prophets: Hosea 10:11-12; Amos 5:10-14; Micah 7:7-9; Joel 2:12-13; Obadiah 1:20-21; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:7-9; Habakkuk 1:2-3; Zephaniah 1:7-8; Haggai 2:6-9; Zechariah 7:9-13; Malachi 1:4-6; Romans 11:2-5; Luke 13:31-35
  • Wednesday, August 5: 1 Corinthians 7:25-35; Matthew 19:13-26
  • Thursday, August 6: Sts. Sophia and her three daughters — Pistis, Elpis, and Agapi Proverbs 11:30-12:4; Hosea 12:6-9; 2 Corinthians 4:6-14; Luke 12:2-10
  • Friday, August 7: I Corinthians 11:1-16; Mark 1:35-45
  • Saturday, August 8: The 200 Fathers of the Holy Council of Ephesus (431 AD) Ezekiel 3:16-19; 2 Timothy 1:6-14; Luke 10:16-20
SUNDAY BIBLE READINGS
Bible Readings for Sunday, August 2, 2020
Third Sunday of Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ
Գ. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ ԱՅԼԱԿԵՐՊՄԱ Ն

1 Corinthians 6:18-7:11
Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. This I say by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am. But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

Matthew 19:3-12
Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” He said to them, “It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”

Ա. ԿՈՐՆԹԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ 6:18-7:11
Հետեւաբար պոռնկութենէ հեռո՛ւ փախէք: Բոլոր միւս մեղքերը որ մարդ կը գործէ, իր մարմինին հետ կապ չունին. բայց պոռնկութիւն ընողը իր մարմինին դէմ կը մեղանչէ: Չէ՞ք գիտեր որ ձեր մարմինները տաճարն են Սուրբ Հոգիին որ Աստուծմէ առիք եւ ձեր մէջ կը բնակի: Գիտցէք որ դուք չէ՛ք ձեր անձերուն տէրը, այլ Աստուած՝ որ փրկագինով ձեզ գնեց: Հետեւաբար այնպէս ապրեցէք, որ Աստուած փառաւորուի ձեր մարմիններով:

Ձեր նամակին մէջ ինծի գրած էիք նաեւ այն մասին, թէ մարդ լաւ կ’ընէ՝ եթէ բնաւ չամուսնանայ: Բայց որպէսզի պոռնկութեան մէջ չիյնաք՝ ամէն մարդ թող իր կինը ունենայ եւ ամէն կին՝ իր ամուսինը, որպէսզի կնոջ պէտքերը այրը գոհացնէ եւ ամուսինին պէտքերը՝ կինը: Որովհետեւ կինը իր մարմինին տէրը չէ, այլ՝ ամուսինը. ո՛չ ալ այրը իր մարմինին տէրն է, այլ՝ կինը: Երկար ատեն հեռու մի՛ մնաք իրարմէ: Եթէ կ’ուզէք աղօթքի նուիրուիլ, կրնաք փոխադարձ համաձայնութեամբ ժամանակ մը իրարմէ հեռու մնալ. բայց յետոյ վերադարձէ՛ք ձեր կենակցութեան, որպէսզի չըլլայ որ Սատանան ձեզ փորձութեան մղէ՝ ձեր անժուժկալութենէն օգտուելով: Հրահանգ մը չէ այս տուածս, այլ պարզապէս՝ ներողամիտ կեցուածք: Որովհետեւ ես պիտի ուզէի որ ամէն մարդ ինծի պէս ապրէր, բայց Աստուած իւրաքան­չիւրին իրեն յատուկ շնորհք մը տուած է. մէկուն՝ այսպէս ապրելու շնորհք, միւսին՝ այնպէս:

Սակայն ամուրիներուն եւ այրիներուն կ’ըսեմ.- Աւելի լաւ կ’ընեն՝ եթէ ինծի պէս մնան. բայց եթէ չեն կրնար տոկալ՝ թող ամուսնանան, որովհետեւ նախընտրելի է ամուսնանալ քան ցանկութեամբ եռալ: Իսկ ամուսնացած զոյգերուն հետեւեալ պատուէրը կու տամ, ո՛չ թէ ես, այլ Տէրը.- Ոեւէ կին իր ամուսինէն թող չբաժնուի. իսկ եթէ բաժնուի, կա՛մ առանց ամուսնութեան թող ապրի եւ կամ դարձեալ հաշտուի իր ամուսինին հետ: Նոյնպէս, ոեւէ այր իր կինը թող չձգէ: 

ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍ 19:3-12
Փարիսեցիներ Յիսուսը փորձելու մտադրութեամբ մօտեցան անոր եւ հարցուցին.
–  Մեր Օրէնքով մէկը իրաւունք ունի՞ ոեւէ պատճառով իր կինը արձակելու:
Յիսուս անոնց պատասխանեց.
–  Չէ՞ք կարդացած Սուրբ գիրքերուն մէջ, թէ Աստուած սկիզբէն «արու եւ էգ ստեղծեց մարդիկը եւ ըսաւ անոնց. “Այս պատճառով այրը պիտի ձգէ իր հայրն ու մայրը եւ իր կնոջ միանայ, եւ երկուքը մէկ մարմին պիտի ըլլան”»: Հետեւաբար այլեւս երկու չեն, այլ՝ մէկ մարմին: Ուրեմն ոեւէ մէկը թող չբաժնէ անոնք, որ Աստուած միացուց:
Փարիսեցիները դարձեալ հարցուցին.
–  Հապա ինչո՞ւ Մովսէս օրէնք սահմանեց՝ բաժանման թուղթ տալ կնոջ եւ արձակել զայն:
Յիսուս պատասխանեց.
–  Մովսէս ձեր խստասրտութեան պատճառով արտօնեց արձակել ձեր կիները, սակայն ստեղծագործութեան ժամանակ արձակելու խօսք չկար: Գիտցէք նաեւ, թէ ո՛վ որ իր կինը կ’արձակէ առանց պոռնկութեան պատճառի եւ ուրիշ մը կ’առնէ՝ շնութիւն ըրած կ’ըլլայ, եւ ով որ արձակուած կինը կ’առնէ՝ ան ալ շնութիւն ըրած կ’ըլլայ:
Աշակերտները ըսին Յիսուսի.
–  Եթէ ամուսնութիւնը այդպէս դատապարտութեան պատճառ կրնայ ըլլալ այր մարդուն եւ կնոջ համար, աւելի լաւ է չամուսնանալ:
Յիսուս ըսաւ.
–  Բայց ամէն մարդ չի կրնար առանց ամուսնութեան մնալ, այլ միայն անոնք՝ որոնց Աստուած կարողութիւն տուած է: Որովհետեւ մարդիկ չեն ամուսնանար ա՛յն պարագաներուն, երբ ծնունդով ներքինի են, կամ՝ մարդոց կողմէ ներքինի եղած են եւ կամ՝ իրենք զիրենք ներքինի դարձուցած են երկինքի արքայութեան համար: Ով որ կրնայ ընդունիլ իմ հաստատումս, թող կատարէ զայն:
LITURGICAL CALENDAR
SONS AND GRANDSONS OF ST. GREGORY
The Armenian Church collectively remembers the sons and grandsons of St. Gregory the Illuminator this Saturday, August 1, namely, Saints Aristakes, Vrtanes, Housik, Grigoris, as well as Daniel, who was not related, but was a distinguished and beloved student. All of them continued the work of St. Gregory, preaching the word of Christ at great personal peril.
 
Gregory had two sons, Aristakes and Vrtanes. Aristakes, the younger son, succeeded Gregory as Catholicos and was martyred around 333 A.D. Aristakes represented the Armenian Church at the first ecumenical council of Nicaea in 325. It was at this council that the Nicene Creed, recited to this day during the Divine Liturgy, was written and adopted. Vrtanes—at this time over 70 years old—was called upon to become catholicos and served eight years until his death. Vrtanes had two sons, Grigoris and Housik. Grigoris preached in Georgia and Caucasian Albania (now in present-day Azerbaijan), where he was martyred. Housik, although not a clergyman, was called upon to assume the catholicosal throne. He was martyred in 347. Daniel is included with the sons and grandsons because of his special close relationship with the family. Daniel was chosen to succeed Housik as catholicos, but never actually served as he too was martyred one year later in 348.
Also remembered this week:
Monday, August 3: Saints Maccabees, Eleazar the Priest, Samona and her seven sons.
Tuesday, August 4: The Twelve Holy Prophets: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Jonah, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
EVENTS AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH
REQUIEM SERVICE - ՀՈԳԵՀԱՆԳԻՍՏ
In memory of: ARA VORSGANIAN (7 days)
Requested by: Father Hrant and the Board of Trustees of St. Sarkis Church
 
In memory of: VANITA BARDIZBANIAN
Requested by: Carolyn Arslanian and family
 
In memory of: AZAD MERIAN
Requested by: Arzoian family
 
In memory of: ARDASHES AND ARAMANOUSH AZABLAR, VAROUJAN AZABLAR, ASDGHIG AZABLAR GILEZIAN
Requested by: Zabelle Hajian Azablar. Steven and Nyeri Azablar Ceragno

In memory of: DONALD “ GEORGE” GEORGE (2 years), SEMON & AGNES (20 years) AFETIAN, DOMINIC & STELLA GEORGE
Requested by: Mary Afetian-George, Flora Simonian and family, Matios & Katie Simonian and family, Robert & Jani George and family
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
As the Prelacy has redoubled its efforts in these trying days of the Covid-19 emergency, so have grown its needs. More than ever in our living memory, we need your support. Please give as generously as you can, “remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

Please help us keep alive the huge achievements we have attained with our joint efforts. We will emerge stronger with the hand you lend us.

ARMENIAN PRELACY ANNUAL RAFFLE DRAWING UPDATE!
For many decades, the Prelacy has sponsored an annual raffle drawing that benefits its educational and religious programs. The drawing usually takes place in May at the conclusion of the National Representative Assembly. This year, the coronavirus pandemic hit when the raffle was underway, and the National Representative Assembly, to be originally hosted by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia, Pa., had to be postponed. The new drawing date has been set for September 12, 2020. The top prize is $5,000; second prize is $2,000; and third, fourth, and fifth prizes are $1,000. However, we always like to point out that in this raffle there are no losers, because all of the money raised benefits our Prelacy programs. 
 
Please consider purchasing one or more tickets ($100 each). For information, please contact our office ( office@saintsarkis.org  or 313-336-6200).
Special Prayers

Father Hrant, the Board of Trustees, and all the auxiliary bodies of St. Sarkis Church request special prayers for the good health and safety of all our parishioners. May these trying days pass in peace and may we reunite again in our churches and celebrate mass together.
Karen Hagopian

Dear Facebook Friends, This is difficult for me to write, but I very much appreciate your willingness to read it through. As you may or may not already know, in 1995 I was diagnosed with Primary...

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If you have not noticed, our e-blasts have become super interactive. There are many pictures, links, and flyers that can be clicked on and will take you to various different links.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SUBMIT?
All parish news, photographs, and calendar items should be emailed to office@saintsarkis.org. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS THURSDAYS AT 1:00PM. Send us your pictures from Sunday School, Special Services and other Church Events. If your event has an external link (ex. facebook event, eventbrite, etc) send that to us so that we can incorporate it with your flyer.

HAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT, OR SUGGESTION?
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All Available For You Online...
Do you want to request a Requiem Service for your departed loved ones? Do you have a Baptism to schedule? or a Wedding? or do you want to become a member of the Church?
All requests are easy today by using our online forms. Visit our website  www.saintsarkis.org , go to the services tab,  and you will be able to fill out any form you need online, or click on of the options on the right.
Online Donations

For your convenience, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church is now accepting online credit card donations using PayPal which is an easy and secure way to make your donations. To make a donation, please Click Here.

COMMUNITY EVENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
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St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
19300 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI 48128
Phone:313-336-6200