AUGUST 31                                                                                                                                                                                                          34/2018   
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, SEPTEMBER 2, 2018
Morning Service
10:00 AM

Holy Badarak
10:30 AM 

Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
 
Ushers  
 Mrs. Sara Arabian and Mr. Garbis Chubukian
 
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Zakar Shahverdian  
Mr. Arthur Sivaslian and  
Mr. Jack Guiragossian

Choir
 Dr. Hratch Semerjian
 
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan 
 
Bible Reading
Isaiah 10.12-19, 2 Corinthians 2.12-3.3,
Mark 6.30-44
HOKEHANKIST 
REQUIEM SERVICE
For the Soul of:
Haroutioun Bardizbanian
 
Requested by:
Raffie, Maureen, Arthur & Raffie Jr. Bardizbanian

----------------------------------- --------------
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
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

















It was the great religious "confab" of the 4th century: a gathering of Christian bishops from throughout the world, convened by no less an authority than the Roman Emperor Constantine I. In A.D. 325, a town in the Black-Sea province of Bithynia played host to 318 scholars of the church who met to deliberate on the burning theological questions of the day.

We remember it today as the Council of Nicaea: the first attempt to forge a truly "ecumenical" Christianity-that is, a Christianity that encompassed all the world's human habitations-by coming to a consensus on church doctrine.

The most significant result of the council was the Nicene Creed: the first uniform expression of Christian doctrine. The Creed would be elaborated upon in subsequent councils, but its essential form, conceived during that historic gathering in Nicaea, remains the fundamental statement of orthodox faith, embraced by churches throughout the world-and repeated during every Armenian badarak as the Havadamk ("We believe").

The Armenian Church participated in the council, with St. Aristakes, the younger son of St. Gregory the Illuminator, representing his then-ailing father. This Saturday, our church will remember the 318 Fathers of the Holy Council of Nicaea, and the project they began 1,693 years ago.
PARISH NEWS


Fall Food Festival Schedule of Workshops 2018 

St. Mary's Annual Fall Food Festival will take place on October 4-7. The event is organized by the St. Mary Parish Council and Women's Guild who have spearheaded a number of workshops bringing together community members in preparation of the Food Fair. Please, join us and support the church.

Workshop Day Date Time

Chees Boureg prep- Friday September 14, 4:00pm
Chees Boureg-  Saturday September 15, 10:00am
Baklava-Bourma- Wednesday September 19, 10:00am 
Eggplant/Sauce- Wednesday September 26, 4:00pm
Khadayeef- Friday September 28, 5:00pm
Meat Cutting- Saturday September 29, 10:00am
Yalanchi (Por-meechog)- Saturday September 29, 1:00pm
Yalanchi (Wrap)- Monday October 1, 4:00pm
Green Beans-  Tuesday October 2, 4:00pm
Hall set up- Tuesday, October 2, 7:00pm
Hummus- Wednesday October 3, 4:00pm


St. Vartan Camp 

In the Month of July and August 8 young members from St. Mary Church attended Camp Vartan.   The camp was led by an experienced administration and staff and provides a physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy environment in which young Armenian-American Christians can grow and gain a deeper understanding of their Armenian faith and culture.
Overlooking the scenic Catskill Mountains, the location is on 65 acres and offered the children an on-site pool, tennis court, basketball court, soccer field, and dining and recreational facilities. The program focused on a blend of Armenian religion, culture, language, history, dance, music, arts, and fellowship, together with a full sports program including soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, and swimming. 
We are happy that in the past couple of years St. Mary had a good participate in the camp programs. Our appreciation goes to Edvik Alexandrian, Monica Emmerson and Talar Festekjian for transporting and chaperoning the children. 

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.


Visit Our New Website!

We are very pleased to announce the launch of St. Mary Armenia Church new website at https://www.stmaryaac.org
With the support of a generous and technologically talented church member, we were able to re-introduce our presence on the web with a newer and more contemporary visibility.  All upcoming events and holidays will continue to be listed in our calendar of events in real time, event flyers are available for viewing on the home page, and the new online application pages provides our community the ability to present their interest in Baptisms, Matrimony, Church Hall rental, WED, and alike. And, we continue to present our Church and faith heritage with memorable photos and history.
St. Mary Church
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
30 The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He *said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. 33 The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.34 When Jesus went [a]ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. 35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, "[b]This place is desolate and it is already quite late; 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves [c]something to eat." 37 But He answered them, "You give them something to eat!" And they *said to Him, "Shall we go and spend two hundred [d]denarii on bread and give them something to eat?" 38 And He *said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go look!" And when they found out, they *said, "Five, and two fish." 39 And He commanded them all to [e]sit down by groups on the green grass. 40 They [f]sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. 44 There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
( Mark 6.30-44)

30 Առաքեալները հաւաքուեցին Յիսուսի մօտ ու նրան պատմեցին այն ամէնը, ինչ որ արել էին եւ ուսուցանել: 31 Եւ Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Եկէ՛ք դուք առանձին մի ամայի տեղ ու մի քիչ հանգստացէ՛ք». որովհետեւ եկող-գնացողները շատ էին. եւ հաց ուտելու անգամ ժամանակ չունէին: 32 Եւ նաւակով գնացին մի ամայի տեղ՝ առանձին: 33 Սակայն մարդիկ տեսան նրանց, որ գնում էին, եւ շատերը ճանաչեցին նրանց ու բոլոր քաղաքներից հետիոտն, խուռներամ այնտեղ վազեցին եւ մօտեցան նրանց: 34 Եւ նա, նաւակից դուրս ելնելով, մեծ ամբոխ տեսաւ ու գթաց նրանց, որովհետեւ նման էին ոչխարների, որոնք հովիւ չունեն. եւ սկսեց նրանց ուսուցանել շատ բաներ: 35 Երբ շատ ժամեր անցան, աշակերտները մօտենալով ասացին. «Սա ամայի տեղ է, մինչ օրը դեռ չի վերջացել, 36 արձակի՛ր այս ժողովրդին, որպէսզի գնան շրջակայքի ագարակներում եւ գիւղերում իրենց համար ուտելիք գնեն, որովհետեւ այստեղ ուտելու բան չունեն»: 37 Նա պատասխանեց նրանց եւ ասաց. «Դո՛ւք նրանց ուտելիք տուէք»: Ասացին նրան. «Գնանք գնե՞նք երկու հարիւր դահեկանի հաց եւ նրանց տանք ուտելու»: 38 Ասաց նրանց. «Քանի՞ նկանակ ունէք, գնացէք տեսէ՛ք»: Երբ իմացան, նրան ասացին. «Հինգ նկանակ եւ երկու ձուկ»: 39 Եւ նա հրամայեց խումբ-խումբ նստեցնել նրանց դալար խոտի վրայ: 40 Եւ դաս-դաս նստեցին. տեղ-տեղ՝ հարիւր, տեղ-տեղ՝ յիսուն: 41 Եւ նա, վերցնելով հինգ նկանակը եւ երկու ձկները, նայեց դէպի երկինք, օրհնեց, մանրեց նկանակները եւ տուեց աշակերտներին, որպէսզի դնեն նրանց առաջ: Եւ երկու ձկներն էլ բաժանեց բոլորին: 42 Կերան ու յագեցան 43 եւ տասներկու սակառ լիքը կտորտանքները վերցրին, ինչպէս նաեւ՝ ձկներից: 44 Եւ նրանք, որ կերան, մօտ հինգ հազար հոգի էին:
(Մարկոսի 6.30-44)
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.