St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-363-1923
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Feast of the Evangelists Sts. Mathew, Mark, Luke and John
On October 19, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the Feast of the Holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Matthew the Evangelist
, the author of the first gospel account is symbolized by a winged man, or angel. Matthew's gospel starts with Joseph's genealogy from Abraham; it represents Jesus' Incarnation, and so Christ's human nature. This signifies that Christians should use their reason for salvation.
Mark the Evangelist
, the author of the second gospel account is symbolized by a winged lion - a figure of courage and monarchy. Mark has John the Baptist preaching "like a lion roaring" at the beginning of his Gospel. It also represents Jesus' Resurrection, and Christ as king. This signifies that Christians should be courageous on the path of salvation.
Luke the Evangelist
, the author of the third gospel account (and the Acts of the Apostles) is symbolized by a winged ox or bull - a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. Luke's account begins with the duties of Zacharias in the temple; it represents Jesus' sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High priest (this also represents Mary's obedience). The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.
John the Evangelist
, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle - a figure of the sky, and believed to be able to look straight into the sun. John starts with an eternal overview of Jesus the Logos and goes on to describe many things with a "higher" Christology than the other three (synoptic) gospels; it represents Jesus' Ascension, and Christ's divine nature. This represents that Christians should look on eternity without hesitation and fear.
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The Roots of Armenian Cultural Month
To Armenians in the United States, “Armenian Cultural Month” has been a feature of community life for as long as anyone can remember. It arrives every October—and with it a flurry of lectures, readings, exhibits, sacred celebrations, and events meant to remind Armenians of the richness of their heritage.
But how and when did it begin? And why was October chosen as the annual showcase for Armenian culture?
Surprisingly, Armenian Cultural Month originated in the Eastern Diocese—and this month marks its 77th anniversary!
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Passing of Shirley Mikaelian
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Shirley Mikaelian on Monday, September 23, 2019. Shirley was the youngest of five children born to Minas and Margret Gostanian, immigrants from Kharpert, Armenia. She was born on April 5, 1926, in Haverhill, MA. She had one sister (Isabel) and three brothers (Zaven, Vasken, and Vaughn) and was raised in Haverhill (Bradford), Massachusetts. She graduated from Dean College in 1946, with an AA degree in Merchandising, and spent many years as a clothing buyer in Boston, New York, and later Washington, D.C.
In 1967, Shirley and her husband, Bill Du Chessi, moved to Chevy Chase, MD, where they lived less than two miles away from St. Mary Armenian Church. Shirley became an active member of the church. Her beloved Bill died in 1979, and several lonely years followed until she married Ash Mikaelian, in 1988. Throughout the years, she remained active at St. Mary’s and in other Armenian organizations.
In 2014, her niece, Sandra Gostanian Arakelian, moved her to Fresno, California, so that she could be properly cared for in a dementia care facility. She died peacefully on Monday, September 23, 2019.
Shirley is survived by seven nieces and nephews and their spouses, by thirteen great nephews and nieces, by twelve great-great nieces and nephews, by three step-children and their families, and by several Du Chessi nieces and nephews and their families.
We offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Shirley Mikaelian and we pray that our Compassionate Lord grants her eternal rest and comforts her loved ones with His Holy Spirit.
40 day Hokehankist service for Shirley will take place at St. Mary Church on Sunday, October 27.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Mary Armenian Church,
4125 Fessenden St. NW Washington, DC 20016
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2019 ACYOA Juniors Fall Sports Weekend
Young Armenian Church members ages 13 to 18 came together over Columbus Day weekend for the annual ACYOA Juniors Fall Sports Weekend. At Camp Kweebec in Schwenksville, PA, 213 participants from 14 parishes across the Eastern Diocese gathered for three days of worship, sports, and fellowship.
Under the theme of "Living the Hye Life," the ACYOA Juniors enjoyed the full variety of activities available on the expansive campgrounds. Participants played sports and individual games; had opportunities to zipline, rock climb, and rope swing; and enjoyed social events in the evenings.
St. Mary Church was represented by 12 participants who played team as well as individual sports. Our utmost appreciation to Mr. Michael Sahakian, Dr. Greg Kumkumian and Mrs. Talar Festekjian for driving and chaperoning over the weekend.
Click on
the links to read more—including a run-down of sports competition winners.
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Mother See Holds Conference on the Christian Family
With the blessings of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin convened an international conference on the family on October 9-10.
Titled “Church and Family in the 21st Century: Values and Challenges,” the gathering paid special attention to the way church and family mutually reinforce each other, and on the need to promote and preserve family values as a support to society.
Speakers from Armenia and other countries included representatives from various churches. Among the topics discussed, attendees considered the Christian understanding of marriage and the family; the threats that secularization can pose to the Christian value system; and legal issues that have arisen in recent years.
To conclude the conference, a statement was issued outlining concerns and areas for future discussion (
click here
to read it). The proceedings were documented in two videos, which can be viewed
here
and
here
.
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READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE
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Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Ushers
Mrs. Anna Seferian
Mrs. Nora Shafakian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Ohannes Sivaslian, Dr. Ara Avedisian, Mr. Eric Ashbahian
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Reading
Isaiah 24.1-12, Ephesians 5.15-33, Luke 8.49-56
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HOKEHANKIST REQUIEM SERVICE
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
For the Soul of:
Charles Balian
Requested by:
Margaret Balian (spouse) and Famil
y
-------------------------------------------------
To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or
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CALENDAR OF FEASTS AND EVENTS
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Every Tuesday
Bible Study
October 27
Book presentation by Matthew Karanian : The Armenian Highland: Western Armenia and the First Armenian Republic Of 1918
October 27
Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
November 21
Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple
November 23
Knights and Daughters of Vartan Fall Christmas Bazaar
December 9
Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary
December 31
New year Gala 2020
January 13-22, 2020
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
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For 30 Years of Service, FAR Receives Armenia’s Highest Honor
This year, the Fund for Armenian Relief is celebrating 30 years of transformative humanitarian and development work in our homeland. An anniversary gala held last week at FAR’s Gyumri Information Technology Center (GTech) was the stage on which the organization received one of Armenia’s highest honors: the “Medal of Honor.”
Some 150 people attended the event, where local and national dignitaries mingled with beneficiaries of FAR projects whose lives had vastly improved as a result.
FAR leaders and staffers were recognized as well; among them Armenia Country director Bagrat Sargsyan and Board of Directors chair Randy Sapah-Gulian. FAR Board members Nishan and Margaret Atinizian, James and Marta Batmasian, Carl Bazarian, Edward Mardigian, Sandra Shahinian, Dennis Tarzian, Gregory Toufayan, and Pontish Yeramyan, were honored for their work in Armenia by the governors of the Shirak and Tavush provinces.
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14Եւ Յիսուս Հոգու զօրութեամբ վերադարձաւ Գալիլիա, ու գաւառի բոլոր կողմերում նրա համբաւը տարածուեց։ 15Եւ նա ուսուցանում էր նրանց ժողովարաններում՝ փառաւորուելով բոլորից։ 16Եւ եկաւ Նազարէթ, ուր նա սնուել մեծացել էր. եւ ըստ իր սովորութեան՝ շաբաթ օրը ժողովարան մտաւ։ 17Եւ նրան տուին Եսայի մարգարէի գիրքը. եւ նա վեր կացաւ ընթերցելու. եւ երբ գիրքը բացեց, գտաւ այն տեղը, ուր գրուած էր. 18«Տիրոջ Հոգին իմ վրայ է, դրա համար իսկ օծեց ինձ, ինձ ուղարկեց աղքատներին աւետարանելու, սրտով բեկեալներին բժշկելու, 19գերիներին ազատում քարոզելու եւ կոյրերին՝ տեսողութիւն, կեղեքուածներին ազատ արձակելու, Տիրոջը ընդունելի տարին հռչակելու»։ 20Եւ փակելով գիրքը՝ տուեց պաշտօնեային ու նստեց. եւ ժողովարանում գտնուողների բոլորի աչքերը նրա վրայ էին սեւեռուած։ 21Սկսեց ասել նրանց. «Այսօր այս գրուածքները կատարուեցին, երբ լսում էիք ձեր ականջներով»։ 22Եւ բոլորը վկայում էին ու զարմանում նրա բերանից ելած շնորհալի խօսքերի վրայ ու ասում. «Սա Յովսէփի որդին չէ՞»։ 23Եւ նա ասաց նրանց. «Անշուշտ, ինձ այս առածը կ՚ասէք. «Բժի՛շկ, բժշկի՛ր ինքդ քեզ»։ Այն ամէնը, ինչ արել ես Կափառնայումում, որչափ որ լսեցինք, արա՛ եւ այստեղ, քո գաւառում»։
(Ղուկաս 4:14-23)
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, `Physician, heal yourself; what we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here also in your own country.'"
(Luke 4:14-23)
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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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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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Signup / 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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St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
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