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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The Man Who Remembered God
Every year, the Armenian Church reserves a day to remember one of the more obscure figures of the Old Testament: the Prophet Zechariah. This year his saint day falls on July 16.
Zechariah’s collection of prophecies stands among the last books of the canonical Old Testament, set down some 500 years before the birth of Christ. Some of the most vivid prophetic images in the New Testament—especially those in the Revelation of John—originate in Zechariah’s uncanny visions.
The Gospel writers, too, seem to have been influenced by the prophet. Learn how they used the words and hopes of Zechariah to relate the life story of Jesus,
by
clicking here
.
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Obituary
Notice: Ambassador Arman Kirakossian
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we must announce the sad news of the passing of H.E. Arman Kirakossian, former Ambassador of Armenia to the United States (1999-2005), at the age of 63.
Born on September 10, 1956 in Yerevan, Ambassador Kirakossian was one of the greatest diplomats and scholars of independent Armenia and one of the founders of the modern Armenian foreign service. From 1991 to 1994 he served as Armenia’s first Deputy Foreign Minister. In 1994 he was appointed Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece, and from 1999 to 2005 he served as Armenia’s second Ambassador to the United States of America. From 2005 to 2011 he was Deputy Foreign Minister, and later served as Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the OSCE, UN and other international organizations (2011-2018). On November 28, 2018, he was appointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A decorated diplomat and Professor of History and International Relations, Ambassador Kirakossian authored more than 120 publications on history of diplomacy and international relations and received numerous honors, including the Mkhitar Gosh Medal for his significant contribution to the diplomatic service.
Ambassador Kirakossian’s death is an irreparable loss for Armenia; he will be dearly missed by his friends, students, colleagues and representatives of Armenian communities of the countries where he served. A book of condolence will be open for signing at the Embassy of Armenia (
2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
) on Wednesday, July 10th (10:30am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm) and Thursday, July 11th (10:30am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm).
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Bishop Mashalian Elected as Patriarchal Locum Tenens
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople took an important step towards the election of a new patriarch this week, when it chose Bishop Sahak Mashalian to fill the role of “locum tenens”: the “placeholder” who will administer the Patriarchate until a new Armenian Patriarch is chosen.
The election of Bishop Mashalian was the result of a closed-door meeting of the patriarchal congregation on July 4, which was scheduled to follow the mourning period for the late Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, who passed away last March following a decade of incapacitation due to illness.
In his role as locum tenens, Bishop Mashalian’s principle task will be to organize a patriarchal election, while managing the operations of the Patriarchate until then. In remarks to the public following the July 4 meeting, he said: “The congregational assembly has chosen me as locum tenens by a majority of the votes. Now, the placeholder should order the election process, lead all ecclesiastical meetings, and ensure that the elections are held impartially. I am very grateful that my church brothers have shown this confidence in me, and I will try to be worthy of the trust given me by our clergy and people.”
The Istanbul native has previously served in the Armenian Church’s Jerusalem Patriarchate; in Armenia as dean of Holy Etchmiadzin’s Kevorkian Seminary; and at the Istanbul Patriarchate as director of ecumenical and interfaith relations, and secretary of the Religious Council.
The election of an 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople could take place before the end of the year—but the timeframe depends on the assent of political and religious authorities. When the election is scheduled, Bishop Mashalian is expected to be among the candidates, along with the long-serving patriarchal vicar Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, and others as yet unannounced.
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Bishop Daniel Ordains His First Priest: Fr. Andreas Garabedian
In the closing days of June the Armenian Church was blessed with a new priest, as Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel performed the sacrament of holy orders on the former Deacon Narek Garabedian. As part of the ordination, the Primate conferred a new name on the candidate, who will henceforth be known as the Reverend Fr. Andreas (Andrew).
The ceremonies, which included a Service of Calling on Friday evening, June 28, and a Divine Liturgy on Saturday, June 29, took place at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, IL, where Fr. Andreas has served for the past two years as Deacon-in-Charge, and where he will return as pastor following the traditional 40-day period of seclusion.
Clergy and faithful from throughout the region joined the local parishioners to take part in the service and its subsequent celebratory banquet, honoring the start of Fr. Andreas’ priestly ministry.
The occasion also marked a milestone in the ministry of the Primate, as Fr. Andreas is the very first priest to be ordained by Bishop Daniel’s hand. But the second is fast approaching: Deacon Arman Galstyan will be ordained by Bishop Daniel on July 26-27, at the St. George Church of Hartford, CT. (
Click here
for information on that event.)
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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
Mr. Garbis Chubukian, Mrs. Rouzanna Oganissian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Jack Guiragossian, Mr. Zakar Shahverdian, Mr. Artur Sivaslian
Choir
Dr. Hratch Semerjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Reading
Isaiah 2:5-11, Romans 8:31-10:4,
Matthew 13:24-30
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HOKEHANKIST REQUIEM SERVICE
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
For the Soul of:
H.E. Arman Kirakossian, former Ambassador of Armenia to the United States
Requested by
H.E. Ambassador Varuzhan Nersesyan and the Armenian Embassy Staff,
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, and the Parish Council
Hospitality Table hosted by
The Armenian Embassy and St. Mary Parish Council in loving memory of
H.E Arman Kirakossian
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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
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CALENDAR OF FEASTS AND EVENTS
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Every Tuesday
Bible Study
July 14
Feast of the Discovery of St. Mary’s Box
July 21
Eve of Fast of Transfiguration
July 28
Transfiguration of Our Lord (Vardavar)
August 18
Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God
September 8
Book Signing and Presentation By: Rosemary Hartounian Cohen
September 15
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 29
Feast of Holy Cross of Vara
k
October 3 – 6
Fall Food Festival
October 27
Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
November 21
Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple
December 9
Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary
January 13-22, 2020
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
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FAR Supports Musical Education
Twelve-year-old Milena Hovhannisyan is a fourth-grade piano student at the Argavand Music School After Arsen Sayan. It’s a challenge for her to cope with the butterflies she experiences before a performance. “It’s easier for me to perform with the choir, but I have a nervous feeling in my gut during my solo performances,” Milena said.
One hundred students attend the Argavand School and their annual concert usually brings together the best of them—the choirs consisting of younger singers and solo performers, as well as students of piano, violin, guitar and accordion. The school was renovated five years ago thanks to the generous funding of philanthropist, Armenian musicologist, educator and social worker Arsen Sayan,who died last year. His wife, Caterin, continues to fund a scholarship through FAR for students who wish to study at the school. FAR has three brand-new scholarships dedicated to Arsen Sayan for the coming academic year that will be awarded to students with the highest grades. Read more here:
https://farusa.org/2019/06/19/far-schools-music-schools-year-end-concert-celebrates-student-success/
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24 Նա մէկ ուրիշ առակ էլ նրանց առաջ դրեց ու ասաց. «Երկնքի արքայութիւնը նմանուեց մի մարդու, որ իր արտի մէջ բարի սերմ սերմանեց։ 25 Եւ երբ մարդիկ քնի մէջ էին, նրա թշնամին եկաւ եւ ցանած ցորենի վրայ որոմ ցանեց ու գնաց։ 26 Եւ երբ ցորենը բուսաւ ու պտուղ տուեց, ապա երեւաց եւ այն որոմը։ 27 Տանտիրոջ ծառաները մօտեցան ու ասացին նրան. «Տէ՛ր, չէ՞ որ քո արտի մէջ դու բարի սերմ սերմանեցիր, ուրեմն որտեղի՞ց է այդ որոմը»։ 28 Եւ տէրն ասաց նրանց. «Թշնամի մարդ է արել այդ»։ Ծառաները նրան ասացին. «Կամենո՞ւմ ես, որ գնանք ու քաղենք հանենք այն»։ 29 Եւ տէրը նրանց ասաց. «Ո՛չ, մի գուցէ որոմը քաղելիս, ցորենն էլ նրա հետ արմատախիլ անէք։ 30 Թողէ՛ք, որ երկուսն էլ միասին աճեն մինչեւ հունձը, եւ հնձի ժամանակ ես հնձողներին կ՚ասեմ՝ նախ այդ որոմը քաղեցէ՛ք եւ դրանից խուրձեր կապեցէ՛ք այրելու համար, իսկ ցորենը հաւաքեցէ՛ք իմ շտեմարանների մէջ»։
(Մատթեոս 13:24-30)
Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
(Mathew 13:24-30)
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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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COME VISIT THE ST. MARY GIFT SHOP
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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, 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com | 202-363-1923 |
www.stmaryaac.org
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