NOVEMBER 16                                                                                                                                                                                                       45/2018   
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, NOVEMBER 18, 2018
Morning Service
10:00 AM

Holy Badarak
10:30 AM 

Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
 
Ushers  
 Mrs. Elsy Melkonian and Mr. Armik Khatchatourians

Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Garbis Chubukian, 
Mr. Eric Ashbahian and 
Mr. Zakar Shahverdian

Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
 
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan 
 
Bible Reading
Isaiah 25:9-26:7. Philippians 1:1-11. 
Luke 9:44-50
HOKEHANKIST 
REQUIEM SERVICE
HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of:
Vartkess M. Balian (10th Anniversary)

Requested by: 
His wife, Rita S. Balian
His Sons: Raffi V. Balian and Sevag V. Balian with his wife, Nairi, and their four children / his grandchildren: Aram, Nareg, Sareen and Arya Balian.
Vartkess' sisters: Marie M. Balian and Haikouhi Balian Koudoussian with her twin daughters: Rita and Lena, along with her husband Edvik Alexandrian and son Andre.

For the Soul of: 
Isabel Kanderian Zakko (40 Days)

Requested by:
Arda Kanderian Hebert and Paul Hebert
 (Sister and Husband)
Alice and Sona Kanderian (Sisters)
 Dr. Maha Kanderian Khouri and Dr. Suhail Khouri (Sister and Husband)

Hospitality  Table 
 Donation towards Thanksgiving Lunch table is made by Arda Hebert in memory of her beloved sister Isabel Kanderian Zakko
-------------------------------------------------
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
ST. MARY CHURCH RENOVATION 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Armenian Dance Classes

November 18
Women's Guild Thanksgiving Lunch


November 20
Advent Bible Study


December 1
Knights and Daughters of Vartan 
Christmas Market and Craft  

December 7
The International Armenian Superstar Sarina Cross Barahantes 


December 8
Women's Guild Christmas Party


December 8
ACYOA Christmas Party


December 9
St. Mary Armenian Church
86th Anniversary Celebration 


December 15
Avak Society Luncheon


December 31
Internationally Acclaimed
Bartev and His Band
New Year's Eve Celebration and DJ Chris
CALENDAR OF FEASTS & EVENTS
November 18
Women's Guild Thanksgiving

November 20
Advent Bible Study

November 27
Advent Bible Study

December 1
Knights and Daughters of Vartan 
Christmas Market and Craft

December 4
Advent Bible Study

December 7
The International Armenian Superstar Sarina Cross Barahantes 

December 8
Women's Guild Christmas Party

December 8
ACYOA Juniors Christmas Party

December 9
86th Anniversary Celebration

December 11
Advent Bible Study

December 15 
Avak Society Luncheon

December 16
Shnorhali School Christmas Hantess

December 18
Advent Bible Study

December 31
Internationally Acclaimed
Bartev and His Band
New Year's Eve Celebration and DJ Chris 

January 12-13
Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia exhibit
TOP STORIES

Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple

On Tuesday, November 21, the worldwide Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple.

Shortly after Mary was born, her parents Joachim and Anna took their daughter to the Temple of Jerusalem to be consecrated to God in thanksgiving for the gift of their child. According to tradition, Mary remained there for a time and was given over to the care of pious widows and maidens who lived at the temple. Later, as a young woman, Mary became betrothed to Joseph the carpenter. Click here to view a video about St. Mary in the Armenian Church.

Eucharist Means "Thanksgiving"

One of the most meaning­ful holidays of the year is on the horizon: Thanksgiving Day. It's a uniquely American holiday-in which our whole country sets time aside to express thanks for the bounties of God.

But the idea of thanking God over a family meal is hardly foreign to Armenians. In the Armenian Church, the spirit of Thanksgiving flows through every prayer, through every celebration of the Holy Badarak. It's something we offer every Sunday, through the Eucharist-a Greek word that actually means "thanksgiving."

Above all, a spirit of gratitude is one of our points of contact with Jesus Christ: an attitude he exemplified in his earthly ministry, and urged his followers to embrace.

In what other ways does Armenian spirituality encourage us to practice "thanks-giving" in our daily lives? Click here to find out.
PARISH NEWS

Making Mahs

This week our devoted team of "Mahs Bakers" gathered within St. Mary Church's kitchen to make mahs. Our special thanks to Lola Pickering, Gulbahar Ozkayan, Haikouhi Koudoussian, and Takuhi Ozbenian who skillfully mixed the ingredients to make the mahs.

The Armenian word "mahs" means a portion. It is blessed, unconsecrated bread (not Holy Communion) that is given to the faithful to take to those who were unable to share in Holy Communion. It becomes their "portion" of the Badarak. When you receive mahs, extend your right hand so that the small piece of bread can be placed on the back of your hand, and as you receive the mahs say "Pazheen eem Asdvadz haveedyan" (God is my portion forever).

Malta Philharmonic Orchestra - Conductor Sergey Smbatyan

We are thrilled to announce that Maestro Sergey Smbatyan, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, embarks on a tour across the United States with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) to celebrate the Orchestra's 50th anniversary. Maestro Smbatyan will lead the MPO in three concerts at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on November 27th, the Music Center at Strathmore near Washington D.C. on November 29th, and Carnegie Hall in New York City on December 1st (see the posters in the comment area).

Malta Philharmonic has allocated free tickets for each concert to be distributed to the members of the Armenian communities in Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York. If you wish to attend one of the above-mentioned concerts, please email your name and the names of your guests to rsvp.armembassyusa@mfa.am by November 23rd. As the number of tickets is limited, you will need to reconfirm your attendance closer to the concert dates. Tickets will be held under your name at the Will-Call windows of the concert venues (please, have your photo ID with you). To avoid long lines, we strongly recommend picking up your tickets as soon as possible on the concert day. The Ticket Office hours are: Kimmel Center - 10:00am-6:00pm, Strathmore - 10:00am-5:00pm, Carnegie Hall - 11:00am-6:00pm. Please make sure to arrive at least 30-45 minutes prior to the concerts.

Initiated and organized by the European Foundation for Support of Culture, the Valetta-2018 Tour will feature symphonic poem "Rebbieħa" by Maltese composer Joseph Vella, "Travel Notebook", a concerto for piano and orchestra by famed modern American-Maltese composer Alexey Shor, performed by Austrian virtuoso pianist Ingolf Wunder, as well as Dmitri Shostakovich's epic Fifth Symphony.

Click here to see the poster
Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City, NY, and 
visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia exhibit

We are excited to announce that St. Mary Church is planning a Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral, and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit. Please save the date - January 12-13, 2019, and stay tuned for more details.
DIOCESAN AND OTHER NEWS

In the Ruins of a Desert Church, an Ancient Depiction of Jesus

The face of a beardless young man peeks out from a time-faded painting on the baptistery wall of an ancient, ruined church. The tantalizing question it raises is: Is this an early depiction of the face of Jesus?
 
That's what archaeologists working in the Negev Desert in the Holy Land believe they have discovered. The larger scene in the Byzantine-era church almost certainly shows John the Baptist at the River Jordan, and the classic iconography of that scene would suggest that the youthful figure receiving baptism is Christ himself.
 
But if so, it's a depiction of Jesus quite distinct from the familiar images of later times. As described in the  scholarly journal Antiquity, "the figure has short curly hair, a prolonged face, large eyes and an elongated nose. The neck and upper portion are also observable.... The location of the scene-above the crucifix-shaped Baptist font-suggests its identification as the baptism of Christ. Thus, this face portrays the youthful Christ, while the face on the left is most probably of John the Baptist."
 
The painting is barely visible, and it took the trained eye of a seasoned archaeologist to make out the contours of the face. The picture above is a simplified reconstruction of what the face may have looked like, drawn over a photograph of the baptistery wall.

If it's authentic, the painting could be the earliest painting of Christ's baptism yet discovered in the Holy Land. The now-ruined North Church of Shivta in the Negev flourished during the 6th century A.D., which is when the wall-painting is believed to have been made. Interestingly, the presence of Armenian graffiti establishes that the church was still in use as late as the 9th century. 

Click on the link to  read more about this fascinating, mysterious discovery.

Joint Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations

Diplomats from the United Nations gathered alongside Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians for the annual Joint Orthodox Prayer Service for the UN Community, at New York's St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Tuesday, November 13.

This year's prayer service was hosted by the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and conducted according to its rites, as led by Syriac Archbishop Jean Kawak.

Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese, were among the dignitaries from the ecumenical and diplomatic fields in attendance.

Diocesan Primate the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, welcomed guests and reflected on the 50-year history of the cathedral.

The evening's guest speaker, Armenia's UN Ambassador Mher Margaryan, reflected on the refugee situation and Armenia's humanitarian outreach to vulnerable populations. Mr. Kwabena Osei Danguah, presidential chief of staff of the UN General Assembly, was also in attendance.

Organized by the Joint Commission of Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Bishops, the annual prayer service gives Orthodox Christians an opportunity to engage with United Nations dignitaries.

Click on the following links to read more and view a photo gallery.
Treasure in Heaven

New Choices Video

In the latest episode of the video series Choices, Fr. Tateos Abdalian reflects on the upcoming season that begins with Thanksgiving and culminates in Christmas.

How can we truly exemplify the spirit of gratitude the season demands? And how can we carry that spirit beyond this special time of year, to enliven our everyday experience? Find out by watching " Treasure in Heaven."
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
44Եւ ամէնքը զարմանում էին Աստծու մեծագործութիւնների վրայ։ Եւ մինչդեռ բոլորը զարմանում էին այն ամենի վրայ, որ նա կատարում էր, նա իր աշակերտներին ասաց. «Ձեր ականջների մէջ պահեցէ՛ք դուք այս խօսքերը. որ մարդու Որդին մատնուելու է մարդկանց ձեռքը»։ 45Սակայն նրանք չէին ըմբռնում այս խօսքը, եւ դա ծածկուած էր նրանցից, որ չիմանան. եւ վախենում էին այդ խօսքի մասին հարց տալ նրան։ 46Աշակերտների մէջ մի վէճ առաջ եկաւ, թէ արդեօք իրենցից ո՛վ է մեծ։ 47Երբ Յիսուս իմացաւ նրանց սրտի խորհուրդները, վերցրեց մի մանուկ, կանգնեցրեց նրանց մէջ իր մօտ 48եւ ասաց նրանց. «Ով որ այս մանկանը ընդունի իմ անունով, ինձ է ընդունում. իսկ ով որ ինձ ընդունի, ընդունում է ինձ ուղարկողին. որովհետեւ, ով որ ձեր մէջ փոքրագոյնն է, նա՛ է մեծ»։ 49Յովհաննէսը պատասխանեց եւ ասաց. «Վարդապե՛տ, տեսանք մէկին, որ քո անունով դեւեր էր հանում, եւ արգելեցինք նրան, որովհետեւ մեզ հետ չի շրջում»։ 50Յիսուս ասաց նրանց. «Մի՛ արգելէք նրան, որովհետեւ, ով որ ձեր թշնամին չէ, ձեր կողմն է»։
(Luke 9:44-50)

44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest." 49 "Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." 50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
(Ղուկաս 9:44-50)
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.