For this week's Crossroads, the eighth prayer from St. Nerses Shnorhali's "Havadov Khosdovanim" is read by
Vahan Der Kosrofian of St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville, MA.
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PRELATE ORDAINS ALTAR SERVERS IN ILLINOIS
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Last weekend, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian travelled to Glenview, IL where the All Saints’ Armenian Apostolic Church community IL had a busy weekend of celebration and ordination.
On Saturday afternoon, Archbishop Anoushavan ordained Alek Hosepian, Raffael Tomassian, Garen Papazian, Sevan Karagozian, Anthony Olmo and Masis Hartunian as acolytes. Following the ordination, the parish hosted a lavish banquet celebrating the 76th Anniversary of All Saints' Church. During the night, 4 devoted members of the community were recognized for their unparalleled efforts within the church. Susan Chitjian Erickson, Araxsi Biberian, Arpi Dekirmenjian, and Hagop Solakian.
On Sunday morning, Srpazan Hayr celebrated the divine liturgy and ordained three deacons serving the parish during the badarak: Haroutun Kendimian, Varoujan Kokuzian and Dikran Kalayjian.
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PRELACY DAY OF THANKS RECEIVES BRISK RESPONSE;
CHARITABLE PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH
WILL BE FOCUS
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The deadline for reservations and donations for the November 17
th
Thanksgiving Banquet is fast approaching. Don’t be left out, make your reservations and donations immediately as a “sold-out” audience is expected to attend this special first annual Prelacy thanksgiving day.
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Each year a special “Prelacy Thanksgiving Day” will be celebrated honoring one aspect of the Prelacy’s multi-faceted mission. This year’s first “Prelacy Thanksgiving Day” will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2019. The day will begin with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by Archbishop Anoushavan at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York, beginning at 10:30 am. A Thanksgiving Banquet will take place after the Liturgy at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, New York. Cocktail reception will begin at 2 pm with dinner and program at 3 pm.
In a recent statement Archbishop Anoushavan explained that the “Prelacy Thanksgiving Day” was conceived “in order to thank, without exception, our people for their unwavering dedication to all Prelacy sponsored programs. Therefore, every year we will spotlight a different program. For the inaugural event we have decided to celebrate and honor the services of the Prelacy’s charitable mission in Armenia and Artsakh through the Saint Nerses the Great Charitable and Social Organization (
Medzn Nerses
) that was established as the Prelacy’s charitable office in the homeland. Although the roots of this effort go back to the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, the formal establishment of this charitable office actually took place 25 years ago. Indeed, in 2018
Medzn Nerses
marked its official 25
th
anniversary. So, therefore, this year on November 17 we will be celebrating its 25
th
+1 anniversary. In effect we are celebrating 26 years of love in action in Armenia and Artsakh,” the Prelate explained.
To make your banquet reservations
click here
. Or if you prefer contact the Prelacy office (212-689-7810).
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PRELATE PARTICIPATES IN ECUMENICAL SERVICE
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Archbishop Anoushavan participated in an Ecumenical Prayer Service for Lebanon at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn on Monday evening, November 4. His Eminence was joined by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian.
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Bible readings for
Sunday, November 10,
Ninth Sunday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, are: Isaiah 22:15-25; Ephesians 1:1-14; Luke 8:17-21.
While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher anymore. But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she
get
up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
(Luke 8:49-57)
***
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleaned her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.” This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
(Ephesians 5:15-33)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings
click here
.
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ARCHANGELS MICHAEL AND GABRIEL
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This Saturday, November 9, the Armenian Church commemorates the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The word “angel” (
hreshdag
) means messenger. Archangel is a title given to an angel of high rank in the celestial hierarchy. Michael and Gabriel are the only angels given the title archangel in the Bible.
Michael (Hebrew meaning “Who is like God”) is the prince of all angels and the leader of the celestial armies. He is considered to be the protector of Christians in general and soldiers in particular, and the guardian of the orthodox faith and defender against heresies.
Gabriel (Hebrew meaning “Strength of God”) is one of God’s chief messengers. He was God’s messenger to Daniel to explain his vision (Daniel 8:16-26) and prophecy (Daniel 9:21-27). He foretold the birth of John the Baptist and was the messenger announcing the forthcoming birth of Christ (Luke 1:11-21).
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
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Also commemorated this week:
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November 7:
Bishops Metrophanes, Alexander, Paul and Scribes Marcian and Martyrius.
November 11:
Sts. Meitus of Antioch and Minas of Egypt.
November 12:
St. Demetrius.
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PREMIERE SCREENINGS OF FILM AT THE CATHEDRAL
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Last week three separate screenings of the film “Yeva” took place at St. Illuminator’s John Pashalian Hall. The screenings were hosted by the Cathedral and Venera Films. On the premiere night Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Ms. Nora Armani, and Ms. Arpi Nazarian-Gettings offered remarks and a question and answer session took place with director Ms. Anahid Abad via Skype from Armenia. There was a musical performance by Ms. Tatev Yeghiazaryan and Mr. Khajag Zeitlian.
“Yeva” is a film by filmmaker Anahid Abad, with lead performance by Narine Grigoryan. It is the story of a woman fleeing her in-laws because of the false accusation of killing her own husband in order to find safe shelter for her daughter and herself.
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ST. HAGOP ARMENIAN CHURCH (WI) SPONSORS SEMINAR
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On Saturday, November 2, 2019, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of Christian Education, led a 3-hour interactive seminar on “Baptism-Chrismation: The Foundation of our Life in Christ” at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church of Racine, Wisconsin, at the invitation of Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, pastor, and the Board of Trustees. Over 25 people participated.
Dn. Shant walked the participants through the ceremony of Baptism-Chrismation, step-by-step, highlighting its overall structure and its distinctive parts, commenting on the prayers, explaining its rich symbols and images, expounding the scriptural passages read during service—Galatians 3, John 3, and Matthew 3. Through it all, the participants were provided with an interpretative lens to understanding the meaning of Baptism.
The participants engaged in discussing some of the key features of the Christian story as presented in the Scriptures, such as, rejecting sin and evil, putting our faith and trust in God, being adopted as a child of God, being incorporated as a full-fledged member of God’s family, the Church, being justified, being born from above, being anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit, belonging to Christ, finding our primary identity “in Christ,” redeemed by the blood of Christ, and having been put on the path that leads to salvation, provided that we live until our last breath in accordance to the will of God—following the precepts and the teachings of the Scriptures.
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ARCHDEACON SHANT WILL PRESENT NEW PRAYER BOOK
IN PHILLY
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Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of Christian Education of the Eastern Prelacy, will present the newly-published book, “Praying with the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church,” on Sunday, November 10 at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia immediately after the Divine Liturgy. The 100-page book contains prayers from the Book of Hours (
Zhamakirk
) of the Armenian Church that contains the daily cycle of public worship services. The prayers have been translated from the original classical Armenian (
Krapar
) to English by Archdeacon Kazanjian.
The publication of the Prayer Book was sponsored by the Der Nerses Manoogian Publication Fund in memory of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian.
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MOURAD ARMENIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATES
85TH ANNIVERSARY
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The Providence community came together, under the auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Mourad Armenian School on October 26. The Mourad School, with all of its capable and dedicated supporters has served as a cornerstone to preserve the Armenian language and culture.
Rev. Fr. Kapriel Nazarian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, offered the opening prayer, followed by the American and Armenian National Anthems sung by Alysha Phillips. Garo Tashian, master of ceremonies, chairman of the 85th anniversary committee, and a graduate of the school, welcomed the close to 250 guests. Hagop Donoyan, vice-chairman of the Sts. Vartanantz Church Board of Trustees, offered congratulations to the Mourad Armenian School and wished the school continued success in educating future generations. In addition, ARS Eastern Region Representative, Johanna Chilingirian, conveyed the congratulatory message of the Armenian Relief Society.
Hagop Khatchadourian, the Armenian School Committee chairman, then offered his remarks. “Every single Armenian is a flame, and if we don’t hold on to our story, language, beliefs, and fatherland, that flame will go out,” he stressed, encouraging all to keep the flame lit.
Students then sang the school anthem and
Ov Em Yes
, along with the piano accompaniment of their music teacher, Raffi Rachdouni. Graduates Taleen Donoyan and Shant Eghian sang a duet of
Doon Im Hayreni
with the accompaniment of Rosdom Mkrstchjan on guitar and Raffi on piano. The musical program concluded with a dance performed by current and graduate students led by Maral Kachadourian, the school’s long-time dance instructor.
Der Kapriel offered his pastoral message remembering the late Roxanne Arzoomanian, co-principal, who dedicated all of her retirement years to Sts. Vartananatz Church, and especially to the Mourad School.
Maggie Nalbandian, secretary of the school committee and long-time teacher, on behalf of entire School family, presented Hrair Hawk Khatcherian's volume entitled “100,” a beautiful collection of photographs of historic Armenia, to Hagop Khatchadourian, the school committee chairman of several decades, in appreciation for his tireless efforts.
In his remarks Archbishop Anoushavan announced that the Prelacy was honoring those who have served the Mourad Armenian School for decades as teachers with special certificates of merit. The honorees were Zepur Donoyan, Maral Kachadourian, Angel Kozinian, Tigranoui Minassian, Maggie Nalbandian, Zvart Tahmassian, and Menar Tarpinian. Carol Mesrobian was also honored as the school committee treasurer for more than 40 years. Then His Eminence announced that His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, sent a special pontifical blessing message in appreciation of Mrs. Kibarian's dedication to the Mourad Armenian School for several decades. Srpazan spoke about how unique the Providence community is in every way, as seen by this celebration. He specifically referred with admiration to the students’ writings in the anniversary booklet. He encouraged the community to be the “rightful followers of the namebearer of your school, Sebastatsi Mourad.”
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ST. SARKIS STUDENT WINS FIRST PRIZE
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Eddy Hazarian, a seventh grade student at the St. Sarkis Suzanne and Hovsep Hagopian Saturday School was the first place prize winner among the fourteen participating Armenian one-day schools in an essay competition organized by the Armenian Relief Society (Eastern Region). The School extended congratulations to Eddy and to his parents and grandmother, who have supported and encouraged his studies throughout the years. Congratulations were also extended to all of his teachers.
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SIAMANTO ACADEMY NEW TERM BEGINS
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The Eastern Prelacy’s Siamanto Academy resumed its regularly scheduled classes last Saturday with the participation of seven students who met at the Prelacy offices in New York. The students first became acquainted with the work and mission of the Prelacy. Because the Prelate, Archbishop Anoushavan, was traveling he connected with the students by SKYPE with warm greetings and wished them a successful year at the Academy and offered the opening prayer. Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian began by speaking about the passage of the Genocide resolution in the United States House of Representatives last week. Through the use of technology the students were taken to Armenia on the occasion of the 2, 801 anniversary of Yerevan/Erebouni and were able to explore new and old Yerevan.
The next Siamanto Academy class will convene at the Prelacy offices on Saturday, December 7. For information contact Mary Gulumian, director of the Armenian National Education Committee by email (
anec@armenianprelacy.org
) or telephone (212-689-7810).
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The Prelacy’s Orphan Sponsorship program was established in 1993 and continues to be the central mission of the Prelacy’s programs in Armenia and Artsakh. As part of the program, letters are received regularly from sponsored children addressed to their sponsors. We are pleased to share some of these letters through
Crossroads
.
This week’s letter is from Anahit * who is sponsored by Annette Hinkle.
*In order to protect the privacy of the children we use only their first names.
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Dear Sponsor,
My name is Anahit. . . . I was born on May 25, 2008. I live in the Gegharkounik region of Armenia, in the village Drakhtik. I live with my brother and my mom. My father died when I was only three years old. I miss him a lot. My mom has lots of health issues. The house where we live has been given to us by the Community Center.
My favorite subjects in school are Math and the Armenian language. I love to dance Armenian folk dances. If we could afford it, I would like to take dance classes in Djambarak city. My favorite singer is Sirousho and I would love to meet her one day.
I wish my family and I will always be healthy and always be together.
(signed) Anahit
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PLEASE CONSIDER SPONSORSHIP:
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Currently there are children on the waiting list for the Prelacy’s Sponsorship Program. If you would like to sponsor a child please
click here
for quick and easy online sponsorship. You may also contact the Prelacy by email (
sophie@armenianprelacy.org
) or telephone (212-689-7810), ask for Sophie.
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Death of Armen Takhtajan (November 13, 2009)
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Armen Takhtajan or Takhtajian was a Soviet Armenian botanist, and one of the most influential taxonomists of the second half of the twentieth century. The “Takhtajan system” of flowering plant classification, followed by the Montreal Botanical Garden, for example, was created and named after him.
He was born in Shushi, the ancient capital of Karabagh, on June 10, 1910, the oldest of three siblings, in a family of Armenian intellectuals. His family was forced to flee to northern Armenia because of Azerbaijani pogroms in 1918. The future botanist showed a keen interest in natural history throughout his childhood. He attended school in Tiflis (Georgia), where he was influenced by one of his teachers, Alexander Makaev (Makashvili), a former professor of agriculture and author of a dictionary of botanical names.
After completing his secondary school in 1928, Armen Takhtajan travelled to Leningrad (nowadays St. Petersburg), where he volunteered at Leningrad University and attended lectures by botanist Vladimir Komarov. He studied biology at Yerevan State University from 1929-1931, returning to Tiflis, where he enrolled in the All-Union Institute of Subtropical Crops. After completing his course, in 1931 he worked as a laboratory assistant in Sukhumi, before returning to Yerevan. He took a position as researcher at the Natural History Museum of Armenia and then at the Herbarium of the Armenian branch of the Institute of Biology of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. In 1936 he began teaching at Yerevan State University, and from 1938-1948 he was head of department. He directed the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia from 1944-1948 and was professor of Leningrad University.
In the 1940s, Takhtajan developed his classification scheme for flowering plants, which emphasized phylogenetic relationships between plants. There were restrictions on his work for many years because of his opposition to the official line on genetics promoted by Trofim Lysenko, the influential director of the Institute of Genetics from 1940-1965, who dismissed Mendelian genetics in favor of pseudoscientific ideas of environmentally acquired inheritance known as “Lysenkoism.” Takhtajan’s system did not become known to botanists in the West until after 1950.
He is mainly famous as the author of works on the origins of flowering plants and paleobotany, developing a new classification system of higher plants. He worked on the books
Flora of Armenia
(vol. 1–6, 1954–73, in Russian) and
Fossil Flowering Plants of the USSR
(v. 1, 1974, also in Russian). Some of his works were translated into German and English.
Takhtajan was a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as a foreign associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences since 1971. He was also a member of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia, the president of the Soviet All-Union Botanical Society (1973) and the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (1975), member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Literature (1971), and other scientific societies. In 1993 he worked for a while at the New York Botanical Garden.
This eminent scientist passed away in Saint Petersburg on November 13, 2009, at the age of ninety-nine, having just completed his most important work,
Flowering Plants
, which was published in the same year in New York.
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This 1963 photo is from the World General Assembly in Antelias, Lebanon that elected His Holiness Khoren I as Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia to succeed Catholicos Zareh I, of blessed memory. The photo is of the delegates representing North America. Godfathers for His Holiness’ subsequent consecration were George Mardikian (California); Yeghishe Melikian (Philadelphia); and Khachig Babigian, Esq. (Lebanon).
The delegates to the Assembly are, left to right: Yeghia Kimatian, Levon Tufankjian, Yeghishe Melikian, Der Arsen Hagopian, Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian, the American ambassador to Lebanon; George Mardikian, Mihran Guzelian, Yetvart (Edward) Sahagian, Dr. Levon Daghlian, Hovag Hagopian, Hagop Pasdermadjian.
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This Monday, November 12, is a federal holiday celebrating Veterans Day (formerly known as Armistice Day) that brought an end to the Great War (later called World War I).
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ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR CROSSROADS?
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Please remember that the deadline for submitting items for
Crossroads
is on Wednesdays at noon.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(
Calendar items may be edited to conform to space and style
)
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November 9 and 10
—Armenian Fest 2019, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Annual Food Festival at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. Saturday noon to 9 pm; Sunday noon to 7 pm. Free admission and parking. Valet parking available. For information: 401-831-6399.
November 10
—Thanksgiving Luncheon hosted by ARS Mayr Chapter, New York, to benefit the ARS Medz Tagher Kindergarten in Artsakh. Byblos Restaurant, 80 Madison Avenue, New York City, 2 to 5:30 pm. Donation: $75. For information/reservations Mina (917-741-2966); Anais (917-225-4326).
November 16
—New England Regional Deacons’ Retreat and Seminar at Holy Trinity Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester, Massachusetts; 9 am to 5 pm, for all ordained deacons and sub-deacons serving in the New England area Prelacy churches.
November 16
- St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School 35th Anniversary Celebration
Under the Auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy USA at the Westin Waltham, MA. 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception | 7:30 p.m. Dinner and Program. RSVP online at
https://mkt.com/ssaes
.
November 17
—Eastern Prelacy’s first annual Special Thanksgiving Banquet at Terrace on the Park, Flushing, New York, at 2 pm. Honoring the 25
th
+ 1 anniversary of the charitable work of the Prelacy’s St. Nerses the Great Charity Program: 26 Years of Charitable Giving in Armenia and Artsakh.
November 23
- Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church Sunday school, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 5 p.m. in the church hall. For information/reservations please call 508-234-3677.
November 24
—Thanksgiving Luncheon, organized by the St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild. $30 (under age 12 free) includes lunch, wine and a soft drink. Musical performances and prizes.
December 5
—Presentation of “Gomidas—150,” a publication of the Armenian Prelacy. Details to follow.
December 7—
Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church Annual Bazaar in Whitinsville, Massachusetts at the Pleasant Street Christian Reform Church Hall, 25 Cross Street, Whitinsville, 10:00-4:30, dinners served at 11:30.
December 7—
The next Siamanto Academy class will convene at the Prelacy offices. For information contact Mary Gulumian, director of the Armenian National Education Committee by email (
anec@armenianprelacy.org
) or telephone (212-689-7810).
December 14
—Club 27, featuring Onnik Dinkjian, Raffi Massoyan, Steve Vosbikian, Jim Kzirian, and Ara Dinkjian. John Pashalian Hall at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City. Admission: $25.00.
December 19
—Presentation of newly published “The Doctor of Mercy: The Sacred Treasures of St. Gregory of Narek,” by Michael Papazian. Details will follow.
December 22
—Christmas Concert at 2 pm, organized by the Board of Trustees of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, featuring Anahit Zakaryan, Anahit Boghosian, and Anahit Indzhiguyan.
December 31
—Save the date. Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, New Year’s Eve dinner/dance.
March 15, 2020
—Save the date and watch for details for the Eastern Prelacy’s 37
th
annual Musical Armenia concert, 2 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, West 57
th
Street at Seventh Avenue, New York City.
March 28, 2020
—“Faith Building Women 2020 Symposium,” A daylong conference to heighten awareness of women in the Bible, organized by the Adult Christian Education department of St. Peter Armenian Church. The Symposium will take place at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Keynote speakers Dr. Roberta Ervine and Arpi Nakashian.
May 13-16, 2020
—National Representative Assembly (NRA) of the Eastern Prelacy hosted by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia. The Clergy Conference will begin on Wednesday, May 13; the full Assembly will convene on Thursday, May 14 and conclude on Saturday, May 16.
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The Armenian Prelacy
Tel: 212-689-7810 ♦ Fax: 212-689-7168 ♦ Email: email@armenianprelacy.org
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