NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL SEVERELY DAMAGED IN FIRE; SPECIAL PLATE COLLECTION ON SUNDAY, MAY 5

(Crossroads)

The world watched in horror as flames engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris this week. The image was there on everyone's smart phone. Watching the flames reaching high up in the sky, the unthinkable of the imminent destruction of this iconic structure seemed possible. Fortunately the towers withstood as did centuries-old works of art and artifacts. The spire and the attic above the Cathedral's soaring stone arches, that is described as a "lattice of wooden support beams" and a "tinder box" became fuel for the fire.

Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the most visited sites in Paris. Its popularity transcends religion. It is considered sacred by all. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged that the 850-year-old Cathedral will be restored within five years.

Archbishop Anoushavan announced that on May 5, Green Sunday, which is also known as the Sunday of the World Church, parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are requested to circulate a second plate offering for Notre-Dame Cathedral. "Let us do our small part in the international outpouring of support for the Cathedral's renewal," said the Prelate. Donations may also be sent directly to the Armenian Prelacy, 138 East 39 th Street, New York, NY 10016. Indicate "Notre-Dame" in the memo area of your check.

One of the beautiful traditions on the Armenian Apostolic Church is the Home Blessing Service. The parish priest would visit the homes of his parishioners during Christmas and Easter seasons and proclaim the good news of Christ's birth and resurrection. The priest blesses bread, salt and water. These three items are blessed because without food and water, we cannot live. However, in our spiritual life, Christ refers to himself as the "bread of life" (John 6:35) and "spring of life" (John 4:14). Without Christ, we cannot live. Jesus also reminds us that we are the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) and as such, we must give flavor to the rest of the world.

On Easter Sunday, you are invited to participate in the Home Blessing service which will take place following the Divine Liturgy. We will gather together as members of a church family to bless three life-giving gifts: bread, water, and salt. You will then take home with you a home blessing box that contains a prayer, water, salt and nshkhar as a symbol of the presence of God's blessings in our lives.

On Friday evening April 12, 2019, The Community of St. Sarkis Church observed the sixth and the final Lenten Vesper Service of the season. The service was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

 

Fr. Nareg Terterian presented a biblical reflection on "Quiet Time - Jesus: A person of Prayer" Mark 1:29-39).

The fellowship hour was hosted by Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian, Yn. Annie Terterian and Mrs. Katia Tavitian.

We take this opportunity thank everyone who attended vesper services. We hope that you learned more about the tenets of our faith. Special thanks to all the ladies who hosted dinner following Friday vespers. May God Bless you all.

Photo Gallery

Dear St. Sarkis Church Parishioners,

We greatly appreciate and thank you for your dedicated service and continued support in making Saint Sarkis Church a vibrant spiritual and cultural center serving the needs of the Armenian Community. We invite you to join the growing number of parishioners who are dues paying members of our church. As such, you will be part of a devoted group of parishioners serving the church and community and participating in the decisions shaping the future of St. Sarkis Church.

Membership dues are an important part of our budget and as paid members you are eligible to vote in the General Membership Meeting, serve on the Board of Trustees and be entitled to certain benefits such as discounted hall rental rates, school registration, etc. Such reduced rates are offered if both spouses are paid members.

Kindly inform us of any changes in your address, phone or e-mail so you may receive the E-Sunday Bulletin of Saint Sarkis Church sent electronically by Der Nareg every Friday.

We look forward to working with you in strengthening the mission of Saint Sarkis Church.

May God Bless you and grant you all the best in your endeavors.

Please make your checks payable to St. Sarkis Church and send to

38-65 234th Street Douglaston, New York, 11363.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor & Board of Trustees

Click Here To Become A Member

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS (15.1-11)

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MARK (16.1-8)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"  

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.  

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "  

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՐԿՈՍԻ (16:1-8)

Շաբաթ օրը երբ անցաւ, Մարիամ Մագդաղենացին, Մարիամ՝ Յակոբի մայրը եւ Սողոմէն գացին խունկեր գնեցին եւ պատրաստեցին, որպէսզի երթան եւ օծեն Յիսուսի մարմինը: Կիրակի առաւօտ կանուխ, արեւածագին, գերեզման եկան: «Ո՞վ պիտի գլորէ գերեզմանի մուտքին դրուած քարը», կը հարցնէին իրարու, որովհետեւ քարը շատ մեծ էր: Սակայն երբ նայեցան, տեսան որ քարը արդէն իսկ գլորուած էր: Գերեզմանէն ներս մտան եւ ճերմակ զգեստ հագած երիտասարդ մը տեսան, որ աջ կողմը նստած էր: Սարսափեցան: Երիտասարդը ըսաւ անոնց. «Մի՛ վախնաք, գիտեմ որ խաչուած Նազովրեցի Յիսուսը կը փնտռէք, բայց հոս չէ, յարութիւն առաւ: Տեսէ՛ք զինք հոս դրած էին: Այժմ գացէք, ըսէք իր աշակերտներուն եւ Պետրոսի, որ ահա Յիսուս ձեզմէ առաջ կ՚երթայ Գալիլիա. հոն պիտի տեսնէք զինք, ինչպէս որ ըսած էր ձեզի»: 

Երբ ասիկա լսեցին, դուրս փախան գերեզմանէն, զարհուրած եւ ապշահար, ու ոչ մէկուն բան մը ըսին, որովհետեւ կը վախնային:

- Mrs. ALICE KASAGYAN, passed on Saturday, April 10, 2019. Wake and Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, all at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

Quick reminder that you can help support Saint Sarkis Saturday School at no cost to you by shopping on Amazon Smile. When purchasing online through Amazon Smile .05% of your purchases will be donated to Saint Sarkis Saturday School. 

All you need to do is: