CELEBRATING ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
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Tomorrow, September 21, is the 27
th
anniversary of the Independent Republic of Armenia, the culmination of a process that had begun more than a year earlier with a “Declaration of Armenian Independence” that led to the Armenian Republic that was officially proclaimed on September 21, 1991.
In the life of a nation, as in the life of an individual, there are milestones marking important events, some triumphant, some tragic, some auspicious, some awesome. Such milestones are common in the lives of most nations, but the vicissitudes of history have left some momentous milestones in the life of the Armenian nation. Certainly, the declaration that led to independence is one of those milestone events of our recent history.
The splendor of independence was that the Armenian people would be able to determine the course of their own destiny, with the full opportunity to establish anew a society organized according to the Armenian ethos and based on fundamental civil and human rights, such as the freedom of speech, press, and conscience. For more than sixteen centuries—except for a brief period of independence from 1918 to 1921—the Armenian people fought to maintain their religious faith and their own unique society. Independence in 1991 reaffirmed that right to live as a people with its own way of life, its own beliefs, and on its own soil.
The ensuing years have not been easy—no one said it would be—and the future years will most likely be filled with even greater perilous challenges. May the Creator look with favor and bestow His protection and wisdom to the Armenian people at this crucial milestone in their long history.
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PRAYERS FOR THE REPUBLIC AND
BLESSING OF THE TRICOLOR FLAG
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By the directive of the Prelate this Sunday, September 23, Prelacy parishes will offer special prayers for the Republic of Armenia and bless the tricolor flag on the occasion of the 27
th
anniversary of the Republic. During the Requiem Service prayers will be offered for the new martyrs of Artsakh’s independence.
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O Christ our God, guardian and hope of the faithful, keep, guard, and bless the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian nation, the Armenian Church, and your people present in peace, under the protection of your holy and venerable cross. Deliver us from visible and invisible enemies. Make us worthy to thankfully glorify you together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
(From “Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Republic of Armenia.”)
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HELPING THE VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS
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Bishop Anoushavan has instructed parishes of the Eastern Prelacy to offer prayers for the victims of Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina, and for the victims of the multiple gas explosions in Massachusetts, specifically in Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence, this Sunday, September 23. His Grace has directed parishes to circulate a second plate offering to help in relief efforts in the affected communities.
Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, pastor of St. Gregory Church of North Andover, reports that for the most part the church and parishioners are safe and not directly affected. However, many neighbors and friends were not as fortunate and St. Gregory Church is seeking monetary donations as well as donations of clothing, water, detergent, non-perishable food items, and personal hygiene products for the Lawrence Senior Center. St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church is located at 158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845.
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Bishop Anoushavan traveled to Antelias, Lebanon, where he met with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and received his blessings. His Grace will return to New York for a weekend filled with activities.
On Saturday, September 22, a Hrashapar Service of Thanksgiving will be offered at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City, at 5 pm. All are welcome.
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On Sunday, September 23, His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York.
On Monday, September 24, Bishop Anoushavan will attend the special presentation and reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where the Exhibit “Armenia!” will open to the public on Saturday.
On Tuesday, September 25, His Grace will attend the United Nations General Assembly during the address by the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.
On Wednesday, September 26, Bishop Anoushavan will preside over a meeting of the clergy at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York. In the evening His Grace will attend a reception in honor of the President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency General Michel Aoun at the Lebanese Consulate in New York City.
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“ARMENIA!” EXHIBIT OPENS TO THE PUBLIC SATURDAY
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The much-anticipated “Armenia!” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is set to open to the public on September 22. Members Preview day is tomorrow, Friday, September 21, 10 am to 9 pm.
This morning a press opening took place that attracted journalists and photographers.
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BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN CELEBRATES FIRST LITURGY AS PRELATE AT STS. VARTANANTZ CHURCH IN NEW JERSEY
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Bishop Anoushavan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian with deacons, acolytes, and choir members at Sts. Vartanantz Church last Sunday.
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Bishop Anoushavan celebrated his first Liturgy as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. His Grace delivered his first sermon as Prelate to a filled church. Following the Liturgy a procession of clergy, altar servers, choir, and parishioners went downstairs to the large hall for
Andastan
service and the blessing of
madagh.
Earlier a
Hrashapar
service of Thanksgiving was offered for the new Prelate. A lavish reception concluded the very special day, as parishioners personally welcomed the Prelate.
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Procession from the church to the hall.
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The Blessing of Madagh.
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NEW REPRESENTATIVE TO UNITED NATIONS AT PRELACY
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Armenia’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Mher Margaryan, visited Bishop Anoushavan at the Prelacy office last Friday, where they each congratulated the other on their new positions and exchanged their thoughts and concerns about Armenia and the Diaspora. Both expressed the hope of continued warm and cordial relationship.
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Bible readings for
Sunday, September 23, Second Sunday of the Exaltation (Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varak),
are: Isaiah 14:3-17; 2 Corinthians 10:18-11:10; Mark 10:1-12.
He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.
Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
(Mark 10:1-12)
***
For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.
I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. I think that I am not in the least inferior to these super apostles. I may be untrained in speech, but not in knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.
Did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed God’s good news to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for my needs were supplied by the friends who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
(2 Corinthians 10:18-11:10)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings
click here.
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PAREGENTAN OF THE HOLY CROSS OF VARAK
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This Sunday, September 23, is the
Paregentan
(Eve) of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varak. Monday to Friday are fasting days leading up to next Sunday, September 25, when the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak will be commemorated.
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FEASTS OF SAINTS FEBRONIA, MARIANA, AND SHOUSHAN
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Next Tuesday, September 25, the Armenian Church remembers Febronia, Mariana, and Shoushan. The best known of the three is
Shoushan
, daughter of Vartan Mamigonian and great-granddaughter of Sahag Bartev. She was educated under the tutelage of St. Sahag and her mother, Sahaganoosh. Her father’s life and martyrdom influenced her to become a devout and faithful Christian. Her birth name was Varteny, but she was called Shoushan because of her extraordinary piety. She was married to Vazken, a son of a Georgian king, and had three sons and a daughter. After the death of her father-in-law, her husband became power hungry, went to Persia, renounced the Christian faith and returned to Georgia with another wife, and tried to force Shoushan to renounce her Christian faith. Even after years of imprisonment and torture she refused to renounce the faith for which her father had fought so valiantly.
Febronia
was a nun of extraordinary beauty at Nisibis in Mesopotamia. She was offered to be spared from persecution and torture if she renounced her religion. She refused and was brutally martyred.
Although the daughter of idol worshippers,
Mariana
was raised by a woman who was secretly a Christian and was baptized at age twelve. At the age of fifteen she confessed to her father that she was a Christian. She refused to renounce her religion, and refused the offer of marriage by a local official telling him that she was “married to Christ.” She was tortured and martyred.
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PRAYER SERVICE FOR UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with His Eminence Archbishop Luis Castro Quiroga, Archbishop of Tunja, Colombia.
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Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator's Cathedral, represented Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate, at the Prayer Service on the opening of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. The service took place at the Church of the Holy Family on Monday, September 17, 2018.
The Reverend Gerald E. Murray, Pastor of the Church of the Holy Family, welcomed the guests. Remarks were offered by His Eminence Archbishop Luis Castro Quiroga, Archbishop of Tunja, Colombia, His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Her Excellency Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president of the 73rd session of the General Assembly; and His Excellency Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
The service consisted of prayers, readings, and hymns. Many of the prayers called for an end of violence and war, especially for peace of the world and prayers for refugees and migrant.
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Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
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ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH, CONNECTICUT CELEBRATES
EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS AND ANNUAL PICNIC
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A scene during the service at St. Stephen’s Church of Hartford / New Britain last Sunday on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
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The parish’s annual picnic took place after the church services.
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Death of Andreas Arzruni
(September 22, 1898)
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Andreas Arzruni was a geologist who had a remarkable international career at a time when it was not common to find Armenian names in this scientific field.
Andreas Arzruni was born on November 27, 1847. He was the younger brother of Grigor Artzruni, the future founder of
Mshak,
the groundbreaking Armenian daily published in Tiflis for almost four decades (1872-1921). He studied in the universities of St. Petersburg, Dorpat (nowadays Tartu), and Heidelberg. He graduated from Heidelberg in 1871 with a doctorate degree in chemistry. After living intermittently in Tiflis from 1871-1875, he continued his academic career in Europe.
Arzruni first taught at the Humboldt University of Berlin from 1877-1883, where he also was adjunct director of the Museum of Mineralogy of the University. After a one-year tenure as extraordinary professor at the University of Breslau (Wroclaw), from 1884-1898 he was professor, head of the chair of Mineralogy, and dean of the Polytechnic School of Aachen. After the death of his brother Grigor, he became the nominal publisher of
Mshak
from 1895-1898.
In the 1880s and 1890s, Arzruni organized a series of scientific expeditions to the Ural Mountains in Russia, the Caucasus, different European countries, as well as Chile, Guyana, Egypt, etcetera. He dedicated two important expeditions to the study of the geological structure and useful minerals of Armenia (1873-1875 and 1892). In 1894 he climbed to the top of Little Ararat and descended for the first time to the crater of the extinguished volcano. He rejected the theory of Humboldt and Abich that the Armenian volcanoes have a vertical orientation. He used geological factors to explain the oscillations in the level of the Lake Van, which was proven half a decade later. He also foresaw the future of Dilijan as a sanatorium.
Arzruni was the author of more than fifty papers published in scientific journals from 1871 onwards. His studies were related to geological chemistry, crystal chemistry, mineralogy, petrography, as well as economics, philosophy, ethnology, and literature. His book
Physical Chemistry of Crystals
(1893), in German, was later reprinted twice. He also participated in the sessions of the International Congress of Geology (1897) and co-authored the stratigraphic scheme of the Urals and the first geological maps of the Southern Urals.
He became corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Turin and the Academy of Sciences of Bavaria and St. Petersburg. He first described two minerals, groddeckite and utahite, and before his death he was investigating a new mineral from Chile, which was named arzrunite after him.
In the winter of 1895-1896, while on a visit of inspection to the gold fields of British Guyana, Antreas Arzruni had an attack of fever, and this, together with consumption, forced him to spend the last year or so of his life in sanatoria in Switzerland and on the Rhine. He passed away at the age of fifty-one in Hohenhonnef (Germany) on September 22, 1898. His bust was erected at the entrance of the Polytechnic School of Aachen.
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PLEASE REMEMBER
SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.
Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your pocketbooks.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW
CLICK HERE
AND SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.
OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR DONATION TO:
Armenian Prelacy
138 E. 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Checks payable to: Armenian Apostolic Church of America
(Memo: Syrian Armenian Relief)
Thank you for your help.
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Designs Made in Armenia
by Maral Sheuhmelian-Berberian
Many of the jewelry items featured are made of felt. The making of felt is an old Armenian tradition that has evolved through the years. Felt made from wool is considered to be the oldest known textile. The art of preparation of felt was demonstrated this summer by Maral Sheuhmelian-Berberian at the Smithsonian Festival in Washington, D.C. The ingredients are wool, water, soap and an abundance of love and patience. First the wool is combed and spread on a large space. Then with experienced hands it is kneaded with water and soap, until it is firm and becomes felt. The felt can be molded into any form large or small with no sewing or seams.
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For all inquries
Call: (212) 689-7810
Email: Books@ArmenianPrelacy.org
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Aintab Design - Handmade in Armenia
Bracelet, Necklace, Earrings, and Ring
$36.00 plus tax and shipping
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Tree of Life - Handmade in Armenia
Necklace
$10.00 plus tax and shipping
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Ourfa Blue Flower Design - Handmade in Armenia
Necklace
$10.00 plus tax and shipping
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Geometric Cross Design - Handmade in Armenia
Necklace
$12.00 plus tax and shipping
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Pom Design of Dikranagerd - Handmade in Armenia
Necklace
$12.00 plus tax and shipping
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SIAMANTO ACADEMY—
Meets every second Saturday of the month at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford, New Jersey.
New term begins on September 22, 2018.
September 22, 2018 to January 13, 2019
—“Armenia!” a large exhibition dedicated to the medieval period of Armenian history and culture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. The exhibit is the first at the Met dedicated solely to Armenia. Curated by Dr. Helen C. Evans.
September 29
—Special Live Concert featuring Arsen Grigoryan, sponsored by Philadelphia’s Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society, at 7:30 pm in Founders Hall of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. The concert will benefit the ARS’s “Sponsor a Birth” program in Gyumri, Armenia. Donation $50 (includes hors d’oeuvres and desserts). For tickets: Elizabeth Dramgotchian (215) 920-6054; Madonna Kzirian (215) 760-4106; Rima Chapanian (856) 981-8203.
September 22, to January 13, 2019
—“Armenia!” a large exhibition dedicated to the medieval period of Armenian history and culture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. The exhibit is the first at the Met dedicated solely to Armenia. Curated by Dr. Helen C. Evans.
September 29
—Special Live Concert featuring Arsen Grigoryan, sponsored by Philadelphia’s Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society, at 7:30 pm in Founders Hall of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. The concert will benefit the ARS’s “Sponsor a Birth” program in Gyumri, Armenia. Donation $50 (includes hors d’oeuvres and desserts). For tickets: Elizabeth Dramgotchian (215) 920-6054; Madonna Kzirian (215) 760-4106; Rima Chapanian (856) 981-8203.
October 13
—ANCA Eastern Region Annual Gala will take place at the Grand Hyatt New York 109 East 42nd Street, New York, NY. 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction, 7:30 pm Dinner and Program. Contact (201) 788-5424, e-mail ergala@anca.org or visit www.ancaef.org for more information.
October 20
—Armenian Friends America, Inc., Sixth Annual HYE KEF 5, featuring Onnik Dinkjian, John Berberian, Ara Dinkjian, Mal Barsamian, and Jason Naroian. Double Tree Hotel, Andover, Massachusetts. For information:
www.ArmenianFriendsofAmerica.org
.
November 4
—The Anthropology/Armenian Museum partnering with the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) will present the films “The Promise” and “Intent to Destroy” at 5 pm. Joe Berlinger, Director of “Intent to Destroy” will be the speaker at the Q&A. Tickets to view both films are $15 per person. Access to visit the exhibits at MOMI is included. To order tickets call 718-428-5650.
December 2
—Banquet in honor of His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, newly-elected Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy at Terrace on the Park. SAVE THE DATE.
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The Armenian Prelacy
Tel: 212-689-7810 ♦ Fax: 212-689-7168 ♦ Email: email@armenianprelacy.org
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