St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-363-1923
|
|
Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross
We see it soaring atop church spires and standing solemnly over graves. It ornaments our places of worship, and dangles from the neck to rest close to the heart. It flashes through our field of vision when an ambulance speeds by on a mission of mercy, and lends a reserved dignity to the crests of great universities.
It is the Sign of the Cross: the universal symbol of Christianity, which lends its eloquent simplicity of form to the distinctive virtues of our religion. Faith, hope, and charity. Righteousness, compassion, and mercy. Humble appreciation for learning, and for conveying the fruits of accumulated knowledge. Comfort in the trials of living, and the promise of life after death.
These are the impressions we take for granted after 2,000 years of Christian civilization. But it was not always this way. In ancient times, the cross was an object of fear and loathing; and it was in this guise that the cross was made the instrument of painful death for our Lord, Jesus Christ. It was only in the light cast by his resurrection that the cross took on a new symbolic meaning.
Christ’s apostle St. James was the first to perceive the cross not with fear, but with reverence and awe. In raising up the cross, and bowing before it, St. James showed the world that Christ’s resurrection marked a decisive turning point in history. The old era’s symbol of death would henceforth be known as the Christian era’s symbol of everlasting life.
This is one of the stories the Armenian Church will remember this Sunday, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. A major feast day of the church calendar, it’s the first of several celebrations marking the season of our Lord’s Cross.
Click here
to read a special feature on the Exaltation posted in honor of this week's 18th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
|
|
Խաչվերաց
Խաչվերացը Հայ եկեղեցու հինգ տաղավար տոներից վերջինն է: Այն խաչին նվիրված տոներից ամենակարևորն է, որը նվիրված է գերությունից խաչի վերադարձի և փառաբանության հիշատակին: Հայ առաքելական եկեղեցին խաչվերացը տոնում է սեպտեմբերի 11-17-ն ընկած ժամանակահատվածում հանդիպող կիրակի օրը: Այս տարի խաչվերացը կտոնվի սեպտեմբերի 14-ին: Սուրբ Խաչը տոնվում է ի հիշատակ Տիրոջ խաչափայտի՝ պարսկական գերությունից Երուսաղեմ վերադարձի և Գողգոթայում կանգնեցման: 614թ. Պարսկաստանի Խոսրով թագավորը հարձակվում է Երուսաղեմի վրա, ավերում այն, սրի քաշում ժողովրդին և մեծ թվով գերիներ տանում: Որպես անարգանք քրիստոնյաներին՝ Սուրբ Հարության տաճարից գերևարվում և Պարսկաստան է տարվում նաև Տիրոջ խաչափայտը: Խաչափայտը գերության մեջ մնում է 14 տարի: 628թ. Բյուզանդիայի Հերակլ կայսրը քրիստոնեական մեծ բանակով հարձակվում է պարսիկների վրա և ազատագրում Սուրբ Խաչը ու այն վերադարձնում նախկին վայրը: Խաչը, ինչպես հայտնի է, հնում եղել է չարչարանքի գործիք: Երբ Հիսուս խաչվեց՝ այդ նույն խաչափայտը դադարեց չարչարանքի գործիք լինելուց: Խաչը դարձավ փրկության միջոց, Քրիստոսի սիրո արտահայտությունը: Ժողովուրդը Խաչվերացին կատարում է անթիվ ուխտագնացություններ:
Տոնի կիրակի երեկոյան կատարվում է Խաչի բարձրացման հանդիսավոր արարողություն և անդաստանի կարգ: Արարողությունը սկսվում է ռեհանով ու ծաղիկներով զարդարված Խաչը հանդիսավոր թափորով եկեղեցու բակ դուրս բերելով և պտտեցնելով եկեղեցու շուրջը: Այն արձագանքն է ազատագրված Խաչափայտի վերադարձը Հայկական լեռնաշխարհի ծաղկավետ վայրերով դեպի Երուսաղեմ: Զարդարված Խաչով թափորապետը խաչակնքում և օրհնում է աշխարհի արևելյան, արևմտյան, հարավային և հյուսիսային կողմերը`բարեկարգություն ու խաղաղություն հայցելով Աստծուց, և վարդաջուր ցողում հավատացյալների վրա, որից հետո Խաչը ներս է տարվում եկեղեցի և դրվում Սբ. Սեղանի վրա:"
|
|
Book Signing and Presentation By Rosemary Hartounian Cohen
An interesting book presentation took place at St. Mary’s on Sunday, September 8. The author Rosemary Hartounian Cohen spoke about her recently published book “Voices from the Hidden Genocide 1918”. The book is about the Armenian Massacre that happened in northern Persia in 1918, which was the continuation of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey. It contains the words and the stories of the survivors of the massacre. The author presented some facts as to how with impunity, the Turks crossed the border into a neighboring sovereign country in order to massacre the Christian residents. Turkish soldiers entered large cities in northwest Persia: Khoy, Salmas, Urmia, Maku, Gharadagh and many smaller Christian villages. Christians, as well as Muslims in Persia's northwestern cities, suffered enormously.
The presentation was followed by a question and answer session, and book signing by the author.
|
|
Side Entrance Renovation
We are happy to announce that after a long search the Parish Council was able to identify a contractor to complete the long-standing project of renovation of the 41st st. entrance. The project has already started and during this time we would like to ask our parishioners to use the main entrance of the church or the parking lot office entrance. Weather permitting, the estimated time of completion is the end of September.
We appreciate your support and contribution towards this project.
|
|
Registration and the First Day of Shnorhali School 2019-2020
With great pleasure we are welcoming you to the 2019-2020 academic year of the Shnorhali School of St. Mary Armenian Church. The Shnorhali School is passionate about teaching our children the richness of our Armenian language, culture and faith.
The School Offers
:
Religious Instruction (in English);
Armenian Language Classes (both in Eastern and Western Armenian);
Armenian History and Culture;
Extracurricular Activities (Children's Choir, Armenian Folk Dance, Acolyte Training Program, etc.).
School sessions are from September 8, 2019 to May 31, 2020.
Registration and First Day of School Begins on September 8, 2019.
Our Mission is to instill and teach the love of God, pride in our Armenian language, national identity and culture, in order to help our children and families live authentic Armenian Christian lives and become active members of the Armenian Church community.
The doors of our School are open to all members of our community with love, care and acceptance.
Click below to visit our website for Class Scheduled and Registration.
|
|
Fall Food Festival Schedule of Workshops 2019
St. Mary's Annual Fall Food Festival will take place on October 3-6. The event is organized by the St. Mary Parish Council and Women's Guild who have spearheaded a number of workshops bringing together community members in preparation of the Food Fair. Please, join us and support the church.
Workshop's Date and Time
Cheese Boureg prep - Friday, September 13, 4:00pm
Cheese Boureg - Saturday, September 14, 10:00am
Haskanoush- Thursday, September 19, 5:30 pm
Baklava-Bourma - Saturday, September 21, 10:00am
Yalanchi (Por-meechog) - Wednesday, September 25, 10:00am
Yalanchi (Wrap) - Friday, September 27, 5:00pm
Meat Cutting - Saturday September 28, 10:00am
Eggplant: Saturday, September 28, 1:00 pm
Eggplant/Sauce - Monday, September 30, 10:00am
Khadayeef - Monday, September 30, 5:00pm
Green Beans - Tuesday, October 1, 10:00am
Hummus - Tuesday, October 1, 4:00pm
Hall set up - Tuesday, October 1, 7:00pm
Please click on the button below to view the online sign up sheet.
|
|
Remembering Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan (1904-1989)
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan was one of the great Armenian Church leaders of the 20th century, whose tenure as Diocesan Primate marked a turning point for the Armenian Church in America.
Born to a priestly family in Aintab, Nersoyan’s ministry was extremely varied, with an international scope. He served as a priest in London during the Blitzkrieg. As Primate of this Diocese, he framed the bylaws and established the institutions which would eventually prevail through much of the worldwide church. His election as Patriarch of Jerusalem was cut short due to the turbulence of the time. But he continued to be revered as one of the leading Armenian scholars of his generation, and as an example of holiness and spiritual endurance.
He was called to his Creator on September 1, 1989: 30 years ago this month. His 85 years of life coincided with some of the most painful developments in Armenian history: the Genocide, the Soviet domination of Armenia, the brittle politics of the Cold War. Archbishop Nersoyan bore personal wounds from all of these realities.
But through sheer virtue, courage, and imagination, he set the parameters for decades of activity in the church, imprinting his convictions, his vision for the future, on the community and its people.
|
|
Watch the Latest "Bread & Salt" Video
A holy city under siege. A stolen relic of the deepest spiritual significance. A daring rescue that restores the True Cross to Christ's people.
That’s the dramatic story told in the latest episode of the Eastern Diocese’s Bread & Salt video series. It’s a story intimately tied to this weekend’s Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Prepare for the day, and learn more, by viewing “Raise the Cross.”
Click here
to watch.
|
|
|
|
READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE
|
|
Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Ushers
Mrs. Sara Arabian and Mr. Armik Khatchatourians
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Bagrat Bayburtian, Mr. Ara Stepanian, Mr. Zakar Shahverdian
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Reading
Is 49:13-23, Gal 6:14-18, Jn 3:13-21
|
|
THIS SUNDAY
After the Badarak Anantasdan service (blessing of the fields) will be conducted during which the processional cross is adorned with basil (a symbol of royalty) and the four corners of the church are blessed as a sign of the sanctification of the world. The association of this sweet-smelling plant with the celebration of this Feast is because basil in the early decades of Christianity was a symbol of royalty, befitting the Saviour who was crucified as a King.
Church traditions preserve also a beautiful story of the miraculous growth of basil on the ground at the foot of the Cross of the Lord after it had been removed from there. Basil, according to pious traditions, continued to grow on that ground despite the faithful cutting and taking it home.
|
|
HOKEHANKIST REQUIEM SERVICE
|
|
HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
-------------------------------------------------
To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or
|
|
CALENDAR OF FEASTS AND EVENTS
|
|
Every Tuesday
Bible Study
September 5-26
Who is the Master? - Backgammon Tournament
September 15
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 21
ACYOA Juniors Fall Cookout
September 29
Feast of Holy Cross of Vara
k
September 29
100 Years and 100 Fact presentation by Nareg Seferian
October 1
ACYOA Juniors
Monthly Teen Meeting
October 3 – 6
Fall Food Festival
October 11-13
ACYOA Juniors Fall Sports Weekend
October 11
Tribute GOMIDAS celebrating his 150th birthday
concert by Şahan Arzruni at French embassy at 7:30pm
Details will follow
October 27
Book presentation by Matthew Karanian : The Armenian Highland: Western Armenia and the First Armenian Republic Of 1918
October 27
Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
November 21
Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple
November 23
Knights and Daughters of Vartan Fall Christmas Bazaar
December 9
Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary
January 13-22, 2020
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
|
|
FAR Empowers Artsakh’s Most Important Healthcare Providers
The Martuni region of Artsakh (Karabagh) has a deficit of doctors, so registered nurses serve on the “front line” of addressing the medical needs of the people.
“In the villages of our region, nurses are considered doctors,” explained Nurse Gohar Dadayan. “When emergency intervention is needed, we do it.” If necessary, the nurse can direct patients to the capital city of Stepanakert to see a specialist. But in most circumstances, the health—indeed the life—of a patient depends on the skill of an R.N.
With such a premium set on nursing, the Fund for Armenian Relief created the “Artsakh Regional Nurses Program.” Launched a year ago thanks to the generosity of the Nazarian Family Foundation, with continuing guidance and support by Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, the program brings nurses from Artsakh to Armenia’s National Institute of Health in Yerevan (and other medical centers) to receive special training and course work.
The trainees then return to their home villages to educate their colleagues in the profession. Last year 120 nurses from Artsakh went through the FAR program, which aims to empower 400 nurses over three years.
|
|
"No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.
John 3:13-21
Արդ, ոչ ոք երկինք չի ելել, եթէ ոչ նա, որ իջաւ երկնքից՝ մարդու Որ¬դին, որ երկնքից էր։ 14Եւ ինչպէս որ Մովսէսը անապատում բարձ¬րաց¬րեց օձը, այնպէս էլ մարդու Որդին պէտք է բարձրանայ, 15որպէս¬զի, ով նրան հաւատում է, յաւիտենական կեանքն ընդունի. 16քանի որ Աստուած այնքան սիրեց աշխարհը, որ մինչեւ իսկ իր միածին Որ¬դուն տուեց, որպէսզի, ով նրան հաւատում է, չկորչի, այլ ընդունի յաւիտենական կեանքը. 17որովհետեւ Աստուած իր Որդուն չուղար¬կեց աշխարհ, որ դատապարտի աշխարհը, այլ՝ որպէսզի աշխարհը նրանով փրկուի։ 18Ով նրան հաւատում է, չպիտի դատապարտուի, եւ ով նրան չի հաւատում, արդէն իսկ դատապարտուած է, քանի որ Աս¬տըծու միածին Որդու անուանը չհաւատաց։ 19Եւ դատաստանը այս¬պէ՛ս իսկ է. որ լոյսը եկաւ աշխարհ, սակայն մարդիկ խաւարն աւելի սիրեցին, քան լոյսը, որովհետեւ իրենց գործեր ը չար էին. 20որովհե¬տեւ, ով չարիք է գործում, ատում է լոյսը եւ չի գալիս դէպի լոյսը, որ¬պէս¬զի նրա գործերը իր երեսովը չտան։ 21Իսկ ով կատարում է այն, ինչ ճշմարիտ է, գալիս է դէպի լոյսը, որպէսզի նրա գործերը յայտնի լինեն, թէ Աստուծով կատարուեցին»։
Յովհաննէս 3:13-21
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Signup / 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.
|
|
St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
|
|
See what's happening on our social site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
