E-Newsletter - September 18, 2020
Our Church doors are officially open!
You may join us for worship LIVE-STREAMED on Facebook, for a limited time.

You do not need to have a facebook account to be able to watch. You can have access to our facebook page through our website www.saintsarkis.org by scrolling down to the events section and clicking on the facebook LIVE link. Send us a message if you have any questions.

Sunday Morning Service: 9:15 am
Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am
Wednesday Vespers Service: 6:30 pm
Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, Pastor
Thanks to the generous donations of the parishioners and friends of the Eastern United States, as of today the Armenian Prelacy has received $324,931, and has made the sixth transfer of $50,000 to Lebanon. Watch ARCHBISHOP Anoushavan's message below.
The need is still great. Donate what you can at donorbox.org/helplebanonnow
All Lebanon Relief donations are distributed to our sisters and brothers in Lebanon by the newly established Central Coordinating Committee composed of all Armenian denominations, political parties and organizations.
SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH WITH YOUR WEEKLY OFFERING

These are challenging times for all of us. The church is committed to supporting you in your spiritual and material needs, but it is a group effort. If you are able, please consider continuing to contribute to the church so that she can continue in her mission. Your Sunday offerings, collection plate and candle donations can all be done online or by mailing a check to the church.
LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE
Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered. The candle symbolizes that prayer. 🕯
On Sundays, and Wednesdays, Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian will lite a candle for every request received. If you would like to submit a request, you can contact Fr. Hrant, call the Church office at (313)336-6200, send us a message on social media, reply to this email, or click the button below.
Let's Read the Bible! Readings of the week.
  • Monday, September 21:  St. Simeon Stylites the Elder Proverbs 8:9-11; Isaiah 55:10-13; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; Luke 21:12-19
  • Tuesday, September 22: St. Shooshan, the daughter of Vartan the Great Proverbs 23:15-25; Hosea 14:6-8; 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Luke 6:20-23
  • Wednesday, September 23: 2 Corinthians 11:10-23; Mark 10:17-23
  • Thursday, September 24: Wisdom 10:9-12; Malachi 2:5-7; 1 Peter 5:1-7; John 10:11-16
  • Friday, September 25: 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:9; Mark 10:28-34
  • Saturday, September 26: St. George (Kevork) the Warrior and St. Romanos the Melodist Wisdom 8:19-9:5; Isaiah 42:1-8; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Luke 12:2-9
SUNDAY BIBLE READINGS
Bible Readings for Sunday, September 20, 2020
Second Sunday of the Exaltation (Eve of the Fast of the Holy Cross of Varak)
Բ. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ ԽԱՉՎԵՐԱՑ (ՎԱՐԱԳԱՅ ԽԱՉԻ ՊԱՀՔԻ ԲԱՐԵԿԵՆԴԱՆ)

The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 10:18-11:10
For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure  virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the   serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to   elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Mark 10:1-12
Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to Him, and as was His custom, He taught them.
Some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “What did Moses command you?” He replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Բ. ԹՈՒՂԹ ԿՈՐՆԹԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (10:18-11:10)
Իսկապէս ընտրուածը ան չէ՛ որ ինքզինք կը գովէ, այլ ան՝ որ Տիրոջ կողմէ կը գովուի:
 
Սակայն կը յուսամ քիչ մը ներողամիտ կ’ըլլաք, եթէ անմտօրէն ես ալ պարծենամ, ըրածներս յիշեցնելով ձեզի: Իսկ դուք համբերութեամբ լսեցէք: Ես ձեզի հանդէպ Աստուծոյ նախանձախնդրութեամբ լեցուած՝ կ’ուզեմ որ միայն Քրիստոսը սիրէք, ինչպէս մաքուր կոյս մը որ իր սէրը կը վերապահէ անոր՝ որ իր ամուսինը պիտի ըլլայ: Բայց կը վախնամ որ ձեր միտքը ապականի եւ հեռանաք Քրիստոսի հանդէպ ամբողջական եւ
մաքուր նուիրումէն, ճիշդ ինչպէս Եւան խաբուեցաւ օձին խորամանկ սուտերէն: Կը վախնամ որ նոյնքան դիւրութեամբ ընդունիք ո՛եւէ մէկը՝ որ մեր քարոզածէն տարբեր փրկիչ մը, ձեր ստացած Հոգիէն տարբեր հոգի մը, կամ ձեր ընդունած Աւետարանէն տարբեր աւետարան մը կը քարոզէ ձեզի:
 
Չեմ գիտեր թէ ես ձեր այդ նշանաւոր «առաքեալ»ներէն բանով մը ետ կը մնա՞մ: Թէպէտ ճարտար խօսող մը չեմ, բայց խօսածս գիտեմ: Եւ կարծեմ ատիկա ապացուցանեցի ձեզի ամէն ինչով: Արդեօք մե՞ղք գործեցի, որ Աստուծոյ Աւետարանը ձրիօրէն քարոզեցի ձեզի եւ ինքզինքս խոնարհեցուցի՝ ձեզ բարձրացնելու համար: Ձեւով մը միւս եկեղեցիները կողոպտած եղայ, ապրուստս անոնցմէ առնելով, որպէսզի ձեզի ծառայեմ ձրիօրէն: Ձեր քով եղած ատենս նոյնիսկ երբ կարիքի մէջ եղայ, ձեզմէ ոեւէ մէկուն բեռ չեղայ. Մակեդոնիայէն եկած եղբայրները հոգացին պէտքերս: Եւ ինչպէս անցեալին զգուշացայ, ասկէ ետք եւս ամէն կերպով պիտի զգուշանամ ձեզի բեռ ըլլալէ: Բայց Քրիստոսի ճշմարտութեամբը, որ իմ ներսիդիս է, կ’ըսեմ՝ թէ այս բաներով պիտի պարծենամ ամբողջ Աքայիայի մէջ, բոլորին պատմելով: 

ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՐԿՈՍԻ (10:1-12) 
Յիսուս հոնկէ ելլելով, եկաւ Հրէաստանի սահմանները, Յորդանան գետին դիմացի կողմը, եւ դարձեալ ժողովուրդը խռնուեցաւ իր շուրջ, եւ ինք իր սովորութեան համաձայն նորէն անոնց կ’ուսուցանէր:
Փարիսեցիները Յիսուսը փորձելու մտադրութեամբ մօտեցան անոր եւ հարցուցին.
 Մեր Օրէնքին համաձայն մէկը իրաւունք ունի՞ իր կինը արձակելու:
Յիսուս անոնց պատասխանեց.
 Մովսէս ի՞նչ օրէնք սահմանեց ձեզի:
Անոնք պատասխանեցին.
 Մովսէս մեզի արտօնութիւն տուաւ բաժանման թուղթ տալու կնոջ եւ արձակելու զայն:
Յիսուս ըսաւ անոնց.
 Մովսէս ձեր խստասրտութեան պատճառով այդ օրէնքը սահմանեց: Սակայն սկիզբէն, արարածներու ստեղծագործութեան ժամանակ, Աստուած «արու եւ էգ ստեղծեց մարդիկը» եւ ըսաւ անոնց. «Այս պատճառով այրը պիտի ձգէ իր հայրն ու մայրը եւ իր կնոջ միանայ, եւ երկուքը մէկ մարմին պիտի ըլլան»: Հետեւաբար այլեւս երկու չեն, այլ՝ մէկ մարմին: Արդ, ոեւէ մէկը թող չբաժնէ անոնք՝ որ Աստուած միացուց:
Տան մէջ աշակերտները դարձեալ նոյն նիւթին շուրջ հարցուցին Յիսուսի: Անիկա պատասխանեց.
 Ով որ իր կինը արձակէ եւ ուրիշ մը առնէ՝ շնութիւն ըրած կ’ըլլայ առաջինին դէմ: Կինն ալ, եթէ իր ամուսինէն արձակուելէն ետք ուրիշի մը հետ ամուսնանայ՝ կը շնայ:
LITURGICAL CALENDAR
PAREGENTAN OF THE HOLY CROSS OF VARAK
This Sunday, September 20, 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 27, when the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak will be commemorated.

FEASTS OF SAINTS FEBRONIA, MARIANA, AND SHOUSHAN
Next Tuesday, September 22, 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 the age of 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.

Also commemorated this week:
Monday, September 21, Sts. Mamas, Philictimon and St. Simeon Stylites the Elder
NEWS AT ST. SARKIS
KHATCHVERATS
On Sunday, September 13, the Blessing for the four corners of the world and the Blessing of the Basil and Herissa Madagh took place in front of the church doors. Parishioners gathered on the occasion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Herissa Madagh was prepared and provided by the Mousa Ler Association of Detroit in honor of the 105th Anniversary of the Heroes of the Battle of Mousa Dagh.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
The Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly (NRA), took place on the morning of Saturday, September 12, in videoconference format. Originally it was going to be hosted by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia, PA, from May 15-16, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced its postponement.
The NRA is the highest ecclesiastical and administrative body of the Prelacy. It is composed of a ratio of one-seventh clergy and six-seventh lay delegates. The clergy delegates are elected by the Clergy Conference and the lay delegates by their respective parishes. The number of delegates from the parishes depends on the number of parish members. The minimum number of delegates for a parish is two and the maximum is seven.
HOKEHANKISD
In memory of: KAREN BEER (7 Days), DEKRAN DANAYAN (7 Days).
Requested by: Father Hrant and the members of the Board of Trustees of St. Sarkis church.

In memory of: ALL VICTIMS WHO PERISHED DURING THE RECENT EXPLOSION IN BEIRUT, LEBANON: DELIA GEDIGIAN-HAGOPIAN, JESSICA BEZJIAN, SHANT HAGOPIAN, NAZAR NAJARIAN, ANAHID BERBERIAN, JACK BARMAKIAN, ALICE BALIAN-DEGIRMENJIAN, LISA KAVOURJIAN-GOZUBOYUKIAN, GAYA FOUDOULIAN, VAROUJ TOSOUNIAN, SARKIS TEKILIAN AND SOPHIE KHOSROVIAN
Requested by: Father Hrant and the Board of Trustees of St. Sarkis Church. 

In memory of: DR. EDWARD JEVIZIAN (1 year)
Requested by: Barbara Megregian, Richard & Nancy Megregian

In memory of: ALYSIA BASMAJIAN, CARL BEDIGIAN, ARAM ISKENDERIAN, JOHN ISKYAN, PETER MARDIKIAN, GARO VOSKERIJIAN
Requested by: Rose Kehetian

In memory of: LUCIA PALANJIAN
Requested by: Palanjian family

In memory of: REV. FR. BEDROS MAMPREIAN, YN. HUNAZANT MAMPREIAN, HARRY MAMPREIAN, KRIKOR MEMPREIAN, VERJIN MEMPREIAN, JOHN MEMPREIAN, MUGERDICH GENCH HAGOPIAN, HAIGANOOSH GENCH HAGOPIAN, HRAYR HARRY MOVSESIAN, ANITZA PAPASIAN
Requested by: Helen Mempreian Movsesian

In memory of: ROSE EVARIAN (19 years)
Requested by: Mark & Eleanor Evarian, Katherine & Amit Sachdev, Aurora Rose, Ari and Nishan, Mark & Mary Evarian, Lauren & Chris Evarian-Bloetscher

In memory of: ARMENAK KARAPETIAN, GOHARIK KARAPETIAN, HAIK KARAPETIAN, ROXANNE KALVELAGE, JOHN ALABAKOFF
Requested by: Ophelia Alabakoff

In memory of: NEVART MANOOGIAN, ANDY KALOUSTIAN (2 years)
Requested by: Mr. & Mrs. Kaiser Krekorian

In memory of: STELLA TIAN (2 years)
Requested by: Aaron & Sandi Tian, Anthony & Dawn Soave, Manse Tian 
EVENTS AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Special Prayers

Father Hrant, the Board of Trustees, and all the auxiliary bodies of St. Sarkis Church request special prayers for the good health and safety of the people in Lebanon and all around the world. May these trying days pass in peace.
Monday, September 21, is the 29th 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.

By directive of the Prelate this Sunday, September 20, Prelacy parishes will offer special prayers for the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of its independence. During the Requiem Service prayers will be offered for the new martyrs of Artsakh’s struggle for independence. 
All Available For You Online...
Do you want to request a Requiem Service for your departed loved ones? Do you have a Baptism to schedule? or a Wedding? or do you want to become a member of the Church?
All requests are easy today by using our online forms. Visit our website www.saintsarkis.org, go to the services tab, and you will be able to fill out any form you need online, or click on of the options on the right.
Online Donations

For your convenience, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church is now accepting online credit card donations using PayPal which is an easy and secure way to make your donations. To make a donation, please Click Here.

COMMUNITY EVENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
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St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
19300 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI 48128
Phone:313-336-6200