In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us be thankful for the plenteous gifts of our Lord God, who in sweet bounty nourishes us day by day of His own will, that He may make His servants share in spiritual goodness and in the heavenly kingdom, according to the expectations of our hope. Almighty Lord our God, preserve and have mercy upon us. Amen.
(Armenian prayer of Thanksgiving)
On this national day of Thanksgiving, I ask all of our faithful people to give thanks for the blessings Almighty God bestows upon us every day. Open your hearts to receive God as you gather together on this holiday with your loved ones. Let us move forward with hope, strong in our faith in God and in each other, and pledging to serve His church and mission.
Let us remember to share the munificent blessings we enjoy with those less fortunate, and in our prayers ask the Almighty to grace the blessings we seek for ourselves upon all humankind. I especially ask you to remember our brothers and sisters in Armenia and Artsakh by participating in the Thanksgiving Telethon.
ARCHBISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
Prelate
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REMEMBER THE 2019 TELETHON
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Remember to support the 22
nd
annual 2019 Thanksgiving Telethon that will benefit the 2019 Telethon hosted by the All Armenia Fund on Thanksgiving Day, November 28. The Telethon will be broadcast live from Yerevan and Los Angeles part of the time, as well as live streamed for audiences around the globe.
Under the banner “To My Beloved Armenia,” proceeds from the pan-national event will benefit the installation of solar power systems in towns and villages in Armenia and Artsakh, and the construction of drinking water and irrigation networks. Specific projects made possible through the Telethon will comprise the installation of solar-energy systems including solar panels, heaters, and substations; the construction of potable water pipelines and distribution networks; and the drilling of deep-water wells and construction of advanced drip-irrigation systems.
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REQUIEM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
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A requiem service for Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, will take place this Sunday, December 1, at St. Illuminator Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. Archbishop Mesrob passed away sixteenth years ago, on December 2, 2003, during a visit to the United States. He served as Prelate for twenty years, from 1978 to 1998, after which he relocated to Armenia, where he directed the 1700th anniversary commemorative committee and later organized innumerable charitable and educational programs for the benefit of the people in Armenia and Artsakh.
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PRELACY PRESENTS A NEW PUBLICATION: "GOMIDAS - 150"
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On December 5, the Eastern Prelacy will host a presentation of a new publication "Gomidas - 150" at the headquarters of the Eastern Prelacy.
Gomidas - 150 is a brief collection of articles, letters and memoirs by and about the Father of Armenian Music, compiled and translated by Dr. Vartan Matiossian. Most of these materials appear for the first time in book format and in English.
Light refreshments will be served
Join us at the Eastern Prelacy
138 East 39th Street,
New York, NY 10016
at 7pm
For more information and to RSVP
call (212) 689-7810
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Bible readings for
Sunday, December 1, Second Sunday of Advent,
are: Isaiah 36:22-37:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-11; Luke 13:1-9.
At that very time were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
Then he told the parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
(Luke 13:1-9)
***
Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God; that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you.
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-11)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings
click here
.
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SAINTS THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
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This Saturday, November 30, the Armenian Church commemorates Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its apostolic identity and earning them the title, “First Enlighteners of Armenia.”
Thaddeus
came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He was martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus (Iran) where a chapel was built in the third century.
Bartholomew
is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He was martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.
An apostle is “someone who is sent,”—an emissary or ambassador of the Kingdom of God, sent to announce the Kingdom’s coming in Jesus Christ, and authorized to claim men and women’s allegiance to him. “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God,” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
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Also commemorated this week:
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Monday, December 2:
St. Januarius
Tuesday, December 3:
St. Minas of Athens
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THANKSGIVING ISSUE OF CROSSROADS
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This week’s
Crossroads
is an abbreviated issue for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Crossroads
will be back next week along with your favorite features like the History and Language columns and the weekly archive photo feature.
We wish all of you a happy and meaningful holiday with your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving.
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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.
Comments received may be shared from time to time. Recently L. Gelenian wrote: “I enjoy and learn from The Language Corner and look forward to each issue.”
We would love to receive your comments as well.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(
Calendar items may be edited to conform to space and style
)
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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 15
—Presentation of the newly published book, “Praying with the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church,” by Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, immediately after the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27
th
Street, New York City.
December 19
—Presentation of newly published book “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
—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.
May 31, 2020
—Save the Date. St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, 30
th
Anniversary Banquet.
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The Armenian Prelacy
Tel: 212-689-7810 ♦ Fax: 212-689-7168 ♦ Email: email@armenianprelacy.org
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