www.stmaryaac.org                
November 1
   No: 44/2019
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church  
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 
Tel: 202-363-1923
TOP STORY     
FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS GABRIEL AND MICHAEL AND ALL THE HEAVENLY HOSTS

On November 9 the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels Gabriel and Michael and All the Heavenly Hosts. According to the Angelology of the Armenian Church the angels are fleshless, spiritual, independent, always moving, immortal creatures and God's servants. According to the Church Fathers, the angels, as luminous creatures, have been created the first day of creation, together with the light. By God's order they are servants, they have been created to serve the human being. Therefore, they are servants who despite being celestial, participate in the earthly life, act together with the human being living in time and space. The angels are called the messengers and agents of God, who realize God's will. According to Dionysius of Areopagus (Areopagite), there are nine orders of angels - Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim.

Archangel Gabriel , whose name means "God's man", is God's direct servant, who is granted the grace to evangelize the Lord's mysteries. It was Archangel Gabriel, who was sent by the Lord to bring the good news to the Virgin about the birth of the Savior, and to Zechariah - to bring the good news about the birth of John the Baptist.

Archangel Michae l, whose name means "Who is like God?", is the advocate for the Heavenly King's glory and His people's protector, who is granted the virtue to govern and rule. The name of Archangel Michael is mentioned in the Holy Scriptures four times (The Book of Daniel,10:13, 12:1, The Letter from Jude 1:9, The Revelation to John 11:7).
PARISH NEWS
Presentation by Matthew Karanian

Author Matthew Karanian discussed his recently published book The Armenian Highland: Western Armenia and the First Armenian Republic of 1918, at St Mary Church on Sunday, October 27.

In presenting his book, the author talked about The Armenian Highland, which is a geographic term that has been used for millennia to identify the vast highland plateau of Asia Minor—the ancient homeland of the Armenian nation.

Author and lawyer Matthew Karanian explores this vast Armenian homeland in his new book The Armenian Highland: Western Armenia and the First Armenian Republic of 1918. His illustrated presentation celebrated the ancestral home that Armenians today know as Western Armenia, as well as Ani and Kars, on the lands of the Armenian Highland that are located outside the borders of today’s Republic of Armenia.

Matthew Karanian practices law in Pasadena, California, and he is a former law professor and associate dean of the law school at the American University of Armenia. He is the author of several books about Armenia and he is the 2016 recipient of Armenia’s Arshile Gorky Medal, in recognition of his service to homeland and for his role in helping to unite the homeland and the worldwide diaspora of Armenians.
DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS
At Last!

For Armenian-Americans of a certain generation, this is the week it finally happened. On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. House Resolution 296 passed by an enormous margin: 405 “Yea” votes to 11 “Nays.”
 
The reaction in the public sphere was impressive. Under a banner photo of the eternal flame at Dzidzernagapert, the New York Times ran a headline: “House Passes Resolution Recognizing Armenian Genocide”—adding: “It is the first time that a chamber of Congress has officially designated the 1915 slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians as a genocide.” Readers of the Wall Street Journal were likewise greeted with an above-the-fold photo of Armenian refugees from 1915, accompanying the paper’s Page-One story.
 
To Armenian-Americans who have followed the history of Genocide resolutions over the past 40 years, such results are a measure of vindication for their long patience, conviction, and hope. Standing in the background of Tuesday’s milestone was decades of grassroots effort and political action by Armenian individuals and organizations, all of whom endured years of broken promises and dashed expectations, but marched determinedly onward.
 
Perhaps it took a “perfect storm” of domestic and foreign political developments for such a resolution to be passed at this particular time. And of course, the story is hardly over, with a Senate vote still waiting to be scheduled.
 
But as our Lord once said, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Mt 6:34): Those are worries for another day. For this week, at least, Armenian-Americans can feel exhilarated and proud over this achievement.
 
And as Armenian Christians, there are a few other things we can (and ought) to do. We can use this occasion to pray for the peaceful repose of the Genocide victims. We can ask for intercession from the sainted martyrs of 1915. We can honor the heroic, nearly vanished generation of survivors. And we can give thanks to God for sustaining the Armenian people through our days of affliction, and our days of victory.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Vehapar

The coming week marks the 20th anniversary of the consecration and enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II. It was on November 4, 1999, that His Holiness was formally enthroned as the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in a magnificent ceremony at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia.
 
In light of the ongoing restoration work being undertaken at the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, a suitably grand formal celebration of this milestone in His Holiness’ pontificate will be deferred to a future date, at Catholicos Karekin II’s request.
 
Nevertheless, Armenian churches across the world will mark the occasion by offering prayers for the health and prosperity of the Catholicos. Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan has directed clergy of the Eastern Diocese to conduct the “Order of Special Prayer for the Catholicos” at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy this Sunday, November 3.
 
May the Lord Jesus Christ grant robust health, long life, and spiritual fortitude to our Catholicos.
READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE 
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER 3, 2019
Morning Service 
10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 
10:30 AM

Celebrant 
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Ushers
Mr. Garbis Chubukian and Mrs. Rouzanna Oganissian
 
Parish Council Members on Duty  
Mr. Jack Guiragossian Mr. Zakar Shahverdian Mr. Artur Sivaslian

Choir 
 Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist 
Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Reading 
Isaiah 22.15-24; Ephesians 1.1-14; 
Luke 8.17-21.
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 
Click here  to see the hokehankist form
CALENDAR OF FEASTS AND EVENTS
Every Tuesday
Bible Study

November 3      
   ACYOA Jn Monthely Teen Meeting

November 10     
  ACYOA Jn Fall service project in the church kitchen  

November 15
Armenian cooking demonstration

November 17
Women's Guild Thanksgiving Lunch

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

December 31
New year Gala 2020

January 13-22, 2020
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
BIBLE READING
17Ծածուկ ոչինչ չկայ, որ չյայտնուի, ոչ էլ գաղտնի բան, որ չի¬մացուի եւ ի յայտ չգայ։ 18Այսուհետեւ զգո՛յշ եղէք, թէ ինչպէս էք դուք լսում. որովհետեւ ով որ ունի, նրան կը տրուի, իսկ ով որ չունի, եւ այն, ինչ որ նա կարծում է, թէ ունի, կը վերցուի նրանից» 19Նրա մօտ եկան իր մայրն ու եղբայրները եւ չէին կա-րողանում նրան մօտենալ բազմութեան պատճառով։ 20Ի¬մաց տուին նրան եւ ասացին. «Քո մայրը եւ քո եղբայրները դրսում կանգնել են եւ ուզում են քեզ տեսնել»։ 21Եւ նրանց ասաց. «Իմ մայրը եւ եղբայրները սրանք են, որ Աստծու խօս¬քը լսում են եւ կատարում»։
(Ղուկաս 8:17-21)

17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them." 19 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 21 He re-plied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into prac-tice." 
(Luke 8:17-21)
FAR NEWS
FAR Strengthens Vocational Training for Armenia’s Students

Armenia’s Parakar School recently opened its newly-refurbished vocational training wing. The school serves students with and without disabilities.

Renovations were launched by the Fund for Armenian Relief in 2018, thanks to FAR board member Marta Batmasian and her husband James, whose generous support made the project possible. The Batmasians attended the opening ceremony in late September, along with other members of FAR’s board of directors.
 
The five-year revitalization project aims to provide more than 250 students with new opportunities and a path to self-sufficiency, through improved education and training.
 
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES 
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 
VISIT ST. MARY GIFT SHOP
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.
OUR MISSION
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.
SUPPORT US
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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
| 202-363-1923 | www.stmaryaac.org