E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

38-65 234th. St. Douglaston, NY, 11363  

Sunday: 07/2/2023

ՀՈԳԵԳԱԼՈՒՍՏԷՆ ԵՏՔ Դ. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ - FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Sunday Readings: 

 Isaiah 2:5-11; Romans 9:30-10:4; Matthew 13:24-30

Join us in worship this Sunday.

Morning Service 10:00 AM

Divine Liturgy 10:45 AM - Sermon 11:45 AM

Մասնակցեցէք Ս. Պատարագին՝

Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 10։00

Ս. Պատարագ 10։45- Քարոզ 11։45

Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor

The Prelate, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, presided over church services last Sunday, June 25, 2023, and offered special prayers on the 28th anniversary of the pontificate of His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. 

Summer Camp Sponsorship Opportunity

Thank you to our main sponsors,

Mr. & Mrs. Antranig & Marion Boudakian

for their loyal and generous donations, for believing in our program and helping it

thrive for the past 16 years

$2,000.00

WATER PARK SLIDE $1000

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Eduard & Alina Kochoumian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Razmik & Sonya Nenejian

Sponsored By, Mrs. Seta Boyadjian 

DRY SLIDES PARK $1000 (Need 1 Sponsor)

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Aline Kassabian

Sponsored By, Dr. Siranush Cholakian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Dr. Dekran & Scarlet Arakelian

WHEELS ON THE BUS $1000

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Sorina Dumanian

LEGOLAND $900 

Sponsored By, The Ladies Guild of St. Sarkis Church

ARTS & CRAFTS $800 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Greg & Lusine Tchilingarian

SOFT PLAY $750 

Sponsored By, Ms. Malvina Shishmanian

FIRE & ICE SCIENCE SHOW $600 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Elizabeth Ohannessian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Elie & Zabel Hatem

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Vicky Hagobian

UP, UP & AWAY SCIENCE SHOW $600 

Sponsored By, Dr. & Mrs. Louis & Elenne Najarian

TUMBLEBUS $600 

Sponsored By, Mrs. Aida Ounjian

Sponsored By, Mr. Varouj Oghali

SPORTS $500

Sponsored By, Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian

LITTLE CHEF $400 

Sponsored By, Anonymous

 PETTING ZOO COMES TO YOU $400

Sponsored By, Drs. Arthur & Louiza Kubikian

PLAY A DOUGH $400 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Dennis & Annita Nerses Kurpius

SLIME TIME $400

Sponsored By, Ms. Aleene Voskerijian

FIRST FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, ARS Erebouni Chapter

SECOND FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Setrag & Annie Kazandjian

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your generous donation to St. Sarkis Church.

Your continuous support of St. Sarkis Church is sincerely appreciated. It is because of dedicated individuals like you, that our church continues its spiritual mission and service.

May God bless you for your kindness and reward you abundantly.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor &

Board of Trustees

SAINTS SAHAG AND MESROB: THE HOLY TRANSLATORS

The Armenian Church and the Armenian language have helped Armenians defeat existential threats. The Armenian language as a factor in national survival is second only to the conversion of the Armenians to Christianity and the establishment of a national church. Thus, language has played a dual role for the Armenians: first, as a medium of communication; second and more important, as a cohesive force for national survival. 

The invention of the Armenian alphabet in A.D. 406 by St. Mesrob produced a linguistic tool as remarkable as the language for which it was devised. The Armenian alphabet was invented and used for the Armenian language alone. It was designed to be a perfect phonetic representation of the spoken language.  

It is even more amazing that a large and noteworthy body of literature grew immediately, using an alphabet that was a completely new invention. If the Armenian alphabet had not been a perfect instrument for writing Armenian, it would have been impossible to use it to translate the Bible and the many other works that marked the early Golden Era of Armenian literature in the fifth century.  

Today, June 29, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Sahag Bartev and Mesrob Mashdots, the Holy Translators. The feasts dedicated to the Holy Translators are among the most beloved commemorations for Armenians. Sahag and Mesrob are honored two times during the liturgical year: as the leaders of the cultural movement, on the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, which is today, and on the second Saturday in October along all the translators. The visionary leadership of these two men who recognized the necessity of an Armenian alphabet changed the course of Armenian history. The two saints, Sahag and Mesrob, are forever linked in the minds and hearts of the Armenian people. 

FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE BOX OF THE THEOTOKOS

We can only imagine the joy of finding possessions of the Holy Mother. This Sunday, July 2, is the feast of the Discovery of the Belt of the Theotokos. Because there are no relics of the Holy Mother’s earthly body (she was assumed into Heaven), her personal belongings became the object of devotion and veneration. During the time of the early Church, when Christians were persecuted, her possessions were kept hidden and secret. Her belt was the first item to be discovered in Jerusalem in the fifth century. This discovery is the basis for the first of the eight feast days in the Armenian liturgical calendar devoted to the Holy Mother. 

KING DRTAD, QUEEN ASHKHEN, PRINCESS KHOSROVIDOUKHTT

This Saturday, July 1, the Armenian Church remembers King Drtad, Queen Ashkhen, and Princess Khosrovidoukht. After torturing and condemning St. Gregory to the pit, and after his cruel and fatal treatment of the Hripsimiantz nuns, King Drtad became inflicted with strange debilitating maladies. Queen Ashkhen and the king’s sister, Khosrovidoukht (who had secretly become a Christian) convinced the court that only Gregory could cure the king. Thus, Gregory was released from the deep pit. With the king’s subsequent recovery, all three helped Gregory spread Christianity throughout Armenia. In their later years the queen and princess lived in the fortress of Garni and the king retired to St. Gregory’s retreat on Mt. Sepouh. 

A READING FROM THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS (9.30-10.4)

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."As it is written:   

"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble   

and a rock that makes them fall,   

and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

           ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ՀՌՈՄԱՅԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (9.30-10.4) 

Ուրեմն ի՞նչ կ’եզրակացնենք: Հեթանոսները, որոնք Աստուծոյ արդարութեան չէին հետեւեր՝ արդարացան, որովհետեւ Քրիստոսի հաւատացին. մինչդեռ Իսրայէլի ժողովուրդը չարդարացաւ Մովսէսի Օրէնքին միջոցաւ, որ տրուած էր՝ մարդիկը արդարացնելու համար: Ինչո՞ւ: Որովհետեւ չհաւատաց Քրիստոսի, եւ կը կարծէր թէ Օրէնքին գործադրութեամբը պիտի արդարանայ: Ատիկա իսկ պատճառ եղաւ որ գլորին «գայթակղութեան առիթ հանդիսացող քար»ին վրայ, այսինքն՝ Քրիստոսի, որուն համար մարգարէութեան մէջ գրուած է.-

 «Ահա ես Սիոնի մէջ կը դնեմ քար մը՝

որ գլորումի առիթ պիտի ըլլայ, ժայռ մը՝ 

որ գայթակղութեան առիթ պիտի հանդիսանայ:

 Բայց անոր հաւատացողը յուսախաբ պիտի չըլլայ»:

 Եղբայրնե՛ր, սրտանց կը մաղթեմ եւ կ’աղօթեմ որ Աստուած փրկէ Իսրայէլացիները, որովհետեւ կրնամ իրենց մասին վկայել, թէ Աստուծոյ հանդէպ նախանձախնդիր են. միայն թէ այս նախանձախնդրութիւնը հիմնուած չէ Աստուծոյ ճշմարիտ ծանօթութեան վրայ: Անոնք չհասկցան, թէ Աստուած ի՛նչ ձեւով կ’ուզէր արդարացնել մարդիկը: Արդարանալու իրենց հասկցած ձեւին կառչեցան եւ ուստի չընդունեցին Աստուծոյ արդարութեան ուղին: Մինչդեռ Քրիստոսով Օրէնքը իր վախճանին հասած է եւ միայն Քրիստոսի հաւատացողը կ’արդարանայ:

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (13.24-30)

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.   

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'   

" 'An enemy did this,' he replied.   

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'   

" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍԻ (13.24-30) 

Յիսուս ուրիշ առակ մըն ալ խօսեցաւ անոնց ու ըսաւ.

– Մարդ մը լաւ սերմեր ցանեց իր արտին մէջ: Գիշեր մը, երբ ամէն մարդ քնացած էր, անոր թշնամին եկաւ եւ որոմ ցանեց ցորենին մէջ ու գնաց: Երբ սերմերը աճեցան եւ սկսան հասկ կազմել, այն ատեն որոմն ալ երեւցաւ: Տանտիրոջ ծառաները եկան եւ ըսին անոր. «Տէ՛ր, դուն միայն լաւ սերմեր չցանեցի՞ր արտիդ մէջ. ուրկէ՞ հապա եկաւ որոմը»: Անիկա պատասխանեց. «Ասիկա թշնամի մարդու գործ է»: Ծառաները ըսին. «Կ’ուզե՞ս որ երթանք եւ որոմը քաղենք»: «Ո՛չ,- պատասխանեց տէրը,- որպէսզի չըլլայ թէ որոմը քաղած ատեն ցորենն ալ միասին արմատախիլ ընէք: Ձգեցէք որ երկուքն ալ միասին աճին մինչեւ հունձքի ժամանակը. այն ատեն հնձուորներուն կ’ըսեմ.- Նախ որոմը քաղեցէք, խուրձեր կազմեցէք այրելու համար, եւ ապա քաղեցէք ցորենը եւ ամբարեցէք շտեմարաններուս մէջ»:

Ահաւասիկ ճիշդ ասոր կը նմանի երկինքի արքայութիւնը:

- Mrs. NATALIA HAMAMGIAN, passed on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Wake and Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at The Martin Gleason Funeral Home. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

- Mrs. Agavni Bodriguian and daughter Ms. Silvia Bodriguian request requiem service for the soul of their beloved husband and father EDWARD BODRIGUIAN (13th year memorial service).