www.stmaryaac.org              
March 4
  No: 9/2022
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 
Tel: 202-363-1923
TOP STORY   
Sunday of the Expulsion

The cycle of Sundays in Great Lent begins this weekend with the Sunday of the Expulsion-a reference to the exile of Adam and Eve from Paradise.

This day reminds us of the loss of man's happiness due to his disobedience. During this day's service the hymn of St. Nersess the Graceful, Vor Zorenes Serpoutian, describes man's fall: how Adam and Eve experienced the bitterness of sin and death, how they first felt "fear" in their hearts, and "hid from the presence of the Lord God among the trees in the garden."

Thereafter, the re-establishment of the friendship between God and man had to await God's entry into our lives. Through this act of grace, man is able to search his heart, perceive his condition as an exile of "paradise lost," and see that God has given human beings the opportunity to regain their former status.

Join us for our 2022 Lenten Series Spiritual Journey Toward Easter on Lenten Wednesdays at 7 pm. 

To see the 2022 Lenten Series flyer click here
MARCH 6, 2022
HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
SUNDAY
SCHEDULE
For the Soul of: 
Anahid Hagopian(1st Year Anniversary)
Requested by:
Haig Hagopian & Raffi Hagopian
Rita & Krikor Deurdulian & Family

For the Soul of: 
Dr. Robert A. Shekoyan ( 40th Day)
Requested by:
Shekoyan Family

Hospitality Table is hosted by:
Krikor Deurdulian



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 form
Sunrise Service 
10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 
10:30 AM

Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher
Mrs. Anna Seferian

Parish Council Members on Duty
Mrs.Catherine Sahakian

Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 
Prayer of the Week
Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Grant them strength, and lead us together through the present time of trial.
Christ, guardian of all creatures, let your right hand be a shadow over me day and night, tarrying at home and traveling, sleeping and rising, that I may never fail. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner. Amen.
Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks
PARISH NEWS
Lenten Period Begins 

According to the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church, the Lenten season has begun on Monday, February 28. This year, at St. Mary Lenten Services and Discussions, will take place every Wednesday during this period. The theme of the year is "Saints of St. Mary Church." We will learn about the saints depicted in the paintings of St. Mary Church. Why do we have paintings of the saints in our Church? What do they signify? Can I pry to a Saint? Who are the Saints depicted in the paintings of St. Mary Church? What can we learn from them today?

The first of the six-week series took place on Wednesday, March 2. Der Hovsep spoke about the intercession of satins, the tradition of adoring the icons of saints in the Armenian church, and the importance of learning about and imitating the life and deed of saints in our lives today.

Toward the end of the service and presentation, the parishioners enjoyed each other's fellowship and dinner hosted by the Parish Council.
Women's Guild Paregentan Event

The Women's Guild held their annual Paregentan Event with a delicious carry-out feast on Saturday, Feb. 27. Guild members prepared Tepsi Kebab, Basouts dolma, and a variety of delicious sides and desserts. Special appreciation goes to all of the Guild members and volunteers who came out to help make this event a success!

For more information on Women's Guild events or to be added to our email list, please email stmarywgdc@gmail.com or visit us on Instagram at @stmarywgdc.
St. Mary Church Kitchen Fundraiser 
Work in Progress 
Final Stages of Kitchen Renovation
Dear Parishioners and Friends,

As a member or a visitor of St. Mary Armenian Church, you have experienced first-hand our church community's warm and welcoming hospitality. St. Mary is a place where we come to worship together and celebrate our rich and beautiful heritage. A part of that heritage is also our culinary delights and food. Our church's kitchen is an integral part where thousands of meals have been produced during various events to be enjoyed by our parishioners and friends. 

We are reaching out to you today to ask for your generous donation to reach our goal of raising the $25,000 needed to complete our kitchen renovation in time for all of us to enjoy the continuance of those important events. We appreciate all the donations that our parishioners and friends have already contributed to this vital project. 


 Your contribution will enable us to resume our church events quickly and safely.
 
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support, and we ask God's guidance and protection for you and your families.

With Prayers,                       
Rev. Fr. Hovsep KarapetyanPastor
Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan,   Parish Council Chair   
Shnorhali School has successfully launched its Chess Club

In Armenia, chess is a mandatory school subject for every child over the age of 6. Consequently, Armenia is considered to be one of the strongest chess nations in the world today, and as a small country, it has managed to produce one of the greatest number of chess grandmasters per capita in the world.
Following our national tradition, Shnorhali school has planned and initiated a Chess Club for its students. After school, each Sunday, the club’s Head Coach, Ohan Semirjyan, will be providing instructions in a structured framework for interested students to explore and communicate the beauty of chess and to help sharpen young curious minds. Ohan will focus on teaching students to think critically and to learn and discover attack moves, sacrifices, traps, and many other chess tricks.
Chess is a great sport to develop critical thinking skills and concentration. If your child is interested, please register him or her. Who knows, your child might become the next chess grandmaster! Classes take place every Sunday at 2 pm.
LAST CALL
LIMITED QUANTITY REMAINED
St. Mary Armenian Church
Legacy Brick Drive
Buy A Brick ... Leave A Legacy

Buy a brick and leave your legacy at St. Mary Armenian Church.
When you buy a brick, it is then engraved with your specified words or message, installed in front of the church, and becomes a memory to view for years to come.
Laser engraved bricks will replace the existing bricks in our Church plaza,
in front of our beautiful Khatchkar, and can be dedicated to those
you wish to remember, honor Loved Ones, commemorate
a special milestone like a baptism or wedding, or
acknowledge an organization or business.
DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS
Watch Bishop Daniel's Video Message for Great Lent

“The Armenian Church gives us the season of Lent as an annual reminder to attend to the Spirit,” says Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel: “to acknowledge her, to feed her, and most importantly, to remove obstacles that we tend to construct to avoid her.”
 
“By prayer, by fasting, and by a recommitment to the church, the Body of Christ, we become whole—fortified against the many travails and injustices of this world.”
 
The Primate offers these encouraging words in a new video message, inviting the faithful to embrace the full spiritual reality of Great Lent. Click on the following links to watch his message in English, and to watch it in Armenian.
 
The Eastern Diocese’s VEMKAR website is featuring a Lenten “Prayer Rule”—a series of prayers to strengthen your spirit through the season—which you can access, print, and download by clicking here. On the same website, you will discover a library of resources to guide your journey through the 40 days of Lent. The lessons, study guides, and activities can be used by individuals and families at home, or in the parish setting. They include:
  • A printable booklet by Bishop Daniel: “Giving It Up? Fasting During Great Lent in the Armenian Church.”
  • Lenten discussion activities for all age groups (children, youth & young adults, adults).
  • Videos, activities, and other multimedia resources.
Please utilize these materials to enrich your relationship with God, and Build Up the Body of Christ throughout our Diocese. Access the 40 Days of Lent section on the VEMKAR website—and be sure to share the link with others.
 
Finally, the cycle of Sundays in Great Lent begins this weekend with the “Sunday of the Expulsion.” Read about the subtle connections between Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden and Christ’s temptation in the desert, by clicking here.
Ecumenical Groups Condemn Erasure of Artsakh’s Armenian Heritage

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) is one of several ecumenical groups that have issued statements denouncing the destruction of Armenian Christian heritage sites in Artsakh, at the hands of the Azeri authorities.
 
These statements come in the wake of the announcement of an Azerbaijan government official, indicating that his government intends to desecrate such monuments in Artsakh and erase evidence of their Armenian origin.
 
In early February, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians responded to the initial Azeri announcement by calling on the world community to condemn this and similar acts of cultural erasure. His Holiness also directed the world’s Armenian Church dioceses to inform and seek action from their local authorities.
 
Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel and Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian have been working with various ecumenical groups to raise awareness of the crisis and enlist their support. Through their outreach, leaders in the Christian Orthodox and Ecumenical communities have been promoting the urgent need to preserve Artsakh’s Armenian Christian heritage.
 
The strongly-worded NCC statement reads in part: “With full acknowledgment of the history of the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century, the NCC cannot ignore this new threat to the Armenian people. We cannot turn a blind eye to the similarities in tactics employed in all historical genocides. To erase a people’s history is to erase their existence, and it betrays a disdain for their very lives and survival as a people.”
 
Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) have also issued recent messages of solidarity. Click here to read more.

Watch VEMKAR’s Latest Online Adult Christian Education Episodes

This week and last, the Eastern Diocese’s Digital ministries platform, VEMKAR, broadcast two more sessions in its Adult Christian Education program.
 
On February 22, Fr. Ghevond Ajamian (seen above) explained how the church’s celebration of the Feast of Sts. Vartanantz encourages us to prepare for the “spiritual combat” of Great Lent. Click on the following link to watch the recorded session.
 
A week later, on March 1, Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian addressed the prayers and hymns that start the day, in “Arevakal: The Service of the Rising Sun.” Click on the following link to watch that recorded session.
 
Weekly online sessions in this season’s Adult Christian Education program continue through April 26.
FAR NEWS
Helping a Family Make, and Earn its Daily Bread

For Margarita Alkhasyan, age 43, making jingalov hatz has become her therapy. Displaced by the Artsakh war, she was looking for a way to escape her stress and move forward. “I was also hoping for something that would allow me to put food on the table,” she said, as she explained why, shortly after finding shelter in Armenia’s Sisian Region, she applied to the business assistance initiative of the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Support for Artsakh’s Displaced” project.
 
Through “Support for Artsakh’s Displaced,” Artsakh Armenians who have resettled in the Sisian region of Siunik Province can receive help with housing, education, and their livelihoods, among other things. Margarita started making the Artsakh flatbread specialty in her oven at home. Now, through FAR’s project, she is trying to establish herself as a small business owner.

Margarita, her husband Surik, and their children Lilit (23), Gor (18), Sona (16), Arman (13), and Elen (7), left their village in October 2020. Thinking it would be temporary, they took only their identity papers. They then lost their home along with all of their animals when Azeris occupied the village.
 
After arriving in Sisian, Margarita started to make jingalov hatz for her family and neighbors. Since receiving FAR’s grant to launch her small business, she has been able to purchase a larger oven and other kitchen tools. She dreams of one day opening up her own small bakery in the center of Sisian.

"Setting the Table," a Fund for Armenian Relief project

"Set the Table" is the newest project of Ayo!, the Fund for Armenian Relief’s crowdfunding platform. You can help ensure that 462 children's brains are fueled to learn! There are 10 village schools in a depressed area of Armenia whose cafeterias don't have furniture, dishware, and/or kitchenware. Once they are equipped, the schools can begin to cook and serve healthy meals for their students. To help furnish them, visit www.weareayo.org.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING FEASTS AND EVENTS
March 19: St.Mary Choir and Altar Servers training workshop
March 23: Median Day of Lent
March 27: Women's Guild Mid-Lenten luncheon
April 7:  Annunciation to the Virgin Mary
April 9 & 10 Women's Guild Bake Sale
April 10:  Palm Sunday
April 17: Easter Sunday
April 24: Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide
May 13-15: Spring food festival
May 26: Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
April 28: Armenian Pop Music Night

2022 Lenten Series
Every Wednesday during Lenten Period. Spiritual Discussion @7:00 pm

March 9 St. Gregory of Narek (Dinner is sponsored by St. Mary Gift Store)
March 16 Sts. Gregory, Drdat, Gayane, and Hripsime (Dinner is sponsored by St. Mary Choir)
March 23 Sts. Vartan, Hovsep, and Shushan (Dinner is sponsored by Women’s Guild)
March 30 St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew (Dinner is sponsored by ACYOA )
April 6 St. Nerses Shnorhali (Dinner is sponsored by Shnorhali School) 
PRAYERS FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR
Anne Andonian, Aram Andonian, Hripsime Apkarian, Lucy Badalian, Ellen Boudreau, Mari Dogum, Anahit Greene, Antaram Grigoryan, Susana Grigoryan, Simon Gukasyan, Karen Hatchik, Charles Hoke, Tamara Hramushina, Takvur Hubi, Jo-Anna Jacob, Edward Jamgochian, Yn. Anahid Kalayjian, Meline Kaehn, Michael Kolenick, Jack Kooyoomjian, Anahid Ghazarian Luka, Queen Manoogian, Susanna Mkrtchyan, Virginia (Corkigian) Mule, Armen Mark Nostrant, Hacik Ozdul, Mary Levon Panossian, Robert Schlee, Tamara Shatvoryan, Bob Semonian, Mihran Tavoukjian
BIBLE READING
17 Մի՛ կարծէք, թէ օրէնքը կամ մարգարէներին ջնջելու եկայ. չեկայ ջնջելու, այլ՝ լրացնելու: 18 Ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ. մինչեւ որ երկինք ու երկիր անցնեն, մի յովտ իսկ, որ մի նշանախեց է, օրէնքից եւ մարգարէներից չի անցնի, մինչեւ որ այս բոլորը կատարուի: 19 Ով որ այս պատուիրաններից, փոքրերից անգամ, մի բան ջնջի եւ մարդկանց այդպէս ուսուցանի, երկնքի արքայութեան մէջ փոքր պիտի համարուի. իսկ ով կատարի եւ ուսուցանի, երկնքի արքայութեան մէջ նա մեծ պիտի համարուի: 20 Բայց ասում եմ ձեզ, որ եթէ ձեր արդարութիւնը աւելի չլինի, քան օրէնսգէտներինը եւ փարիսեցիներինը, երկնքի արքայութիւնը չէք մտնի: 21 Լսել էք, թէ ինչ ասուեց նախնիներին. “Մի՛ սպանիր”, որովհետեւ ով որ սպանի, ենթակայ կլինի դատաստանի: 22 Իսկ ես ձեզ ասում եմ, թէ՝ ամէն մարդ, որ զուր տեղը բարկանում է իր եղբօր վրայ, ենթակայ կլինի դատաստանի, եւ ով իր եղբօրն ասի յիմար, ենթակայ կլինի ատեանի, եւ ով իր եղբօրն ասի ապուշ, ենթակայ կլինի գեհենի կրակին: 23 Եթէ սեղանի վրայ քո ընծան մատուցելու լինես եւ այնտեղ յիշես, թէ քո եղբայրը քո դէմ մի ոխ ունի, 24 քո ընծան թող սեղանի առաջ եւ գնա, նախ հաշտուիր քո եղբօր հետ եւ ապա եկ, քո ընծան մատուցիր: 25 Եթէ մէկը քեզ հետ խնդիր ունի եւ քեզ դատի է կանչում, մինչ նրա հետ դեռ ճանապարհին ես, եղիր իրաւախոհ կանխաւ. գուցէ նա քեզ դատաւորին յանձնի, եւ դատաւորը՝ դահճին, ու դու բանտ նետուես: 26 Ճշմարիտ եմ ասում քեզ. այնտեղից դուրս չես գայ, մինչեւ չվճարես վերջին դահեկանը: 27 Լսել էք, թէ ինչ ասուեց. “Մի՛ շնացիր”, 28 իսկ ես ձեզ ասում եմ. ամէն մարդ, որ կնոջը նայում է նրան ցանկանալով, արդէն շնացաւ նրա հետ իր սրտում: 29 Եթէ քո աջ աչքը քեզ գայթակղում է, հանի՛ր այն եւ դէ՛ն գցիր քեզնից. որովհետեւ քեզ համար լաւ է, որ քո անդամներից մէկը կորչի, եւ քո ամբողջ մարմինը չընկնի գեհեն: 30 Եւ եթէ քո աջ ձեռքը քեզ գայթակղում է, կտրի՛ր այն եւ դէ՛ն գցիր քեզնից. որովհետեւ քեզ համար լաւ է, որ քո անդամներից մէկը կորչի, եւ քո ամբողջ մարմինը չընկնի գեհեն:
Մատթեոսի 5:17-48

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,[c] you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult[d] a brother or sister,[e] you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell[f] of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister[g] has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court[i] with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.30 And if your right-hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 5:17-48
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 Sunday after Church services and by appointment, call the church office at 202-363-1923 or send an e-mail to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
Click here to see the items available for sale in the Gift Store .
Please check out newly arrived Armenian Souvenirs directly from Artsakh at our Gift Shop.
Before COVID 19 and before the 2020 aggression against free and democratic Armenian Artsakh, the number of tourists visiting our second Armenian homeland was nearing 50.000 tourists per year. Today, during the first six months of 2021, the number was less than 1.500. Artsakh’s economy has suffered significantly because of the war. At st Mary’s gift store, we sell souvenirs that arrived directly from Artsakh. By purchasing gifts from Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, we help the people of our homeland; we highlight that our solidarity.

Please visit our store or contact us if interested. We receive coffee-jazzve, souvenir-plates, souvenir magnets, and many more directly from Stepanakert.
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
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
| 202-363-1923 | www.stmaryaac.org