E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

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

Sunday: 10/22/2023

ԽԱՉՎԵՐԱՑԷՆ ԵՏՔ Զ. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ - SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE EXALTATION 

Sunday Readings:

Isaiah 20:2-21:6; Galatians 4:3-18; Luke 4:14-23

SUNDAY SCHOOL at 11:00 AM

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

Finding hope and becoming inspired has become a challenge to most Armenians since September 2020, with the start of the Artsakh war. Feelings of hopelessness and low morale have recently increased with the tragic depopulation of Artsakh this past September and the subsequent refugee crisis. It's tough to be an Armenian and not feel the pain and the uncertainty surrounding us. These tragedies, however, cannot-and SHOULD NOT-stop us from continuing our mission of self-preservation, especially knowing that our enemies want to eliminate us and that the world is indifferent to the sense of injustice Armenians face. With this imperative in mind, the St. Sarkis Church Salt & Light Youth Group formulated their theme for their annual retreat this past weekend to be “Faith, Identity and Homeland.” A theme that was uniquely woven in through various workshops and presenters and strengthened by the fact that the Armenian Church celebrated the feast of the Holy Translators this past weekend.

On Wednesday morning, October 18th, Pagoumian Hall was filled with laughter and chatter from our Sages of all Ages (ladies and gentlemen over 60 years old). This lively group was created by none other than our lovely Zepiur Ardzivian, Yn. Annie Terterian, Sonya Nenejian, Lena Felice and Hilda Gorgissian. 

Over 43 Sages were warmly welcomed by our pastor, Der Nareg Terterian, over coffee and cookies. The day progressed with a fun game of bingo and cool prizes. A nutritious lunch followed, which was prepared by our chefs: Yn. Annie Terterian, Lena Felice & Zepiur Ardzivian. The beautiful gathering concluded with a spectacular performance by the talented Diana Vasilyan. 

It was a truly memorable event, where people saw old friends and made some new ones in our parish's cozy and inviting environment. They were eager and excited for the group's next gathering, set for Wednesday, November 15th. 

St. Sarkis Armenian Church is looking forward to welcoming the Sages of all Ages group every third Wednesday of the month. 

Thank you to all the participants who came and supported this beautiful event. 

This past Wednesday, October 18th, the Young Adults of St. Sarkis Church gathered in Pagoumian Hall for their first presentation by fellow member James Mengouchian. James presented about his role as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch and discussed the basics of investment, stock market trends over the years, and why actively managing money proves to be effective in maximizing financial gains from a personal or organizational perspective.

Following his Q&A, Fr. Nareg began the discussion on the origins of the Armenian language, which dates back to 405-406 AD. We spoke about different stories about the coming of the alphabet and then recounted the real story of Mesrop Mashdots— how he was commissioned to travel to come up with a distinctive language to cement the Armenian identity and prevent assimilation to Syriac and Persian influences. Fr. Nareg wrapped up the discussion by encouraging all members that it’s never too late to strengthen our language skills and regularly expand our vocabulary.

The Young Adults’ next gathering will be held on Monday, November 13th, which will include a presentation by Sevag Ebrimian. 

Sages of All Ages

Is a program that has been newly established to enrich 

the lives of both men and women ages 60 and over.

 The purpose of this program is to nourish your mind, body and soul, 

through social activities, cultural programs, and fellowship! 

We will meet on the third Wednesday of every month.   

THE NEXT MEETING IS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023

If you need transportation, please contact the church office so that

we can arrange for you to be picked up and dropped off. 

Please contact the church office if we wish to attend or 

are in need of transportation at (718) 224-2275.

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

THE HOLY EVANGELISTS

This Saturday, October 21, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors of the four Gospels. The word Evangelist comes from the Greek euangelistes which means “one who brings good news.” Evangelists are given the special ability by the Holy Spirit to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly and effectively. In the early days of the church evangelism was the work of the apostles. By the third century, the authors of the four canonical Gospels became known as the Holy Evangelists, and as the church grew “evangelist” began to denote a specific office that could include “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers” (see Ephesians 4:11-12).   

Matthew is the patron of the Church’s mission. The Gospel attributed to him closes with Jesus’ command to His disciples and followers to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)  

Mark had significant influence on the advancement of Christianity. Although the Gospel according to Mark is a narrative of the life of Jesus, theologians consider it to be a handbook of discipleship. The dominant message is that being a Christian is not only to believe in Jesus Christ, it is also living according to the example set by Jesus. According to tradition, Mark was the first bishop of Alexandria. One of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world is named after him in Venice, where his relics are kept.  

Luke is the author of the third Gospel and the Book of Acts. He is considered to be the patron of physicians and artists. The Gospel according to Luke describes Jesus as “the healer of a broken world.” Luke is also noted for his concern for the poor, the marginalized, women, and social outcasts. His Gospel does not end with the Resurrection, but continues to Pentecost and the eternal presence of Christ in the world. Traditionally he is believed to be one of the Seventy and the unnamed disciple in Emmaus. 

John, often called the “beloved disciple,” is the author of the fourth Gospel. He was the only one of the twelve disciples who did not forsake Christ and stood at the foot of the Cross. Jesus entrusted his mother to John’s care on the day of the Crucifixion. The best-known verse in his Gospel is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” According to tradition, John left Jerusalem after attending the first ecumenical council and went to Asia Minor and settled in Ephesus. He was exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation, although more recently scholars have concluded that John the Apostle and John of Patmos were two different people. 

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE GALATIANS (4.3-18)

 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.   

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.   

I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.     

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԳԱՂԱՏԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (4.3-18)

Նոյնն է մեր ալ պարագան: Որքան ատեն որ հոգեւորապէս անչափահաս էինք՝ բնութեան ոյժերուն կ’ենթարկուէինք ու կը ծառայէինք: Բայց հիմա յարմար ժամանակը հասած համարելով, Աստուած աշխարհ ղրկեց իր Որդին, որ կնոջմէ մը ծնաւ եւ Օրէնքին տակ ապրեցաւ, որպէսզի մեզ Օրէնքին գերութենէն փրկէ եւ Աստուծոյ որդիներ դարձնէ: Արդ, որովհետեւ իր որդիներն ենք՝ Աստուած մեր սիրտերուն մէջ ղրկեց իր Որդիին Հոգին, որով զԱստուած «Աբբա», այսինքն «Հայր» կը կոչենք: Ուստի այլեւս ծառայ չէք, այլ՝ որդի. եւ քանի որդի էք՝ Աստուծոյ խոստումը պիտի ժառանգէք:

Ճիշդ է որ նախապէս երբ զԱստուած չէիք ճանչնար, չաստուածներու կը ծառայէիք: Բայց հիմա որ զԱստուած ճանչցաք եւ մանաւանդ Աստուած ալ ձեզ ճանչցաւ, ի՞նչպէս կրկին կը վերադառնաք բնութեան տկար ու խեղճ ոյժերու պաշտամունքին եւ վերստին կ’ուզէք անոնց ծառայել. յատուկ կա­րեւո­րութիւն կու տաք որոշ օրերու եւ ամիսներու, որոշ ժամանակներու կամ տարիներու: Կը վախնամ որ ձեզի համար տարած ամբողջ աշխատանքս զուր անցած ըլլայ:

Կը խնդրեմ, եղբայրնե՛ր, ինծի պէս եղէք, քանի ես ալ ժամանակ մը ձեզի պէս էի:

Ձեզի դէմ բնաւ գանգատ մը չունիմ: Ընդհակառակը. հարկաւ գիտէք թէ սկիզբը, երբ Աւետարանը ձեզի քարոզելու եկայ, տկար էի մարմնով. եւ հակառակ անոր որ հիւանդ վիճակովս փորձանք եղայ ձեզի, չանարգեցիք զիս, ո՛չ ալ արհամարհեցիք. այլ զիս ընդունեցիք այնպէս՝ ինչպէս Աստուծոյ հրեշտակը կամ Քրիստոս Յիսուսը պիտի ընդունէիք. եւ ուրախութեամբ ըրիք ատիկա: Հիմա ի՞նչ պատահեցաւ: Կրնամ վկայել ձեզի համար, որ եթէ կարելի ըլլար՝ ձեր աչքերը կը հանէիք եւ կու տայիք ինծի: Միթէ ճշմարիտը խօսած ըլլալուս համար թշնամի՞ եղայ ձեզի: Մի՛ կարծէք թէ ձեզի հանդէպ մասնաւոր հետաքրքրութիւն ցուցաբերող այդ մարդիկը ձեր բարիքը կը խորհին: Ո՛չ: Անոնք կ’ուզեն ձեզ ինձմէ բաժնել, որպէսզի ամբողջութեամբ իրենց հետեւիք: Բայց երանի տե՛ւաբար բարիին նախանձախնդիր ըլլայիք, եւ ո՛չ միայն երբ որ ես ձեր մէջ ներկայ եմ:

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST   ACCORDING TO LUKE (4:14-22) 

Then Jesus filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:   

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."   

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ  ԸՍՏ ՂՈՒԿԱՍԻ (4.14-22)

Յիսուս Գալիլեա վերադարձաւ Սուրբ Հոգիին զօրութեամբ, եւ ամբողջ գաւառին մէջ իր համբաւը տարածուեցաւ: Անոնց ժողովարաններուն մէջ կ’ուսուցանէր՝ արժանանալով բոլորին հիացումին ու գովասանքին:

Եկաւ Նազարէթ քաղաքը, ուր մեծցած էր, եւ իր սովորութեան համաձայն Շաբաթ օր ժողովարան գնաց: Երբ ոտքի ելաւ կարդալու համար օրուան ընթերցուածը, իրեն տուին Եսայի մարգարէին գիրքը: Բացաւ եւ գտաւ այն տեղը ուր կ’ըսէր.-

     «Տիրոջ Հոգին վրաս է.

որովհետեւ զիս օծեց եւ ղրկեց՝

աղքատներուն փրկութեան աւետիս տալու, 

սրտաբեկները մխիթարելու,

     գերիներուն ազատութիւն բերելու, 

կոյրերուն աչքերը բանալու,

     հարստահարուածները ազատելու

եւ յայտարարելու՝ թէ ահա հասած է ժամանակը,

երբ Տէրը պիտի փրկէ իր ժողովուրդը»:

Ապա գոցեց գիրքը, տուաւ պաշտօնեային եւ նստաւ: Ժողովարանին մէջ գտնուողներուն բոլորին աչքերը իրեն սեւեռած էին, երբ ըսաւ.

– Այս մարգարէութիւնը որ դուք լսեցիք, ահա այսօր իրականացաւ:

Ամէնքն ալ տպաւորուած էին իրմէ եւ հիանալով անոր շնորհալի խօսքերուն վրայ՝ կ’ըսէին.

– Այս մարդը Յովսէփի որդին չէ՞:

Յիսուս ըսաւ.

– Անկասկած ինծի պիտի ըսէք հետեւեալ առածը. «Բժի՛շկ, դուն քեզ բժշկէ»: Եւ ինչ որ լսեցինք որ գործեր ես Կափառնաումի մէջ, այստեղ՝ քու հայրենի գաւառիդ մէջ ալ կատարէ:

- Mr. VAHE DARAKJIAN  passed on Monday, October 16, 2023. Wake and Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. 

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

-Mr. & Mrs. Edward and Evi Sharoyan and family, Mr. & Mrs. Adrian and Marjorie Sharoyan and family, Mr. & Mrs. Jon and Victoria Anzalone and daughter Nina, Mrs. Diane Sharoyan, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Gianna Sharoyan and family request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother HRIPSIME APRAHAMIAN (1st-year memorial service). Also for the souls of beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather SOUREN APRAHAMIAN, beloved parents and grandparents SOUREN and ARAXI SHAROYAN and beloved brother and uncle SARKIS SHAROYAN.

Mr. Karnig Alajajian's Art Exhibition and the Fellowship hour will be held in the Main Hall and is hosted by:

-Mrs. Sonya Nenejian

-Mrs. Victoria Yekhpairian

-Mrs. Salpie Megerian

THE ACTORS FROM ARTSAKH ARE COMING NEXT WEEK! THE PLAY IS ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY. HURRY AND BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY AND SUPPORT ARTSAKH ACTORS!

The displaced actors of Artsakh Theater were able to escape to Armenia and have gone through an arduous journey, but they still have the strength and courage to travel to the US and perform for the Armenian Diaspora. Please purchase your tickets to show support for our compatriots from Artsakh who have endured and continue to endure so much. Please do not be a bystander but a participant.Thank you very much.

NEW YORK: October 20 at 7:30pm at the Jeanne Rimsky Theater. Purchase tickets online https://buy.tututix.com/voiceofarmenianstvny

Or call: Yn. Karine Malkhasyan 917 485 1642, Hasmik Mekhanejian 917 593 9735, Nayda Voskeriian 516 603 2809.