St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-363-1923
|
|
Commemoration of St. Gregory the Illuminator's Sons and Grandsons -
Sts. Aristakes, Vrtanes, Housik, Grigoris, and Daniel
On Saturday, February 5th the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator's Sons and Grandsons.
Aristakes was St. Gregory the Illuminator's youngest son. He led a monastic life from a very early age. He was consecrated a bishop by his father and became one of St. Gregory's most valued supporters. In 325 A.D. he participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, representing the first Catholicos and the entire Armenian Church. Following St. Gregory the Illuminator, he became Catholicos of All Armenians. He was killed in 333 A.D. by Arkeghayos, a prince of Greater Armenia, for criticizing some incorrigible behavior of the king, and was buried in the village Til.
Vrtanes was St. Gregory the Illuminator's elder son. He was married and had two sons - Grigoris and Housik. Following the death of his brother, he ascended to the Catholicosal Throne.
Although Christianity was already fairly well accepted as the official religion, some remnants of paganism and heathenism continued in remote areas and smaller villages. One region that had substantial resistance was the province of Daron. Vrtanes organized annual festive Christian celebrations in this province to gradually eliminate their pagan beliefs and practices. Vrtanes died in 341 A.D. and was buried in the village Tordan, near the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator.
Grigoris was the elder son of Vrtanes. He was sent by the Armenian Church to spread Christianity among the neighboring nations of Armenia. He was martyred upon the order of King Sanesan, the head of the nomadic Mazkut tribe. His remains were buried by the deacons who served with him, in the village of Amaras, in Artsakh. In 489 A.D. upon the order of the Aghvan (Caucasian Albanian) King Vachagan, the Church of St. Gregory was built on this site.
Housik was the younger son of Vrtanes. He married the daughter of the Armenian King Tiridates and had two sons - Pap and Antiochus. In 341 A.D. he was elected as the Catholicos of All Armenians. He resisted and challenged the will of King Tiran, who wished to hang the portrait of Julianus the Betrayer in a church. He was severely beaten, martyred, and was buried in the village of Tordan, province of Daranaghi.
Bishop Daniel Assyrian was famous for his saintly way of life. As he grew older he led an ascetic and isolated life in the province of Daron. Following the martyrdom of Housik, he was invited to be the Catholicos of All Armenians.
During the very first meeting with King Tiran, he strictly castigated him on the murder of the Pontiff Housik. The king summarily ordered the death of Daniel by strangulation. His remains are buried in the Monastery of Hatsyats Drahkt.
The sons and grandsons of St. Gregory the Illuminator are remembered and commemorated by all Armenian Churches throughout the world for their service to the Church, their faithfulness to Christianity, and their commitment to the Armenian people.
|
|
HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
|
|
|
|
For the Soul of:
Ohanes (Vanik) Gorjian
Requested by:
Hermineh Seghmonian Gorjian (Wife) Sarmen Gorjian (Son) - Meghrik Yenoki Gorjian (Daughter-in-law) Sevana Gorjian Owens (Daughter) Ronald Owens (Son-in-law) Sarkis Gorjian (Son)
For the Souls of:
Verjin Bolat(1st Anniversary)
and
Yerchanig Bolat (23rd Anniversary)
Requested by:
Eva & Ohaness Shafakian and family, Arto & Ilda Bolat and family, Manug & Janet Arabian and family
For the Soul of:
Seda Gevorgyan (40th Day)
Requested by:
Lena Davtyan and Armen Gomtsyan
Hospitality Table is hosted by:
Shafakian, Bolat, Arabian & Gorjian Families
Altar Flowers are donated by:
Lena Davtyan and Armen Gomtsyan
|
To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or
|
|
Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Ushers
Ms. Sara Arabian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr.Robert George
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Readings:
|
Prayer of the Week
Heavenly King, grant me your kingdom which you promised to your beloved and strengthen my heart to hate sin and to love you only and to do your will. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner.
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. Amen
|
|
Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks |
|
Remembering Hrant Dink
Hrant Dink's 15th-year memorial service was held on January 23rd, 2022. Many of our parishioners gathered for this solemn occasion in honor of a man whose strength and vision we miss.
Father Hovsep stated that Hrant Dink was a proud son of the Armenian people, and in his work and in his life endeavored tirelessly to have the Armenian Genocide be recognized by the Turkish Government. And he stood for a civic virtue higher than hatred, higher than ethnic stereotypes, higher than fears and repression and ignorance. His was a vision of a better world.
We remember Hrant Dink, continue his unfinished work, prayer for his soul, and for the justice to be done.
|
|
WG New Executive Committee
The St. Mary Women's Guild is excited to announce its new 2022 Executive Committee: Yn. Jennifer Karapetyan (Chair), Hripsime Sivaslian (Vice-Chair), Nadya Koseian (Treasurer), Ilda Bolat (Assistant Treasurer), and Roxanne Paul (Secretary). The Installation and Blessing of the new Executive Committee will be held after the Divine Liturgy on Feb. 6. Please mark your calendars for the Guild's upcoming Paregentan Carry-Out Luncheon on Feb. 27.
The mission of the Women’s Guild is to live and share the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ through worship, education, witness, service, and fellowship. All women are welcome at our events - for more information or to be included in our email/mail distribution list, please contact the WG at stmarywgdc@gmail.com.
|
|
Kitchen Renovation Update
Dear parishioners,
We are glad to announce that we have reached the final stages of our church's kitchen renovation. While the work is in progress, we apologize for the inconvenience it might cause during this period.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our generous donor Boris Ghazarian for donating the backsplash for the entire kitchen. Because of donors like him, our church strives to provide the best to its parishioners.
|
|
Dear Parishioner and Friends,
It is that time of the year again to remind our dear parishioners and friends of their dues and pledges to St. Mary Armenian Church.
As a reminder, the dues are $250 per person and $500 per family and are due by December 31, 2021.
We depend on our faithful donors and their monetary contributions. Your membership dues not only ensure your voting privileges during our annual assembly but also shows your commitment to your church. Your support enables us to continue our mission in preaching the Word of God, reaching out to our community, and bringing the rich and wonderful blessings of our heritage and identity to all for the glory of God.
We thank you for your generous past support and hope you will continue your commitment to your church.
|
|
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. |
|
Join Museum of the Bible on January 29, 2022, for a special day celebrating Armenia, the world's first Christian nation. The Armenian people have one of the richest biblical histories and cultures in the world. Their historic lands include the traditional resting place of Noah’s ark and the garden of Eden. Join us as we explore the sacred traditions, Christian culture, and stories of the Armenian people! And it’s all free with a general admission ticket to the museum.
|
|
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.
|
|
Teacher Vacancy Announcement
Dear Parish Community,
St. Mary’s Shnorhali Armenian School is looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated, and devoted individual who has a love for the Armenian language and a passion for helping to educate our children.
We are looking for a vibrant Junior Kindergarten teacher to educate, care for, and inspire the young minds at our Junior Kindergarten group.
|
|
INTEREST SURVEY: St Mary Juniors Online Bible Study for 2022
Are you interested in participating in a Bible Study, but are unable to attend the Sunday morning Youth Bible Study? We have been thinking about forming a teen Bible study group that will meet virtually one evening during the week or on Saturday. If you are interested, please email RebeccaBagdasarian@yahoo.com and include the evenings/times which are good for you to meet.
|
|
Armenian Christmas in the City of Christ’s Birth
Midnight on January 18/19 marked the Feast of Christ’s Nativity for the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its faithful. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Nativity in Bethlehem, with a daytime procession preceding it.
Again this year, concerns over the ongoing pandemic restricted access to the service, which is usually attended by a large crowd of altar servers and worshippers. But a delegation from the Patriarchate traveled to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus on the very spot where He was born, in accordance with ancient Christian tradition.
The Patriarchate observes Christmas on this date because it employs the older Julian Calendar in its festal calculations, which differs by about 13 days from the Gregorian Calendar used across most of the world, and also used by most of the other jurisdictions in the Armenian Church.
Two weeks ago, while most of the Armenian world was celebrating Christmas on January 6, the Jerusalem Patriarchate marked the “Feast of St. David the Prophet-King and the Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord.” This is the official feast day of the Patriarchate, and the only day in a given year when the Patriarch, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, sits on the richly ornamented Throne of St. James during the Divine Liturgy.
Above: Members of Jerusalem’s Armenian Patriarchate at the Church of the Holy Nativity in Bethlehem
|
|
Strengthening Artsakh’s Pandemic Response
The Fund for Armenian Relief recently donated critical medical supplies to hospitals and clinics in Artsakh. Medical kits consisting of 17 oxygen concentrators, 19 perfusion pumps, and two portable ultrasound machines were distributed to medical centers in Stepanakert, Martuni, and Martakert as part of FAR’s “COVID-19 Emergency Response Program,” a component of its “Doctors for Artsakh Project.”
Providing this equipment is essential to maintaining Artsakh’s healthcare system, following the adverse effects of the 2020 war on its medical institutions and its ability to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After assessing the needs, items were sent to the institutions that needed them the most,” said Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan, FAR’s Healthcare Program director. “The kits will improve the quality of healthcare in Artsakh in the fight against COVID-19.”
|
|
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING FEASTS AND EVENTS |
|
January 29
Armenian Culture Celebration (Bible Museum)
February 13
Ararat Avak Society Saint Sarkis Feast Day carry-out luncheon
February 14
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple
February 20
Annual Parish Assembly
February 28
First day of Great Lent
|
|
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
|
|
39 Այս է կամքը իմ Հօր, որ ինձ ուղարկեց. բոլոր նրանք, ում Հայրն ինձ տուել է, նրանցից ոչ մէկին չկորցնեմ, այլ վերջին օրը յարութիւն առնել տամ նրանց: 40 Այս է իմ Հօր կամքը. ամէն ոք, ով տեսնի Որդուն եւ հաւատայ նրան, ունենայ յաւիտենական կեանք. եւ ես նրան վերջին օրը յարութիւն առնել տամ»: 41 Հրեաները տրտնջում էին նրանից, որովհետեւ ասել էր. «Ես եմ երկնքից իջած հացը»: 42 Եւ ասում էին. «Սա Յիսուսը չէ՞՝ Յովսէփի որդին, որի հօրն ու մօրը մենք ճանաչում ենք: Իսկ արդ, ինչպէ՞ս է ասում. "Ես երկնքից իջայ"»: 43 Յիսուս պատասխանեց եւ ասաց նրանց. «Մի՛ քրթմնջացէք իրար մէջ. 44 ոչ ոք չի կարող գալ դէպի ինձ, եթէ նրան չձգի Հայրը, որ ինձ ուղարկեց, եւ ես նրան վերջին օրը յարութիւն առնել կտամ: 45 Մարգարէների գրքերում գրուած է. "Եւ ամէնքը Աստծուց ուսանած կլինեն": Ամէն ոք, որ լսում է Հօրից եւ ուսանում է, գալիս է դէպի ինձ: 46 Սակայն ոչ ոք Հօրը չի տեսել, այլ միայն նա, որ Աստծուց է, նա է տեսել Հօրը: 47 Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, որ ով հաւատում է, ունենում է յաւիտենական կեանքը:
Հովհաննեսի 6.39-47
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 6.39-47
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
See what's happening on our social site |
|
|
|
|
|
|
