E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

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

Sunday: 06/11/2023

Հոգեգալուստէն Ետք Բ. Կիրակի - Տօն Ս. Էջմիածնի - 

Second Sunday after Pentecost - Feast of Holy Echmiadzin  

Sunday Readings: 

Proverbs 9:1-6; Zechariah 3:7-4:9; Hebrews 9:1-10; John 10:22-30

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

On Saturday, June 3rd, senior members of the Salt & Light Youth group spent the morning volunteering at St. Mary's Hospital for Children in Bayside.

The group of 7 eager volunteers gathered at St. Sarkis Church before heading out to the hospital, escorted by S&L facilitator chaperones. At St. Mary's, the group had the opportunity to interact with nearly 30 participants of the medical day healthcare program, which provides therapeutic and rehabilitative services for children and young adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. S&L members assisted with decorating and painting wooden picture frames, all the while, sharing conversations, laughs and making new friends. Before leaving the hospital, the team gathered in the chapel for a prayer and quick reflection on the experience. 

After the volunteering session, the group headed back to church where they enjoyed a pizza lunch in Pagoumian Hall. It was a privilege to share the day in service with such compassionate young servants of Christ! 

The 105th anniversary of the independence of the First Republic of Armenia was commemorated on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in an event organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) New York “Armen Garo” Gomidehutyun and the St. Sarkis Armenian Church community, under the auspices of Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church of Douglaston. 

U. Nazareth Markarian, Esq., served as Master of Ceremonies of the evening. 

Under the leadership of Scoutmaster Y. Toros, a group of Homenetmen New York cub scouts earned their poghgabs as well as various badges, and concluded by singing Sardarabad. 

In his keynote speech, ARF Western Region member Vicken Sosikian noted the challenges facing Armenia and Artsakh in the present.. Sossikian championed the significance of the First Republic of Armenia, while urging the Armenian people today to speak out about and resist the anti-Artsakh rhetoric that is currently prevalent within the Armenian government. 

Fr. Terterian spoke to the youth by urging them to be invested in their Armenian identity, echoing hope in the future generations in the St. Sarkis community. 

“Over the years as an AYF member, I have come to cherish the Mayis 28 celebration,” stated Juliet Hagobian, AYF NY “Hyortik” Chapter Secretary. “Having the community gathered together warms my heart, as we all pay tribute to our independence and passionately sing our patriotic songs.”

U. Lala Yerem and her band performed a medley of Armenian and heghapoghagan music, adding the perfect touch to a reflective yet celebratory evening. U. Harout Katchadourian was the amazing DJ for the night’s occasion.

The New York “Hyortik” and Manhattan “Moush” Chapters of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) eagerly attended the 51st AYF Junior Seminar in Ligonier, Pennsylvania this past Memorial Day Weekend. This year’s Junior Seminar was recording breaking with over 400 attendees of which 53 AYFers from the New York Community.

AYF Junior and Senior members gathered at St. Sarkis on Friday and said a prayer together with Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian before we hit the road for a fun filled weekend. On Friday night, attendees met their counselors and settled into their cabins. 

On Saturday, the program began with flag raising and breakfast before the start of the educationals. The weekend’s lectures covered topics such as ANCA Advocacy, Armenian Music, AYF around the world, Fighting Assimilation, ARF Fedayis, Tebi Yergir, and more. The Saturday night activity was an Artsakh themed jeopardy night followed by an interactive detective game all around the campgrounds. 

Sunday’s schedule followed a similar format of engaging lectures and free time. Since Sunday fell on exact date of May 28th, Junior Seminar participants gathered for a celebration of the 105th anniversary of the First Independence of the Republic of Armenia. AYFers concluded the celebration by singing ‘Sardarabad’ and ‘Kini Lits’. Sunday night continued with AYFers dancing to Armenian folk music followed by a DJ to finish the festivities of the weekend. 

The attendees of AYF Junior seminar had the incredible opportunity to learn about how to preserve our Armenian identity and homeland throughout the weekend. Taleen Nenejian, New York “Hyortik” Junior Member, said “I have been an AYF member for a few years but never attended Junior Seminar, and I am so glad that I did! I got to see my friends from camp and learned so many new things during the lectures. I loved learning about how AYF grew so much over all these years and how we’ve accomplished so many amazing things as an organization.” We look forward to even more success next year!

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 (Need 1 Sponsor)

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

DRY SLIDES PARK $1000 (Need 4 Sponsors)

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 (Need 2 Sponsors)

FIRE & ICE SCIENCE SHOW $600 (Need 2 Sponsors)

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

UP, UP & AWAY SCIENCE SHOW $600 (Need 2 Sponsors)

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

TUMBLEBUS $600 (Need 2 Sponsors) 

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

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

SLIME TIME $400

FIRST FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, ARS Erebouni Chapter

SECOND FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

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

FEAST OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR: DELIVERANCE FROM THE PITT

This Saturday, June 10, is the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s deliverance from the pit (Khor Viraben Yelkuh). Gregory is revered as the patron saint of the Armenian Church. He is recognized and memorialized in both eastern and western hierarchical churches. The Armenian liturgical calendar reserves three feast days in his honor: Entrance into the pit; deliverance from the pit, and discovery of relics. In addition to these three days, there are several feast days to which he is closely connected, namely the feast days for Sts. Hripsimiantz, Sts. Gayaniantz, Shoghakat, Holy Etchmiadzin, and King Trdat. The Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox churches, and Oriental Orthodox churches have special days in their calendars for the veneration of St. Gregory, who is considered to be one of the Fathers of the early Christian church.

Gregory was condemned to the pit in 287 AD by King Trdat and the persecution of Christians began. After the martyrdom of a group of nuns who came to Armenia from Rome led by Hripsime and Gayane, Trdat was stricken with strange maladies. His sister, Khosrovidukht, had a dream that Gregory was the only person who could heal her brother. Miraculously, Gregory was still alive after many years in the pit, thanks to the daily visits of an angel. Gregory emerged from the pit; the king was healed and baptized, and he declared Christianity to be the official religion of Armenia.

Gregory was not the first to preach Christianity in Armenia. That distinction belongs to the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew who came to Armenia in the first century, and thus gave the Armenian Church its apostolic designation. Nevertheless, Gregory is revered and is considered by Armenians to be the father of their faith. Hundreds of churches have been built and named in his honor.

“The ancient calendars of the still undivided Church celebrated him [Gregory] on the same day in both the East and the West as a tireless apostle of truth and holiness. The father in faith of the whole Armenian people, St. Gregory still intercedes from heaven today, so that all the children of your great nation may at last gather round the one table prepared by Christ, the divine Shepherd of one flock.”

Pope John Paul II in his “Apostolic Letter for the 1700th Anniversary of the Baptism of the Armenian People,” issued February 2, 2001.

FEAST OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

This Sunday, June 11, is the Feast of Holy Mother Etchmiadzin, the cathedral built by St. Gregory after his deliverance from the pit, to the specifications he saw in a vision, and on the place marked by the Lord with a golden hammer. This feast day commemorates the establishment of the Armenian Church and the end of paganism. Etchmiadzin is the oldest example of a four- pillar, cruciform church in Christian architecture. More than 1,700 years old, it is the oldest surviving Armenian Christian site. Relief sculptures on the exterior walls are some of the oldest examples of the Christian Armenian art of sculpting. 

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE HEBREWS (9.1-10)

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.   

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings-external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

 ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԵԲՐԱՅԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (9.1-10) 

Արդարեւ, առաջին Ուխտը եւս իրեն յատուկ պաշտամունքի կանոններ եւ երկրաւոր սրբարան մը ունէր, երկու մասերէ բաղկացած: Նախ կար վրանին առաջին սրահը, Սրբութիւն կոչուած, ուր կային աշտանակը եւ առաջաւորութեան հացերուն սեղանը: Ապա, երկրորդ վարագոյրին ետին՝ կար վրանին միւս սրահը, Սրբութիւն Սրբութեանց կոչուածը, ուր կային ոսկեայ սեղանը՝ խունկ ծխելու համար, եւ Ուխտի Տապանակը՝ ներսէն ու դուրսէն ոսկեպատ: Այս Տապանակին մէջ կը պահուէին մանանայով լեցուն ոսկեայ սափորը, Ահարոնի ծաղկած գաւազանը եւ Ուխտի Տասնաբանեայ Պատուիրաններուն քարէ տախտակները: Տապանակին վրայ կային Աստուծոյ փառքը ներկայացնող քերովբէները, որոնք իրենց թեւերով հովանի կ’ընէին Քաւութիւն կոչուած կափարիչին վրայ: Ուրիշ մանրամասնութիւններու մասին խօսիլ չեմ ուզեր հիմա:

Սրբարանը այդպէս յարդարուած էր ուրեմն: Քահանաներ պաշտամունքը կատարելու համար մշտականօրէն կը մտնէին վրանին առաջին սրահը: Բայց երկրորդ սրահը միայն քահանայապետը կը մտնէր, տարին մէկ անգամ, այն ալ, իր եւ ժողովուրդին անգիտութեամբ գործած մեղքերուն փոխարէն՝ զոհի արիւնը մատուցանելու համար Աստուծոյ: Այդ բոլորով Սուրբ Հոգին ցոյց կու տար, թէ որքան ատեն որ վրանին առաջին սրահը կանգուն կը մնար՝ բուն Սրբարանին մուտքը մեր առջեւ փակ էր, ինչ որ խորհրդանշականօրէն ցոյց կու տայ՝ թէ ներկայիս այդ Սրբարանը բաց է մեր առջեւ: Այնտեղ մատուցուած նուէրներն ու զոհերը չէին կրնար մաքրել պաշտամունքը մատուցանողին խղճմտանքը, որովհետեւ միայն ուտելիքի, խմելիքի եւ ծիսական պէս-պէս լուացումներու կապուած էին: Եւ այդ մարմնական կարգերը ի զօրու էին մինչեւ ուղղութեան, այսինքն նոր կարգերու հաստատման ժամանակը:

 THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN (10.22-30)

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."   

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆԷՍԻ (10.22-30)

Ձմեռ էր. Երուսաղէմի մէջ տաճարին նաւակատիքի տօնակատարութիւնը տեղի կ’ունենար: Յիսուս տաճարին Սողոմոնի սիւնագաւիթին մէջ կ’երթեւեկէր, երբ իր շուրջ հաւաքուեցան Հրեաները եւ հարցուցին.

– Մինչեւ ե՞րբ մեր հոգին պիտի հանես. եթէ դուն ես Քրիստոսը՝ յստակ ըսէ մեզի:

Յիսուս պատասխանեց.

– Արդէն իսկ ձեզի ըսած եմ, սակայն չէք հաւատար: Այն գործերը որ Հօրս անունով կը կատարեմ, անոնք իսկ կը վկայեն՝ թէ ով եմ ես: Բայց դուք չէք հաւատար, որովհետեւ իմ ոչխարներէս չէք: Ես ոչխարներս կը ճանչնամ. անոնք ձայնս կը լսեն եւ կը հետեւին ինծի, եւ ես անոնց յաւիտենական կեանք կու տամ. անոնք բնաւ պիտի չկորսուին: Ոչ ոք պիտի կարենայ զանոնք յափշտակել իմ ձեռքէս: Հայրս այդ ոչխարները ինծի տուաւ, եւ ոչ ոք կրնայ յափշտակել զանոնք իմ Հօրս ձեռքէն, որովհետեւ Հայրս բոլորէն աւելի մեծ է: Ես եւ Հայրս մէկ ենք:

- Mr. SARKIS ARDZIVIAN, passed on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

 -ALEXANDRA and NINA MARIE IGITIAN the daughters of Mrs. Irene Igitian were baptized on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Their Godparents were Mr. Artin Janian and Mrs. Sevana Janian.. May the Grace of the Holy Spirit always be with AlEXANDRA & NINA MARIE.

-MARI TOROSSIAN, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Grigor & Tatevik Torossian was brought to church for the 40th day dedication service, according to the rites of the Armenian Church. We welcome Mari to the life of the church and hope to see her soon for the Sacrament of Baptism.