February 17

Great Lent

This year, the Armenian Church calendar designates Monday, February 20, as the first day of Great Lent: the season when Christians consciously turn away from worldly matters and make the effort through prayer, fasting, study, and introspection to prepare for the spiritual drama of Holy Week and Easter Sunday.

The Scriptural basis for Lent resides in the 40-day period Christ spent in the wilderness following his baptism. In the words of St. Matthew's Gospel (4:12): "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward, he was hungry."

During Lent we are called to follow the Holy Spirit to confront our own "inner wilderness", the realm of spiritual emptiness engendered by sin, laziness, and vanity. Through prayer, fasting, Bible reading, and self-examination, we are given an opportunity to renew our commitment to God and gain the strength to work at being more loving, humble, and gentle. Click here to learn more about the Armenian Church traditions concerning Great Lent.

Join us for our 2023 Lenten Series Spiritual Journey Toward Easter on Lenten Wednesdays. 

To see the 2023 Lenten Series flyer click here. 

ԲՈՒՆ ԲԱՐԵԿԵՆԴԱՆ

Բարեկենդան նշանակում է բարի կենդանություն, բարեկեցություն, ուրախություն: Եկեղեցական աստվածպաշտության մեջ բարեկենդան է կոչվում յուրաքանչյուր շաբաթապահքին, ինչպես նաև Մեծ պահքին նախորդող օրը: Վերջինս կոչվում է Բուն բարեկենդան, իսկ մնացածն անվանում են իրենց հաջորդող պահքի անունով: Բացի Ծննդյան պահքի բարեկենդանից՝ բոլոր մյուսները համընկնում են կիրակի օրվան:

Քրիստոնյայի համար «բարեկենդան» բառը ոչ թե կենցաղային, այլ հոգևոր իմաստ ունի՝ խորհրդանշելով այն ճշմարիտ բարի կյանքը և մեղքի մահով չվնասված հոգու կենդանի վիճակը, որի մեջ մարդը գտնվում էր դրախտում՝ նախքան մեղանչելը: Քրիստոնյայի նպատակն է վերստին ստանալ ադամական մեղքի պատճառով կորցրած այդ սկզբնական բարեկենդանությունը, որը շնորհվելու է համընդհանուր հարության օրը՝ ուղիղ հավատով և բարեպաշտությամբ ընթացողներին:

Այդ օրը, հիշելով դրախտի ուրախալից կյանքի վայելչությունը և տոնական սեղանի շուրջ զվարճանալով, հավատացյալը միաժամանակ խորհրդածում է առաջիկա պահքի մասին և ուխտադրվում «ապաշխարության արժանի գործեր» կատարել [Մատթ. 3.8]:

Upcoming Parish Assembly - February 19, 2023

St. Mary Annual Parish Assembly will take place on February 19th in the Cultural Hall, after Badarak. 

Badarak: 10 am - 11:30 am

Meeting: 12 noon

Light luncheon will be served Prior to Parish Assembly.



Click here to see Annual Journal 2022

February 19, 2023

Morning Service 

9:30 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:00 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

Anna Seferian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Vazrik Nishanian

Choir

Dr. Hratch Semerjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 58:1-14, 

Romans 13:11-14:25,

 Matthew 6:1-21

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

Prayer of the Week

Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, and protect the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord. Console all those who grieve, and remember those who sacrificed their very lives in your Name. Deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind.

     My soul is always in your hands and I place my hope in your Holy Cross, O Heavenly King. May the multitude of your saints intercede on my behalf. You who are patient with everyone, do not neglect me who trusts in you, but keep me in peace with your precious and Holy Cross. Amen.

St. Sarkis Day Celebration



Once again Ararat Avak Society held its Annual St. Sarkis Luncheon last Saturday, February 11. Attendees enjoyed the sumptuous luncheon prepared by our extraordinary Avak committee members, Takuhi Hallajian, Mari Shafakian, Eva Shafakian, Margie Satian, and Raffi Sahakyan. In addition to all the fun, food, and fellowship, our remarkable parishioner Vartkes Keshishian entertained the attendees by graciously reciting an Armenian poem and singing an old Armenian song that left everyone mesmerized.

We are grateful to all our volunteers, mainly Ani Şimşek, Clara Andonian, Nayiree Sarkisian, and Tamara Sarkisian, who offered their labor of love with their helping hands. A big thank you to all those who came out and supported the event with their presence and financial contribution.

SHNORHALI SCHOOL STUDENTS CELEBRATE BAREKENDAN



On Sunday, February 12, 2023, the Shnorali School students at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, brought to life one of the most beloved and adored Armenian holiday traditions – “Barekendan.”

The day began with the students participating in Badarak and receiving Holy Communion and was followed by a beautiful event featuring an explanation of the traditions behind Barekendan through educational and fun facts. The students presented a cheerful performance which included excerpts from Tumanyan's famous Barekendan tale, demonstrations of various Armenian games, songs and dances, amusing jokes, and a humorous re-enactment of a wedding. The event was a beautiful combination of history, religion, culture, and ancient traditions.

Teachers and parents created traditional ritual dolls for use by the students in their play. Among the dolls were figures of Grandmother Utis with a ladle in her hand, encouraging people to eat everything in sight, accompanied by Grandfather Aklatis, urging moderation and the observance of the traditions of Great Lent.

The audience was also introduced to the “Camel Game"- a popular ritual during Barekendan. The camel was a symbol of all evil, representing the devil, foreign tyrants, rulers, and tax collectors. The camel would always try to intimidate people and demand payments from everyone.

The students’ performance also reflected the significance of having an abundance of different foods during the 2-week long celebration culminating on the day before Great Lent begins, known as the Boon Barekendan. That evening, people conclude their celebrations by eating milk soup, yogurt, and eggs, and preparing for Great Lent, saying: "We close our mouths with white eggs, may God make us worthy to open them with red eggs."

At the end of the event, the children explained the meaning behind the spiritual and physical abstinence during Great Lent. They talked about the meaning and importance of virtue and of feeding our souls with prayer, introduced the ceremonies and the names of the Sundays of Great Lent, and concluded by wishing the audience "Bari Kendanutyun" to lead up to the celebration of Easter.

Special Gift for St. Mary Gift Shop

St. Mary gift shop is offering limited numbers of imported bottles of medieval Armenian health elixirs formulated from ancient manuscripts deciphered at the Matendaran Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. These elixirs are made in Armenia by Armen Sahakyan, a pharmacologist and botanical scholar who has been working at the Matenadaran Museum for the last several decades. A trained medical doctor ordained a deacon in 1997, Sahakyan has dedicated his life to the maintenance of Armenia’s sacred botanical traditions.

The three different batches available at our gift shop (Royal Elixir, Arates Elixir and Arates Tonic) are made from a codified recipe of medieval Armenian medicine, using a special distillation process. They contain medicinal and aromatic plants, known for their healing properties. Through the distillation and aging process alcohol is created, so think of them as perhaps Armenia’s first (healthy) cognac! 

The supplies are limited and each bottle is numbered, including the batch and year of production. All of the bottles were donated to St Mary Church, so 100% of the proceeds will go to the St Mary Endowment Fund, with a portion also going to support Armenian clergy serving in Artsakh.

"Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

This year we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church with the launch of the new "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund to help ensure our church has the resources needed to continue serving our beloved community.  

Just as you plan for your future and that of your family, please join us in planning for the future of St. Mary Church. 

We are asking for your support so that St. Mary will be able to continue to fulfill her mission for future generations.  

The link below lists various opportunities for you to make a meaningful gift of lasting significance that will help support our church's long-term security, visibility, and vitality. Please consider making either a one-time gift or pledge, which would allow you to make payments over a five-year period.

FINAL NOTICE TO RSVP Yn. Anahid Kalayjian's 90th Birthday Celebration

Join St. Mary's Prayer Group

We are initiating a new form of ministry at St. Mary Armenian Church. For parishioners who would like to make an electronic prayer request, they can do so by Clicking Here.

A group of volunteers will receive the request and pray at their earliest convenience. Additionally, a new physical prayer request box will be placed at the entrance of St. Mary Armenian Church with blank forms that anyone can fill out and drop in the box. These requests will be retrieved weekly and delivered to the members of the volunteer prayer group. If you would like to become one of the volunteers of the Prayer Group please email us. 

Please click on the link below to present your request. 

Rummage Sale

Clear out those closets! Get into that garage! Donations are now being accepted for our Second Annual Rummage Sale!

Please donate gently used/new items that are sellable! You can bring your donation (no items of clothing/shoes) to church on Sunday mornings, or arrange a time for drop off with the church office at 202-363-1923. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Armenian Speaking Caregivers Available

For information please contact the church office at 202-363-1923 or  stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

Part-time help needed

Rockville Town Center (a few minutes walk from the Rockville Metro stop on the Red Line), for details, contact Lilit at "Saints Valley" Boutique:   https://www.instagram.com/saintsvalley/?hl=en

Buy a Brick and Leave Your Legacy at

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Bricks can be ordered and purchased by clicking below and

filling out a simple online order form.

You can choose to have a 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 20 characters per line of text.

Or you can choose to have the

Armenian Cross artwork on the 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 15 characters per line of text.

Order Today While Quantities Last!

Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.

Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.

Shining a Spotlight on Artsakh at Religious Freedom Summit

Last week, the Eastern and Western Dioceses participated in the 2023 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit, in Washington, DC. The gathering brought together religious leaders, scholars, journalists, government officials, and others who promote religious freedom across the world.

Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (of the Eastern Diocese) and Artsakh Heritage Committee Chair Simon Maghakyan (Western Diocese), who also serves on the board of Save Armenian Monuments, led a series of discussions on the denial of religious freedom and other human rights violations in post-war Artsakh, particularly in light of Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Artsakh’s corridor with Armenia. They were joined by other Armenian community leaders.

Concurrent with the summit, Archbishop Aykazian and Prof. Maghakyan also moderated a high-level private discussion among various stakeholder organizations, on supporting religious freedoms and other human rights in Artsakh.

“The IRF Summit and the stakeholder discussion demonstrated, yet again, that coalition-building is important for defending Armenian rights,” said Archbishop Aykazian. “We are grateful to the many partners that discussed with us the present and future of religious freedom protections concerning all threatened communities, including the Armenian community, and for expressing solidarity with Artsakh amid the ongoing blockade. We look forward to tangible actions on this front.”

Click the following links to read more and view photos.

CASP Helps a Single Mother Make Ends Meet

“It’s hard to be a single mom and the only feeding hand for a family of five,” says Lilit Shahbazyan. “There are so many difficulties, but I do my best.”

Last year, Lilit’s twin daughters, Ruzanna and Suzanna, 16, were accepted into the Fund for Armenian Relief’s“Children of Armenian Sponsorship Program” (CASP), which supports orphans and children of single mothers with cash assistance until the children turn 18.

The additional money is an immense help to Lilit, who works as a nurse at a Gyumri orphanage and whose 17-year-old son Miakyel, has disabilities.

The financial stipends from CASP help Lilit purchase food, clothing, school supplies, and firewood, and even enable her to afford some extracurricular activities for her twins, who are learning piano and pottery. Read more on FAR’s blog.

February 19 Great Barekendan

February 19 Annual Parish Assembly

February 22 Lenten Service, discussion & dinner @7pm

February 25 Women's Guild visit to Wesley Theological Seminary@11am

March 1,8, 15, 22 & 29 Lenten Service, discussion & dinner @7pm

March 5 Networking with DC young Armenians at 1:30 pm

March 12 Women's Guild Mid-Lenten/Mitchink Luncheon

March 15 Median Day of Lent

March 18 Women's Guild General meeting @ 10 am

April 2 Palm Sunday, W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

April 9 Easter Sunday, W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

April 24 Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

May 18 Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 19, 20,21 Spring Food Festival

May 28 W.G.Hampartzoom program and lunch

1 Զգո՛յշ եղէք, որ ձեր ողորմութիւնը մարդկանց առջեւ չանէք, որպէս թէ այն լինէր ի ցոյց նրանց. այլապէս վարձ չէք ընդունի ձեր Հօրից, որ երկնքում է: 2 Այլ երբ ողորմութիւն անես, փող մի՛ հնչեցրու քո առջեւ, ինչպէս անում են կեղծաւորները ժողովարաններում եւ հրապարակներում, որպէսզի փառաւորուեն մարդկանցից: Ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ՝ այդ իսկ է նրանց վարձը: 3 Այլ երբ դու ողորմութիւն անես, թող քո ձախ ձեռքը չիմանայ, թէ ինչ է անում քո աջը, 4 որպէսզի քո ողորմութիւնը ծածուկ լինի, եւ քո Հայրը, որ տեսնում է, ինչ որ ծածուկ է, կհատուցի քեզ յայտնապէս: 5 Եւ երբ աղօթես, չլինե՛ս կեղծաւորների նման, որոնք սիրում են ժողովարաններում եւ հրապարակների անկիւններում աղօթքի կանգնել, որպէսզի մարդկանց երեւան. ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ՝ այդ իսկ է նրանց վարձը: 6 Այլ դու, երբ աղօթես, մտի՛ր քո սենեակը, փակի՛ր քո դռները եւ ծածո՛ւկ աղօթիր քո Հօրը, եւ քո Հայրը, որ տեսնում է, ինչ որ ծածուկ է, կհատուցի քեզ յայտնապէս: 7 Աղօթք անելիս շատախօս մի՛ եղէք, ինչպէս հեթանոսները, որովհետեւ նրանք կարծում են, թէ իրենց շատ խօսքերի պատճառով լսելի կլինեն: 8 Արդ, նրանց չնմանուէ՛ք, որովհետեւ ձեր Հայրը գիտէ, թէ ինչ է ձեզ պէտք, նախքան որ դուք նրանից մի բան ուզէք: 9 Եւ արդ, դուք այսպէ՛ս աղօթեցէք. "Հա՛յր մեր, որ երկնքում ես. սուրբ թող լինի քո անունը. 10 քո թագաւորութիւնը թող գայ. քո կամքը թող լինի երկրի վրայ, ինչպէս որ երկնքում է. 11 մեր հանապազօրեայ հացը տո՛ւր մեզ այսօր. 12 եւ ների՛ր մեզ մեր յանցանքները, ինչպէս որ մենք ենք ներում նրանց, որ յանցանք են գործում մեր դէմ. 13 եւ մի՛ տար մեզ փորձութեան, այլ փրկի՛ր մեզ չարից. որովհետեւ քոնն է թագաւորութիւնը եւ զօրութիւնը եւ փառքը յաւիտեանս. ամէն": 14 Եթէ դուք մարդկանց ներէք իրենց յանցանքները, ձեր երկնաւոր Հայրն էլ ձեզ կների: 15 Իսկ եթէ դուք մարդկանց չներէք իրենց յանցանքները, ձեր Հայրն էլ ձեզ չի ների ձեր յանցանքները: 16 Երբ ծոմ պահէք, տրտմերես մի՛ եղէք կեղծաւորների նման, որոնք իրենց երեսները այլանդակում են, որպէսզի մարդկանց այնպէս երեւան, թէ ծոմ են պահում. ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ՝ այդ իսկ է նրանց վարձը: 17 Այլ երբ դու ծոմ պահես, օծի՛ր քո գլուխը եւ լուա՛ քո երեսը, 18 որպէսզի չերեւաս մարդկանց որպէս ծոմ պահող, այլ քո Հօրը՝ գաղտնաբար. եւ քո Հայրը, որ տեսնում է, ինչ որ ծածուկ է, կհատուցի քեզ: 19 Գանձեր մի՛ դիզէք ձեզ համար երկրի վրայ, ուր ցեց եւ ժանգ ոչնչացնում են, եւ ուր գողերը պատերն են ծակում ու գողանում, 20 այլ գանձե՛ր դիզեցէք ձեզ համար երկնքում, որտեղ ո՛չ ցեց եւ ո՛չ ժանգ չեն ոչնչացնում, եւ ո՛չ էլ գողերը պատերն են ծակում ու գողանում. 21 քանի որ ուր ձեր գանձերն են, այնտեղ եւ ձեր սրտերը կլինեն: 

Մատթեոսի 6:1-21

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. "Thus when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where month and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither month nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 6:1-21