ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH 
SHNORHALI MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
September 2022
Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was celebrated at St. Mary Armenian Church on September 11, with an Antasdan Service immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats in Armenian) on the Sunday nearest to September 15.

It is one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church and the most important of the four feasts of the Holy Cross. According to the tradition, the first one to "exalt" the Cross was the Apostle James of Jerusalem, also known as the "Brother of the Lord." 

During the Antasdan service, the processional cross adorned with basil (a symbol of royalty) was carried and the four corners of the church were blessed as a sign of the sanctification of the world. This sweet-smelling plant is associated with the celebration of this feast because, in the early decades of Christianity, basil was a symbol of royalty, befitting the Savior who was crucified as a King. Church traditions also recall a beautiful story of the miraculous growth of basil on the ground at the foot of the Cross of the Lord after it had been removed. Basil, according to pious traditions, continued to grow on that ground despite the faithful cutting and taking it home. 
Prayer for the Republic of Armenia

September 21st marked the 31st anniversary of the Armenian republic. At St. Mary, the occasion was marked with a special prayer service of thanksgiving and protection of Armenia. In light of the past week’s developments, our hearts are intensely focused on the well-being of Armenia and Artsakh, the health and safety of our people, and the enduring security of our homeland. Der Hayr encouraged everyone to continue praying for our homeland, people, and soldiers who protect our borders. 

A special requiem service was conducted for the souls of all the soldiers and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives protecting Armenia and Artsakh. 

On this occasion, the community also welcomed His Excellency David Babayan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh. 
Celebrate the return of our 74th Annual Food Festival

Our annual food festival returns this year on October 7, 8, and 9 and we are looking forward to celebrating with you once again.

We would like to thank all the volunteers who contributed and still are to make this event possible. Most of all special thanks to our devoted, hard-working, energetic group of women of our beloved Women's Guild committee who spared no time or effort and worked tirelessly for weeks in advance to cook and bake in preparation for our Food Festival. Special appreciation also goes to a dedicated group of men who in their turn helped in cutting the meat and chopping the onions. May God bless you all!

This event is a great opportunity to experience our delicious Armenian homemade foods and desserts as well as show your support for St. Mary Church.

We still need an army of volunteers to ensure a smooth and orderly process during the festival.
Please click on the link below to view the online sign-up sheet or to place your online orders.

We look forward to seeing everyone over the weekend.
An afternoon filled with learning and collaboration building among the Shnorhali School students and parent-teacher community

On September 18th after school students, teachers, parents, and other parishioners got together for the Back-to-School socializing event focusing on the Armenian language, heritage, religion, culture as well as arts and crafts. It was a great opportunity for parents to engage with school activities, for students to mingle together, and for teachers to exchange tips and ideas on learning methods and the like.

Der Hovsep Karapetyan, the pastor of the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church offered a special prayer dedicated to the safety, security, and peace of the Armenian nation, after which Shnorhali School’s graduates of the previous academic year received the graduation certificates issued by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Shnorhali School’s principal, Nunik Nishanian, in her concluding remarks once again congratulated our graduates and expressed hope that they will continue to develop their knowledge of their heritage, national, and religious values acquired at the school and will become great leaders in their communities and will serve as good examples to their younger peers.

During the event, the presentation of the yearbook reflecting the complete overview of the previous academic year's work and events was also held. Students seemed to share a feeling of being part of a larger community and an appreciation for the Armenian language. It is especially important for some of our students who may be shy to engage or may not speak Armenian so well to share that sense of belonging, and hopefully develop more interest in learning Armenian and making Armenian arts and crafts.
The ACYOA Juniors

The ACYOA Juniors teen youth group gathered for their first meeting of the year on Sunday, September 18th after badarak.  After a social time of games and pizza, the teens discussed potential events and service projects they would like to sponsor this year. A spiritual message concerning a Christian response to anxiety and stress was presented.  Bring your teen, aged 13 to 18, to our next meeting or event!
Acolyte and Deacon Training

St. Mary Acolytes and Deacons have resumed their monthly sessions with Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian.

Hayr Soorb meets with our altar servers and deacons on zoom and practices with them the parts of Badarak, Morning and Evening Services, and litanies. The zoom meetings take place on the last Saturdays of each month. In addition, our altar servers will be meeting in person on Sundays after Badarak. If you have children who would like to serve on the altar on Sundays and participate in the Acolyte training, please contact Dn. Mark Krikorian or Der Hovsep.

We are happy to announce that a few of our altar servers will be ordained as acolytes on December 11, during the Divine Liturgy.
Wedding

September 17, 2022
David Oganesyan & Gohar Avagyan
Parents: Vaheh & Natalia Oganesyan and Karen & Nvard Avagyan
Best Man: Davit Avagyan
Maid of Honor: Lilit Sargsyan

Congratulations and may God make the newly married couple worthy of the desirable crown of Holy Matrimony.
Funeral

September 15, 2022
Sonik Sayadian
She is survived by 3 children Albert, Anahid, and Robert, daughter in laws Gail Andrea and Valentine, 4 grandchildren, Nicole (spouse Ben), Edmund, Melina (spouse Brian), and Arkadi, and 2 great-grandchildren Lia and Tanner.
Hokehankists - Requiem Services
September 4, 2022
For the Soul of :
Ara Zarookian( 40 Days)
Requested by:
Talin, Anette and Yvette Zarookian, Nejdeh and Sona Zarookian, Tirdad and Anita Zarookian and their families

September 18, 2022
For the souls of:
All our Soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the protection of our Homeland.

For the soul of:
Haroutioun Bardizbanian ( 23rd Anniversary)
Requested by:
Raffie, Maureen, Arthur & Raffie Jr. Bardizbanian

For the soul of:
Qajik Stepanyan
Requested by:
Artur Zanyan, Erna Stepanyan

September 25, 2022
For the soul of:
Berjouhi Kazanjian
Requested by:
Ani, Larry, Jennie & Peter  Kazanjian-Law family

For the soul of:
Maisa Popova (1st Anniversary)
Requested by:
Avedis & Anna Seferian and family

For the soul of:
Hnazant Tahmazian
Requested by :
Tahmazian Families

May God rest their Souls in peace and may His loving favor be with their Loved Ones. 
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden Street N.W, Washington, DC 20016 
202-363-1923 / www.stmaryaac.org