ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH 
SHNORHALI MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
December 2022
Women's Guild Annual Christmas Gathering

The Women's Guild held their Annual Christmas gathering on Sat. Dec 3 at Trapezaria Restaurant in Rockville, MD. Over 30 Women's Guild Members gathered for a wonderful luncheon where we enjoyed each other's fellowship through games, songs, and fun. 

The Guild also held its annual elections for the upcoming year. The two Executive Committee members whose terms were up were Hripsime Sivaslian and Nadya Koseian. The Women's Guild expresses its deep appreciation for their service this past year and for all the sacrifices they made in service to Our Lord and our Church. 

We are excited to welcome our newly elected Executive Member, Janet Arabian! May our Lord continue to bless the work of our Women's Guild and bestow his discernment on our Executive Committee as they embark on a new journey forward!

Please be on the lookout for our upcoming events and to sign up for our email list, send your contact info to stmarywgdc@gmail.com.
December ACYOA Juniors Update

The ACYOA Juniors began their celebration of the Christmas season with a party on December 3rd.  After the teens shared a potluck meal, Der Hovsep Karapetyan led a discussion about various ways we can keep the season Holy.  Next, the teens broke into small groups and competed in a gingerbread house competition, where they had the chance to win festive holiday gear. The party finished with a lively white elephant gift exchange.  The teens and their parents had a great time. Many thanks to the Seferian family for hosting this wonderful event.

At their monthly meeting, the Juniors discussed upcoming events, heard a spiritual message from Zaven Kalayjian, and concluded the Juniors sponsored Hat, Glove, and Scarf drive.  

The Hat, Glove, and Scarf drive resulted in 75 warm winter items being donated to Thrive DC (www.thrivedc.org). The Juniors would like to thank the congregation for all their support in this effort.
St. Mary Church - 90th Anniversary

On Saturday, December 11, St. Mary Armenian church celebrated the 90th anniversary of its establishment at the historic Heritage Hall of the Catholic University of America (CUA). Over 240 parishioners and friends came together for a celebration to rejoice in the past and embrace the future with a new vision. Those in attendance enjoyed a beautiful program and delicious food. 

During the program, longtime St. Mary community and church members were honored for their contribution and powerful impact on generations of Armenians. This year's honorees were: Mrs. Clara Andonian; Mr. and Mrs. Ed and Roseann Alexander; Mr. and Mrs. Sahag and Betty Dedeian; Mr. Paul Ignatius; Mrs. Meline Kaehn; Yn. Anahid Kalayjian; Mrs. Gloria Kassabian; Mr. and Mrs. Casey and Bella Kazanjian; Mrs. Gloria Kazanjian; Mrs. Helen Krikorian; Mrs. Verjin Sahakian; and Mr. Zakar Shahverdian. 

The program also included a magnificent performance of the Zulal Armenian A Capella Trio, who sang ancient traditional Armenian songs with their beautiful voices, giving a unique flavor to the celebration. 

The Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening, Ms. Mariam Khaloyan, introduced the Keynote speaker, Mrs. Sarah Ignatius, recently retired Executive Director of NAASR, who delivered an excellent speech emphasizing the role and mission of the Armenian church in the past and present. She concluded: "St. Mary Armenian Church plays a vital role in filling that space in our hearts when we search for meaning, hope, spiritual direction, continuity with our lost homeland, fidelity to our traditions, and communion with our ancestors, family, and friends… Enduring faith has helped to keep Armenian people together in hard times and good times and has brought us together here tonight." 

Remarks were also made by Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan, Parish Council Chair, H. E. Ms. Lilit Makunts, Ambassador of Armenia to the US; Mr. Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of Artsakh; V. Rev. Fr. Mark Morozowich, Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at CUA; Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor, and H. E. Abp. Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate. 
 
On this occasion, a new "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund has been established to ensure the church has the needed recourses to continue serving our wonderful community and for the brighter future of our parish and church. 

The 90th Anniversary Celebration continued the next day, Sunday, December 12, during the Badarak celebrated by H. E. Abp. Vicken Aykazina, where ten dedicated altar servers of St. Mary were ordained acolytes and received a special blessing from His Eminence. Ordained acolytes are Alek Seferian; Alex Nazaryan; Andranik Seropian; Aram Seropian; Davit Barseghyan; Edmund Mcclure; Sevak Stepanyan; Van Topjian, and Vartan Karapetyan. We congratulate our newly ordained acolytes and wish them fruitful service to the Lord and His Church.  

Thank you to all those who contributed and supported this event and made it a great success. 
Christmas Hantess

The Shnorhali School held its annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, Dec.18. Over 50 students from grades Kindergarten to High school shared the wonderful news of our Saviour's birth through the retelling of Jesus's birth story combined with classic carols and songs. 
Under the direction of our diligent Sunday School Coordinator Beverly Sivaslian, families also enjoyed a visit from Santa Claus, a Christmas craft table, and enjoyed delicious donuts and coffee. Special appreciation goes to the Sunday School teachers Nicolette Blackwell, Nadya Sivaslian, Mike Sahakian, Greg Kumkumian, Rebecca Bagdasarian, and Yeretzkin Jennifer for all their preparation with the students. And thanks to our amazing, talented musical performers Nareg, Armen Boghosian, Tigran Gomstyan, and Taghouhi Gomtsyan. Everyone brought their service and efforts to make this Hantess a memorable experience! The Shnorhali School serves to educate the children of the St. Mary community from Pre-K to High School in the Armenian language, history, and religion. For more information about the school, please contact shnorhalischool@gmail.com
To view a beautiful video compilation of the Hantess prepared by our dedicated Principal Nunik Nishanian, please click on the link below.
Candlelight Hokehnaksit Service

Special Candlelight Hokehankist service took place on December 25. During the Hokehankist, Der Hayr led the prayer in remembrance of the souls of loved ones and dedicated members of St. Mary Armenian Church.

To see the list, please click on the link below.
Hokehankists - Requiem Services
December 4, 2022
For the Souls of: All the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia
Requested by: Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and the Parish Council.

For the Souls of: Arto Satian (2nd Anniversary) and Ripsime Arabian Zenopian (13th Anniversary)
Requested by: Margie Satian and Family

For the Souls of: HartouVaroujanian (1st Anniversary), Alice Varoujanian (17th Anniversary), and Araxie Varoujanian (16th Anniversary)
Requested by: Varoujan & Leeza Varoujanian, Emily & Sophia Varoujanian

For the Soul of: Krikor Cimen (40 Days)
Requested by: Mrs. Seyran Cimen (wife), Mr. & Mrs. Senyurt and Rossi Chimenian (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. & Mrs. Ani and Bevin Cherot (daughter and son-in-law), and Mr. & Mrs. Gazer and Surpik Cimen (brother and sister in law) and families

For the Soul of : Dr. Erwin Asenbauer (Vienna - Austria) (1st Anniversary)
Requested by: Dr. Archalus Tcheknavorian-Asenbauer (wife), Dr. Talin Barisani-Asenbauer (daughter) & family, Dr. Haig Asenbauer (son) & family, Mrs. Ida Tjeknavorian (sister-in-law), and Mrs. Anoush Gavoor (niece) & family
Mr. Yervant Varjabedian, Mrs. Astghik Abrahamian, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gavoor & family

For the Souls of: Hagop Shafakian (7th Anniversary), and Kevork & Mary Cancikyan
Requested by: Eva Shafakian

For the Soul of: Arshalus Cecki ( 6th Anniversary)
Requested by: Onnik Cecki

For the Soul of: Nikolai Mushegian (40 Days)
Requested by:  Irina Sorokina (mother), Arcady Mushegian (father), Alexandra Mushegian, and Natalia Mushegian (sisters)

December 18, 2022
For the Souls of: Raphael and Anahid Missirian
Requested by:Topjian Family 

For the Souls of : December 7th earthquake victims
Requested by: Tomyan, Vandanian, Kazarian, Avoyan, Shakhbekyan, Kofman, Cerqueira
 
For the soul of : Serpouhie Aslanian
Requested by: Armen Kankanian (son)

For the Soul of: Donna Jean McClure (2nd Anniversary)
Requested by: Sean McClure, Syuzanna Simonyan, and grandchildren (Mariam, Alfred, and Edmund)

For the Souls of : Avedis Ozkayan , Paris Ozkayan, Atam Ozkayan, Artur Ozben and Mariam Ozben
Requested by: Gulbahar Ozkanyan and Family

December 25, 2022
For the Souls of : All our loved ones and dedicated members of our Church. 
To see the list, please click on the link below.

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