E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

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

Sunday: 09/17/2023

ԽԱՉՎԵՐԱՑ - FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Sunday Readings: 

Isaiah 49:13-23; Galatians 6:14-18; John 3:13-21 

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

This Sunday September 17, will celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross . 

On the Feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross we bless Basil.

The Basil for this Sunday are donated by

SATURDAY SCHOOL PTA

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Due to unforeseen inclement weather expected this weekend, the St. Sarkis Church Picnic has been rescheduled for September 24, 2023. Although disappointed by the delay, this extension gives all of us the opportunity to continue our support and participation in raffle purchases and donations to defray some of the picnic expenses.

As always, thank you so much for your generosity and dedication.

The Picnic Committee 

SPONSORS

Patron Circle $1,000

Mr. & Mrs. Karl & Alice Alajajian

Mr. & Mrs. Timothy & Elin O”Brien

Mr. & Mrs. Zareh & Kathy Voskerijian 

Leadership Circle $500

Drs. Armand & Janet Asarian

Mr. & Mrs. Veh & Arpine Bezdikian

Drs. Alina Djougarian and Demetri Koutsospyros

Drs. Haroutiun Avedissian & Astra Garjarian

Dr. & Mrs. Harry & Mary Kasparian

Mr. & Mrs. Eduard & Alina Kochoumian

Drs. Arthur & Louiza Kubikian

Dr. & Mrs. Alex & Natalie Meneshian

Mr. Dennis Kurpius & Dr. Annita Nerses

Mr. James Puccio (Glascott Funeral Home)

STATIONS

Grill & Serve $3,000 (Three  sponsors $300 each)

Dr. & Mrs. Armand & Laura Asadourian

The Baron Team, Keller Williams Realty

Dr. & Mrs. Hagop & Hilda Gorgissian

Mrs. Lynn & Ms. Marissa Jamie

Mr. & Mrs. Vicken & Pamela Keshishian  

Drs. Aram & Michelle Kirkorian

Mr. & Mrs. Gary & Aida Papazian

Kids Activities $2,400 (Four sponsors $400 each)

Mr. Varouj Oghali

Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian

Tent/Tables/Chairs Rental $2,000 (Six sponsors $200 each)

Mr. & Mrs. Douglas & Talar Aprahamian

Mr. & Mrs. Hagop & Angela Garabedian

Mr. & Mrs. Berc & Narcisse Gokberg (Crown Findings Co. Inc.)

Mrs. Dirouhie Kasparian

Helping Hands $1,500 (Nine sponsors $150 each)

Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Elizabeth Ohannessian

The Sound of Music ( $100 each)

Dr. & Mrs. Stephen & Liza Andreopoulos

Mr. & Mrs. Ghevont & Lydia Baghdassarian

Mr. & Mrs. Garabed & Chagane Eramian

Mr. & Mrs. Shaun & Christine Hogan

Mrs. Anahid Kassabian

Mrs. Anita Masoian

Dr. & Mrs. Louis & Elenne Najarian

Mr. & Mrs. Torkom & Alice Pilibossian

Mr. & Mrs. Garabed & Sofi Seoylemezian

Mr. & Mrs. Armen & Janet Tutuyan

Beverage Fountain ( $250 each)

Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Coharig Barsamian

Mr. & Mrs. Haig & Laura Giragosian

Mr. & Mrs. Vahe & Elsie Halajian

Dr. & Mrs. Garo & Rubina Nazarian

Mr. & Mrs. Yeprem & Madeleine Nazarian

Bistro Café & Pastries ( $200 each)

Mr. & Mrs. Setrag & Annie Kazandjian

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel & Lilit Manukyan Indzhigulyan

Mr. & Mrs. John & Mellada Miskaryan

Mr. & Mrs. Armen and Gayane Pogosyan

(In memory of their beloved parents)

Espresso/MilkShake Bar ($100 each)

Mrs. Mary Arslanian

Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Arpi Bekian

Mrs. Gail D’Onofrio

Mr. & Mrs. Garbis & Vicky Hagobian

Mr. & Mrs. Shant & Olga Hagobian

Mr. & Mrs. Sevag &  Claudia Mouradian

Ms. Malvina Shishmanian

Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Lori Ohanesian

Popcorn/Cotton Candy ( $50 each)

Anonymous

Mrs. Lolita Babikian

Ms. Victoria Bodyikoglu

Mr. Sahak Setrak Hagopian

Mr. Aram Zkon Hagopian

Mr. & Mrs. Ohannes & Arsha Karinca (Mayfair Wine & Liquor)

Mr. & Mrs. Karabet & Margrit Koroglu

 Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Elizabeth Ohannessian

Mrs. Varsenne  Sarkissian

GENERAL DONATIONS

Mr. & Mrs. Edmund & Tamara Gregorian 

Mrs. Aida Jamgocian

The St. Sarkis Book Club met on September 12th to discuss Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi. Members shared their thoughts on his phenomenal success, his identification with his Armenian ancestry ( or lack thereof), and what role parents and grandparents play in their children’s quest for success. The next meeting is scheduled for October 17th to discuss The Gardens of Silihdar by Zabel Yessayan.  

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your generous donation to St. Sarkis Church.

Your continuous support of St. Sarkis Church is sincerely appreciated. It is because of dedicated individuals like you, that our church continues its spiritual mission and service.

May God bless you for your kindness and reward you abundantly.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor &

Board of Trustees

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

This Sunday, September 17, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats), which is the last of the five Tabernacle Feasts observed by the Armenian Church during the liturgical year. The Exaltation celebrates the transformation of the cross as an instrument of punishment into a venerated symbol of life and victory. A sacred religious symbol that was now exalted and glorified.  

Most Christian churches commemorate this holy day on September 14. The Armenian Church celebrates it on the Sunday closest to September 14. It is the oldest of the feasts devoted to the cross. The cross, once a means of death for criminals, became the dominant symbol of triumph over death. Christ’s apostle James, Patriarch of Jerusalem, elevated the Holy Cross during a religious ceremony while chanting the hymn, “Khachee oh Krisdos Yergeer Bakanemk,” (To Your Cross We Bow), thus accepting the cross as a symbol of salvation and an object of utmost veneration. James was later martyred in Jerusalem, and upon his grave stands the expansive Armenian monastery of St. James in Jerusalem.   

There are four feasts devoted to the cross in the Armenian liturgical calendar, with the Exaltation being the most important. The other three are: Apparition of the Holy Cross; Holy Cross of Varak, and Discovery of the Cross. Each of these four holidays devoted to the Holy Cross are related to the life and the salvific work of our Lord.   

The ceremony for the Exaltation begins with the decoration of the Cross with sweet basil (rehan), a sign of royalty, and also as a symbol of the living cross that is carried around the church in a procession led by the priest, and followed by deacons and altar servers. After the Bible readings, the officiating priest lifts the Cross and makes the sign of the Cross, and blesses the four corners of the world (Andastan service), asking God’s blessing and bounty for the prosperity of the Armenian Church and for the fruitfulness of the land, and all the holy places and inhabitants thereof.   

The Khachveratz ceremony was prepared by Catholicos Sahag Dzoraporetsi (677-703). He also composed the hymn that is sung on this day. As with other Tabernacle Feasts, the Exaltation is preceded with a period of fasting (Monday to Friday), and followed by a Memorial Day (Merelotz). The Eve of this Feast is also celebrated (Navagadik). Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, following Memorial Day are feast days dedicated to the Holy Church.   

Name day commemorations this Sunday include: Khatchadour, Khatchig, Khatcherets, Rehan, Khatchkhatoun, Khachouhi, Khatchperouhi, Khosrov, Khosrovanoush, Khrosrovitoukhd, and Nshan. 

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE GALATIANS (6.14-18)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.   

Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.   

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԳԱՂԱՏԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (6.14-18)

Գալով ինծի, քա՛ւ լիցի որ մեր Տիրոջ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի խաչէն զատ ուրիշ բանով պարծենամ: Այդ խաչին միջոցաւ աշխարհը մեռած է այլեւս ինծի համար, ինչպէս ես մեռած եմ աշխարհին համար: Կարեւորը մարդուս թլփատուած կամ անթլփատ ըլլալը չէ, այլ՝ նոր արարած ըլլալը: Թող Աստուծոյ խաղաղութիւնն ու ողորմութիւնը ըլլան բոլոր անոնց հետ, որոնք այս սկզբունքին համաձայն կ’ապրին. բոլոր անոնց՝ որոնք իր ընտրեալ ժողովուրդը կը կազմեն:

Այսուհետեւ, խնդրեմ, ոեւէ մէկը աշխարհիկ հոգերով թող զիս չնեղէ, որով­հետեւ ես Յիսուսի կը պատկանիմ, ինչպէս մարմնիս վրայ վէրքերուն սպիները կը վկայեն:

Եղբայրնե՛ր, մեր Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոսի շնորհքը ձեր բոլորին հետ ըլլայ: Ամէն:

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN (3:13-21)

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.  

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

 ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆՈՒ (3.13-21)

Ո՛չ ոք երկինք ելաւ՝ բացի Մարդու Որդիէն, որ երկինքէն իջաւ, եւ որ երկինքի մէջ է: Եւ ինչպէս Մովսէս պղինձէ օձը բարձրացուց անապատին մէջ, նոյնպէս ալ Մարդու Որդին պէտք է բարձրանայ, որպէսզի անոր հաւատացողը յաւիտենական կեանք ունենայ: Որովհետեւ Աստուած ա՛յնքան սիրեց աշխարհը, որ մինչեւ իսկ իր միածին Որդին տուաւ, որպէսզի անոր հաւատացողը չկորսուի, այլ յաւիտենական կեանք ունենայ: Որովհետեւ Աստուած իր Որդին աշխարհ ղրկեց՝ ո՛չ թէ որպէսզի աշխարհը դատապարտէ, այլ որպէսզի աշխարհը փրկէ: Ով որ կը հաւատայ անոր, չի դատապարտուիր. իսկ ով որ չի հաւատար անոր, արդէն իսկ դատապարտուած է, Աստուծոյ միածին Որդիին չհաւատալուն համար:

– Եւ դատապարտութիւնը այս է.- Լոյսը աշխարհ եկաւ, բայց մարդիկ խաւարը լոյսէն աւելի սիրեցին, որովհետեւ չարութիւն կը գործէին: Ով որ չար գործ կը կատարէ՝ կ’ատէ լոյսը եւ լոյսին չի գար, որպէսզի իր գործերը չյայտնուին: Սակայն ով որ կը կատարէ ինչ որ ճշմարիտ է՝ լոյսին կու գայ, որպէսզի յայտնի ըլլայ թէ իր գործերը Աստուծոյ կամքին համաձայն գործուած են:

The Ladies Guild fellowship hour will be held in Pagoumian Hall and is hosted by:

-Yn. Annie Terterian 

-Mrs. Zepiur Ardzivian

-Mrs. Lena Felice