E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
38-65 234th. St. Douglaston, NY, 11363
Ս. ԶԱՏԻԿ - EASTER
Sunday Readings:
Acts 1:15-26; Mark 16:2-8
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Join us in worship this Sunday
Morning Service 10:00 AM
Divine Liturgy 10:45 AM - Sermon 11:45 AM
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Մասնակցեցէք Ս. Պատարագին
՝
Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 10։00
Ս. Պատարագ 10։45- Քարոզ 11։45
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News From St. Sarkis Church
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Լուրեր Ս. Սարգիս Եկեղեցիէն
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Dear Parishioners,
We wish you a Happy Easter. Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
Քրիստոս Յարեաւ Ի Մեռելոց, Օրհնեալ է Յարութիւնն Քրիստոսի
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay tuned to our Facebook page.
Prayerfully,
Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor &
The Board of Trustees of St. Sarkis Church
P.S. Please contact the church office at 718-224-2275 or Der Nareg at 646-217-9330 to schedule/reschedule sacraments such as Baptisms and Weddings, to arrange funeral services or have the pastor make hospital visits for your loved ones.
Please note that all church programs and events, including General membership meeting, Saturday School, Sunday school, Salt & Light Youth Group Meetings, and Dance Practices are canceled until further notice.
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Click below to watch the Homily from Holy Thursday Services
Click below to watch the Homily from Good Friday Services
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LETTER FROM ARAM I ON OCCASION OF EASTER
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Antelias, Easter 2020
His Eminence,
Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate
The Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
New York
Dear Srpazan Hayr,
The voice of the resurrected Christ echoes again in a world ensnared in suffering and uncertainty: "Do not fear, only believe" (Mark 5:36).
Indeed, fear establishes its domination when God is absent from human life. It is faith that arms the life of people with the presence of God, to face the adversities and calamities of the world. The history of our people is an eloquent testament to the power of faith to defeat every kind of evil and crisis.
At this time of anguish for the world and our people, the message of the church is the same message of Jesus Christ: do not fear, "but take courage; I have conquered the world!" (John 16:33).
In these days of restlessness that we are living, we pray for the health and safety of our Armenian people and our families. May God Most High keep you, the clergy, the community leaders and the faithful of the Prelacy from all harm and evil. May Christ, who defeated death with death, keep the world from all kinds of evil with his miraculous resurrection.
With warm paternal love,
Aram I
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
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PRELATE'S EASTER MESSAGE
Today Christendom is celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Feast of the
Fulfillment of Prophecies and of Promises; the Feast of the eternal dawn of Faith, Hope and Life; the Feast of the undeniable and unchallengeable victory of Life over Death.
The road toward this universal celebration of Faith, Hope and Life was paved, as our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself predicted, with His Passion, Crucifixion and Entombment (Mt 16.21), in
fulfillment of the Divine Blueprint, which was foreseen by the Creator as part of His eternal
Plan, and which is beyond the comprehension of all human beings and of evil principalities. It is
a Plan known only to the Holy Triune Godhead. It is a Plan in which we all have a part, a Plan
which partially is revealed to us through the words and the actions of Our Lord, who is the Way,
the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14 6).
And here, after the most humiliating, depressing and frustrating experience which followed the
Betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us now follow the three Myrrh-bearers, the women, who on
early morning of the first day of the week leave their homes and are making for the Tomb of
their beloved Rabbi, for what they think is the last time. They are going to anoint His body, a rite
called for by tradition. No one is escorting them, not the Apostle Peter, who had once boldly
declared: "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you" (Mt 26. 33), nor
the Apostle Thomas who had once courageously rallied his fellow Apostles saying: "Let us also
go, that we may die with Him" (Jn 11.16). Not even John the "Beloved Disciple" who had stood
by the Cross (Jn 19.27) is with them. It is indeed amazing to witness the unfailing commitment
of these courageous women to their Master. They are going to provide him with His last Unction.
They have heavy hearts. The Good News of the Abundant Life, that had once been promised to
them by the Source of Life must seem as dead to them as the expected content of the tomb. They know that their work will be difficult. We can hear them asking one another: "Who will roll
away the stone for us from the entrance to the Tomb?" (Mk 16 3). Yet they go on. The deep love
and magnificent respect of these three Myrrh-bearers for their Beloved One, galvanized by an
inner inexplicable power, motivates them to go forward, to embrace the Divine mysteries of
God.
And Lo! At the entrance of the Tomb they see and hear the Angel of God asking them, "Why do
you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen" (Lk 24.5). More Fear? More
Uncertainty? More Joy? All of these emotions filled them. They are momentarily confused. But
gradually things become clear, first with the appearance of the Risen Lord and later with the
descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
The power of the Resurrection, the undeniable victory of Life over Death, became an eternal
dawn of Faith, Hope and Life, motivating the Myrrh-bearing women, the Apostles, the Saints, all
of the faithful through all ages. They all walked even through the most brutal valleys of death
and yet never complained, or even tried to relieve their shoulders from the burden of the Cross.
On the contrary, filled with the power of the ever-victorious Crucified One, with Faith, Hope,
and Life, they conquered all visible and invisible enemies.
As Armenian Christians how grateful we are to our forefathers for having welcomed the Light
and the Life of the World and inaugurated the embracement of Christianity as a State Religion in
301. How grateful we are that our forefathers translated Faith into action. Their voices echoed
the Divine commandment, "Let there be Light" and illuminated the land that hosts Noah's Ark.
They invented the Armenian Alphabet so that they could translate the Word and Wisdom of God
into their daily lives. They breathed on the stones and transformed them into "Khachkars" (Cross Stones). They sang every early morning "Blessed be the Lord," "Horovel," with their oxen, while they cultivated the land. They planted seeds not only for themselves, for their own use, but also for the poor, for the birds, and for strangers.
It's true that over many centuries the horizon of Armenia has periodically been darkened.
Invasion after invasion, culminated by the horrendous and inhuman Genocide of 1915 tried make us desert our fertile land, to drown our peaceful songs, and even to exterminate an entire nation who had lived on that plateau for over five thousand years. Yet renewed with the providential strength of Resurrection, like a phoenix, "like stalks of wheat, after a storm has crushed but not broken them," the Armenian people always rose up from the ashes and continued to contribute their gifts to Society.
For the 2020 generation, the celebration of the Resurrection is not a mere pious tradition, but
rather has an existential message. For the last three months Mankind has been experiencing a
time of unparalleled global distress, agony and hopelessness, caused not by nuclear disaster but by a microscopic Virus, which has plunged us into a Pandemic. For the first time in history, as all our ethnic, color, gender, and age differences have merged into one united expression, we are shocked. For the first time, governments and scientific communities are perplexed. For many it seems as though the End of times is at our doors. The priorities of individuals, communities and nations are becoming totally reversed. In the midst of Mankind's impotence and despair, a sense of humility is growing, and we are becoming more conscious of and grateful for each and every day's blessings, the blessings that some have taken for granted. It seems that after distancing ourselves from God, the Source of Life, through Modern Philosophy - Rationalism, Empiricism, the Enlightenment, Idealism, Existentialism, Post Modernism - we are now being called to rediscover our authentic identity not in Creation but in the Creator.
There is no doubt that like the Myrrh-bearing women, a terrifying question, "Who will roll away
the stone of this global threat" is strangling and torturing our minds, hearts and souls. Yet, in the
light of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, if the most agonizing Friday is known as
Good Friday, then perhaps the horrible experience that we are currently living, may be turn out
to be a new and good starting point in the life of our Society. In this time of social distancing we,
whose sins had distanced us from Him (Is 59.2), may come closer to the mercy of God. In this
time of isolation we, who had often marginalized and neglected Him in our recent lives (II
Chronicles 12.5), may discover the most imperative of priorities: confessing God as our sole
Lord. In this time of the loss of our beloved ones, we may be transformed and actually see the
Paradise Lost.
As much as it is painful to express, I believe that the lesson of Corona Virus, more than being
threatening, is signaling to us the horror of eternal damnation. It is alerting us to be attentive of
not only of our physical welfare, but to our spiritual wellbeing as well. It is pointing to the
fragility of matter, time and space, and redirecting our focus through the EMPTY TOMB of the
Risen One to Our Lord Himself.
Let us pray, let us be alert and vigilant, and let us be patient. Let us pray for the recovery of all
those who have been infected by this severe virus. Let us remember in our prayers all of the
physicians, nurses, and medical staff who are on the front line of this invisible war, oftentimes
risking their own lives in their noble mission. Let us remember all of the public servants, who are
providing for our necessities and comforts. Let us remember all officials in the many
governmental agencies, who are dedicated to support the scientists while they search for the cure for this virus.
Let us all pray unto Almighty God, the Lord of Creation, to shower upon us His wisdom in order
not to be misguided and perplexed by the human perspective, but rather to be led by His
perspective, and to conquer each and every Gethsemane and Golgotha experience in our lives,
and to turn them into victory for His glory. Let us greet each other with the most dynamic and
ever-victorious good news, "Christ is Risen from the death" Halleluiah!
Prayerfully,
ARCHBISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
Prelate
Eastern United States of America
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Dear Friends and Parishioners,
The Twelve Session Bible Study Course on the Gospel of St. Matthew is now fully online. Each study session will last 45 minutes.
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Bible Readings
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Աստուածաշնչական Ընթերցումներ
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THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS (15.1-11)
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ Ա. ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԿՈՐՆԹԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (15.1-11)
Եղբայրներ, կ՚ուզեմ ձեզի յիշեցնել այն աւետարանը որ իմ քարոզութեամբս ընդունեցիք, եւ որուն հաւատարիմ կը մնաք: Այդ աւետարանով ալ կը փրկուիք, եթէ զայն պահէք այնպէս ինչպէս ես ձեզի քարոզեցի. այլապէս զուր տեղ հաւատացած կ՚ըլլաք:
Ես ձեզի փոխանցեցի այն հաւատքը որ նախ ե՛ս ընդունեցի. այն՝ որ Քրիստոս մեր մեղքերուն համար մեռաւ, ինչպէս սրբազան Գիրքերը կ՚ըսէին, թաղուեցաւ եւ երրորդ օրը յարութիւն առաւ, դարձեալ սրբազան իրքերուն համաձայն, ու երեւցաւ Պետրոսին եւ ապա տասնըմէկ առաքեալներուն: Յետոյ երեւցաւ միատեղ խմբուած հինգ հարիւրէ աւելի հետեւորդներու. թէպէտեւ անոնցմէ ոմանք մեռած են, բայց շատերը ողջ են տակաւին: Այնուհետեւ երեւցաւ Յակոբոսին եւ ապա բոլոր առաքեալներուն:
Ի վերջոյ, բոլորէն յետոյ երեւցաւ նաեւ ինծի, վիժածիս: Արդարեւ առաքեալներուն մէջ յետինն եմ ես եւ արժանի իսկ չեմ առաքեալ կոչուելու, քանի Աստուծոյ եկեղեցին հալածեցի: Բայց հիմա ինչ որ եմ՝ Աստուծոյ շնորհքին կը պարտիմ. եւ կրնամ ըսել թէ Աստուծոյ ինծի տուած շնորհքը ապարդիւն չեղաւ, որովհետեւ բոլոր առաքեալներէն աւելի ե՛ս աշխատեցայ, թէպէտ ինչ որ ըրի՝ ես չըրի, այլ իմ մէջս գործող Աստուծոյ շնորհքը:
Սակայն կարեւոր չէ՛, ե՞ս քարոզեցի թէ միւս առաքեալները. որովհետեւ բոլորիս ալ քարոզածը նոյն աւետարանն է, որուն դուք հաւատացիք:
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MARK (16.1-8)
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՐԿՈՍԻ (16:1-8)
Շաբաթ օրը երբ անցաւ, Մարիամ Մագդաղենացին, Մարիամ՝ Յակոբի մայրը եւ Սողոմէն գացին խունկեր գնեցին եւ պատրաստեցին, որպէսզի երթան եւ օծեն Յիսուսի մարմինը: Կիրակի առաւօտ կանուխ, արեւածագին, գերեզման եկան: «Ո՞վ պիտի գլորէ գերեզմանի մուտքին դրուած քարը», կը հարցնէին իրարու, որովհետեւ քարը շատ մեծ էր: Սակայն երբ նայեցան, տեսան որ քարը արդէն իսկ գլորուած էր: Գերեզմանէն ներս մտան եւ ճերմակ զգեստ հագած երիտասարդ մը տեսան, որ աջ կողմը նստած էր: Սարսափեցան: Երիտասարդը ըսաւ անոնց. «Մի՛ վախնաք, գիտեմ որ խաչուած Նազովրեցի Յիսուսը կը փնտռէք, բայց հոս չէ, յարութիւն առաւ: Տեսէ՛ք զինք հոս դրած էին: Այժմ գացէք, ըսէք իր աշակերտներուն եւ Պետրոսի, որ ահա Յիսուս ձեզմէ առաջ կ՚երթայ Գալիլիա. հոն պիտի տեսնէք զինք, ինչպէս որ ըսած էր ձեզի»:
Երբ ասիկա լսեցին, դուրս փախան գերեզմանէն, զարհուրած եւ ապշահար, ու ոչ մէկուն բան մը ըսին, որովհետեւ կը վախնային:
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Easter Lilies are donated By
Mr. & Mrs. Ruben & Hasmik Daglyan
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During these uncertain times, we welcome you to the practice of lighting a virtual candle.
Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered.
"When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
This Sunday Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian personally will light a candle for every donation received.
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