Monday & Thursday 10:00am to 1:00pm

 Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10:00am-4:00pm 

On Friday, October 9th, the St. Sarkis Salt & Light Youth Group held an outdoor prayer service in front of the Khatchkar of our church, where we were happy to see around 30 of our youth attend. The candle light vigil service was dedicated to our Armenian soldiers protecting our homeland and to all our brothers and sisters living in Armenia and Artsakh. Being the first in person meeting of our youth group since the Covid pandemic started in March, facilitators and youth alike were happy to see each other again. 

 

After opening remarks welcoming everyone back to our church grounds, one of our facilitators, Michael Gostanian, addressed the group with a brief summary of the current state of the war in Artsakh and directed them towards reliable sources of information. He also encouraged the youth to do their part by educating their non-Armenian friends, reaching out to their local representatives with their parents and donating. Following Michael, Der Nareg gave a heartfelt address to the youth explaining the urgency of protecting Artsakh from Azeri aggression, the important role that Diaspora Armenians can play, and appealed to the youth to keep their brothers and sisters in our homeland and especially our brave soldiers in their prayers. We all participated in the reading of Psalms together and concluded with the singing of Der Voghormia. 

 

The evening, although solemn, was a beautiful dedication to our commitment to keeping our youth connected to their church and their homeland. 

Armenian Americans held a large demonstration in Manhattan on Saturday, October 10, with majority of young people. At one point so many people filled the street that authorities stopped the traffic.

Several thousand people participated in the rally in front of the ABC studios on the Upper West Side, which started with a march from Rockefeller Plaza in front of the NBC studios.

The event was meant to bring more attention from the media to the Azerbaijani aggression against the Republic of Artsakh that has become an existential threat and a humanitarian crisis. 

ABC, CBS, and PIX 11 reported both on the event and the subsequent blocking of traffic by protestors on Brooklyn Bridge. Cars with Armenian flags stopped in the middle of the bridge. Some people got out of their cars and stood in the street.

You may read below the message delivered by His Eminence, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate at the protest:

My fellow Armenians and to all of you who have come together today as fellow citizens in this, the Land of the Free.

 

We are gathered here today to raise our voices in the name of Justice and Peace, the two poles which sustain mankind on this Earth, which is our common home.

 

Since September 27, the authorities of Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey, after several months of provocative declarations, launched their ferocious attack against a portion of our Armenian homeland in Artsakh, which is also known around the world as Nagorno Karabagh.

 

Over the last two weeks, with all its sophisticated and modern weaponry, the Azerbaijani army has been bombing mercilessly civilian targets including schools, hospitals, churches, residential buildings, and other infrastructure within Artsakh, completely disregarding all international conventions, the terms of the cease fire agreed upon in 1994, and the direct appeals of the countries who co-chair the Minsk Group, including our own country, the United States of America. The efforts of Azerbaijan in attacking Artsakh have, to date, have been unsuccessful as the citizens of Artsakh, aided by their brethren in Armenia, have beaten back the attacks upon our homeland.

 

But, in addition to the war crimes of Azerbaijan, we are also witnessing the inability of the international media to present this attack on our homeland for what it is, a direct invasion of the sovereign territory of the Armenian people who established the Republic of Artsakh in 1991 following the lawful procedures then in place in the former Soviet Union. Instead, the media are too often presenting this attack on Artsakh as a local skirmish or as a conflict where both sides are somehow at fault for bombing each other's positions. Nothing could be further from the truth!

 

That is why we are here today, to raise our voices and to remind the media of its ethical and moral obligation to report the facts of this attack on the Armenian homeland objectively, impartially, and truthfully, to help make the world aware of this unprovoked and dangerous act of war by Azerbaijan, aided and abetted by Turkey.

 

We are here today to demand of the Media not that we want them to side with Armenia or with Artsakh, but rather to provide the public with the truth, a truth that is based on the following facts:

 

-That Turkey, an ally of the United States, armed with the U.S. F-16 fighters, is bombarding Armenia, without provocation and with the potential of expanding the Azeri attack on Artsakh into a regional war.

 

-That Turkey, as part of its support of Azerbaijan, is deploying terrorist groups of jihadists, the new Al-Qaeda, the same enemies of the United States, who in 2001 waged an attack against this country that caused the death of more than 3,000 innocent American men, women, and children as well as billions in monetary losses.

 

-That the Army of Artsakh is not bombarding innocent civilians like the Azeris, but instead is targeting only military strategic posts, such as the airport of Ganja, in self-defense.

 

-That Artsakh is not a historical part of Azerbaijan, but was annexed into Azerbaijan in 1923 by the capricious decision of Josef Stalin before the people of Nagorno Karabagh exercised their right of constitutional self-determination in regaining their independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991 and reestablishing their own freedom and authentic identity.

 

-That the war being waged against Nagorno Karabagh can easily be turned into regional conflict and spiral beyond all expectations unless the world community asserts its legal and moral authority and brings an end to this unlawful attack against the Armenian people in Artsakh.

 

Yes, today we are here for justice and for peace. We are here not only to ask for understanding but to demand the truth, a truth which is the cornerstone of the mission, dignity, and reputation of responsible journalism and of the media. We are here to call upon all forms of media to bring attention to the unlawful acts of Azerbaijan and of Turkey in attacking the Armenian homeland, particularly our homeland in Artsakh. May God bless us all, our world leaders, our media, and each and every component of society in answering our prayers and supplications for justice, peace, and prosperity for the welfare of mankind and in particular for our Armenian homeland of Artsakh.

Date:

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Time: 8:00pm - 9:00pm

More dates will be available soon...

 

So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.   

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.   

I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.     

 

This Saturday, October 17, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors of the four Gospels. The word Evangelist comes from the Greek Euaggelistes which means "one who brings good news." Evangelists are given the special ability by the Holy Spirit to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly and effectively. In the early days of the church evangelism was the work of the apostles. By the third century, the authors of the four canonical Gospels became known as the Holy Evangelists, and as the church grew "evangelist" began to denote a specific office that could include "apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers" (see Ephesians 4:11-12).

                                                            

Matthew is the patron of the Church's mission. The Gospel attributed to him closes with Jesus' command to His disciples and followers to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

 

Mark had significant influence on the advancement of Christianity. Although the Gospel according to Mark is a narrative of the life of Jesus, theologians consider it to be a handbook of discipleship. The dominant message is that being a Christian is not only to believe in Jesus Christ, it is also living according to the example set by Jesus. According to tradition, Mark was the first bishop of Alexandria. One of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world is named after him in Venice, where his relics are kept.

 

Luke is the author of the third Gospel and the Book of Acts. He is considered to be the patron of physicians and artists. The Gospel according to Luke describes Jesus as "the healer of a broken world." Luke is also noted for his concern for the poor, the marginalized, women, and social outcasts. His Gospel does not end with the Resurrection, but continues to Pentecost and the eternal presence of Christ in the world. Traditionally he is believed to be one of the Seventy and the unnamed disciple in Emmaus.

 

John , often called the "beloved disciple," is the author of the fourth Gospel. He was the only one of the twelve disciples who did not forsake Christ and stood at the foot of the Cross. Jesus entrusted his mother to John's care on the day of the Crucifixion. The best known verse in his Gospel is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." According to tradition, John left Jerusalem after attending the first ecumenical council and went to Asia Minor and settled in Ephesus. He was exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation, although more recently scholars have concluded that John the Apostle and John of Patmos were two different people.

 

Thursday, October 15: Dionysius the Areopagite.

Monday, October 19: Sts. Joseph, Longinus the centurion, Joseph of Arimathea, Lazarus sisters, Martha and Mary.

Tuesday, October 20: St. Theodotus the Priest.

-Mrs. Manoushag Ardzivian, Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Lisa Ardzivian, Mr. & Mrs. Shant and Daniella Ardzivian and children Giovanni and Lorenzo request requiem service for the soul of their beloved husband, father and grandfather HOVANES ARDZIVIAN (40th day memorial service).

 

-Ardzivian, Nenejian, Khatchadourian and Fernandez families request requiem service for the soul of their beloved brother, uncle and great uncle HOVANES ARDZIVIAN (40th day memorial service). Also for the soul of their beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother ANAHID ARDZIVIAN (7th year memorial service).

 

-Mr. & Mrs. Jirair and Nora Mengouchian and children Erica and James, Ms. Nicolette Voskerijian and Mr. Jonathan Voskerijian request requiem service for the soul of their beloved father and grandfather MAGAR VOSKERIJIAN (40th day memorial service).

 

-Mrs. Anoush Atamian and family, Mrs. Hripsime Dodov and family, Mrs. Seta Kadian, grandchildren: Ms. Azniv, Mr. Hagop, Ms. Azad, Ms. Veronique, Ms. Daniella and Ms. Bianka, Great grandchildren: Mikayel, Nicholas, Alex, Haig, Taleen, Garo, Chloe and Isla request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother in law AZADOUHI KADIAN (40th day memorial service).