ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH
SHNORHALI MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
February 2023
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Thank You For Supporting the ACYOA Jr Bake Sale!
The ACYOA Juniors teen youth group held a bake sale on Sunday, February 5 to raise money for Artsakh relief. The teens raised $781 on the day of the event and a generous parishioner pledged to donate another $1000 under the banner of the bake sale, bringing the total to $1781! These funds will go towards the cost of the goods in the containers being sent by the International Red Cross https://armenianchurch.us/2023/01/12/help-send-humanitarian-supplies-to-artsakh/
Thanks to everyone who participated in this event and to all the parishioners who donated funds at the bake sale.
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St. Sarkis Day Celebration
Once again Ararat Avak Society held its Annual St. Sarkis Luncheon on Saturday, February 11. Attendees enjoyed the sumptuous luncheon prepared by our extraordinary Avak committee members, Takuhi Hallajian, Mari Shafakian, Eva Shafakian, Margie Satian, and Raffi Sahakyan. In addition to all the fun, food, and fellowship, our remarkable parishioner Vartkes Keshishian entertained the attendees by graciously reciting an Armenian poem and singing an old Armenian song that left everyone mesmerized.
We are grateful to all our volunteers, mainly Ani Şimşek, Clara Andonian, Nayiree Sarkisian, and Tamara Sarkisian, who offered their labor of love with their helping hands. A big thank you to all those who came out and supported the event with their presence and financial contribution.
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Shnorhali School Students Celebrate Barekendan
On Sunday, February 12, 2023, the Shnorali School students at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, brought to life one of the most beloved and adored Armenian holiday traditions – “Barekendan.”
The day began with the students participating in Badarak and receiving Holy Communion and was followed by a beautiful event featuring an explanation of the traditions behind Barekendan through educational and fun facts. The students presented a cheerful performance which included excerpts from Tumanyan's famous Barekendan tale, demonstrations of various Armenian games, songs and dances, amusing jokes, and a humorous re-enactment of a wedding. The event was a beautiful combination of history, religion, culture, and ancient traditions.
Teachers and parents created traditional ritual dolls for use by the students in their play. Among the dolls were figures of Grandmother Utis with a ladle in her hand, encouraging people to eat everything in sight, accompanied by Grandfather Aklatis, urging moderation and the observance of the traditions of Great Lent.
The audience was also introduced to the “Camel Game"- a popular ritual during Barekendan. The camel was a symbol of all evil, representing the devil, foreign tyrants, rulers, and tax collectors. The camel would always try to intimidate people and demand payments from everyone.
The students’ performance also reflected the significance of having an abundance of different foods during the 2-week long celebration culminating on the day before Great Lent begins, known as the Boon Barekendan. That evening, people conclude their celebrations by eating milk soup, yogurt, and eggs, and preparing for Great Lent, saying: "We close our mouths with white eggs, may God make us worthy to open them with red eggs."
At the end of the event, the children explained the meaning behind the spiritual and physical abstinence during Great Lent. They talked about the meaning and importance of virtue and of feeding our souls with prayer, introduced the ceremonies and the names of the Sundays of Great Lent, and concluded by wishing the audience "Bari Kendanutyun" to lead up to the celebration of Easter.
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Annual Parish Assembly Sunday - February 19, 2023
Annual statements and reports of all of the organizations were presented and approved. The budget for the upcoming year was also approved.
We are thrilled to have the following individuals elected/reelected to fill positions within Parish Council and other committees:
Parish Council: Jack Guiragossian, Shahnur Bostan, Svetlana Hovhanissyan & Catherine Sahakian; Alternate: Rosemary Arkoian. Nominating Committee: Becky Bagdassarian, Zaven Kalayjian & Mark Krikorian; Alternate: Ani Derderian; Auditing Committee: Artur Sivaslian; Alternate Ara Stepanyan; Investment Committee: Michael Sahakian; Alternate: Harout Koseian; WED Scholarship Committee: Mark Krikorian; Alternate: Mania Missirian.
Congratulations to the newly elected members and many thanks to the outgoing members for their service.
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Lenten Period Begins
According to the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church, the Lenten season has begun on Monday, February 19. This year, at St. Mary Lenten, Services and Discussions will occur every Wednesday. The year's theme is "The Holy Sacraments of the Church and their meaning." We will learn about the Holy Sacraments of the Church and their very real implications on our daily lives. A sacrament is a rite that not only signifies some specific grace but also produces that grace in the soul of the person to whom it is administered. Although everything within the Church is sacramental, there are seven formal sacraments of the Armenian Church which correspond to the different states and situations of a person's life.
The first of the six-week series took place on Wednesday, February 22. Der Hovsep spoke about the first two sacraments, Baptism, and Confirmation. He stressed their historical importance as well as their relevance in our lives today. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, we have been born anew and given the Grace of the Holy Spirit, which equips us to face the challenges of this life and triumph over the powers of evil.
Toward the end of the service and presentation, the parishioners enjoyed fellowship with each other and dinner hosted by the Parish Council.
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A Visit to Wesley Theological Seminary
On Saturday, February 25, St. Mary Women's Guild and friends made a trip to nearby Wesley Theological Seminary to view artwork by our own member Cathy Kapikian. Cathy was commissioned by the seminary to create a 3-D rendition of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper in the seminary's refectory (eating area). As a beautiful snowfall was seen outside the refectory's glass wall, Cathy explained her faith and her creative process to the thirty-three attendees. Everyone was truly awed by the colorful, modern take of The Last Supper that Cathy created, using the mathematical Fibonacci sequence to create curved rays coming off of Christ and the disciples. (Fibonacci sequences can be seen in nature in, for instance, the shell of a nautilus.) It was an experience no one who attended will soon forget. We are very grateful to Cathy and to the seminary for affording us this wonderful opportunity.
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ACYOA Juniors Lenten Good Deed
The ACYOA Juniors teen youth group met, after Sunday badarak on February 26 to make sack lunches for those in need. The teens filled up 100 lunch bags with sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and cookies. The Small Things Matter ( https://smallthingsmatter.org/ ) non-profit organization was happy to receive the sack lunches and will distribute them. Thank you to all the parents and teens who made the project a success. A special thank you to Greg and Katie Kumkumian who organized the event!
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Baptism and Confirmation
February 25, 2023
Gabriel Aram Park
Son of David and Arpie Arax Park
Godparents: Ohannes Alahverdian and Odette Zakarian
May God bless our newly baptized with His love and may His protection and guidance always be with them.
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Wedding
February 18, 2023
Phelan David DeBurgh & Telma Melekian
Parents: Robert & Sally DeBurgh and Ohanes Melekian & Roubina Movsessian
Best Man: Menua Keshishian
Maid of Honor: Armineh Ghazarian
February 18, 2023
Tadeh Issakhanian & Maria Martirosyan
Parents: Vartan Issakhanian & Zvart Shahinian and Sarkis Martirosyan & Maya Arzumanova
Best Man: Arsen Markarov
Maid of Honor: Lusine Petrosyan
Congratulations and may God make the newly married couple worthy of the desirable crown of Holy Matrimony.
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Hokehankists - Requiem Services
February 5, 2023
For the Soul of: Paul Murad ( 1st anniversary)
Requested by: Lucy Murad, Gregory, and Andrea Murad, and family
For the Soul of: Melina Kaehn
Requested by: Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and the Parish Council
February 12, 2023
For the Souls of: Maryam Derderian (8th anniversary), Harutyun Derderian (1st anniversary), Yercanik Delikahya( 1st anniversary)
Requested by: Derian & Erdogan Families and Melkon Delikahya
For the Souls of: The Earthquake Victims in the Near East
Requested by: Der Hayr and the Parish Council
February 26, 2023
For the Souls of : The Armenian lives lost during the tragedy of Sumgait (35th anniversary)
Requested by: Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and the Parish Council
For the Souls of: Makrouhi, Mihran, and cousins, Armen and Levon Garabedian
Haroutioun Karaoglanian and his wife, Sirazart (parents), Garbis Karaoglanian and his wife, Marie
Requested by: Makrouhi and Agop Karaoglanian (Marseille/France)
May God rest their Souls in peace and may His loving favor be with their Loved Ones.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden Street N.W, Washington, DC 20016
202-363-1923 / www.stmaryaac.org
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