St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-363-1923
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Open the Door to Palm Sunday and Holy Week
On March 28, Armenian Churches worldwide will observe Palm Sunday, the feast of Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week—the sacred commemoration of the dramatic events leading to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, his victory over death, and the redemption of humanity and the fallen world. The church re-enacts these episodes in the days leading up to Easter.
In the Armenian Church, Palm Sunday is the occasion for a ceremony that will hold special symbolic meaning for many worshippers, after enduring more than a year of isolation under the pandemic restrictions. On this day the altar curtain, which remained closed throughout Great Lent, will be re-opened with the special Turen-Patzek (“door-opening”) service. Click here to view a Bread & Salt video episode about this meaningful service, titled “Doors of Mercy.”
The days that immediately precede and follow Palm Sunday feature services that resonate with Bible stories recounting the final days of Christ’s earthly ministry. Learn about these dramatic services, and read the Gospel stories they are based on, by clicking here.
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
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SUNDAY SCHEDULE MARCH 28, 2021 |
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For the Soul of:
Arsen Kirakosian
Requested by:
Larisa Avetisyan and Hasmik Avetisyan
For the Soul of:
Needa Valizadeh( 3 Year Anniversary)
Requested by:
Daryush Valizadeh
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To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or
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Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
PC Members on Duty
Mr.Artur Sivaslian
Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan
Usher
Mr. Armik Khatchatourian
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Reading
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Prayer of the Week
Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Grant them strength, and lead us together through the present time of trial.
Open to us, O Lord, the door of your mercy, and make us worthy of your dwellings of light together with your saints. Receive us also, O Savior, into your mansions prepared for your saints, and inscribe our names in the Book of Life. O formidable judge, when you sit in the judgment seat, spare your creatures through the intercession and prayers of the holy ascetics. Amen
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Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks |
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ACYOA Church Clean-up and Smores Event
The ACYOA Juniors participated in a Lenten Service Project last Saturday, March 21. About 15 teens gathered to clean and beautify the Church, picking up trash, raking leaves, doing gardening work around the Church, and doing general cleanup. Teens also made beautiful bracelets which they will sell on Palm & Easter Sunday to raise money for Artsakh. The teens then participated in an enlightening devotional message led by Patricia Yeghissian and then ended the day by making delicious smores. Special appreciation to Monica Emmerson and Lori Ann Madhok who organized this event and to Patricia Yeghissian for delivering her edifying message to our teens.
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Lenten Services and Presentation
St. Mary Lenten Services and Presentations have begun. This year's theme is "Seven Deadly Sins". During our Badarak when we read the confession text in order to receive absolution, we mention the Seven Deadly Sins naming them one by one. We admit and say the following words: “I have sinned by the seven transgressions of the deadly sins and all their forms, namely by pride, envy, anger, laziness, covetousness, gluttony and lust. I have sinned against God”. This one verse is a quote from the Confession text used in our church. The roots of this text go to the early church eastern monastic tradition of asceticism. The uncompromising battle of desert monks against sin involved them in extensive contemplation of its nature: its origins, the process of its influences, its strange characteristics, and consequences that sin may have in our lives.
On Wednesday, March 1, Yn. Jennifer Karapetyan talked about the sin of Impurity. She indicated that our society and culture impose on us that lust is something desirable. Everywhere we look there are messages that equate lust with sensuality and pleasure. However, this type of behavior, instead of being gratifying and pleasurable like the world promises, actually dulls the senses and brings emptiness.
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Ararat Avak Society Easter 2021,
Luncheon- Carry-Out Version
Sunday, April 4
MENU
- Leg of Lamb over Bulgur Pilaf & Beet Salad
- Salmon over Orzo & Sauteed Spinach
- Roasted Eggplant & Zucchini over Creamed Leeks, Beet Salad &
- Bulgur Pilaf
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Walnut Baklava Pouch
- Multi-Seed Cookies
- Homemade Armenian String Cheese
- Choreg
- Homemade Cabbage & Carrot Pickles
Homemade Armenian String Cheese & Choreg are also available for purchase on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Church Services
April 1, 2, and 3.
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Proceeds from COLORED EGGS sales to benefit children of Artsakh.
Available on Easter Sunday.
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Flower Sale
“Grace your table with beauty, fill your garden with colors.”
TREAT YOUR LOVED ONES THIS PALM SUNDAY, GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER SUNDAY!
IRIS VASE $12 TULIPS POT $15
Call and place your order at 202-363-1923 or reserve by sending your request at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
Click Below to Purchase
Proceeds will go to St. Mary’s Church
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St. Mary Armenian Church
Legacy Brick Drive
Buy A Brick ... Leave A Legacy
Buy a brick and leave your legacy at St. Mary Armenian Church.
When you buy a brick, it is then engraved with your specified words or message, installed in front of the church, and becomes
a memory to view for years to come.
Laser engraved bricks will replace the existing bricks in our Church plaza,
in front of our beautiful Khatchkar, and can be dedicated to those
you wish to remember, honor Loved Ones, commemorate a
special milestone like a baptism or wedding, or
acknowledge an organization or business.
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Zohrab Center Opens Spring Season of Enrichment Evenings
The Eastern Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center held its latest enrichment evening on Monday, March 22. The center’s spring season of lectures opened with a discussion of literary responses to the long-simmering tensions and conflict surrounding Artsakh.
The presentation by scholar Arakel Minassian, titled “Voices from Inside the Wall: Two Contemporary Armenian Texts on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict,” was broadcast over the Zoom video platform to an audience of viewers from across the Diocese and beyond.
The Zohrab Center’s new interim director, Jesse Arlen, opened the evening by introducing the speaker and his topic and gave an update on the center’s current and future activities.
Watch the hour-long program on the Zohrab Center’s YouTube channel by clicking here.
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Hear “Celestial Melodies” at the Online Sacred Music Festival
This spring, the Eastern Diocese will hold a two-day “Sacred Music Festival” running Friday and Saturday, April 16-17. Conceived by the Diocese’s Sacred Music Council at the instigation of Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel, the festival is a celebration of Armenian liturgical music, featuring educational presentations, performances, and a lecture-recital.
This is the third such festival to be held, and like its immediate predecessor last fall, the spring 2021 Sacred Music Festival will go forward as an online gathering, this time under the theme “The Holy Badarak: Our Musical Sacrament.”
The opening evening will feature a lecture-recital by the internationally-known conductor, musician, and scholar Dn. Haig Utidjian, titled “The Celestial Melodies of the Armenian Divine Liturgy.” Saturday’s sessions will include Bishop Daniel’s keynote presentation on the Holy Badarak.
Other presenters include Fr. Arshen Aivazian, Fr. Avedis Kalayjian, Fr. Voskan Hovhannisyan, Dn. Rubik Mailian, and Edita Dolunts-Kalayjian.
The festival is open to all who love Armenian liturgical music. Click the following links to:
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DOWNLOAD a flyer for the spring Sacred Music Festival.
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DOWNLOAD a flyer for the recital with Dn. Haig Utidjian.
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DOWNLOAD the full schedule of sessions and instructors.
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REGISTER in advance for the Sacred Music Festival.
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A New Edition of the Armenian Church Lectionary
A new, English-language edition of one of the central books of the Armenian Church has just been published by the Eastern Diocese: The Lectionary of the Armenian Church, known as the Jashots Kirk, which compiles all of the Biblical passages read during the church’s liturgical celebrations.
The newly-published edition is the fruit of many years of labor by Fr. Arshen Aivazian, a longtime pastor in the Eastern and Western dioceses, now retired. “This project began more than 10 years ago,” recalled Fr. Aivazian. “Gradually, week by week, I would collect the Scripture readings of the church, and also gather the materials from the church fathers that are hard to come by.”
The resulting volume represents the first complete translation of the Armenian Church Lectionary into English—indeed, into any modern language.
“This Lectionary will assist our churches in many ways,” said Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel. “The Word of God, as presented in the Bible, is proclaimed in every liturgical service of the Armenian Church. It is the magnet that draws us into the life and light of God. Only when we devote ourselves to that sacred Word, as individuals, as families, and as the Church, can we truly begin to ‘Build Up the Body of Christ.’”
A grant from the Dadourian Foundation subsidized the publication of the volume. In addition, a generous donation by the Mekenian family, in memory of the late Rose Mekenian, will allow each clergyman of the Eastern Diocese to receive a complimentary copy.
The new edition of the Lectionary is available for purchase from St. Nersess Seminary, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the mission and work of the seminary.
Click on the following links to:
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READ more about the new edition of the Lectionary.
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VIEW an informative flyer, with purchase details.
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DOWNLOAD an extract featuring Fr. Aivazian’s introduction and more.
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FAR Scholarship Helps Syrian Refugees to Pursue Studies
The Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Syrian-Armenian Scholarship,” which is supported by FAR Board Member Sandra Shahinian, was established in 2015 to help Syrian-Armenian students gain access to university educations, and improve their prospects for the future. Since the launch of the program, some 170 students from disadvantaged families have received the scholarship. Thirty-seven students won scholarships in 2020.
One such recipient is Lion Karapet. From an early age, he used to take apart computers and re-assemble them with his father. “I’ve been interested in computers since childhood,” recalled the 21-year-old, who was born in Syria but relocated to Armenia with his family to escape the Syrian civil war. “I used to read about them, explore and do tests on my own.”
In 2017 Lion began studies in information technologies at Yerevan’s European University. The assistance he received from FAR’s Syrian-Armenian Scholarship enabled him to pursue his schooling and finish his degree. He won a coveted internship in the Yerevan offices of the Internet company PicsArt. Now a junior in college, Lion has found work at the software development company VOLO.
“If not for that FAR scholarship, I would have never been able to work at PicsArt—a company many young people dream of working for. FAR helped me acquire the knowledge I’ve put into practice to build a career,” he said.
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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS |
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March 28
Women's Guild Palm Sunday Bake Sale
March 28
Palm Sunday Celebration
April 1
Holy Thursday
April 2
Holy Friday
April 3
Easter Eve
April 4
Easter Sunday
April 1
Great and Holy Thursday & Betrayal and Passion of our Lord (Khavaroom)
April 2
Great and Holy Friday
April 3
Holy Saturday – Easter Eve
March 28; April 2; April 4
Flower Sale sponsored by Daughters of Vartan
April 4
Avak Society Easter Sunday Carry Out Luncheon
April 16
A virtual conversation and cooking demo with the authors of the book "Lavash"
Presented by Daughters of Vartan
April 24
Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide
May 22
Spring Food Festival
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ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL
FUND SCHOLARSHIP
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Application for WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2021-2022 academic year is
May 31, 2021.
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PRAYERS FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR |
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Anne Andonian, Agopian David, Hripsime Apkarian, Lucy Badalian, Ellen Boudreau, Araxi Bozadjian, George Doris, Mari Dogum, Anahit Greene, Antaram Grigoryan, Susana Grigoryan, Simon Gukasyan, Karen Hatchik, Charles Hoke, Tamara Hramushina, Takvur Hubi, Jo-Anna Jacob, Edward Jamgochian, Yn. Anahid Kalayjian, Brig. Gen. Al Kaehn, Meline Kaehn, Kapikian Catherine, Michael Kolenick, Haigouhi Koudousian, Anahid Ghazarian Luka, Queen Manoogian, Susanna Mkrtchyan, Virginia (Corkigian) Mule, Armen Mark Nostrant, Marie Pashayani, Robert Schlee, Grace Shahinian, Tamara Shatvoryan, Bob Semonian, Alyce Tamzarian, Mihran Tavoukjian, Hacik Ozdul, Marilyn Ziver
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29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
21 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man says ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he came into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them and went out of the city into Bethany, and he lodged there.
Matthew 20.29-21.17
29 Եւ երբ նրանք Երիքովից դուրս էին գալիս, Յիսուսի յետեւից բազում ժողովուրդ գնաց: 30 Եւ ահա երկու կոյրեր նստած էին ճանապարհի եզերքին: Երբ լսեցին, թէ Յիսուս անցնում է, աղաղակեցին ու ասացին. «Ողորմի՛ր մեզ, Յիսո՛ւս, Դաւթի՛ Որդի»: 31 Եւ ամբոխը յանդիմանեց նրանց, որ լռեն: Իսկ նրանք առաւել եւս աղաղակում էին ու ասում. «Ողորմի՛ր մեզ, Տէ՛ր, Դաւթի՛ Որդի»: 32 Յիսուս տեղում կանգ առաւ, կանչեց նրանց եւ ասաց. «Ի՞նչ էք կամենում, որ ձեզ անեմ»: 33 Նրան ասացին. «Որ մեր աչքերը բացուեն, Տէ՛ր»: 34 Եւ գթալով Յիսուս դիպաւ նրանց աչքերին, եւ նրանք իսկոյն տեսան ու գնացին նրա յետեւից:
21 1 Երբ Երուսաղէմին մօտեցան եւ եկան Բեթփագէ՝ Ձիթենեաց լեռան մօտ, այն ժամանակ Յիսուս իր աշակերտներից երկուսին ուղարկեց ու նրանց ասաց. 2 «Գնացէ՛ք այդ գիւղը, որ ձեր դիմաց է, եւ այնտեղ կգտնէք կապուած մի էշ եւ նրա հետ՝ մի քուռակ. արձակեցէք, բերէք ինձ: 3 Եւ եթէ մէկը ձեզ բան ասի, կասէք, որ Տիրոջը պէտք են. եւ նա իսկոյն դրանք կուղարկի: 4 Բայց այս բոլորը եղաւ, որպէսզի կատարուի մարգարէի խօսքը, որ ասում է. 5 "Ասացէ՛ք Սիոնի դստերը. ահա դէպի քեզ է գալիս քո Թագաւորը՝ հեզ եւ նստած էշի ու էշի քուռակի վրայ"»: 6 Աշակերտները գնացին եւ արեցին, ինչպէս Յիսուս իրենց հրամայել էր. 7 եւ էշն ու քուռակը բերեցին, նրանց վրայ զգեստներ գցեցին. եւ նա նստեց դրանց վրայ: 8 Եւ բազում ժողովուրդ իրենց զգեստները փռեցին ճանապարհի վրայ, իսկ ուրիշներ ծառերից ճիւղեր էին կտրում ու սփռում ճանապարհի վրայ: 9 Առաջից եւ յետեւից գնացող ժողովրդի բազմութիւնը աղաղակում էր ու ասում. «Օրհնութի՜ւն Դաւթի Որդուն, օրհնեա՜լ է նա, որ գալիս է Տիրոջ անունով, օրհնութի՜ւն բարձունքներում»: 10 Եւ երբ նա մտաւ Երուսաղէմ, ամբողջ քաղաքը դղրդաց, եւ ասում էին. «Ո՞վ է սա»: 11 Իսկ ժողովրդի բազմութիւնն ասում էր. «Սա Յիսուս Մարգարէն է, որ Գալիլիայի Նազարէթ քաղաքից է»: 12 Եւ Յիսուս մտաւ տաճար ու դուրս հանեց բոլոր նրանց, որ տաճարի մէջ վաճառում ու գնումներ էին անում. նա շուռ տուեց լումայափոխների սեղաններն ու աղաւնեվաճառների աթոռները: 13 Եւ նրանց ասաց. «Գրուած է՝ իմ տունը աղօթքի տուն պիտի կոչուի. իսկ դուք աւազակների որջ էք արել այդ»: 14 Տաճարի մէջ կոյրեր եւ կաղեր Յիսուսին մօտեցան, եւ նա բժշկեց նրանց: 15 Երբ քահանայապետներն ու օրէնսգէտները տեսան այն սքանչելիքները, որ նա արեց, եւ մանուկներին, որ տաճարի մէջ աղաղակում էին ու ասում՝ «Օրհնութի՜ւն Դաւթի Որդուն», բարկացան. 16 եւ ասացին նրան. «Լսո՞ւմ ես՝ դրանք ինչ են ասում»: Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Այո՛, դուք չէ՞ք կարդացել, թէ՝ երեխաների ու ծծկերների բերանով օրհնութիւն կատարեցիր»: 17 Եւ նրանց թողնելով՝ ելաւ քաղաքից դուրս՝ դէպի Բեթանիա. եւ այնտեղ գիշերեց:
Մատթեոսի 20.29-21.1
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Please Stay Current with Your Membership
St. Mary Church brings us together to worship, educate, and serve, yet we need your help to sustain this mission. We call upon you to renew, or become a new member, because dues are the largest part of our church income to help keep our beloved parish doors open.
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Your Membership
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Help us fulfill our mission to sustain and grow our ministries, worship programs and activities to strengthen our church family for generations to come. Thank you for your generosity and support. To Learn More About Membership
To Become A Member
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Please check out new Armenian products at our Gift Shop.
Our gift shop is furnished with distinctive and unique items from Armenians all over the world. Some of the items are Armenian crosses, jewelry, paintings, religious tiles and tapestry icons, children and adult books, T-shirts, hats, bags, Armenian CDs, Armenian artwork, and much more.
The Gift Shop is open every week after Sunday Church services and by appointment. Click here to see the items available for sale in the Gift Store .
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Serves the Greater Washington, DC and Baltimore communities. Our mission is to proclaim and grow together in our Apostolic Faith in Christ Jesus and to sustain our Christian Armenian identity. We celebrate our long and enduring legacy,
the beautiful traditions of our religious and national heritage, with Christian servitude, and with love and reverence towards our Church.
We invite you and welcome you to be a part of our church,worship with us, and experience the true love of Christ as we grow together as a community.
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Signup / Stay Connected with St. Mary Church E-Newsletters and Correspondence.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church relies on the generosity of individual donors so that it may continue ensuring service to God and fellowship to the Armenian Community. Your support is deeply appreciated.
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St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
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