ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH
SHNORHALI MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
August 2023
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Celebrating Derhayr's Birthday
On Sunday, August 6th, 2023, many parishioners and friends gathered after Badarak to surprise Der Hovsep with a birthday cake. Der Hayr has been celebrating his birthday in Armenia for the past several years. It was a special day for everyone present to express their love and best wishes in celebration of Der Hayr's birthday. We would like to extend our special thanks to Ani Armani and Rubic Movsesian for presenting beautiful cakes for the occasion. We are grateful to all for their generous contribution to the 90th Anniversary Endowment Fund in honor of Der Hovsep.
We wish Der Hayr once more a blessed year ahead.
Prayerfully,
St. Mary Parishioners
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St. Mary Youth at St. Vardan Camp and St. Nersess Seminary
A group of young Parishioners had an excellent opportunity to spend several days of fun, fellowship, and spiritually uplifting experience at St. Vartan Camp and St. Nersess Seminary. They developed a deeper understanding of their Armenian faith and culture and established lifelong friendships with other campers throughout our Diocese.
The programs were focused on the Armenian religion, culture, language, history, dance, music, arts, and fellowship together with a full sports activites. St. Nersess seminary offered special programs like Deacons' Training and Youth Choir Workshop.
Our young parishoners Hovsep and Alek Seferian, Hrak Kalayjian, Sevak Stepanian patrticipated in Deacons' Training and Maria and Sevak Stepanians had an oportuinty to attend Youth Choir Wrkship. Julie Tilimian, Hovsep Seferian, Shaunt Festekjian, Andre Alexanian, Artur Avetisyan and Alexander Mirzoyan attended St. Vartan Camp.
The young people surely took home fond memories.
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Shnorhali School Launches New Website
Dear Community,
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our redesigned website. It is now live: https://www.stmaryaac.org/shnorhali-school The new site was designed to be more informative and user-friendly. It is available in Armenian and English.
Some of the new features of this site include:
• School’s History
• Picture Gallery
• Academic Calendar
• Registration
• Our team
• Teachers Portal, where teachers can access and download their lesson plans and worksheets for their classes, etc.
We are proud to announce that the website was designed and developed by Shnorhali School’s 7th grade student Ani Nishanian. Ani has been working tirelessly this summer to create an excellent website. Thank you, dear Ani, for your hard work and dedication to your School. We also extend our gratitude to St. Mary’s Web Designer Oganes Mkrtchyan for all the technical assistance with the website in this process. The site continues to be a work in progress and will be updated with more features and information in the coming months. If you have any questions or have feedback to share, please be sure to reach out!
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Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God and Name Day of Our Church
On the glorious occasion of the feast of the Assumption, St. Mary Church held a grand celebration and a special blessing of the grape service on Sunday, August 13th. The event brought together the faithful and allowed them to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and to rejoice in her assumption into heaven, to partake in the blessing of the grape ceremony, and to celebrate the name day of our beloved church.
The festivities commenced with a solemn Divine Liturgy led by Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and presided over by H. E. Abp. Vicken Aykazin. The service was filled with prayers, hymns, and readings that highlighted the significance of this holy day. The church was adorned with beautiful flowers and candles, creating a serene and reverent atmosphere.
Following the Badarak, the congregation gathered outside, for the first time in its history, for the blessing of the grape service. This ancient tradition, deeply rooted in the rituals of the Armenian church, calls for the prayer for the fruitful harvest and the abundance of blessings bestowed upon the faithful.
After the blessing, the grapes were distributed among the attendees, who joyfully shared them with one another as a sign of unity and thanksgiving. The celebration continued with a festive gathering where families and friends enjoyed a picnic organized by St. Mary Parish Council.
We would like to extend our utmost gratitude to all our parishioners for their generous contributions in memory of their loved ones. In particular, we acknowledge the Vartanian sisters for the beautifully packaged grapes as well as Mrs. Anahid Nishanian for her magnanimous gesture of also offering packaged grapes. To Deacon Mark Krikorian, thank you for the beautifully shaped candles. In addition, we are filled with gratitude for our volunteers who worked tirelessly serving in the kitchen and outside to ensure all were fed while enjoying visiting with each other. Our profound appreciation is expressed to Boris Ghazarian and his family for providing their signature Gelato and lemonade barkbarbecue.com. Last but not least, delicious Armenian coffee was made on-premises by our very own Duo-Team Beverly and Nadya Sivaslian. We are deeply touched by their continuous generosity and service.
May God continue to grace us all with His blessings and give us the ability to serve our church and community and bring glory to His name.
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"Matt Girardi - one of St. Mary's ACYOA Seniors chapter members - was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, making it difficult to meet with other members of the Church. So St. Mary's ACYOA brought themselves to him. Instead of meeting at the Church for their weekly Tuesday meeting, members came to Matt's apartment and held a potluck. In addition to the gift of their company, attendees brought him cooked food, which saved him time, money, and energy better used for fighting his battle with cancer. If you are willing to cook a meal for Matt please coordinate it on his CaringBridge website. Of course, please pray for his health and good spirits will continue to improve.
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Volunteer Corner
We extend our utmost appreciation to Anna Seferian for taking the initiative to offer altar flowers throughout the year. We welcome any parishioner who would like to adorn the church’s altar with flowers be it from their own garden or from a flower shop.
There are many ways we could serve our church and community. Please do not hesitate to share your skills and talents with us.
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Our utmost thanks to everyone who contributed to the Grape Blessing.
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Baptism and Confirmation
August 5, 2023
Hrachya Sahakyan & Mikayel Sahakyan
Sons of Vazgen & Alina Sahakyan
Godparents: Edmond & Ani Alagyozyan
August 12, 2023
Nicolas Mikaelian
Son of Levon & Nune Mikaelian
Godparents: Arshak & Anna Sirunyan
August 12, 2023
Olivia Kristosturyan
Daughter of Vahan & Tatevik Kristosturyan
Godparents: Tigran Hovhannisyan & Gohar Torosyan
August 12, 2023
Sosi Marie Ortiz & Arpie Marie Ortiz
Daughters of Jose & Melina Ortiz
Godparents: Ruben Karapetyan & Meganoosh Avakian
August 12, 2023
Mireya Sosse Loosararian Obaldo
Daughter of Ariel & Elyse Obaldo
Godparents: Brian & Alena Alsruhe and Katie Lossararian
May God bless our newly baptized with His love and may His protection and guidance always be with them.
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Wedding
August 5, 2023
Toddeh Gorgian & Lilit Kazazian
Parents: Ara & Medik Gorgian and Zorair Kazazian & Elina Bagdasaryan
Best Man: Shawnt Gorgian
Maid of Honor: Oksana Kutsa
August 26, 2023
Victor David Krikor Bozadjian and Noel Anne Krommenhoek
Parents: David Bozadjian & Hasmik Kolandjian and Carol Nemetz & Steven Krommenhoek
Best man: Geoge Bozadjian
Maid of Honor: Christian Krommenhoek
Congratulations and may God make the newly married couples worthy of the desirable crown of Holy Matrimony.
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Funerals
August 1, 2023
Hrant Yousoufian
Hrant is survived by his three children, Armen, Jasmine, and Elise, and their spouses and four children, who will hold Hrant in their memory. (Click here to learn more about Hrant Yousoufian)
May the Lord rest his soul in peace and grant His comforting Holy Spirit to the family members and friends.
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Hokehankists - Requiem Services
August 6, 2023
For the Soul of:
Archpriest Rev.Fr.Vertanes Kalayjian (7th anniversary)
Requested by:
Diramayr Yeretgin Anahid Kalayjian & Berj Kalayjian, Dr. Zaven & Mrs. Edita Kalayjian and family, Fr. Avedis & Yn. Karen Kalayjian and family
For the Soul of:
Misho Sakian (40 Days)
Requested by:
His wife, Lucy Sakian, two children, Tamar and Zaven, his son-in-law, Louis, and their Families
For the Souls of:
Dr. Arshag & Verkine Sarkissian, Mattavos & Zaven Ouzounian, Ohan Sakian & Yeghisa Mansourian
Requested by:
Sakian Family
For the Souls of:
Hnazant Tahmazian (1st anniversary) & Khatchadour Tahmazian (9th anniversary)
Requested by:
Tahmazian Families
For the Soul of:
Hermine Manoukian (40 Days);
Requested by:
Harold and Victoria Sakaryan
For the Souls of:
Iskoohi Pirijanian (40 Days), Matevos Shahverdian, Hamayak Ghazarian, Khachatoor Pirijanian & Artoosh Aslanian
Requested by:
Ghazarian and Shahverdian Families
August 20, 2023
For the Souls of :
Rose Yeghissian ( 29th anniversary),
Yervant Bahadurian (64th anniversary)
Uncle George Bahadurian (56thanniversary)
Requested by:
Patricia Yeghissian
For the Soul of :
Badrik Bostan (10th anniversary)
Requested by:
Shahnur Bostan
For the Soul of :
Araxie Prodomidis
Requested by:
Ara and Maggie Avetissian
For the Soul of :
Makruhi Semerjian
Requested by:
Louisa Baghdasarian and Bagrat Bayburtian
August 27, 2023
For the Souls of :
Armenak Boyajian, Keghanoush Boyajian and Sograd Boyajian
Requested by:
Molly Boyajian
For the Soul of :
Ruben Hayrapetyan
Requested by:
Karine Muradyan and Areg Hayrapetyan
For the Soul of :
Elfrida Kartashyan
Requested by:
Artur and Naira Babayan and their
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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