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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A Prayer for the Massacred Innocents of Uvalde, Texas
O Christ our Lord: You are the hope and consolation of the broken-hearted. We invoke your name during these difficult days for our nation, as we witness the aftermath of yet another mass shooting. With heavy hearts and troubled minds, Lord, we come to you seeking divine guidance, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Let your mercy embrace all of the innocent victims of the devastating shooting in Uvalde, Texas; through our prayers, lift up the grief-stricken parents who lost their sweet children and loved ones in this outrage.
Remember, as our loving Creator, the nineteen innocent children and two adults whose lives were taken in a senseless, malicious act. Usher their souls into your Kingdom, to find eternal rest in your presence. Let the bereaved families find relief from the unbearable pain of their ordeal, through the mysterious, healing grace of the Holy Spirit.
We implore you, O God, to bring the light of your counsel to our nation at this time. We pray that you will inspire our lawmakers to address the relevant issues—involving the use and abuse of weapons, the treatment of mental illness, and public safety and protection, among others—in serious, sensible, and practical ways, and not in the cynical, self-serving manner to which we have become sadly accustomed.
At the same time, we are aware that no merely human solution can address the existence of evil in this world. Only you, Heavenly Father, through the redeeming sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, can fully address that reality. And so we place our trust in you alone, Lord. Only in you will we find true safety, true justice, true peace that passes all human understanding.
United in this humble prayer, we ask for your blessing, and offer glory to you as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages and ages. Amen.
Click here to read a Message from Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
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Second Palm Sunday
On the Sunday following the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, the Armenian Church celebrates "Second" Palm Sunday. The name of the feast has been derived from Palm Sunday, which precedes Easter. In the week leading up to His betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, the "first" Palm Sunday symbolized the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem where people met Him with great joy and glorified His Holy Name. The Second Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the triumphant entry of the Ascended Christ into the Heavenly Jerusalem, where the angels meet him with great happiness and delight.
According to tradition, during St. Gregory the Illuminator's imprisonment in the pit, he was visited every day by the same angel. However one day, the angel did not come. The following morning, St. Gregory inquires to the reason for his absence, to which the angel responds that during the Ascension, Christ had passed through the ranks of the Angels, and they celebrate that feast each year. The angel visiting St. Gregory was from the fourth class of angelic hosts, and thus, on the fourth day following the Ascension, his rank of angels commemorates and celebrates Christ's Ascension to heaven every year.
Second Palm Sunday once more reminds us of the Ascension of Christ and grants us the hope for ascending to heaven after our deaths and being in the bliss of God's presence.
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
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Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Usher
Mrs. Anna Seferian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Shoghig Sahakyan
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Readings:
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For the Soul of:
Anahit Movsesyan
Requested by:
Arshak, Zoya, Lilit, Ruzan, Gagik Ghazarayn
For the Soul of:
Maisa Popova, Valeri Andriasov, Anna Popova, Alexander Popov, Svetlana Markaryan
Requested by:
Anna and Avedis Seferian
For the Soul of:
Jerry Hekimian
Requested by:
Margot Hekimian and family
For the Soul of:
Araxi Bostanian Kobrin, Sarkis and Esther Bostanian, Dikran and Armina Bostanian, John, Elizabeth, Joyce Elizabeth Shanlian,Avedis and Kohar Shanlian, Kerop and Sarah Shanlian
Requested by:
Melanie Kobrin
Altar Flowers
donated by Ghazaryan and Seferian families in memory of their loved ones
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To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923
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Prayer of the Week
Christ, guardian of all creatures, let your right hand be a shadow over me day and night, tarrying at home and traveling, sleeping and rising, that I may never fail. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner.
Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord. Deliver the world from every single conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.
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Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks |
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Graduation Celebration
The ACYOA Juniors came together on Saturday. May 14 to celebrate their 2022 graduates and join together for one last night of fun before the summer break. With the generous hospitality of the Seferian Family, teens and parents enjoyed a wonderful evening of delicious food, games and fellowship with a special presentation for our Seniors. Congratulations to our graduates: Julie Tilimian, David Sahakian, Shaunt Festekjian, Ani Mkrtchyan, and Sosie Scott, who were each presented with a special gift of an icon of St. Mary by Yeretzkin Jennifer. All enjoyed a special video of the year's activities and afterwards the teens had fun playing games. Congratulations to all our graduates and we wish them well in this next chapter of their lives.
We also would like to express special appreciation to Avedis, Anna, Hovsep and Alek Seferian for so warmly opening their home and hosting this wonderful event!! The ACYOA Juniors are appreciative and thankful for all of the parents and families throughout this year who have supported and provided them the opportunity to have fun while fulfilling their mission to serve our Lord through service to our Church and community. The book of Hebrews implores us, "Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." And the families that have provided support to our ACYOA Junior have lived this teaching first hand. Thank you and May our Lord bless you all for your service to our youth. For more information on the ACYOA Juniors, please email stmaryyouthdc@gmail.com.
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Spring Food Festival
Our May Spring Food Festival was a great success after coming back from a two-year
long hiatus due to the pandemic. We would like to extend our greatest appreciation to all Women’s Guild members and volunteers for donating their time and efforts. With their tireless work, this event would not be possible.
The extensive preparations, planning and several workshops paid off to make this three-day long Festival a success. This was a wonderful opportunity to bring the community together while enjoying every moment. At the end of the day, our faces may have been physically tired however the pictures show the happiness and joy that was in the air.
Our appreciation is also extended to our supportive neighborhood and repeat visitors from the community who always express their gratitude for homemade and traditional Armenian cuisine.
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Graduating Seniors, Please Send us Details!
We are trying to gather information about students who are graduating from Sr High School or College so Der Hayr and the parish can congratulate them. Is your student graduating from Sr High School or College? If so please respond to this email with the following information:
1. Student Name:
2. School Name and city
3. Type of Diploma (Sr High School, trade school, BS, BA, MBA, etc):
4. College or trade school he/she will attend in the fall (if going to school):
5. Student's email address so the parish can stay in touch with the student:
6. Photo of student - you can attach one if you have one.
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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 2022-2023 academic year is May 31, 2022.
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St. Mary Armenian Church
Legacy Brick Drive
Honor your loved ones with
a memorial that will last a lifetime
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,
next to 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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Buy a Brick and Leave Your Legacy at
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Bricks can be ordered and purchased by clicking below and
filling out a simple online order form.
You can choose to have a 4" x 8" brick
which includes your preselected
3 lines of 20 characters per line of text.
Or you can choose to have the
Armenian Cross artwork on the 4" x 8" brick
which includes your preselected
3 lines of 15 characters per line of text.
Order Today While Quantities Last!
Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.
Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.
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For 104 Years, a Lesson in Heroism
Each year on May 28, Armenians around the world honor the anniversary of the Battle of Sardarabad and the establishment of the First Armenian Republic (1918-1920). This weekend will mark 104 years since those fateful events.
In the depths of the Armenian Genocide, Ottoman forces advanced on Eastern Armenia—coming within striking distance of the capital city Yerevan and Holy Etchmiadzin. But they were repelled by the native Armenians in a series of battles at Sardarabad, Abaran, and Karakilisa—which have come to be known as the “Heroic Battles of May.”
In their life-or-death struggle to defend the remnant of their ancient homeland, the courage and unity of the Armenian people a century ago remains an inspiration and an example to us today.
Click on the link to learn more about the Battle of Sardarabad.
Above: Armenian volunteers receive the blessing of Catholicos of All Armenians Kevork V, on the eve of the battle, 1918.
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Join Together on June 9 for the Enthronement of Our New Primate
With a spirit of joy and hope, the public is cordially invited to a special “Service of Enthronement,” during which the Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan will take his place as the 13th Primate of the Eastern Diocese.
The service will go forward on Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m., at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral (630 Second Ave., at 34th St.) in New York City. Plans also call for the service to be broadcast live over the Eastern Diocese’s YouTube and Facebook platforms.
A public reception will follow in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium, where all are welcome to attend. (Please note that with New York experiencing rising rates of infection, all attendees will be asked to show proof of vaccination at the reception.)
For this joyous occasion, we welcome gifts to the “Primate’s Ministry Fund” to support Hayr Mesrop as he begins his leadership of our Diocese. Click here to make a donation.
Above all, please join us on June 9—in person and online—to welcome our new Primate Hayr Mesrop, express our gratitude to outgoing Primate Bishop Daniel, and join together in prayerful goodwill for the future of our Diocese.
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Memorials and Memory
Memorial Day in America was inaugurated in the wake of the Civil War, and was later extended to honor all who have fallen in the defense of our country. The day is a welcome opportunity to reflect, with gratitude and admiration, on the departed souls who have secured our national way of life—and shaped our individual lives.
In the Armenian Church, memorial days of one kind or another are quite common. We observe merelots after the major feast days; we remember our departed loved ones on the karasoonk of their passing, and thereafter through annual hokehankisd services.
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Finding a Family, Through FAR’s Outreach
By the time he turned 13, Armen didn’t want foster parents. He had been abandoned by both of his biological parents, and family members who had taken him in could not care for him indefinitely. Family stability was foreign to him—to the extent that Armen had given up on the idea of “family” completely.
Then he met Marine and Karo—the couple who would become Armen’s foster parents—through the efforts of the Fund for Armenian Relief’s Children’s Center. Through the Children’s Center, FAR found the right family to care for the boy. And today, Armen enjoys a happy life with the couple, who have also taken in his younger brother Artak.
Click the link to watch a video and learn more about their story.
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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING FEASTS AND EVENTS |
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June 5: Pentecost (Hokekaloust) |
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PRAYERS FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR |
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Anne Andonian, Aram Andonian, Hripsime Apkarian, Lucy Badalian, Ellen Boudreau, 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, Meline Kaehn, Michael Kolenick, Jack Kooyoomjian, Anahid Ghazarian Luka, Queen Manoogian, Susanna Mkrtchyan, Haik Nalchaian, Armen Mark Nostrant, Hacik Ozdul, Mary Levon Panossian, Robert Schlee, Tamara Shatvoryan, Bob Semonian, Mihran Tavoukjian
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12Յաջորդ օրը, ժողովրդի բազմութիւնը, որ զատկի տօնին էր եկել, երբ լսեց, թէ Յիսուս Երուսաղէմ է գալիս, 13արմաւենիների ճիւղեր վերցրեց եւ Յիսուսին ընդառաջ ելաւ։ Աղաղակում էին ու ասում. «Ովսաննա՜, օրհնեա՜լ լինես դու, որ գալիս ես Տիրոջ անունով, ո՛վ թագաւոր Իսրայէլի»։ 14Եւ Յիսուս մի էշ գտնելով, նստեց նրա վրայ, ինչպէս որ գրուած է. 15«Մի՛ վախեցիր, ո՛վ դուստրդ Սիոնի, ահա քո թագաւորը գալիս է՝ նստած մի էշի քուռակի վրայ»։ 16Եւ նրա աշակերտները սկզբում այն չհասկացան, բայց երբ Յիսուս փառաւորուեց, այն ժամանակ յիշեցին, թէ այդ նրա մասին էր գըր¬ուած, եւ իրենք այդ էին արել նրան։ 17Իսկ ժողովուրդը, որ նրա հետ էր, վըկայում էր, որ Ղազարոսին հէնց գերեզմանից կանչեց եւ նրան մեռելներից կենդանացրեց։ 18Եւ դրա համար էլ նրան ընդառաջ ելաւ ժողովուրդը, որովհետեւ լսել էին, որ այդ նշաններն էր արել։ 19Իսկ փարիսեցիները միմեանց ասում էին. «Տեսնում էք, որ ոչ մի օգուտ չէք ստանում. ահաւասիկ ամբողջ աշխարհը նրա յետեւից գնաց»։20Այնտեղ կային նաեւ որոշ թուով հեթանոսներ՝ նրանց մէջ, որ Երուսաղէմ էին եկել, որպէսզի տօնի ժամա¬նակ երկրպագութիւն անեն։ 21Նրանք մօտեցան Փիլիպպոսին, որ Գալիլիայի Բեթսայիդա քաղաքից էր. աղաչում էին նրան ու ասում. «Տէ՛ր, ուզում ենք Յիսուսին տեսնել»։ 22Փիլիպպոսը եկաւ եւ Անդրէասին ասաց։ Անդրէասը եւ Փիլիպպոսն էլ Յիսուսին ասացին։ 23Եւ Յիսուս նրանց պատասխանեց ու ասաց. «Հասաւ ժամը, որ փառաւորուի մարդու Որդին։
Յովհ.12:12-23
The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Ho-sanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" and Je-sus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see that you can do nothing; look, the world has gone after him." Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."
John 12:12-23
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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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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 Sunday after Church services and by appointment, call the church office at 202-363-1923 or send an e-mail to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
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Please check out newly arrived Armenian Souvenirs directly from Artsakh at our Gift Shop. |
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Before COVID 19 and before the 2020 aggression against free and democratic Armenian Artsakh, the number of tourists visiting our second Armenian homeland was nearing 50.000 tourists per year. Today, during the first six months of 2021, the number was less than 1.500. Artsakh’s economy has suffered significantly because of the war. At st Mary’s gift store, we sell souvenirs that arrived directly from Artsakh. By purchasing gifts from Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, we help the people of our homeland; we highlight that our solidarity.
Please visit our store or contact us if interested. We receive coffee-jazzve, souvenir-plates, souvenir magnets, and many more directly from Stepanakert.
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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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See what's happening on our social site |
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