E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

38-65 234th. St. Douglaston, NY, 11363  

Sunday: 10/15/2023

ԽԱՉՎԵՐԱՑԷՆ ԵՏՔ Դ. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ - FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE EXALTATION 

Sunday Readings: 

 Isaiah 19:1-11; Galatians 2:1-10; Mark 12:35-44

Join us in worship this Sunday.

Morning Service 10:00 AM

Divine Liturgy 10:45 AM - Sermon 11:45 AM

Մասնակցեցէք Ս. Պատարագին՝

Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 10։00

Ս. Պատարագ 10։45- Քարոզ 11։45

Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We are excited about our Salt & Light Youth Group retreat this weekend. We extend an invitation to parishioners to join us as we celebrate Badarak with our youth on Sunday, October 15, at the chapel of Camp DeWolfe Retreat Center in Wading River.

A fellowship hour will take place after Badarak. Also, please note that the Church services are NOT canceled at St. Sarkis Church.

Please email or call the church office if you are planning to attend.

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, either in Wading River or Douglaston.

Prayerfully,

Fr. Nareg Terterian

On Sunday, October 15, Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, will preside over church services. Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumjian will celebrate the mass at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York.

On Friday evening, October 6, 50 enthusiastic junior Salt and Light members joined in Main Hall for their monthly meeting. After enjoying a delicous dinner together, the members were separated into their groups based on their age. 

Salt and Light members engaged in a meaningful discussion based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke. Facilitators took their groups, where they learned in depth the strong message of this Parable. Many of the members enjoyed the session so much they wished to discuss further.

At the conclusion of the small group session the junior group met with Der Nareg in the Sanctuary where the conversation and message of the Parable continued. The group alongside their facilitators were led in prayer by Der Nareg followed by a moment pf silence for all our brothers and sisters from Artsakh. 

It was a meaningful and memorable evening empowering our youth with lessons of the Bible together in fellowship. 

We look forward to our upcoming sessions and learning more together. 

On Friday, October 6th, 2023, the second Salt and Light meeting of the season took place. There were 38 senior members in attendance. Fr. Nareg started the gathering by discussing what had happened in Artsakh in the two weeks since the last meeting. Many asked questions about what was going on and how they could help. The conversation of Artsakh led right into the main topic of the day, the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel states that you must “love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. Most of the participants expressed that in this day and age, no one follows these principles. Fr. Nareg explained that the meaning of these words make sense when we look at the broader context where Jesus speaks of justice and love. Justice alone can lead to callousness and love without justice can lead to weakness. Turning the other cheek means changing our attitude and strategy and not let the attacks of the evil humiliate and intimidate you. Pray for your enemies to change. Fr. Nareg said that it was analogous to if a wolf wanted to eat your child would you let it, prevent it, or kill all the wolves you can?

Before dismissal, ice cream and cookies were served thanks to the volunteers. In true Armenian fashion, after 20 minutes of wrangling the yearly picture was taken. The next Salt and Light meeting is on November 3. All youth are welcome to join St. Sarkis Church Salt & Light Youth Group.

The AYF New York “Hyortik” Chapter held an Artsakh Workshop this past Saturday, October 7th. We began the workshop with an ice breaker introducing ourselves and our favorite part about being Armenian. Following introductions, we had a lecture which was an overview of the history of Artsakh and the current situation of our homeland. Then, the group split into teams and played a game of Jeopardy about the history and culture of Artsakh. The AYFers enjoyed dinner, then broke up into color teams and challenged each other to a scavenger hunt. After an exciting game, the group had a mini-debate. The debate included questions about why our homeland needs us, and how Diasporans and other powers can help the current and future situation of Artsakh and Armenia. The workshop emphasized how Artsakh has and will always embody the struggle of the Armenian people. We will never stop our fight for a United homeland, we are all Artsakh. 

Thank you to St. Sarkis Church for allowing us to host this successful event. Donations from the event were made to ACAA Artsakh Fund. 

Sages of All Ages

Is a program that has been newly established to enrich 

the lives of both men and women ages 60 and over.

 The purpose of this program is to nourish your mind, body and soul, 

through social activities, cultural programs, and fellowship! 

We will meet on the third Wednesday of every month.   

If you need transportation, please contact the church office so that

we can arrange for you to be picked up and dropped off. 

We welcome you to join us on October 18th at 10:30 a.m. for an enchanting day full of FUN! Come play a game of backgammon, chess, card games, bingo, and much more….

Please contact the church office if we wish to attend or 

are in need of transportation at (718) 224-2275.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your generous donation to St. Sarkis Church.

Your continuous support of St. Sarkis Church is sincerely appreciated. It is because of dedicated individuals like you, that our church continues its spiritual mission and service.

May God bless you for your kindness and reward you abundantly.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor &

Board of Trustees

FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS

This Saturday, October 14, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Holy Translators, one of the most beloved feasts. There are, in fact, two such commemorations in our liturgical calendar. One is on the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, which can occur in June or July; the other is on the second Saturday of October.  

The October commemoration focuses on the creation of the Armenian alphabet (406) and on the accomplishments of the Holy Translators. Mesrob Mashdots, the founder of the alphabet, and Catholicos Sahag, together with some of their students, translated the Bible. Schools were opened and the works of world-renowned scholars were translated. Their work gave the Armenian Church a distinct national identity.   

In modern times the entire month of October has been designated as a “Month of Culture,” thanks to His Holiness Karekin I Hovsepian, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia from 1943 to 1952. Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia mark this with cultural events not only in remembrance of the past, but in celebration of modern-day scholars, theologians, writers, and translators.  

Specifically remembered this Saturday along with Mesrob and Sahag are: Yeghishe, a renowned student of Sahag and Mesrob, who served as secretary to Vartan Mamigonian and wrote the great history of the Vartanantz wars; Movses of Khoren, another student of Sahag and Mesrob revered as the father of Armenian history; David the Invincible, a student of Movses, who received most of his education in Athens, where he was given his title because of his brilliance in philosophy; Gregory of Narek, who is considered the greatest poet of the Armenian nation and its first and greatest mystic; and Nerses Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian, and ecumenist.  

With the creation of the Armenian alphabet and the translations that followed, this group of scholars transformed the course of Armenian history forever. It is an affirmation of the popular aphorism, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”  

The Holy Translators (with the invention of the alphabet) providentially provided divine instructions on earth by translating the sacred scriptures, in order to shepherd the flock of the New Israel. Let us praise God with a sweet-sounding song.   

(Canon to the Holy Translators, from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Church)  

“After translating the book of Proverbs, Mesrop and his students began the translation of the New Testament. Translating the bible into any language is an enormous amount of work. It is especially daunting given the absence of any Armenian literature prior to the Bible. Contrast this with the translation of the Bible into English. The most famous English translation is the King James Version, completed in 1611. The earliest English Bible was produced by John Wycliffe in 1382. But even before Wycliffe, there was a tradition of writing in English from which Wycliffe and subsequent translators could draw familiar expressions and phrases. The Armenian Bible, however, is the first work of Armenian literature. In translating the Bible, Sahak and Mesrop and their disciples did more than just a translation. They in essence created a new written language that would be a source and inspiration for all of the Armenian literature that would follow.” 

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE GALATIONS (2:1-10)

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. 

As for those who seemed to be important-whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. They asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԳԱՂԱՏԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (2.1-10)

Այնուհետեւ, տասնըչորս տարի ետք կրկին Երուսաղէմ գացի Բառնաբասին հետ, Տիտոսն ալ միասին առնելով: Գացի, որովհետեւ Աստուած յայտնեց որ երթամ: Այնտեղ, Երուսաղէմի եկեղեցիին զեկոյց տուի հեթանոսներուն մէջ կատարած քարոզութեանս մասին: Առանձնաբար զեկոյց տուի նաեւ եկեղեցւոյ ղեկավարներուն, որպէսզի զուր տեղը աշխատած չըլլամ եւ չաշխատիմ: Անոնք բնաւ չստիպեցին որ թլփատուի ինծի ընկերացող Տիտոսը, որ հեթանոս Յոյն մըն էր: Թլփատութիւն պահանջողները քանի մը կեղծ քրիստոնեաներ էին, որոնք հաւատացեալներու շարքերուն մէջ սպրդած էին՝ Յիսուս Քրիստոսով մեր ունեցած ազատութիւնը լրտեսելու եւ մեզ Մովսիսական օրէնքներու ծառայութեան մէջ պահելու համար: Բայց վայրկեան մը իսկ տեղի չտուինք անոնց, որպէսզի վստահ ըլլաք՝ թէ ճշմարիտ էր ինչ որ ձեզի քարոզեցինք:

Գալով անոնց՝ որոնք եկեղեցւոյ ղեկավարները կը համարուէին, ինծի համար բնաւ կարեւորութիւն չունի թէ անցեալին ի՛նչ եղած են անոնք: Աստուած մարդոց միջեւ խտրութիւն չի դներ: Արդ, ղեկավար համարուած այդ առաքեալները ոեւէ նոր բան չըսին ինծի այս մասին: Ընդհակառակը, երբ տեսան թէ Աստուած ինծի վստահած է հեթանոսներու քարոզութիւնը, ինչպէս Պետրոսի յանձնած էր Հրեաներու քարոզութիւնը –որովհետեւ Աստուած ինչպէս Պետրոսի առաքելութիւնը յաջողցուց Հրեաներուն մէջ, նոյնպէս ալ իմ առաքելութիւնս յաջողցուց հեթանոսներուն մէջ–, այն ատեն՝ Յակոբոս, Կեփաս եւ Յովհաննէս, որոնք եկեղեցւոյ սիւները կը համարուէին, ճանչցան Աստուծմէ ինծի տրուած շնորհքը, իմ եւ Բառնաբասի ձեռքը թօթուելով հաւանութիւն տուին որ մենք հեթանոսներուն մէջ աշխատինք, իսկ իրենք՝ Հրեաներուն: Միայն խնդրեցին, որ Երուսաղէմի աղքատներուն օգնել չմոռնանք. բան մը, որուն համար ես սրտանց աշխատեցայ:

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST  ACCORDING TO MARK (12.35-44)

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:  

" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." 'David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"  

The large crowd listened to him with delight.  

As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."  

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on."

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ  ԸՍՏ ՄԱՐԿՈՍԻ (12.35-44)

Յիսուս տաճարին մէջ ուսուցանելու ընթացքին հարցուց ժողովուրդին.

– Օրէնքի ուսուցիչները ի՞նչպէս կ’ըսեն՝ թէ Քրիստոս Դաւիթի Որդին է, երբ Դաւիթ ինք Սուրբ Հոգիէն ներշնչուած՝ կ’ըսէ.-

     «Տէրը ըսաւ իմ Տիրոջս.-

Աջ կողմս նստէ, 

մինչեւ թշնամիներդ ոտքերուդ տակ դնեմ 

որպէս պատուանդան»:

Եթէ Դաւիթ զայն Տէր կը կոչէ, ինչպէ՞ս ուրեմն Քրիստոսը անոր որդին է:

Ժողովուրդը հաճոյքով մտիկ կ’ընէր Յիսուսի, որ իր ուսուցումները շարունակելով, կ’ըսէր.

– Զգո՛յշ եղէք Օրէնքի ուսուցիչներէն, որոնք կը սիրեն փառաւոր զգեստներով շրջիլ, հրապարակներու վրայ մարդոցմէ յարգալիր բարեւներ ընդունիլ, ժողովարաններու մէջ առաջին աթոռները գրաւել եւ ընթրիքներու ընթացքին՝ պատուոյ տեղերը: Մէկ կողմէ այրիներուն տուները անոնց ձեռքէն կը յափշտակեն, իսկ միւս կողմէ կեղծաւորութեամբ իրենց աղօթքը կ’երկարեն: Ասոր համար աւելի՛ խիստ դատապարտութիւն պիտի ընդունին:

Յիսուս կեցած էր տաճարի գանձանակին մօտ եւ կը դիտէր ժողովուրդը, որ դրամ կը նետէր գանձանակին մէջ: Շատ մը հարուստներ մեծ գումարներ նետեցին: Աղքատ այրի մըն ալ եկաւ եւ նետեց երկու լումայ, որ դահեկան մը կ’ընէ: Յիսուս մօտը կանչեց իր աշակերտները եւ ըսաւ անոնց.

– Վստա՛հ գիտցէք, որ այս թշուառ այրին բոլորէն շատ դրամ նետած եղաւ գանձանակին մէջ, որովհետեւ միւսները իրենց աւելորդ գումարներէն նետեցին, մինչ անիկա, հակառակ չքաւոր ըլլալուն, ինչ որ ունէր՝ նետեց, իր ամբո՛ղջ ապրուստը:

-GREGORY KOCHOUMIAN and  TORI JOUGHIN were married on Sunday, October 8, 2023. We congratulate the newly married couple & wish them a happy life together.  

- Mrs. VERGINEH PESHTIMALDJIAN , passed on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Wake and Funeral services were held on Monday, October 9, 2023, at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

- Mr. HAGOP HAYRABEDIAN  passed on Sunday, October 8, 2023. Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

- Mrs. HASMICK AZARIAN, passed on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Wake and Funeral services were held on Friday, October 13, 2023, at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

- Mrs. Maritza Mashavejian and son Mr. Harout Mashavedjian, Mr. & Mrs. Armen and Suzanna Peshtimaldjian Hovhannisyan and children Davit, Tomas and Larisa request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother and grandmother VERGINEH PESHTIMALDJIAN (7th-day memorial service).

-Mrs. Elizabeth Ohannessian, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen and Ella Ohannessian and family, Mr. & Mrs. Ohanes and Angela Ohannessian and children Oliver and Henry, Mr. Setrak Ohannessian and Dr. Karnig Magardician request requiem service for the soul of their beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and brother in-law EDWARD OHANNESSIAN (40th-day memorial service).

-Vartanian, Chitchian and Nakashian families request requiem service for the souls of their beloved grandparents and great grandparents SARKIS VARTANIAN ( 65th year memorial service) and SATENIG VARTANIAN(43rd year memorial service), NURI CHITCHIAN (50th-year memorial service) LIA CHITCHIAN (35th year memorial service). beloved brother and uncle NORAIR VARTANIAN (61st-year memorial service), beloved father and grandfather VAHRAM VARTANIAN (6th-year memorial service), beloved mother and grandmother MARY VARTANIAN (17th-year memorial service), beloved uncle SAHAG VARTANIAN (3rd-year memorial service), beloved aunt SHAKE CHITCHIAN (3rd-year memorial service) and beloved uncle HAROUTYUN NAKASHIAN (24th year memorial service).

-Mrs. Anahid Halajian Nerses and family request requiem service for the souls of their beloved brothers, uncles and great uncles ONNIG HALAJIAN (15th-year memorial service), and KARNIG HALAJIAN (15th-year memorial service).

-Mrs. Ardemis Massarlian Paravazian request requiem service for the soul of her beloved husband ZAVEN PARAVAZIAN (10th-year memorial service). Also for the soul of beloved father KEVORK PARAVAZIAN (22nd-year memorial service), beloved mother MELINE PARAVAZIAN (18th-year memorial service), MADLEN MASSARLIAN (15th-year memorial service), ISKOUHI SRABIAN (32nd-year memorial service), ONIK MASSARLIAN (39th-year memorial service), and all deceased members of MASSARLIAN and SRABIAN families.

-Mrs. Maritza Mashavejian and son Mr. Harout Mashavedjian, Mr. & Mrs. Armen and Suzanna Peshtimaldjian Hovhannisyan and children Davit, Tomas and Larisa request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother and grandmother VERGINEH PESHTIMALDJIAN (7th-day memorial service).

EDWARD OHANNESSIAN memorial luncheon Hokejash will be held in Pagoumian Hall.

The Ladies Guild fellowship hour will be held in the Main hall and is hosted by: Mrs. Mary Arslanian .

THE ACTORS FROM ARTSAKH ARE COMING NEXT WEEK! THE PLAY IS ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY. HURRY AND BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY AND SUPPORT ARTSAKH ACTORS!

The displaced actors of Artsakh Theater were able to escape to Armenia and have gone through an arduous journey, but they still have the strength and courage to travel to the US and perform for the Armenian Diaspora. Please purchase your tickets to show support for our compatriots from Artsakh who have endured and continue to endure so much. Please do not be a bystander but a participant.Thank you very much.

NEW YORK: October 20 at 7:30pm at the Jeanne Rimsky Theater. Purchase tickets online https://buy.tututix.com/voiceofarmenianstvny

Or call: Yn. Karine Malkhasyan 917 485 1642, Hasmik Mekhanejian 917 593 9735, Nayda Voskeriian 516 603 2809.