January 26

TOP STORY   

St. Sahak Partev

St. Sahak is one of the most well-known figures in Armenian history. As Catholicos, he supported the work of Mesrob Mashdots in the creation of the Armenian alphabet and the translation of the Bible into Armenian. A scholar and theologian himself, he is counted among the Holy Translators. The trio of King Vramshapuh, Catholicos Sahak, and Mesrob Mashdots together oversaw the flurry of translation into Armenian and an emergent new Armenian-language literature following the invention of the alphabet in 405 A.D. Churches are often named “Sts. Sahak and Mesrob” in acknowledgment of the crucial work these two men did together. This coming Saturday, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates this beloved Armenian saint.

Yet St. Sahak also presided over a tumultuous period in Armenian history. The invention of the alphabet itself emerged from the need to hold the two halves of Armenia together. At the time of St. Sahak’s birth in 354 A.D., Armenia was already used to its status as the crossroads and borderland between the Persian and Roman empires. As George Bournoutian describes, in 64 A.D., “Rome accepted the compromise of co-suzerainty” (55), meaning that the Armenian dynasty known as the Arshakuni or Arsacid would come from the royal Parthian dynasty, “while their authority would be bestowed in Rome.” Through some troubled periods, this arrangement lasted for nearly two centuries, until 224 A.D. when the Persian Parthians were overthrown, and the new Sasanian Persian empire emerged. The new Sasanian Empire tried to impose a more direct rule over Armenia. It is in this context that the conversion of Armenia to Christianity occurred, as Armenians tried to balance between Rome and a newly aggressive Persian empire. However, after the adoption of Christianity, in 387 A.D., Emperor Theodosius and Shapur III partitioned Armenia between them.

Click here to read more.

January 28, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Guest Celebrant

Very Rev. Fr. Mamikon Kiledjian

Usher

Mr. Garbis Chubukian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Vazrik Nishanian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 63:7-18

 2 Timothy 3:1-12

John 6:22-38

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of:

Yeghibet Harutunian (40 days)

Requested by:

Henric & Suzanne Harutunian and family, David & Gilda Andonian and family, Serjik Harutunian

For the Souls of :

Verjin Bolat (3rd anniversary), & Yerchanig Bolat (25th anniversary)

Requested by:

Arto & Ilda Bolat, Laurence & Janet Arabian, Ohaness & Eva Shafakian and their families.

For the Soul of :

Samvel Baloyan (1th anniversary)

Requested by:

Aram Baloyan, Arpi Petrosyan and children



Hospitality Table is hosted by:

Harutunian and Andonian families

 Bolat, Arabian, and Shafakian families and Baloyan family

To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service 

Please contact the Church Office

by 12:00 Noon on Thursday

202-363-1923

or Click here to see the form

Prayer of the Week

In faith, I confess and bow down to you, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, uncreated and immortal nature, creator of angels, of men, and of all things. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, great sinner that I am.

   Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, strengthen those fleeing persecution, and protect the holy soil of Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord.

   Preserve the name and spirit of Artsakh in our hearts, forever. Console all those who grieve, and remember those who sacrificed their very lives in your Name. Deliver your faithful children from conflict and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks

Prayer for Healing Service & Bible Study at St. Mary

On Tuesday, January 23, the St. Mary community reconvened for their first Healing Service and Bible Study session after a brief break. This spiritually enriching event marked the beginning of a series of gatherings that will continue until the onset of Lent.

The Bible Study focused on a profound passage from Luke 18:35-43, which narrates the healing of a blind man by Jesus near the city of Jericho. This session delved into the theological implications of the passage as well as offered significant spiritual insights relevant to modern Christian life.

This healing miracle offers deep lessons for contemporary Christian life. It underscores the importance of faith and persistence, as demonstrated by the blind man who, despite societal marginalization and discouragement from the crowd, persistently calls out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus' compassionate response highlights His approach to inclusivity, valuing and attending to those often overlooked by society. This healing is not just a physical restoration but also symbolizes spiritual enlightenment, as the blind man immediately follows Jesus, praising God.

This narrative teaches us about the transformative power of faith, the necessity of recognizing and acting upon Jesus' call, and the importance of gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's work in our lives. It serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of Jesus' teachings and actions in addressing both physical and spiritual needs in our world today.

SHNORHALI SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN PATARAG

This past Sunday, Shnorhali students participated in Patarag and received the Holy Communion. This is a part of their regular monthly participation in the Holy Communion, which is coupled with the Religious Education that nurtures their spiritual life. The student's participation in the sacrament of the Holy Communion provides them with a profound understanding of the significance of Christ’s sacrifice, which seeks to instill a deeper spiritual connection and foster an enhanced appreciation for the teachings central to their faith.

By actively participating in Holy Communion, students are encouraged to cultivate a meaningful and personal relationship with God. Their continual participation in the Holy Communion stands as a testament to our commitment to nurturing the spiritual growth of Shnorhali students and fortifying the foundation of our faith.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

A Blessing from His Holiness

The headquarters of the Eastern Diocese was greatly blessed this month to welcome His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to the St. Vartan Cathedral Complex.

This was not an official pontifical visit of the Catholicos, but as noted by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in a communiqué, an opportunity for His Holiness to have meetings with diocesan administrators, and supporters of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to discuss the Mother See’s ongoing work.

In the course of his stay between January 13 and 23, the Catholicos met with Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan and the Diocesan Council, at their monthly meeting. His Holiness spoke about the situation in Armenia in the wake of the Artsakh crisis, the ongoing efforts of the Mother See to address the physical and spiritual needs of the refugees, and its work to marshal support in the diaspora and on the international ecumenical stage.

His Holiness also took part in a meeting of the Fund for Armenian Relief Board of Directors (see the item below under Diocesan News).

On January 22, the Catholicos shared in a special afternoon gathering with the Diocesan staff (pictured here). In the center’s formal reception room (tahlij), His Holiness blessed the staff members, and praised the ongoing work of the Eastern Diocese, which he said is recognized as a model for other diocesan jurisdictions of the church to emulate. He received in turn the warm and grateful good wishes of Bishop Mesrop, the Diocesan administration, and staff.

His Holiness' trip abroad included a brief visit to the United Kingdom, where he was hosted by our church’s Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland. He embarked for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin midweek. May the Lord guide him safely back to our homeland, and continue to strengthen the leadership and ministry of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Renewing the Vision, Cementing the Future

This week, a thin film of snow gave bright white accents to the structural lines of New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral, after the season’s first significant snowfall.

Beneath its canopy of scaffolds and netting, restoration work on the cathedral proceeded apace during these frosty January days. The exterior phase of the restoration includes work on the structure’s limestone facing, and desperately-needed repairs to the roof, to make it watertight again. A renovation of the interior will follow in subsequent phases.

As noted elsewhere in this newsletter, our Diocesan cathedral is open for worship, candle-lighting, and peaceful visits of prayer. Next Thursday evening, January 25, the cathedral will host an ecumenical prayer service for Christian unity; see the item below for details.

The cathedral restoration project has also launched an attractive new website, under the title “Renewing the Vision, Cementing the Future,” where you can watch the progress of the cathedral restoration through photos and, soon, video.

You can learn about the project itself: the phases of work planned, and the impressive architects and artisans involved. And you can also find ways to be a part of this historic project yourself—by becoming a contributor to the restoration of St. Vartan Cathedral.



Click here to access the website at StVartan.org—and learn more about this critical effort to restore the grandeur and structural integrity of our Diocese’s mother sanctuary, the crowning jewel of the Armenian Church in America: our beautiful St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECYCLING PROGRAM NEWS

Thanks to our Recycling Committee for their work in sorting and bringing home the recyclables every Sunday, especially during our recent Food Festival. What has been discouraging, though, is that people continue to throw half-full coffee cups and food into the container, which makes it very messy for us. Please put only the following in the container:

Empty plastic bottles

Empty aluminum cans

Empty glass bottles

Nothing else!!

No paper, no plastic silverware, no coffee cups, no paper plates, no food. We are trying to keep things simple.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Roxanne Paul at rangerrox@msn.com. Thank you for being so supportive in helping keep our planet cleaner!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Gift for St. Mary Gift Shop

St. Mary gift shop is offering limited numbers of imported bottles of medieval Armenian health elixirs formulated from ancient manuscripts deciphered at the Matendaran Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. These elixirs are made in Armenia by Armen Sahakyan, a pharmacologist and botanical scholar who has been working at the Matenadaran Museum for the last several decades. A trained medical doctor ordained a deacon in 1997, Sahakyan has dedicated his life to the maintenance of Armenia’s sacred botanical traditions.

The three different batches available at our gift shop (Royal Elixir, Arates Elixir and Arates Tonic) are made from a codified recipe of medieval Armenian medicine, using a special distillation process. They contain medicinal and aromatic plants, known for their healing properties. Through the distillation and aging process alcohol is created, so think of them as perhaps Armenia’s first (healthy) cognac! 

The supplies are limited and each bottle is numbered, including the batch and year of production. All of the bottles were donated to St Mary Church, so 100% of the proceeds will go to the St Mary Endowment Fund, with a portion also going to support Armenian clergy serving in Artsakh.

"Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

This year we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church with the launch of the new "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund to help ensure our church has the resources needed to continue serving our beloved community.  

Just as you plan for your future and that of your family, please join us in planning for the future of St. Mary Church. 

We are asking for your support so that St. Mary will be able to continue to fulfill her mission for future generations.  

The link below lists various opportunities for you to make a meaningful gift of lasting significance that will help support our church's long-term security, visibility, and vitality. Please consider making either a one-time gift or pledge, which would allow you to make payments over a five-year period.

Join St. Mary's Prayer Group

We are initiating a new form of ministry at St. Mary Armenian Church. For parishioners who would like to make an electronic prayer request, they can do so by Clicking Here

A group of volunteers will receive the request and pray at their earliest convenience. Additionally, a new physical prayer request box will be placed at the entrance of St. Mary Armenian Church with blank forms that anyone can fill out and drop in the box. These requests will be retrieved weekly and delivered to the members of the volunteer prayer group. If you would like to become one of the volunteers of the Prayer Group please email us. 

Please click on the link below to present your request. 

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.

January 28th

Family Sunday (Baby Sitting is available)

February 10

Ararat Avak Society St. Sarkis Luncheon

February 10th

ACYOA Bowling Party

February 11

Great Barekendan

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple

February 11

Shnorhali School Students' Barekendan Celebration

February 18

Annual Parish Assembly

March 6

Median Day of Lent

March 24

Palm Sunday

March 31

Easter Sunday

22 Յաջորդ օրը ժողովուրդը, որ մնացել էր ծովի այն կողմը, տեսաւ, որ այնտեղ այլ նաւակ չկայ, բացի միայն մէկից, որի մէջ մտել էին Յիսուսի աշակերտները, իսկ Յիսուս իր աշակերտների հետ նաւակ չէր մտել, այլ միայն իր աշակերտներն էին գնացել: 23 Սակայն Տիբերիայից ուրիշ նաւակներ էլ գալիս էին մօտ այն տեղին, ուր հացն էին կերել: 24 Ուրեմն, երբ ժողովուրդը տեսաւ, որ Յիսուս այդտեղ չէ, եւ ոչ էլ՝ նրա աշակերտները, նաւակներ նստեցին ու եկան Կափառնայում՝ Յիսուսին փնտրելու: 25 Եւ երբ նրան գտան ծովի միւս կողմում, ասացին նրան. «Ռաբբի՛, ե՞րբ եկար այստեղ»: 26 Յիսուս պատասխանեց նրանց եւ ասաց. «Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ. դուք ինձ փնտրում էք ոչ թէ նրա համար, որ նշաններ տեսաք, այլ՝ որովհետեւ կերաք այն հացից եւ կշտացաք: 27 Գնացէք աշխատեցէ՛ք ոչ թէ կորստեան ենթակայ կերակրի համար, այլ այն կերակրի, որը մնում է յաւիտենական կեանքի համար, եւ որը մարդու Որդին կտայ ձեզ, քանի որ նրան իր կնիքով հաստատել է Հայրը՝ Աստուած»: 28 Նրան ասացին. «Ի՞նչ անենք, որ Աստծոյ ուզած գործերը գործենք»: 29 Յիսուս պատասխանեց եւ ասաց նրանց. «Աստծոյ ուզած գործը այս է. որ հաւատաք նրան, ում նա ուղարկեց»: 30 Նրան ասացին. «Ի՞նչ նշան կանես, որ տեսնենք եւ հաւատանք, ի՞նչ գործ կգործես: 31 Մեր հայրերը անապատում մանանան կերան, ինչպէս որ գրուած է. “Երկնքից նրանց հաց տուեց ուտելու”»: 32 Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ. Մովսէսը չէ, որ ձեզ երկնքից հաց տուեց, այլ իմ Հայրն է, որ տալիս է ձեզ ճշմարիտ հացը երկնքից. 33 որովհետեւ Աստծուց է այն հացը, որ իջնում է երկնքից եւ կեանք է տալիս աշխարհին»: 34 Նրան ասացին. «Տէ՛ր, ամէն ժամ տո՛ւր մեզ այդ հացը»: 35 Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Ես եմ կենաց հացը. ով դէպի ինձ գայ, քաղց չի զգայ, եւ ով ինձ հաւատայ, երբեք չի ծարաւի: 36 Բայց ես ձեզ ասել եմ, որ ինձ տեսաք եւ չէք հաւատում: 37 Բոլոր նրանք, ում Հայրն ինձ տալիս է, կգան ինձ մօտ, եւ ով որ ինձ մօտ կգայ, դուրս չեմ անի. 38 որովհետեւ ես երկնքից իջայ ոչ թէ իմ կամքը կատարելու համար, այլ՝ կամքը նրա, ով ինձ ուղարկեց:

Հովհաննես 6:22-38

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.[a] 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which[b] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

John 6:22-38

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, tapestry icons, children's and adult books, T-shirts, hats, bags, Armenian CDs, Armenian artwork, and much more. 

The Gift Shop is open every Sunday after Church service and by appointment, call the church office at 202-363-1923 or send an e-mail to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com