April 19

TOP STORY   

Red Sunday

In the Calendar of the Armenian Church, the fourth Sunday following the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is known as Red Sunday. The color "red" has been used throughout history to represent many things.

One of the symbolic meanings is the blood of the martyrs who were sacrificed for Christ, His Holy Church, and their Christian faith. During the early years of Christianity, faithful followers of Jesus Christ were subjected to severe persecutions and torments. Many elected to die rather than betray their principles of life and faith, which the Incarnate God - Christ Jesus - had endowed to them and all of mankind. The psalmist writes, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the saints" (Psalms 116:15).

Today, martyrdom is far less often an occurrence in the lives of Christians, yet it does happen. However, the greater struggle is the one against sin, which we can see manifested in many ways throughout the world. The battle against wickedness and evil, which will be victorious in the end, is the current expression of the significance of Red Sunday. The Apostle Paul writes that Christ Himself endured such opposition, that we should not grow weary in our battle against wickedness. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul says: "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 12:4).

We are to use the opportunity of Red Sunday to once again remind ourselves of Paul's exhortation to remain steadfast in the Lord, and to continue our daily labors of goodness and righteousness.

Day of Remembrance: Honoring the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

St. Mary Armenian Church invites the community to a solemn commemoration of the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide on April 21st. The day will begin with a special Badarak (Divine Liturgy) dedicated to the Holy Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for faith and homeland during the Armenian Genocide. This will be followed by the Service of the Intersesary Prayer at the Khatchkar in St. Mary's courtyard, offering prayers for peace and remembrance.

The commemoration will continue with a program presented by the students of the Shnorhali School. The program is dedicated to the memory of the Holy Martyrs and aims to educate and inspire through speeches, poetry, and music that reflect the enduring spirit of the Armenian people. This event is a profound opportunity for reflection and to honor the legacy of those who endured unimaginable hardships.

All are welcome to join in remembering and paying tribute to the martyrs, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

April 21, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

Arlin Diratsuyan

Parish Council Members on Duty

Sean McClure

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Acts13:16-43

1Pt 5:1-14

John 5.19-30

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

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

I glorify you, God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and give thanks to him who has kept me in peace this night, to him who has led me from darkness to light, from death to life, from ignorance to the knowledge of his truth.

   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

Celebrating a Rich Musical Heritage: Vahan Artsruni and Nelli Manukyan at St. Mary Church

On April 13th, the St. Mary Armenian Church was the setting for a captivating duo concert featuring the renowned Armenian musicians Vahan Artsruni and Nelli Manukyan. The concert, dedicated to the 155th anniversary of Komitas Vardapet, a seminal figure in Armenian music, attracted a large audience, eager to witness a blend of historical richness and modern interpretation.

Vahan Artsruni, a multi-talented artist from Yerevan, graced the audience with his virtuoso guitar performance. Known for his expansive approach to music, Artsruni traverses a myriad of styles—from chamber music and alternative rock to electronic and symphonic compositions. This evening, he showcased selections from his critically acclaimed "Komitas: Ten Revelations" song cycle, which marries the poignant poetry of Komitas with Artsruni’s innovative musical arrangements. The audience was also treated to his stirring renditions of sacred hymns.

Complementing Artsruni's deep, resonant strings was Nelli Manukyan, a virtuoso flutist known for her dynamic range and improvisational prowess. Born into a musical family, Manukyan brought to the stage a breathtaking spectrum of styles, from ethereal jazz to the vibrant tones of rock and ethno-jazz. Her flute's melodic lines weaved seamlessly with Artsruni’s guitar, creating a dialogue between wind and string that was both haunting and exhilarating.

Raffi Sahakian and Ani Armani prepared a pre-event reception prior to the concert, setting a welcoming tone for the evening. Vahag Babayan and Kevork Tashjian set up the audio system, and Anna Seferian served as the MC.

The duo’s performance paid homage to Komitas Vardapet and celebrated the enduring spirit of Armenian music and poetry, which have thrived through centuries. As the final notes lingered in the air of St. Mary Church, it was clear that Artsruni and Manukyan had not just performed, but had evoked a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of Armenian cultural heritage.

Thank You for Helping with the Shnorhali Scool Lenten Good Deed!

The Shnorhali School Lenten Good deed, to collect small toys for children getting Cleft Lip/Palate operations in developing countries, was a huge success.   The collection yielded over 100 small toys to keep the kids occupied before and after their operations. We want to thank the entire congregation for participating!

A special thank you goes out to one of our local dentists, Catherine Sahakian, who also donated a box full of dental products.   This event was organized with the help of the ACYOA Juniors. Yeva Grigoyan (pictured) was the teen organizer; and Mariam Karapetyan provided support with publicity.  Thank you Yeva and Mariam!

New Parish Council Officers Elected

We are pleased to introduce our parishioners the elected officers of the Parish Council for the year 2024. Chair-Shoghig Sahakyan; Vice-Chair-Artur Sivaslian; Recording Secretary-Svetlana Hovhanissyan; Corresponding Secretary- Shahnur Bostan; Treasurer-Jack Guiragossian; Assistant Treasurer-Ohannes Sivaslian; Ministries Liason- Sean McClure; Member-Catherine Sahakian; Member-Rick Nishanian.

Join Us for the St. Mary Annual Spring Food Festival!

Get ready to feast and have fun at the St. Mary Annual Spring Food Festival, happening this May 17th, 18th, and 19th! This vibrant event is a highlight of our community calendar, bringing together the best of food, fellowship, and fun.

Our dedicated Parish Council, Women's Guild, and numerous volunteers are already hard at work preparing an array of delicious dishes that promise to delight your taste buds. But to make this festival a true success, we need your participation too!

There are many ways to get involved, from making a donation to help cover our festival costs to rolling up your sleeves and joining one of our food preparation workshops. Every bit of help counts and adds to the magic of our gathering.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enjoy great food, connect with your community, and support St. Mary in our biggest event of the year.

To donate or sign up to contribute, please visit the links provided below. Your generosity and spirit are what make this festival possible.

Helping Children of Artsakh Put Down New Roots

Just in time for the start of spring, the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Ayo!” platform has launched a new campaign for children of Artsakh now living in Armenia, called “Put Down Roots.”

In partnership with the Yerevan Botanical Garden, Ayo! aims to establish a therapeutic garden for forcibly displaced children of Artsakh, where they can find relief from stress, get their hands dirty, and learn about nature. Once completed, this dedicated area within the Botanical Garden will remain accessible to children and youth for years to come.

To bring this vision to life, Ayo! is working to raise just over $25,000 this spring. The funds will be used to build the special garden equipped with an educational pavilion, benches, raised gardening beds, an irrigation system, lighting, accessible bathrooms and other features.

You can learn more about the “Put Down Roots” campaign by clicking here.

The Eastern Diocese’s ACYOA Central Council was so excited by “Put Down Roots” that it generously committed to donate half of the proceeds from the upcoming Bishop’s 5k Run/Walk towards the project! See the item below under Youth News to learn more, and to register.

St. Mary Annual Armenian Spring Food Festival

Dear Parishioners,



St. Mary is preparing for its 2024 Spring Food Festival, and we are seeking your participation. The workshops are an opportunity to learn how to make traditional Armenian food and learn from our culinary experts in these classic dishes.

Please click on the link below to complete the volunteer form, if you would like to participate in any of the workshops. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Half-Way to Reaching Our Goal!

Readers of this newsletter are aware that our Diocese is undertaking a major project to restore and renovate the great edifice that unites our community of faith: St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.

Our beloved Diocesan cathedral currently stands under a network of scaffolding, as exterior restoration work moves forward. This first phase is making desperately-needed repairs to the structure’s limestone facing and roof.

A renovation of the interior will follow in subsequent phases. In the meantime, St. Vartan Cathedral remains open for worship, candle-lighting, and visits of prayer—as it was throughout Holy Week and Easter.

Last week, the cathedral restoration committee announced that it has reached the half-way point in its goal of raising $28 million to fund the project!

Still, the committee remains hard at work raising the necessary funds, and creating resources to inform and involve the public—including an attractive website titled “Renewing the Vision, Cementing the Future,” where people can learn more about the project and watch its progress.

Click the links below to access the StVartan.org website and watch a promotional video. Above all, spread the word 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.

Click the links below to:

VISIT the Cathedral Project website.

WATCH the promotional video.

MAKE A GIFT to the Cathedral Restoration Project.

Two Weeks Until the Diocesan Assembly in Springfield, MA

The 122nd Diocesan Assembly will convene May 2-4, 2024, at the Springfield Marriott Hotel, in Springfield, MA. St. Mark Church of Springfield will host the Diocesan Assembly and the Clergy Conference (meeting April 30-May 2), bringing together hundreds of Armenian Church leaders from the Eastern Diocese.

Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan will preside over the assembly, which will go forward under the theme “Be My Witnesses.”

The annual awards banquet will take place on Friday, May 3. The Rev. Fr. Mampre Kouzouian will be honored as this year’s “Armenian Church Member of the Year.” The Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, will receive the “Friend of the Armenians” award.

The Divine Liturgy, with the Primate presiding, will conclude the gathering on Sunday, May 5.

Online assembly registration and hotel reservations can be accessed via St. Mark’s Diocesan Assembly website.

Running concurrently with the Diocesan Assembly will be the 35th Women’s Guild Assembly, organized by the Women’s Guild Central Council. The WGCC will hold its 11th “Women of Wonder” award luncheon on Saturday, May 4, at 12:30 p.m. Click the following links to view a flyer, and find further details.

Find detailed information on the 122nd Diocesan Assembly, and links to register and reserve, by clicking here.

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 92nd Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church. "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund was established on the occasion of the 90th anniversary and continues 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.

April 19 ACYOA Juniors Annual Lock-in Retreat

April 21 Martyrs' Day Commemoration - Shnorhali School Program

April 24 Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

May 1, 8 Backgammon Tournament (see flyer for details)

May 9 Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 17, 18,19 Spring Food Festival

June 8 Dinner Dance with Bartev (see flyer for details)

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Application for the WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is

May 31, 2024.

Click here to access the scholarship application. If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

19 Յիսուս ասաց նրանց. «Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, մարդու Որդին ինքն իրենից ոչինչ չի կարող անել, այլ անում է այն, ինչ տեսնում է, թէ Հայրը կատարում է, որովհետեւ ինչ որ Հայրն է անում, նոյնը նրա նման եւ Որդին է գործում, 20 քանի որ Հայրը սիրում է Որդուն, եւ այն ամէնը, ինչ ինքն է անում, ցոյց է տալիս նրան. եւ նրան ցոյց կը տայ սրանից շատ աւելի մեծ գործեր, որոնց վրայ դուք կը զարմանաք. 21 որովհետեւ, ինչպէս որ Հայրը յարութիւն է տալիս մեռելներին եւ կենդանացնում է, նոյնպէս եւ Որդին կենդանացնում է` ում կամենայ: 22 Սակայն Հայրը ոչ մէկին չի դատում, այլ ամէն դատաստան տուել է իր Որդուն, 23 որպէսզի ամէնքը պատուեն Որդուն, ինչպէս պատւում են Հօրը: Ով Որդուն չի պատւում, չի պատւում եւ Հօրը` նրան առաքողին: 24 Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, որ, ով իմ խօսքը լսում է ու հաւատում է նրան, ով ինձ առաքեց, ընդունում է յաւիտենական կեանքը եւ չի դատապարտւում, այլ մահուանից կեանք անցաւ: 25 Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, որ կը գայ ժամանակ, եւ արդէն իսկ եկել է, երբ մեռելները կը լսեն Աստծու Որդու ձայնը, եւ նրանք, որ կը լսեն, կþապրեն, 26 որովհետեւ, ինչպէս Հայրն ինքն իր մէջ կեանք ունի եւ կեանք է տալիս, նոյնպէս եւ Որդուն տուեց ինքն իր մէջ կեանք ունենալ եւ տալ: 27 Եւ նրան իշխանութիւն տուեց դատաստան անելու, քանի որ մարդու Որդի է. 28 դրա վրայ ինչո°ւ էք զարմանում, որովհետեւ կը գայ ժամանակ, երբ բոլոր նրանք, որ գերեզմաններում են, կը լսեն նրա ձայնը 29 եւ դուրս կը գան. ովքեր բարի գործեր են արել` կեանքի յարութեան համար, իսկ ովքեր չար գործեր են արել` դատաստանի յարութեան համար: 30 Ես ինքս ինձնից ոչինչ անել չեմ կարող, այլ, ինչպէս լսում եմ Հօրից` դատում եմ, եւ իմ դատաստանը արդար է, որովհետեւ ոչ թէ իմ կամքն եմ որոնում, այլ նրա կամքը, ով ինձ առաքեց»:

(Յովհ. 5:19-30)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so, the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.24 "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out-those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

(John 5:19-30)

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