E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

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

Sunday: 11/5/2023

Ը. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ Ս. ԽԱՉԷՆ ԵՏՔ - Eighth Sunday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross 

Sunday Readings:

Isaiah 22:15-25; Ephesians 1:1-14; Luke 8:17-21 

Join us in worship this Sunday.

Morning Service 10:00 AM

Sunday School 11:00 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

In a celebration of Armenian culture and tradition, a newly formed dance group, Hamazkayin Nor Yeraz Dance Ensemble, commenced its journey on Friday, October 27th. With twenty enthusiastic dancers in attendance and an additional five who could not make it due to prior commitments, the group was off to an impressive start.

The dancers were evenly matched with both boys and girls, reflecting a diverse and inclusive spirit. Nor Yeraz boasts two experienced instructors: Maria Bechirian, who has an impressive legacy as the daughter of Karnig Nercessian and having danced for Yeraz for many years, and Tigran Dumanyan, who brings a wealth of experience, having danced for Yeraz 15 years ago.

Maria, our girl’s instructor, could not help but feel her father’s presence during the practice. She was deeply moved by the thought of how happy her father would have been if he could see the young dancers of many years ago dancing once more, remembering the steps that she and her father had taught them. The dancers themselves were also feeling Karnig’s presence. 

Tigran, our boy’s instructor, shared his own heartfelt connection to dance and community. He reminisced about joining Yeraz at the age of fourteen when he first arrived in the United States, emphasizing the strong bonds he formed with fellow Armenians and the cherished memories he made. He expressed his excitement about what lies ahead for Nor Yeraz, believing it to be a source of enduring joy for the young dancers.

The first practice session was nothing short of invigorating, leaving the kids exhilarated and eagerly anticipating the future of their dance group. The enthusiasm was infectious, with the boys so engrossed in the dance that they were reluctant to stop practicing. Laughter filled the room, setting a vibrant and joyous atmosphere.

For the members of Nor Yeraz, this dance group presents a unique opportunity to connect with other Armenian youth, fostering friendships, and strengthening their cultural ties. The schedule for the coming months promises a series of exciting practices and events, ensuring that Nor Yeraz will continue to flourish and represent the rich Armenian heritage through the art of dance.

Hamazkayin Nor Yeraz would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Saint Sarkis Church for generously allowing the dance group to use their space for practice. The dance group also has an impressive executive team and volunteers who generously contribute their time and expertise. We have many exciting events we are looking forward to launch.

As Nor Yeraz embarks on this promising journey, the group is set to become a source of cultural pride and a vibrant community for all its members.

 All the practices will be on Fridays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the downstairs hall, except for December 8th. 

Please see below for the practice schedule:

November 10                  

December 8 Upstairs

December 15

January 12

January 26

February 2

February 23

March 1

March 15

April 5

April 19

May 3

May 17

May 31

June 14

If you would like to join the dance group or have additional questions, please email at noryerazdancegroup@gmail.com or call 917-432-4672. 

On Friday, October 27, 2023, over forty ladies gathered at St. Sarkis Church as part of ARS Erebouni’s Pumpkin Carving and Ghapama Tasting event to benefit displaced Armenians from Artsakh.  The evening commenced with a beautiful prayer by our Chair, Ungh. Vicky Hagobian, followed by an engaging and fun pumpkin carving social.  Each guest had an individual pumpkin to carve and decorate.  The ladies enjoyed a variety of delicious Ghapama prepared by Ungh. Setta Bijimenian and Ungh. Yeran Atakhanian, and tasty appetizers lovingly prepared by our ARS Ungerouhis.  

This was a beautiful autumn event, displaying artfully prepared traditional Armenian Ghapamas in all shapes and sizes, stuffed with honey-sweetened rice, chopped nuts, dried fruits and apricots.  The ladies in attendance were proud to be part of a fundraiser where not only memories were made, but much needed funds were raised for our brothers and sisters from Artsakh in their time of need.  

Thank you to all those who attended and to Ungh. Aleene Voskerijian and Ungh. Tamar Tervizian for planning this fun evening.

On October 29th, St Sarkis Starters Basketball team played fantastically against Holy Martyrs Starters at Mitchell Gym. Once again St Sarkis filled the gym with loud cheers and excitement as these boys and girls played a game showing great skills and sportsmanship. Join us this Sunday November 5th as they play Holy Martyrs at 2pm in Mitchell Gym to cheer them on. Lets go Sarkis!!

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.   

THE NEXT MEETING IS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2023

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

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

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 ALL SAINTS

On Saturday, November 4, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of All Saints, Old and New, Known and Unknown. This is the holiday that compensates for any sins of omission in the list of saints remembered by the Church. The western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1. In the Armenian Church tradition, the date is variable depending on the season of the Cross. It can occur in late October or in November. This commemoration is rooted in the belief that there are many saints who are not known to us. Therefore, on this day, all saints are honored. 

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS (1.1-14)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory.

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԵՓԵՍԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (1.1-14)

Ես՝ Պօղոս, Աստուծոյ կամքով Քրիստոս Յիսուսի առաքեալը, կը գրեմ Եփեսոս բնակող եղբայրներուդ, Քրիստոս Յիսուսի հաւատացողներուդ: Թող Աստուած մեր Հայրը եւ Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոս շնորհք եւ խաղաղութիւն պարգեւեն ձեզի:

Օրհնեալ է Աստուած, մեր Տիրոջ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի Հայրը, որ Քրիստոսով մեզ օրհնեց երկինքի մէջ ամէն տեսակ հոգեւոր օրհնութեամբ: Անիկա աշխարհի գոյութենէն իսկ առաջ մեզ ընտրած էր՝ Քրիստոսի միջոցաւ իրեն պատկանելու համար, որպէս սուրբ եւ անարատ ժողովուրդ, եւ իր սիրով մեզ նախասահմանեց՝ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի ձեռքով իր որդիները ըլլա­լու, որովհետեւ ա՛յդ էր իր կամքը եւ ծրագիրը:

Ուստի գովենք զինք այն փառքին համար, որ մեզի շնորհեց իր սիրելի Որդիին միջոցաւ: Արդարեւ, անով փրկուեցանք եւ անոր արիւնով մեր մեղքերուն թողութիւն գտանք: Որքա՜ն մեծ է իր շնորհքը, որ առատօրէն տուաւ մեզի՝ ամենայն իմաստութեամբ եւ գիտութեամբ: Որովհետեւ իր կամքին համաձայն մեզի յայտնեց շատ կանուխէն պատրաստած իր ծրագիրը, որ Քրիստոսով պիտի իրագործուի: Եւ այդ ծրագիրը սա է, որ երբ ժամանակները իրենց լրումին հասնին, Քրիստոս իրմով պիտի բովանդակէ ամէն ինչ որ կայ երկինքի մէջ եւ երկրի վրայ:

Քրիստոսի միջոցաւ է որ ժառանգորդ դարձանք փրկութեան: Աստուած, որ ամէն ինչ կը յաջողցնէ ըստ իր առաջադրած ծրագրին ու կամքին, անով առաջուց հրաւիրեց մեզ՝ իր փառքը գովերգելու. մենք՝ որ Քրիստոսի յուսացողներուն առաջիններէն եղանք: Դուք ալ, երբ լսեցիք ճշմարիտ քարոզութիւնը, այսինքն Աւետարանը որ ձեզի փրկութիւն բերաւ, հաւատացիք Քրիստոսի եւ խոստացուած Սուրբ Հոգիով կնքուեցաք: Եւ Սուրբ Հոգին գրաւական է, թէ պիտի ժառանգենք Աստուծոյ խոստումը, երբ Աստուած պիտի փրկէ իր սեփական ժողովուրդը, որպէսզի իր փառքը գովերգենք:

     THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE (8:17-21)

 For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen, for to those who have, more will be given, and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away."

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՂՈՒԿԱՍՈՒ (8:17-21)

Չկայ ծածուկ բան՝ որ չյայտնուի եւ կամ գաղտնի բան՝ որ չգիտցուի եւ երեւան չգայ: Ուրեմն ուշադիր եղէք թէ ի՛նչպէս կ’ընդունիք այս խօսքերը, որովհետեւ ունեցողին պիտի տրուի, իսկ չունեցողէն պիտի առնուի նոյնիսկ այն՝ ինչ որ կը կարծէ թէ ունի:

Յիսուսի մայրն ու եղբայրները իրեն եկան, բայց խուռն բազմութեան պատճառով չկրցան իրեն մօտենալ: Լուր տուին իրեն, ըսելով.

– Մայրդ եւ եղբայրներդ դուրսն են եւ կ’ուզեն քեզ տեսնել:

Յիսուս ըսաւ.

– Մայրս ու եղբայրներս ասոնք են, որոնք Աստուծոյ խօսքը կը լսեն եւ կը գործադրեն:

The Community of St. Sarkis Church mourns the passing of Arthur B. Hairabedian, co-founder of St. Sarkis Church of Douglaston, New York, as well as longtime chairman of its Board of Trustees and delegate to the National Representative Assembly. He was 93.

Mr. Hairabedian was born on April 22, 1930, in New York, the second child to Armenian Genocide survivors Haroutiun and Archalouis Hairabedian and brother to Hermine Tabibian. The Hairabedians lived in Queens Village and were active in the community life, which also involved vacationing in Tannersville, a popular spot with New York Armenians.

Following the typical childhood of an Armenian-American teenager, Arthur—who played the clarinet and had a band called Art Bishop and the Jumping Five–graduated from Bryant High School in 1948. He decided not to attend college and got a job at a photo engraving shop. In 1950, as the Korean War began, he was drafted and joined the Marine Corps with the rank of Corporal and ordered to ship out to Korea, but as luck would have it, someone from his unit volunteered, and Mr. Hairabedian’s name was picked out of a hat and was not deployed. Upon his honorable discharge, Mr. Hairabedian returned to New York and under the GI bill was able to go to college and graduated in two and half years from NYU with an Electrical Engineering degree.

Yet he always found time to be involved with the community. He met his wife, Lilian, at the Armenian Club at NYU. They graduated together in June 1957 and married in October of that year. Mr. Hairabedian’s first job was with Hazeltine Electronics. He became Department Head when the first UNIVAC II computers were being installed.

In 1959, along with a group of young families from Long Island (the Petrossians, Akopiantzs, Derians, Callians, Hagopians, and Haratunians to name a few), the Hairabedians decided it was time to have a church in their own community. After campaigning and fundraising, the dream came true in 1962. St. Sarkis Church had a new home in Bayside, and Mr. Hairabedian was nominated as the Chairman of the Consecration Committee and subsequently Chairman of the Board of Trustees.  With a mortgage of $125,000.00 (equivalent to $1.2 million today), the families worked to keep the church going. Having no money to spare, the men usually did all the repairs themselves, even the roofing work.

In 1965, the Hairabedians chose to move to Paris, where they eventually created their own company in the fishing and smoking industry. Mr. Hairabedian naturally turned to the Armenian community and to the church of the French capital. He was elected to the Board of Trustees of St. John the Baptist Church and once again, helped reinvigorate the parish of the French capital. Mr. Hairabedian never limited his involvement to the Church alone, also helping the Tebrotzaser School, the Mekhitarist School, or AGBU.

The children, Diane, Laura, and Alan, moved back to the U.S. in the mid-80s, and after retiring, the Hairabedians moved back to New York in 2007. Although decades had passed since Mr. Hairabedian had last served St. Sarkis, without hesitation he got involved as a Board of Trustees member and National Representative Assembly delegate, generously sharing his counsel, time, and financial assistance.

Mr. Hairabedian’s service to the Armenian church and St. Sarkis Church was recognized several times, including a Prelacy Eagle medal presented to him at the National Representative Assembly meeting hosted by St. Sarkis Church in 2016 his many years of service to the Armenian church. In 2022, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of St. Sarkis Church, Mr. Hairabedian was honored as one of the founding fathers of the church and presented with a special recognition for his many years of dedicated service to the church.

The wake service will be held today, November 2, at St. Sarkis Church, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The funeral service will be on Friday, November 3, at the church, presided by the Prelte, and followed by the interment service at Cedar Grove cemetery. Donations may be made to St. Sarkis Church.

Archbishop Anoushavan and the Religious and Executive Councils extend their condolences to Mr. Hairabedian’s family and loved ones. May God illuminate his soul. Աստուած հոգին լուսաւորէ։

-Mrs. ARSHALOUIS KIRKORIAN  passed on Friday, October 27, 2023. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

Mr. ARTHUR HAIRABEDIAN passed on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Wake service was held on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Funeral services were held on Friday, November 3, 2023 at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

-Mr. & Mrs. Arthur and Roubina TerHovanesian and son Andre request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother and grandmother ANJIK MKHITARIAN (40th-day memorial service). Also for the soul of their beloved father and grandfather MANVEL MKHITARIAN (13th-year memorial service).

-Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Meline Yaziciyan and children Nikolas and Sara request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother and grandmother ARSHALUCE JACOBIAN (18th year memorial service).

-Mr. & Mrs. Varujan and Luiza Kalustian and children Alina and Michael request requiem service for the souls of their beloved mother and grandmother  MELINE KURKJIAN (36th-year memorial service), beloved parents and grandparents MACDUS & TAKOUHI FERMANIAN, beloved uncle and great uncle ASHOD FERMANIAN, beloved nephew and cousin  CHRISTIAN FERMANIAN, and beloved aunt and great aunt  FLORANCE FERMANIAN.  

-Mr. Vahram Hovsepian and children Ms. Voski Hovsepian and Mr. Aram Hovsepian, Mrs. Haikouhi Megerian, Mr. & Mrs. John and Salpi Megerian and children AnnaMarie, Raffi, Michael and Angela, Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Christina Megerian and children Raphael, Paul and Victoria, Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Isabelle Megerian and son Garo and Mr. Daniel Megerian request requiem service for the soul of their beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather MINAS HOVSEPIAN (19 year memorial service).

The Ladies Guild fellowship hour will be held in Pagoumian Hall and is hosted by:

-Mrs. Janet Tutuyan

-Mrs. Annita Nerses Kurpius

-Ms. Lori Varjabedian