February 28

TOP STORY   

Great Lent: A Season to Walk with Christ

With Great Lent beginning on Monday, March 3, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan offers his insights to help us experience this holy season to its fullest.

“Great Lent is a time of many rich traditions in our Armenian Church,” says the Primate of the Eastern Diocese. “I encourage you to explore them, and to be enriched in your spiritual life. Open yourself to the great love that God has for you. Listen for His voice, and seek out where it calls you.”

Click the button below to watch Bishop Mesrop’s video message, in English and Armenian.

Great Lent

This year, the Armenian Church calendar designates Monday, March 3, as the first day of Great Lent: the season when Christians consciously turn away from worldly matters and make an effort through prayer, fasting, study, and introspection to prepare for the spiritual drama of Holy Week and Easter Sunday.

The Scriptural basis for Lent resides in the 40-day period Christ spent in the wilderness following his baptism. In the words of St. Matthew's Gospel (4:12): "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward, he was hungry."

During Lent we are called to follow the Holy Spirit to confront our own "inner wilderness", the realm of spiritual emptiness engendered by sin, laziness, and vanity. Through prayer, fasting, Bible reading, and self-examination, we are given an opportunity to renew our commitment to God and gain the strength to work at being more loving, humble, and gentle. Click here to learn more about the Armenian Church traditions concerning Great Lent.

Join us for our 2025 Spiritual Journey To Prepare for Holy Resurrection on Lenten Wednesdays. 

To see the 2025 Lenten Series flyer click here.

ԲՈՒՆ ԲԱՐԵԿԵՆԴԱՆ

Բարեկենդան նշանակում է բարի կենդանություն, բարեկեցություն, ուրախություն: Եկեղեցական աստվածպաշտության մեջ բարեկենդան է կոչվում յուրաքանչյուր շաբաթապահքին, ինչպես նաև Մեծ պահքին նախորդող օրը: Վերջինս կոչվում է Բուն բարեկենդան, իսկ մնացածն անվանում են իրենց հաջորդող պահքի անունով: Բացի Ծննդյան պահքի բարեկենդանից՝ բոլոր մյուսները համընկնում են կիրակի օրվան:

Քրիստոնյայի համար «բարեկենդան» բառը ոչ թե կենցաղային, այլ հոգևոր իմաստ ունի՝ խորհրդանշելով այն ճշմարիտ բարի կյանքը և մեղքի մահով չվնասված հոգու կենդանի վիճակը, որի մեջ մարդը գտնվում էր դրախտում՝ նախքան մեղանչելը: Քրիստոնյայի նպատակն է վերստին ստանալ ադամական մեղքի պատճառով կորցրած այդ սկզբնական բարեկենդանությունը, որը շնորհվելու է համընդհանուր հարության օրը՝ ուղիղ հավատով և բարեպաշտությամբ ընթացողներին:

Այդ օրը, հիշելով դրախտի ուրախալից կյանքի վայելչությունը և տոնական սեղանի շուրջ զվարճանալով, հավատացյալը միաժամանակ խորհրդածում է առաջիկա պահքի մասին և ուխտադրվում «ապաշխարության արժանի գործեր» կատարել [Մատթ. 3.8]:

March 2, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

9:30 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:00 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mr. Gabris Chubukian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mrs. Svetlanna Hovhannisyan   

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 58:1-14

Romans 13:11-14:25

 Matthew 6:1-21

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

My soul is always in your hands and I place my hope in your Holy Cross, O Heavenly King. May the multitude of your saints intercede on my behalf. You who are patient with everyone, do not neglect me who trusts in you, but keep me in peace with your precious and Holy Cross.

Keep watch, Lord, over your faithful people; strengthen those fleeing persecution, and protect the holy soil of Armenia. Preserve the spirit of Artsakh in our hearts; console those who grieve; 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

Join Us on a Meaningful Lenten Journey

As we enter the sacred season of Lent, we invite you to embark on a spiritual journey of reflection, prayer, and fellowship at St. Mary Armenian Church. Every Wednesday evening from March 5 to April 9, we will gather to deepen our faith through a prayer service, an inspiring discussion, and a shared Lenten meal.

Each week, we will explore a different spiritual theme, helping us prepare our hearts for the Resurrection of our Lord. Through repentance, fasting, humility, almsgiving, forgiveness, and walking with Christ, we will renew our spirits and draw closer to God.

Come with an open heart, ready to reflect, grow, and embrace the blessings of this holy season. All are welcome!

For more information, please contact St. Mary Armenian Church.

A Joyous Ordination: Fr. Nerses Begins His Priestly Ministry

The Armenian Church celebrates the ordination of Fr. Nerses (formerly Deacon Serop Krajekian) into the Holy Priesthood on February 22, 2025, at St. Sahag Armenian Church in Minnesota. Officiated by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, this sacred event marked the beginning of his pastoral ministry.

Having completed his internship at St. Mary Armenian Church under the guidance of Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Fr. Nerses gained valuable pastoral experience in our parish. Fr. Hovsep also served as his sponsoring priest, accompanying him through this transformative moment.

Surrounded by family and the faithful, Fr. Nerses embraced his commitment to serving Christ and His Church. After completing his 40-day seclusion at St. Nersess Seminary, he will return to his parish to begin his ministry. May God bless his service as he embarks on this sacred journey.

Shnorhali School to Celebrate Barekendan on March 2, 2025

Shnorhali School is pleased to announce its Annual Barekendan Celebration, taking place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church. This event will showcase the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of Barekendan through student performances, traditional Armenian music and dance, interactive games, humor, and a reenactment of a traditional wedding ceremony. The program will also offer reflections on the significance of Great Lent, emphasizing the themes of prayer, fasting, and spiritual renewal leading up to Easter.

The community is warmly invited to attend this meaningful and festive celebration of Armenian heritage.

Bikes For Kids

Fund for Armenian Relief sends its thanks to the St. Mary community for your support in their Christmas Wishlist campaign. This week, FAR's Ayo! team distributed bikes to 269 kids, from tots to teens in the Sisian region of Syunik. This is a vulnerable yet strategic part of Armenia. FAR is continuing to stand by the many families displaced from Artsakh who have resettled there, helping them establish new lives. You can take a look at a sweet video from the bike distribution here. 



Your support, as always, means the world to us and the people we serve.

Thank you!!

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Outnumbered, Defeated—But Never Forgotten

Every year on the Thursday preceding Great Lent, Armenians throughout the world commemorate the Battle of Avarayr (A.D. 451). The armed forces of Armenia confronted the Persian Empire, which aimed to convert the world's first Christian nation to Zoroastrianism. 

Armenia’s soldiers fighting under the leadership of St. Vartan Mamigonian are known as the Vartanank, and their day of remembrance is Vartanantz. We’ll mark it next week, on February 27. 

On the field of Avarayr, outnumbered Armenian fighters faced a mighty Persian army. St. Vartan and his companions saw a military defeat; but their unyielding commitment to defend their faith ultimately thwarted the Persians, and ensured that Christianity would endure in Armenia. 

Click here to read more about the Battle of Avarayr on our website, or download the Diocese’s iBook for an interactive introduction to St. Vartan’s historic campaign. 

The Feast of Sts. Vartanantz on Thursday, February 27 will be observed in parishes across the Eastern Diocese. The evening badarak at New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral will be broadcast live on its Facebook page; it will include a special blessing of icons ceremony. A dinner and program will follow. See below under “Events” for details.

Two days prior to Vartanantz, the Armenian Church will remember the sacrifice of St. Ghevont (Leontius) the priest and his companions. St. Ghevont is one of the great exemplars of the Armenian priesthood, remembered for his rare courage and resolution at the Battle of Avarayr. Click here to learn more about St. Ghevont and his companions. 

In observance of Ghevontiantz Day, the clergy of the Eastern Diocese will hold regional gatherings at St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ; St. George Church in Waukegan, IL; and Holy Archangels Church in Haverhill, MA. 

Above: A fine modern illustration of Vartan leading his troops across the plain of Avarayr, from Roger Kupelian’s “East of Byzantium” saga.

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.

March 5 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

March 12 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

March 19 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

March 26 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

April 2 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

April 9 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

1 Զգո՛յշ եղէք, որ ձեր ողորմութիւնը մարդկանց առջեւ չանէք, որպէս թէ այն լինէր ի ցոյց նրանց. այլապէս վարձ չէք ընդունի ձեր Հօրից, որ երկնքում է: 2 Այլ երբ ողորմութիւն անես, փող մի՛ հնչեցրու քո առջեւ, ինչպէս անում են կեղծաւորները ժողովարաններում եւ հրապարակներում, որպէսզի փառաւորուեն մարդկանցից: Ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ՝ այդ իսկ է նրանց վարձը: 3 Այլ երբ դու ողորմութիւն անես, թող քո ձախ ձեռքը չիմանայ, թէ ինչ է անում քո աջը, 4 որպէսզի քո ողորմութիւնը ծածուկ լինի, եւ քո Հայրը, որ տեսնում է, ինչ որ ծածուկ է, կհատուցի քեզ յայտնապէս: 5 Եւ երբ աղօթես, չլինե՛ս կեղծաւորների նման, որոնք սիրում են ժողովարաններում եւ հրապարակների անկիւններում աղօթքի կանգնել, որպէսզի մարդկանց երեւան. ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ՝ այդ իսկ է նրանց վարձը: 6 Այլ դու, երբ աղօթես, մտի՛ր քո սենեակը, փակի՛ր քո դռները եւ ծածո՛ւկ աղօթիր քո Հօրը, եւ քո Հայրը, որ տեսնում է, ինչ որ ծածուկ է, կհատուցի քեզ յայտնապէս: 7 Աղօթք անելիս շատախօս մի՛ եղէք, ինչպէս հեթանոսները, որովհետեւ նրանք կարծում են, թէ իրենց շատ խօսքերի պատճառով լսելի կլինեն: 8 Արդ, նրանց չնմանուէ՛ք, որովհետեւ ձեր Հայրը գիտէ, թէ ինչ է ձեզ պէտք, նախքան որ դուք նրանից մի բան ուզէք: 9 Եւ արդ, դուք այսպէ՛ս աղօթեցէք. "Հա՛յր մեր, որ երկնքում ես. սուրբ թող լինի քո անունը. 10 քո թագաւորութիւնը թող գայ. քո կամքը թող լինի երկրի վրայ, ինչպէս որ երկնքում է. 11 մեր հանապազօրեայ հացը տո՛ւր մեզ այսօր. 12 եւ ների՛ր մեզ մեր յանցանքները, ինչպէս որ մենք ենք ներում նրանց, որ յանցանք են գործում մեր դէմ. 13 եւ մի՛ տար մեզ փորձութեան, այլ փրկի՛ր մեզ չարից. որովհետեւ քոնն է թագաւորութիւնը եւ զօրութիւնը եւ փառքը յաւիտեանս. ամէն": 14 Եթէ դուք մարդկանց ներէք իրենց յանցանքները, ձեր երկնաւոր Հայրն էլ ձեզ կների: 15 Իսկ եթէ դուք մարդկանց չներէք իրենց յանցանքները, ձեր Հայրն էլ ձեզ չի ների ձեր յանցանքները: 16 Երբ ծոմ պահէք, տրտմերես մի՛ եղէք կեղծաւորների նման, որոնք իրենց երեսները այլանդակում են, որպէսզի մարդկանց այնպէս երեւան, թէ ծոմ են պահում. ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ՝ այդ իսկ է նրանց վարձը: 17 Այլ երբ դու ծոմ պահես, օծի՛ր քո գլուխը եւ լուա՛ քո երեսը, 18 որպէսզի չերեւաս մարդկանց որպէս ծոմ պահող, այլ քո Հօրը՝ գաղտնաբար. եւ քո Հայրը, որ տեսնում է, ինչ որ ծածուկ է, կհատուցի քեզ: 19 Գանձեր մի՛ դիզէք ձեզ համար երկրի վրայ, ուր ցեց եւ ժանգ ոչնչացնում են, եւ ուր գողերը պատերն են ծակում ու գողանում, 20 այլ գանձե՛ր դիզեցէք ձեզ համար երկնքում, որտեղ ո՛չ ցեց եւ ո՛չ ժանգ չեն ոչնչացնում, եւ ո՛չ էլ գողերը պատերն են ծակում ու գողանում. 21 քանի որ ուր ձեր գանձերն են, այնտեղ եւ ձեր սրտերը կլինեն: 

Մատթեոսի 6:1-21

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. "Thus when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where month and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither month nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 6:1-21

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