E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

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

Sunday: 06/18/2023

ՀՈԳԵԳԱԼՈՒՍՏԷՆ ԵՏՔ Գ. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ - THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

Sunday Readings: 

Isaiah 1:2-15; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 12:1-8

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

On Friday, June 9th, the St. Sarkis Salt & Light Youth Group held their end of year social, where over 60 youth and all our facilitators gathered to celebrate a successful season. There was great music, provided by our own youth group member DJ Niko Yazicyan, great food and fun games for our youth of all ages. Der Nareg addressed the youth and congratulated them on a great youth group season,and he also commended members from the Salt & Light Senior group, led by our facilitators Janet Tutuyan and Christine Bedrossian, on their recent community service outreach event at St. Mary's Children's Hospital. Lastly, on behalf of all the Salt & Light facilitators, Mrs. Nyrie Bedrossian wished our graduating seniors good luck and presented each of them with a small gift, which was a beautifully engraved wooden cross with the Salt & Light Logo on it. 

We wish everyone a healthy, happy and safe summer and look forward to reconvening for a Fall Session in September. 

On Sunday June 11, St. Sarkis proudly honored our recent college and high school graduates with our beloved “Sunday of Graduates” event. The event began towards the end of Badarak with a short ceremony of the blessing of graduation stoles and a beautiful sermon from Der Nareg dedicated to the graduates. 

During his address to the graduates, Der Nareg pointed out the importance of this ceremony coinciding with the day’s celebration of the Feast of Etchmiadzin, the foundation of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He explained that the Feast of Etchmiadzin is one of the most important feasts of the Armenian Church, celebrating the vision of St. Gregory that led to the birth of our Church. Der Nareg remarked on how meaningful it is to celebrate our graduates on this special feast day, as they have been an important part of our St. Sarkis parish and represent the future pillars of our Church. Der Nareg blessed the graduates, and beautifully reminded us all of the power of our faith that God has revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and that this deep, loving relationship with God gives essential meaning to our existence.  Der Nareg expressed great appreciation for the graduates and for everything they will do for the Church in the next phase of their lives.

Following Badarak and the blessing, there was a lovely luncheon and cake cutting in the Main Hall, where we read the very impressive biographies of each graduate and provided them with a special gift from Der Nareg.

Congratulations to our College Graduates: Arev Ebrimian, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. John’s University in January 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising Communications and a minor in Business Administration; Isabel Hagobian, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Villanova University in May 2022 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a double Minor in Computer Science and Italian; Juliet Hagobian who graduated this past May from Boston University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics; and Shant Megherian, who graduated Hofstra University with a degree in Biology.

Congratulations to our High School Graduates: Aren Bedrossian will be attending Fairfield University Dolan School of Business; Alec Kouyoumdjian will be attending Long Island University Post School of Nursing and Health Professions; Aram Nenejian will be attending New York Institute of Technology to study civil engineering and construction; Garen Fiesel will be attending Five Towns College to study Sound Engineering; and Nairi Vartanian will be attending Adelphi University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Studio Art.

Best of luck to our graduates as they enter the next chapter of their lives!

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Karnig Alajajian, St. Sarkis was able to launch our first scholarship program for students attending an accredited college in the 2023-2024 academic school year.  Two scholarships were awarded, one for 2023 and the other retroactively for 2022.  Congratulations to Mr. Aren Bedrossian, the 2022 scholarship awardee and Ms. Margaret Sakar, the 2023 scholarship awardee.



Aren is a graduating senior from Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills, New York with a very impressive GPA. During his high school years he has enjoyed being an active member of various Armenian organizations such as Salt & Light, AYF, Homenetmen, and working as a counselor at Camp Hayastan.  In the fall, he will be attending Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business and plans to major in accounting. He plans to remain active in the Armenian community of the New York metro area and participate in the university’s Armenian Students Association. 

Margaret is entering her senior year at Fordham Universities Gabelli School of Business with an exceptional GPA. In addition to excelling in her studies, she is involved in numerous extracurricular activities to include the Fordham Armenian Society and Smart Woman Securities. She has demonstrated leadership in the Armenian community, participating in numerous organizations and activities at St. Sarkis, to include the basketball team, teaching assistant at our Saturday school, and a member of Salt & Light. She also is a founder of the Armenian Club at the Benjamin N. Cardozo High School

The scholarships were awarded on June 11, during the Sunday of Graduates event. During the ceremony, Mr. Alajajian congratulated the awardees and provided very moving insight into his journey from Egypt to the United States, leaving his family to build a very successful life in the United States. Recognizing the importance of both Church and education for our youth to reach their potential, Mr. Alajajian had wanted to provide support and encouragement to our youth that demonstrate both academic excellence and commitment to our St. Sarkis Armenian Church.

The Scholarship Evaluation committee expresses appreciation to all the applicants, each of whom are highly talented and accomplished students destined for success!  

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, Ladies Guild members were invited to an intimate get-together in Pagoumian Hall. This event was organized to accomplish several goals. First and foremost, it was meant to thank all the ladies for their continuous support, dedication, and selfless participation in this year’s many Ladies Guild activities; second, to welcome many new members to the organization, socialize and get to know each other on a personal level, forge new friendships and create a strong bond with each other. And, of course, plan for the remainder of this year.    

Mrs. Lena Felice put her skills as an expert nutritionist to good use by choosing a healthy Japanese menu enjoyed by all. Dr. Louiza Kubikian welcomed everyone, briefly described what was achieved since the beginning of the year, and presented the schedule of activities for the remainder of 2023. This get-together concluded with a photo shoot with the entire group challenged to smile broadly by our expert photographers, Mrs. Chake Kelaghbian and Mrs. Jilbert Balian, loving mothers of Yn. Annie Terterian, Salpie Megerian and Jeanette Nenejian. We consider them our honorary members since they are always helping us.

The next stop for the Ladies Guild is a Garden Party at the home of Mrs. Mary Arslanian on August 3, 2023, at 11:30 am. Everyone is invited. See you then. 

In the meantime, please keep smiling and save your energy. There is a lot of work ahead for us to accomplish. And please join our group, we’re really a fun group, some young at heart and most young at heart and age.

Summer Camp Sponsorship Opportunity

Thank you to our main sponsors,

Mr. & Mrs. Antranig & Marion Boudakian

for their loyal and generous donations, for believing in our program and helping it

thrive for the past 16 years

$2,000.00

WATER PARK SLIDE $1000 (Need 1 Sponsor)

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Eduard & Alina Kochoumian

DRY SLIDES PARK $1000 (Need 4 Sponsors)

WHEELS ON THE BUS $1000

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Sorina Dumanian

LEGOLAND $900 

Sponsored By, The Ladies Guild of St. Sarkis Church

ARTS & CRAFTS $800 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Greg & Lusine Tchilingarian

SOFT PLAY $750 (Need 2 Sponsors)

FIRE & ICE SCIENCE SHOW $600 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Elizabeth Ohannessian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Elie & Zabel Hatem

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Vicky Hagobian

UP, UP & AWAY SCIENCE SHOW $600 

Sponsored By, Dr. & Mrs. Louis & Elenne Najarian

TUMBLEBUS $600 

Sponsored By, Mrs. Aida Ounjian

Sponsored By, Mr. Varouj Oghali

SPORTS $500

Sponsored By, Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian

LITTLE CHEF $400 

Sponsored By, Anonymous

 PETTING ZOO COMES TO YOU $400

Sponsored By, Drs. Arthur & Louiza Kubikian

PLAY A DOUGH $400 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Dennis & Annita Nerses Kurpius

SLIME TIME $400

Sponsored By, Ms. Aleene Voskerijian

FIRST FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, ARS Erebouni Chapter

SECOND FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Setrag & Annie Kazandjian

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

Aram Nenejian

Vahan Gostanian

ST. NERSES THE GREAT AND BISHOP KHATT

This Saturday, June 17, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos Nerses the Great and Khat the Bishop. Nerses the Great was the father of Catholicos Sahak I. He succeeded two catholicoi whose reigns were unexceptional, and the people were eager to return to the line of their beloved Gregory the Illuminator. Nerses was a student of St. Basil of Caesarea, one of three great Cappadocian Fathers. Nerses’ pontificate was the beginning of a new era. He brought the church closer to the people, rather than to royals and nobles. He convened the Council of Ashtishat that resulted in numerous laws on issues related to marriage, worship, and customs. He built many schools, hospitals, and monasteries. He sent monks to preach the Gospel throughout the country. His bold actions resulted in great displeasure by the royal family and in 373 he was reportedly poisoned by the king. His accomplishments for the spiritual and social wellbeing of the common people earned him the gratitude of the entire nation and the honorific “Great.”  

The office of the Prelacy’s charity in Yerevan is named St. Nerses the Great Charitable and Social Organization in honor of the saint.  

Khat the Bishop worked closely with St. Nerses the Great. Like Nerses he had a great passion for social issues, especially helping the poor. Nerses entrusted most of the benevolent work of the church to Khat. He is so closely associated with St. Nerses that the church honors them on the same day. 

You shined the ineffable light of the grace of your divine knowledge on the land of Armenia. Merciful heavenly Father, have mercy upon us sinners. You chose St. Nerses, purified by the Spirit, from the womb, to inherit the paternal position to shepherd in righteousness and in justice. He adorned the Church with the law of truth and rightly set in order. O Christ, spare us through his prayers. Along with the blessed chosen holy fathers of the Council, he was honored with great glory by confessing the Spirit as true God with the Father and the Son. You revealed to St. Nerses the hidden mystery of things to come. O Christ, spare us through his prayers. On account of the commandments of the heavenly King, he received the cup of death from the king and entered heaven, into the luminous bridal chamber. 

CONSTANTINE AND HIS MOTHER HELENA

This Tuesday, June 20, the Armenian Church remembers Constantine the Great and his mother, Helena. Constantine was the first Christian emperor of Rome. In 330 he founded Constantinople as a “second Rome,” and considered himself to be a servant of God. He was buried amid the apostles in the basilica he founded in their honor in Constantinople. Helena followed her son in becoming a Christian and devoted her life to charitable work. She built many churches and monasteries and is believed to have played an important role in the recovery of the true cross in Golgotha. She is also believed to have helped find Christ’s exact place of burial where later the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built.

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS (6.12-23)

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.   

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.   

I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ՀՌՈՄԱՅԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (6.12-23) 

Այսուհետեւ մեղքը թող չթագաւորէ ձեր մահկանացու մարմիններուն մէջ, զանոնք իր ցանկութեանց հնազանդեցնելով:

Մեղքին անձնատուր մի՛ ըլլաք, ձեր անդամները անիրաւութեան գործիք դարձնելով, այլ՝ որպէս մահուընէ կեանքի եկած մարդիկ, դուք ձեզ Աստուծոյ յանձնեցէք եւ ձեր մարմինները Աստուծոյ ձեռքին մէջ արդարութեան գործիք դարձուցէք: Մեղքը ձեր վրայ պէտք չէ իշխէ, քանի դուք Օրէնքին ենթակայ չէք, այլ՝ շնորհքին:

Ուրեմն ի՞նչ. քանի շնորհքին ենթակայ ենք եւ ոչ Օրէնքին, մե՞ղք գործենք: Բնա՛ւ երբեք: Լաւ գիտցէք, թէ որո՛ւ ծառայութեան որ նուիրուիք եւ հնազանդիք, անոր ծառան եղած կ’ըլլաք: Մեղքին ծառայելով՝ մահուան կ’ենթարկուիք, մինչ Աստուծոյ հնազանդելով՝ կ’արդարանաք: Գոհութիւն Աստուծոյ, որ թէպէտ ժամանակ մը մեղքին ծառայ դարձած էիք, բայց որովհետեւ սրտանց հնազանդեցաք ձեզի աւանդուած վարդապետութեան օրինակին, մեղքի տիրապետութենէն ազատեցաք եւ արդարութեան ծառայ դարձաք: Ծառայի օրինակով կը խօսիմ, որովհետեւ այդպէս աւելի հասկնալի է ձեզի: Ինչպէս որ ժամանակ մը ձեր մարմինները անօրէնութեան տուած՝ պղծութեան եւ անօրէնութեան կը ծառայէիք, այնպէս ալ հիմա սրբութեան տուէք ձեր մարմինները եւ արդարութեան ծառայեցէք: Երբ մեղքին ծառայ էիք, հեռու էիք արդարութենէն: Ի՞նչ շահեցաք այն ժամանակուան ձեր գործերէն, որոնցմէ կ’ամչնաք հիմա. որովհետեւ անոնց հետեւանքը մահ է: Բայց հիմա մեղքին տիրապետութենէն ազատ էք եւ Աստուծոյ ծառաներն էք: Ձեր շահը սրբութեան նուիրուած կեանք մըն է, որուն արդիւնքը պիտի ըլլայ յաւիտենական կեանքը: Որովհետեւ մեղքին վարձատրութիւնը մահ է, մինչ Աստուած որպէս ձրի պարգեւ՝ յաւիտենական կեանք կու տայ մեր Տիրոջ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի միջոցաւ:

  THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (12.1-8)

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."   

He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread-which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍԻ (12.1-8)

Շաբաթ օր մը, Յիսուս ցորենի արտերուն մէջէն կ’անցնէր: Աշակերտները անօթեցած ըլլալով, սկսան հասկ փրցնել եւ ուտել: Երբ Փարիսեցիները ասիկա տեսան, ըսին Յիսուսի.

– Տե՛ս, աշակերտներդ ի՛նչ կ’ընեն. բան մը, որ մեր Օրէնքը կ’արգիլէ Շաբաթ օրով ընել:

Յիսուս պատասխանեց.

– Չէ՞ք կարդացած թէ ի՛նչ ըրաւ Դաւիթ, երբ ինք եւ իր հետ եղողները անօթեցան: Աստուծոյ տունը չմտա՞ւ եւ

առաջաւորութեան հացերը չկերա՞ւ, բան մը՝ որ Օրէնքին համաձայն արտօնուած չէր իրեն եւ ոչ ալ իրեն հետ եղողներուն, այլ միայն քահանաներուն: Կամ չէ՞ք կարդացած

Օրէնքին մէջ, թէ Շաբաթ օրերը քահանաները տաճարին մէջ կը սրբապղծեն Շաբաթ օրը եւ սակայն ատիկա մեղք չի համարուիր իրենց: Ահա կ’ըսեմ ձեզի, որ տաճարէն աւելի մեծ մէկը կայ հոս: Եթէ իրապէս հասկնայիք թէ ի՛նչ կը նշանակէ Աստուծոյ սա խօսքը. «Ողորմութիւն կ’ուզեմ եւ ո՛չ թէ զոհ», այն ատեն չէիք դատապարտեր անմեղները, որովհետեւ Մարդու Որդին Տէրն է Շաբաթին:

- Mr. and Mrs. Jirair and Nora Mengouchian, Mr. and Mrs. Derek and Erica Mengouchian Sabety, and Mr. James Mengouchian request requiem service for the soul of their beloved brother, uncle, and godfather VARTKES MENGOUCHIAN (40th-day memorial service). 

The Altar flowers for this Sunday are donated by Mrs. Haigouhi Yepremian & Mr. Cedric Yepremian in memory of their beloved father & grandfather Deacon THOMAS THOMASIAN.

 TEDDY DAIDONE, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Zachary & Zabella Daidone, was brought to church for the 40th-day dedication service, according to the rites of the Armenian Church. We welcome Teddy to the life of the church and hope to see her soon for the Sacrament of Baptism

- OLIVIA BEATRICE MARCARIAN the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Emma Marcarian was baptized on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Her Godparents were Mr. Christopher Biramian and Mrs. Christina Biramian. May the Grace of the Holy Spirit always be with Olivia.

 - MICHAEL JOHN POTTHOFF and ALINE SVADJIAN were married on June 9, 2023. The best man and the maid of honor were Mr. Philip Potthoff and Ms. Alejandra Betancur. We congratulate the newly married couple & wish them a happy life together.