January 19

TOP STORY   

Saint Sargis, The Warrior, and His Son Martiros and His Fourteen Soldiers

He became a figure of enduring spiritual stature in the Armenian Church. But he began his sojourn among our people as a stranger. This Saturday, we will honor his memory once more, some 17 centuries after his death during the Feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior.

Sarkis, or Sergius, was a 4th-century Roman soldier who became a Christian and was persecuted for his faith. Fleeing Rome with his son Mardiros, Sarkis found refuge in Armenia, which at the time had been a Christian nation for two generations.

Father and son were eventually martyred in Persia. But years later, their relics were retrieved by St. Mesrob Mashdots and brought back to Armenia-where Sarkis has remained a beloved saint and an inspiring example of courage and conviction for our people.

It's noteworthy that St. Sarkis came to our homeland seeking refuge. What he found in Armenia was a welcoming home, a sanctuary of safety and acceptance, and a place where his memory would make a lasting, inspirational impression.

January 21, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Ms. Arlin Diratsuyan

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Ohannes Sivaslian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Is.61:10-62:9

2 Timothy 2:15-26

John 6:15-21

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

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of:

Hrant Dink (17th anniversary)

Requested by:

St. Mary Parish Council

HALVA donated by:

Hallajian Family in memory of Hrant Dink

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

Students Raise Funds for Artsakhsi Relief

During the Christmas season, the St Mary teens (ACYOA Juniors) sold Christmas ornaments made by the Shnorhali School recycle club in support of Artsakhtsi refugees. The ornaments were crafted from recycled materials with the assistance of teachers and club organizer teen Mariam McClure. The ornament sale yielded $360, which was sent to the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) for their Artsakh Relief efforts.  Thanks to the many parishioners who made donations, not only helping the refugees but also encouraging the children and youth to reach out and help others.

Home Blessing: A New Year’s Tradition

Throughout history, Armenian Christians have considered the home to be a sacred place: the tranquil sanctuary of the family, where habits of virtue, pious traditions, and life-affirming customs are passed from one generation to another.

Above all, the home is where one’s faith in God is first kindled, and where that faith finds some of the most profound occasions for action.

According to the traditions of the Armenian Church, God is asked to bestow His blessing on homes during the period following the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord. In a typical season, clergy would visit the homes of parishioners and perform the beautiful “Home Blessing” service.

Contact Der Hovsep to arrange a Home Blessing ceremony for you and your family.

Click on the links to learn more about this tradition, to download the service booklet, and to watch a video.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

A Radiant Evening of Music and Art at St. Vartan Cathedral

St. Vartan Cathedral in New York was the stage for a spectacular evening of soulful music, creative artistry, and spiritual uplift on the evening of January 13. The candlelight concert, titled “At the Crossroads,” went forward as part of the Eastern Diocese’s ongoing celebration of the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Church of America.

 Inside the cathedral sanctuary, audience members found a novel and unique visual experience, as the space was transformed by arrays of candles and special lighting, creating a mood that was at once mystical and warmly inviting.

 The program itself featured the internationally renowned projection artistry of Kevork Mourad, along with performances by a roster of superb vocal and instrumental artists. Together, they delivered a concert that reconceived traditional elements of Armenian culture in a memorably unique manner.

 The sublime musical talents on display included sopranos Hasmik Asatryan, Anoosh Barclay, and Anahit Zakaryan; mezzo-sopranos Hasmik Mekanejian and Solange Merdinian; pianist Hayk Arsenyan, cellist Ani Kalayjian, violist Sami Merdinian, duduk soloist Mher Mnatsakanyan, and organist Ari Terjanian.

 Maestro Khoren Mekanejian conducted the artists throughout the program, which featured sacred works by Komitas, St. Nerses Shnorhali, St. Gregory of Narek, as well as compositions by Yekmalyan, Khachaturian, Babajanian, and others.

 The concert was the vision of the Diocese’s 125th Anniversary Committee, co-chaired by Bryan and Maria Stepanian, with artistic planning by Solange Merdinian and Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian. It went forward under the generous sponsorship of the Dadourian Foundation.

 In a written message, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan summed up the spirit of the evening, and its place in the larger 125th anniversary observance: “Let us recommit ourselves to be beacons of light in a world that yearns for hope and peace.”

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Visits Bishop Mesrop

On Thursday, January 11, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan welcomed the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church of America to New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex.

 Archbishop Elpidophoros of America paid a special visit to Bishop Mesrop, to extend his warmest greetings on the occasion of Armenian Christmas, following its celebration on January 6. The visit was marked by heartfelt exchanges of warm wishes for peace, prosperity, and harmony among their respective communities.

 “This momentous occasion not only strengthens the spiritual bonds between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Armenian Church but also exemplifies the spirit of reconciliation and the quest towards unity that transcends confessional boundaries,” said the Greek Orthodox Church leader after the visit.

 Also attending the meeting in the formal reception room of the Diocesan Center was Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian. Accompanying Archbishop Elpidophoros during the visit were Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, and Deacon Petros Gomez.

 Bishop Mesrop and Archbishop Elpidophoros had previously exchanged greetings shortly after the New Year, when the Primate visited the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in New York. Click the following links to view photos of both meetings, at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and at the Diocesan Center of the Eastern Diocese.

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.

FAR Energizes Education in Rural Armenia

The Fund for Armenian Relief’s ongoing “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” program in Armenia’s Tavush region has ignited excitement and hands-on experimentation among the people of the country’s Berd, Ijevan, and Noyemberyan communities. These are impoverished rural locales, close to the Armenian border, whose residents have borne heavy burdens—especially during the trials of recent years.

Since the launch of the program more than a decade ago—in 2013—14 schools have undergone extensive renovations, with upgrades specifically tailored to improve and establish physics and chemistry classrooms (like the one pictured here). Technology classrooms in 12 schools have been outfitted with new laboratory devices and accessories.

Some 500 students in Tavush are now continuing their studies in these revitalized learning environments, which foster intellectual growth and practical application. To promote strong futures for more students in border communities, please consider contributing to FAR’s education initiatives. Learn more about these and other FAR efforts 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 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.

February 10

Ararat Avak Society St. Sarkis Luncheon

February 11

Great Barekendan

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple

February 18

Annual Parish Assembly

March 6

Median Day of Lent

March 24

Palm Sunday

March 31

Easter Sunday

15 Երբ Յիսուս իմացաւ, որ գալու են իրեն բռնել-տանելու, որպէսզի իրեն թագաւոր անեն, դարձեալ միայնակ դէպի լեռը գնաց: 16 Եւ երբ երեկոյ եղաւ, նրա աշակերտները ծովեզերք իջան: 17 Եւ նաւակ նստելով՝ գալիս էին դէպի ծովի միւս կողմը՝ դէպի Կափառնայում: Եւ երբ մութն ընկաւ, Յիսուս դեռ իրենց մօտ չէր եկել. 18 եւ ծովը հողմի ուժգին փչելուց փոթորկւում էր: 19 Երբ շուրջ քսանհինգ կամ երեսուն ասպարէզ թիավարելուց յետոյ տեսան Յիսուսին, որ քայլում էր ծովի վրայով եւ նաւակին էր մօտեցել, սաստիկ վախեցան: 20 Եւ նա ասաց նրանց. «Ես եմ. մի՛ վախեցէք»: 21 Եւ ուզում էին նրան նաւակի մէջ առնել. եւ նաւակը շուտով հասաւ այն տեղը, ուր գնում էին: Հովհաննես 6:15-21

15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on the Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I;[b] do not be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

Read full chapter  John 6:15-21

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