Weekly Oshagan

April 14th, 2024, Newsletter of

St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles

Rev. Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian, Parish Priest

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AT ST. LEON CATHEDRAL IN BURBANK

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024 AT 6.00PM

Title: "Embracing Renewal: Lessons from Doubting Thomas".

English Summary of Father Haroutioun Tachejian's sermon delivered on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at St. James.

Today, as we gather on this important 8th day after Jesus Christ's Resurrection, celebrated in our Armenian Church calendar as New Sunday, we are called to think about renewal. This renewal comes from the powerful event of the Empty Tomb and Jesus' triumphant return to life. Through His loving sacrifice, not only is the world made new again, but people are also brought closer to God.

In the stories after the Resurrection, as told by Saint John, we hear the touching tale of Doubting Thomas. Thomas, not there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples, struggled with doubt when they told him about it. His uncertainty was similar to the doubts the disciples had when Mary Magdalene said she saw Jesus alive. But Thomas's doubt was bold as he said, "I won't believe unless I see the marks of the nails in His hands and put my finger in them and my hand in His side."

What's amazing is how kindly Jesus responded to Thomas's doubt, showing understanding and forgiveness for human weaknesses. Jesus, in His endless love, agreed to what Thomas asked and appeared again in the room to remove doubt and strengthen faith. Thomas, humbled by seeing Jesus alive, said in amazement and respect, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus also acknowledged how blessed those are who believe without seeing His resurrection.

Thinking about this story, we're reminded how humans tend to rely only on what they can see and touch, forgetting the deep mysteries of faith. Since the beginning of time, humans have been given minds and spirits to connect with God. But because of the sadness of the Fall, this connection has been weakened, and faith has been put aside in people's minds.

Even though we fall short, God has always tried to restore the close relationship with His creation. From prophets' messages to the sacrifice of priests, ending in the sacrifice of His Son, God has always worked to bring reconciliation. But even after Jesus's Resurrection, doubts and uncertainties remain, threatening to dim the light of faith.

In the face of doubt and uncertainty, the teachings of the apostles of Jesus Christ guide us with wisdom. Their faith wasn't based just on human wisdom or miracles; it was anchored firmly in Christ Himself. Through the Holy Spirit's presence, they were strong against doubt and temptation, nurturing a faith that stood firm in life's trials.

Today on this “New Sunday” let's remember Jesus' timeless words: "Blessed are those who believe without seeing." Like Thomas, let's break free from doubt and accept Jesus as our Lord and God. Let's praise and adore the Holy Trinity as we celebrate this new dawn of faith. Amen.

Title: "The Power of Faith: Remembering the Armenian Genocide".

The Summary of Father Haroutioun Tachejian's sermon delivered for St. James Sunday School students on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at St. James.

Title: The Power of Faith: Remembering the Armenian Genocide

Dear Sunday School students,

Today, as we gather together after the joyous celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection, I want to talk to you about something very important in our history as Armenians. It's a story of great sadness and hardship, but also of incredible strength and faith.

More than a hundred years ago, in 1915, a terrible event called the Armenian Genocide took place. Our ancestors, the Armenian people, were targeted by the Ottoman Empire Turks simply because of who we are: Armenians and Christians. Over 1.5 million Armenians, including men, women, elderly, children, and clergy, were massacred in an attempt to wipe us out from our homeland.

But despite the darkness of those days, our faith in Jesus Christ gave us strength. Just like how Jesus rose from the dead, we, too, believed in the power of resurrection. Even though many Armenians were killed, our spirit was not destroyed. Our ancestors held onto their faith and their identity as Armenians.



The Turks wanted to erase us from history, but they did not succeed. Today, we have our independent Motherland, Armenia, and a strong Armenian diaspora with over 7 million people around the world. This shows the resilience and strength of our people.

As Armenian children, it's essential for us to remember our history and honor the legacy of our ancestors. We must keep our Armenian culture and language alive by attending Sunday school and being active members of our church.

Recently, we faced another tragedy when our brothers and sisters in Artsakh were forced to flee their homes due to conflict. It's heartbreaking to see our people suffer once again, but it's our duty to support them morally and financially. We are one large Armenian family, whether we live in Armenia or in the diaspora.



So, my dear children, let us never forget the sacrifices of those who came before us. Let us continue to be faithful to our Armenian heritage, and let us always stand together as one, united in our love for our Motherland and our faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Campership Application Here:

https://forms.gle/EwaKHbeBR79J1Ugu8

Կիրակի, Ապրիլ 14, 2024

Ս. Պատարագ  - Ժամը  10:30ին

Ս. Հաղորդութիւն - Ժամը  11:45ին

Քարոզ - Ժամը  12:00ին

Հոգեհանգիստ - Ժամը  12:15ին

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Divine Liturgy - 10:30 am

Holy Communion - 11:45am

Sermon - 12:00 pm

Requiem Services   - 12:15 pm

ՍՈՒՐԲ ԳՐԱՅԻՆ ԸՆԹԵՐՑՈՒՄՆԵՐ

ԿԻՐԱԿԻ , ԱՊՐԻԼ 14, 2024

ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆ ԸՍՏ ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆՈՒ 2.23–3.12

Զատիկի տօնին, մինչ Յիսուս Երուսաղէմ կը գտնուէր, շատեր հաւատացին իրեն, երբ տեսան անորգործած հրաշքները: Սակայն Յիսուս ինքզինք չէր վստահեր անոնց, որովհետեւ բոլորն ալ կըճանչնար եւ պէտք չունէր ոեւէ մէկուն մասին ուրիշին վկայութեան, քանի ինք գիտէր թէ ի՛նչ կայմարդոց սիրտին մէջ:

Նիկոդեմոս անունով Փարիսեցի մարդ մը կար, Հրեայ  իշխան մը, որ գիշերով Յիսուսի քով եկաւ եւըսաւ անոր.

– Վարդապե՛տ, գիտենք որ դուն Աստուծոյ կողմէ ղրկուած ուսուցիչ մըն ես, որովհետեւ ո՛չ ոք կրնայգործել քու կատարած հրաշքներդ, եթէ Աստուած անոր հետ չըլլայ:

Յիսուս պատասխանեց անոր.

– Լաւ գիտցիր, որ եթէ մէկը վերստին չծնի՝ չի կրնար տեսնել Աստուծոյ արքայութիւնը:

Նիկոդեմոս հարցուց անոր.

– Ծեր մարդ մր ինչպէ՞ս կրնայ ծնիլ: Կարելի՞ բան է որ ան կրկին մտնէ իր մօր որովայնը եւ ծնի:

Յիսուս պատասխանեց.

– Հաստատ գիտցիր, որ եթէ մէկը ջուրէն եւ Հոգիէն չծնի՝ չի կրնար Աստուծոյ արքայութիւնը մտնել, որովհետեւ մարմինէն ծնածը մարմին է, իսկ հոգիէն ծնածը՝ հոգի: Դուն մի՛ զարմանար, որ քեզի ըսի՝թէ պէտք է վերստին ծնիք: Հովը ո՛ւր որ ուզէ՝ կը փչէ. դուն անոր ձայնը կը լսես, բայց չես գիտեր թէուրկէ՛ կու գայ եւ ո՛ւր կ’երթայ: Նոյնպէս են բոլոր անոնք, որոնք Հոգիէն կը ծնին:

Նիկոդեմոս հարցուց.

– Ինչպէ՞ս կրնայ պատահիլ ատիկա:

Յիսուս պատասխանեց.

– Դուն որ Իսրայէլի ժողովուրդին վրայ ուսուցիչ կարգուած ես, ատիկա չե՞ս գիտեր: Լաւ գիտցիր, թէինչ որ գիտենք՝ կը խօսինք եւ ինչ որ տեսանք՝ անոր մասին կը վկայենք, բայց մեր վկայութիւնը չէքընդունիր: Եթէ երկրաւոր բաներու մասին խօսեցայ ձեզի եւ չէք հաւատար, ինչպէ՞ս պիտի հաւատաքինծի, եթէ երկնաւոր բաներու մասին խօսիմ:

Ա. ՆԱՄԱԿ ՊԵՏՐՈՍԻ 2.1–10

Հետեւաբար, մէկդի՛ ձգեցէք ամէն տեսակի չար մտածում ու նենգութիւն, կեղծաւորութիւն ու նախանձեւ ամէն տեսակի չարախօսութիւն: Որպէս հաւատքի նորածին մանուկներ, Աստուծոյ խօսքինանխարդախ կաթին փափաքեցէք, որպէսզի անով աճիք եւ փրկութեան հասնիք: «Անգամ մը որՏիրոջ խօսքին համը առնէք, պիտի տեսնէք թէ քաղցր է ան»: Մօտեցէ՛ք անոր, Քրիստոսի, որովհետեւի՛նքն է այն կենդանի վէմը, որ թէպէտ մարդոցմէ մերժուած, բայց Աստուծմէ ընտրուած պատուականվէմն է: Այսպիսով դո՛ւք ալ, որպէս կենդանի քարեր, Քրիստոսի վէմին վրայ կը կառուցուիք՝ իբրեւհոգեւոր տաճար. իւրաքանչիւրդ կը դառնաք անարատ քահանաներ եւ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի միջոցաւհոգեւոր ընդունելի պատարագ կը մատուցանէք Աստուծոյ: Որովհետեւ մարգարէութեան մէջ գրուածէ.-

«Ահա ես Սիոնի մէջ կը դնեմ

ընտրուած վէմ մը, պատուական անկիւնաքարը մը.

անոր հաւատացողը յուսախաբ պիտի չըլլայ»:

Քանի դուք հաւատացիք Քրիստոսի, անիկա ձեզի համար պատուական վէմը եղաւ. մինչդեռչհաւատացողներուն համար, անիկա

«Այն քարն է,

որ թէպէտ շինողները մերժեցին գործածել,

բայց ինք անկիւնաքարը եղաւ»,

կամ՝ «Այն քարն է, որ գլորումի եւ գայթակղութեան առիթ» պիտի ըլլայ անոնց համար, որոնքԱստուծոյ խօսքը անհամոզիչ գտնելով կը գայթակղին, ինչպէս որ Աստուած նախատեսած էր:

Գալով ձեզի, դուք ընտրուած ցեղ մըն էք, թագաւորելու կոչուած քահանաներ, սուրբ ազգ մը, Աստուծոյ սեփական ժողովուրդը. եւ ձեր պարտականութիւնն է քարոզել զօրութիւնը անոր՝ որ ձեզխաւարէն իր սքանչելի լոյսին կանչեց: Որովհետեւ հիմա Աստուծոյ ժողովուրդն էք, մինչ նախապէսչէիք. հիմա իր ողորմութիւնը կը վայելէք, մինչ նախապէս զրկուած էինք անկէ:

BIBLICAL READINGS

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024

John 2:23-3:12 

When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone, for he himself knew what was in everyone.  

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” 

1 Peter 2:1-10 



Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.  

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

CALENDAR OF CEREMONIES

Funerals

On Thursday, April 11, 2024

Fr. Haroutioun officiated at the Funeral services of:

KRIKOR (KOKO) KALENIAN,

who passed away on March 16, 2024.

Funeral services were held at St. James Armenian Church at 11:00 AM

followed by

Memorial Hokejash Luncheon in Dulgarian Hall

The family requests Memorial donations /in lieu of flowers

in honor of Koko Kalenian

can be made out to St. James Armenian Church.

Our sympathies and condolences to the Kalenian family members.

MRS. ZABEL ZADOYAN

who passed away on Good Friday, March 29, 2024

Funeral Services took place at St. James Armenian Church

at 1:00 PM

Followed by burial and interment services at Green Hills Memorial Park,

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Followed by Memorial Hokejash

Our deepest condolences and sympathies go out to the Zadoyan Family,

son Robert Zadoyan, daughter Rita Chedotte and grandchildren,

Christine, Robert, and Natalie Chedotte and great-grandchild Liliana.

May the Lord illuminate the soul of the departed.

HOKEHANKIST REQUESTS:

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024

Requested For:

KHANOUM MANOUELIAN - 40TH DAY

Mother, Grandmother

Requested By:

Mr. & Mrs. Vasken and Lena Manouelian and Family - Son

Mr. Philip Manuel - Son

Mr. & Mrs. Kevork and Tamar Khedesian and Family - Daughter

To Request a Hokehankist:

For any Requiem (Hokehankist) service requests,

please contact the church secretary

by Noon time on WEDNESDAY

to be included in Sunday’s bulletin.

The secretary may be reached at

secretary@stjamesla.net or by calling +1(323) 295-4588.

Walk-in requests are welcomed on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. The information will be listed in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

THANK YOUS AND DONATIONS

Sunday, April 7, 2024, to Friday April 12, 2024

We thank our faithful parishioners

for the generous donations and support of our church.

GENERAL DONATIONS

Week of April 7th to April 12, 2024

Dr. Anita Agzarian and Gus Rendon, Gary and Nina Turpanjian

EASTER YOUGHAKIN DONATIONS

(Continued)

(Received as of April 12, 2024)

We thank our faithful parishioners for the generous Easter Youghakin Donations:

HOKEHANKIST DONATIONS

For April 7, 2024

For:

SHIRLEY "SHAMMY" MOORE

By:

Susie Vahanian, Ellen Ballard

ALTAR BEAUTIFICATION

"In Memory of"

KHANOUM MANOUELIAN

By:

Ardavast and Arousiak Kalaydjian

LOOKING FORWARD

By:

Kapriel and Mary Krikorian

PASTORAL/RITUAL SERVICES

Ձեր Խորհրդակատարութիւններուն, Տնօրհնէքի, հիւանդի այցելութեան եւ այլ խնդրանքներուն համար

դիմեցէք Եկեղեցի (323) 295 4588

կամ հեռացայնեցէք Տէր Յարութիւննին (818) 649-4796

For the arrangement of sacramental services, home visitation, home blessing or healing prayers, and Holy Communion, 

please call the church office at (323) 295-4588 

or Fr. Haroutioun directly at (818) 649-4796

Connect with St James Armenian Church on Facebook and Instagram @stjamesarmenianchurchla! We're just getting started here, but more soon!

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ST. JAMES OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday

9 AM to 1 PM

2 PM to 5 PM

The office is closed for lunch between 1-2 PM

Monday through Friday