Armenian Church News

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1 Volume 4, Issue April 2018 Diocese of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland In this issue: FIRST DIVINE LITURGY OF REV FR NSHAN ALAVERDYAN DR HRATCH TCHILINGIRIAN ON THE SOURCES OF FAITH OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDIES AT THE BISHOP S HOUSE ARMENIAN BOOK CLUB SPIRITUALITY - FREQUENTLY- ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE BADARAK ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING EVENTS Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland FIRST DIVINE LITURGY OF REV FR NSHAN ALAVERDYAN By the order of His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Rev Fr Nshan Alaverdyan has been appointed as a pastor of St. Yeghiche church. On 15 April he will celebrated his first official divine liturgy. Before the liturgy, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan introduced Rev Fr Nshan Alaverdyan before the liturgy, wishing him long service. The liturgy was well attended by the faithful. His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate Diocesan Office Tel primatesoffice@armenia ndiocese.org.uk

2 INAUGURAL LECTURE: DR HRATCH TCHILINGIRIAN ON THE SOURCES OF FAITH OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH The first lecture of the new series, Armenian Christian Faith Lectures at the Bishop s House, took place on 19 April, led by Dr Hratch Tchilingirian (Oxford University), who talked about Sources of Faith of the Armenian Church. He gave an insightful introduction to the New Testament and Sacred Tradition as the main sources of the Faith of the Armenian Apostolic church. He spoke on Ecumenical Councils, church fathers, saints that created that tradition, as well as about relations with different churches. The session was followed by a question and answer and a reception. The next lecture from the Armenian Christian Faith series will take place on 17 May, led by Rev Dr Nersess Nersessian on Christology of the Armenian Church. You can also hear Dr Hratch Tchilingirian leading a discussion group on Contemporary Social and Ethical Issues, starting with Are we becoming victims of Fake News? topic on 27 April. 2

3 NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDIES AT THE BISHOP S HOUSE The new series of Bible studies are dedicated to deeper understanding of their faith and Christian fellowship, which are not academic discussions, but a journey together through the Bible. Last two sessions covered Is Christianity boring, untrue or irrelevant? and Who Is Jesus? topics, with lively, informative discussion and debate. The faithful had a chance to learn about various church traditions and faith, ask questions and talk about their understanding of Bible. At the end of the discussion, they all joined to sing a hymn. There is no Bible studies next Wednesday, 25 April as there is a talk by photographer Nuran Zorlu taking place, but they will resume in the week after. ARMENIAN BOOK CLUB WITH ARMEN SARUHANIAN This week another new programme started at the Bishop s House - The Armenian Book club led by Armen Sarukhanian. Armen is a philosophy teacher from Istanbul, and who gave a very interesting talk about Krikor Zohrab, about his life, his courageous humanitarian work as a lawyer and wonderful literary heritage. It was fascinating to learn some very moving details about his arrest and death, and understand more about the Armenian community in Constantinople in the beginning of the century and his contemporary intellectuals. The discussion continued around a glass of wine in a more intimate setting at the Bishop s House. The next session with Armen Sarukhanian will take place on 12 May, where 2 of Zohrap s short stories will be discussed (Postal and Tefarik). Contact the Primate s office if you want more information about any of our new programmes. 3

4 SPIRITUALITY - FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE BADARAK: THE DIVINE LITURGY OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH The next feature on Badarak, using V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan s excellent book, published by St. Vartan Press in The Badarak and Me HOW OFTEN SHOULD I ATTEND BADARAK? You should attend Badarak and participate in it attentively every time it is offered for the rest of your life. From the very beginning the Armenian Church has made the Badarak the very center of its life, establishing that it be celebrated every Sunday without fail. At the Last Supper, when Jesus established the Eucharist (Divine Liturgy or Badarak) he said, Do this in remembrance of me [Luke 22:19, 1Corinthians 11:24, 25]. Jesus is telling us that the Badarak is the premiere means by which we can keep God foremost in our lives, in our hearts and minds. In the Badarak, especially when we receive Holy Communion, we encounter God and are filled with his power and love in the most immediate and intimate way possible in this life. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION? You should consider the regular reception of Holy Communion to be at the center of your life as a member of the Armenian Church. There is no doubt that the earliest Christians understood the celebration of the Eucharist and the joyful reception of Holy Communion to be the greatest privilege and blessing of Christian life. Jesus said, He who eats my body and drinks my blood dwells in me and I in him [John 6:56]. St. Paul wrote, For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes [1Corinthians 11:26]. To share in the Lord s Supper is to profess and to celebrate our faith that in Christ, sin and death will no longer separate us from eternal life with God. To receive Holy Communion is to receive the living Son of God into our bodies and into our lives as divine sustenance; as medicine for forgiveness; as forgiveness and expiation of sins, for protection against evil, and for health of soul and body and for the performance of all deeds of virtue, as the prayers and hymns of our Badarak continually proclaim. Eagerness to receive Holy Communion must always be complemented by reverence for the sanctity of the sacrament, which one must not allow to become a casual or indiscriminate habit. SHOULD THE CONGREGATION SING WITH THE CHOIR? To answer this question we first need to understand what the role of the choir is in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. If we look carefully at the words of all of the hymns and choir parts of the Divine Liturgy one thing becomes apparent: the choir represents the worshipping voice of the people. The hymns express our prayers to God and our faith in Him. Just as the priest and deacon have a specific function in the liturgy, the people too are part of the Badarak s prayerful dialogue between God and His people. Our words and deepest convictions as a worshipping community are expressed by the choir. So the choir s role is not to entertain or perform for the people, but to lead the faithful in their participation in the liturgy. To sing the music of the Badarak in a manner that is prayerful, correct, beautiful, and worthy of God requires dedication and commitment as well as regular rehearsal. Therefore, people who have the desire and the talent 4

5 required to participate in the music ministry of the church should formally join the choir. Others should feel free to sing softly with the choir, being sure that their voice does not compete with, or detract from the sound of the choir. WHAT SHOULD I SAY DURING THE KISS OF PEACE? The person offering the kiss of peace says: Kreesdos ee mech mer haydnetsav ( Christ is revealed among us ). The person receiving the kiss of peace says: Ornyal eh haydnootyoonun Kreesdosee ( Blessed is the revelation of Christ ). The person offering the greeting places his right hand over his heart and approaches the person with whom he is sharing the greeting, bowing his head slightly, first toward the left, then toward the right. WHAT SHOULD I SAY AND DO WHEN I RECEIVE COMMUNION? When you approach the priest to receive Holy Communion you should stand as close to the elevated bema as you can; make the sign of the cross; say Megha Asdoodzo ( I have sinned against God ); open your mouth wide to receive the Sacrament; make the sign of the cross again; and step to the side to allow the person behind you to come forward. Normally those who have received Communion remain together in the northern part of the chancel (toward the left as you face the altar) until the priest has given the blessing, Getso Der uz-zhoghovoortus ko yev orhnya uz-zharankootyoonus ko. [ Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance. ]. Then return to your place in the church. 5

6 LATEST NEWS: NAREKATSI STATUE UNVEILED IN VATICAN St. Gregory of Narek, one of the fathers of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was proclaimed as a "Doctor of the Church" by the Catholic Church on April 12, 2015, in the St. Peter Cathedral, during the Divine Liturgy offered by Pope Francis. President Sargsyan had presented a model of the statue to Pope Francis, during the Pope s visit to Armenia in The bronze statue of St. Gregory of Narek was erected in the Vatican Garden by the benefaction of Mr. Mikael Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Vatican; and businessman Artur Janibekyan from Russia; and through the efforts of Mr. Vardan Karapetyan, Chairman of the Culture Department of the Republic of Armenia Embassy at the Vatican. The maker of the statue is Davit Yerevantsi, an Armenian sculptor and artist; and the designer is Mr. Michael Hasratyan. During the Ecumenical service following the unveiling, hymns of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches were sang, a passage from the St. Gregory of Narek prayerbook was read, during which Mr. Mikael Minasyan unveiled the revered statue. Then, Pope Francis blessed the statue following which the Patriarchs asked for the intercession of the saint through prayer. Read the full article here. 6

7 HOUSE BLESSING (ՏՆՕՐՀՆԵՔ) One of the traditions of the Armenian Church is the Home Blessing Service. It symbolises the visit of Resurrected Christ the Upper House and blessing of the disciples (John 20:19). Priests and bishops visit the homes of the faithful on the occasions of Christmas (Theophany) and Easter (Holy Resurrection) to bring the good news of our Lord s Nativity and Resurrection to bless them and their homes through a special Service. During the Service the priest prays to God and asks Him to keep the home, its inhabitants and the children in good health, so that they live a devout life, glorify the name of Almighty God and strengthen the Holy Church. Those faithful who want a priest to visit and bless their home are welcome to contact their respective parishes or the Primate s Office. PRAYER OF THE MONTH During this holy season of Easter, we pray for our home country, as we expect a lot of changes. 7

8 ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL 2018 The Armenian Street Festival has outgrown its present location at Iverna Gardens, Kensington. With the blessing of the Bishop's office and the hard work of its employees and many volunteers, we have applied to the London Borough of Ealing to use the North Acton Playing Fields. This venue has been used by our community Football team AYA FC for league matches in the past. The date we have set is 15TH OF JULY. This date is also hosting the final of the World Cup and the Wimbledon men's final. So we are trying to make provision to stage these events on a BIG SCREEN. The Bishop's office is also making hopeful approaches to Baroness Cox, patron of the British Heart Foundation to stage a charity mini marathon on the same day. As well as the above, there will be a football match AYA FC V THE SAMURAI of the Japanese community who are also staging an event similar to ours on the same day. Other activities such as races, tennis tournament, children's activities, face painting, are also being planned. And, don't forget our food and cultural stalls and live music. So please watch this space and wish the best for our applications. The Bishop s office and the organisers are also looking for a sponsor to organise broadcasts and liverstreams from the Armenian Street Festival and other events and lectures. Please contact the Primate s Office if you d like to help us to bring our events to the wider community. 8

9 NEW PROGRAMMES AT THE BISHOP S HOUSE Diocese of the Armenian Church of United Kingdom and Ireland and His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate, are launching a series of brand new programmes at the Bishop s House, open to everyone. Find out more information, upcoming dates and details on the website. Armenian Christian Faith Lecture Series These lecture series will introduce the faith, theology, liturgy, sacraments and, generally, the spiritual heritage of the Armenian Church to the members of the community and wider interested audiences. Spiritual Journey through the Bible: «Ուր երկու կամ երեք հոգի հաւաքուած լինեն իմ անունով, այնտեղ եմ ես, նրանց մէջ» The Primate, together with Bosik Gharapetian, is launching a new program of weekly Bible studies (every Wednesday) for the faithful of the community, who are in search of deeper understanding of their faith and Christian fellowship. These are not academic discussions, but a journey together through the Bible. Discussion Group Contemporary Social & Ethical Issues Curated and led by Dr Hratch Tchilingirian Discussion of contemporary social and ethical issues, which are of concern for young professionals and members of the larger Armenian community. These evening gatherings will take place once a month, consisting of a 20-minute presentation on a given topic, followed by minutes of open discussion. Հայ Գիրքի Ակումբ Արմէն Սարուհանեանի ղեկավարութեամբ Ամսական հանդիպումներ համայնքի ընթերցասէր անդամներուն համար (book club), որոնք կը փափաքին կարդալ եւ միասնաբար քննարկել Հայ գրականութեան նմուշներ, Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ ու մշակոյթին առընչուած գործեր եւ այլ հետաքրքրական նիւթեր: Armenian ConneXtions Monthly after work informal gatherings for young professionals at the Bishop s House to network and catch up with friends and the latest developments in the Armenian world Mr & Mrs Club Monthly evening gathering for couples to network and catch up with friends and the latest developments in Armenia and around the world. Coffee with the Bishop Informal visit and coffee meeting with Bishop Hovakim at the Bishop s House to catch up on the latest news in the community, in Armenia and the Diaspora. All events are held at the Bishop s House 27 Haven Green London W5 2NZ (Nearest tube: Ealing Broadway) For more information, please contact: Tel primatesoffice@armeniandiocese.org.uk 9

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20 Crosses for men, women and children are available from the Primate s office. Please call or primatesoffice@armeniandiocese.org.uk 20

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22 UPCOMING EVENTS 23 April 2018, 19:00pm Evensong for persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the celebration of the newly sainted Armenian Martyrs of April 2018, 19:00pm ARMENIAN CONNEXTIONS: Traces of Homeland by photographer Nuran Zorlu 27 April 2018, 19:00pm DISCUSSION OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES: Are we becoming victims of Fake News? Curated and led by Dr Hratch Tchilingirian 12 May 2018, 19:00pm Armenian Book Club (in Armenian): Led by Armen Saruhanyan 17 May 2018, 19:00pm Christology of the Armenian Church: Rev Dr Nersess Nersessian Book Club 1 June 2018, 19:00pm ARMENIAN CONNEXTIONS: Talk by architect Philip Gumuchdjian July, 2018 Youth Gathering in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin 22

23 The publishes announcements of any Armenian organisation as it is an inclusive channel of communication. The objectives of CAN are to inform the wider publish and its constituency members about: Activities of the Primate Organisations under the auspices of the Primate: ACT UK, ACYF, Ladies Committee Worldwide Armenian Church Parishes Upcoming events in the community The announcements about the community events (up to 150 words) are published upon the request of a particular organisation. ACN do not raise funds on behalf of any other organisation except for Armenian Church (ACT UK, ACYF, Primate s Office, Ladies Committee, St. Yeghiche, St. Sarkis, Holy Trinity, Dublin, Birmingham, Oxford). Editorial: The main objective of the diocesan e-newsletter is to serve and reach out to Armenians throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The community members and organisations are welcome to send their announcements for the e-newsletter, including information not only about public events but also about important family events such as christening, matrimony or passing away. *** Disclaimer: considering that there are many names in the coverage of events, it is possible that some of them are misspelled or incorrect. We apologise in advance for any misspelling. A Message from the Primate Office His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan wishes to inform you that at the bottom of our weekly e-newsletter you will find the contacts of our Churches and Parishes in the UK and Ireland. Details are also available on the websites of the respective Churches and Parishes. Please do not hesitate to contact any of these addresses if you need any help regarding Church services. You will receive a reply either from the Parish Council Chair or from the priest. If you encounter any kind of problems regarding communication with the above, please contact the Primacy (Առաջնորդարան) directly at the following address: Bishop Hovakim Manukyan The Primates Office 27 Haven Green, London W5 2NZ Tel: primatesoffice@armeniandiocese.org.uk Website Facebook 23

24 Worship Services in the Armenian Churches Services are held in the Armenian Churches in London every Sunday starting at 11:00 am. In Manchester, there is a service on the 1 st Sunday of the month. For further details, please contact the parish nearest to you: Holy Trinity Armenian Church 229 Upper Brook Street Manchester, M13 0FY Tel: st SUNDAY OF THE MONTH St. Sarkis Church Iverna Gardens Kensington, London, W8 6TP Tel: St. Yeghiche Church 13b Cranley Gardens Kensington, London SW7 3BB Tel: Other Parishes of our Diocese: Dublin - Birmingham St. Peter Church, 208 High St, Walsall, WS3 3LA. We invite those who have questions or wish to gain deeper understanding of the faith, moral discernment, teachings and traditions of the Armenian Church to contact the Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in United Kingdom and Ireland: His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan The Primate s Office 27 Haven Green, London W5 2NZ Tel: primatesoffice@armeniandiocese.org.uk Registered office address: Kemp House City Road, London EC1V 2NX Website Facebook 24