Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Վերափոխումն Սուրբ Աստվածածնի. after the divine liturgy blessing of the grapes service

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1 Morning Service Առավոտեան Ժամերգություն 9 am Divine Liturgy Badarak- Սուրբ Պատարագ - 10:00 am UPCOMING EVENTS Առաջիկա Միջոցառումներ Saturday August 12, ACYOA presents Fishing with Friends from 7:00am - 1:00pm. Captain John Boats, 10 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA Details in our Sunday Bulletin & on our website. FISHING TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT: There will be carpooling available for anyone who wishes to join the fishing trip on Saturday August 12th. We will be meeting at the Family Life and Cultural Center at 4:30am, and departing by 4:45am. Feel free to park and ride with others! Simply let us know that you plan to join by contacting either Jason Naroian or the ACYOA at hyepointeacyoa@gmail.com or call to the Church Thank you! Sunday, August 13, 2017 after the Divine Liturgy Open Forum Sunday, August 13, 2017 THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH AT HYE POINTE ՀԱՅ ՓՕԻՆԹ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՅԱՑ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalian - Pastor 1280 Boston Road, Bradford, MA Daily Lectionary Readings Աստվածաշնչական Ընթերցումներ Song 4:9-15, 8:14, Isaiah 7:10-16, Galatians 3:29-4:27, Luke 2:1-7 Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Վերափոխումն Սուրբ Աստվածածնի Eve of the Fast o f St. Mary, Ho ly Godmothe r Sunday, August 20, Annual Armenian Food & Music Festival Sunday, August 27, 2017 Rev. Fr. Dajad Davidian guest celebrant of the divine liturgy Sunday, September 3, Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Maksoudian Guest Celebrant of the Divine liturgy Cell phone reminder: Please turn off your cell phones prior to entering the Church, out of respect for the Divine Liturgy, the sanctity of the Sanctuary and your fellow worshiping parishioners. Thank you for your cooperation! after the divine liturgy blessing of the grapes service

2 TODAY S GOSPEL READING Այսօրվա Ավետարանը Luke 2:1-7 2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Name Day Անվանակոչության օր Mary, Mari, Mariam REQUEST FOR PRAYERS Աղօթքի Խնդրանք Good health prayers & heartfelt wishes for better days for alal who are ill from Mike & Sona Naroian Special prayers for Rose Q. Azarian, Richard Naroian & for all who are ill from Bea Ohanian Special prayers for all who are ill from Eva Naroian, M/M John Mosto Բարի Նպատակ-Paree Nubadag from M/M John Mosto Prayer One of our most fundamental Christian responsibilities is to pray. There is truly great power in prayer. During this Divine Liturgy and throughout this next week your prayers are requested: For the spiritual growth of The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe; For more young men to hear the Lord s call to service into the Holy Priesthood of the Armenian Church; For other young men and women also to hear God s call to serve His Church. For Unity of the Armenian Church and of all Churches. For the sick, homeless, hungry, the poor and disabled; those in mourning, lonely or depressed; those experiencing emotional, physical or spiritual difficulties; For those experiencing family, employment or financial difficulties; For the increase of love and understanding among us all; For us all to gain a personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ; And especially for good health for: All our parishioners who are ill or in recovery ALTAR DONATIONS Նվիրատվություններ Սուրբ Խորանին Parishioners requesting Altar Flowers and Candles for any occasion or Sunday should approach a member of the Parish Council for an Altar Flower or Candle Donation form. Name of the donor will be listed in the weekly Bulletin and Newsletter. Requests for the Altar Donations can also be done by calling or ing the Church

3 Donations for Hokehankist Հոգեհանգիստյան Նվիրատվություններ For the soul of Richard Bazarian (3 years) from Harvey & Barbara Bazarian, Carl & Linda Bazarian, Gale & Paul Cifra, Katherine Meranian, Sylvia Tavitian, Mike & Sona Naroian, Emmanuel Baghdayan, Annette DerMinassian, Charlene Bazarian, M/M Jason Ryan, M/M Craig Bazarian, Lu Sirmaian, Bea Ohanian, Eva Naroian, M/M Larry Pahigian, M/M Charles Bazarian, M/M John Mosto, Melanee Naroian, M/M Mel Menasian, M/M Jerry Gostanian, Ken Ozoonian, Robert Serabian, Barbara & Steve Arthur For the soul of John J Bedrosian (1 year) from Sylvia Tavitian, Katherine Meranian, Mike & Sona Naroian, Emmanuel Baghdayan, Annette DerMinasian, Lu Sirmaian, Bea Ohanian, Eva Naroian, M/M Larry Pahigian, M/M Charles Bazarian, M/M John Mosto, Melanee Naroian, M/M Mel Menasian, M/M Jerry Gostanian, Margaret Bedrosian For the soul of Phillip Tanoian from - Charlene Bazarian, Robert Serabian Upcoming Hokehankist Առաջիկա Հոկեհանգիստներ Sunday, September 10, 2017 for the soul of Rose Hagopian (5 years) - requested by Sam Hagopian, Rosalie Hagopian, Paula Russo, Rebecca and Matthew ALTAR DONATIONS Նվիրատվություններ Սուրբ Խորանին Grapes are given to the Glory of God & in loving memory of Jack Berberian & Mihran Kheshkheshian from Daniel & Madline Berberian & Family. Holy Communion In the Armenian Church Holy Communion is distributed in the following manner. The communicant stands before the priest, makes the sign of the cross and says: Megha Asdoodzo, "I have sinned against God." The priest then places a small particle of our Lord's Body and Blood -- the bread having been dipped into the wine -- directly into the mouth of the communicant. The communicant again makes the sign of the Cross and steps aside for others to approach the blessed sacrament. After all have received Holy Communion, using the chalice to imprint the sign of the Cross over the communicants, the priest imparts the blessing of Psalm 28:9 : "Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance; shepherd them and lift them up from henceforth until eternity". distribution of Mas in the armenian church taking Mas The Person giving Should say; Մաս եւ բաժին եղիցի քեզ ի Սուրբ Պատարագիս Mas yev pajin yeghitzi kez ee Sourp Badarakis May this be to you a share and a portion from the Divine Liturgy. The Person receiving should say; Բաժին իմ Աստուած յաւիտեան Pajin im Asdvadz Havidian God is my portion for ever Grapes are given to the Glory of God from Margaret Bedrosian

4 Weekly Wisdom When you forgive, the debt doesn't just go away. You absorb the debt. That's why forgiveness is so hard. Say you lend a person one thousand dollars, but suppose that when the time comes for the loan to be repaid that person is unable to repay you. If you forgive that person of his debt, then that person no longer owes you anything. By forgiving, you forfeited the money you absorbed the debt. How is it that God is able to forgive our sins against him? He absorbed them by sending his son to suffer the penalty for our debts (sins). Christ absorbed the penalty of death so that we don't have to. When God forgave us, he said, "There's no need to repay me." (We couldn't repay God even if we tried, but now we're freed from the burden of trying.) When you forgive someone, you absorb their debt. That's why forgiveness is so hard. In Luke 7, Jesus tells this parable to Simon: "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Forgiveness is a sign of love. To forgive someone of a massive debt (in this case, five hundred denarii) is a sign of massive love. How is forgiveness a sign of love? Because if you forgive much, then you must absorb much debt (pain, suffering, loss, etc.). Our sin against God is the biggest possible debt we could have; so for God to absorb that is a sign of his endless, measureless love. When He forgave us, God didn't just ignore our debt; he absorbed our debt. Family Life and Cultural Center Building the Legacy If you would like to donate to our Building Fund, you may send your donation, made payable to: "The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Building Fund", PO Box 8069, Bradford, MA MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR CHURCH The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe has developed an option for those who wish to make a donation to their church in the form of stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other securities. The church has established a brokerage account and for those individuals who wish to make such a donation. The church will benefit by the donation, and you as the donor will receive a tax deduction for your donation. It is a win win for both your church and yourself. Please contact a Parish Council for more details if you are interested. Church Office:

5 Hai Guin Scholarships are available to students of Armenian heritage living in Massachusetts who have completed one year of college. Scholarships are for $2000 each. The deadline for submitting applications is October 25, For applications, write to: Hai Guin Scholarship Association 23 Bradley Road Arlington MA Attn: Scholarship Chairman Audrey Pilibosian FISHING TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT: There will be carpooling available for anyone who wishes to join the fishing trip on Saturday August 12th. We will be meeting at the Family, Life and Cultural Center at 4:30am, and departing by 4:45am. Feel free to park and ride with others! Simply let us know that you plan to join by contacting either Jason Naroian or the ACYOA or call to the Church Thank you! Picnic Committee Dear Parishioners and Friends as you know our picnic is on Sunday August 20 at our Brand-New Family Life and Cultural Center. For making the Annual picnic another success we need help for the preparations and for the set up the hall, tent and picnic tables. To our parishioners and friends. We are asking for pastry donations for August 20 as we prepare for our first church picnic in our new Cultural Center. Please call or Charlotte Mosto at (charlm123@aol.com) to confirm your pastry donation. Thank you Charlotte Mosto Sunday, August 13, 2017 after Holy Badarak set up the Hall, Tent and picnic tables The Picnic Committee needs help for preparations at the Church Friday, August 18, 2017 at 10 am Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 10 am

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8 Blessing of the Grapes The Grape Blessing ceremony is conducted on the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God (on the nearest Sunday to August 15th) after the celebration of Divine Liturgy. Led by the presiding clergyman, the procession ascends to the Holy Altar. The Blessing of the Grapes begins with the hymn "Glory to Your Holy Cross", which is followed by readings from the Holy Bible. (Proverbs 3:9-10; Isaiah 65:8-10; Hebrews 6:18-7:7; John 15:1-8). After the readings, the deacon recites the prayer "Be grateful to Almighty God". Then after uttering "Lord, have mercy" twelve times, the celebrant reads St. Nerses prayer "Our Lord, Eternal Father" and the clergymen blesses the gathered bunches of grapes singing "I bless and sanctify these bunches of grapes". The ceremony ends with the recitation of a "redemptive" prayer. Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 3:10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Isaiah 65:8-10 Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it," so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all. 65:9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there. 65:10 Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me. Hebrews 6:18-20 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. 6:19 We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, 6:20 where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrew 7:1-7 This "King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him"; 7:2 and to him Abraham apportioned "one-tenth of everything." His name, in the first place, means "king of righteousness"; next he is also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace." 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 7:4 See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. 7:5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. 7:6 But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. 7:7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

9 John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 15:2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 15:3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 15:4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 15:6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples

10 Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Each year on the Sunday closest to the date of August 15, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Holy Mother of God. In the Calendar of the Armenian Church, this feast is the fourth of five major feasts that are commemorated, and is the oldest one dedicated to St. Mary. In the Holy Bible, there is little information concerning the details of St. Mary s life. As a result, the story of her Assumption has been preserved and passed on to us through the Holy and Sacred Tradition of the Apostolic Church. Following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Holy Virgin remains in Jerusalem, and lives under the care of St. John the Evangelist. For nearly 12 years, St. Mary lives by praying, fasting, and often visiting the empty tomb of her beloved Son. During one such visit to the tomb, the Archangel Gabriel appears and gives her the news of her imminent assumption to heaven. St. Mary relays the news to her relatives and all Christians, asking them to bury her in the valley of Gethsemane. St. Mary also asks the Apostle John to celebrate a Divine Liturgy, so she may receive Holy Communion one final time. After receiving Holy Communion, St. Mary returns to her room. As the Apostles prepare to mourn her death, St. John asks the Mother of God to leave an image of her face on a board of wood. St. Mary takes the board, crosses herself and brings it close to her face. Moistening the board with her tears, she asks God that by means of the board, people would be cured from disease. As the Apostles surround St. Mary, an indescribable light appears. The Son of God and the angels of heaven appear in the room. Seeing Christ, St. Mary dies. St. Bartholomew the Apostle was absent and did not participate in the burial service of St. Mary. Upon his return to Jerusalem, he wishes to see St. Mary for the last time. Per his request, the Apostles open the tomb, yet they do not find the remains of St. Mary. According to His promise, Jesus Christ had delivered His mother to His heavenly kingdom. The Apostles give the board of St. Mary to St. Bartholomew for consolation. According to Moses of Khoren, St. Bartholomew brings the board to Armenia. It is kept in the Province of Andzav, in a location called Darbnots. Years later, a church is built there in honor of St. Mary, and a convent is opened. On the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Ceremony of the Blessing of the Grapes is conducted, and the harvest for the entire year is blessed on that day. The Armenian Church has a deep and abiding respect towards St. Mary. Special emphasis is placed on her being a mother, her honesty, her unique spirit of humility, her virtuous behavior and her unselfish dedication. For Armenian women, the Holy Virgin is the embodiment of virtue, pious motherhood, and the protector of family sacredness.