Feast of Holy Echmiadzin Sunday, June 7, 2015

Transcription

1 Archpriest Father Gomidas Baghsarian -- Pastor Reverend Father Kapriel Nazarian -- Assistant Pastor Sts. Vartanantz Church WEEKLY BULLETIN 402 Broadway, Providence, RI Office: Fax: Website: stsvartanantzchurch.org Feast of Holy Echmiadzin Sunday, June 7, 2015 Please Join Us in Worship this Sunday Morning Service 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am - Sermon 11:15 Մասնակցեցէք Ս.Պատարագին` Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 9:30 Ս. Պատարագ 10:00 - Քարոզ 11:15

2 Aram Vehapar at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial

3 Aram Vehapar's Visit to Sts. Vartanantz Church Lorie Simonian and Narine Taraksian

4

5

6 Vehapar holding Daron Tarpinian who was born on Easter Sunday

7

8

9

10 Pontifical Badarak in Watertown

11

12 Armenian Heritage Park --- May 25, 2015

13 Sts. Vartanantz Church Welcomes Ralston Omar Rafaelian Ajaj son of Omar and Rachel (Rafaelian) Ajaj Baptized on May 23, 2015 Godparents: Zackariah Ajaj Alex Rafaelian Ferlise May God Bless You, Ralston and May He keep you in His care always

14 ÚÇëáõë øñçëïáëç ²õ»ï³ñ³Ý Ý Àëï ÚáíѳÝÝ ëç (10:22-30) ÒÙ»é ñ. ºñáõë³Õ ÙÇ Ù ç ï³ ³ñÇÝ Ü³õ³Ï³ïÇùÇ ïûý³ï³ï³ñáõãçõýá ï»õç Ϫáõݻݳñ: ÚÇëáõë ï³ ³ñÇÝ êáõáùáýç ëñ³ñçý Ù ç Ϫ»ñûõ»Ï ñ,»ñµ Çñ ßáõñç ѳõ³ùáõ»ó³Ý Ññ»³Ý»ñÁ»õ ѳñóáõóÇÝ. ØÇÝã»õ»±ñµ Ù»ñ Ñá ÇÝ åçïç ѳݻë.»Ã ¹áõÝ»ë øñçëïáë᪠Ûëï³Ï Áë Ù»½Ç : ÚÇëáõë å³ï³ëë³ý»ó. ²ñ¹ Ý ÇëÏ Ó»½Ç Áë³Í»Ù, ë³ï³ûý ã ù ѳõ³ï³ñ: ²ÛÝ áñí»ñá áñ Ðûñë ³ÝáõÝáí ÏÁ ϳï³ñ»Ù, ³ÝáÝù ÇëÏ ÏÁ íï³û»ýª à áí»ù»ë: ³Ûó ¹áõù ã ù ѳõ³ï³ñ, áñáíñ»ï»õ ÇÙ áãë³ñý»ñ ë ã ù: ºë áãë³ñý»ñë ÏÁ ³ÝãݳÙ. ³ÝáÝù Ó³ÛÝë ÏÁ Éë»Ý»õ ÏÁ Ñ»ï»õÇÝ ÇÝÍÇ, áõ»ë ³ÝáÝó Û³õÇï»Ý³Ï³Ý Ï»³Ýù Ïáõ ï³ù, µý³õ åçïç ãù»éýçý: àã áù åçïç ϳñ»Ý³Û ½³ÝáÝù Û³ ßï³Ï»É ÇÙ Ó»éù ë: гÛñë ³Û¹ áãë³ñý»ñá ÇÝÍÇ ïáõ³õ,»õ áã áù ÏñÝ³Û Û³ ßï³Ï»É ½³ÝáÝù ÇÙ Ðûñë Ó»éù Ý, áñáíñ»ï»õ гÛñë µáéáñ Ý ³õ»ÉÇ Ù»Í : ºë»õ гÛñë Ù Ï»Ýù : GOSPEL John 10: Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon s Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father s hand. I and my Father are one. (On Page 1062 in your Bible) EPISTLE Hebrews: 9: 1-10 Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

15 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings - external regulations applying until the time of the new order. (On Page 1189 in your Bible) Today's Altar Candles are donated in Loving Memory of Manuel and Dionysia (Soula) Tavitian by Angel and Shoghig Tavitian Today's Altar Flowers are donated in Loving Memory of Setrak and Okia Balemian and Dr. Edward A. Dayian by Kenneth and Rose Balemian, and Helen Dayian REQUIEM SERVICE June 7, 2015 Christine Nazarian White --- Seventh Day Remembrance Sahak Sahakian --- Seventh Day Remembrance Judy Adoian Pelkey --- Seventh Day Remembrance Dr. Ara Caprielian --- Fortieth Day Remembrance Arpine Aznavorian Alice Bagian Setrag and Okia Balemian Charles Bargamian

16 Aram Peter, Hunazant, Armenag and Peter K. Bedigian Michael Der Manouelian Maragaret Bedrosian Diggle Harold Goodwin Hamayag Kahrimanian Ohannes, Hermena, Peter and Albert Malkasian Sarkis Movsesian Melkon, Miriam and Santoogt Rafaelian Hovanes, Siroon, Arthur, Margaret, June and Gabriel Surabian, and Antranig, Varant and Lalezar "Lolly" Surabian Varjabedian Manuel Tavitian and Dionysia (Soula) Tavitian REQUIEM SERVICE June 14, 2015 Jack Nezemian --- Fortieth Day Remembrance Diana Tutooian --- Fortieth Day Remembrance Dorothy Goorigian --- Fortieth Day Remembrance Rosalie Ahilijanian Kazar Aramian Dr. Edward A. Dayian Arshag, Tarviz,Richard and Geraldine Gudoian Sarah Kachadourian Armenouhi Kanarian Hagop, Anna and Mary Kasparian, Lucy Nezemian, and Harry Kachougian Ousanna Kazandjian Verkin and Agop Kessimian Antranik Khatchadourian

17 Rahel Kodos Kachadour Melikian and M. Allen Shartzer Mesia and Hyganoush Michaelian Mardiros Serabian Stepan Stepanian Genieve Takian Congratulations to all of Our Graduates We wish you much success in all your future endeavors. Please forward your picture and brief bio by by July 15th if you wish to be included in our Graduates' Page which will appear in a special August issue of the Gantegh Please remember to remit your 2015 Membership Dues/Stewardship ******************************* CALENDAR OF EVENTS Adult Bible Study will resume in the Fall. This Saturday, June 6, 2015 Hamazkayin of Rhode Island -- Artsakh Dance Ensemble Year-End Performance and Dinner Aramian Auditorium 5:30 pm Adults: $20 Children under 12: $10 RSVP to Tigranouhi Minassian [ ]

18 Friday -- Sunday, June 12-14, 2015 Providence Homenetmen Scouts Annual Panagoum at Camp Buckhill in Pascoag. Contact Taleen Taraksian at for further information Saturday, June 20, 2015 ARS "Arax" Chapter Flea Market 8 am to 2 pm in the Church Parking Lot All donations of household articles and clothing may dropped off in the AYF Room. Proceeds will benefit the worthwhile projects of the ARS worldwide. Sunday, June 21, 2015 Church Summer Schedule will be in effect Soorp Badarak starts at 9:15 am Tuesday, June 23, 2015 "Armenian Genocide Years Later Pauline Getzoyan --- Guest Speaker Cranston Public Library --- Sockanosset Cross Road 7-8 pm SAVE the DATE Saturday, July 11, 2015 Ladies' Guild 60th Anniversary Celebration Dinner/Dance Alpine Country Club in Cranston For information, contact Joyce Bagdasarian Chikdren's Bible Camp July , 2015 "God's Awesome Creation" for children ages 4-12 RSVP to Church Office as soon as possible

19 Enrollment increases with each new day! Make sure your child has been registered. Visit our website for updated Church news DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH This year's program will be again held at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by the Prelacy s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the summer program offers a unique weeklong Christian educational program for youth. It aims to instill and nurture the Armenian Christian faith and identity in our youth through a variety of educational activities, coupled with daily church services and communal recreational activities. For information and registration, please visit the Prelacy s website at armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev or contact the AREC office at or arec@armenianprelacy.org.

20 From the June 4th issue of Crossroads FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST AND BISHOP ATHENOGENES Today, June 4, is the Feast of St. John the Baptist (also called the Forerunner), and Bishop Athenogenes. John the Baptist is prominent in each of the four Gospels. He is associated with the beginning of the ministry of Jesus and is considered to be the forerunner to Jesus the Messiah. He baptized those who repented their sins, and he preached of the coming of one after him who is greater than he and would baptize not with water but with the Spirit. In the third chapter of Matthew, John is reluctant to baptize Jesus and does so only after encouragement from Jesus. The Armenian Church considers St. John the Baptist as one of the two prime intercessors to Jesus, the other being the Blessed Mother. Athenogenes, a bishop and theologian was burned to death along with ten of his disciples in Sebastia, Armenia, during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian. Athenogenes wrote a hymn of praise proclaiming the divinity of the Holy Spirit. He is remembered as singing this hymn as he went into the flames. FEAST OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR: DELIVERANCE FROM THE PIT This Saturday, June 6, is the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator s deliverance from the pit (Khor Viraben Yelkuh). Gregory is revered as the patron saint of the Armenian Church. He is recognized and memorialized in both eastern and western hierarchical churches. The Armenian liturgical calendar reserves three feast days in his honor: Entrance into the pit, deliverance from the pit, and discovery of relics. In addition to these three days, there are several feast days to which he is closely connected, namely the feast days for Sts. Hripsimiantz, Sts. Gayaniantz, Shoghakat, Holy Etchmiadzin, and King Trdat. The Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox churches, and Oriental Orthodox churches have special days in their calendars for the veneration of St. Gregory, who is considered to be one of the Fathers of the early Christian church. Gregory was condemned to the pit in 287 AD by King Trdat and the persecution of Christians began. After the martyrdom of a group of nuns who came to Armenia from Rome led by Hripsime and Gayane, Trdat was stricken with strange maladies. His sister, Khosrovidukht, had a dream that Gregory was the only person who could heal her brother. Miraculously, Gregory was still alive after many years in the pit, thanks to an angelic woman who lowered food and water into the pit each day. Gregory emerged from the pit; the king was healed and baptized, and he declared Christianity to be the official religion of Armenia. Gregory was not the first to preach Christianity in Armenia. That distinction belongs to the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew who came to Armenia in the first century, and thus gave the Armenian Church its apostolic designation. Nevertheless, Gregory is revered in the Armenian Church and is considered by Armenians to be the father of their faith. Hundreds of churches have been built and named in his honor. The ancient calendars of the still undivided Church celebrated him [Gregory] on the same day in both the East and the West as a tireless apostle of truth and holiness. The father in faith of the whole Armenian people, St. Gregory still intercedes from heaven today, so that all the children of your great nation may at last gather round the one table prepared by Christ, the divine Shepherd of one flock. Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter for the 1700th Anniversary of the Baptism of the Armenian People, issued February 2, 2001.

21 FEAST OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN This Sunday, June 7, is the Feast of Holy Mother Etchmiadzin, the cathedral built by St. Gregory after his deliverance from the pit, to the specifications he saw in a vision, and on the place marked by the Lord with a golden hammer. This feast day commemorates the establishment of the Armenian Church and the end of paganism. Etchmiadzin is the oldest example of a four-altar, four-pillar, domed, cruciform church in Christian architecture. More than 1,700 years old, it is the oldest surviving Armenian Christian site. Relief sculptures on the exterior walls are some of the oldest examples of the Christian Armenian art of sculpting.

22