ԱՌԱՋԱՒՈՐԱՑ ԿԻՐԱԿԻ SUNDAY OF CATECHUMENS

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1 ê. ñç áñ Èáõë³õáñÇã гÛó. ²é³ù»É³Ï³Ý ºÏ»Õ»óÇ ²ñÅÝ. î. Ø»ëñáå øñýû. Úáíë»³Ý St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church Rev. Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan, pastor 1131 North Street, White Plains, NY / Office: (914) Pastor: (804) Der Mesrob - fr.mesrob@yahoo.com, Office - saintgregorychurchwp@gmail.com Web: Office Hours: Monday closed, Tuesday-Friday 9:00-3:00 pm Փետրուարի 17, 2019 February 17, 2019 Welcome to St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church! The year of Family The Morning Service starts at 9:45 a.m. on s and is followed by Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy) at 10:15 a.m. Parish Council Members on Duty: Arman Bedonian, Lauren Kayaian, Noone Janjigian Today s Scripture Readings: 2 Timothy 3:1-12. John 6:22-38 ԱՌԱՋԱՒՈՐԱՑ ԿԻՐԱԿԻ SUNDAY OF CATECHUMENS Requiem Service was requested for the soul of: Soorik Der Avakian (1 yr.) By: Yev Der Avakian, Hoosik Der Avakian and the Family. May God rest his soul in His eternal peace and presence and grant his loved ones the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

2 Feast of the Lord's Presentation to the Temple - Dyarnuntarach On February 14, the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Lord's Presentation to the Temple. Dyarnuntarach, or Candle-mas as it is known in the West, symbolizes the presentation of the 40 dayold Christ Child to the Temple in Jerusalem. In accordance with the Law of Moses, the infant Christ was brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph and presented to God. A man named Simeon was there, to whom it had been revealed that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord. Simeon held the infant in his arms, blessed God, and said, "Lord, let your servant now depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your Salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people. A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of Your people, Israel." (Luke 2:29-32) In the tradition of the Church, Evening Services (Nakhatonak) are conducted on the night preceding the Feast Day. At the conclusion of the service, the priest lights a candle from the Holy Altar, and distributes the flame to all present. With great care, the faithful take the lit candles home to their families. ST. SARKIS, PATRON OF YOUTH AND LOVE In the Armenian Church, St. Sarkis the Warrior is known as the patron saint of youth and love. A moveable feast, this year the Feast of St. Sarkis was celebrated on February 16. St. Sarkis is known for his bravery and faith, upholding Christ during his victorious battles. Refusing to worship pagan gods, Sarkis son Mardiros was killed, and he was tortured and eventually executed. At his execution, Sarkis began to pray and asked the Lord to fulfill all the requests and needs of those who would remember him and his martyrdom. On this day young men and women pray to St. Sarkis asking him to make their prayers audible to God.

3 TODAY S SCRIPTURE READINGS The first reading is from the second Epistle of St. Paul to the Timothy (3:1-12) But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. The second reading is from the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John (6:22-38) The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, Rabbi, when did you get here? Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. Then they asked him, What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, The work of God is this: to believe in the one

4 he has sent. So they asked him, What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Sir, they said, always give us this bread. Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. Today, please take a moment to remember in your prayers Arshaluys Kaleli, Girair Poladian, Agnes Krikorian, Gloria Ohanian, Bernard & Lucy Tepikian, Diane Davidian, Ann Devejian as well as all the sick and recovering members of our community. May God touch His faithful servants with His healing hand, and grant them good health & recovery. Please inform Der Hayr if you have friends or family who are suffering any physical or spiritual distress and are in need of prayer, and he will add them to his prayer list where they will be remembered before the Holy and Immortal Lamb of God during the Eucharist. We all need prayer both to say for others and to be said for us. Pastoral Care, Home and Hospital Visits Der Mesrob is always available and would like to visit homebound and hospitalized parishioners. If you or someone you know is ill, Hospitalized or homebound and would like to be visited, please call Der Mesrob directly at (804) to schedule the visit. Please note: when asked about your religion at a hospital, patients should list themselves as Armenian Orthodox or Armenian not other.

5 Word of Appreciation On behalf of Erik Khachatryan (30-year-old man from Stepanakert, Artsakh who is in urgent need of spinal disc and eye surgeries), the Parish Council and Fr. Mesrob would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to all the people who generously donated funds towards the medical expenses of the young man. $1650 was collected to support Erik in covering for the necessary surgeries and medication. THANK YOU.

6 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP A REMINDER if you have not yet paid your church membership dues for 2018, please do so as soon as possible to ensure your status and the right to participate in the upcoming Annual Assembly on Feb. 24, We want your vote to be heard so please be sure to renew your membership. The annual membership due is $100 p/person and the membership forms can be found in the narthex.

7 Today February 24, March 2, Saturday March 3, March 9, Saturday March 15, Friday March 29, Friday April 6, Saturday April 7, Divine Liturgy. School is on break. AANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY All members and parishioners are invited. Manti Dinner Night sponsored by the Armenian School. The flyer is inside. POON PAREKENTAN Blessing of the Children Service Welcoming the parents and their children baptized in our church between Afternoon Tea Meet and Greet Sponsored by Women's Guild 2 pm RSVP appreciated: please contact: Sylvia Kruizenga (203) or sak25@optonline.net Lenten Friday Evening Programs Coptic Orthodox Church: History and Traditions presented by Rev. Fr. Andrew Awad 6:30pm - Lenten Service; 7:00pm - Lenten Dinner 7:30pm - Program Lenten Friday Evening Programs Syriac Orthodox Church, History and Traditions presented by Dn. Jake Jacob 6:30pm - Lenten Service; 7:00pm - Lenten Dinner 7:30pm - Program Saintly Women s Day Commemoration Hosted by the Women s Guild 11:00AM Service followed by Luncheon and Program Movie Presentation (TBD) In commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Sponsored by Cultural Committee

8 April 12, Friday April 14, April 21, May 5, May 18, Saturday May 19, June 2, June 9, Lenten Friday Evening Programs Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church: History and Traditions presented by Rev. Fr. Givargis (Abu) Koshy 6:30pm - Lenten Service; 7:00pm - Lenten Dinner 7:30pm - Program ACYOA Day/Palm Luncheon & Program by ACYOA Juniors & Seniors Easter : Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ Presentation by Herand Markarian Details to follow. MORNING: Inaugural Divine Liturgy of the Primate of our Diocese, Bishop-elect Fr. Daniel Findikyan following his Episcopal Ordination. A reception for the entire public will follow. EVENING: St. Nersess Armenian Seminary invites to A Celebration of Hope & Gratitude, honoring His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Bishopelect Fr. Daniel Findikyan as past and present St. Nersess board presidents. Lionel Galstaun Annual Memorial Concert: Featuring young violinist Haig Hovsepian Armenian School Graduation School Graduation