Bible Readings. Transfiguration. July 2 Matt. 12:38-45 July 9 Matt. 13:24-30 July 16 Matt. 14:13-21 July 23 Matt. 16:13-17:13 July 30 Matt.

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1 The Voice Newsletter is published once a month by St. Vartan Armenian Church 650 Spruce Street, Oakland, CA , Phone (510) , Fax: (510) stvartanoakland@aol.com Website: The deadline for all articles is the fifteenth of each month. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Parish Priest and President of All Church Organizations Parish Council Chair: Edward Jamgotchian Parish Assembly Chair: David Ojakian Choir Director: Artin Der Minassians Organist: A. Rodriguez and Ida Mazmanian ACYO Chair: Sevan Jindoian Sunday School Superintendent: Janet Yeghissian Ladies Society Chair: Gail Kezerian, Caroline Arakelian and Lisa Manoogian Cultural Society Chair: Liz Ojakian Hokejosh: Nora Hanoian Newsletter Editors: Arlene Hovsepian and Rachel Harger Church Secretary: Rachel Harger Altar Flowers: Carole Chang Church Custodian: Wartkes Hagopian Divine Liturgy Service Sundays 10:30 a.m. Bible Readings July 2 Matt. 12:38-45 July 9 Matt. 13:24-30 July 16 Matt. 14:13-21 July 23 Matt. 16:13-17:13 July 30 Matt. 18:10-14 Transfiguration And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Matt.17:1-2 Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan July 2017 The Storm After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends, and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, the elderly gentleman stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak. "A father, and his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began... "when a fast storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized." The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story... "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy would he throw the end of the life line? He had only seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out 'I Love You, Son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black night. His body was never recovered," the old man said sadly. By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old Minister's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us? Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the

2 appeal. But, within moments after the service ended, the two boys were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other would become a Christian." "Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. As a big smile broadened his narrow face, he looked up again at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm here today to tell you this story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His only Son for me. You see...i was that father, and your pastor is my son's friend." Author Unknown Thank You St. Vartan Church thanks Fr. Vasken Movsesian (pictured on left) for leading Divine Liturgy on June 4; Dn. Vartan Berberian for leading the Sunday service on May 11, Fr. Yeremia Khachatryan for leading Divine Liturgy on June 18; and Dn. Chris Yaldezian for leading the Sunday service on June 25. On Sunday, May 28 St. Vartan Church celebrated Fr. Hovel s birthday during Fellowship Hour with his family, Nareh, Nazeni and Nraneh. Graduation Announcements Melanie Broussalian graduated on May 12, 2017, from the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a second Master s degree in Global communications. She received her first Master s degree in 2016 from the London School of Economics. She is the daughter of Jim and Beth (Rustigian) Broussalian of San Diego, CA, and the granddaughter of Carol and the late George Rustigian, and Marie and the late Dr. Vartkes Broussalian. Melanie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara where, upon graduation, was inducted into the Phi Beta Society. Krista Jamgotchian graduated from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Specialization in Web Development. After a graduation trip to Europe, she will return to begin her career as a financial analyst at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale. Proud of her accomplishments are her parents Patti and Jerry Jamgotchian, and sister, Nicole. Krista is the granddaughter of Seta and Greg Tcherkoyan, and the late Gladys and Peter Jamgotchian. Upcoming Events Bazaar Workday Thursday, July 6 9:30 am Men s Night Father s & Sons Friday, July 14 6 pm Bazaar Workday Thursday, July 20 9:30 am Parish Council Meeting Wednesday, July 19 6:30 pm Annual St. Vartan Church Picnic Sunday, August 6 11:00 am St. Vartan Church Bazaar & Food Festival Friday, October 6 5:30 pm Midnight St. Vartan Church Bazaar & Food Festival Saturday, October 7 Noon Midnight 2017 Bazaar Workdays Workdays begin at 9:30 am, except for the week of the bazaar. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch. Thursday, July 6 Thursday, July 20 Wednesday, July 26 Thursday, August 3 Saturday, August 5 Thursday, August 17 Wednesday, August 23 Wednesday, September 6 Thursday, September 7 Tuesday, September 12 Wednesday, October 4 Thursday, October 5 Bazaar Donation Requests Items Number Item Items Still Requested of Donors Cost Received Needed Leg of Lamb Tent Admission Booth Game Booths Newspaper Advertising Case of Wine Case of Armenian Tan Case of Armenian Beer Armenian Coffee Program Guide Kufta Luleh Kebob Kufta Simit Simit Luleh Kebob Roll Sarma (9 am start) Plate & Box Sarma, Prepare Shish Kebab, Box Boorma (9 am start) Bazaar Friday, October 6 & Saturday, October 7 Bazaar Donations Your help is needed to make the St. Vartan Annual Bazaar a success. Please consider making a bazaar donation to one or several of the categories listed on the chart on the left. Send your check to St. Vartan Church and mark your donation on the memo line. Thank you for your support. The generosity of the St. Vartan Church Community is invaluable. Calling All Parishioners Summer is here, which at St. Vartan Church means we have already begun our preparation for the annual bazaar! This is the Church s main fundraiser, and it relies totally on volunteers This Means You! There are several volunteer opportunities before and during the event, including food preparation days. During the bazaar, itself, staffing is needed in the following key areas: Setup/Takedown, Door/Admission Booth, Bar, Raffle, Cashier at Food Line, Food Line Serving, Games Prize Booth, BBQ, Hye Café, Dessert Booth, Games, Khanoot. To volunteer for any of these positions, please contact the church office at stvartanoakland@aol.com or

3 Sunday, August 6, 2017 Pleasant Hill Park St. Vartan Church Parish Council gratefully acknowledges the following donations: Bazaar Donations Tent Fund Carol Rustigian, Alene Rudy Admissions Booth Carol Rustigian Legs of Lamb Carol Rustigian, Don and Lisa Manoogian, Harvey and Janet Kamian Program Guide Don and Lisa Manoogian St. Vartan Voice Newsletter Dorothy Svihovec, Greg and Seta Tcherkoyan Priest Discretionary Fund Edward and Armineh Jamgotchian, Virginia Avakian In Honor of Steven Donikian s Ordination as Deacon Jack and Tammy Papazian (Endowment Fund) In Honor of Richard Demirjian s 90 th Birthday Carol Rustigian (Endowment Fund) In Honor of Nraneh Ohanyan s Baptism Carol Rustigian (Endowment Fund) In Honor of Harry Sherinian s birthday Harold and Bonnie Koojoolian (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) In Memory Robert Mener Sylvia Gozurian Evelyn Tregoning Norma Yaglijian (Kitchen Remodel Fund) Anne Barsamian Margaret Tashinian, Ed and Goldie Minasian, Vartan Berberian (Priest Discretionary Fund), Norma Yaglijian (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) Greg and Seta Tcherkoyan, Edward T. and Kristian Minasian (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) Isabelle Tajirian Jean Tajirian (Ladies Society), F. G. and R. Tamer (Ladies Society), Norma Yaglijian (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund), Francois and Suzy Antounian (Ladies Society) Zarik Savadians Alice Sarafian, Hasmig and Anto Cingoz (ACYO) ENDOWMENT FUND In Memory Anne Barsamian Jack and Tammy Papazian, Marlene Tolegian, Dickie and Seno Garabedian, Albert and Mae Kaljian, Carole Chang, Paul Ohanesian, Anto and Hasmig Cingoz, Lori and Andy Hill, Arlene and Vartan Hovsepian, Suzanne and Razmik Abnous, Nora and Harvey Hanoian, Harland Kahn and Loretta Kahn Barsamian, Teruko and Kunio Shibata, Julie Der Garabedian, Alice Sarafian, Andrew and Roseanne Ludlum, Anita Del Simone, Charles and Dorris Kezerian, Bob and Lucine Kroeckel, Carol Rustigian, Richard and Dorothy Demirjian Aprons for Sale Fr. Hovel models one of the new style aprons which will be available for sale this year at the Khanout (Country Store) during the bazaar. If you would like to purchase an apron before the bazar, see Nora Hanoian or Arlene Hovsepian after church on Sunday mornings. News From Our St. Vartan Family Birth Announcement Arev Lena Abnous was born on June 7, Her delighted parents are Ani and Haig Abnous. Arev's grandparents are Razmik and Suzanne Abnous of Danville, and Varouj and Sylvia Bagdassarian of Cupertino, CA. She is also blessed with proud new uncles and aunts, Sevan and Armen Abnous, and Nareen and Alex Bagdassarian.

4 ACYO Sports Weekend We are excited to report that this year's Sports Weekend was a weekend that will remain in our hearts forever! As many know already attending Sports Weekend is a long time St. Vartan tradition and this year was no different. This year we were St. Vartan strong as we played Junior and Senior Basketball, Senior Volleyball, Co-ed Dodgeball, and Ping Pong. A special thank you to our Senior Basketball Coaches Stuart Arakelian and Mike Boloyan, our Junior Basketball Coaches Hagop Hakimian, Nazaret Jindoian, and Yeghia Apkarian, our Senior Volleyball coach Janet Demirjian Schmidt, and every single parent who took the time to travel with our ACYO to Fresno! We would also like to thank our Parish Council and our beloved Der Hovel for their unwavering support. Our parish participation is growing in numbers each year at our diocesan events and it is with great pride that we represent St. Vartan Oakland. Drumroll please,...the RESULTS ARE IN! Our Junior Basketball team fought hard in the most difficult bracketing our junior tournament has seen in years and placed 3rd! Our Senior Volleyball girls also came home with a 3rd place trophy! Upon our return to the Bay Area we all gathered to watch Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Buffalo Wild Wings in San Ramon. While Game 4 didn't result in a Warrior sweep, 30 of our ACYO members gathered and enjoyed the evening together. We look forward to bringing back our Warrior Watch Parties next season and having the entire parish participate! St. Vartan Armenian Church Food Festival and Bazaar Friday, October 6, 5:30 pm midnight Saturday, October 7, noon midnight Armenian Food Live Music & Dancing Country Store Grandma s Attic Children s Games Dessert Booth Vendors St. Vartan Church Men s Night In addition to attending Sports Weekend, ACYO sponsored two events in May. On May 14 the ACYO sponsored Fellowship Hour with a lavish brunch and special gifts for mothers. On May 24, the ACYO held a kebob luncheon after church to celebrate the last day of Sunday School and raise funds for the group. Fathers & Sons Friday, July 14-6 pm Food Games Fun

5 St. Vartan Sunday School presented a closing program on Sunday, May 21. During the service Bibles were presented to students for reciting The Lord s Prayer (Hayr Mer). Contest Guidelines: As we continue to honor and celebrate the 60 th Anniversary of St. Vartan Armenian Church, the 60/90 Committee is Sponsoring an Essay Contest for our Parish Youth The Essay Topic is: What does St. Vartan Church mean to you in your life and what would you do to maintain its legacy? AGE CATEGORIES ESSAY REQUIREMENTS PRIZES Ages Paragraphs $ Ages Paragraphs $ Ages Paragraphs Two Admission Tickets to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Ages Paragraphs Two Admission Tickets to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Each paragraph is to have a minimum of five (5) sentences. Essay submission deadline is Friday, July 21, Winners will be announced in the August 2017 St. Vartan The Voice Newsletter and essays will be posted in the 60/90 website: Fr. Hovel Ohanyan and the 60/90 Committee will read the essays and select one (1) winner from each age category. Rachel Harger, church secretary, will remove each contestants name from their essay and assign it a number in order to maintain judge impartiality. Essay submissions must have contestant name, address, phone number, birthdate, and current age. Essays may be ed to the church office at: stvartanoakland@aol.com / or mailed to the church office at: St. Vartan Church, 650 Spruce St., Oakland, CA 94610, ATTN: 60/90 Committee Essay Contest. More Info: Liz Ojakian lizojakian@yahoo.com / Nataline Jindoian nnjindoian@gmail.com / Parish Council Update San Lorenzo Property By the time you are reading this newsletter the San Lorenzo property sale should be complete. The property was on the market a very short time before a $550,000 offer to purchase it as is was received $13,000 over the list price. Escrow closed in about 30 days, and the proceeds of the sale, less the funds used to make the repairs and improvements, have been placed in a special account. As approved by the parish general assembly, these funds will be used to purchase a residence for our parish priest. Purchase of parish priest s residence Progress on finding a residence for our parish priest was limited the past month due to the pilgrimage to Armenia led by Fr. Ohanyan and Fr. Ash. The search for a residence will continue and we hope to have additional news next month. Altar Server training at the Diocese Deacon and acolyte training was conducted under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian on June 24 at the St. Leon Cathedral in Burbank. Acolyte Sevan Jindoian as well as altar servers Joseph Apkarian, David Krikorian, and Razmig Shahvekilian were sponsored by St. Vartan to attend this unique program, which focused on the proper way to serve on the holy altar during badarak. Specifically, our servers were trained in reciting spiritual hymns and prayers, when and how to use the censor, candle holding and basic altar etiquette. Attendees from across the state provided a bonding opportunity for all to feel part of the Western Diocese family of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Parish Council thanks Ms. Nataline Jindoian for volunteering to coordinate this trip to the Diocese. It was a wonderful opportunity to enhance the spiritual preparedness of our altar servers and create bonds with other Armenian deacons, acolytes and priests across our Diocese. Because this was not a budgeted item, yet a very important opportunity for our young altar servers to participate in, your financial support for this and similar future training opportunities is greatly appreciated (note Altar Server Training on your donation). St. Vartan Church by the Numbers How has our Mailing List changed over the past 12 years? Last month we reported that since 2005 our mailing list has grown 15% and our pledged membership has increased by 6 families. We also noted that the largest increase was in the Far East Bay (the geographic area between Vallejo in the north and Castro Valley in the south.) The following represents a breakdown by City and Zip code for the top and bottom 5 largest areas (most addresses) that had the greatest percent change over the past 12 years. Change in count by City Change in count by Zip Code City Change Zip Code City Change San Ramon % Concord % Pleasanton % Pleasanton % Berkeley % Oakland % Pleasant Hill* % San Ramon % Concord % Pleasant Hill* % Livermore % Walnut Creek % San Leandro % Lafayette % Hayward % Walnut Creek % Fremont % Oakland % San Francisco % Livermore % * Pleasant Hill has only 1 zip code

6 TRANSFIGURATION (AYLAGERBUTIUN VARTAVAR) Fourteen weeks 98 days after Easter is the Feast of Transfiguration, Aylagerbutiun in Ar menian but popularly known as Vartavar. Though this is designated as a religious feast, we do not think of it in that sense alone. The Armenian people are unique in that they prefer to think of most feasts like Transfiguration as both a religious and a popular (or secular) feast, the two blended together. It is rare for Armenian feasts to be purely religious or purely secular. TRANSFIGURATION This episode is mentioned in the New Testament by four different authors: Evangelists Matthew (17:1-8) Mark (9:11-17) Luke (9:29-36) Apostle Peter in his Second Letter (1:17-18) This miraculous episode taken in its literal sense is the following. When Jesus was considering going to Jerusalem after about three years of His ministry, He was preparing His disciples and foretelling the time of the torture that was awaiting Him and the end of His life on earth. In His discussions with them, Jesus was thereby also examining what the effect would be on His disciples, to make sure that they would interpret the events properly. It was in such discussions in the region of Caesarea Philippe when the disciples had become impatient with the Master s premonitions. In their exasperation, Peter said, God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to You. (Matthew 16:22). Jesus admonished Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan (Matthew 16:23). Later, in the same circumstances, Jesus said, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24). About a week after that discussion and exhortation, Jesus had His miraculous Transfiguration when He had gone up the Holy Mountain, Tabor, with three of His disciples for prayer. They were Simon Peter, James, and his brother John Zebedee. The other nine disciples, fatigued, had remained at the base of the mountain. In truth, the three who had accompanied Jesus were also tired. And when, as usual, Jesus began his nightly worship, they had begun to doze off into sleep. In that beautiful, natural environment Jesus, transformed, began to pray. At that moment a miraculous light illuminated His face; Jesus became transfigured. He took on an altogether different appearance. In that superb, dazzling revelation, the three dozing disciples, coming awake, raised their heads. Fascinated, they watched the unprecedentedly brilliant scene in which they saw Him in His glory. The moment was bewitching, enchanting, and most delightful. It was late in the night, yet there was light as from the sun. The disciples were bewildered. They did not know what to do or what to say. In that unprecedented vision they saw two other figures who were talking to the Teacher about the brief period of time left in His life to the time in Jerusalem where the supreme sacrifice was awaiting Him for the sake of the salvation of mankind. Those two figures seemed to be the Prophets Moses and Elijah. In the end the spokesman for the three disciples was once again Peter, who, for the sake of having said something, said, Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. (Luke 9:33). The miraculous scene was gradually reaching its conclusion. As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. (Luke 9:34). The voice of God was heard with the same declaration as on the first occasion when Jesus was being baptized in the River Jordan by the hand of John the Baptist. This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! (Luke 9:35). The event of the Transfiguration had reached its end. As in earlier significant episodes, this time again, Jesus cautioned His disciples to remain quiet and not speak of the happening until the close of His life on earth, until His Resurrection from the dead. (Mark 9:9-10). THE OBSERVANCE OF TRANSFIGURATION AND THE ARMENIAN HEATHEN FEASTS St. Gregory the Enlightener had combined the observance of Transfiguration with the Armenian feast of New Year, Navasart, in August. The time shift for the observance of Transfiguration after the introduction of the new Armenian calendar made it match the observance of the feast of Asdghig, one of the most popular goddesses of the ancient Armenian heathen religious, and associated with it came the continuation of the heathen customs. Asdghig was the goddess of love and beauty. She corresponds to the Greek Aphrodite. Her principal temples were in Ashtishat, in the Artamet region of Van, and elsewhere. The festivities associated with the religious observance of her person was called Vartavar, and the traditional ceremonies were conducted in mid- June. Asdghig was not only the goddess of love and beauty, but also of water. The prayers and beseeching directed to her asked for water for the benefit of fields, fruit orchards, and vineyards under cultivation. Ceremonies of thanksgiving and pageants were conducted everywhere, on the banks of streams and at springs. Animals were sacrificed as part of the ceremonies. Vartavar occurred at harvest time. It was looked upon as an expression of gratitude and thanksgiving in return for the goodness of the harvest. The same custom, this splendid practice of man s expressing gratitude, was encouraged and made part of the new religion, by the Armenian Church itself. The people continued to express those noble feelings through the new religion, making gifts of ears of corn, flowers, and bouquets of roses to the church and to one another. There was a custom during this feast also of releasing pigeons and engaging in water games. Bouquets of roses were tied to the foreheads of animals used in farming activities. Such customs are still being practiced today, to some extent. Our being broadly dispersed as a people makes it very difficult, of course, to carry on those customs fully. In their place, however, under the new patterns of our lives, the celebrations of these feasts take place in somewhat different ways. We hold large gatherings in verdant fields having bodies of water, picnics, outings, and in doing so we are recalling the past and preserving the tradition. TRADITIONS When did they arise, and where? The traditions described below may shed some light on and explain the nature and source of our traditions connected with Vartavar water games, releasing pigeons and others. When the Deluge had ended and Patriarch Noah descended from the top of Masis into the land of Nakhichevan (first abode), he advised his sons to sprinkle water on one another so that man would remember the meaning of the Deluge. (Azkabadoum). It is said that during the festivities of Vartavar, children, elderly, men, and women alike pour pitchers of water on one another in the homes, on the streets, in the fields, on the banks of rivers, near springs and streams; they even dunk one another in the waters. This practice has come down to us in Armenia, from the time of Noah. It is believed that the custom of releasing pigeons also comes from Noah s releasing a dove to determine if the waters of the Deluge had all subsided, based on the Biblical account of the Deluge. Courtesy of Feasts of the Armenian Church and National Traditions by Garo Bedrosian, 1993 Grandma s Attic is Back for 2017 We are now accepting donations. Please donate your quality, gently-used items to Grandma s Attic, the St. Vartan Church Annual Bazaar Rummage Sale. Grandma s Attic is an extremely popular rummage sale, which relies on your donations to make it successful. Please bring your donation of gently-used items on Sunday mornings, or weekdays between 9 am and 1 pm. Grandma s Attic needs your gently used household items, glassware, pottery, china, pictures, rugs, furniture (small pieces only), toys, jewelry, books, CDs, etc. So, almost anything! Please NO computers, monitors, printers, TVs, electronics, VHS tapes, large exercise equipment, or broken or non-working items, clothing or shoes.