Fourth Sunday after the Nativity Sunday, February 8, 2015

Archpriest Father Gomidas Baghsarian -- Pastor Reverend Father Kapriel Nazarian -- Assistant Pastor Sts. Vartanantz Church WEEKLY BULLETIN 402 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909 Office: 831-6399 Fax: 351-4418 Email: info@stsvartanantzchurch.org Website: stsvartanantzchurch.org Fourth Sunday after the Nativity Sunday, February 8, 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

GOSPEL John 7: 37-52 Is Jesus the Christ? On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not yet been given, Since Jesus had not yet been glorified. On hearing his words, some of the people said, Surely this man is the Prophet. Others said, He is the Christ. Still others asked, How can Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived? Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, Why didn t you bring him in? No one ever spoke the way this man does, the guards declared. You mean that he deceived you also? the Pharisees retorted. Has any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law - there is a curse on them. Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing? They replied, Are you from Galilee, too. Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee. (On Page 1058 in your Bibles) EPISTLE Titus 1: 1-11 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness - a faith and knowledge of resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God s work, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach - and that for the sake of dishonest gain. (On Page 1181 in your Bibles) Sunday s Altar Flowers are donated in Loving Memory of Isabelle Varadian by her Loving Family

REQUIEM SERVICE February 8, 2015 Deceased Clergy of the Prelacy Sirpouhi, Yervant and Hagop Jack Hagopian Marc G. and Elizabeth Jabagjorian Vartkes Kaprielian Yakout and Simon Kibarian and Ann Nahigian Harriet and Nazar Maynazarian Rose Saraf Elizabeth Sarkisian Satenig Stepanian Nurik and Noubar Taraksian Isabelle Varadian Anna and Souren Yeremian REQUIEM SERVICE February 15, 2015 Lulu and Albert Abbey Noyemzar Alexanian Sarkis Aproian Kurken Ayvasian Maria Czbanowski, and Horopig and Albert Rustelli Minas Dolbashian Kachig Garabedian Sarkis and Khatoon Garabedian Sarkis Kashmanian Angelina Kibarian Charles Manoogian and Laura Harotian Arys, Haig and Arax Missakian, and Melidos and Christine Najarian

George Mouradjian Lucille Peterson Ralph Rafaelian Gregory Sahagian Anna Topalian Beatrice Tateosian Esquhie and Hagop Toumasian Winter and Inclement Weather is upon us! Please remember to check for our cancellations. They will be listed on all local radio and television stations and their web sites. Choreg and Kufta are now available for purchase after the Divine Liturgy in Fermanian Fellowship Hall Our Ladies will once again be making Bahotz Kufta for Lent on March 9th and 10th. Cost is $15/dozen Please place your order with Sarah Markarian [401-861-5022] and indicate whether you would prefer mild or spicy CALENDAR OF EVENTS Adult Bible Study meets Monday Evenings at 7 pm Please join us. This Sunday, February 8, 2015 Our Coffee Hour Fellowship is hosted by the Kaprielian and Nahigian Families in memory of their loved ones

ACA-RI sponsors the John Varadian Memorial Basketball Tournament Mt. Pleasant High School from 12:30 to 5:30pm Thursday, February 12, 2015 Vartanantz Day Commemoration/Dinner Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church 6:30pm -- 8:30pm Net proceeds to benefit local Centennial Events hosted by the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Committee of RI For further information, contact Joyce Yeremian [401-354-8770] Sunday, February 15, 2015 His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and will ordain as Ouraragir (Stole Bearer) --- Shant Eghian, Hagop Taraksian, and Harout Tashian; as Tbir (Acolyte) --- Michael Simonian, Givan Baghsarian and Aram Baghsarian. A Vartanantz Celebration Dinner hosted by our Ladies Guild will follow in Aramian Auditorium. Our Honorees being recognized for their lifetime achievement of continuous dedicated service to their Church are as follows: Vartges Engustian, Harry Kushigian, Antranig Mesrobian, John Takian and Joyce Yeremian. RSVP to Joyce Bagdasarian [434-4467] by February 9th. Wednesday, February 18, 2015 Our Youth Fellowship will host the Fellowship Hour following the Lenten Vespers Service. Sunday, February 22, 2015 Providence "Varantian" AYF-YOARF Juniors Open House 12:30 pm in Fermanian Fellowship Hall Contact varantianjuniors@gmail.com with any questions

Wednesday, February 25, 2015 ARS "Ani" and "Arax" Chapters will host our first Lenten Dinner at 6 pm in Fermanian Fellowship Hall Proceeds will benefit the Mourad Armenian School Thursday, February 26, 2015 ARS Arax Chapter Cooking Class Fermanian Fellowship Hall 6:30pm Donation: $20 RSVP to Manoushag Krikorian 401-265-6014 Visit our website for updated Church news http://www.stsvartanantzchurch.org ATTENION: High School & College Students ARS EASTERN USA S UNDERGRADUATE and LAZARIAN GRADUATE 2015 SCHOLARSHIP: Applications are now available. Website scholarship page www.arseastusa.org. Deadline for submitting applications is April 1, 2015 PROVIDENCE ARS ANI CHAPTER UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP: Applications are now available. Must be a RI Resident and in second year of college. Call KAREN PILLA 274-1033 or email KPIilla1015@gmail.com Deadline for submitting applications is April 1, 2015. VAROUJAN AND ROSE V. KARENTZ SCHOLARHIP: New Details to Follow. The Scholarship Committee of Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church is pleased to announce that applications are now available for the CHARLES YAGHOOBIAN, JR. SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS for 2014. Scholarship Grants will be awarded to qualified members of all three Armenian Churches in RI. Applicants must be dues paying members of their church. Scholarships are limited for up to 3 years only. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for consideration. For an application and a list of eligibility requirements you may contact: Nathalie Yaghoobian, 353-2488. The deadline to submit completed application and all documentation is April 1, 2015.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF REMEMBRANCE This year Armenians worldwide are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that many believed to be the death-knell of the Armenian people. The narrative of the resilience of the Armenian people, the strength of the survivors through their faithfulness to their Lord is truly a miraculous story. Special events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., May 7 to 9, 2015, that include an ecumenical prayer service, a Pontifical Divine Liturgy, memorial concert, and a banquet that will honor organizations and individuals who came to the aid of Armenian survivors. The Catholicoi, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be present to preside over the events. Armenians from all over the United States are expected to participate in solidarity and unity. In New York, commemorative events organized by the joint committee will take place on April 24, 25, and 26, including the annual gathering at Times Square. *************************************************** From the February 5 th issue of Crossroads HOLY VOSKIAN PRIESTS Today, Thursday, February 5, the Armenian Church remembers the Voskian priests five men who were sent to Rome as ambassadors by the Armenian king, Sanadrook. On the road to Rome they met the Apostle Thaddeus who converted and baptized them. The leader of the five was named Voski. They lived in the mountains as hermits for forty years, after which they preached to the Royal Court. They were martyred in 107 AD.

ST. SAHAG BARTEV This Saturday, February 7, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos Sahag (Isaac) Bartev, a strong and great leader who is recognized as one of the greatest saints of the Armenian Church. His great accomplishments, even during very difficult political situations, secured the survival of the Armenian nation. He was the son of St. Nerses the Great and a descendant of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Orphaned at an early age, he nevertheless received an excellent literary education, especially in eastern languages. He was the one who encouraged and supported Mesrob Mashdots in the creation of the Armenian alphabet. Soon after this great event Catholicos Sahag began the first translation of the Holy Bible and he led and guided the vast body of works that were translated into Armenian, thus creating Armenia s Golden Age of Literature. He was an ardent believer in education and ecclesiastical discipline and canon law. He is recognized as the person who kept Armenia ecclesiastically and nationally autonomous. St. Sahag is believed to have died in 437 at an advanced age of 89 (some sources claim much older). With the death of Catholicos Sahag Bartev the line of St. Gregory the Illuminator came to an end. STS. GHEVONT AND PRIESTS This Tuesday, February 10, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Holy Ghevontian (Leontine) priests. After the battle of Vartanantz, a group of priests and deacons was abducted by the Persian king and imprisoned, tortured and martyred. Ghevont is revered as the leader of the group because he was an advisor to Vartan Mamigonian, and was remembered for the inspiring message he delivered on the eve of the battle at Avarayr. Ghevont, who was highly educated, assisted Sahag and Mesrob in translating the Bible into Armenian. The Ghevontian Fathers, martyred in 454 are: Catholicos Hovsep; Bishops Sahag and Tatig; Priests Ghevont, Moushegh, Arshen, Manuel, Abraham, and Khoren; Deacons Kachach and Abraham. **********************************************

The Eastern Prelacy is seeking to fill a new Director of Development position to help meet the growing fundraising needs of the Prelacy. Initially, the position will be part-time and will involve fundraising for the Prelacy s building fund and for its community outreach programs including the St. Gregory of Datev Institute, AREC, ANEC; and the St. Nerses the Great Charitable Fund. More information about the position is available at www.armenianprelacy.org/jobs. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted to the Prelacy s Executive Director, Dr. Vazken S. Ghougassian, not later than February 20, 2015. *********************************************** Please keep us up-to-date with your contact information! Please call the Church Office at 831-6399 to reserve a specific Sunday in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special occasion for the Sunday Fellowship following Church Services. Due to Federal Privacy Laws, hospitals no longer provide Der Hayr with a Patient Religion List. We ask that you notify the Church Secretary (401-831-6399) of family members and parishioners who are ill and/or hospitalized so that Der Hayr may call or make a visitation. Please remember to contact the Church Office as soon as possible with your contact information changes.

Ladies' Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church Providence, Rhode Island proudly presents its Annual Vartanantz Celebration Dinner and Program under the auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan Sunday, February 15, 2015 immediately following the Divine Liturgy in Aramian Auditorium Seating is limited to 120 people Attendance is by Reservation only which can be made by calling Joyce Bagdasarian at 434-4467 by February 9 th. Dinner Menu Stuffed Breast of Chicken (Fresh) Oven Roasted Red Bliss Potatoes Roasted Root Vegetables Dessert (Ice Cream) Coffee and Soda General Admission -- $20 Children under 12 -- $10

PROVIDENCE VARANTIAN AYF-YOARF JUNIORS OPEN HOUSE WHO: Armenian Youth, Families, Current and Prospective Members WHEN: Sunday, February 22, 2015 @ 12:30 pm WHERE: Sts. Vartanantz Church WHY: To learn about the Armenian Youth Federation and become involved in an organization that entails cultural, social, athletic, educational, and hai tahd events! AYF Camp Haiastan Presentation by: Baron David Hamparian Presentation of this year s Junior events by Advisors: U. Rita Minassian & U. Narine Taraksian Questions? Please contact: varantianjuniors@gmail.com