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| INDEPENDENCE DAY—JULY 4, 1776
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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
On July 4—Independence Day—we celebrate the birth of a nation, the United States of America, created by the union of thirteen colonies. Thomas Jefferson, the young Virginian who would later become the nation’s third president, wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence that in its final form would absolve the colonies from “all Allegiance to the British Crown,” and declare that “all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved,” and that as Free and Independent States, they have full “Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."
It was a daring document. A fledgling group of colonies challenging the mighty British Empire, supported by “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” The signers became traitors, with the threat of death, to create a new nation, governed by laws, not kings.
Miraculously, the war that followed between the greatest power of the day and the new nation with its rag-tag army led by George Washington was won by the colonies.
The principles embodied in the declaration were, of course, lofty and noble ideals. The quest continues. Nevertheless, throughout the world, then and now, activists and reformers have reminded the world that “all men are created equal,” and wherever the people have challenged totalitarian regimes, they have invoked Jefferson’s words that “governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."
On the occasion of the 236th anniversary of the birth of the “thirteen United States of America,” let us remember those who throughout the years and into current times made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to protect the “Great Experiment” and the principles of the “American Dream” for themselves and others. Let us resolve to continue the struggle to reach the ideals of the Declaration—the ideals that gave shelter and opportunity to thousands and thousands of immigrants and refugees, including our Armenian ancestors.
John Adams, who with Benjamin Franklin was on the committee with Jefferson that drafted the Declaration, and would later become the second president of the United States, left directives for celebrating Independence Day. In a letter to his wife Abigail, he wrote, “…It ought to be commemorated as a day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
However you choose to celebrate, reserve a few minutes on this day to read the Declaration of Independence. You can do it now
here.
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| DATEV INSTITUTE IN FULL SWING; PRELATE WILL VISIT JULY 4THSixty-eight students (ages 13-18) and twenty clergymen and lay leaders are at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania for a week of fellowship, prayer, and instruction in the elements of our Christian faith and traditions. Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Pennsylvania on July 4th to spend the Independence Day holiday with the students, instructors, and supervisors at their traditional Fourth of July Picnic. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Summer Program offers a unique opportunity for our teenagers to learn some of the basic elements of the Christian faith in general and how that faith is expressed in the Armenian Apostolic Church in particular. Each day, the program begins with a Morning Service at 7:15 am; classes are held from 8:30am to 12:30pm. In the afternoons, the students enjoy recreational activities, such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, and swimming. In the evenings, the students engage in a panel discussion, followed by three concurrent Bible studies for different age groups. The day comes to a close with the Compline Service (Husgoom) at 9:45 pm. The Instructors and the leaders of the Institute this year are: His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian (Vicar General), Rev. Fr. Khoren Habeshian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian (Institute Director), Rev. Hovnan Bozoian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Harout Takvorian, Dn. Bedros Kalajian, Dn. James Haddad, Yn. Joanna Baghsarian, Mrs. Maral Doghramadjian, Mrs. Maggie Kouyoumdjian, Ms. Tamar Lakissian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian. The Institute will have three guest lecturers: Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of Biblical Studies at St. Valdimir’s Theological Seminary, S. Peter Cowe, Professor of Armenian Studies at UCLA, and Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Professor of Philosophy at Manhattanville College The 2013 St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute will conclude this Sunday, July 7, with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia.
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|  | Datevatsi participants during a educational lecture. | |  | Datevatsis during a prayer service. | |  | Yeretsgin Joanna Baghsarian instucts Datevatsi participants. | |  | Datevatsis enjoy outdoor recreational facilities. | | | |
| For more photos of the 2013 Datev Institute Summer Program click
here. To read impressions by the young participants of the program, click
here.
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| PRELATE WILL ATTEND HOMENETMEN GAMESArchbishop Oshagan will attend the Homenetmen Eastern Region’s Annual Athletic Games this weekend that will take place in Philadelphia. His Eminence will deliver the invocation at the banquet Saturday evening and at the closing ceremonies on Sunday.
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| CONGRATULATIONS TO DER HRANT AND YERETZGIN TAMAR
We received the joyful news of the birth of a son, Nareg, to Rev. Fr. Hrant and Yeretzgin Tamar Kevorkian last Sunday. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Der Hayr and Yeretzgin and welcome Nareg to our greater Prelacy family. Der Hrant is pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan.
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| TRADITION CONTINUES IN RACINESt. Hagop Church in Racine, Wisconsin, continued a long established tradition, as more than 1,200 people gathered for the traditional Madagh blessing and picnic that followed. Parishioners, friends, and neighbors from near and from as far as California, Arizona, Florida, Boston, and Canada, gathered to participate in this popular event. Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, pastor of St. Hagop Church, officiated the Antasdan service (blessing of the four corners of the world), followed by a Requiem Service for the deceased members of the Racine community and the blessing of the Madagh. The Madagh, traditionally prepared in twelve large pots, was distributed to everyone following the blessing. Der Daron explained the symbolism of the Madagh, noting that it originated with St. Gregory the Illuminator. Madagh, he explained, is an offering to God for the hope of salvation and redemption; a manifestation of love and charity to the poor; remembrance of the dead; and an expression of gratitude to God for deliverance from diseases and temptations. After the distribution of the Madagh, the picnic started with Armenian music and shish kebab, grilled chicken, and other Armenian delicacies. Der Hayr thanked the picnic committee, the donors and the preparers of the food and Madagh.
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|  | Scenes from the Blessing of Madagh and picnic at St. Hagop Church, Racine. | |
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| BRUNCH AND TALENT SHOW AT CATHEDRALThe Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York, hosted a Brunch and Talent Show last Sunday highlighting the musical potential of local Armenian youth. The program, under the auspices of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor, featured the newly-formed “Hayer” Band. The group of eight musicians is directed by Samvel Nersisyan and features brass, woodwind, percussion, and string instruments. The group presented a mixture of Armenian folk and contemporary pieces. The event concluded with a Brunch offered by the Ladies Guild. Several audience members were so appreciative of the performance that they made donations to the band to help them grow and continue their inspiring performances.
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Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with Armine Vardanyan, pianist; Samvel Nersisyan, musical director, and members of the “Hayer” Band. | |
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| HISTORY OF ARMENIA SEMINARS CONCLUDEThe History of Armenia: Past, Present, Future, a series of eight seminars concluded last week at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York. The series was attended by 60 faithful participants with 33 of them attending all eight seminars. The individuals with perfect attendance were presented with a copy of the recently published Historical Atlas of Armenia, a gift from the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan. They also received a Certificate of Perfect Attendance signed by the Ambassador of Armenia to the United Nations, Garen Nazarian, Dr. Artur Martirosyan, facilitator of the seminar, and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral. Der Mesrob expressed thanks to Archbishop Oshagan, Ambassador Nazarian, Andreas Marderosian, Dr. Artur Martirosyan, and Onnik Kasparian for making the series possible and successful.
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The participants in the series of eight seminars that took place at the Cathedral. | |
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| BIBLE READINGSBible readings for Sunday, July 7, Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, (Aylakerputiunm / Vartavar) are Wisdom 7:25-8:4; Zechariah 14:16-21; 1 John 1:1-7; Matthew 16:13-17:13. Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John 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 dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud over-shadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” And the disciples asked him, “Why then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He replied, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they do not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:1-13) For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click
here.
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| THE OLD ARK OF THE COVENANT AND
FEAST OF THE NEW HOLY CHURCHThis Saturday, July 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the Old Ark of the Covenant and the Feast of the New Holy Church. This combined commemoration takes place on the Saturday prior to the Feast of the Transfiguration. Celebrating the old and the new shows the perpetuity of the church. God revealed Himself to humankind gradually through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets. The church existed from the beginning, and that is why the Old Testament is accepted as part of the Holy Scriptures and recognized as a preamble to the New Testament. The hymn designated for this day proclaims: “Who from the beginning established your church with wisdom, O, Father of Wisdom, who revealed to Moses upon Sinai.”
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| FEAST OF TRANSFIGURATIONThis Sunday, July 7, the Armenian Church observes one of its five major feasts, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ (Aylakerputiunm / Vartavar). This Feast is observed fourteen weeks after Easter, and therefore can fall between June 28 and August 1. It commemorates an episode in the New Testament recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Peter. (See today’s Bible reading for the text from the Gospel according to St. Matthew). The Transfiguration took place on the “holy mountain” (believed to be Mt. Tabor) where Jesus went with John, James and Peter to pray. As He was praying, “His face shone like the sun and His garments became white as light.” The Patriarch Moses and Prophet Elijah appeared at His side. It was at this moment that His appearance was “transfigured” revealing himself as God to His disciples as a voice from above said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” The pre-Christian festival, Vartavar (Festival of Roses), was joined with this new Christian holiday. Armenians would decorate the temple of the goddess of Asdghig (goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and water) with roses, release doves, and engage in water games on this pre-Christian holiday. St. Gregory the Illuminator combined Vartavar with Transfiguration. The fifth century historian Yeghishe wrote the prayer that is read in the church on this feast: “O Lord, bless the harvest of this year and defend from all the perils, and may Your right hand, O Lord, protect us for the whole year." Vartavar became a traditional day of pilgrimage to churches named in honor of St. John the Baptist. The most popular destination was the Monastery of Sourp Garabed of Moush, founded by Gregory the Illuminator in the province of Taron near Moush. (Garabed means Forerunner, referring to John the Baptist). The monastery was large and expansive and built like a fortress in the mountains. More than one thousand pilgrims could be accommodated. After 1915 the complex ceased to exist. The monastery was destroyed by the Turkish army, and the ravages of time, weather and scavengers completed its destruction. The once large and thriving Armenian monastery is now a mass of stone and rubble. This Sunday is the name day for those named Vartkes, Vartavar, Vart, Vartouhi, Alvart, Sirvart, Nevart, Lousvart, Baidzar, Vartanoush, Vartiter, Varvar.
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|  | Armenians all over the world celebrate Vartavar with water fights. Here is a scene of one of those fights from the streets of Yerevan. | |
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| MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAYThe Monday after each of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church is a Memorial Day, Remembrance of the Dead.
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
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| Death of Aghasi Khanjian (July 9, 1936)The death of Aghasi Khanjian, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia from May 1930 to 1936, unleashed the beginning in Armenia of the Great Purge, the Soviet campaign of political repression orchestrated by dictator Joseph Stalin from 1936-1939. Khanjian was born in Van on January 30, 1901. He studied in the Central School of Van. His family emigrated from the city after the heroic defense of 1915 and settled in the Caucasus. Between 1917 and 1919, he was one of the organizers of Spartak, the Marxist student’s union of Armenia. At the time of the first Republic of Armenia, he served as the secretary of the Armenian Bolshevik underground committee, and in 1920, became secretary of the Yerevan city committee. From 1922-1928, Khanjian worked for the Communist Party in Leningrad (nowadays St. Petersburg). He was transferred to Yerevan in 1928 and rose rapidly in the party ranks because of Stalin’s patronage. In 1930 he became first secretary of the party and was able to remove the old Bolshevik leaders who had been in charge since the early 1920s. He was a friend and supporter of many intellectuals, such as Yeghishe Charents (1897-1937), Axel Bakunts (1899-1937), and fellow Vanetzi, Gurgen Mahari (1903-1969). The three would be victims of Stalin after Khanjian’s death: Bakunts was shot, Charents died in prison, and Mahari was exiled to Siberia for ten years and then six more years. However, Khanjian had one formidable opponent, Lavrenti Beria, the chief of the party in Georgia and very close to Stalin, who was on his way to turn Transcaucasia (he was regional secretary of the party) into his personal domain. The traditional Georgian-Armenian rivalry and Khanjian’s level of popularity in Armenia were enough to turn him into a potential rival. In his memoirs, Vahram Alazan (1903-1966), another Vanetzi writer who was victim of the Great Purge, wrote that, when Khanjian had gone to Moscow for a plenary conference of the Communist Party, one of Beria’s henchmen, Khachik Mughdusi, who was in charge of the NKVD (the future KGB), had arrested several prominent party intellectuals, among them Nersik Stepanyan. Stepanyan was brutally beaten and forced to “confess” that he had a counterrevolutionary, Trotskyite, and nationalistic group, which was supposedly led by Aghasi Khanjian. Beria’s agents sent Stepanyan’s “confession” to Tbilisi. Khanjian returned from Moscow to Yerevan in early July 1936. "Two days after our conversation, on July 9," Alazan wrote, "Beria invited Khanjian to the session of the presidium of the Transcaucasian Regional Committee in Tiflis. In that session, Beria made public the testimony extorted from Nersik Stepanyan and demanded Khanjian’s confession that he was a nationalist and had sponsored N. Stepanyan’s nationalist group." After that session, Beria killed Aghasi Khanjian in his office and declared officially that Khanjian had ostensibly committed suicide to trigger enmity between the Armenian and the Georgian people." Khanjian’s body was brought to Yerevan and buried on July 12 in an insignificant cemetery of Yerevan. Political attacks had already been orchestrated in the press and his death marked the beginning of a wave of terror that would end with thousands of Armenian political leaders, intellectuals, officials, and even ordinary people shot, imprisoned, exiled, or labeled “enemy of the people.” This wave of terror, that would last until early 1939, has been sometimes labeled a second April 24.
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| Odd “Armenian” WordsThere are many words in our everyday usage that we assume to be Armenian, and they come down from generation to generation. This is how we find those same words used by people who have never set foot in an Armenian school and those who have finished an Armenian elementary or high school, both by people who barely speak Armenian and those who speak it as their primary language. In the end, when people hear the actual Armenian equivalent of those same words, they are prone to complain: “You speak very pure Armenian,” “That’s a hard word,” “Nobody can understand you,” “Where do you find those words?” One may even wonder whether they show the same self-respect for the level of their English vocabulary. Children may even become defensive and say, “I have learned this word at home,” or, if confronted with a repetitive series of common words they believe are “Armenian,” come to the bitter and self-defeating conclusion: “Have we really learned Armenian?" Here is a randomly compiled list of frequent words that people “think” they are Armenian, only because they do not care to look for their actual origin or to make a real effort to enrich their vocabulary. The list is indeed extremely short, and does not claim to be a representative sample. But it may give an idea of where we stand. | “Armenian” | Armenian | English | | զէվզէկ (zevzeg) | շատախօս (shadakhos) | charlatan | | թոմաթէս (tomates) | լոլիկ (lolig) | tomato | | իշտէ (ishde) (1) | ահա (aha) | there | | հէչ/հիչ (hech/hich) (2) | բնաւ (pnav) / ոչինչ (vochinch) | at all, ever, anything | | մահանայ (mahana) | պատրուակ (badrvag) | pretext | | մաղտանոս (maghdanos) | ազատքեղ (azadkegh) | parsley | | չօճուխ (chojukh) | պզտիկ (bzdig) / երեխայ (yerekha) | child | | պաճանաղ (bajanagh) | քենեկալ (kenegal) | brother-in-law (*) | | պայաթ (bayat) | օթեկ (oteg) | stale | | պէլքի (belki) | թերեւս (terevs) | perhaps | | պիլէ (bile) (3) | նոյնիսկ (nooynisg) | even | | սալաթ (salat), սալաթա (salata) | աղցան (aghtsan) | salad | | տահա (daha) (4) | դեռ (ter), տակաւին (dagaveen) | still | | րէզիլ (rezil), քէփէզէ (kepezeh) (5) | խայտառակ (khaydarag) | shame | | փաթաթէս (patates) | գետնախնձոր (kednakhntzor) | potato | | փիս (pis) | գէշ (kesh), աղտոտ (aghdod) | bad / dirty | | քի (ki) (6) | թէ (te)/ որ (vor) | what / that | | օրթալըխ (ortalekh) (7) | մէջտեղ (mechdegh) | middle |
(1) For example: Իշտէ քեզի խելք (Ishde kezi khelk, “There you have an idea”), instead of Ահա քեզի խելք (Aha kezi khelk).
(2) For example: Հէչ չեմ գիտեր (Hech chem kider, “I don’t know at all”), instead of Բնաւ չեմ գիտեր (Pnav chem kider); Հէչ մտածե՞ր ես այդ մասին (Hech mdadzer es ayt masin?, “Have you ever thought about that?”), instead of Բնաւ մտածեր ես այդ մասին (Pnav mdadzer es ayt masin); Հէչ բան գիտե՞ս (Hech pan kides?, “Do you know anything?”).
(3) For example: Չեմ գիտեր պիլէմ (Chem kider bilem, “I don’t even know”), instead of Չեմ գիտեր նոյնիսկ (Chem kider nooynisg).
(4) For example: Ռեզիլ եղանք (Rezil yeghank, “We were ashamed”) or Քէփէզէ եղանք (Kepezeh yeghank), instead of Խայտառակ եղանք (Menk khaydarag yeghank).
(5) For example: Տահա չեմ գիտեր (Daha chem kider, “I still don’t know”), instead of Դեռ չեմ գիտեր (Ter chem kider) or Տակաւին չեմ գիտեր (Dagaveen chem kider):
(6) For example: Ես չեմ գիտեր քի ի՞նչ ըսեմ (Yes chem kider ki inch esem?, “I don’t even know what to say”), instead of Ես չեմ գիտեր թէ ի՞նչ ըսեմ (Yes chem kider te inch esem?); Կը խորհիմ քի... (Ge khorhim ki..., “I think that”), instead of Կը խորհիմ որ (Ge khorhim vor...).
(7) For example: Կեցեր է փողոցին օրթալըխը (Getser eh poghotsin ortalekhe), instead of Կեցեր է փողոցին մէջտեղը (Getser eh poghotsin mechdeghe)
(*) The Armenian term – which has no exact equivalent in English – refers to the relationship between the husbands of two sisters. The sister of a man’s wife is his քենի (keni), which makes the latter’s husband a kenegal.
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| NINETEEN FIREFIGHTERS DIE IN ARIZONA FIREWe mourn the loss of nineteen of the twenty members of the elite Granite Mountain Hotshots who died fighting a vast fire near Prescott, Arizona, on Sunday. All were young, most were in their 20s. It was the greatest loss of firefighters in a single disaster since the attacks of September 11, 2001. May they rest in peace. We pray that the comfort of the Almighty will embrace the grieving families.
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| 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURGThis week marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania that began July 1, 1863, and ended on July 3. It was the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War with more than 23,000 casualties for the Union forces and more than 28,000 casualties for the Confederate forces. The victory of Union troops at Gettysburg was the turning point in the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee had invaded Pennsylvania with the goal of dividing and demoralizing the Union troops. Although the war continued, the tide had turned toward a Union victory. Four months later, Lincoln visited the battlefield to dedicate a cemetery for the victims of the great battle. Less than 300 words, Lincoln’s Gettysburg address is considered to be a masterpiece in American literature.
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| PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT. DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW
CLICK HERE AND SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic Eparchy; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
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| July 7—St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Outdoor Family Event, following church services on the Feast of Transfiguration, Vartivar. Everyone, especially the youth, is invited to join in water games on the lawn next to the church. July 8-19—8th Annual Summer Camp program at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. July 13—“A Hye Summer Night VII” Dinner Dance sponsored by Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church and Armenian Relief Society “Ani” Chapter of Providence, Rhode Island, at the Providence Marriott Hotel, One Orms Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02904, 6 pm to 1 am. Featuring: Joe Kouyoumjian (oud), Brian Ansbigian (oud), David Ansbigian (oud), Leon Janikian (clarinet), Ken Kalajian (guitar), Jason Naroian (dumbeg), Armen Janigian (Daf). For tickets ($50 per person) and information: Joyce Bagdasarian (401-434-4467); Joyce Yeremian (401-354-8770). July 21—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, will present FOUND, a play by Ms. Anoush Baghdassarian, about a woman’s experience through the Genocide. Presented following the Divine Liturgy. Open discussion will take place after the presentation with the director and the cast. Contact the church office for information: 718-224-2275. August 4—Annual picnic of St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, at Camp Haiastan, 722 Summer Street, Franklin, Massachusetts 02038. Delicious food, music and more from 12 noon to 5 pm. For information, 617-924-7562, visit online at www.soorpstepanos.org or on Facebook. August 11—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Annual Picnic at Camp Haiastan from noon to 6 pm. Blessing of Madagh and Grapes will take place at 3:30 pm with His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan presiding and with the participation of the pastors of the New England area churches. Enjoy delicious shish, losh, and chicken kebab dinners, Armenian pastry, and our famous choreg. Music by the Michael Gregian Ensemble. Our patrons may use the Lower Camp Pool, Basketball Courts, and Canoes from 1 to 4 pm. Activities for children. Come and enjoy a day with friends and family. August 18—Annual Picnic of Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 12 noon on the church grounds, 315 Church Street, Whitinsville, immediately following the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian who will also officiate the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony with the participation of New England clergy. Delicious Armenian food, homemade baked goods. Listen and dance to traditional live Armenian music by the Mugrditchian Band. For information: 508-234-3677. August 18—St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Blessing of the Grapes and Family Fun Picnic, at Lakeshore Park, 601 South Lake Drive, Novi, Michigan. Food, music, dancing, magic show, volleyball, soccer, tavlou tournament, mountain biking, swimming. August 18—Sts. Vartanantz Church, New Jersey, Annual Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes, 1-5 pm at Saddle River County Parki, Wild Duck Pond area. Music, delicious Armenian food and desserts, arts and crafts and playground for children, cards, and tavloo, and more. September 5 to October 3—“A Brief Introduction to Modern Armenian Literature,” a series of five seminars presented on Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. Sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) and the Cathedral. Presented by Vartan Matiossian, Ph.D. September 7—Teachers’ Seminar sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) at the Prelacy offices, 138 E. 39th Street, New York City, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Details will follow. September 8—Picnic Festival, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts, 12:30 to 5:30 pm, featuring Armenian music by Leon Janikian, Jason Naroian, Joe Kouyoumjian, John Arzigian, along with Siroun Dance Group. Armenian food and pastries. For details www.saintgregory.org September 15—Book Presentation at Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York, of “One Church One Nation” by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian. October 5—Symposium “Armenian Women as Artists and Mothers,” 2-6 pm, sponsored by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) at St. Illuminator Cathedral Pashalian Hall, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, in celebration of the Year of the Mother of the Armenian Family. Lecturers: Melissa Bilal (Columbia University), Jennifer Manoukian (Columbia University), and Vartan Matiossian (ANEC). October 19—Armenian Friends of America presents “Hye Kef 5” featuring musicians Leon Janikian, Joe Kouyoumjian, Greg Takvorian, Ken Kalajian, Ron Raphaelian, and Jay Baronian, 7:30-12:30, Michael’s Function Hall, 12 Alpha Street, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Proceeds to benefit all Armenian churches in Merrimack Valley and New Hampshire. Tickets: $40 adults; $30 students; includes individually-served mezza platters. For information/reservations: John Arzigian 603-560-3826; Sandy Boroyan 978-251-8687; Scott Sahagian 617-699-3581; Peter Gulezian 978-375-1616. November 15-16-17—Annual Bazaar, Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
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| Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site. To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add email@armenianprelacy.org to your address book. Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit Crossroads as the source. Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to: info@armenianprelacy.org
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