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| Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem
(Kovya Yeroosaghem Uzder) Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Christ is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To Him who is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To him that enlightened the world, alleluia!
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| PRELATE’S EASTER MESSAGE “BEHOLD THE BREATH OF RESURRECTION” He is not here; for he has been raised.
(Matthew 28:6)
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, were greeted with these words when they went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, in accordance with the Hebrew custom. There they were astonished when the earth moved because of a strong earthquake, and the angel rolled back the stone at the entrance of the tomb. With confusion, fear, and doubt, they heard the angel’s voice say, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised from the dead. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’” (Mt 28:5,7Օ
Imagine the spiritual turmoil of the two Marys. They had always followed Jesus throughout his ministry. They were with Jesus in front of the cross. They were with Jesus when his body was placed in the tomb. And they had come to the tomb for a final time to be with him and to anoint his body. But they found the tomb empty. The words that Jesus often spoke that three days hence he would be resurrected rang in their ears, this time with the echo of the empty tomb.
“Go quickly and tell his disciples.” Here was the directive for the spread of the Gospel that began on the morning of the Resurrection with the angel’s proclamation that later became, and remains, the faith of the Church and the Faithful. Because, as Paul the apostle preached, without faith in the Resurrection “our proclamation has been in vain and your faith is futile,” (1 Cor 15:14, 17). The Resurrection gave joy to the women, who entered the grotto and did not find Jesus. This first happiness became the exultation of the faithful throughout the centuries. It is with this joy that we greet one another on the morning of resurrection, believing that Jesus’ Resurrection is the promise of resurrection for all who live for Jesus and who die for and with Jesus. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55), proclaimed the faithful, because they had received assurance of new life with Christ. Our people repeated the same proclamation when they found themselves in the decisive time of witness and martyrdom. With this faith we persevered; with this faith we presented ourselves as a sacrifice to God. With this same faith we, the worthy posterity of our forefathers, survived, endured, and created. On the occasion of Holy Easter 2014, when we think of the secret of our people’s resurrection and endurance, without doubt, the most persuasive and powerful testimony is found in the truth and faith given to us by Jesus’ Resurrection. On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Genocide, when as a resurrected nation we remember and we struggle, we are obligated to make our just demands our weapons, fighting against death, catastrophe, and evil. We endured with the idea of resurrection, becoming stronger and singing of victory. And now is the time for Christ’s Resurrection to become the faith of each and every Armenian in order to affirm and strengthen our collective resurrection as a people and fatherland. “Behold the breath of resurrection, my massacred nation.” (Vahan Tekeyan) In the words of the same poet, with “sacred defiance,” henceforth it is time for the breath of resurrection to give us awareness, give us life, to hammer into our spirits the proper consciousness to be masters of our cause, to be the executors of the legacy of the martyrs, and thus give them heavenly peace. Our cataclysmic martyrs, faithful to the belief of resurrection, were sacrificed to the Genocide. On the morning of Resurrection, let us illuminate their tortured and martyred souls with our struggle and faithfulness. Last month, the lives of our brothers and sisters in Kessab were once again in peril, with the same manner of persecution, with the same intention, and with the instigation of the same enemy. Just as one hundred years ago the native Armenian people were uprooted from their ancestral land, today with the very same intention our peaceful, constructive, and innocent compatriots are being uprooted from Kessab, the city whose breath and heartbeat are Armenian. Once again our resurrected faith and our hope of survival and victory are faced with evil and evil’s intrigue. We believe that just as we resisted the greatest catastrophe of Genocide, the Kessabtzis will endure and with their strong willpower will return to their ancestral homes, fields, and businesses, girded by the same hope. Christ is risen from the dead. ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN
Prelate
«ՅԱՐՈՒԹԵԱՆ ՇՈՒՆՉՆ Է ԱՀԱ»։ Հոս չէ, որովհետեւ յարութիւն առաւ։(Մտ 28.6) Հրեշտակին այս խօսքերով դիմաւորուեցան Մարիամ Մագդաղենացին եւ Յակոբոսի մայրը՝ Մարիամ, երբ անոնք հրէական սովորութեան համաձայն գերեզման գացին՝ օծելու համար Յիսուսի մարմինը։ Սակայն անակնկալի մատնուեցան, երբ երկիրը շարժեցաւ զօրաւոր երկրաշարժով մը, եւ հրեշտակը գլորեց գերեզմանին մուտքին դրուած քարը։ Շփոթի, վախի եւ կասկածի մէջ նաեւ լսեցին հրեշտակին ձայնը որ կþըսէր. «Դուք մի՛ վախնաք. գիտեմ որ խաչուած Յիսուսը կը փնտռէք, հոս չէ, որովհետեւ յարութիւն առաւ։ Անմիջապէս գացէք եւ իր աշակերտներուն ըսէք՝ թէ յարութիւն առաւ» (Մտ 28.5,7)։ Երեւակայեցէք հոգեվիճակը երկու Մարիամներուն։ Անոնք Յիսուսի քարոզութեան ընթացքին միշտ կը հետեւէին անոր։ Յիսուսի հետ էին խաչին առջեւ։ Յիսուսի հետ էին, երբ գերեզման դրին անոր մարմինը։ Եւ գերեզման եկեր էին վերջին անգամ անոր հետ ըլլալու եւ օծելու մարմինը։ Սակայն գերեզմանը պարապ գտեր էին։ Յիսուսի յաճախ կրկնած խօսքը, թէ երեք օր ետք յարութիւն պիտի առնէ, իրենց ականջներուն դարձեալ կը հնչէր, այս անգամ պարապ գերեզմանին արձագանգով։ «Գացէք եւ իր աշակերտներուն պատմեցէք»։ Ահաւասիկ Աւետարանին տարածումի հրահանգը, որ յարութեան առաւօտուն սկսաւ հրեշտակին աւետումով եւ հետագային եղաւ ու մնաց հաւատքը՝ եկեղեցւոյ եւ հաւատացեալին։ Որովհետեւ առանց յարութեան հաւատքին «ի զուր է մեր քարոզութիւնը» եւ «ինքնախաբէութիւն է ձեր հաւատքը» (Ա. Կրն 15.14,17) ինչպէս քարոզեց Պօղոս Առաքեալը: Յարութիւնը նաեւ ուրախութիւն եղաւ կիներուն, որոնք քարայրէն ներս մտան եւ հոն չգտան Յիսուսը։ Առաջին այս ուրախութիւնը եղաւ հաւատացեալին ցնծութիւնը ամբողջ դարերու ընթացքին։ Յարութեան առաւօտուն այս ուրախութեամբ է որ կþողջունենք զիրար, հաւատալով որ Յիսուսի յարութիւնը երաշխիքն է յարութեանը բոլոր անոնց, որոնք Յիսուսի համար կþապրին եւ Յիսուսի համար եւ հետ կը մահանան։ «Ո՞ւր է, մահ, յաղթանակդ։ Ո՞ւր է, մահ, քու խայթոցդ» (Ա. Կրն 15.55) յայտարարեցին հաւատացեալները, քանի Քրիստոսի հետ նոր կեանք ունենալու ապահովութիւնը ստացեր էին։ Նոյն յայտարարութիւնը մեր ժողովուրդը յաճախ կրկնեց, երբ իր հաւատքին համար վկայութեան եւ նահատակութեան վճռական պահուն դիմաց գտնուեցաւ։ Այս հաւատքով գօտեպնդուեցանք, այս հաւատքով մենք զմեզ Աստուծոյ ընծայեցինք՝ որպէս պատարագ։ Այս նոյն հաւատքով մենք՝ մեր նախնիներու արժանաւոր հետնորդները վերապրեցանք, գոյատեւեցինք եւ ստեղծագործեցինք: 2014 տարուան յարութեան տօնին, երբ կը մտածենք մեր ժողովուրդին յարութեան եւ գոյատեւման գաղտնիքին մասին, անկասկած որ ամենէն համոզիչ եւ զօրեղ վկայութիւնը կը գտնենք Քրիստոսի յարութեամբ մեզի տրուած ճշմարտութեան եւ հաւատքին մէջ։ Ցեղասպանութեան հարիւրամեակի սեմին, երբ ազգովին վերակենդանացած՝ կը յիշենք եւ կը պայքարինք, պարտաւոր ենք՝ արդար պահանջատիրութիւնը մեր զէնքը դարձուցած, պայքարելու մահուան, աղէտին ու չարիքին դէմ։ Յարութեան գաղափարով դիմացանք, զօրացանք ու երգեցինք մեր յաղթանակը, եւ ահա պահն է որ Քրիստոսի յարութիւնը դառնայ իւրաքանչիւր հայուն հաւատքը՝ հաստատելու եւ ամրագրելու մեր հաւաքական յարութիւնը, որպէս ժողովուրդ ու հայրենիք: «Յարութեան շունչն է ահա, ջարդուկոտոր ազգդ իմ» (Վահան Թէքէեան) Նոյն բանաստեղծին բառերով՝ «ըմբոստութիւն սրբազան»ով այլեւս ժամանակն է, որ յարութեան շունչը մեզի արթնութիւն տայ, կեանք տայ, հայու արժանավայել գիտակցութեամբ կռանելու իւրաքանչիւրիս ոգին, մեր դատին տէրը ըլլալու, նահատակներուն կտակը գործադրելու եւ այս ձեւով անոնց երանական հանգիստ տալու: Մեր եղեռնական նահատակները յարութեան գաղափարին հաւատարիմ՝ զոհ գացին ցեղասպանութեան: Յարութեան այս առաւօտուն, ահա մեր պայքարով ու հաւատարմութեամբ լուսաւորենք անոնց չարչարուած ու նահատակուած հոգին։ Անցեալ ամիս, Քեսապի մեր հարազատներուն կեանքը անգամ մը եւս փորձաքարի զարնուեցաւ՝ հալածանքի նոյն ոճով, նոյն նպատակներով եւ նոյն թշնամիին սադրանքներով։ Ինչպէս հարիւր տարի առաջ հայ բնիկ ժողովուրդը արմատախիլ եղաւ իր հայրենի հողերէն, ահաւասիկ նոյն նպատակներով կը փորձուի արմատախիլ ընել խաղաղ, շինարար եւ անմեղ մեր արենակիցները՝ հայաշունչ եւ հայատրոփ Քեսապէն։ Անգամ մը եւս յարութեան մեր հաւատքը եւ գոյատեւելու ու յաղթանակելու յոյսը դէմ դիմաց կը գտնուին չարին ու անոր մեքենայութիւններուն։ Կը հաւատանք, որ այնպէս ինչպէս դիմացանք Ցեղասպանութեան ամենադժխեմ աղէտին, Քեսապցիք ալ նոյն յոյսով պիտի տոկան եւ կամքի հզօրութեամբ պիտի վերադառնան իրենց հայրենի երդիքները, դաշտերը եւ գոծատեղիները՝ յոյսով գօտեպնդուած։ Քրիստոս յարեա՜ւ ի մեռելոց։ Սուրբ Յարութիւն,
20 Ապրիլ, 2014
PRELATE’S HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Archbishop Oshagan’s Holy Week schedule is as follows:
Palm Sunday, April 13, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon at St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
Holy Thursday, April 17, His Eminence will preside over the Washing of the Feet and Tenebrae services at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Holy Friday, April 18, His Eminence will preside at the Entombment Service at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
Holy Saturday, April 19, His Eminence will preside at the Easter Eve Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
Easter Sunday, April 20, His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City.
VICAR’S HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Bishop Anoushavan’s Holy Week schedule is as follows:
Palm Sunday, April 13, His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon and preside over the “Opening of the Gates” ceremony at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.
Holy Thursday, April 17, His Grace will attend the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy and preside over the Washing of the Feet and Tenebrae services at All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois.
Holy Friday, April 18, His Grace will preside over the Entombment Service and deliver the sermon at St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin.
Holy Saturday, April 19, His Grace will preside over Easter Eve Liturgy at St. Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois.
Easter Sunday, April 20, His Grace will celebrate the Easter Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Gregory Church, Granite City, Illinois.
HOLY WEEK VISITS BY PRELATE During Holy Week Archbishop Oshagan always visits the New York Armenian Home in Flushing, New York, the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Emerson, New Jersey, and the Hovnanian Armenian School in New Milford, New Jersey. The visits took place on Monday and Tuesday, April 14 and 15.
His Eminence was accompanied by the Vicar General, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, and the clergymen serving in the metropolitan area of New York and New Jersey, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City; Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York; and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Joining the clergy at some of the visits were Dn. Shant Kazanjain and Dn. Kevork Hadjian.
Archbishop Oshagan led the traditional Home Blessing service at each place. In the two homes for the elderly, the Prelate washed the feet of the elders noting that this year is the Year of the Elderly as designated by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I.
The Prelate and clergy also paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Onnic and Vergin Marashian, in Oradell, New Jersey. Mr. Marashian served as chairman of the Prelacy’s Executive Council for many years.
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 | NEW YORK ARMENIAN HOME: At the home in Flushing, New York, Archbishop Oshagan led the traditional Home Blessing service and washed the feet of the elderly including Dikran Tavitian, 102 years old (above), and Yeretzgin Azniv Guiragossian, 102 years ago (below). | |  |  | ARMENIAN NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER: In Emerson, New Jersey, His Eminence led the Home Blessing ceremony and washed the feet of the elderly, including 101-year-old Baidzar Bayramian.(Above & below) | |  |  | HOVNANIAN SCHOOL: Following the Home Blessing service, students presented a program to the delight of their guests. | |  | VISIT WITH MARASHIANS: Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Der Hovnan visit with Onnic and Vergin Marashian. | | | |
| 99th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE WILL BE
COMMEMORATED AT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL The 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be commemorated at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, next Thursday, April 24. With Archbishop Oshagan presiding, a Solemn Divine Liturgy and Requiem Service will be celebrated by Bishop Anoushavan who will also deliver the Sermon. The Liturgy will begin at 10:30 am. Following the church services, a “Walk to Honor our Martyrs,” will commence from the Cathedral at 12:30 pm to the United Nations. The “walk” is organized by the New York ARF and the ANC of New York.
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| PRELATE AND VICAR VISIT NEWLY ELECTED PATRIARCH Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan visited the newly elected Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Moran Mor Ignatius Ephrem II, on Monday, April 14, at the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Teaneck, New Jersey. At the time of his election, which took place on March 31 in Lebanon, the Patriarch was the Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of the Eastern United States. The Patriarch returned to the United States on April 5, for a short time and was welcomed by honored guests and dignitaries as well as hundreds of well-wishers. He will return to the Middle East where the Syriac Orthodox Church is headquartered. Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian attended the reception on behalf of Archbishop Oshagan.
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|  | Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan with the newly elected Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Moran Mor Ignatius Ephrem II, on April 14. | |  | Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, represented Archbishop Oshagan at the welcoming reception at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Teaneck, New Jersey. The Patriarch was previously the Metropolitan of the Eastern United States. | | | |
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT ST. STEPHEN CHURCH (CONNECTICUT)
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|  | The annual meeting of St. Stephen’s Church in New Britain, Connecticut, took place recently with an appointed Board of Trustees that includes current and new members. The community is in the process of reviving its liturgical and community life and is being assisted in this endeavor by Archpriest Fr. Aram Stepanian, chairman of the Prelacy’s Relgious Council. | |
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|  | The Palm Sunday procession at All Saints Church in Glenview, Illinois. | |
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PALM SUNDAY IN DOUGLASTON
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|  | The celebrant Bishop Anoushavan with Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, and parishioners at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, following the Liturgy. | |
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PALM SUNDAY AT THE CATHEDRAL
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|  | Parishioners at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, take the blessed palms. | |
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|  | Palm Sunday procession at St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | |
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| SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE
IN FINAL LENTEN VESPER SERVICE IN PHILLY In the last of the Lenten Vesper services, Sunday School students of St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia, actively participated in the worship service. Students from ages 6 through teen years, dressed in church gowns, prayed the Lord’s Prayer, sang nine verses of St. Nerses the Graceful’s “Nayats Seerov” (Look with Love), individually read from his 24 penitential prayers entitled “Havadov Khosdovaneem” (In Faith I Confess), and in unison prayed for peace, strength of faith, protection from all dangers, and God’s mercy for all His people. Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor, thanked the students for their attendance and reminded the congregants that everyone should be as open and approach God in the same manner. He challenged the students to remember two words, light and darkness, pointing out that the prayers they read had elements of light and darkness in them, and reminded the students of their reaction to the “darkness” they experienced during the power outages this past winter. A shared Lenten meal completed the uplifting evening.
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|  | Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian with the students who participated in the Lenten Vesper service on April 11. | |
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| EASTER: THE MOVEABLE FEAST THAT IS UNITED THIS YEAR Easter is the holiest of the holy days for Christendom. Since the time of the early church, determining the date of Easter has been a matter of dispute. The date is calculated to be on the Sunday immediately following the Full Moon after the Equinox (canon established by the Council of Nicea in 325 AD). Most of Christendon, including the Armenian Church (except in Jerusalem), follows the Gregorian calendar. Eastern Orthodox Churches still use the Julian calendar (for calculating the date of Easter). The dates rarely coincide. This year the “rarity” has occurred and the two Easters coincide.
MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY In the Armenian tradition, the day following each of the five major feast days, is Memorial Day, or Remembrance of the Dead. Traditionally, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated on this day, and afterwards the faithful visit the graves of their loved ones that are blessed by the priest with chants and incense.
SAVE THE DATES FOR NRA The 2014 National Representative Assembly (NRA), along with the Clergy Conference, and the Conference of the National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), will take place May 13-17, hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan. Delegates and guests will find more information here.
DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH St. Gregory of Datev Institute will hold its 28th annual summer program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 29 to July 6, 2014. The program is sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC).
For information and registration, please visit the Prelacy website (armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev).
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| BIBLE READINGS Bible readings for Sunday, April 20, Easter Sunday are: Acts 1:15-26; Mark 16:2-8
Evening Gospels: Luke 24:13-36; John 20:1-18; John 5:24-30; John 19:31-37; John 20:19-25 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseers.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26) For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here.
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| ORGAN RECITAL IN PHILADELPHIA St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia, presented an extraordinary Lenten concert that featured renowned organist Ara Eloian, as well as Maroush Nigon, soprano; Vartan Gabrielian, bass-baritone; and Elizabeth Clark, soprano. The program was a beautifully crafted and diverse genre of Lenten music that included works by Bach, Dupre, Mulet, Hageman, Rossini, and Hovhaness. Included also were the traditional
Armenian hymn of Holy Week, “Oor Es Mayr Eem” (Where are You, My Mother), and the evening drew to a close with Mr. Eloian playing “Prayer of St. Gregory” by Alan Hovhaness and “Hayr Mer” (The Lord’s Prayer) with the full sound of the organ and with the audience joining in the singing. A lovely and lavish reception followed in the church’s Terhanian Hall.
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|  | Ara Eloian at the organ playing the Lord’s Prayer with the vocal participation of the audience. | |
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
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| Death of Avetis Aharonian
(April 20, 1948) Avetis Aharonian, known as the “singer of Armenian sorrow,” was one of the popular names of Eastern Armenian literature in the first half of the twentieth century. He was equally noted for his active participation in the revolutionary movement and the first Republic of Armenia. Aharonian was born in 1866 in the village of Igdir Mava, in the district of Surmalu, which would be lost to Turkey after the Moscow and Kars treaties of 1921. He graduated from the Gevorgian Lyceum of Etchmiadzin in 1886, and taught for a few years. He became a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in the 1890s and in 1897 he departed to Europe, where he graduated from the literature course of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1901. His first stories on Western Armenian emigrants and the movement of national liberation, published in the A.R.F. organ Droshak, attracted the attention of the readers. His most famous stories on these subjects are collected in the volume On the Road to Freedom (1908) and would make him the successor to novelist Raffi (1835-1888) as an inspiration for the Armenian liberation movement. In 1902 he returned to the Caucasus and became the principal of the Nersesian Lyceum of Tiflis from 1907-1909. The persecution started by the Russian government against revolutionary parties, including the A.R.F., targeted him and he was arrested and jailed for two years. Due to his poor health, he was liberated and went first to Constantinople and then to Europe for treatment. He returned to the Caucasus before World War I, and in 1917 he was elected president of the Armenian National Council in Tiflis. After the independence of Armenia, he was elected a Parliament member and then president. He went to Paris in 1919, where he headed the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia that signed the Treaty of Sevres in 1920. He also participated in the conventions of London (1921) and Lausanne (1922-1923). He wrote down his reflections on the Armenian Cause in a book called From Sardarabad to Sevres and Lausanne (1943). He had to stay abroad after the establishment of the Soviet regime in Armenia, where his works were banned. Besides his political activities, Aharonian continued writing a steady flow of stories, novellas, literary and political studies, memoirs, travelogues. Symbolist in some of his works and romantic in some others, his emotional style appealed to the heart of the masses and made him particularly cherished among Armenian readers throughout the world, even after his death. It may be said that he fell on the line of duty. He was one of the keynote speakers at an event organized by Hamazkayin in Marseilles on February 11, 1934, before an audience of 2,000 people. His speech started with the following paragraph: “Armenian people, you have to know that this is a waiting situation. You have to believe that you will return to the land of your ancestors, your braves. We have not come here to stay; we have come here to return...” He had just reached the fourth paragraph of his speech, when he was silenced by a stroke. He lived for the next fourteen years in Marseilles, unable to speak or write. He passed away on April 20, 1948, and was buried in the cemetery of Père Lachaise, in Paris. His collected works were published in 10 volumes in Boston and Venice between 1947 and 1951. After the independence of Armenia, his name was returned to the homeland. His works have been published over the years and a street in Yerevan bears his name. Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
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| 99th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION AT TIMES SQUARE The 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will once again be marked at a gathering at Times Square, 43rd Street and Broadway, New York City—the crossroads of the world. The gathering will take place Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 4 pm. The event is sponsored by the Knights & Daughters of Vartan and co-sponsored by AGBU, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, ADL-Ramgavars, and Armenian Council of America, and with the participation of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Catholic Eparchy for U.S. and Canada, Mid-Atlantic ACYOA, AYF-YOARF, Armenian Youth Organizations, and University Armenian Clubs. Free bus transportation to & from Times Square from New York and New Jersey is available. For information go to kofv.org and click on April 24.
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| SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crises in Syria, including the recent upheaval in Kessab, need our financial assistance. Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your pocketbooks. 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. Thank you for your help
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| LENTEN LECTURES ON THE WEB Videos of five of the Lenten Lectures can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web page (armenianprelacy.org), or you can just click here.
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April 19—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Easter Eve Day, Holy Communion & Breakfast for the children. April 19—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Easter Eve Dinner, 8 pm, salmon dinner with all the trimmings and evening of fellowship. $30 per person. For reservations and information: 718-224-2275. April 24—“Walk to Honor our Martyrs,” organized by the New York ARF and the ANC of New York, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. Badarak and Hokehankist, 10:30 am to 12 noon. Walk begins 12:30 pm from the Cathedral. For information: office@stilluminators.org or 212-689-5880. April 24—99th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide with the participation of the four Armenian churches in greater Detroit, at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Vespers service at 7 pm followed by Requiem Service and Madagh. April 25—St. Illuminator’s Cathedral presents a solo concert at 7:30 pm, featuring tenor Kevork Hadjian in commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the Genocide. For information: 212-689-5880. April 26—Armenian Relief Society, Agnouni, Bergen, Shake, and Spitak New Jersey chapters, present Emmy award winner, Bared Maronian, in his new documentary film, “Women of 1915,” 7:30 pm, Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Donation $50 (light meal will be served). For information: Arpi Misserlian 973-907-2898; Talin Daghlian 201-446-2316. April 26—Armenian Genocide Walk in Philadelphia. Registration 12 noon at Independence Visitor Center (Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets). Walk begins at 1 pm, followed by program at 2 pm. Featured speakers: George Aghjayan, “Why Western Armenia”; Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach, representative of the 17th District. Free bus transportation from St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Church and St. Gregory Church. For information: armeniangenocidewalk@gmail.com and www.armeniangenocidewalk.com. April 27—Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley observance, 3 pm, North Andover High School, 430 Osgood St., Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble performing; joint requiem service by MV Armenian churches; reception to follow; complimentary admission. April 27—Annual Times Square Gathering, in commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Sponsored by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan with the support and participation of all churches and organizations. Free bus transportation from area Armenian churches, and other locations. May 1—Avak luncheon at noon, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts. Speaker: Tom Vartabedian, “A 50-Year Retrospective into Armenian American Journalism,” with stores and photos. May 9—Armenian Relief Society Mayr Chapter of New York presents “A Mother’s Day Dinner Dance,” featuring the Akhtamar Dance Ensemble and music by Khajag, at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Avenue, Woodside, New York. Adults $40; children (under 10) $15. For reservations: Anais, 718-392-6982 or Anahid 718-263-9325. May 10—Unveiling of new genocide memorial by Lowell City Hall, sponsored by the Armenian Genocide Monument Committee of Merrimack Valley, 10 am, downtown procession, followed by program at City Hall and reception in St. Ann’s Church at noon. Musical interlude by soloist Sevan Dulgarian. Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, MC. May 10—“Remembering Zahrad” on the 90th anniversary of his birth. Sponsored by the Esayan-Getronagan Alumni of New York, 8 pm at Kalustyan Hall, Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, Bayside, New York. Featuring: Arto Krimian, Dr. Herand Markarian, Zivart Balikjian, Berge Turabian. Admission is free. May 11—Mothers Day Brunch organized by the Board of Trustees of St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, following the Divine Liturgy. Program will follow. Admission by donation. May 16—Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly (NRA) banquet hosted by St. Sarkis Church (Dearborn) at Double Tree Hotel Banquet Hall, 5801 Southfield Service Drive, Detroit. Cocktails 7 pm; dinner 8 pm. Ticket donation, $50. For reservations contact the church office, 313-336-6200 before May 9. May 21—Benefit for Boston’s Armenian Heritage Park, “Chefs Party for Our Park!” Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 6:30 pm, with participation of more than 15 of Boston’s top chefs. Go to www.ArmenianHeritagePark.org for information. May 13-17—Clergy Conference and National Representative Assembly, and Annual Conference of the National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG) of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan. May 18—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday school year-end hantes, 4 pm. May 24—96th anniversary of Armenian independence sponsored by Lowell “Aharonian” ARF, 6 pm, St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts. Dinner, entertainment, and speaker, Baku pogrom survivor Anna Turcotte, author of “Nowhere, A story of Exile.” Admission: $20 adults; $10 students. May 31—The Armenian Bar Association presents a panel discussion about “Ongoing Legal Efforts and Challenges to Preserve Armenian Antiquities and Cultural Property,” at Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West 44th Street, New York City (between 5th and 6th Avenues), 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Free admission. For information: Denise Darmanian nyfed@aol.com or 917-848-0968. June 1—Ladies Guild Annual Brunch, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. June 16-17—St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Sunday School Teens Seminar at Colombiere Conference and Retreat Center, Clarkston, Michigan. June 24-26—Vacation Bible Camp for preschool (age 4) to 6th grade students at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, from 10 am to 2 pm. Religious activities, lessons, crafts, and games. For information: 313-336-6200. June 29 – July 6, 2014: St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program for youth ages 13-18 at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). For information, contact the AREC office at 212.689.7810 or at arec@armenianprelacy.org. July 14—39th Annual St. Sarkis Golf & Tennis Classic, Meadowbrook Country Club, Northville, Michigan. $250 donation for golf breakfast, lunch, and banquet. $125 donation banquet only. Reservations: 313-336-6200. August 17—St. Sarkis Church (Dearborn) Grape Blessing Family Fun Picnic at Kensington Park, Kensington, Michigan. Good food, music, biking, soccer, dancing, magician, swimming, playscape, kids games, door prizes, face painting, tavloo tournament and more. October 3—St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Saturday School Dinner Dance Gala.
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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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