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PRELATE’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
ՀԱՒԱՏԱՐԻՄ ՄԵՐ ԱՍՏՈՒԾՈՅ
ՀԱՒԱՏԱՐԻՄ ՄԵՐ ԺՈՂՈՎՈՒՐԴԻՆ
«Այս բոլորը մեր գլխուն եկան,
Եւ սակայն մենք քեզ չմոռցանք,
Չդրժեցինք քու ուխտդ» (Սղ 44,17)
Կեանքի դժուարութիւններու եւ տագնապներու մէջէն անցած ժողովուրդները կը հասկնան եւ ակամայ կ՚ընդունին, որ տառապանքն ու հալածանքը արարածներու հանդիպող պատահարներ են: Այս փորձառութիւնը անոնց մէջ կը կռանէ կեցուածք մը, որ տոկալ կու տայ մարդկային յարաբերութիւններու ամենէն դժնդակ պայմաններուն, կը դառնան մարդէն վեր՝ գերմարդ, միեւնոյն ատեն իրենց մէջ շաղախելով գերբնական գաղտնիքը՝ դիմանալու եւ վերապրելու:
Մեր Տիրոջ՝ Քրիստոսի Ծննդեան տօնի այս օրերուն, քրիստոնեայ աշխարհը ցնծութեան մէջ կը մոռնայ մտահոգութիւն ու ցաւ եւ կ՛ապրի յոյսին բերած ուրախութիւնը: Քրիստոնէական մեր հաւատքը մեզի կու գայ յայտարարելու թէ Աստուծոյ գերագոյն սէրը մարդկութեան յայտնուեցաւ Յիսուսի ծնունդով, միեւնոյն ատեն սիրոյ ընդմէջէն յայտնելով իր ողորմածութիւնը՝ հանդէպ ամբողջ մարդկութեան: Քրիստոսի ողորմած հպումը հաւատացեալին, մարդս կը լեցնէ իրեն հանդէպ կատարեալ հնազանդութեամբ, եւ ողորմածութիւնը առաւել կ՚արծարծէ հաւատացեալին սէրն ու վստահութիւնը:
Քրիստոսի մարդկութեան բերած փրկութեան ճամբան, եղա՛ւ նաեւ ճամբան մեր ժողովուրդին: Հակառակ դարերու նեղութեանց եւ հալածանքներուն, մեր հայրերը իրեն հետ կրեցին խաչը, քալեցին դէպի Գողգոթա, բազմիցս խաչուեցան, բայց ոչ մէկ ատեն դրժեցին մեր Աստուծոյ հետ կնքած իրենց ուխտը: Մեր հաւատարմութիւնը պահեցինք ու պայքարեցանք գոյատեւելու յոյսով, յարութեան հաւատքով: Եւ ապրեցանք, միշտ Քրիստոսի ծնունդի յիշատակին հետ տօնելու շարունակական վերյառնումը, ընձիւղումը եւ հզօրացումը մեր ժողովուրդին:
2014 տարուան Դեկտեմբեր ամսուան վերջին օրերուն ենք եւ մեր դիմաց կը բացուի 2015 թուականը:
Որքա՜ն պիտի փափաքէինք որ 2015 տարուան Քրիստոսի Ծննդեան բերած խաղաղութեան, սիրոյ եւ համերաշխութեան զգացումները անխառն ըլլային մեզի համար: Մեզի հետ խոր եւ արիւնոտ ցաւ մը շալկած կը տանինք ահաւասիկ հարիւր տարիներ եւ ամէն տարի յոյսի եւ կամքի պրկումով կ՚ապրինք յիշատակը եւ կտակը Ապրիլեան Ցեղասպանութեան միլիոնաւոր զոհերուն:
«Պիտի չմեռնիմ, այլ պիտի ապրիմ,
Եւ Տիրոջ գործերը պիտի պատմեմ» (Սղ 118.17)
Նահատակները հակառակ իրենց անագորոյն մահուան, չմեռան: Իրենց յետնորդները ապրեցան, որպէսզի պատմեն անոնց նահատակութեան ընդմէջէն ապրելու կամքը նոյն ժողովուրդին: Անոնց մահը ներշնչում եղաւ իրենց յաջորդներուն, եւ ահաւասիկ հարիւր տարի ետք մեր ապրելով, մեր գործերով կը պատմենք անոնց արեան նահատակութիւնը եւ կը վկայենք ապրելու մեր կամքին ու հաւատքին:
Նահատակութեամբ կեանք շահելու լաւագոյն երաշխիքը տեսանք Նոյեմբեր ամսուն ընթացքին, երբ Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ բոլոր եպիսկոպոսները, գլխաւորութեամբ Ամենայն Հայոց Հայրապետին՝ Գարեգին Բ. Կաթողիկոսին եւ Մեծի Տանն Կիլկիոյ Հայրապետին՝ Արամ Ա. Կաթողիկոսին, սրբադասման որոշում կայացուցին մեր հաւատաւոր ու բիւրաւոր նահատակներուն: (Սրբադասումի կարգը պիտի յայտարարուի յառաջիկայ Նահատակաց Տօնին): Այլեւս պիտի չաղօթենք իրենց անմեռ հոգիներուն համար, այլ պիտի խնդրենք, որ իրե՛նք ըլլան բարեխօսը մեր աղօթքներուն: Ահաւասիկ վկայութիւնը նահատակութեամբ կեանք շահելու հրաշքին:
Եւ այս պիտի ըլլայ մեր պարտքը եւ երգը, այնպէս ինչպէս Եբրայեցի ժողովուրդը տարագրութեան մէջ երգեց իր հայրենիքին կարօտով: Անհրաժեշտ է որ յայտարարենք, թէ Հայութիւնն ու Մայր Հայրենիքն են մեր նպատակակէտը եւ գագաթնակէտը:
«Օտար հողի վրայ՝
Ի՜նչպէս կրնանք Տիրոջ նուիրուած երգ երգել» (Սղ 137.4):
Կրնա՛նք, եթէ մեր Հայրենիքը դառնայ ամենօրեայ ապրում ու մղիչ ոյժ: Եթէ հայութիւնը դառնայ ամենօրեայ տագնապ: Եթէ մեր կեանքին նպատակը դառնայ մեր ազգին յաւերժութիւնը:
Քրիստոս ծնաւ եւ յայտնեցաւ: Թող վերածնի նաեւ մեր ժողովուրդը նոր յոյսերով ու նուաճումներով:
Օշական Արքեպիսկոպոս
Առաջնորդ
Սուրբ Ծնունդ, 2015
Faithful to Our God; Faithful to Our People
“All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you,
or been false to your covenant.” (Psalm 44:17)
People who have gone through the difficulties and turmoil of life understand and unwillingly accept that suffering and persecution are events that happen to human creatures. This experience pounds into them a mindset to endure human relationship’s most difficult conditions. They become “above” man, a “super” man, while at the same time reinforcing the supernatural secret of endurance and survival.
During these days leading to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the joyful Christian world forgets anxieties and pain and enjoys the happiness that hope brings. Our Christian faith comes to us to spread the news that God’s supreme love was revealed to us with the birth of Jesus, while at the same time proclaiming love and mercy toward all humankind. Christ’s merciful touch fills the faithful with complete obedience to Him. His mercy deeply kindles the love and trust of the faithful in Him.
The road to salvation that Christ brought to humankind also became the road for our people. In spite of centuries of difficulties and persecution, our fathers carried the cross with Him, and walked toward Golgotha; many times they were crucified, but at no time did they break the covenant they sealed with God. We maintained our faithfulness and fought to survive with hope and the faith of resurrection. And we survived, always celebrating through the remembrance of Christ’s birth, our continuous resurrection, budding, and strength in the lives of our people.
We are in the closing days of December 2014, with the year 2015 opening before us.
How deeply we would have wanted the peace, love, and solidarity of Christ’s birth to be pure for us! We have carried with us a deep and bloody pain for one hundred years and every year we experience the stress of the remembrance and gird ourselves with hope and resolve as we relive the memory and legacy of the millions of victims of the Genocide.
“I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord,” (Psalm 118:17)
Contrary to their cruel death, the martyrs did not die. Their posterity lived in order to relate their martyrdom, to live through them with the same resolve. Their death became the inspiration for those who followed, and behold, one hundred years later, through our lives and our deeds we recount their martyrdom of blood and are witness to the lives we live according to our will and faith.
We witnessed the best vow to gain life through martyrdom, when in November all of the bishops of the Armenian Church met under the presidency of the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I, and agreed to sainthood for our faithful martyrs (the sanctification will take place on the forthcoming 2015 Martyrs day). Thereafter, we will no longer pray for their immortal souls, but will rather beseech them to intercede and hear our prayers. Behold the miracle of gaining life through martyrdom.
And this must be our duty and our song, just as the Hebrew people during their exile sang with longing for their land. It is necessary for us to affirm that the Armenian people and our Motherland are the object of our purpose and the summit of our goal.
“How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:4)
Yes, we can, if our Motherland becomes an impelling force and the focus of our everyday life; if being Armenian becomes an everyday concern; if our goal becomes the perpetuity of our nation.
Christ was born and revealed.
May our people be re-born with new hope and the power to overcome.
60th ANNIVERSARY OF GRANITE CITY’S ST. GREGORY CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon last Sunday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Granite City, Illinois. His Eminence presided over the celebration of the parish’s 60th anniversary during which six members of the parish were honored for their service to the church. The honorees were: Susan Hagopian, Janet Haroian, Takouhie Kakligian, Stanley Karibian, Leslie Lovett, and Marlene Manoogian.
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|  | Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory Church, Granite City, with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian assisting. | |  | Archbishop Oshagan with the honorees. | | | |
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VICAR ATTENDS COAF DINNER
Bishop Anoushavan attended the Children of Armenia Fund’s (COAF) 11th annual holiday gala last Friday in New York. The gala raised $2.4 million to help children in rural Armenia. Ara Arslanian was honored with the Humanitarian Award and Alexis Ohanian received the Save the Generation Award.
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|  | Bishop Anoushavan with COAF founder Garo Armen. | |
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CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION DISCUSSED AT
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL
Joseph Garrett and Bared Maronian visited St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York last week for a working session regarding the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Garrett, a digital media executive and internet entrepreneur, is the great-grandson of Cleveland H. Dodge, one of the founders and the first president of Near East Relief (now Near East Foundation) that was founded in 1915 as “The American Committee for Syrian and Armenian Relief,” in response to the massive humanitarian crisis precipitated by the Ottoman Empire.
Mr. Maronian, a four-time Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, is the director of the “Orphans of the Genocide” documentary. Currently he is working on the documentary “Women of 1915” that will bring to light the lesser known, but equally compelling stories of compassion and humanitarian relief provided by Armenian and non-Armenian women from the United States, Canada, and Europe. The documentary will highlight the integral role Armenian women played in their families and communities, coupled with the courage and resolve shown to save their children and their Christian faith from forced Islamization.
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|  | Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with Bared Maronian (left) and John Garrett at the Martyrs Memorial Altar at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. | |
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ST. STEPHEN CHURCH HONORS ELDERS
The year 2014 was designated as “The Year of the Elderly,” by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. In order to bring this year-long focus to a close in a memorable way, St. Stephen’s Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, and the Armenian Relief Society Social Services honored the elderly on December 6 in a festive event with more than 170 people attending.
Following the invocation by the parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, and table fellowship, Der Hayr spoke about why elders have been looked upon as an essential part of the community and have played such an important role in society as described in scripture and recognized throughout Armenian history. Four individuals were honored for their years of service within the community. Der Hayr presented Certificates of Merit to Mrs. Hasmig Der Vartanian, Mrs. Zona Zerdelian, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Florence Markarian.
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|  | From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Hasmig Der Vartanian (Honoree), Nartouhi Abrimian and Der Antranig. | |  | From left, Nevart Kouyoumjian, Sonia Zerdelian Iradian (Honoree), Nartouhi Abrimian and Der Antranig. | |  | From left, Der Antranig and honorees Florence and Joe Markarian. | |
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LITURGICAL CALENDAR POSTER
The 2015 color poster of the Liturgical Calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church is now available at the Prelacy. This 27x36 inch poster belongs in every classroom, church hall and home.
The Armenian Apostolic Church uses a liturgical calendar to mark its feasts and fasts and seasons, like all traditional churches but with its own unique features. As one can readily see, the Armenian Church year has eight seasons, depicted on the poster in different colors with the names of the seasons indicated in the outermost ring: 1) Nativity and Epiphany, 2) Lent, 3) Easter, 4) Pentecost, 5) Transfiguration, 6) Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, 7) Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 8) Advent. The innermost ring shows the months.
The weeks of the year are represented by the sectors of the circle, starting with Sunday and moving towards the center, with slots for each day of the week. Sunday is the first day of the week, mi-ya-shapat (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1), the day Jesus rose from the dead. Christians from the earliest times designated Sunday as “the day of the Lord” (deroonee / deroonagan). The word geeragee (Sunday) comes from the Greek Kyriaki, meaning dominical, lordly, royal. Thus, all Sundays are dominical days, commemorating and celebrating the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ (along with other dominical celebrations, such as the ascension, transfiguration, and so forth). Some dominical feasts could also be celebrated during the week, for instance, the Nativity and Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ on January 6.
In addition to dominical (deroonee) feasts, we also have feasts dedicated to saints. On saints’ days the church remembers and celebrates those Christians who have bore an exemplary witness to Jesus Christ and to his gospel—these include the apostles, the martyrs, the confessors, teachers, ascetics, bishops, priests, deacons, kings, queens, princes, and people from all walks of life, male and female, young and old. In our tradition, saints are commemorated and celebrated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, except during the weekdays of Great Lent and the 50 days of Easter. This coming year, the Armenian Church will canonize the martyrs of 1915 genocide as saints.
The church does not always celebrate. There are also days of fasting, set aside for self-restrain and self-examination; hence festivities are not compatible with the ethos of the days of fasting. In the Armenian tradition, Wednesdays and Fridays are designated as days of fasting, except during the eight days of the Christmas festivities and during the forty days after Easter festivities. We also have ten weeklong fasts preceding major feasts and commemorations, observed from Monday through Friday, except for the fast of the Nativity which is six days. And there is the great fast (medz bahk) of Great Lent, preceding the feast of feasts: the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter).
The liturgical calendar poster indicates all these with names and dates—showing all Sundays and other dominical days, saints’ days, and days of fasting.
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As part of the celebration and commemoration of feasts and saints’ days, as well as observing days of fasting, the Armenian Church has assigned Bible readings for all these days. To see the daily Bible readings prescribed in our lectionary, please visit the Prelacy's website at armenianprelacy.org. And for more info about Feast and Fast, please click here.
To order copies of the liturgical calendar poster, please contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810 or at arec@armenianprelacy.org. The cost of the poster is $5.00 plus shipping and handling.
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BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, December 21, Fifth Sunday of Advent, are: Isaiah 40:18-31; Hebrews 4:16-5:10; Luke 18:9-14.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here.
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DAVID THE PROPHET KING; HOLY APOSTLE JAMES
This Tuesday, December 23, the Armenian Church commemorates David the Prophet King and James the Brother of the Lord.
David was the youngest of eight brothers and was brought up to be a shepherd where he learned courage, tenderness, and caring. David became the second King of Israel. In the Bible, the name David belongs solely to him, which indicates the unique place he had as an ancestor and forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament there are more than 50 references to David, including the title given to Jesus—Son of David. David was a poet and the author of some of the Psalms.
James the Apostle, called “Brother of the Lord,” probably because of his close relationship with Jesus, was granted a special appearance of the Lord after the Resurrection. He is believed to have been a first cousin of the Lord, or as some biblical scholars have suggested, a son of Joseph. After the Resurrection and the Ascension, while the other apostles scattered all over the world, James remained in Jerusalem where he served as the Bishop and became a leading spokesman of the early church.
SAINT STEPHEN, FIRST DEACON
Next Thursday, December 25, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Stephen, the first deacon and proto-martyr. After Christ’s ascension, the apostles went about spreading the Word. It soon became apparent that more people were needed to serve the growing church community. Seven worthy individuals were called upon to serve the Holy Altar and called “deacons” (sarkavag). The most noteworthy of the seven was Stephen, described as a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). The Feast of St. Stephen is a popular and important commemoration in the Armenian Church. It is also a day to honor all deacons of the church. St. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church and is therefore called the “proto-martyr.” The only information about his life and death is in the Book of Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6:8 and 8:2).
HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
On Saturday, December 27, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, perhaps the two individuals who had the greatest role in the growth of Christianity. It is, therefore, appropriate that the Church honors them together.
After the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and asked him to tell the other apostles of His appearance and to give them His message (Luke 24:34-35). Peter was renowned for his oratory skills, and he used his talent to spread the Word. He preached in Rome and founded the church there. He is considered to be the first Bishop of Rome. According to tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome upside down because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the Lord. He was buried in Rome and his relics are enshrined under the high altar of the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica.
Paul (Saul) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia. He was an oppressor of the early Christians until on the road to Damascus he converted when a brilliant light blinded him and he heard, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Enter the City and you will be told what to do,” (Acts 9:4-6; 26:12-16). Saul was baptized and renamed Paul and he went on to become the greatest preacher of the new religion, traveling and writing extensively. Many theologians credit him for shaping the future of the Church. His fourteen epistles comprise more than one-third of the New Testament, not including the Book of Acts, which although written by Luke, primarily is an account of Paul’s preaching.
CHRISTMAS WORLDWIDE
Next Thursday, December 25, is Christmas for most of the Christian world. Originally all of Christendom celebrated the birth, baptism, visit of the Magi, and the First Miracle at Cana, on January 6. Of course the actual date of Christ’s birth is not known. Rome changed the celebration to December 25 in the year 336, and this date gradually became accepted; December 25 was officially adopted as the birthday of Christ at the Council of Chalcedon (451)—a Council the Armenian Church did not attend and never accepted. Therefore, the Armenian Church to this day has remained faithful to the original date of January 6.
Our parents were wise to celebrate both December 25 and January 6. It is nearly impossible to escape the holiday activity leading up to December 25. For us January 6th was a more religious event; we attended the long church service from beginning to end as a family, and then spent the rest of the day with extended family. My late mother used to tell us, “Our Lord is worthy of two birthday celebrations.”
SOUND OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC IN PHILLY
The Sanctuary of St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia was filled with joy, peace, the “sound of music,” last Saturday evening as parishioners joined in singing and praising God during the parish’s first Advent concert. Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian welcomed the worshippers, explained the meaning of “Advent” and the concert as a way of escaping the secularism and stress of the world during this special season and embracing the true message of Christmas—the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ara Eloian, master organist, offered two Advent selections that were followed with four Christmas selections, Gospel readings from the Book of Luke, group caroling, and a candle lighting ceremony and the collective signing of “Silent Night” in English and Armenia in a darkened Sanctuary lit only by candlelight. A reception took place in Terhanian Hall, where all gathered for shared fellowship.
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|  | The popular Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” is sung in the darkened sanctuary. | |
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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT IN NORTH ANDOVER
Children presented a beautiful Christmas pageant at St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts, last week, to the delight of parishioners that included parents, grandparents, friends and relatives. (photos by Violet Dagdigian)
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|  | The angels of North Andover in the Christmas pageant. | |  | The star of Bethlehem guides the pageant. | | | |
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CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ST. SARKIS
The St. Sarkis Church community of Douglaston, New York, enjoyed a Simply Wonderful Christmas recital last Sunday. The annual Christmas tradition is now in its 6th year and has become an event the parishioners look forward to each year. This year, following the Divine Liturgy, parishioners were overjoyed to enjoy a beautifully orchestrated concert, featuring the beautiful voice of Hooshere, and talented musicians Elizabeth Kalfayan (cello) and Peter Douskalis (acoustic guitar). A reception took place in the parish’s main hall following the concert.
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|  | Traditional Christmas Carols were presented with an Armenian twist. | |
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CATHEDRAL SENDS SHOES TO SISTER COMMUNITY
St. Illuminator Cathedral’s sister community in Lchkadzor, Armenia, received the first 200 pairs of winter and summer shoes from the Prelacy’s St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The donation became possible after Archbishop Oshagan’s recent visit to Armenia. The shoes have been distributed to school children in the community as well as to needy families.
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|  | Shipment of winter shoes are being distributed to children in Lchkadzor, Armenia, through the St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization with the sponsorship of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. | |
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PROJECT SAVE AT ST. STEPHEN’S SCHOOL
Principal Houry Boyamian of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, and Ruth Thomasian, Executive Director of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives, both located in Watertown, Massachusetts, have entered into a teaching collaboration to engage fourth-grade students in discovering their Armenian heritage through vintage photographs. On October 23, 2014, as part of their Armenian Cultural Day celebration, students were introduced to this discovery process with a unique classroom program presented by Ruth, a former elementary school teacher herself.
Using enlargements of vintage photographs from the collections of Project SAVE Archives, Ruth engaged students in observing details and using these clues to ‘read’ the photographs and discover their deeper meaning. She asked students to observe all the many ‘things’ in the photo, and then went on to ask “What-do-you-think?” types of questions followed by, “And your reason is?” In this way students learned to support their thoughts with the details they have observed. The challenge for students was to be observant and to support their ideas with visible details. St. Stephen’s will incorporate Project SAVE Archives’ “Reading Photographs” into the fourth grade enrichment program every year.
Project SAVE Archives’ mission is to preserve and promote Armenian heritage through photograph. Its “Reading Photographs” program at St. Stephen’s School is both a contribution to the community and a thank-you for local support of its archives and educational programs. St. Stephen’s is fully accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the accrediting body for independent elementary schools. AISNE has commended the school “for creating an environment where all the students love to read and appear committed to academic excellence and for recruiting a remarkably talented and dedicated staff.”
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|  | St. Stephen’s Armenian School fourth-grade students hold a Project SAVE Archives photo enlargement that they have just “read” in an exercise to help develop observational and critical thinking skills. This year’s fifth graders also participated so that they would experience “Reading Photographs” before moving on to middle school. Staff, left to right, principal Houry Boyamian, teachers Cathy Bass and Mark Boylan, Ruth Thomasian, executive director of Project SAVE Archives, and Armenian teacher Ardemis Megerdichian. | |
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
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Closure of the Kevorkian Lyceum (December 21, 1917)
In the nineteenth century, the Armenian Church did not have an institution that provided superior religious education and prepared its future members. At the beginning of his tenure, Catholicos Kevork IV (1866-1882) met Russian czar Alexander II (1855-1881) and asked for permission to found such an institution. The construction of the lyceum (jemaran) started on May 25, 1869 and the grand opening was held five years later, on September 28, 1875. The bylaws approved by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Empire in the same year established that the lyceum would have two sections: a six-year school and a three-year auditory, and would provide higher religious education. After the death of the Catholicos, the lyceum was named in his honor.
Despite many efforts, Kevork IV did not see any graduate becoming a celibate priest during his tenure. A secularist spirit predominated in the lyceum. His successor Magar I (1885-1891) played an important role to redirect the institution into its actual purpose. He invited a qualified faculty, which included Bishop Maghakia Ormanian, future Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. The latter became the teacher of theological subjects, and thanks to his efforts, four graduates were consecrated celibate priests in 1888.
The level education at the lyceum was quite high. At the school level, the following subjects were taught: Armenian history and geography, general history and geography, ancient Armenian literature, Armenian and foreign (Russian, French, German) languages, natural sciences, astronomy, mathematics, the Bible, religious music, logics, etc. The auditory section included Armenian language (Classical and Modern), Armenian history, religious literature, Armenian literature, European literature, philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, political economy, history of the Armenian Church, Armenian religious law, ritual studies, ancient Greek, etcetera.
The graduates presented final essays, which were defended before an examining committee and then they became clerics or continued their higher studies in Russian and European universities.
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At the beginning of the twentieth century, the lyceum had 20 paying students and 230 others with scholarships. It was maintained through the incomes of the monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as fundraisers and donations. The Catholicos was the principal, who followed the activities of the lyceum through the Educational Council and the dean. The deans included Bishop Gabriel Ayvazovsky (brother of the famous painter), Rev. Garegin Hovsepiants (future Catholicos of Cilicia), Rev. Mesrop Ter-Movsisyan, and other names, generally but not exclusively ecclesiastics. Among the teachers of the Kevorkian lyceum were such luminaries of Armenian culture as Manuk Abeghian, Hrachia Ajarian, Leo, Stepan Lisitsian, Gomidas, Hakob Manandian, and many others. Those teachers were partly graduates of the same lyceum.
Within the frame of the lyceum there was an intensive intellectual activity: preparation of Armenian schools programs, writing of textbooks and handbooks, as well as many historiographic, philological, pedagogical, and theological works. The faculties of the Armenian schools of the Caucasus were filled by graduates of the Kevorkian lyceum for more than half a century.
Due to the political and military unfavorable conditions at the end of 1917, Catholicos Kevork V (1911-1930) decided to cease temporarily the activities of the lyceum on December 21, 1917. Attempts to reopen the Kevorkian Lyceum during the first independent Republic did not succeed. The unique and rich collection of its library (45,000 volumes) became one of the starting points of the collections of the National Library of Armenia and the Matenadaran.
The Etchmiadzin lyceum was finally reopened in 1945 and continues its activities until today.
Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” can be read on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
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| SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER
The crisis in Syria requires 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. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR DONATION TO:
Armenian Prelacy
138 E. 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Checks payable to: Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief
Thank you for your help
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| ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
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New Armenian Words Not in Your Dictionary
1) Password
Any person with some reasonable knowledge of the Armenian language may invent a word, especially compound words. The old “watchword,” related to military issues, has found its equivalent in the twenty-first century as “password.” How should we say it in Armenian?
If you get into the business of literal translation, you may put together ants-nil (անցնիլ) “to pass” and par (բառ) “word” to obtain antsapar “password.” However, there is not always the need to translate literally. A password is a secret (encrypted) word or text used to “pass” the obstacle; for instance, to enter a computer. People came up with a better solution that has become most used: kaghdnapar (գաղտնաբառ). This word combines kaghdni (գաղտնի “secret”) and par, the same as we have kaghdnakir (գաղտնագիր) to say... “cryptogram.”
2) Upload and download
Anyone may get a load of something or, otherwise, load something (for instance, on a vehicle). The Armenian word for “load” is perr (բեռ) and the verb, perrtsnel (բեռցնել). How do you deal with “upload” and “download” in Armenian?
You may hear, here and there, partzratsnel (բարձրացնել) and ichetsnel (իջեցնել). However, these words are standard Armenian for “to raise” and “to lower.” They give the “up” and “down” idea of the English term, but not the concept of “loading.” Since “to load” has a clear meaning of putting up something, but not putting down, you cannot use perrtsnel either.
Someone went to the roots and found the solution: to turn perr (“load”) into a new verb, perrnel, to give the idea of putting up something. The new verb perrnel (բեռնել) became the Armenian word for “upload,” and, combined with the prefix ner (ներ), which means “under, intro, down,” helped create the Armenian word for “download”: nerpernel (ներբեռնել).
3) Audiobook
The world of books has gone through unprecedented transformation in the past ten years. Readers of paper books are now sharing their world with other media, like e-books and audiobooks.
We do not have many audiobooks in Armenian yet, but what do we call the ones we have?
The problem is with “audio.” As the reader knows, the word is related to hearing. The immediate answer would be something related to lsel (լսել “to hear”). Since we have lsaran (լսարան “audience”), Why not lsakirk (լսագիրք), with l(i)s “audio” and kirk “book”?
Again, it is a matter of being creative. More than hearing, an audiobook is about the voice (tzayn) as the means to transmit the information. Doesn’t tzaynakirk (ձայնագիրք) sound better? We already have tzaynakrutiun (ձայնագրութիւն) for “audio recording.” Let’s continue the word family.
Previous entries in “The Armenian Language Corner” can be read on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).
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NEXT ISSUE OF CROSSROADS
Our next issue of Crossroads will be on Tuesday, December 30.
THE CHILDREN OF PESHAWAR
Home and school are two places where children should be safe and sound. This week, during the season of hope, peace, and good will, the world witnessed another horror of inhumanity. On Tuesday morning nine militants stormed into a public school in Peshawar, Pakistan, and murdered 145 people, 132 of whom were school children whose only crime was being children attending school. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones in yet another senseless and cowardly crime.
We pray for the day when the peace of our Lord will descend upon all humankind.
“But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness.” (Psalm 94:22-23)
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December 21—Armenian Chamber Music, presented by St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, at 2 pm. Featuring: Noune Karapetyan (soprano), Sargis Karapetyan (violin), Nune Hakobyan (piano). Program includes works of Armenian contemporary composers. Musical notes by Krikor Pidedjian (musicologist). Aram Satian, president of the Composers Union of Armenia will attend. Admission: $20. For information and/or tickets: St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, office@stilluminators.org or 212-689-5880.
February 7, 2015—Armenian Relief Society, NJ Shakeh Chapter presents “The Sound of Music” (in Armenian), performed by the Bedros Atamian Theatrical Group of Hamazkayin Sanahin Chapter, Montreal, Canada. Director and playwright, Lena Khacherian, at Fort Lee High School, 3000 Lemoine Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Tickets: $50, $35, $25. Contact: Ani Keshishian 201-417-0204; Anik Kechichian 201-394-4408; Lena Tarakjian 201-592-7991.
February 9-11, 2015—Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the Eastern Prelacy.
March 13-15, 2015—“Responsibility 2015,” International conference for Armenian Genocide’s centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York, featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America, Eastern Region. www.responsibility2015.com for information.
March 20, 2015—Musical Armenia, presented by Eastern Prelacy and Prelacy Ladies Guild, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm, Carnegie Hall, New York City. Featured artists Patil Harboyan, piano and Heather Tuach, cello, will present a program dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide that will include works of Armenian composers Atamian, Babajanian, Gomidas, Khatchaturian, Saradjian, Stepanian, and Talalyan. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale after December 20th at the box office and the Prelacy, 212-689-7810.
March 13-15, 2015—International conference, “Responsibility 2015” marking the Armenian Genocide’s centennial, at Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York City. Organized by the ARF Eastern United States Centennial Committee, under the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America, Eastern Region. For information visit the web site (www.responsibility2015.com).
April 25, 2015—Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the Connecticut State Capitol. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris Bohjalian.
April 26, 2015—Centennial commemoration of Genocide. Joint united Divine Liturgy in New York City (site to be announced), presided by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. To be followed by Times Square gathering “100 Years to Remember.”
May 7, 8, 9, 2015—National Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration in Washington, DC, organized under the patronage of the Diocese and the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Presided by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia. May 7, Ecumenical Service at the National Cathedral, 7 pm; May 8, A Journey Through Armenian Music at the Music Center at Strathmore, 7:30 pm; May 8 & 9, Exhibits, Films, and Events at various venues; May 9, Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 10 am; May 9, A Time to Give Thanks, banquet, 6 pm (location to be announced).
May 10 to June 4, 2015—Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy.
July 18, 2015—Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I, at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.
October 5-9, 2015—Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian Prelacies.
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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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