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| REQUIEM SERVICE FOR CLERGY WHO SERVED THE PRELACY
In conjunction with the Ghevontiants commemoration, all Prelacy parishes will observe a special requiem service this Sunday, January 31, in memory of the deceased clergy who served the Prelacy.
Remembered with gratitude and honor:
His Holiness Catholicos Zareh I, His Holiness Catholicos Khoren I, His Holiness Catholicos Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians, Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian, Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, Archbishop Sumbat Lapajian, V. Rev. Fr. Vaghinag Sisagian, V. Rev. Fr. Ghevont Martougesian, V. Rev. Fr. Nishan Papazian, V. Rev. Fr. Barour Ekmekjian, V. Rev. Fr. Oshagan Minasian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Amrigian, Rev. Fr. Arsen Varjabedian, Rev. Fr. Mateos Mannigian, Rev. Fr. Bedros Mampreian, Rev. Fr. Stepanos Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Der Hovanesian, Rev. Fr. Houssig Naghnikian, Rev. Fr. Adom Melikian, Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Kasbarian, Rev. Fr. Ghevont Khosrovian, Rev. Fr. Bedros Kasarjian, Rev. Fr. Sahag Balian, Rev. Fr. Ghevont Papazian, Rev. Fr. Papken Kasbarian, Rev. Fr. Sahag Yeghigyan, Rev. Fr. Nerses Shahinian, Rev. Fr. Bsag Sarkisian, Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Mkitarian, Rev. Fr. Souren Papakhian, Rev. Fr. Arsen Simeoniantz, Rev. Fr. Movses Der Stepanian, Rev. Fr. Mampre Biberian, Rev. Fr. Khachadour Giragossian, Rev. Fr. Yervant Yeretzian, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Der Torosian, Rev. Fr. Movses Shrikian, Rev. Fr. Dickran Khoyan, Rev. Fr. Smpad Der Mekhsian, Rev. Fr. Vahan Ghazarian, Rev. Fr. Ashod Kochian, Rev. Fr. Arshavir Sevdalian, Rev. Fr. Kourken Yaralian, Rev. Fr. Arsen Hagopian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Antreasian, Rev. Fr. Sahag Andekian, Rev. Fr. Hmayag Minoyan, Rev. Fr. Krikor Hairabedian, Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kiledjian, Rev. Fr. Varant Bedrosian, Rev. Fr. Sahag Vertanessian, Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian, Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian, Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Artinian, Rev. Fr. Geghart Baboghlian, Rev. Fr. Arshag Daghlian, Rev. Fr. Vatche Naccachian, Rev. Fr. Vahrich Shirinian, Rev. Fr. Vartan Arakelian, Rev. Fr. Gorun Shrikian, Rev. Fr. Zaven Poladian, Rev. Fr. Armen Ishkhanian.
O Christ, Son of God, forbearing and compassionate, through your love as creator, have mercy upon the souls of your departed servants. Be mindful of them on the great day of the coming of your kingdom. Make them worthy of your mercy and of remission and forgiveness of their sins, glorify and number them among the saints of your right hand.
(From the Armenian Church’s Repose of Souls [Hokehankist] service)
46th ANNIVERSARY OF NORTH ANDOVER PARISH
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to North Andover, Massachusetts, this weekend where on Sunday, January 31 he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley. On this occasion His Eminence will ordain acolytes and preside over the parish’s 46th anniversary celebration following the services.
GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING
Clergy from the Eastern Prelacy will gather for their annual clergy conference on the occasion of the Feast of St. Ghevont and the Priests, next week. The clergy gathering, which will take place from February 1 to 3, is being hosted by St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the gathering that will focus on the “Year of Service,” declared by His Holiness Aram I, as well as other topics of mutual concern. During the gathering the clergy will participate in prayer services, meditation, and liturgy.
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| BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, January 31, Third Sunday after Nativity, are: Isaiah 63:18-64:12; Titus 1:1-11; John 7:37-52.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began—in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior,
To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you: someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain ; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. He must have a firmer grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it.
There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. (Titus 1:1-11)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here.
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| HOLY VOSKIAN PRIESTS
Today, Thursday, January 28, the Armenian Church remembers the Voskian priests—five men who were sent to Rome as ambassadors by the Armenian king, Sanadrook. On the road to Rome they met the Apostle Thaddeus who converted and baptized them. The leader of the five was named Voski. They lived in the mountain s as hermits for forty years, after which they preached to the Royal Court. They were martyred in 107 AD.
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| ST. SAHAG BARTEV
This Saturday, January 29, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos Sahag (Isaac) Bartev, a strong and great leader who is recognized as one of the greatest saints of the Armenian Church. His great accomplishments, even during very difficult political situations, secured the survival of the Armenian nation.
He was the son of St. Nerses the Great and a descendant of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Orphaned at an early age, he nevertheless received an excellent literary education, especially in eastern languages. He was the one who encouraged and supported Mesrob Mashdots in the creation of the Armenian alphabet. Soon after this great event Catholicos Sahag began the first translation of the Bible and he led and guided the vast body of works that were translated into Armenian, thus creating Armenia’s “Golden Age of Literature.” He was an ardent believer in education and ecclesiastical discipline and canon law. He is recognized as the one who kept Armenia eccle4siastically and nationally autonomous.
St. Sahag is believed to have died in 437 at an advanced age of 89 (some sources claim much older). With the death of Catholicos Sahag Bartev the line of St. Gregory the Illuminator came to an end.
STS. GHEVONT AND PRIESTS
This Tuesday, February 2, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Holy Ghevontian (Leontine) priests. After the battle of Vartanantz, a group of priests and deacons was abducted by the Persian king and imprisoned, tortured and martyred. Ghevont is revered as the leader of the group because he was an advisor to Vartan Mamigonian, and was remembered for the inspiring message he delivered on the eve of the battle of Avarayr. Ghevont, who was highly educated, assisted Sahag and Mesrob in translating the Bible into Armenian.
The Ghevontian Fathers, martyred in 454 are: Catholicos Hovsep; Bishops Sahag and Tatig; Priests Ghevont, Moushegh, Arshen, Manuel, Abraham, and Khoren; Deacons Kachach and Abraham.
WORKSHOP IN OXFORD
As we reported in our last issue, Dr. Vartan Matiossian, ANEC Executive Director, was invited to participate in the workshop “The Western Armenian language in the 21st century,” held at Pembroke College of the University of Oxford from January 21-23. The gathering was organized by the Armenian Studies chair of the university, with Professor Theo Van Lint and Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian as main organizers, and sponsored by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The 25 participants included scholars, educators, writers, editors, and experts, with names like Marc Nichanian, Krikor Beledian, Khachig Tololyan, Kevork Bardakjian, Razmik Panossian, Anaid Donabedian, Anahid Garmiryan, Hagop Gulludjian, Valentina Calzolari, Thomas Samuelian, Jirair Tanielian, and Sevan Deirmenjian among those present. Along with Dr. Matiossian, poet Lola Koundakjian and information technology analyst Mardig Tcholakian from the New York area were also present.
After a keynote public lecture on Western Armenian by Dr. Calzolari on January 21, the next two days were devoted to five sessions, entirely in Armenian, with short presentations by some of the attendants, followed by intensive discussions. The subjects under discussion were: “The current reality of Western Armenian,” “The issues and the challenges of thinking and creating in Western Armenian in the diaspora,” “The issues of structures and means,” “Questions of Western Armenian publishing,” “The Questions of the Present and the Future of Western Armenian Press.” A final session summarized the conclusions, with a series of recommendations issued by the attendees to address some of the immediate needs in the fields of language, education, and publications, among others.
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|  | From left to right, writers Christian Batikian (Yerevan) and Sako Arian (Yerevan); Shahan Kandaharian, editor of “Aztag” daily (Beirut); Jirair Tanielian, head of the Department of Armenological Activities of the Catholicosate of Cilicia (Antelias); Vartan Matiossian. | |
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| LENTEN LECTURE SERIES WILL BEGIN FEBRUARY 10
The Lenten Lecture Program Series will begin on Wednesday, February 10, and continue on five consecutive Wednesdays. The program is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), and Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. All of the lectures will focus on the 2016 “Year of Service,” proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
The six lectures will take place at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, with a church service at 7 pm, followed by the lecture and Q/A, and conclude with a table fellowship. For information contact the Prelacy office at 212-689-7810 (arec@armenianprelacy.org); or the cathedral office at 212-689-5880 (office@stilluminators.org).
MIDWEST BOT WORKSHOP
A regional Board of Trustees Workshop will take place for the parishes in the Midwest on Saturday, March 5, beginning at 10 am and concluding at 4:30 pm. The workshop is being hosted by All Saints Church in Glenview, Illinois. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan will preside and members of the Religious and Executive Councils will participate.
MUSICAL ARMENIA
The 33rd Musical Armenia concert will take place on Friday, March 11, 8 pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This year’s concert will present Sofya Melikian on the piano; and NUR, featuring Rosy Anoush Svazlian and Andrea Manzoni, soprano and piano. The event is sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy and the Prelacy Ladies Guild.
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
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| Birth of Armen Dorian (January 28, 1892)
Anyone may probably cite a dozen major or less major names in Armenian literature who became victims of the genocide of 1915. Even among scholars, however, the name of Armen Dorian probably does not ring a bell. At the age of 23, he was one of the youngest writers to be caught in the roundup of April 23-24 and sent to death.
He was born Hrachia Surenian on January 28, 1892 in the city of Skopje, the current capital of the Republic of Macedonia. At the time, his birthplace was still part of the Ottoman Empire. His father was a contractor of roads and bridges.
There was no Armenian community and no school there. Hrachia first studied at a local Greek school and then at the French school of Manastir (current Bitola, also in Macedonia). The family later moved to Constantinople, where the future poet received his higher education at the Mekhitarist School of Pangalti, which belonged to the Viennese branch of the congregation. He graduated in 1911 and traveled to France, where he continued his studies at the Sorbonne.
It is not clear why and when he took his literary name. When in Paris, he joined the French literary scene and founded the French newspaper L'Arène in 1912. Filled with dynamic and progressive ideas in poetry, he followed the current known as “paroxyste,” first proposed by poet Nicolas Beaudoin (1881-1960) in 1911, which was a French correlative to another avant-garde movement, futurism. He also published poetry booklets.
As immersed as he was in French literature, Dorian did not leave aside his Armenian roots. He wrote and published both in French and in Armenian, and did not sever his links with the Armenian literary life in Constantinople.
Immediately after his graduation in 1914, he received an invitation to return to Constantinople as headmaster in his alma mater, the Mekhitarist School of Pangalti. He also taught in four other schools, and contributed to local journals with Armenian and French poems. He was arrested at the Modern School in the night of April 24, 1915.
Armen Dorian, together with some 150 people, including poets Taniel Varoujan and Roupen Sevag, among others, was initially sent to Çankırı. Thirty exiles were able to return to Constantinople in one way or another. From the remaining hundred and twenty, in June 1915 a first caravan of 52 people was dispatched with destination to Deir-er-Zor. One of the fifteen survivors of the entire group of 120, Mikayel Shamdanjian, wrote: “At the time, we were not familiar with that name. From the first caravan, only the Protestant bookseller Baronian, as the result of petitions, was excluded and returned to Constantinople. All the other comrades, including the promising and pleasant Armen Dorian, went to become the victims of the roads of Elbistan. . . . Armen Dorian became part of the first caravan because, as someone who had absorbed French humor, was dazzling and had always a song in his lips.”
Dorian’s poetry has remained dispersed in the Armenian and French journals of the time. Other poems were posthumously published in the Armenian press. His brother Zenob Surenian, who had settled in Austria, in 1931 published a small collection of poetry entitled Un poète français d’origine arménienne (A French Poet of Armenian Origin).
Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org
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| PLEASE DO NOT FORGET:
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: Armenian Apostolic Church of America
(Memo: Syrian Armenian Relief)
Thank you for your help.
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| ABELIAN APPOINTED TO SENIOR POSITION AT UN
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of Dr. Movses Abelian as Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management.
The press release stated that “Abelian brings with him over 25 years of experience in peace and security issues and conflict resolution as well as extensive expertise leading, supporting and managing complex portfolios and intergovernmental processes, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Executive Boards of United Nations Funds and Programs.”
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Prior to joining the United Nations, Abelian was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations (1998-2003) and Deputy Permanent Representative from 1996 to 1998. Before joining Armenia’s Foreign Service in 1992, he worked in academia as Associate Professor at Yerevan State University.
During his years of service, Dr. Abelian has been a well-liked and respected friend to the Armenian American community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations.
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| KEGHI IN RUINS
By Osep Tokat
This full-color, tri-language (Armenian, English, Turkish) text details the author’s birthplace, Keghi, in Western Armenia. Inspired by Keghi, Osep Tokat researched the history of the County of Keghi including its geography, pre-1915 demographics, dialect, Armenian customs such as weddings and cuisine, religious institutions, as well as village crafts and professional occupations. The fold-out map of the county and village is complimented by old images as well as recent color photographs of Armenian ruins and the natural beauty of Keghi. Many beautiful color photographs as well as historic black and white photographs
Keghi in Ruins, 204 pages, hardcover, $125.00, plus shipping and handling
And consider this memoir from a survivor from Keghi….
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| FROM HELL TO HEAVEN
By Armenag Antranigian
This extraordinary memoir was written in Armenian many years ago, but remained unpublished. This English translation was recently edited and published. It is highly recommended as an eyewitness account by a mature and literate survivor. It tells the story of a young man who suffered the horrors of the genocide, witnessed the loss of the members of his immediate and extended family and his miraculous survival after two years of precarious existence, and finally his settlement in the United States.
From Hell to Heaven, 252 pages, soft cover, $20.00, plus shipping and handling.
Read a review by Tom Vartabedian here.
To order contact the Prelacy Bookstore by email (bookstore@armenianprelacy.org) or telephone (212-689-7810).
Need an Armenian Book? Check the Prelacy Bookstore web page. Click here.
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| NEXT CROSSROADS
Next week Crossroads will be transmitted on Wednesday, February 3, because of the Vartanantz holiday on Thursday.
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| SIAMANTO ACADEMY—Meets every second Saturday of the month at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford, New Jersey. For information: anec@armenianprelacy.org or 212-689-7810.
January 31—46th Anniversary of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and ordain acolytes and preside over the anniversary celebration. For tickets to the anniversary celebration contact Melanie Tokatlian (melanie.tokatlian@comcast.net) or Sossy Jeknavorian (sossyj@comcast.net).
February 1-3—Annual Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, hosted by St. Asdvadtzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts.
February 10—Prelacy Lenten Program, “The notion of service in the Old Testament,” by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7 pm.
February 17—Prelacy Lenten Program, “Jesus as the Servant of God,” by Very Rev. Fr. Zareh Sarkissian, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7 pm.
February 24—Prelacy Lenten Program, “Service in patristic thought,” by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7 pm.
March 2—Prelacy Lenten Program, “We were all pledged at baptism to serve God,” by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7 pm.
March 5—Midwest Board of Trustees Regional Workshop, hosted by All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview, Illinois, 10 am to 4:30 pm.
March 9—Prelacy Lenten Program, “Qualities of the servants of the Lord,” by Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7 pm.
March 16—Prelacy Lenten Program, “Service is the obligation of the community and government structures,” by Mrs. Silva Takvorian, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 7 pm.
March 11—33rd Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and 7th Avenue, with Sofya Melikian, piano; and NUR featuring Rosy Anoush Svazlian and Andrea Manzoni, soprano and piano. Tickets: $25. Box office: 212-247-7800; Prelacy: 212-689-7810; email@armenianprelacy.org.
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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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