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| KESSAB UNDER SIEGE Last week the predominantly Armenian populated village of Kessab was bombarded with attacks by what is being described as “extremist foreign fighters.” Located in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the Turkish border, Kessab had, until last week, evaded major battles in the Syrian conflict. Indeed, many Armenians from other parts of Syria had found refuge in Kessab. The vicious attacks on civilians by militants crossing the Turkish border into Kessab have forced the population to flee.
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The Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America have sent messages to the President and Congress to stop Turkey from facilitating the attacks. A strongly worded letter by the ANCA chairman Ken Hachikian called on President Obama to demand that Turkey halt the cross-border attacks that forced the evacuation of the residents leading to the looting of properties and the desecration of churches. You can add your voice to these demands by going to the ANCA’s web page (www.anca.org) to send a free ANCA SmartMail to President Obama and your Senators and Representatives.
PRELATE CALLS FOR PRAYERS AND DONATIONS FOR KESSAB;
SPECIAL PLATE COLLECTION THIS SUNDAY Archbishop Oshagan, who is in regular communication with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, has directed all Prelacy parishes to offer prayers and to raise funds this Sunday with a special collection plate during the Divine Liturgy as well as other means, to help the displaced population of Kessab. The money will be utilized to meet the immediate needs of the people including food, shelter, and medical care. In his directive, the Prelate said, “On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Genocide, we are once again seeing attacks instigated by the same enemy, with the same intention of uprooting Armenians from their historic ancestral homes.” Donations may also be mailed to the Armenian Prelacy, 138 E. 39th Street, New York, NY 10016, or you can make a donation online right now by following the directions below.
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| PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT. DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW
CLICK HERE AND SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic Eparchy; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Thank you for your help
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ST. SARKIS CHURCH (DOUGLASTON) DONATES
$5,000 FOR KESSAB RELIEF Saint Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, immediately came forth with a $5,000 donation for Kessab relief. Realizing the imperative need of quick action, the parish made the donation in response to the Prelate’s appeal so that the much needed financial aid can reach the displaced population in a timely manner.
PRELACY LENTEN PROGRAM CONTINUES The fourth of a six-part Prelacy Lenten Program took place last night at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City. Before the Husgoom service, Fr. Mesrob Lakissian asked his parishioners to pray for our Kessabtsi brothers and sisters, who were forced to flee Kessab from the vicious attacks by the extremists coming from Turkey. The Lenten reflections this year are focusing on the Nicene Creed. After the Service, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Douglaston, New York, reflected on Jesus as the Savior of the world. To view Father Nareg's presentation, please click play below.
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Next Wednesday, April 2, “We Believe in the Holy Spirit” will be the topic and will be presented by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of AREC. The Lenten Program is sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), and the Ladies’ Guild of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. For details about the upcoming Lenten program please
click here.
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|  | A scene from the Lenten service. | |  | Continuing the focus on the Nicene Creed, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian spoke about Jesus as the Savior of the world. | | | |
MUSICAL ARMENIA TOMORROW EVENING The 31st Musical Armenia concert will take place tomorrow, Friday March 28, 8 pm, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, featuring Narek Arutyunian (clarinet) and Friends (Hahnsol Kim, violin; and Yun-Chin Zhou, piano). This year’s featured artist, clarinetist Narek Arutyunian is an artist who, according to The Washington Post, “reaches passionate depths with seemingly effortless technical prowess and beguiling sensitivity.” As a winner of the 2010 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he was presented in YCA’s Rhoda Walker Teagle New York debut concert at Merkin Hall and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to rave reviews. Mr. Arutyunian has performed extensively in Australia, Asia, and in Europe, where he appeared at the Louvre in Paris and the Palazzo del Principe in Genoa, among others. He has appeared as soloist with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and in Russia with the Kaliningrad Philharmonic, the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. By the age of 16, he had already won First Prizes in the International Young Musicians Competition in Prague and the Musical Youth of the Planet Competition in Moscow. Born in 1992 in Gyumri, Armenia, Mr. Arutyunian’s family moved to Moscow when he was three. He graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory. Currently he lives in New York City, and works with Charles Neidicyh at The Juilliard School. Tickets ($25) for Musical Armenia are available at the Box Office, 212-247-7800.
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| 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).
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| For information and registration, please visit the Prelacy website or go to:
www.armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev.
ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH (WATERTOWN) HOSTS BRIEFING
ON AID FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, hosted an informative event last Sunday following the Divine Liturgy. Speaking in the church hall was Mrs. Zepure E. Reisian, wife of Mr. Jirayr Reisian, spokesman for the emergency aid committee in Syria. Mrs. Reisian, a member of the Armenian Relief Society’s Central Executive Committee was in Watertown for a meeting, and agreed to give a briefing to the community about the current condition of Armenians in Syria. She was introduced y Mrs. Heather Apigian Krafian, chairwoman of the Cambridge “Shushi” chapter of the ARS and a member of St. Stephen’s Board of Trustees. Mrs. Reisian gave an historical overview as well as the current situation in a well-organized and eloquent presentation that had the packed audience on the edge of their seats. Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen’s provided the opening and closing statements and also appealed for financial aid from those attending the presentation and during his sermon earlier, especially in light of the fact that it was the Sunday of the Steward and the newly developing story of the destructive occupation of the Armenian village of Kessab by radical Muslim rebels who attacked crossing over from the Turkish border. A reception hosted by the Board of Trustees offered the opportunity for more discussions.
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|  | Mrs. Zepure Reisian reporting on the situation of Armenians in Syria at St. Stephen Church, Watertown. Listening with rapt attention are Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, Mrs. Heather Krafian, members of the ARS Central Executive Committee, and members of the St. Stephen’s community. | |
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CATHOLICOSES ZAREH AND KHOREN REMEMBERED His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, presided over the Divine Liturgy last Sunday at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, and later presented a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the passing of Catholicos Zareh I, and the 30th anniversary of the passing of Catholicos Khoren I. Bishop Anoushavan presented the lives and legacies of the two catholicoses, and his lecture was followed by a video presentation that featured excerpts of the sermon delivered by Catholicos Zareh on the first anniversary of his enthronement. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian introduced the vicar, and also Armenian songs performed by sisters, Meghry and Maral Tutunjian.
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|  | Bishop Anoushavan with Mr. and Mrs. Vahe and Hourig (Papazian) Sahagian. The Vicar’s presentation on the two catholicoi has been published in book form in Armenian and English. The English version, seen in this photo, was translated by Hourig Papazian Sahagian. | |
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BIBLE READINGS Bible readings for Sunday, March 30, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Sunday of the Judge are: Isaiah 65:8-25; Philippians 3:1-4:9; Luke 17:20-18:14. Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8) For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings
click here.
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We are now more than half-way through Great Lent (yesterday was Michink, the median day of Lent). This Sunday, March 30, is the Sunday of the Judge (Datavori Kiraki). The Gospel reading for this day is the parable told by Jesus about a widow and a judge (see reading above). The judge in the parable is seen as hard-hearted and without principles, fear of God, or compassion for people. A widow in the same town has been ill-treated and she has come to the judge for justice. Although her cause is just, the judge does not pay attention to her case. However, she is persistent and she makes the same appeal again and again until at last the judge decides to see she receives justice. He does this not because he cares about justice, but because he wants to be rid of the widow. The message of this parable is that we must persist in our pursuit of righteousness and justice with the confidence that perseverance (especially in prayer) will be rewarded.
FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA This Saturday, March 29, the Armenian Church remembers the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia. Although the backgrounds and identities of the forty young soldiers are not known, it is believed they came from Lesser Armenia and served in the Roman army. According to St. Basil of Caesarea, forty Christian soldiers refused to worship the Roman emperor while stationed in Sebastia in Armenia in 320. They remained faithful to their Christian faith. The soldiers were tried and condemned to death by stoning. Miraculously, when the sentence was being carried out, the stones would not reach the condemned soldiers, but would instead come back striking those throwing the stones. The soldiers were then thrown into a frozen lake and forced to stay there, unless they renounced their faith. Warm baths were prepared for anyone who would recant. Of the forty, only one gave up. When he did, another soldier, moved by the example of the suffering Christians, declared himself a Christian and took the apostate’s place. All forty died. Some of our great Church Fathers like Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Ephraim the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics about the forty martyrs, who are remembered each year during Lent on the Saturday following the median day of Lent. The Armenians have built and named churches in memory of the Forty Martyrs in various parts of the world.
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| NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE
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PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
SPEAK WITH CATHOLICOS ARAM ABOUT KESSAB The President of Armenia, Serge Sarkissian and Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, in two separate telephone communications expressed their concern about the recent bombing and militia attacks from Turkey on the Armenian town of Kessab and its surrounding villages. In his conversation with His Holiness Aram I, President Sarkissian asked for updated information about the attacks and he promised to help the displaced population temporarily settled in the Armenian Church and school of the port city of Latakia. In his telephone conversation, His Holiness Karekin II shared his concerns about the events and the displaced population and promised to assist. The two Catholicoi agreed to remain in regular contact.
CATHOLICOS ARAM FOLLOWS KESSAB SITUATION Ever since the assault and bombardment by radical rebel forces from Turkey on Kessab, the historic Armenian region in Syria near the Turkish border, His Holiness Aram I has been following developments closely. After consultation with the Armenian clergy and community leaders in Latakia, Aleppo, Damascus, and Lebanon, the Catholicos has demanded that Syrian authorities protect the Armenian population of the region. The Ambassador of Syria to Lebanon visited the Catholicos, accompanied by Hagop Pakradouni, a Member of Parliament, and Hagop Khatcherian, member of the Bureau of the ARF. The Ambassador assured the Catholicos that the state will do its utmost to restore security in Kessab. The Ambassador also informed the Catholicos that the army had moved the population of Kessab to safety in Latakia, because the militants, who had been armed by the Turkish authorities, have already established tents in Kessab. Last Sunday, during the Holy Liturgy, His Holiness asked the faithful to pray for the Armenian population of Kessab, who 100 years after the genocide had become refugees by actions instigated by Turkey. His Holiness sent a delegation of clergymen to assess the immediate needs of the refugees.
GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS PLAN Dr. Razmig Panossian, the Director of the Armenian Division of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, met this week with His Holiness Aram I, and presented the Foundation’s proposed five-year plan. Catholicos Aram praised the overall goal of sustaining Armenian culture and the Western Armenian language. He also welcomed the proposed support to Armenian schools and scholarships to students. His Holiness, however, expressed his concern about the plan to promote Armenian-Turkish relations. His Holiness thanked the staff of the Gulbenkian Foundation for their excellent work under the leadership of Martin Yessayan.
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
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| Death of Gabriel Sundukian
(March 29, 1912) This year is the 90th anniversary of the National Academic Theatre of Armenia. Not by chance, it is named after Gabriel Sundukian. This is a deserved homage to the founder of Armenian modern theater. Sundukian was born in the family of a merchant in Tiflis, on July 11, 1825. He studied at first in the school of Shahan Cirbied, the former professor of Armenian language at the Sorbonne, from 1832-1837. There he learned Classical and Modern Armenian, French, Latin, and Italian. After studying for two years in another Armenian private school, he followed the courses of the Russian gymnasium of Tiflis from 1840-1846. He later went to St. Petersburg, where he studied at the Oriental Department of the School of History and Philology of the university. In those years, his love and interest for literature grew, and his theatrical taste was forged in the theaters of the Russian capital. He graduated with a dissertation on the principles of Persian versification. During a short while, he taught at the Nersisian School of Tbilisi, and lived in Derbend, on the Caspian Sea shore, from 1853-1858. He returned to Tbilisi and went to work at the Railway Commission of Tiflis until his retirement. Sundukian wrote his plays in the Armenian dialect of Tbilisi, with the aim of reaching out to the common people. The social questions of the time were the main subject of his works, and gave them enormous popularity. He was the first to represent the life of the city in Armenian theater, touching on family subjects, marriage, inequality of women, the relationship of parents and children, and other issues with depth and realism. He included all social classes in his plays, from merchants to workers. The first phase of his production started with Sneezing at Night is Good Luck, premiered in 1861. He wrote other popular plays, such as Quandary (Khatabala) and Oskan Petrovich in the Other Life in 1866. These were basically light comedies where Sundukian criticized the situation of women, excessive love of money, and raised important moral questions. The second phase consisted of serious comedies, where laughter and cry went together. He wrote his masterpiece, Pepo (1871), in this period, which had an enormous success. He introduced here the conflict of the bourgeois class and the lower class, and the tragedy of the protagonist, Pepo, who represented the working class. The play was essentially a critique of the moral flaws of the ruling class. Other popular plays were Destroyed Home (1883) and Another Victim (1884), where he depicted the destruction of an entire family and the conflict of generations. Sundukian passed away on March 29, 1912, in his hometown, Tbilisi, and was buried in the Armenian cemetery of Khojivank. His works have continued to enjoy wide popularity in Armenia and the Diaspora. Pepo became one of the first Armenian sound movies, filmed by Hamo Bek-Nazarian in 1935, and Khatabala was also turned into a movie in 1971. Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
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|  | The facade of the Gabriel Sundukian Theater in Central Yerevan. | |
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| ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])
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| Sometimes We Do Not Need to Invent Words We all know that there are differences between colloquial and written language. Some things are more or less tolerable when speaking, but not when writing. The problem with improper words, rather than their use in a conversation, is that their inaccurate usage may pass for accurate and become part of regular speech. We have already discussed the case of various words of Turkish/Arabic origin commonly used in conversation, which are “believed” to be Armenian. This time, we will discuss a parasite use of an Armenian suffix, -ութիւն (-ootioon). This suffix is commonly used to make a noun out of an adjective, as in angakh (անկախ, “independent”) / angakhootioon (անկախութիւն, “independence”), or a new noun from another noun, as in kir (գիր, “letter”) / krootioon (գրութիւն, “writing”). But sometimes, people tend to overkill their knowledge, especially those who are fluent in the Armenian language. This is how we come across the use of ootioon to create useless and wrong nouns, because they actually mean the same as the original. For instance, we hear people saying:- Ես ջուրի պէտքութիւն ունիմ (Yes choori bedkootioon oonim, “I need water”)
- Այդ խօսքերը նախանձութեան արդիւնք են (Ayt khoskere nakhantsootian artioonk en, “Those words are the result of envy”
- Մենք հիւրութեան գացինք (Menk hioorootian katsink, “We went as guests”).
The abovementioned sentences would be perfectly right if the words bedk (պէտք “need”), nakhants (նախանձ “envy”), and hioor (հիւր “guest”) were used, instead of the words bedkootioon, nakhantsootioon, and hioorootioon, which simply do not exist in Armenian. If you avoid the use of these and other artificial words finished in ootioon that have no right to exist (if you are in doubt, open a reliable dictionary), at least you will give one less reason to those who are fond to say that Armenian words are too long. We do not need to pile up by inventing words. Previous entries in “The Armenian Language Corner” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
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| CHILDREN’S MAGAZINE FEATURES ARMENIANS Stepping Stones, a literary magazine for readers ages 8 to 16, is featuring Armenia and Armenians in its Spring 2014 edition. Among the features spotlighted in the Spring edition is seven pages of articles and photos about Armenia and the Armenians. Curated by Armenian American children’s book author, Lucine Kasbarian, the feature includes essays, profiles, poetry, artwork, photos, and an overview of Armenia. The cover of this issue depicts a shepherd and his flock with Mt. Ararat in the background.
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| The Road from Home
A Story of an Armenian Girl
By David Kherdian In The Road from Home, David Kherdian tells the survival story of his mother Veron Dumehjian, who was born and raised in the Ottoman city of Azizya in present-day Turkey. He describes her carefree childhood, full of family members, rituals, and traditions. Then the author writes about the slow changes that shifted the course of Veron’s life, leading to her deportation and struggle for survival during the Armenian Genocide. First published in 1979, this book is now considered a classic. If you have not read it, you should. 238 pages, hardcover, $20.00
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| Living in Quiet
New & Selected Poems
By David Kherdian In Living in Quiet David Kherdian explores his childhood, history, then adult years with his wife Nonny, and later memories of his father. He writes about experiences in school, friends, Armenian coffee, getting married, and being inspired by William Saroyan. This is an admirable selection of Kherdian’s poetry, new and old. 229 pages, softcover, $20.00
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2014 Prelacy Lenten Program, on Wednesdays, starting March 5, at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (New York City), Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), and the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral Ladies Guild. For information, please contact the Prelacy office at 212.689.7810, or arec@armenianprelacy.org or the Church office at 212-689-5880 or office@stilluminators.org. March 27-April 6—Third Annual Online Auction hosted by Armenian Relief Society, Eastern USA, Inc. Auction items include Weekend Getaways, Unique Gifts, Restaurants, Hotels, Spa and Salon Services, Jewelry, Electronics, Artwork, Sports Memorabilia, and more. To view and bid on auction items during the auction dates: www.biddingforgood.com/arseastusa. To contact the ARS Auction committee: arseusaauction@gmail.com. March 28—Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy and Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm, featuring Narek Arutyunian (clarinet) & Friends, Hahnsol Kim (violin) and Yunqing Zhou (piano). March 28—St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, book presentation, Commentary on the Nicene Creed, at 8:00pm, by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Executive Director of Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the Prelacy. March 29—Concert by Zulal Armenian A Capella Folk Trio at Holy Trinity Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 4 pm, followed by a reception in the church hall. Tickets $25, if purchased before March 8; $30 after March 8. To purchase tickets email Janis at sitto1031@yahoo.com or Carol at carolhalfmann@gmail.com. Also online at http://zulal.ticketleap.com/zulal/. For information call the church, 508-852-2414. March 30—Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Mid-Lenten Luncheon following Church services. April 4—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, “Saints & Sainthood,” lecture by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. April 5—Sunday School Teachers’ Seminar – New England region, at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme: The Nicene Creed. April 6—The Cultural Committee of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, is hosting a bilingual lecture by Dr. Ara Caprielian on the “Trials of Young Turks in Turkey (1919-1921 and 1926),” following churchy services at approximately 1:30 pm. Free admission. This lecture is part of a series of events leading to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. April 11—St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, A Reflection on the Commentary of Badarak of Hovhanes Arjishetsi, by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Ph.D. Fellowship hour by Ladies Guild. 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 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 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 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. June 1—Ladies Guild Annual Brunch, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. June 1—St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Toronto Children’s Choir concert in the church sanctuary. 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. 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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