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FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
Today is the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Hambardzoum), which is commemorated forty days after Easter. The universal church has celebrated the Ascension since the fourth century. According to Biblical scripture the Ascension took place in the village of Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, in the presence of our Lord’s disciples. After giving them commandments and blessings, the Lord was “received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God,” (Mark 16:19), and “a cloud received him out of their sight,” (Acts 1:9).
In the early centuries of Christianity, Hambardzoum was one of the most popular feast days for the faithful and was celebrated with merriment and festivities. There are many Armenian traditions associated with this dominical feast. Perhaps the most well-known and popular one is fortune-telling (vijakakhakh).
Lord, by your mercy you have made this world firm and having come down you saved it from the curse of Adam; today in glory you ascended into heaven; have mercy on us, O God. Ascending the high four-winged crucifixion you saved man and today in glory you ascended into heaven, have mercy on us, O God. By your three days burial you condemned to the deceiving dragon; today in glory you ascended into heaven, have mercy on us, O God.
(Canon for the Ascension of Christ according to the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church)
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| PONTIFICAL DIVINE LITURGY AT
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL
Pontifical Divine Liturgy
Celebrated by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Saint Illuminator’s Cathedral
221 East 27th Street
New York City
Gala Banquet
In honor of His Holiness
and
In Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral
New York Palace
Reception at 4 pm; Dinner at 5 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THE BANQUET IS SOLD-OUT!
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CATHOLICOS ARAM BEGINS PONTIFICAL VISIT
TO EASTERN PRELACY
As the commemorative events for the 100th anniversary of the Genocide concluded, His Holiness Aram I immediately began his Pontifical Visit to the Eastern Prelacy. The visit, originally planned for October 2012, was postponed because of the tragic situation in Syria that required the Catholicos’s presence.
Last Sunday His Holiness delivered the Sermon during the Divine Liturgy at Soorp Khatch Church in Bethesda, Maryland, the first community on his Pontifical Visit agenda. To view the sermon delivered by His Holiness Aram I click here.
On May 12, His Holiness was welcomed by the community of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia at a Hrashapar service that was followed with a reception. The Sanctuary and Founders Hall were filled to capacity by the Faithful eager to hear His Holiness’s message to the community.
Before leaving Philadelphia and heading to New Jersey, His Holiness and entourage had a breakfast meeting with church and community leaders.
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Tonight His Holiness will be welcomed by the Sts. Vartanantz Church community in Ridgefield, New Jersey, for a Hrashapar service and reception. Last night the Catholicos joined New Jersey community leaders for a very enjoyable intimate dinner.
WATCH FOR SPECIAL ISSUES OF CROSSROADS DURING THE PONTIFICAL VISIT
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REV. FR. NAREG RECEIVES SECOND MASTER’S DEGREE
It is with great happiness and excitement that we share the news that Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of Saint Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, successfully completed and received his Master of Science in Education in Mental Health and Counseling from St. John’s University.
Five years ago Der Nareg earned his MA in Theology from St. John’s University. Soon after that, in an effort to better serve his spiritual community and parish, he decided to enter the Mental Health and Counseling Program, with the blessing of Archbishop Oshagan, who has made clergy recruitment and training a high priority. Der Nareg fulfilled his Pastoral duties, even taking on new projects, while flourishing in his studies. We congratulate Rev. Fr. Nareg on this great accomplishment.
Understanding that a strong pastor makes a strong parish, Archbishop Oshagan has been very supportive of continuing education and development for the clergy. Through the Prelate’s initiative far-sighted individuals have come forth with their financial support that helps provide scholarships to seminaries and ordained priests. (Reported by Seta Tavitian-Megherian)
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DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH 13-18
The 29th annual summer program for youth ages 13-18 is scheduled to be held at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 28—July 5, 2015. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the summer program offers a unique weeklong Christian educational program for youth. It aims to instill and nurture the Armenian Christian faith and identity in our youth through a variety of educational activities, coupled with daily church services and communal recreational activities. For information and registration, please visit the Prelacy’s website at armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev or contact the AREC office at 212-689-7810 or arec@armenianprelacy.org.
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BIBLE READINGS
Note: Beginning April 13 and continuing until Pentecost (May 24), each day four Gospels are read in the following order: (1) Morning—Luke; (2) Midday—John; (3) Evening—Matthew; (4) Evening dismissal—Mark.
Bible readings for Sunday, May 17, Second Palm Sunday, are: (1) Luke 19:29-48; (2) Acts 23:12-35; 1 John 5:13-21; John 12:12-23; (3) Matthew 20:29-21:17; (4) Mark 15:20-37.
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid; daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:12-23)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here.
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SECOND PALM SUNDAY
This Sunday, May 17, is Second Palm Sunday (Yerkrort Tzaghkazard). The seventh Sunday of Easter is called Second Palm Sunday because of the readings on that day. Beginning with New Sunday and continuing until Pentecost, the Armenian Church reads from the four Gospels every day in their proper order. Luke is read in the morning; John at midday; Matthew at the beginning of the evening hour; and Mark at the end of the evening hour. The sections related to Christ’s entry into Jerusalem coincide with the seventh Sunday of Easter, hence the designation of “Second Palm Sunday.”
There are several feast days in our liturgical calendar dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator, but according to tradition he is also remembered on the fourth day of Hambardzoum, known as Second Palm Sunday. During the years of Gregory’s imprisonment in the deep pit his guardian angel would appear daily to give him nourishment. On the fourth day of the Ascension the angel did not come, and the next day Gregory asked why. The angel told him that the fourth day of Ascension is the feast day for his celestial army of the 4th rank, and he was permitted to remain in the heavens to celebrate the feast day and enjoy Christ in heaven.
A tradition has come down to us concerning the mysterious meaning of this great and wonderful feast; the Enlightener of our souls heard from his guardian angel: On this day there is a great feast in the heavens in my rank. For during the ascent of the heavenly One from earth the heavenly spirits in their ranks celebrated this event with rejoicing, beginning with the angels and concluding with the thrones. The Illuminator’s guardian angel being from the fourth rank hastened to share in the joyful celebration of which the angel in the flesh learned when he asked him a question. This great mystery took place for the salvation of the logical of angels and mankind so that both of them might unite in one.
(From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Church for the first Sunday after Christ’s Ascension, known as Second Palm Sunday).
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| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
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Death of Tovma Medzopetsi (May 15, 1446)
Tovma Medzopetsi was the last noteworthy name in the long chain of Armenian medieval historians. As many others before him, his historical works have become a unique source for the study of a certain period of Armenian history, in this case, his own times.
Medzopetsi was born in 1378 in the village of Aghi, near the city of Arjesh, in the region of the Lake Van (Vaspurakan). He studied in the nearby monastery of Medzopavank, built in the eleventh century, between 1386 and 1393. The monastery was headed at the time by Hovhannes Medzopetsi, a vartabed who was a graduate of the University of Datev, in the region of Siunik. He later continued his studies in the monastery of Kharabastavank, as a student of the master vartabeds Sargis Aprakunetsi and Vartan Hokotsvanetsi. Afterwards, he went to the University of Datev in 1406 and studied with St. Grigor Davtevatsi himself, who had been the teacher of Hovhannes Medzopetsi decades before.
After studying for almost a quarter of a century, in 1410 Tovma Medzopetsi returned to his alma mater and became the abbot and the school master of Medzopavank for more than thirty years. During his tenure, the monastery became an active center of manuscript copy and illumination. Textbooks and commentaries were written by specialists who had been invited to teach there.
Besides works in the field of exegesis, music, and ritual, Medzopetsi is particularly noted for his historical work History of Tamerlane and His Successors, devoted to the period 1386-1440. The historian was a contemporary of the devastating invasions of the Turkic-Mongol conqueror Tamerlane, who laid waste of much of Armenia in successive campaigns between 1387 and 1402. He described the ruinous campaigns, the massacres and slavery of the population, the harsh tributary regime, and the few attempts to oppose the enemy.
In 1441, together with other high-ranking ecclesiastics, Medzopetsi was among the organizers of the national-ecclesiastical assembly held in Holy Etchmiadzin and played an important role in the transfer of the Catholicosate of All Armenians from Sis to Etchmiadzin, where it had not been since the fifth century. He wrote a colophon, especially referred to the events that led to the historical move. As it is known, Catholicos Grigor IX Musabekiants (1439-1441) refused to leave Sis and continued as Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia until his death in 1446, and the assembly elected Kirakos I Virapetsi (1441-1443) as Catholicos of All Armenians.
Medzopetsi also passed away in 1446 in the village of Akori, near Mount Ararat, and was buried in the monastery of Medzopavank, which would be destroyed in 1915.
Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are 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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Be a Candidate, but Don’t Run for Office
Almost two centuries ago, in 1826, the expression “to run for office” appeared for the first time in American English. As one can grasp, it indicated the sense of a competition between various candidates for an elective position.
In the case of elections, we frequently hear the word vazel (վազել “to run”) in colloquial Armenian. For instance, “s/he runs for the parish council” is something like an geh vazeh yegeghetsvo hokapartzootian («կը վազէ եկեղեցւոյ հոգաբարձութեան համար»). Does this sound right?
No, it does not. The problem is that “run” is a figurative expression that cannot be conveyed with a literal translation. Anyone who does not know English would think that the person in question is physically running to enter the parish council. How many days he or she would run before getting exhausted?
This is one of those many cases when you have to think in Armenian to render the English expression. The best solution is the simplest one: An yegeghetsvo hokapartzootian tegnadzoo eh («Եկեղեցւոյ հոգաբարձութեան թեկնածու է», “S/he’s a candidate to the parish council”).
The candidate may enter office walking or running, but this will not change the outcome. However, if you don’t use vazel in this case, your Armenian proficiency will change a bit.
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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST WITH REV. FR. NAREG TERTERIAN
(Pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York)
Reflections on the National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial in D.C.
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May 10 to June 4—Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy.
May 16—“Your Church. Your Nation. Engage.” A Dialogue with His Holiness Aram I, for young adults (ages 18-35). Speakers will explore the theme of Faithfulness, the Centennial of the Armenian genocide, and the canonization of the Martyrs. St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, 3 pm to 5 pm. Registration required.
May 17—Pontifical Divine Liturgy, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. His Holiness Aram I will celebrate the Liturgy and deliver the sermon.
May 17—Banquet in honor of His Holiness Aram I and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, The New York Palace, [address]. Reception 4:00 pm; Dinner 5:00 pm.
May 26—“With You, Armenia,” concert at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, 8 pm, presented by Yerevan Perspectives International Music Festival in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Pianist Evgeny Kissin and Hover Chamber Choir, featuring works of Armenian composers Komitas Vartabed, Vache Sharafyan, Tigran Mansurian, and others.
May 29—Homage to our Martyred Writers, “A Literary Evening Dedicated to Taniel Varuzhan.” MC, Zarmine Boghosian; English Presentation, Aram Arkun; Armenian Presentation, Dr. Vartan Matiossian. Artistic program by: Harout Barsoumian, Arpi Cankar, Serpouhi Vartivarian, Talar Zokian. Tekeyan Center, 560 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, at 7:30 pm. Free admission; RSVP required. Contact Helen Misk (helenmisk@gmail.com) or Diana Mkhitarian (Dianamkhitarian@yahoo.com).
May 30—“Your Church. Your Nation. Engage.” A Dialogue with His Holiness Aram I, with young adults (ages 18-35). Speakers will explore the themes of Faithfulness, the Centennial of the Armenian genocide, and the canonization of the Martyrs. Westin Hotel, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, Massachusetts, 10 am to 2 pm.
June 3-6—National Representative Assembly hosted by St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
June 4-5—National Association of Ladies Guilds 2015 Annual Conference, St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. For information: Sharke Der Apkarian, shakar07@comcast.net, or 978-808-0598.
June 7—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Sunday School Commencement Day.
June 14—Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Nareg Saturday Armenian School Year End Graduation.
June 18—Annual Cigar Night and Dinner, Men’s Club of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts. Drawing of Super Raffle of 2015 Mercedes Benz-CLA 250 will take place. Raffle tickets can be purchased online (saintgregory.org/organizations/mens-club).
June 21—Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Sunday School Father’s Day Picnic.
June 28—Annual “Madagh Picnic,” St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, Blessing of the Madagh will take place at 11 am by Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian, and served at noon. All are invited to enjoy the picnic all afternoon up to 7 pm. Enjoy marinated shish kebab and chicken dinners, sarma, penerlee, khurabia, and other Armenian delicacies and pastries. Live Armenian music and children’s entertainment. Raffle drawing at 6 pm.
June 28-July 5—29th annual 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 and registration, please visit the Prelacy’s website at armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev or contact the AREC office at 212-689-7810 or arec@armenianprelacy.org.
July 18—Blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) by His Holiness Aram I, at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. For details click here.
October 5-9—Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian Prelacies.
November 15—90th Anniversary Banquet, St. Stephen’s Church, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain, Connecticut. Watch for details.
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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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