|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem
(Kovya Yeroosaghem Uzder)
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Christ is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To Him who is risen from the dead, alleluia!
To him that enlightened the world, alleluia!
Read the Prelate’s Easter Message, “Resurrected Life” in Armenian or English.
| |
|
CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS
Centennial commemorations of the Armenian Genocide are taking place throughout the world. The national observance in the United States includes special events that will take place over a three-day period (May 7, 8, 9) in Washington, DC, that includes an ecumenical prayer service, a Pontifical Divine Liturgy, a memorial concert, and an awards banquet honoring those who helped the survivors. The Catholicoi, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be present to preside over the events.
For Listing of Events in Washington, DC and New York City click here
| |
|
PONTIFICAL VISIT
May 10—June 4, 2015
The Pontifical Visit National Steering Committee under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and chairmanship of Jack Mardoian, Esq., has been meeting regularly since last year to plan every detail of the visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy. The pontifical visit will begin on Sunday, May 10, with the conclusion of the three-day 100th anniversary commemorations in Washington. His Holiness will visit parishes in the Eastern Prelacy where he will be warmly greeted by the faithful of all ages. He will connect with young adults at seminars in New York (May 16) and Boston (May 30), and he will visit with the youthful members of the AYF Juniors at their annual weekend seminar on May 24 at Camp Lutherlyn in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Watch this space for weekly updates. Information about the pontifical visit is also available on the Prelacy’s web page. To go there now click here.
NEW JERSEY HOSTS REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The Prelacy’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference convened last Saturday, March 28, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. The conference was attended by clergy, members of the boards of trustees, and delegates to the National Representative Assembly, as well as members of the Prelacy’s Religious and Executive Councils.
| |
|  | Archbishop Oshagan addresses the participants in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. | |  | Archbishop Oshagan and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian with the participants. | |
| | |
|
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.
| |
|
BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, April 5, Easter Sunday are: Acts 1:15-26; Mark 16:2-8
Evening Gospels: Luke 24:13-36; John 20:1-18; John 5:24-30; John 19:31-37; John 20:19-25
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘Let another take his position of overseers.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26)
For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here.
| |
|
MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY
In the Armenian tradition, the day following each of the five major feast days, is Memorial Day, or Remembrance of the Dead. Traditionally, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated on this day, and afterwards the faithful visit the graves of their loved ones that are blessed by the priest with chants and incense.
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE VIRGIN MARY
This Tuesday, April 7, is the Feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary. This feast day is always commemorated on April 7, nine months before the birth of Christ. The Feast celebrates the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would bear the Son of God, as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah (7:1) and as related in the Gospel of Luke (chapter 1).
Rejoice Mary, holy Mother of God, for the Lord has come suddenly into your purified temple; we bless and magnify you. Rejoice closed door through whom no one has passed except the Lord God of Israel; we bless and magnify you. Rejoice sealed fountain of the living water giving to you thirsting nature as drink; we bless and magnify you.
(Canon for the Annunciation to the Holy Mother of God from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Church)
WITH OUR PARISHES AND COMMUNITY
St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown
| |
|  | Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon on Palm Sunday at St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown, Massachusetts. | |
| | |
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield
| |
|  | Bishop Anoushavan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon on Palm Sunday at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey. | |
| | |
All Saints Church, Glenview
| |
|  | Archpriest Fr. Zareh Sahakian, pastor of All Saints Church in Glenview, Illinois, with altar servers and members of the Angels Choir. | |
| | |
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston
| |
|  | Bishop Anoushavan presided at the Remembrance of the ten virgins service at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. | |
| | |
Hovnanian School, New Milford
| |
|  | Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan with the upper grade students at the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey, and administrators and faculty. | |  | The children perform for their guests. | | | |
Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Emerson
| |
|  | Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Anoushavan, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan conduct a prayer service for the residents of the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Emerson, New Jersey. | |  | The clergymen with Andrew Torigian, chairman of the Board, and Matthew Russo (right), administrator of the Emerson Home. | |
| | |
| THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
| |
|
A Very Public Word
The Armenian word enthanoor (ընդհանուր) has quite a ubiquitous meaning. It is an adjective that usually means “general,” as it appears in the name of various Armenian organizations. For instance, such is the case of the Armenian General Athletic Union (Hay Marmnagrtagan Enthanoor Miootioon, Հայ Մարմնակրթական Ընդհանուր Միութիւն), usually known by its acronym ՀՄԸՄ (Homenetmen).
Now, we know that the English word general comes from the Latin generalis, meaning “relating to all, of a whole class, generic” (from genus “stock, kind”). The Armenian word enthanoor has a meaning quite close to Latin generalis, and it comes from Classical Armenian or krapar (Yeznik Koghbatsi used it in his Refutation of the Sects). Every Sunday, the faithful join to recite the Credo of the Armenian Apostolic Church, written in Classical Armenian, where it is said: “We also believe in only one, universal, and apostolic holy Church.” Here, the word for “universal” is enthanragan (ընդհանրական).
Now, the word enthanoor is actually a compound of an adverb and an adjective: ent + hanoor (ընդ + հանուր), where ent means “together, under” and hanoor (“all, every”). Literally, it would mean “altogether.” Ent is an adverb that did not enter modern usage, but hanoor has been used at times, and one can find it here and there, for instance in the expression hanoor martgootioone (հանուր մարդկութիւնը “the entire humankind”).
Hanoor, composed by the prefix han, more commonly used as ham (համ), which means “all,” and the familiar adverb oor (ուր “where”), is particularly interesting for its many derivations. For instance, the same as the English public (from the Latin publicus, meaning “of the people; general”), the Armenian language created the noun hanrootioon (հանրութիւն “public”) and the adjective hanrayin (հանրային “public”). Consequently, republic (from Latin res publica “public affair, the state”) became hanrabedootioon (հանրապետութիւն, which literally means “the state of all”).
Another example is omnibus, from the same Latin word that means “for all.” The English word came from the French voiture omnibus (“carriage for all”), which was probably the inspiration for the Armenian version: hanragark (հանրակառք “carriage, vehicle for all”).
In the end, here are a few more usual terms that come from the very prolific hanoor, despite being a word that has fallen from usage in colloquial language:
Hanrakidaran (հանրագիտարան “encyclopedia”)
Hanrahashiv (հանրահաշիւ “algebra”)
Hanrakve (հանրաքուէ “referendum”)
Hanrakoomar (հանրագումար “grand total”)
Previous entries in “The Armenian Language Corner” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
| |
| 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
| |
| THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)
| |
|
Birth of Ara Sarkisian (April 4, 1902)
One of the familiar views around the Opera of Yerevan is that of the statues of Hovhannes Tumanian and Alexander Spentiarian. Those two works were co-authored by Ghazar Chubarian and Ara Sarkisian in 1957.
Sculptor Ara Sarkisian was born in Makriköy (now Bakirköy), in the outskirts of Constantinople, on April 4, 1902. He studied in the local Dadian School. His family moved to the suburb of Pera (Beyoglu) in 1914 and he continued his studies in the Essayan School. His uncle Sarkis Sarkisian was a well-known architect, and advised his nephew to deepen his knowledge of art.
| |
|  | The sculptor at work in his studio. |
|
During the war years, Sarkisian abandoned his studies and pursued menial jobs to make ends meet. Afterwards, he studied in the School of Fine Arts of Constantinople from 1919-1921, where he produced original busts, as well as compositions of tragic subjects inspired by the Armenian massacres and the war.
He finished the four-year program in two years and continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts of Vienna (1921-1924), where he participated in local exhibitions.
However, it remained secret for decades that Sarkisian had been an assistant to Arshavir Shiragian both in his operations in Rome (December 1921) and Berlin (April 1922). He had helped chase the targets with his excellent command of Turkish and his photographic memory.
After graduation, he took Soviet citizenship and arrived in Yerevan on April 26, 1925, where he spent the rest of his life. He set the grounds of Armenian professional sculpture and he specialized in bust sculptures, creating works inspired by Armenian writers, scholars, artists, and historical figures. One of his most important works, the statue “Mesrob Mashdots and Sahak Bartev” (1943) is placed near the main building of Yerevan State University.
| |
|  | Sarkisian's statue of Hovhannes Tumanian located in Freedom Square, adjacent to the Yerevan Opera. |
|
Sarkisian opened the section of sculpture at the technical school of art and production of Yerevan where he taught from 1925-1930. At the same time, he organized the Armenian branch of the Society of Painters of Revolutionary Russia and became its president. He tried to bring together the Armenian painters in the early 1930s and succeeded in the foundation of the Painters Union of Armenia in 1932, together with Gabriel Gurjian and Mikayel Arutchian. He became the first secretary of the Union until 1937 and was instrumental in the foundation of the Art Institute (now Academy of Fine Arts) of Yerevan in 1945, which he directed until 1959. Later, he became chair holder and head of the art studio at the Institute.
In 1959 Ara Sarkisian left for Brussels to participate in “Expo-59” with his works. There, by chance he met his brother Patrick, whose existence he had hidden from the Soviet authorities for almost four decades. His brother worked for USAID and was a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Athens. These two facts did not go unnoticed by the KGB. Sarkisian returned to Yerevan and was forced to resign as director of the Art Institute.
| |
|  | A memorial monument to the sculptor in Yerevan created in his style. |
|
He remained under surveillance for the rest of his life. The memoirs of the participants in the Nemesis Operation started to appear in the 1960s, such as Shiragian’s memoirs, but Sarkisian’s name was never mentioned, except as A.S. when needed. However, apparently a newspaper in Beirut mentioned his complete name and this did not escape the attention of the secret police.
In 1969 Sarkisian suffered a fracture in a leg and was admitted in the hospital, where he was writing his memoirs. He also wrote his will. The Nemesis Operation and any activity related to the A.R.F., together with the existence of a former member of the party, now a prominent Soviet artist, were problematic issues for the Soviet intelligence. It appears that this was enough reason to make both the memoirs and author disappear.
The sculptor left the hospital, totally cured. The same day, he had a violent fever and died two days later, on June 6, 1969. His death is still surrounded with mystery.
A museum dedicated to the works of Ara Sarkisian and Hakob Kojoyan was opened in 1993, located on Pushkin Street in Yerevan, near the church of Surp Zoravor. The museum was last renovated in 1980. Recently, the Armenian Students Association raised funds to help catalogue and digitize the important documents and manuscripts housed there, which are in poor condition. The project is being carried out by the Johannissyan Institute, a newly formed research institute in Yerevan.
Previous entries in “This Week in Armenian History” are on the Prelacy’s web site (www.armenianprelacy.org)
| |
|
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST WITH FR. NAREG TERTERIAN
(Pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York)
This week’s podcast: Holy Week Special. Click the image above to listen.
| |
|
April 1-30—Photography exhibit by Tom Vartabedian commemorating the Centennial at Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main Street, showing images of the country and its people, including scenes of the eternal flame at Tzizernagapert. The exhibit is next to the Children’s Room in the upstairs gallery.
April 7—“The Centenary of the Armenian Genocide: What have we learned?” lecture by Dr. Richard Hovannisian, sponsored by Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Kean University, Union, New Jersey, Kean Hall at 7 pm. Admission is free.
April 11—Concert by the Armenian Society Areni Choir, conducted by Armine Vardanyan, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 6 pm, at The Queens Theater in the Park, 14 United Nations Avenue South, Flushing Meadows Park, Corona. Also featuring renowned guest singers and musicians, as well as the Antranig Dance Ensemble. For tickets ($40 and $50): 732-982-7364.
April 12—“A Tribute to Survival,” concert, sponsored by the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee of Rhode Island, featuring The Armenian Chorale of Rhode Island, directed by Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, accompanied by Mari Panosian and symphony orchestra. Guest artists: Gohar Manjelikian, Joanne Mouradjian, Kate Norigian, Debra Takian Pjojian, Elizabeth Souin, Vagharshag Ohanian. Musical instrumental selections by David Ayriyan on Kemancha and David Gevorkian on Duduk. The Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston, directed by Apo Ashjian will perform. Park Theatre, 848 Park Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island, at 3 pm. Free admission and parking. Valet parking available. For information: www.ammri.org.
April 21—The Armenian Poetry Project Presents, “Commemorating the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide: A Reading in Remembrance,” Holy Cross Church, 580 West 187th Street, New York City, 7 pm. For information: Lola Koundakjian, armenianpoetryproject@gmail.com.
April 23—Canonization of the Armenian Martyrs of 1915 in Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia.
April 24—Centennial Memorial Dinner, sponsored by Providence ARF, hosted by the Armenian Cultural Association of America, Inc., Omni Providence Hotel, One West Exchange Street, Providence, Rhode Island. Cocktails 6 pm; dinner 7 pm. Emcee: Honorable Scott Avedisian, Mayor of Warwick; guest speaker, Marian Mesrobian MacCurdy, author of “Sacred Justice: The Voices and Legacy of the Armenian Operation Nemesis.” $50 per person. Reserve by email: acaa.prov.ri@gmail.com or by phone: Raffi Rachdouni 401-226-2305; Paula Burke 401-282-0459.
April 25—Connecticut Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day at the Connecticut State Capitol at 11 am. Keynote speaker: Noted author Chris Bohjalian.
April 25—Armenian Genocide Centennial commemoration sponsored by the Armenian National Committee of Merrimack Valley (Massachusetts), 10 am at Lowell City Hall, following a procession from John Street, led by the Armenian American Veterans. Participants are asked to gather at 9:30 am. Luncheon buffet to follow with the showing of a film.
April 26—Centennial commemoration of Genocide. Joint united Divine Liturgy at St. Vartan Cathedral, New York City. Celebrant, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; homilist, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. To be followed by Times Square gathering “100 Years to Remember.”
April 27—“Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,” by Drew University Center for Holocaust/Genocide Study in Madison, New Jersey at 7 pm. Testimony of Andranik Vartanian (1900-2007), presented by his daughter Susan Vartanian Barba; “Undoing Denial: The Armenian Genocide and Art” presented by Neery E. Melkonian; Concert by the Armenian folk group, Zulal, an a cappella trio will present Armenian village folk melodies. Free and open to the public. RSVP encouraged: (973) 408-3600 or ctrholst@drew.edu.
May 7, 8, 9—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, 5:30 pm, Marriott Marquis.
May 10 to June 4—Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy.
May 12—“Anatolia, Land of Armenians Until the 1915 Armenian Genocide,” presentation by Margaret Tellalian-Kyrkostas, executive director of the Anthropology Museum of the People of New York and the Armenian Cultural Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College, 7 pm in the Lapham Meeting Room at the Port Washington Public Library.
June 3-6—National Representative Assembly hosted by St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.
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 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.
| |
| 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
| |
|
|
|
|
