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E-Bulletin
ST. JAMES ARMENIAN Apostolic CHURCH
Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, Pastor
816 Clark Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Tel: 847-864-6263
July 1 - 7, 2013
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SUNDAY, July 7, 2013
Feast of The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Morning Service - 9:15 AM
Episcopal Divine Liturgy and Ordinations- 10:00 AM
Scripture readings: Wisdom of Solomon 7:25-8:4 Zechariah 14:16-21
1 John 1:1-7
Matthew 16:13-17:13 Jeremiah 1:1-10, 23:5-6, 33:17-18; Hosea 14:9; Acts 6:2-7; 1 Timothy 4:7-16; Luke 10:21-24
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Celebration of the Feast of Transfiguration and
Ordinations at St. James
 Dear Faithful,
This Sunday is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a weekend of festivities at St. James. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, will visit our parish this weekend and will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and ordain altar servers.
On Saturday, July 6, His Eminence will ordain Jesse Arlen, Antranik Balian, Haig Hagopian, Malkoon Malkoonian, Vartkes Minatiskan, and Andrew Rejebian to the rank of acolyte during the Vespers at 6 pm. A reception will follow in the Nishan Hall
On Sunday, July 7, the Feast of the Transfiguration, Archbishop Barsamian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, with the Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, parish pastor, assisting. Aras Korogluyan and Arie Zakarian will be ordained to the diaconate. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. Parish Council and Dr Hovhan would like to ask you to be specifically punctual to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, particularly in light of the fact that the festal entry of the bishop and other uniquely episcopal rituals as well as the deacon's ordination take place in the first part. |
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How to address the Bishop
Greeting- Asdvadz Ognagan, Srpazan Hayr
Verbal Greeting- Srpazan Hayr or Your Eminence
Formal Greeting - Kerashnorh
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Greeting the Clergy
The greeter should approach the clergy to ask his blessing by kissing his right hand. Why do we do this? According to the canon of Ordination of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the hands and the forehead of the priest to be are anointed by the Holy Muron (Holy Oil) during the Ordination Service. That holy anointment imparts to the priest that same mysterious power which was given to the apostles by Jesus Christ Himself, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be lost in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
This is why, when we meet clergy, we approach them while extending the proper greeting based on their rank while we kiss their right hand, receiving it into our own hand(s). This is the traditional way of greeting an Armenian priest and is more respectful and appropriate than simply shaking their hand. They have the authority to bless and sanctify and have dedicated their lives to Christ and His Church. It is for this reason that we treat them with special respect.
When we kiss a clergyman's right hand, we show respect for his very office and calling. So, be the one who knows our Tradition and doesn't shake the priest's hand but kisses it, thereby asking for his blessing.
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Feast of the Transfiguration
Name of the Feast
The Armenian term for Transfiguration is "Aylagerbootiun". The full name of the Feast of Transfiguration is "The Feast of the Brilliant Form of Christ Our God On Mount Tabor". The Feast is also called "Vartavar." -"The Feast of Roses"
The Bible and the Feast
The Feast of Transfiguration is the mid-summer celebration of the Theophany revelation of Jesus Christ our God on mount Tabor. The Gospel of the day proclaims "He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as radiant and shining as the light" Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter, 1:16-18.
Origins of the Feast
The history of the Feast is abundant with the spirituality of summer. In the ancient lands of Armenia mid-summer is the time of the year when the sun is the most brilliant and the rays are the strongest. The sun is at the highest point above the mountains; the days are the longest; and the days are the warmest and God's loving grace of water and sun and earth and man's labor are ripened for harvest.
History of the Feast
The Feast of Transfiguration is rooted in the Summer Solstice feasts of antiquity and Mithra, Zoroaster and the fertility rites of the un goddess Anahid. It was said that where ever she had walked "Roses" grew. Her mid-summer feast was called "Vartavar" - day of roses and the people celebrated the Sun and threw water, as a sign of fertility upon one another.
The first Armenian Christians, (34 AD), saw in the person of Jesus Christ the fulfillment of their spirituality. He was the true "Light of the world:" John 1:12; "By whom the sun shall appear to us from on high to give light to our darkness and to make light dawn upon them that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the ways of peace" Luke 1 :69-79. Christ is the true summer "Sun" Matthew 17:2 whose brilliant love shines upon us. Jesus is the source of living water which gives eternal life, Jn 4:10 &13; 7:37-39. Saint Gregory the Enlightener, a direct successor the Holy Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, Christianized the celebration of summer by telling the pagan Armenians to believe in Jesus Christ and to "Give your roses to Christ and not to the filthy un goddess Anahid."
The Meaning of the Feast
The feast of Transfiguration is the first great jubilee and daghavar (tabernacle) feast of the mystery of Jesus after the Feasts of His marvelous and wonderful resurrection and the Feast of the Coming of the Holy Spirit. This Great and Holy Feast contemplates the transformation of Jesus on the mountain, Mt 17:1-8; Mk 2:8; Lk 9:28-36; 2 Pt 1; 16-18; and declares the revelation of the mystery of the eternal glory of Jesus as the divine Son of God. This post resurrection feast fulfills the coming of the Holy Spirit and the postponed understanding of Jesus death and resurrection and glorification, Mt 17:9; Mk 9:9and celebrates and proclaims the glorious transformation of the body, body and spirit, of all the righteous, after the resurrection, of all the faithful, at the Second Coming of Christ.
Today
This Armenian mid-summer Feast is a special time for our families to celebrate the grace and blessings of summer, of the mountains, water, the sun, roses, and the brilliant Theophany of the divinity of Christ and the harvest of blessings God gives us. The great Theophany, for which we prepare to celebrate, will be, after our own resurrection, at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ who will come again in the Glory of the Father.
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Commemoration of the Prophet Isaiah
 The Prophet Isaiah is the first of the four major prophets of the Old Testament. Hewas born and spent almost his entire life in the city of Jerusalem, in the eight century B.C. The 66 chapters of the Book of Isaiah are considered to be an ocean of wealth, concerned with issues related to God, justice, sin, religion and various social ills. Being an educated and intelligent man, he was the spiritual guide to four kings of Jerusalem, expressing God's will on many national matters. His book, written in an unsurpassed style and spirit, is the link between the Old and the New Testaments.
Isaiah is also called the "Evangelist Prophet" for his prophesizing on the coming of the Messiah - Jesus Christ. In the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 61, the prophet comes forth as a servant sent by the Lord's Soul "to bring the good news to the poor and to take care of the desperate and hopeless." Christ would later read the words of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, as He became the realization of that mission in the world (Luke 4:16-21).
According to tradition, Isaiah was killed by particularly brutal means.
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A New iBook on the Transfiguration
The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America is pleased to announce the release of its latest electronic book for the Apple iPad: "Transfiguration." We invite you to download this free book, and to embark on a journey through the story of Christ's miraculous transformation on Mt. Tabor.
The book relates the Gospel story of the Transfiguration and introduces the ways in which the feast is celebrated in the Armenian Church (this year, the observance will take place on Sunday, July 7). The digital book is packed with interactive features, including:
- Video: watch the story come alive on your screen
- Music: listen to the hymns of the Transfiguration in a virtual sanctuary
- Audio: listen to the Transfiguration story in English and Armenian
- Photo galleries: explore artists' renderings of the events on Mt. Tabor
- A "Lexicon" page: learn Armenian words and names associated with this feast day
"Transfiguration" is the first in a series of interactive books the Diocese plans to publish in the coming year as part of the Diocesan theme, "Living the Gospel of Christ." The series will walk readers through the five major feasts of the Armenian Church.
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Please take the time to rate our new publication and to write a review on the iBookstore.
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Summer'13 Issue of
Deseelk (Vision) Newsletter
The Summer'13 issue of Deseelk (Vision) Newsletter can be found on our website as a PDF document.
If you are unable to open the file, you may need to update your Acrobat Reader. This can be done by visiting www.adobe.com. |
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Altar Guild's Wish List
1. Candle followers for two side altars- 4 ($15 each)
2. Banners- 2 (pledged)
3. Jajanch, Radiance (Ostensorium, monstrance) - 2 ($300 each)
4. Painting for the main altar (pledged)
5. Painting for the left altar (of St. Gregory the Illuminator)
6. Painting of St. James of Nisibis
7. Curtains to cover the overhead storage areas in the vestry and choir rooms (donated)
8. Priest's "half- vestments" ($500)
9. Set of a chalice veil and a Sudarium (linen-holder) for the Gospel book ($150)
10. Children's albs (Shabeegs) ($100 each)
11. Large Silver Hand-cross for Weddings and The Ceremony of the Blessing of Water ($1800)
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New Stair Lift makes St. James accessible
New stair was installed at the side entrance of the church. It was made possible by a donation from George W. Jigamian, The Coloian and Groh Families and The Ipjian Family.
If assistance is needed, please ask a member of the Parish Council. |
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FEASTS
July 8 - Remembrance of the dead
July 9 - Commemoration of the Prophet Isaiah
July 13 - Sts. Thaddeus the Apostle and Sandukht the Virgin
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DO YOU KNOW?
You can submit your membership dues or make a donation on-line through
St. James PayPal page?
It's fast and secure.
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2013 ST. NERSESS SUMMER CONFERENCES FOR YOUTH
High School Session "B"
July 29 - August 6, 2013
Post High-School Session
August 8-13, 2013
Download application here.
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2013 DIOCESAN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS
HYE Camp
For campers ages 8 to 15
Housed at Camp Hickory, Ingleside, IL
Staff Training: July 25 - 28, Two-week Session: July 28 - August 10
One-week Camp Session:
July 28-August 3 (all participants)
One-week Camp Session:
August 4-10 (available for those unable to attend week 1)
To register visit
www.armenianchurch-ed.net
For more information, contact:
Jennifer E. Morris, Youth Outreach Coordinator
[email protected]
(248) 648-0702
Please note that registration deadlines are rapidly approaching,
and medical forms signed by a doctor are required.
Financial assistance is available- ask Der Hovhan.
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OPPENING DAY
SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013
at
CAMP HICKORY
26202 West Nippersink Road, Ingleside, IL 60041
Directions at www.camphickory.com
Opening Day Schedule
2:00 p.m.
Arrival of 2013 Hye Campers, parents and guests. Tour of facilities.
4:30 p.m.
Opening prayers and introduction of staff in the Soorp Haroutiun Chapel.
5:00 p.m.
Dinner (free-will offering).
6:30 p.m.
Parents and guests depart.
All former and future Hye Campers,
staff members, interested parents and friends of Hye Camp are invited to attend.
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ST. JAMES VIDEO
This video was produced by St. James parish to feature our various ministries, programs and outreach efforts. Click above to watch the video. |
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AGBU YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CHICAGO
5K RUN FOR HYE CAMP
Sunday, July 21, 2013
6:30 am - at 8:30 am
Grant Park
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All parishioners who wish to have their homes blessed call Der Hovhan (847) 644-7389 to make arrangements. Have a piece of bread, dish of salt and glass of water available for the blessing.
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CALL FOR PHOTOS
The Parish is looking for old photos for the website and archive.
Anything historical having to do with the Parish, Church Building, Church organizations and events or Armenian community in Evanston. We are also looking for photos of our past pastors. If you can help contact [email protected] or 847-864-6263.
Your photos will be scanned and immediately returned.
Help us Celebrate the Parish 70 year anniversary!
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PARKING ON SUNDAYS
Parking is FREE on Saturdays and Sundays at the large condominium building at Clark & Benson (Quartet Copies). Enter the garage from Benson street. |
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MIDWEST ARMENIAN PICNICS
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July 7
July 14
July 21
August 4
August 10-11
August 17-18
August 18
August 25
September 8
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Holy Resurrection Armenian Church, S. Milwaukee, WI
Sts. Joachim and Anne Armenian Church, Palos Heights, IL
St. John the Baptist Armenian Church, Milwaukee, WI
St. Mesrob Armenian Church, Racine, WI
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Chicago
Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church, Glenview, IL
St George Armenian Church, Waukegan, IL
St. James Armenian Church, Evanston, IL
Knights of Vartan (Proesel Park in Lincolnwood, IL)
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Please sign up for a Coffee Hour
Coffee hour tables can be simple or complex. Sometimes when people do a coffee hour table they put out coffee cakes and doughnuts; sometimes they put out some fruits. Others put out entire lunch. We encourage you to sign up for coffee hour a couple of times each year. It can be simple or an entire meal - either is fine. The sign-up sheet is in the church hall.
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