The magnificent life of Elijah, the great prophet of the Old Testament, is recorded for us in I and II Kings. He was a real but almost legendary figure, like Saint John the Baptist: hairy, dressed in animal skins, coming out of the wilderness to terrify the whole country with his announcements of impending calamity, and then disappearing. Elijah was one of the greatest and most remarkable prophet of the Old Testament. Of his origin, not much is known, except that he was a Thesbite. He appeared on the historical scene during the reign of Achab (9th century B.C.). He delivered to that impious king the message of Yahweh: Israel would be punished by a long drought and Achab's house would fall. He then lived to see the tragic end of Achab. Next we hear of Elijah in connection with Ochozias, Achab's son and successor, to whom he predicted that the injuries received in a fall would be fatal. The end of the earthly life of Elijah came mysteriously. As he was conversing with Eliseus on the hills of Moah, "a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (II Kings 2:11). Together with Moses, he appeared at Christ's transfiguration.

The Prophet Elijah is commemorated on a Sunday because he is the greatest among the prophets; appeared at the Transfiguration as the prophet of "life" and the new covenant; as distinguished from Moses and the old covenant. However, most important is that Elijah did not experience death... but was taken to heaven... hence, like the Holy Mother of God (Theotokos), was enumerated among the heavenly. In the Hymn "Ih Verin"... [Enoch and Elijah in dove-like form...] Elijah is described in a resplendent fashion living in old age like a dove dwelling within the harmony of the heavenly Garden of Eden. Elijah is a highly beloved and dearly cherished Prophet-Saint of the Armenians (and all the Eastern churches) and held in highest esteem among all the saints of the Old Testament. He is THE Messianic prophet who, one might intimate, propels (through Christ) the "Passover" from the Old to the New covenant... and therefore, with Christ offers the restoration of Israel (the NEW Israel) through the "second coming". 

In 287 A.D., after condemning St. Gregory to the pit, King Drdat began persecuting Christians in Armenian. After ordering the execution of Hripsime, Gayane and their companions, Drdat went mad, imagining he was a boar. His sister, St. Khosrovidukht, had a dream that Gregory was still alive and that only he could heal her brother, a dream that she related to Drdat's court. They then sent men to the pit, and to their amazement they discovered that Gregory was indeed alive. When Gregory was taken to Drdat, the ailing King knelt down before Gregory and confessed his sins, saying, "Your God is my God, your religion is my religion." Gregory then resumed his ministry, converting the Armenian nation to Christianity. He baptized the King and the royal family and conducted mass baptisms throughout Armenia. After being anointed bishop by the metropolitan of Caesarea, Leontius (Ghevont), St. Gregory assumed the leadership of the Armenian Church as its first Patriarch-Catholicos, a position he graced for 25 years until his death. The Armenian Church remembers St. Gregory's Emergence from the pit each June. 

By Pontifical letter, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, confirmed that Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimyan, Member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See and Locum Tenens of the Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria, was elected as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Canada.

On May 30 and 31, in the St. Vartan Church of Mississauga, Canada, under the presidency of His Eminence Nathan Hovhannisyan, Locum Tenens of the Diocese, and chaired by Mr. Jacques Stepanyan; the 31st Diocesan Assembly elected Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimyan as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Canada.

Click here to read Fr. Abgar's biography.

Here are the words you have already learned: եւ (yev), սուրբ (soorp), 

Holy Box, Pyx (Srpadoup, Masnadoup)

In some churches where a spare chalice is not used to store the reserved sacrament, a box either round, square or oval in shape may be used for this purpose. It is kept on the middle tier of the Altar Table, sometimes within a more elaborate box called the Ark or Tabernacle of Communion. This larger box is symbolic of the tomb of Christ from which He rose as life-giver to the world.

June 17 - Commemoration of St. Gayane and her Companions

June 19 - Feast of Saints John the Forerunner and Athenogenes the Bishop

June 21 - Feast of St. Gregory the Enlightener's Emergence from the Pit

THE FEASTS OF ST. HRIPSIME 

AND ST. GAYENE

AND THEIR COMPANIONS

WOMEN'S GUILD DAY

     

SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014

THE UNITED STATES"

(In Armenian)

 Saturday, June 28, 2014

at 6 PM

followed by Potluck Dinner

Click here for see the flyer.

HYE CAMP

For campers ages 8 to 15

at Camp Hickory, Ingleside, IL

Two-week Session:

One-week Camp Session: 

July 27 - August 2 (all participants)

One-week Camp Session:

To register visit 

Hye Camp website.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE 

AT HYE CAMP

Hye Camp needs the support of the community.

Please contact 

Debbie DerAsadourian (847.902.7790)

or Kenarr Chiodo, Hye Camp Board Chair

(773.205.6455) if you are able to assist in any of the areas listed above.

CLASS OF 2014 GRADUATES

If you have a graduate in your family or know of someone who is graduating, please send us their information.

 If you are a graduate, please submit the school you are graduating from , the school you will be attending (if applicable), course of study (if applicable), degree earned and future plans.

We are planning to host a reception to honor our graduates on June 29.   

Call or e-mail the Church office  before June 25.

  An evening with

Musical performance by Sima Cunningham

Saturday June 28, 5:00 - 8:00 PM

At Kazarian Studio

122 W. Kinzie St. 2nd floor, Chicago

$20 per person

 Please RSVP by June 20th  [email protected]