Sunday, September 28, 2014
Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak
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Morning Service:
Divine Liturgy:
Bible Readings:
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9:15 AM
10:00 AM
Proverbs 3:18-26: Isaiah 65:22-25;
Galatians 6;14-18; Mathew 24:30-36
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HOKEHANKISD- REQUIEM SERVICE
For the souls of:
Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I (20 years)
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan (25 years)
Armenian Soldiers recently killed in Armenia and Nagorno- Karabakh
Setrak Agoian (40 days)
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Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak
 According to the historian Agathangelos, St. Hripsime and her companions, running away from the Roman Emperor Dioklethianos, who had begun persecutions against Christians, reached Armenia and found shelter in Vagaharshapat. However, before reaching Vagharshapat, they stopped at Mount Varak just to the southeast of Lake Van. At Mount Varak, St. Hripsime took off from her neck the relic of the Holy Cross she had been carrying and gave it to the dutiful monks living on the mountain, asking them to preserve it in one of their caves. There the sacred relic remained hidden until the seventh century.
In 653 A. D., the monk Todik and his disciple Hovel were praying at Mountain Varak and asked God to reveal to them the site of the hidden relic. Suddenly twelve bright columns appeared around the mountain, and the sign of the Cross was seen among the columns. For twelve days the bright columns remained visible even from a distance, and this joyful news spread everywhere.
Nerses the Creator, who was the Catholicos of All Armenians at that time, and Captain Vard, son of the Knight Theodoros, upon learning of this miracle went to the Mountain to personally witness it. With the support of the Armenian people, the Pontiff built a magnificent church, which in honor of the miracle he named Holy Cross Church. The Pontiff Nerses also wrote the marvelous hymn "By
Means of the Most Powerful Sign", which is sung in Armenian churches on the day of the feast.
The sacred relic remained at Mount Varak until 1021 when the Armenian King Senekerim Artsrouni brought it to Sebastia. After the King's death, the relic was transferred back to its old home and remained there until 1651 when it was taken to Khoshab.
In 1655, the relic was then taken to the Church of the Holy Godmother in Van, which was renamed the Church of the Holy Sign. This Monastery became prominent when Khrimian Hayrik established a printing house (its first publication was Artsiv Vaspurakan) and school there, hoping to make the monastery an educational center.
The relic was preserved there until April 30, 1915 when the Turkish army destroyed the monastery during the siege of Van as part of the Armenian Genocide; today the ruins of the Church of the Holy Sign are still visible.
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Commemoration of Christ's Seventy-Two Disciples
 In addition to His Twelve Apostles, Jesus also had Seventy-Two Disciples whom He sent out to "preach the Good News to all nations." Christ sent out His Apostles and Disciples two by two "like lambs among wolves" to go ahead of Him to every town and city where He Himself would soon follow, saying to them, "Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me..." (Luke 10:16).
There are hardly any differences between Christ's Twelve Apostles and His Seventy-Two Disciples. They have the same power and authority and the same mission (Luke 10:9; 9:1). Unfortunately, the names of the Seventy-Two disciples, like the names of the Forty Innocent Children Martyred in Bethlehem, are not mentioned in the Gospels and are known only to God in the Sacred Book of the Heavenly Kingdom.
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Prayer of the Week
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O Benevolent God, preserve from misfortune the peace that you have given us, save from evil the freedom that you have granted us, and direct all of our lives towards good works. Remember in your mercy the souls of our many martyrs, who have placed themselves on the altar of our nation's liberation, and make them worthy of the luminous, immortal and heavenly crown. Have mercy on all those who have worked and labored for the liberation of our nation and the building of our fatherland. Preserve the Republic of Armenia and aid all of our ministers and generals, troops and soldiers, by keeping them in peace. O Lord our God, preserve in peace the Catholicoi of our nation and all of the clergy of your Holy Church.
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St. James Armenian School Opens Its Doors for Joyful Students
 On September 14, St. James held its annual Sunday School Open House and Home Blessing to inaugurate the new school year. The Parish Council, Sunday School Administrator and Der Hovhan would would like to thank all those who contributed to the recent renovations to our Sunday School classrooms (click here to see photos): an anonymous donor and Mrs. Libby Baronian for monetary donations; Mrs. Libby Baronian for donating two bookcases; Mr. Gentre Vartan for furniture refinishing; Mr. Hovsep Babayan and Mrs. Anna Baghdasarian for repainting and carpet cleaning; Mr. Alen Babayan for fixing lights and doing other electrical maintenance; Yn. Narine and ACYOA Jrs. for organizing nursery; Oscar Tatosian for donating rugs, and Meg Kamajian for replenishing all of the supplies in the Sunday School First Aid cabinet.
New this year, starting October 5, our Sunday School will begin offering Armenian language lessons for young parishioners immediately following Divine Liturgy/Sunday School. Ask Der Hayr for more details.
Please support one of the most important ministries at St. James. Bring your children and grandchildren and give them a gift of learning about the history, practice, and structure of the Armenian Church while building strong friendships and having fun!
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St. James Planning and Strategy Meeting
To All St. James Leadership and Interested Members:
Please join the Parish Council in a planning and strategy meeting on Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 4:00 until 8:00 PM.
The agenda is as follows:
1. Briefly review accomplishments and events of 2014,
2. Determine measurable goals for 2015,
3. Develop and finalize 2015 event calendar and coordinate events with all intra-church organizations.
2015 promises to be a year full of meaningful observances including the 100th Anniversary of the Genocide, Canonization of our Holy Martyrs, and the 70th Anniversary of the Consecration of St. James.
We cannot stress enough the importance that each organization be present to ensure the coordination and ultimate success of each event and of our year. Please come prepared with a list of events and dates that your organization is planning for 2015.
Thank you in advance for your participation and leadership!
St. James Parish Council
N.B. Dinner will be served and childcare will be provided to ensure full participation.
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Loving Hearts- Serving Hands
New Ministry at St. James
Volunteers are needed for the newly established St. James Loving Hearts- Serving Hands initiative. The goal of our Parish Council is to provide assistance to parishioners in need due to illness, accidents, or other dilemmas. The Pastor and Parish Council would like to lead the parish by reaching out and helping in any way possible. Volunteers can help in many ways including reading, visiting, mending, repairing, driving a parishioner to an appointment, preparing a meal for a shut-in or assisting in some other way.
As needs arise and are brought to the attention of Der Hovhan or the Parish Council, we will need an established list of volunteers whom we may contact to assist these parishioners.
Volunteering your time and talents will ease the burden of others. Please contact Debbie DerAsadourian ([email protected] or 847-259-6053), Outreach Coordinator, or sign up in the church hall, if you are able to help.
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Clergy Liturgical Vestments
GOTI (Belt)
GOTI (Zone ot Cincture) is a riband of about two or three inches wide and long enough to go round the waist. Usually it is of the same material as the cope. It has a buckle in front. It is worn by the celebrant over the shapik and p'orurar, at the waist.
Goti symbolizes faith which gives strength to the soul. It represents also the priestly authority of binding and loosing.
HOGHAT'AP' (Sandals)
HOGHAT'AP' (Sandals). These are like ordinary slippers, sometimes elaborately embroidered on rich material, and figures of snakes and scorpions represented over the heels on the inside, referring to Ps. 91:13 (according to the Septuagint).
Church sandals must be worn by all who go up on the Bema or serve at the Altar. In some churches it is customary also for all who stand in the Chancel to wear sandals.
From "Vestments and Vessels Used During the Divine Liturgy"
by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan
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Let's Learn Armenian
The Badarak, not counting the priest's prayers, is about 4,700 words long but has only 1,400 different roots, of which 200 constitute approximately 80% of the text. Եւ (Yev = and) is the most common word; it occurs 438 times and constitutes nearly 10% of the text. This means that if you knew only the word եւ, you'd \already understand 1 out of every 10 words of the Mass. Moreover, if you knew 199 other words and their variants, you would understand 8 out of every 10.
Over the next few months, each week you can learn 2 of the 50 most commonly used words in the Badarak here:
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Armenian
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Phonetic
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English
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եկիր, եկեալ
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yegir, yegyal
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կեանց, կեցո
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gyank, getso
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live, save
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Here are the words you have already learned: եւ (yev), սուրբ (soorp), ի (ee), Տէր (der), Աստուած (Asdvadz), օրհնեա, օրհնեալ (օrhnya, orhnyal), ես, է (es, e), իմ (im), Քո, քեզ, դու (ko, kez, tu), Ինք, իւր (ink, yur), մեր, մեք, մեզ (mer, mek, mez), հայր (hayr), որդի (vorti), հոգի (hoki), թող (togh), փորձութիւն (portsutyun), փրկեա, փրկիչ (prgya, prgich), արարիչ (araritch), չար (char), փառք ի բարցունս (park i partsuns), տուր, տայ (dur, da), խաչ (khach), մարմին (marmin), հաց (hats), արիւն (aryun), գինի (kini), գառն (karn), լույս (luys), որ, ով (vor, ov), գովեմք (kovemk), լի, լցաք (li, ltsak), մատիք (madik), հաւատ (havad), յոյս (huys), սէր ( ser), շնորհք ( shnork).
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Altar Guild's Wish List
1. Two jajanch radiances (ostensorium). $300-600 each . Pledged.
2. Painting of St. Taddeus. $1000. Not pledged.
3. Painting of St. Bartholomew. $1000. Not pledged.
4. Painting of St. Stephen the Protodeacon. $1000. Not pledged.
5. Priest's 'half-vestments'. $500. Not pledged.
6. Censer stand. $400. Pledged
Sunday School's Wish List
1. Cabinet for storage of books and supplies. Not pledged.
2. Room furniture for students and teachers. Not pledged.
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Calendar of worship services and events at St. James
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September 28
October 1
October 5
October 12
October 25
October 25
November 5
November 8
November 15
December 3
December 13
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"Holy Land Pilgrimages" presentation
Midday Hour (12:00 Noon)
Soup Kitchen Fundraising
Celebrating Armenian Cultural Month
Fall Food Bazaar
Saturday Evening Service - Kirakamatits (5:00 PM)
Midday Hour (12:00 Noon)
Parish Council and Church organizations meeting
Saturday Evening Service - Kirakamatits (5:00 PM)
Midday Hour (12:00 Noon)
Saturday Evening Service - Kirakamatits (5:00 PM)
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FEASTS
September 29 - Commemoration of St. Davit of Dvin and Saint Martyrs Dambeos and Dambeuhie
September 30 - Commemoration of St. Eustatheos, his Wife Theophista and their two sons, and the Virgins Yermone and Nektarine
October 2 - Commemoration of Princes St. Sahag and Hamazasp Artsrounie
October 4 - Commemoration of Christ's seventy-two Disciples
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ST. JAMES CHAPTER OF ACYOA
cordially invites you and your family to a series of short presentations
JOURNEYS
THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
after Divine Liturgy
"MY JOURNEY TO THE HOLY LAND"
Krikor Paylan
and
"WORSHIPING AT HOLY PLACES"
Deacon Arie Zakarian
Krikor Paylan was one of 29 youth to make a 10-day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Primate, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.
Dn. Arie Zakarian was among the select group of twelve deacons who traveled to the Holy Land for our Church's first ever Deacons Training Retreat in Jerusalem.
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THE DAUGHTERS OF VARTAN
(CHICAGO CHAPTER)
invites you to attend its annual
SOUP KITCHEN FUNDRAISER
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2014
Following Divine Liturgy
Proceeds from this Soup Kitchen will benefit many organizations including the Bay Area Friends of Armenia BAFA),
School Projects, Armenia Eye Care Project, Armenia Wellness Center, the Armenian-American Medical Society of California (Juvenile Diabetes Project) and Hye Camp.
Suggested Donation - Adults - $10.00 Children under 10 - $5.00
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In Celebration of
the Armenian Cultural Month
The Cultural Committee of
St. James Armenian Apostolic Church
Invites you to meet
MICHAEL MENENDIAN
Co-founder and Artistic Director
of Raven Theatre
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2014
After Divine Liturgy
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St. James Armenian Church (Evanston)
FALL FOOD BAZAAR:
The cuisine of Georgian Armenians
SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2014
12:00 noon to 8:00 PM
This event is sponsored and organized by St. James Cultural Committee as part of its Celebrating Our Diaspora initiative. Each year, the Cultural Committee will host a Fall Food Bazaar featuring the cuisine of various corners of the Armenian diaspora. Future years will feature the Turkish, Iraqi, and Iranian Armenian communities. The Fall Food Bazaar is but one taste of celebrating the diversity of our St James parish community.
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ONLINE BIBLE STUDY
October 9 and 23
November 6 and 20
December 4 and 18
8:00 PM
If you prefer face-to-face Bible study, please join Der Hovhan at St. James
at that time. He will be leading the Bible study from his office.
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ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND
anuary 12-22, 2015.
The Eastern Diocese will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from January 12 to 22, 2015. It will coincide with the celebration of Christmas in Bethlehem-which is observed on January 18-19 (according to the Julian Calendar).
Click here to access the online registration form.
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ALTAR FLOWERS
Please consider donating flowers to adorn the Holy Altar. You may either bring flowers or make a monetary donation towards the purchase.
Sign-up sheet is in the Nishan Hall.
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E-BULLETIN ARCHIVE IS NOW AVAILABLE
Missed or accidentally deleted any of the previous E-Bulletins?
You can read all our previous issues in the archive here.
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PARKING
Parking is FREE on Sundays at the parking garage on Maple street. Main entrance on Maple Avenue & Clark Street.
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