ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH 
SHNORHALI MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
August 2022
SHNORHALI SCHOOL SUMMER FUN PROGRAM
 
Among the many fun activities, as a part of the School’s Summer Program, the Shnorhali School students visited the Museum of the Bible on July 30th, where the students participated in an educational tour of the museum and explored the exhibitions. Students also discovered the impact of the Bible on the Modern World, encountered hundreds of rare and beautiful artifacts and handwritten scrolls (including the Armenian Bible), walked through exhibitions telling the stories of the Hebrew Bible, and listened to the chronicles of how the followers of Jesus became a thriving community.
Shnorhali School concluded its Summer Program with another fun event on August 7th, that was dedicated to our Armenian musical heritage. With music specialists Marina and Monika Chamasyan, our students learned about the prominent composer Komitas and his legacy. The students explored our unique and beautiful national musical instruments and learned about their role in our heritage.

The summer program was a wonderful opportunity for students to develop academic and social skills, and stimulate their minds, all while having fun with their Armenian friends. We hope that our summer program has helped to improve our children’s academic performance when they get back to a new school year.
Feast Of The Assumption Of The Holy Mother-Of-God And Name Day Of Our Church

The feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God was observed at St. Mary on August 14. Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian celebrated the Badarak which was followed by the special service of the Blessing of Grapes. 

We are grateful to our parishioners for their continued support. We would like to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Yolande Khanbabian for providing bagged grapes in memory of her late husband Orbel Khanbabian.  

Our deepest appreciation to Aghacan Tufekciyan and the Hacikoglu Family for providing Madagh in the loving memory of their loved ones; Nisan, Asanet, Oski, Hayrabet Akdemir, and Gulbahar Tufekciyan. May God rest their souls in eternal peace.

Later that afternoon we had our 2nd Annual St. Mary Picnic during which our parishioners enjoyed the delicious meals prepared by Sanaz and Raymond Sinanian owners of Böro Kabob https://www.borokabob.com/, and the fellowship with each other. 

Special thanks to St. Mary Parish Council, in particular to Mr. Jack Guiragossian, Treasurer for preparing the bagged grapes ready to be blessed, and Parish Council Chair, Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan for making this event a success. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the efforts of Raffi Sahakyan in organizing the event. We could not do without the helping hands of Aline Guirgaossian, Ani Armani, Arline Diratsuyan, and Takuhi Hallajian.
Our utmost appreciation to all of our Grape and Madagh donors. 
Shnorhali school celebrates the “Day of Knowledge and Education”.

August 28th marked the beginning of the new academic year and St. Mary Church’s Shnorhali School has once again opened its doors to the children in our Armenian community. The school’s Principal and staff of the school heralded the beginning of the school year with the celebrations of Day of Knowledge and Education. Following the tradition, the school’s Administration and staff commenced the first day of the academic year by testing and evaluating the student’s knowledge of the Armenian language, history, and culture. Thereafter, the children and parents full of excitement and anticipation met with the teachers and spend a fun day getting to know each other.

The registration day concluded with the students and their parents’ participating in the Holy Patarag. During Patarag, Father Hovsep Karapetyan performed a special blessing ceremony, stressing the importance of religion, language, culture, and heritage in our lives. He also stressed the significance of the patriotic mission of teaching these values to our children and wished everyone wisdom to make the new academic year a successful year full of new achievements.

School's academic curriculum has been developed to serve the needs and demands of our community. School administration and teachers have painstakingly developed this specialized curriculum in order to provide each student with an individualized approach to learning. This year, a new learning platform, Conversational Armenian, has been introduced to the curriculum. This class will provide interested students with the opportunity to develop fluency in the Armenian language to and practice verbal communication with a native Armenian speaker. History lessons will be taught as a separate subject. And, since music and art are an integral part of our Armenian heritage and culture, the School will also offer music and art classes. Educating our children in religion, Armenian language, Armenian history and culture and the desire to raise and educate a new generation of Armenian students that will help to preserve our heritage and culture, is the primary mission and priority of Shnorhali school.
A Special Prayer Service in memory of the Victims of the Explosion in Yerevan 

On Sunday, August 21st a special Hokehankist Service was offered in remembrance of the victims of the August 14th explosion in the shopping center in Yerevan. The blast which took place at 13:23 local time and claimed the lives of 17 people leaving more than sixty injured.

During the service, a prayer was also offered for the victims of the fire at the Abu Sefein Coptic Church in Giza, Egypt which left 41 dead.
Training—and Inspiring—Our Future Deacons
  
From July 24 to July 31, two youths from the St. Mary parish, Ruben Karapetyan and Van Topjian, attended the deacons’ training program at the St. Nersess seminary in Armonk, NY.  Program directors Dn. Alex Calikyan and Dn. Ari Terjanian were guided by seminary dean Fr. Mardiros Chevian. 

Along with classes and training sessions, the week included a special ceremony in the seminary’s St. Hagop Chapel, where two icons were blessed. The icons of St. Nersess the Graceful and St. Nersess the Great had been donated in honor of seminary pioneers Fr. Karekin Kasparian and Fr. Mardiros Chevian. The participants also had times of fellowship, making new friends, playing basketball, and spending a day at the Point Pleasant Beach in NJ.
When asked about their favorite part of the program, Ruben and Van provided these responses:
·        It was great getting to know the other guys in the group.
·        The chapel services were very relaxing and a good spiritual experience.
·        The day at the beach was a lot of fun.
·        I liked learning about the wedding service.
Baptism and Confirmation

August 20, 2022
Audrey Elise Gharakhania, Stella Lucine Gharakhanian, and Emalyn Gharakhanian
Daughters of Areg Gharakhanian and Perdita Catarina Gharakhanian
Godparents: Shahen and Editte Ghazarian

August 21, 2022
Thomas Boghozian
Son of Artin and Kaitlyn Boghozian
Godparents: Sevan Khatchatoorian and Amanda Stevens


May God bless our newly baptized with His love and may His protection and guidance always be with them.
Wedding

July 2, 2022
Juan De La Ossa & Talar Kachechian
Parents: Fausto & Claudia De La Ossa and Yssay & Lina Kachechian
Best Man: Andres De La Ossa
Maid of Honor: Lara Kachechian

Congratulations and may God make the newly married couple worthy of the desirable crown of Holy Matrimony.
Funeral

August 7, 2022
Hnazant Tahmazian
She is survived by her sons; Khajag (Nevart), Zareh (Maya), Vatche (Taline) Tahmazian, and her brother Sahag (Betty) Dedeyan, grandchildren; Nyrie, Sarine, Garine, Leanne, Nathalie, and Alex, and nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Khatchadour, brother Krikor and sister Nazeli.

August 21, 2022
Ruben Hayrapetyan
He is survived by his wife. Karine Muradyan, son, Areg Hayrapetyan , his sister Narine Hayrapetyan , borther in law and their families 

August 27, 2022
Elfrida Kartashyan
She is survived by her children, Arthur and Naira Babayan, and her grandchildren, Mariam and Joann Khaloyan, and Ani and Lilit Babayan. Click here to read more about Elfrida Kartashyan
Hokehankists - Requiem Services
August 21, 2022
For the Souls of:
the victims of the explosion in a fireworks warehouse in Yerevan, Armenia, and a horrific fire that swept through a Coptic Church in Egypt
Requested by:
Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and St. Mary Parish Council

For the Soul of 
Marie Pashayani
Requested by
Marilyn Adrine Ziver, and Renee Adrine Nalbandian

For the soul of:
Mary Banous
Requested by:
Rita Istepanian

August 28, 2022
For the Soul of :
Archpriest Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian (6th Anniversary)
Requested by:
Diramayr Yeretsgin Anahid Kalayjian, Dr. Zaven and Mrs. Edita Kalayjian and family, Berj Kalayjian, Fr. Avedis and Yn. Karen Kalayjian and family

For the Souls of:
Armenak Boyajian ( 37th Anniversary); Keghanoush Boyajian ( 11th Anniversary) & Sograd Boyajian ( 14th Anniversary)
Requested by:
Molly Boyajian

For the Soul of :
Varuzhan Yenokyan ( 8th Anniversary)
Requested by:
Karine Yenokyan, Artak Azizyan, and grandsons David and Tigran

May God rest their Souls in peace and may His loving favor be with their Loved Ones. 
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church 
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden Street N.W, Washington, DC 20016 
202-363-1923 / www.stmaryaac.org