ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH
SHNORHALI MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2020
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SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS SERVICES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
EVE OF THE THEOPHANY AND NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Evening Service and Reading of the Scriptures 6:30 PM
Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021
FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY AND NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST
Morning Service 10:00 AM
Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM
Blessing of the Water 12:00 Noon
Click here to donate Christmas Yughakin as a Gift of Love in memory or in honor of your loved ones
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Ձեզ եւ մեզ Մեծ Աւետիս:
Քրիստոս Ծնաւ եւ Յայտնեցաւ։
Օրհնեալ է Յայտնութիւնը Քրիստոսի։
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To you and us good news!
Christ is born and revealed among us.
Blessed is the revelation of Christ.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church –
Artsakh Aid Summary - 2020
While 2020 ended up being a challenging year for all of us and the global world community due to Covid-19, it ended up being an especially devastating year for our brothers and sisters in Artsakh and Armenia. With thousands of deceased and wounded heroes, tens of thousands of internally displaced people, territorial concessions, billions of dollars in property damage, and resulting political instability, 2020 will be remembered as one of the worst years in Armenia’s recent history.
Within a matter of hours after the start of the war on September 27th, the Armenian community of the greater Washington DC area was hard at work on several fronts – raising awareness, petitioning government officials and organizations, protesting and demonstrating, calling for boycotts and divestments, and, most importantly, donating money, supplies, and time.
St. Mary Church as well as several organizations and individuals acting under the auspices of St. Mary, organized several successful fundraising activities to donate money and supplies during the last 3 months of the year to support Artsakh and Armenia. As a result of these activities, we raised over $95,000 in cash, over $55,000 in goods and supplies that were shipped to Armenia (2,300lbs, 67 boxes), and close to $35k through an external BBQ event and associated match. This extraordinary result is a testament to our unity, generosity, and communal spirit.
While the war is over, the situation in Artsakh and Armenia is still very tense. Armenia is going through political, economic, and military turmoil, there are still many unanswered questions, and there are many unmet needs. We should stay united in support of Armenia and Artsakh, and we should continue our efforts to help rebuild and strengthen our homeland.
We would like to thank our organizers, volunteers, and all participants for their selfless dedication. We would also like to thank our parishioners, members of the larger Armenian community, and everyone else who stepped forward and helped our cause for their generosity. God bless you all!
Presented by,
Bagrat Bayburtian
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St. Mary Church's 88th Anniversary
On December 13 St. Mary Church Celebrated her 88th Anniversary. In place of the usual banquet and speeches, there was a solemn program in the church sanctuary after Badarak on Sunday.
There were appropriate music and recitations by our Choirmaster Edita Kaladjian accompanied by Karine Muradyan, Deacon Garegin Vardanyan, and our Shnorhali school students Areg Parvanyan, Karina Bayburtyan, Raffi Harutunyan, Marina Mamikonyan, Anni Nishanian, and Avet Mkrtchyan.
Special Requiem Service for the Souls of Brave Soldiers and Citizens of the Armenian Nation Who Died Courageously Defending our Sacred Land of Artsakh, and for the souls of all St. Mary's Departed Dedicated Parishioners and Loved Ones was conducted after Badarak.
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Women's Guild Annual Christmas Bake Sale
On Sunday, December 13, the Women’s Guild held its annual Christmas Bake Sale in carry-out style. The beautiful warm weather brought out many last-minute shoppers adding to the already popular online sales. The Women’s Guild sends a heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers who baked and donated to help ensure the success of this event. The Women’s Guild also thanks the amazing community for its generosity in supporting their events.
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Shnorhali School Year-End Virtual Hantes
Despite the numerous challenges and difficulties we've all faced during this COVID-19 pandemic, our Shnorhali School was able to organize a full semester of virtual classes to help support our children's continued religion and Armenian language education.
The Virtual Pilot Program relied on the support of volunteers from our community for religion classes. For Armenian language classes, the school worked with a group of three teachers from Yerevan for classes in both Eastern and Western Armenian.
Maintaining our children's connection to the Church, to their faith, and to their Armenian language and identity are critical elements of our collective mission.
This past Sunday, the school celebrated the accomplishment of our children through a virtual end-of-year commemoration via zoom. Though we all missed being in the same place together, we were grateful for the opportunity to gather and revel in each others' virtual company.
With the Parish Council's approval, the Shnorhali Virtual Program will continue for a second semester, January-May 2021. Please be on the lookout for details and information in the days ahead to register your children to participate in this unique and impactful project. We hope to be able to bring the children back to the classrooms for in-person studies in Fall 2021.
Our utmost appreciation goes to Mr. Ruben Harutunian for his leadership and dedication as Shrnorhali school coordinator.
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Serving the Church
In recent weeks, one of our young parishioners Seandor Emerson has been bringing his invaluable service to St. Mary Armenian Church. He has been mending sanctuary pew books and Bibles and organizing the paper supplies closet. He also did a wonderful job mowing the church lawn and cleaning the entire property from leaves.
Seandor is a Boy Scout in Troop 52 and he is completing his Merit Badge Citizenship and the Community Service Project. He is planning to continue to serve in the New Year as well. At St. Mary, we are very proud of him and wish him success in his education and endeavors.
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The Blessing of Pomegranates
A beautiful service of the Blessing of Pomegranates took place at St. Mary Church on Sunday, December 27. Throughout the centuries, the pomegranate has been woven into Armenian architecture, cuisine, art, manuscripts, literature and liturgical vestments as it represents life, fertility, and abundance. In 2015 the Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Church, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenian, Introduced a new service for the Blessing of the Pomegranates, one of the seven biblical species of fruits and grains, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Pomegranates were blessed after the Badarak and distributed to the faithful with a wish to bring prosperity and abundance in the year 2021.
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Baptism and Confirmation
December 18, 2020
Eloise Emilia Sigmund
Daughter of Donald Wright Sigmund and Natalie Grigorian
Godparents: Adrik Shant Grigorian, Edward Stone, and Susan Cruden
May God bless our newly-baptized with His love and may His protection and guidance always be with her.
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Funeral
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020
Arthur Sarkis Satian
He is survived by his wife Suleima Satian, former wife, Sylva Satian, his
three daughters, Taleen, Nicole, and Allisson, his mother, Margie Satian,
father, Sarkis Satian, his step-mother Mary Satian, his sister, Rosemary,
and his best friend who is like a brother, Varouj, his step-siblings Heather,
Holly and Heath, along with many loving cousins, nephews, and nieces.
May the Lord rest Arthur Satian's soul in peace and grant His comforting Holy Spirit to the family members and friends.
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Hokehankists - Requiem Services
December 6, 2020
For the souls of:
All the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia
Requested by:
Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and the Parish Council
For the Soul of:
Gulbenk Sivasli
Requested by:
Koseian and Sivaslian Families
December 13, 2020
For the Souls of:
All St. Mary's Departed Dedicated Parishioners and Loved Ones.
For the Souls of:
All Brave Soldiers and Citizens of the Armenian Nation Who Died Courageously Defending our Sacred Land of Artsakh.
December 20, 2020
For the Soul of:
Archbishop Sebuh Chuljyan (40th day)
For the souls of:
The Brave Soldiers and Citizens of the Armenian Nation, who died courageously defending Artsakh and Armenia
For the Soul of:
Hripsime and Isahak Simon
Requested by:
Harutyun Simon
December 27, 2020
For the Soul of:
Donna McClure
Requested by:
Son, Sean McClure;
Daughter-in-law Suzanna Simonyan; Grandchildren Mariam, Alfred, and Edmund.
For the Souls of:
AraxiBostanian (first anniversary), Theodore Kobrin, Sarkis and Esther Bostanian, Dikran and Armina Bostanian, John and Elizabeth Shanlian, Joyce Elizabeth Shanlian, Avedis and Kohar Shanlian, and Kerop and Sarah Arsenian
Requested by:
Melanie Kobrin (daughter of Araxi Bostanian and Theodore Kobrin);
Dennis Shanlian and Cynthia Shanlian Reid (cousins)
May God rest Their Souls in peace and may His loving favor be with their loved ones.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden Street N.W, Washington, DC 20016
202-363-1923 / www.stmaryaac.org
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