October 9

TOP STORY   

Who Were the Holy Translators?

This Saturday, October 10, is the annual feast day for a group of saints unique to the Armenian Church: the Holy Translators. The Armenian Church calendar lists the following saints under that title: Sahag the Parthian, Mesrob Mashdots, Yeghishe Vartabed, Movses the Grammarian, David the Invincible, Gregory of Narek, and Nersess Shnorhali of Hromgla.

The English word “translator” hardly does justice to the Armenian word tarkmanich. To our ances­tors the word tarkmanich had the meaning not only of translator, but also of commentator, narrator, writer, poet, rhetorician, historian, intellec­tual, and philosopher.

For this reason, the group of saints labeled as Holy Translators includes the familiar names of Sahag and Mesrob, but also the names of a 5th-century historian, a 6th-century grammarian, a 6th-century philosopher, a 10th-century poet, and a 12th-century theologian.

The Translators are considered major saints of the Armenian Church for their efforts to bring spiritual and intellectual enlightenment to the Armenian people. Their mission began when Mesrob Mashdots, under the inspiration of God and the sponsorship of Catholicos Sahag, created the Armenian alphabetic script in A.D. 406. He undertook the task primarily to trans­late the Holy Scriptures into Armenian; but the effort ignited a decades-long “Golden Age” of cultural flourishing, which saw schools established, a new generation educated, and the word of God transmitted across Armenia and its neigh­boring regions.

Learn more about the Holy Translators by clicking here.. And this Saturday, try to reflect on the great mission they led—and the incomparable gift we have inherited from them.

Above: Detail of Krikor Khanjian’s masterful mural, “The Creation of the Armenian Alphabet” (1992-94).

October 11, 2026

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

9:30 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:00 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Marina Gagikyan

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr.Garbis Chubukian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 19:1-11

Galatians 2:1-10

Mark 12:35-44

Prayer of the week

O Lord, sanctify those who have greeted in love the beauty of your house. Glorify us with your divine power and forsake not those who put their trust in you. Grant peace to the whole world and to all your people.

   Keep watch over your faithful people, Lord. Remember those who have sacrificed in your name, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

 HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE 

For the Soul of:

Rose Halajian (40 days), Serarpe and Onnig Halajian, Nazenig and Hovaness Cherishian, Berjouhi and Karnig Halajian, Maryann KInoian, Araxi Cherishian and Steve Cherishian 

Requested by:

Nancy Kolenick 



For the Soul of: 

Rafic Movsaseyan ( 7th anniversary)

Requested by:

Souren and Narine Movsaseyan

For the Soul of:

Barkev Kibarian(10th anniversary)

Requested by:

Mary Ann Kibarian, William, Maral, Charlotte Rose and Freddie Skelsey  

For the Soul of :

Bruce Hanessian (3rd anniversary)

Requested by :

Julia Hanessian and Family

Hospitality table is hosted by:

Kolenick & Hanessian Families



Altar Flowers are donated by:

Kibarian-Skelsey family

To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service 

Please contact the Church Office

by 12:00 Noon on Thursday

202-363-1923

or click here to see the form

Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks

Celebrating 78 Years of Flavor and Fellowship

The 78th Annual Fall Food Festival of St. Mary Armenian Church, held on October 2-4, once again filled our parish hall with the aroma of beloved Armenian dishes, the warmth of friendship, and the joyful spirit of community.

What began decades ago as a food festival has grown into a cherished celebration of faith, heritage, and fellowship, welcoming parishioners, neighbors, and guests from near and far.

May God bless all who contributed to this year's festival and grant us many more years to gather, serve, and celebrate together.

We are profoundly grateful to the four generations of volunteers who donated their time and talents to make our festival a success.

As true Christians you took a lead, volunteered freely, shared your knowledge with others, and encouraged one another. 

Your love for our church and our community transpired through endless hours of hard work you put into making this festival a success. 

Thank YOU!!!

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

St. Nersess Marks 10 Years of a Vision Realized

On Saturday, October 3, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary hosted a festive celebration honoring Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, former Primate of the Eastern Diocese and current Pontifical Legate of the Western Europe and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See. The evening recognized Archbishop Khajag’s visionary leadership and instrumental role in establishing the Seminary’s Armonk campus, while also commemorating the 10th anniversary of the campus and the consecration of its chapel.

Throughout his years of leadership, Archbishop Khajag understood that investing in St. Nersess was an investment in the future of the Armenian Church. His vision helped establish the Seminary as a home where future clergy and lay leaders could learn, grow in faith, and prepare to serve the Armenian Church and its people for generations to come. Click Here to read More

Download the Diocese’s 2025 Report to Donors

The Eastern Diocese has released its 2025 Annual Report to Donors, titled “A Stronger Center for a Living Church: Serving Our Parishes, Reaching Our People,” with printed copies currently being sent to all donors through the mail.

You can also download the report by clicking on the link below.

Through every challenge our people have faced in recent years, the faithful of the Eastern Diocese have answered the call to help with great generosity, and without hesitation.

Your loyal support is deeply appreciated—and inspires every aspect of our ongoing work. If it is in your heart and within your means, please consider sustaining your church by offering a gift on our secure server, linked below.

Also, the Diocesan Development Office asks that you kindly forward any relevant updates to your personal information (change of address, death in the family, change in marital status, etc.) to help ensure the accuracy of our database as we reach out to you and your loved ones. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our records up to date.

Click on the links below to:

• DOWNLOAD the 2025 Report to Donors.
• DONATE NOW on the Diocese’s secure server.

Register Now for the ACYOA Seniors National Fall Retreat!

Online registration is now open for the ACYOA Seniors National Fall Retreat—scheduled to take place over the weekend of November 6-8, at Camp Washington in Lakeside, CT.

Young adults 18 and older are invited to participate in this weekend-long program centered on the theme “Renewed in Hope.” Participants will have an opportunity to step away from the hectic schedules of everyday life, while deepening their faith, building relationships, and exploring the teachings of the Armenian Church.

Lodging and meals are provided by the ACYOA Central Council. Registration is due by Friday, October 23.

Click the following link to view a flyer.

To field questions, feel free to contact Jennifer Morris at jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org, or the ACYOA Central Council at acyoacc@gmail.com.

Click here to register online now.

FAR NEWS

A Reunion With Children Sponsored Through CASP

Recently, Aram Hintlian from Holy Trinity Church (Cambridge, MA) traveled to Armenia with his daughter, Ali, for a special reunion with five children he has supported through the “Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program” (CASP).

For more than 25 years, Aram and hundreds of other sponsors have helped provide opportunities and support to children of war veterans and single mothers. During his visit, Aram traveled to southern Armenia with a Fund for Armenian Relief team to meet the girls and their families, then brought them to Yerevan for a memorable weekend together, exploring Goris and Shaki waterfall along the way and enjoying time in the capital.

The trip was especially meaningful because one of the children Aram first sponsored, Marina, is now a university student. Still in touch after all these years, Marina—who is studying foreign languages—served as Aram’s translator during the visit, helping him connect with the other children.

Aram’s story is a beautiful reminder that CASP can be about much more than an annual gift of $250. Over time, sponsorship can grow into a lasting relationship.

Interested in becoming a sponsor or meeting the child you sponsor?

Contact nina@farusa.org to learn more.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECYCLING PROGRAM NEWS

Thanks to our Recycling Committee for their work in sorting and bringing home the recyclables every Sunday, especially during our recent Food Festival. What has been discouraging, though, is that people continue to throw half-full coffee cups and food into the container, which makes it very messy for us. Please put only the following in the container:

Empty plastic bottles

Empty aluminum cans

Empty glass bottles

Nothing else!!

No paper, no plastic silverware, no coffee cups, no paper plates, no food. We are trying to keep things simple.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Roxanne Paul at rangerrox@msn.com. Thank you for being so supportive in helping keep our planet cleaner!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Gift for St. Mary Gift Shop

St. Mary gift shop is offering limited numbers of imported bottles of medieval Armenian health elixirs formulated from ancient manuscripts deciphered at the Matendaran Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. These elixirs are made in Armenia by Armen Sahakyan, a pharmacologist and botanical scholar who has been working at the Matenadaran Museum for the last several decades. A trained medical doctor ordained a deacon in 1997, Sahakyan has dedicated his life to the maintenance of Armenia’s sacred botanical traditions.

The three different batches available at our gift shop (Royal Elixir, Arates Elixir and Arates Tonic) are made from a codified recipe of medieval Armenian medicine, using a special distillation process. They contain medicinal and aromatic plants, known for their healing properties. Through the distillation and aging process alcohol is created, so think of them as perhaps Armenia’s first (healthy) cognac! 

The supplies are limited and each bottle is numbered, including the batch and year of production. All of the bottles were donated to St Mary Church, so 100% of the proceeds will go to the St Mary Endowment Fund, with a portion also going to support Armenian clergy serving in Artsakh.

"Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

This year we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church with the launch of the new "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund to help ensure our church has the resources needed to continue serving our beloved community.  

Just as you plan for your future and that of your family, please join us in planning for the future of St. Mary Church. 

We are asking for your support so that St. Mary will be able to continue to fulfill her mission for future generations.  

The link below lists various opportunities for you to make a meaningful gift of lasting significance that will help support our church's long-term security, visibility, and vitality. Please consider making either a one-time gift or pledge, which would allow you to make payments over a five-year period.

Join St. Mary's Prayer Group

We are initiating a new form of ministry at St. Mary Armenian Church. For parishioners who would like to make an electronic prayer request, they can do so by Clicking Here

A group of volunteers will receive the request and pray at their earliest convenience. Additionally, a new physical prayer request box will be placed at the entrance of St. Mary Armenian Church with blank forms that anyone can fill out and drop in the box. These requests will be retrieved weekly and delivered to the members of the volunteer prayer group. If you would like to become one of the volunteers of the Prayer Group please email us. 

Please click on the link below to present your request. 

Buy a Brick and Leave Your Legacy at

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Bricks can be ordered and purchased by clicking below and

filling out a simple online order form.

You can choose to have a 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 20 characters per line of text.

Or you can choose to have the

Armenian Cross artwork on the 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 15 characters per line of text.

Order Today While Quantities Last!

Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.

Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.

October 17 - Game Night @ 5 pm, organized by St. Mary Women's Guild

October 25 - Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross

October 31 - Feast of All Saints

November 21- Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple

November 26 - Thanksgiving Day

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:" 'The Lord said to my Lord:"Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' 37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight. 38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely." 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on."

Mark 12:35-44

35 Մինչ Յիսուս ուսուցանում էր տաճարում, հարց տուեց ժողովրդին ու ասաց. «Ինչպէ՞ս են ասում օրէնսգէտները, թէ Քրիստոս Դաւթի Որդի է, 36 մինչ Դաւիթն ինքը Սուրբ Հոգով ասում է. "Տէրն իմ Տիրոջն ասաց. նստի՛ր իմ աջում, մինչեւ որ քո թշնամիներին քո ոտքերի համար պատուանդան դնեմ"։ 37 Արդ, եթէ Դաւիթն ինքն իսկ նրան Տէր է կոչում, ինչպէ՞ս նրա Որդին կը լինի»։ Եւ շատ ժողովուրդ նրան լսում էր սիրով։ 38 Եւ սովորեցնելով՝ նա իր ուսուցման ընթացքում ասում էր. «Զգո՛յշ եղէք այդ օրէնսգէտներից, որ ուզում են աչքի զարնող զգեստներով ման գալ, հրապարակներում յարգանքի ողջոյններ որոնել, 39 ժողովարաններում՝ առաջին աթոռները եւ ընթրիքների ժամանակ՝ պատուոյ տեղերը։ 40 Նրանք ուտում են այրիների տները, ցուցադրաբար երկարացնում են աղօթքները, որպէսզի աւելի խիստ դատաստան ընդունեն»։ 41 Յիսուս կանգնած էր գանձանակի դիմաց. դիտում էր, թէ ինչպէս ժողովուրդը պղինձ դրամ է գցում գանձանակի մէջ։ Եւ շատ մեծահարուստներ շատ բան գցեցին։ 42 Մի այրի կին եկաւ եւ երկու լումայ գցեց, որ մի գրոշ է։ 43 Եւ Յիսուս իր մօտ կանչելով իր աշակերտներին՝ նրանց ասաց. «Ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, որ այդ չքաւոր այրին աւելի շատ գցեց, քան գանձանակի մէջ միւս բոլոր դրամ գցողները, 44 քանի որ ամէնքը իրենց աւելորդից գցեցին, իսկ նա, իր չքաւորութիւնից, գցեց ամէն ինչ, որ ունէր՝ իր ամբողջ ապրուստը»։

Մարկոս 12:35-44

Our gift shop is furnished with distinctive and unique items from Armenians all over the world. Some of the items are Armenian crosses, jewelry, paintings, religious tiles, tapestry icons, children's and adult books, T-shirts, hats, bags, Armenian CDs, Armenian artwork, and much more. 

The Gift Shop is open every Sunday after Church service and by appointment, call the church office at 202-363-1923 or send an e-mail to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com