November 22

TOP STORY   

First Sunday of Advent

“Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8)

Advent means “coming”—the coming of Christ. It is the 50-day period during which we prepare to celebrate the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the Armenian Church, Advent lasts approximately two weeks longer than it in the Western churches, hence the Armenian word for the season: Hisnag, “a 50-day period.” It is a time for us to think of the why of Christmas—why the greeting cards, the decorations, the gifts, the family gatherings? A time to look within our hearts to see if there is anything that stands between us and the Good News of Jesus’ birth.

During Advent, we can rededicate ourselves to Christ through our actions, thoughts, and prayers. This is a good time for us to improve our habits and offer them as gifts to God. Perhaps Advent can also be an occasion to discover God’s gifts all around us. We need to have an open heart to receive Christ—God’s greatest gift of all! We complain that Christmas is too “commercial,” but there is a way to live out the real “reason for the season.”

November 24, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mrs. Patricia Yeghissian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 36:1-9

1 Thes 1:1-10

Luke 12:13-31

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of:

Mary Banous (3rd Anniversary)

Requested by:

Istepanian Family

For the Soul of:

Emil Sedrakyan (7 day)

Requested by:

Mikayel Sedrakyan (son), Nune Sedrakyan (daughter), Alyona Sargsyan (wife), Gevorg Sedrakyan (brother), Artyom Sedrakyan (brother), Nune Asryan (mother), Sedrak Sedrakyan (father) 

Prayer of the week

Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, strengthen those in captivity, and protect the holy soil of Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord.

   Preserve the name and spirit of Artsakh in our hearts, forever. Console all those who grieve, and remember those who sacrificed their very lives in your Name. Deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind.

   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. Amen.

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

Please Join Us for a

Weekend of Celebration

Celebrating 92 Years of St Mary’s Faith and Service

Honoring Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan’s 20th Anniversary of Ordination into the Holy Priesthood

Witnessing Ordination of Deacons and Sub-Deacons

Faith in Waiting: Reflections on Zechariah and Elizabeth’s Story at the First Advent Bible Study

On Tuesday, November 19, the first session of the Advent Bible Study at St. Mary Armenian Church brought the community members together to reflect on the theme "Anticipation and Prophecy Fulfilled," focusing on Luke 1:5-25. We explored the profound story of Zechariah and Elizabeth during a time of historical silence from God, the 400 years before the Messiah’s arrival. This session emphasized enduring faith in seasons of waiting, drawing parallels between their lives and the Advent journey.

The evening began with a prayer, inviting all to open their hearts to God's Word. A rich discussion followed, delving into Zechariah and Elizabeth's faithfulness amid trials, the angel Gabriel's miraculous announcement, and the role of John the Baptist as a forerunner for Jesus. Through Scripture reading, reflection, and group discussion, attendees were encouraged to consider God’s timing and trust in His promises, even in moments of doubt.

The study underscored Advent as a time to prepare spiritually for Christ’s birth, mirroring John the Baptist’s mission to prepare others for the Messiah.

We invite everyone to join us for the next session on Tuesday, November 26, as we reflect on "The Annunciation and Mary’s Faithful Response" (Luke 1:26-38) and continue this meaningful journey of anticipation and hope.

Acolyte Training Program Begins This Sunday!

We are delighted to announce the start of our Acolyte Training Program, open to all children. The program begins this Sunday, November 24, from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM, and will continue on the last Sunday of each month.

This exciting initiative, led by Der Hayr and our Deacons, is designed to help our young parishioners grow in their understanding of and participation in the sacred traditions of the Armenian Church. During these sessions, participants will:

• Learn the Acolyte’s role during Badarak and Hokehankisd
• Become familiar with the layout of the church and its sacred spaces
• Recognize and understand the use of vestments and sacred vessels
• Practice proper Armenian Church etiquette, including altar conduct and processional participation
• Memorize the Lord’s Prayer in Armenian

This program is a wonderful opportunity for our children to deepen their faith and connect more closely with the Armenian Church’s rich heritage.

We encourage all families to take advantage of this meaningful program and support their children on this spiritual journey.

Ayo! Fundraising Fellowship: Supporting Armenia’s Future

The ACYOA Seniors and Juniors successfully raised $2,302 to support the Fund for Armenian Relief /Ayo programming by organizing a mini-Christmas market following the Badarak service on November 17. Sarah Stites, Ayo Program Director, was present to discuss the recent initiatives of the Fund for Armenian Relief and its crowdsourcing platform, Ayo. The funds collected will be allocated to two projects: 

Women In Tech: This initiative aims to provide single mothers and displaced women from Artsakh in Gyumri with the necessary technological skills to enter the workforce. 

Christmas Wishlist 2025: As displaced children and their families strive to establish new lives in Armenia’s Syuniq region, Ayo aims to bring them joy through holiday gifts such as bicycles and Christmas trees. 

We express our sincere appreciation to all parishioners who contributed by purchasing gifts, as well as those who generously donated items for the sale. Your support has played a vital role in bringing a small bit of joy to Armenia!

Toiletries for Teens - Opportunity for a Good Deed

The ACYOA juniors are sponsoring a parish-wide good deed, collecting toiletries for teens, to benefit needy teens in the metro area. At their monthly meeting this past Sunday, the teens created posters to remind the parish of the drive.  The posters will be displayed, a different one each week, in the collection bin in the small hall. 

Come admire the teens' artistry and bring a toiletry from the list below:

   o Toothbrushes (individually packaged)

   o Toothpaste

   o Deodorant (full size)

   o Bar soap (individually packaged)

   o Maxi pads

to the donation box in the parish hall during the month of November. 

The toiletries will be given to needy teens via the https://www.foodforneighbors.org/ organization, which operates snack and toiletries closets in public schools.

Shnorhali Kindergarten's Birdhouse Building Adventure: A Fun-Filled Day of Learning and Creativity!

Last Sunday, the Shnorhali Kindergarten class embarked on an engaging and educational experience that combined creativity, teamwork, and environmental awareness. Under the guidance of their teachers and our enthusiastic volunteers, our young learners participated in a hands-on birdhouse-building activity that not only filled the room with joy and laughter but also provided valuable lessons about the natural world.

The students eagerly constructed and decorated their own birdhouses, turning simple materials into beautiful homes for our feathered friends. As they worked, they learned about birds' crucial role in the environment and discovered the importance of creating safe spaces for wildlife. This activity provided a wonderful opportunity to instill a sense of responsibility and compassion for nature from an early age. As they worked together, they developed valuable team-building skills, celebrated each other's contributions, fostered collaboration and teamwork, reinforced a sense of unity and achievement, and strengthened their bonds with classmates.

The birdhouse-building activity was also a fantastic opportunity for the students to expand their Armenian vocabulary. Encouraged to describe their work and discuss the birds that might one day inhabit these birdhouses, the students had a delightful opportunity to enhance their language skills while sharing their progress and exchanging ideas.

Overall, the birdhouse-building activity was a huge success, blending education, creativity, and fun in a meaningful way. It was a memorable day filled with laughter, learning, and growth—one that our Kindergarten students will surely cherish. We are so proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the chance to nurture both their artistic talents and their love for the environment.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures from our Shnorhali Kindergarten students!

Armenian Digital Advent Calendar

We are thrilled to announce that the new Digital Advent Calendar 2024-2025 created by the Children and Family Ministry has been launched. We hope this calendar will make the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas more joyful and become a handy tool to connect families through the light of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

After you have the calendar as an app on your screen, start opening the red doors on November 17. Each day the door will lead you to a new message and a Bible reading. Enjoy this calendar with your family and share it with your loved ones. Please note that you won't be able to open the doors before Sunday, November 17 - we don't want you peeking!



How to save to the home screen for iPad and iPhone.1. On your phone or the iPad open the link Digital Advent Calendar 2024-2025. Tap the share button on the bottom of the page or the top right corner. It looks like a square with an arrow pointing out of the top.

2. In the list of options, scroll down until you see “add to home screen”. Tap this. Then "add to home screen" dialog box will appear.

3. Choose a name for the website shortcut on your home screen. You'll see the link so you can confirm it, as well as the site's favicon that will appear as the "app" icon on your home screen. Click “add” when you're done. Safari will close automatically, and you will be taken to where the icon is located on your iPhone’s or iPad's home screen.

How to save to the home screen for Android.

1. On your phone or tablet open the link to Digital Advent Calendar 2024-2025.

2. Tap the menu icon (3 dots in the upper right-hand corner) and tap add to the home screen.

3. Choose a name for the website shortcut, and then chrome will add it to your home screen.

Upcoming Book Presentation: "Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful"

Join us on Sunday, December 15th at 1:30 PM, following Badarak, for a special book presentation by Dr. Jesse S. Arlen at St. Mary Armenian Church (4125 Fessenden St., NW, Washington, DC 20016). Dr. Arlen will introduce the newly released Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful, an annotated translation of the hymns and prayers of Saint Nerses Shnorhali (1102–1173), a revered figure in the medieval Armenian Church. This work, co-authored with Matthew J. Sarkisian, brings these spiritual treasures into English for modern readers, highlighting their theological and poetic depth. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore an essential part of Armenian Christian heritage.

A Celebration of Armenian Sacred Music

The Eastern Diocese’s Sacred Music Council held its “Sacred Music Day”—an uplifting, day-long celebration of Armenian Church music—on Saturday, November 16, at St. James of Nisibis Church in Evanston, IL.

The event featured instructional workshops, educational seminars, and a lecture-recital. Presenters and instructors included Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, Dn. Rubik Mailian, and Dn. Hovhannes Khosdeghian. Fr. Andreas Garabedian and Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan performed during the lecture-recital.

In addition to the presentations and workshops, the day was an opportunity to honor Fr. Kiledjian for his many years of service as the Diocesan Music Instructor.

“It was a profound honor to preside as Primate over our Diocese’s Sacred Music Day in Evanston,” said Bishop Mesrop. “It was an event dedicated to the heart and soul of our worship: the sharagans, our sacred chants, that have carried the prayers of our people for centuries, drawing us closer to God.”

Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, pastor of St. James and leader of the Sacred Music Council, organized the proceedings. Evanston parishioners eagerly welcomed the visiting clergy, deacons, choir members, and altar servers from sister communities for the occasion.

This year’s Sacred Music Day built on the success of the multi-day Sacred Music Festivals that the Diocese has sponsored in the past. “This year’s program was a new format: more of a sacred music retreat,” explained Fr. Khoja-Eynatyan. “It’s more adaptable to the local parish setting, and the Sacred Music Council plans to continue offering the program in the regions across our Diocese.”

Click the following links to:

• READ more about Sacred Music Day.
• VIEW photos from the day.
• WATCH the recorded lecture-recital on “Psalmody in Armenian Sacred Music.”

Eucharist Means “Thanksgiving”

One of the most meaning­ful holidays of the year is on the horizon: Thanksgiving Day. It’s a uniquely American holiday—in which our whole country sets time aside to express thanks for the bounties of God.

But the idea of thanking God over a family meal is hardly foreign to Armenians. In the Armenian Church, the spirit of Thanksgiving flows through every prayer, through every celebration of the Holy Badarak. It’s something we offer every Sunday, through the Eucharist—a Greek word that actually means “thanksgiving.”

Indeed, a spirit of gratitude is one of our points of contact with Jesus Christ: an attitude He exemplified in His earthly ministry, and urged His followers to embrace. So as a Christian people, we should never cease to thank God, to praise Him, to ask for His blessing and seek His guidance—even when His purposes are mysterious to us.

In what other ways does Armenian Christian spirituality encourage us to practice “thanks-giving” in our daily lives? Click here to find out more.

Most of all, remember that in the coming days, every Armenian home can be a house of prayer, where God is thanked, where His servants are blessed. As a church, we will continue to sing grateful hymns to our risen Lord, and fill His hallowed places with the imperishable music of Armenian prayers.

FAR NEWS

FAR’s Vocational Center Opens New Paths for Students

​When 17-year-old Davit Arzakanyan first walked into the carpet-weaving class at the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “James and Marta Batmasian Vocational Training Center,” he felt an immediate sense of belonging.

The cozy, inclusive environment provided a perfect space for Davit, who lives with autism. The FAR-supported center in the Armenian town of Parakar is a place where students of many different abilities can learn together, and learn from each other.

Though social interactions can be challenging for Davit, his grandmother Araksya has been noticing positive changes in him every day. Carpet weaving has helped Davit develop focus, motor skills, and color recognition; he’s even become more engaged in tasks at home, like cooking. Beyond weaving classes, the Batmasian Vocational Training Center offers many programs aimed at helping students like Davit gain practical skills.

For Davit himself, the center has been life-changing, offering him a path to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe, supportive environment. Your support can help sustain this transformative work. Learn more about FAR’s programs for young people, and support this ongoing effort, on the Fund for Armenian Relief website.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

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November 24 Women's Guild Thanksgiving Bake Sale

December 7 and 8 St. Mary Church Anniversary

Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Der Hovsep's Ordination

December 9    Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary

December 14 Christmas Market hosted by the Parish Council

December 15 Book Presentation: "Odes of Saint Nersess the Graceful "by Dr. Jesse S. Arlen at 1:30 pm (after Badarak)

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

(Luke 12.13-31)

13 Ժողովրդի միջից մէկը նրան ասաց. «Վարդապե՛տ, ասա՛ եղբօրս, որ ժառանգութիւնը ինձ հետ բաժանի»: 14 Եւ նա նրան ասաց. «Ո՛վ մարդ, ինձ ո՞վ դատաւոր կամ բաժանարար կարգեց ձեզ վրայ»: 15 Ապա ժողովրդին ասաց. «Տեսէք, որ զգոյշ լինէք ամէն տեսակ ագահութիւնից, որովհետեւ մարդու կեանքը իր կուտակած հարստութեան մէջ չէ»: 16 Եւ նրանց մի առակ պատմեց ու ասաց. «Մի մեծահարուստի արտերը առատ բերք տուեցին. 17 եւ նա խորհեց իր մտքում ու ասաց. “Տեսնեմ ի՞նչ կարող եմ անել, քանի որ բերքս կուտակելու տեղ չկայ: 18 Գիտեմ,– ասաց նա,– թէ ինչ պէտք է անեմ. կքանդեմ իմ շտեմարաններն ու աւելի մեծերը կշինեմ եւ այնտեղ կհաւաքեմ ցորենն ու իմ ամբողջ բարիքները. 19 եւ ինքս ինձ կասեմ. ո՛վ մարդ, շատ տարիների համար ամբարուած բազում բարիքներ ունես, հանգի՛ստ արա, կե՛ր, խմի՛ր եւ ուրա՛խ եղիր”: 20 Աստուած նրան ասաց. “Անմի՛տ, հէնց այս գիշեր հոգիդ քեզնից պահանջելու են, իսկ ինչ որ պատրաստել ես, ո՞ւմն է լինելու”: 21 Նոյնպէս է նաեւ նա, ով իր անձի համար գանձ կհաւաքի եւ Աստծով չի հարստանայ»: 22 Եւ իր աշակերտներին ասաց. «Դրա համար էլ ասում եմ ձեզ. հոգ մի՛ արէք ձեր հոգու համար, թէ ինչ էք ուտելու, ոչ էլ՝ մարմնի համար, թէ ինչ էք հագնելու. 23 որովհետեւ հոգին առաւել է, քան կերակուրը, եւ մարմինը՝ քան հագուստը: 24 Նայեցէ՛ք ագռաւներին, որոնք ո՛չ սերմանում են եւ ո՛չ հնձում, որոնք ո՛չ շտեմարաններ ունեն եւ ո՛չ էլ ամբարներ, բայց Աստուած կերակրում է նրանց. որքա՜ն եւս առաւել՝ ձեզ, որ շատ աւելի յարգի էք, քան թռչունները: 25 Ձեզնից ո՞վ հոգս անելով կկարողանայ իր հասակի վրայ մէկ կանգուն աւելացնել: 26 Արդ, եթէ փոքր բանի մէջ անկարող էք, այլ բաների համար ինչո՞ւ էք հոգս անում: 27 Նայեցէ՛ք շուշանին՝ ինչպէս է աճում. ո՛չ աշխատում է եւ ո՛չ հիւսում: Ասում եմ ձեզ. Սողոմոնն իսկ իր ամբողջ փառքի մէջ նրանցից մէկի նման չհագնուեց: 28 Իսկ եթէ խոտը, որ այսօր բաց դաշտի մէջ է, իսկ վաղը հնոց է նետուելու, Աստուած այդպէս է հագցնում, որչա՜փ եւս առաւել ձեզ պիտի հագցնի, թերահաւատնե՛ր: 29 Եւ դուք մի՛ մտահոգուէք, թէ ինչ էք ուտելու կամ ինչ էք խմելու, եւ մի՛ մտատանջուէք, 30 որովհետեւ այդ ամէնը աշխարհի հեթանոսներն են, որ փնտրում են: Իսկ ձեր Հայրը գիտէ, որ այդ ամէնը պէտք է ձեզ: 31 Այլ դուք հետամուտ եղէք Աստծոյ արքայութեանը, եւ այդ ամէնը աւելիով կտրուի ձեզ: (Ղուկասի 12.13-31)

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