January 12

TOP STORY   

Manifestation, Circumcision, and Naming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Eight days after the Holy Nativity of our Lord, we celebrate His Circumcision, one of the Feasts of the Lord, on which - in accordance with Hebrew tradition - He received the name "Jesus": "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the Angel before He was conceived in the womb" (Luke 2:21).

The name "Jesus" comes from Joshua or Yehoshuah, the Hebrew word for "savior" or "deliverer." Devotion to the Holy Name can be traced back to Paul's Letter to the Philippians, which says God highly exalted Jesus "and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-11). The true descendants of the Patriarch Abraham were separated from the other nations by the sign of circumcision (a prefigurement of Baptism: "the circumcision made without hands" [Colossians 2:1]) and thereby became members of the God-ruled community of the Old Testament; that is, through circumcision, they entered among the chosen People of God. Christ was now "made under the law," being conformed to the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law (Galatians 4:4) and "fulfilling" the Law (Matthew 3:15), in order to elevate the Church of the Law into a Church of Grace, into a new "Israel of God" (cf Galatians 6:16), into a Theanthropic organism-into His Body.

The Circumcision of our Lord inspired the Holy Church to institute a beautiful and deeply symbolic custom for the newborn children of Christians to be baptized eight days after birth.

January 14, 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 54:1-13

1 Timothy 1:1-11

John 2:1-11

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Souls of :

 Linda, Arousiag (Alice) and Charles Kumkumian

Requested by:

 Greg, Simon, Roxanne, and their families

For the Souls of:

Robert & Angela Shekoyan

Requested by:

Vladimir & Ashot Shekoyan

For the Souls of :

Mary Leon Banous, Shukri Istepanian, Golizar Babollian

Requested by:

Rita and Harry Istepanian

The hospitality table is hosted by:

Vladimir & Ashot Shekoyan

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

Prayer of the week

Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, strengthen those fleeing persecution, 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.

   Look with love, O merciful Father, on the created works of your hand, and grant the camps of the angels to be guardians of our feeble persons. Deliver us from temptation, from the wandering demons of night, that by day and by night we may give you glory incessantly. Amen.

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

Feast of Nativity and Theophany Celebrated at St. Mary

St. Mary Church commemorated the Feast of Nativity and Theophany of our Lord on January 5 and 6. The celebrations began on January 5th with inspirational Scriptural readings by the enthusiastic students of St. Mary Shnorhali School, infusing the occasion with youthful energy and participation.

The same evening, we witnessed the Nativity Eve Badarak, conducted by Der Hovsep. This significant service was to celebrate the momentous Nativity of our Lord. The faithful present, deeply immersed in the service, experiencing a profound sense of awe and gratitude, reflecting on the far-reaching impact of this sacred event. The evening culminated in a cherished Home Blessing ceremony and a warm, hospitable fellowship hour graciously hosted by the Parish Council.

On January 6th, the celebration continued with the Feast of the Nativity and Baptism of our Lord, highlighted by a Divine Liturgy led by Abp. Vicken Aykazian. A pivotal moment was the Blessing of the Water Service, symbolizing the baptism and revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year, the significant role of Godfather was filled by Bedros Guiragossian, one of our youngest altar servers and the son of Jack and Annie Guiragossian. Following the uplifting celebrations, the faithful gathered for a festive luncheon in the church hall, lovingly prepared by the St. Mary Avak Society.

Throughout these two days, the church reverberated with joyous greetings and uplifting phrases such as "To you and us good news! Tzez yev mez Medz Avedis! Christ is born and revealed. Kristos tsnav yev haytnetsav. Blessed is the revelation of Christ. Orhnyal e haytnutyunn Kristosi," symbolizing the profound joy, faith, and unity.

Monday, January 7, Merelots, the day of remembrance of the dead, was observed. A Badarak was celebrated, followed by a special hokhankist-requiem service for the souls of deceased members and loved ones of St. Mary Church.

Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas: Shnorhali School's Joyful Observance of Theophany and Nativity at St. Mary Church

On January 5th, the Shnorhali School students joyfully congregated at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church to bring their participation to the Bible readings on the occasion of the Eve of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The event commenced with the guidance of Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, who provided insightful information on the spiritual significance of this sacred day, emphasizing that in the Armenian Church, Christmas is not only a celebration of Christ's birth but also a commemoration of His revelation and baptism. Under Fr. Hovsep's instruction, the students gained a deeper understanding of the profound meaning behind this day.

As the evening continued, the Shnorhali students helped prepare for the Holy Badarag by reading profound messages from the scriptures in Armenian. The shared moments of reflection and communal prayer created a sense of unity among classmates, fostering a deeper appreciation for Christmas. Our students shared the great news of the Birth of our Savior with joy through the readings of the Holy Scriptures with the parishioners who had gathered for this joyous celebration.

On Sunday, January 7, our students came together again, this time for the Shnorhali School's annual Christmas Handes. The performance gracefully unfolded, delving into various popular Christmas symbols and explaining their significance in the birth of Jesus.

The seventh and eighth-grade class not only orchestrated the entire recital skillfully by reciting various Bible verses throughout the performance but also delivered a harmonious rendition of "Joy to the World" in both English and Armenian. The fifth and sixth-grade class portrayed the Star as a customary adornment atop Christmas trees, elucidating its symbolic connection to the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Wise Men to Jesus. Dressed as the Wise Men, the third and fourth-grade class embodied the Christmas presents, symbolizing the three gifts presented to Jesus, accompanied by a heartfelt rendition of "We Three Kings." The second-grade class, dressed as Angels, embodied the messengers of God, conveying the news of the immaculate conception to Mary and Joseph and appearing to the Shepherds during the birth of Jesus, collectively performing "Angels We Have Heard on High" in English and Armenian. Symbolizing Christmas bells and their role in guiding lost sheep back to the fold, the first-grade class united in singing "Zangakner." The grand finale featured a moving performance of "Silent Night" in both English and Armenian, sung collectively by all students.

Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan concluded the event with an interactive message, recapping the presented performance and underscoring the authentic meaning and significance inherent in the Christmas season.

In acknowledging the collaborative efforts that made the event possible, the Shnorhali School extends sincere appreciation to the dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and volunteers whose invaluable contributions significantly augmented the richness of the festive celebrations and enriched the Christmas season's festivities.

Home Blessing: A New Year’s Tradition

Throughout history, Armenian Christians have considered the home to be a sacred place: the tranquil sanctuary of the family, where habits of virtue, pious traditions, and life-affirming customs are passed from one generation to another.

Above all, the home is where one’s faith in God is first kindled, and where that faith finds some of the most profound occasions for action.

According to the traditions of the Armenian Church, God is asked to bestow His blessing on homes during the period following the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord. In a typical season, clergy would visit the homes of parishioners and perform the beautiful “Home Blessing” service.

Contact Der Hovsep to arrange a Home Blessing ceremony for you and your family.

Click on the links to learn more about this tradition, to download the service booklet, and to watch a video.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

It is that time of the year again to remind our dear parishioners and friends of their dues and pledges to St. Mary Armenian Church.

As a reminder, the dues are $250 per person and $500 per family.

We depend on our faithful donors and their monetary contributions. Your membership dues not only ensure your voting privileges during our annual assembly but also show your commitment to your church. Your support enables us to continue our mission of preaching the Word of God, reaching out to our community, and bringing the rich and wonderful blessings of our heritage and identity to all for the glory of God.

We thank you for your generous past support and hope you will continue your commitment to your church.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church relies on the generosity of individual donors so that it may continue ensuring service to God and fellowship to the Armenian Community. Your support is deeply appreciated.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

“Invited to Go from Darkness to Light”: Catholicos’s Christmas Message

His Holiness Karekin II delivered a special message on Armenian Christmas, January 6, 2024, encouraging the faithful after a solemn year of heartache and loss.

The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians spoke during the Pontifical Divine Liturgy marking the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Christ, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan.

In a message directed to Armenian faithful throughout the world, His Holiness assured listeners that “the birth of the Savior is an invitation to go from darkness to light—to God—and to be always with the Lord, becoming worthy of heavenly blessings and eternity.” But the Catholicos also warned: “Rejecting the Incarnate God, however, brings disaster, spreads evil and destruction.”

He reflected that in recent decades, as in the remote past, the Armenian people “have again suffered losses, were subjected to new trials, which, unfortunately, we were unable to overcome.” With fatherly frankness, Catholicos Karekin said that these trials were “due in part to complicated geopolitical realities, but also due to our own deviations from the path of goodness, justice, and truth.”

In an emotional passage, the Catholicos spoke directly to the faithful Armenian Christians expelled from Artsakh. “You have overcome—and are now overcoming, with unparalleled heroism and dignity—the hardships that afflicted you,” he told them. “Stay full of hope. God will provide, and give blessings for the hardships you have endured. You are not alone in your difficulties. Your faithful brothers and sisters in our country and in the diaspora are with you, and will continue to support and help you by all possible means.”

His sermon concluded with a prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ: “Let your bright presence shine among all Armenians, as it did in the Christmas manger, so that with you we can face every trial with strength, and move towards a victorious future for our people.”

Following the Christmas Divine Liturgy, His Holiness led the “Blessing of Water” ceremony, and then spent time among the great throng of worshippers who had come to receive his blessing.

Click the following links to:

• READ His Holiness’s message in English and Armenian.
• VIEW PHOTOS of the Armenian Christmas badarak in Yerevan.
• WATCH a recording of the service, including Catholicos Karekin II’s sermon.

Finding “True Peace”: Armenian Christmas at St. Vartan Cathedral

The Armenian Christmas Divine Liturgy on Saturday, January 6, at New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral once again brought the Armenian Christian family together for the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Marking his first Christmas since being consecrated as a bishop, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy before the faithful in the cathedral sanctuary, as well as to a global audience via the livestream broadcast.

Bishop Mesrop’s homily examined the meaning of “true peace”—a theme he had struck in messages throughout the Christmas season. He thoughtfully described the peace that God offers humankind, by juxtaposing a child’s simple, playful activities against those of an adult’s life clouded with trepidation and burden.

“A child has the security and trust that his parents are watching over him to ensure his safety, allowing him to completely immerse himself in the joy of the moment, without concern for the past or anxiety about the future,” he said. “We, too, have the assurance of placing our trust in a loving, trustworthy parent—our Heavenly Father—who watches over us at all times.”

The Godfather of the Cross (gunkahayr) for the Blessing of Water ceremony was Kirk Hachigian, a member of St. Kevork Church in Houston, TX, whose selfless involvement, guidance, and support of numerous initiatives have benefitted the entire Armenian Church community.

Assisting Bishop Mesrop throughout the Christmas liturgy was Fr. Davit Karamyan, Vicar of St. Vartan Cathedral, as well as a large contingent of deacons and altar servers. Maestro Khoren Mekanejian directed the angelic voices of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, accompanied by organist Florence Avakian.

A Christmas reception took place in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of the Diocesan complex after the service. The online broadcast was directed by Yervant Keshishian, with Chris Zakian providing the narration. Dn. Diran Jebejian photographed the service in the sanctuary.

Click the following links to:

• READ more in an extensive article by Stephan Nigohosian.
• VIEW photos of Christmas at St. Vartan Cathedral.
• WATCH the full recording of the Christmas liturgy.
• WATCH Bishop Mesrop’s sermon in English and Armenian.

FAR Helps a Boy’s Christmas Dream Come True

In Armenia this week, children across the country returned to school after the Christmas holiday. Among them was Tigran: a young member of a family displaced from Artsakh. Since resettling in Armenia, Tigran has been making the daily trek to school on foot. But this week, he began riding his new bicycle—a Christmas gift made possible by donors to the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Ayo!” crowdfunding platform.

“My bike was the only gift I got for Christmas,” Tigran told Ayo! “And it’s my dream come true!” He mentioned that he’s made friends in his new village and that he lets them take his beloved bike for a spin whenever they want, in the generous spirit of Christmas. (Click here to see Tigran’s heartwarming reaction to receiving his new bike.)

This past holiday season, FAR identified 169 displaced children like Tigran. With the support of donors from the Eastern Diocese, Ayo! raised funds to ensure that each child saw his or her Christmas dream come true.

In this New Year, the Fund for Armenian Relief and Ayo! extend heartfelt gratitude for the kindness and solidarity of our supporters. May 2024 bring peace and hope to you—and to those you have helped through your compassionate support.

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.

February 11

Great Barekendan

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple

February 18

Annual Parish Assembly

March 6

Median Day of Lent

March 24

Palm Sunday

March 31

Easter Sunday

Գալիլիա հասնելու երրորդ օրը Կանա քաղաքում հարսանիք կար։ Եւ Յիսուսի մայրը այնտեղ էր։ 2 Հարսանիքի հրաւիրուեցին նաեւ Յիսուս եւ իր աշակերտները։ 3 Եւ երբ գինին պակասեց, մայրը Յիսուսին ասաց. «Գինի չունեն»։ 4 Եւ Յիսուս նրան ասաց. «Ի՞նչ ես ուզում ինձնից, ո՛վ կին, իմ ժամանակը դեռ չի հասել»։ 5 Նրա մայրը սպասաւորներին ասաց. «Ինչ որ ձեզ ասի, արէ՛ք»։ 6 Այնտեղ կային քարէ վեց թակոյկներ՝ հրեաների սովորութեան համաձայն մաքրուելու համար. նրանցից իւրաքանչիւրը շուրջ հարիւր լիտր տարողութիւն ունէր։ 7 Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Լցրէ՛ք այդ թակոյկները ջրով»։ Եւ լցրին բերնէբերան։ 8 Եւ ասաց նրանց. «Հիմա վերցրէ՛ք եւ տարէ՛ք սեղանապետին»։ Եւ նրանք տարան։ 9 Եւ երբ սեղանապետը ճաշակեց գինի դարձած ջուրը ու չէր իմանում, թէ որտեղից է (բայց սպասաւորները, որոնք ջուր լցրին, գիտէին), 10 խօսեց փեսայի հետ ու ասաց. «Ամէն մարդ նախ ընտիր գինին է մատուցում, եւ երբ հարբած են, այն ժամանակ՝ վատը։ Իսկ դու ընտիր գինին մինչեւ հիմա պահել ես»։ 11 Յիսուս այս առաջին նշանն արեց Գալիլիայի Կանա քաղաքում որպէս սկիզբը նշանների եւ յայտնեց իր փառքը, ու նրա աշակերտները հաւատացին նրան։                                     

 Հովհաննես 2:1-11

On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."4 "Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come."5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink, but you have saved the best till now."11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.

 John 2:1-11

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