St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-363-1923
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Holy Week and Easter Schedule
The coming Holy Week will proceed at St. Mary Church under strict observance of local safety regulations, with provisions being made for both in-person worships as well as online broadcasts of the various services via the St. Mary YouTube Channel.
Click here to see a detailed flyer of the Holy Week services in Armenian and English.
Friday, April 15 - GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY: The Crucifixion and Burial of Christ will be marked with two services:
- The Order of the Crucifixion of Christ 12:30 PM
- Order of the Entombment of the Lord 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 16 - GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY: Fun and Sacred Easter Eve event with Shnorhali School at 5:PM followed by The Evening Service and Scripture-reading at 6:00 PM, afterward the Jrakalouyts (“Lamp-Lighting”) service at 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 17 - EASTER SUNDAY: The central holy day of the Christian calendar, commemorating the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb and the news of His Resurrection. Badarak will be celebrated by H. E. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.
- Morning Service 9:30 AM
- Holy Badarak 10:30 AM
- Antasdan Service 12:00 Noon
CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD
BLESSED IS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
PLEASE NOTE: At the directive of Bishop Daniel, all churches of the Eastern Diocese will take up a special collection on Easter Sunday to aid Armenians who are suffering in Ukraine. All funds collected will go to the Armenian Church Diocese of Ukraine, for distribution to Armenian families and individuals in need.
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St. Mary Parish Council and Der Hayr would like to thank all those who contributed towards the Easter Lilies and Yughakin Donations, supporting our church during this difficult time.
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
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To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923
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Prayer of the Week
We rejoice for the Good News of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has been the fruit and the firstborn of all that have fallen asleep. He has destroyed the gates of hell, and loosed the tyranny of death, and he gave us the firm hope of the renewal of life for all men.
In faith let us ask of our Savior Jesus Christ that he may please make us worthy of his resurrection, and transform our lowly body into the likeness of his glorious Body. For the very God, Jesus Christ our Lord, has promised to grant this great and ineffable gift to them that love him. Amen.
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Sunrise Service
9:30 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
H. E. Abp. Vicken Aykazian
Usher
All Ushers
Parish Council Members on Duty
All Parish Council members
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Readings:
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Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks |
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The ACYOA Juniors held their annual Palm Sunday Luncheon last Sunday. Over 80 guests gathered to celebrate and support the youth of St. Mary. The program was led by the eloquent Master of ceremony Hovsep Sefarian and the youth of St. Mary presented a beautiful program with musical performances by Andre Alexandrian, Ella Madhok, Jaiya Madhok, and Takuhi Gomtsyan, Juniors also presented speeches by Mariam Karapetyan and David Sahakian and guests were treated to a delicious lunch. The ACYOA honored beloved parishioner Catherine Sahakian for her outstanding and dedicated service to the youth of St. Mary and Juniors Chairperson Julie Tilimian presented Catherine with a plaque in recognition of her service. Special appreciation to Jermen Hallajian for leading the preparation of the meal and to the countless parents and teens who helped make the day possible. For more information about the ACYOA Juniors or to be part of our email list for events and activities, please email stmaryyouthdc@gmail.com.
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Fun and Sacred Easter Eve event with Shnorhali School
Shnorhali School has planned a Fun Event to celebrate Easter with our students on April 16th at 5:00 pm (with Holy Patarag to follow from 7-8 pm).
During the event, we will have a small presentation about Easter, discuss Easter traditions and stories, and dispelling Easter myths. We will talk about Easter eggs, egg hunts, Easter Bunny, etc., after which, students will decorate Easter eggs and have fun playing Easter-related games and doing some art. This is a great opportunity for team building and making new friends.
We will have pizza and cookies, after which students and parents will be invited to participate in the Holy Patarag and read Bible passages with our Pastor. Participation in this sacred and fun event is a great opportunity for our students to learn about the significance of our holy traditions and strengthen connection with our Church, culture, and heritage.
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Find the Best Armenian Gifts for Family & Friends
Please come and see all the new items arrived at our Gift Shop and purchase your Easter Chocolate and other goodies.
Whether you are looking for new Armenian gifts or old favorites we always have new Armenian products to consider. So look no further.
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Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event
On Sunday, April 24, a special order of the intercessory prayer of the Holy Martyrs who gave their lives during the Armenian Genocide for faith and for the homeland will take place at St. Mary Church following Badarak. Afterward, a special commemorative program will be held by St. Mary Shnorhali School students at the Church Cultural Hall for the occasion. Details to follow.
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St. Mary Armenian Church
Legacy Brick Drive
Honor your loved ones with
a memorial that will last a lifetime
Buy a brick and leave your legacy at St. Mary Armenian Church.
When you buy a brick, it is then engraved with your specified words or message, installed in front of the church, and becomes
a memory to view for years to come.
Laser engraved bricks will replace the existing bricks in our Church plaza,
next to our beautiful Khatchkar, and can be dedicated to those
you wish to remember, honor Loved Ones, commemorate a
special milestone like a baptism or wedding, or
acknowledge an organization or business.
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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.
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Host an Exchange Student from Homeland |
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The Grace of Easter: Bishop Daniel’s Easter Message
In a video message for Easter, Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel reflects on the Gospel depictions of Armenian icon painters, to answer the question: “What does the resurrection look like?”
“In the Armenian Church’s tradition of sacred art, there are no icons of Jesus rising from death to life,” the Primate observes. “Authentic Armenian Easter icons do not depict Jesus at all. They portray the women, the angels, and the empty tomb. Why is Jesus missing? Because the angels themselves said, ‘He is not here; for he has risen…’”
“So where is the risen Lord?” he asks. “What does the resurrection look like? What does the grace of Easter look like?”
The Primate finds a heartwarming answer among the villages of Armenia, where a quartet of young clergymen minister to the needs of the local faithful. “Each one serves as pastor to several villages in the province of Aragadzodn, at the foot of Mount Aragadz,” says Bishop Daniel. “These are remote, rustic settlements, located far from paved roads, where the people live in the humblest conditions.”
What does their example reveal to us about Christ’s resurrection?
You can also read the Primate’s Easter message, in English and Armenian, by clicking here. And throughout the coming days, please share the message of Easter with your loved ones: Krisdos haryav ee merelots!
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Catholicos Karekin II Blesses Children on Palm Sunday
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians presided over the celebration of Palm Sunday on April 10, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The feast has long been marked, by Catholicos Karekin’s decree, as an occasion for a ceremonial “Blessing of Children,” and His Holiness presided over that ceremony in the courtyard of the St. Gayane Monastery, following a traditional antasdan (field-blessing) service. He bestowed palm and willow branches to the large crowd of children gathered in prayer.
With the Mother Cathedral still in the process of a major restoration, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the chapel of St. Gayane Monastery, with members of the Holy Etchmiadzin monastic brotherhood participating.
Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan was the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy. His Palm Sunday homily, recalling one of the Gospel readings for the day, assured worshipers that, “As Jesus cleansed the Temple, he will also cleanse our hearts. He will open the doors of our souls to prayer, repentance, and confession—and dwell within us as our Lord. Let our minds and hearts become his New Jerusalem.”
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Diocesan Scholarship Applications Available Online
Applications for Diocesan scholarships are now available online. The application deadline for the 2022-23 academic year is May 20, 2022.
Each year the Diocese awards scholarships to promising youth who are headed to college. The Diocese seeks students who are active in their local parishes and have assumed leadership roles in their communities.
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Strengthening Healthcare in Artsakh
When Dr. Narine Gevorgyan spent several months in Artsakh as part of the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Doctors for Artsakh” program, she noticed a troubling truth: the high incidence of diabetes among people in the region following the war.
After she brought this issue to FAR’s attention, the organization and some partners launched a “Diabetes School” in Artsakh, to help improve treatment methods.
As a result, seven endocrinologists (pictured here) recently took part in a weeklong training program, which focused on how to teach patients to better manage the disease, and how to train other physicians to employ these methods. Soon, the participating doctors will lead community training in the areas of Artsakh surrounding Stepanakert, Arevik, and Martuni.
FAR’s “Doctors for Artsakh” program continues to strengthen Artsakh’s healthcare system by facilitating temporary replacements for much-needed healthcare specialists, and by providing resources to hospitals and medical clinics.
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"Setting the Table," a Fund for Armenian Relief project
"Set the Table" is the newest project of Ayo!, the Fund for Armenian Relief’s crowdfunding platform. You can help ensure that 462 children's brains are fueled to learn! There are 10 village schools in a depressed area of Armenia whose cafeterias don't have furniture, dishware, and/or kitchenware. Once they are equipped, the schools can begin to cook and serve healthy meals for their students. To help furnish them, visit www.weareayo.org.
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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING FEASTS AND EVENTS |
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April 16: Fun and Sacred Easter Eve event with Shnorhali School
April 17: Easter Sunday
April 24: Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide
April 28: Armenian Pop Music Night
May 1: Second Annual Middle Eastern Food Carry-Out Event
May 20-21-22: Spring food festival
May 26: Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
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ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL
FUND SCHOLARSHIP
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Application for WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2022-2023 academic year is May 31, 2022.
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PRAYERS FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR |
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Anne Andonian, Aram Andonian, Hripsime Apkarian, Lucy Badalian, Ellen Boudreau, Mari Dogum, Anahit Greene, Antaram Grigoryan, Susana Grigoryan, Simon Gukasyan, Karen Hatchik, Charles Hoke, Tamara Hramushina, Takvur Hubi, Jo-Anna Jacob, Edward Jamgochian, Yn. Anahid Kalayjian, Meline Kaehn, Michael Kolenick, Jack Kooyoomjian, Anahid Ghazarian Luka, Queen Manoogian, Susanna Mkrtchyan, Virginia (Corkigian) Mule, Armen Mark Nostrant, Hacik Ozdul, Mary Levon Panossian, Robert Schlee, Tamara Shatvoryan, Bob Semonian, Mihran Tavoukjian
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Եւ կիրակի օրը, առաւօտեան, արեւածագին եկան գերեզման: Եւ ասում էին միմեանց. «Քարը գերեզմանի դռնից մեզ համար ո՞վ պիտի գլորի»: Եւ նայեցին ու տեսան, որ գերեզմանից քարը գլորուած էր. եւ այն շատ մեծ էր: Եւ ներս, գերեզման մտնելով՝ տեսան մի երիտասարդի, որ նստած էր աջ կողմը՝ սպիտակ պատմուճան հագած. եւ զարհուրեցին: Եւ նա ասաց նրանց. «Մի՛ վախեցէք, դուք Յիսուսին էք փնտրում՝ խաչուած Նազովրեցուն. նա յարութիւն առաւ, այստեղ չէ: Ահաւասիկ այն տեղը, ուր նրան դրել էին: Բայց գնացէք ասացէ՛ք նրա աշակերտներին եւ Պետրոսին, թէ՝ ահա նա ձեզնից առաջ գնում է Գալիլիա. այնտե՛ղ կը տեսնէք նրան, ինչպէս ձեզ ասել էր»: Եւ երբ այս լսեցին, ելան ու փախան գերեզմանից, քանի որ սարսափահար էին եղել. եւ ոչ ոքի բան չասացին, որովհետեւ վախենում էին: Մարկոս 16:2-8
And very early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Mark 16:2-8
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Please Stay Current with Your Membership
St. Mary Church brings us together to worship, educate, and serve, yet we need your help to sustain this mission. We call upon you to renew, or become a new member, because dues are the largest part of our church income to help keep our beloved parish doors open.
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Your Membership
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Help us fulfill our mission to sustain and grow our ministries, worship programs and activities to strengthen our church family for generations to come. Thank you for your generosity and support. To Learn More About Membership
To Become A Member
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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 and tapestry icons, children and adult books, T-shirts, hats, bags, Armenian CDs, Armenian artwork, and much more.
The Gift Shop is open every Sunday after Church services and by appointment, call the church office at 202-363-1923 or send an e-mail to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
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Please check out newly arrived Armenian Souvenirs directly from Artsakh at our Gift Shop. |
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Before COVID 19 and before the 2020 aggression against free and democratic Armenian Artsakh, the number of tourists visiting our second Armenian homeland was nearing 50.000 tourists per year. Today, during the first six months of 2021, the number was less than 1.500. Artsakh’s economy has suffered significantly because of the war. At st Mary’s gift store, we sell souvenirs that arrived directly from Artsakh. By purchasing gifts from Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, we help the people of our homeland; we highlight that our solidarity.
Please visit our store or contact us if interested. We receive coffee-jazzve, souvenir-plates, souvenir magnets, and many more directly from Stepanakert.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Serves the Greater Washington, DC and Baltimore communities. Our mission is to proclaim and grow together in our Apostolic Faith in Christ Jesus and to sustain our Christian Armenian identity. We celebrate our long and enduring legacy,
the beautiful traditions of our religious and national heritage, with Christian servitude, and with love and reverence towards our Church.
We invite you and welcome you to be a part of our church,worship with us, and experience the true love of Christ as we grow together as a community.
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Signup / Stay Connected with St. Mary Church E-Newsletters and Correspondence.
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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. |
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St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
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See what's happening on our social site |
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