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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The Woman Who Found the True Cross
On Sunday, October 27, the Armenian Church will observe the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross. The feast day marks the 4th-century “discovery” of the actual cross of the Crucifixion by Queen Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine.
At the advanced age of 80, this pious Christian woman made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to identify places where Christ had walked some 300 years earlier. There, after years of prayer and good works, Helena was witness to a miracle: at the foot of Golgotha—the hill where Christ was crucified—workers under her sponsorship unearthed three wooden crosses.
But which one was the true Cross of Christ? St. Helena came up with an ingenious way to reveal the answer.
Click here
to find out what it was—and to learn more about the saintly woman behind the Discovery of the Holy Cross.
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Passing of Shirley Mikaelian
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Shirley Mikaelian on Monday, September 23, 2019. Shirley was the youngest of five children born to Minas and Margret Gostanian, immigrants from Kharpert, Armenia. She was born on April 5, 1926, in Haverhill, MA. She had one sister (Isabel) and three brothers (Zaven, Vasken, and Vaughn) and was raised in Haverhill (Bradford), Massachusetts. She graduated from Dean College in 1946, with an AA degree in Merchandising, and spent many years as a clothing buyer in Boston, New York, and later Washington, D.C.
In 1967, Shirley and her husband, Bill Du Chessi, moved to Chevy Chase, MD, where they lived less than two miles away from St. Mary Armenian Church. Shirley became an active member of the church. Her beloved Bill died in 1979, and several lonely years followed until she married Ash Mikaelian, in 1988. Throughout the years, she remained active at St. Mary’s and in other Armenian organizations.
In 2014, her niece, Sandra Gostanian Arakelian, moved her to Fresno, California, so that she could be properly cared for in a dementia care facility. She died peacefully on Monday, September 23, 2019.
Shirley is survived by seven nieces and nephews and their spouses, by thirteen great nephews and nieces, by twelve great-great nieces and nephews, by three step-children and their families, and by several Du Chessi nieces and nephews and their families.
We offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Shirley Mikaelian and we pray that our Compassionate Lord grants her eternal rest and comforts her loved ones with His Holy Spirit.
40 day Hokehankist service for Shirley will take place at St. Mary Church on Sunday, October 27.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Mary Armenian Church, 4125 Fessenden St. NW Washington, DC 20016
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A New Dean for Etchmiadzin’s Gevorgian Seminary
Last week the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced that His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has appointed a new dean for the Mother See’s Gevorgian Theological Seminary, in the person of the Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan.
On October 16, Catholicos Karekin II introduced the seminarians and faculty to their new dean. The Catholicos spoke of Fr. Parsamyan’s journey and pastoral ministry in the Armenian Church, and said he had high expectations for the seminary under this new appointment. Fr. Parsamyan thanked His Holiness for his show of confidence, and shared something of his vision for the seminary.
People in the Eastern Diocese have gotten to know Fr. Parsamyan over the past several years, first as the pastor of the Holy Shoghagat Church in Belleville, IL; later as the Director of Ministries at the Diocesan Center; and most recently as the Vicar of St. Vartan Cathedral in New York. Prior to his time in our Diocese, he had served in his native Armenia and throughout Europe.
Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, conveyed the news of Fr. Parsamyan’s appointment in a message to Diocesan leaders. “Naturally, his departure to accept this new role is a loss to the Eastern Diocese, which we regard with genuine sadness. But we are also confident that this appointment will strengthen the entire Armenian Church.” He added: “Please join me in offering prayers to our Lord for Hayr Sourp's ongoing ministry.”
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A Celebration of Gomidas at the French Embassy
On October 11, the Diocese’s Women’s Guild Central Council jointly sponsored a concert with the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) and the St. Mary Church of Washington, DC, to honor the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gomidas Vartabed. In the setting of France’s embassy to the U.S., master pianist Şahan Arzruni performed works by Gomidas and others.
The evening went forward under the auspices of the Armenian and French embassies. Armenia’s Amb. Varuzhan Nersesyan offered remarks in which he extolled the efforts of the WGCC in support of Armenia and its people. He thanked France’s Amb. Phillippe Etienne for hosting the concert.
Gratitude was also expressed to the tribute committee led by Yn. Anahid Kalayjian and Louisa Baghdasarian. All proceeds from the concert will support the Vanadzor Old Age Home (VOAH), a project of FAR and the Women’s Guild Central Council.
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New Choices Video
the latest episode of the video series Choices, Fr. Tateos Abdalian asks: Who is responsible for the ministry of the church? Is it a solitary individual, like the pastor? Is it a small group of parish leaders? Or does responsibility lie elsewhere?
Scripture instructs us that the church is the Body of Christ—and thus everyone has a role to play in advancing Christ’s ministry in the world. Indeed, the Lord invites all of his faithful to perform his work—and he even gives them the tools to do so. Learn more by clicking on the link to watch “
Tools of the Trade
.
”
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READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE
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Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Ushers
Mrs. Sara Arabian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Bagrat Bayburtian, Mr. Ara Stepanian, Mr. Mark Krikorian
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Reading
Isaiah 33:22-34:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18-24,
Matthew 24:27-36.
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HOKEHANKIST REQUIEM SERVICE
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
For the Soul of:
Shirley Mikaelian
Requested by:
Women's Guild, Nights of Daughter of Vartan and Clara Andonian
Hospitality Table Hosted by:
Women's Guild, Nights of Daughter of Vartan and Clara Andonian
in memory of
Shirley Mikaelian
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To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
Please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or
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CALENDAR OF FEASTS AND EVENTS
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Every Tuesday
Bible Study
October 27
Book presentation by Matthew Karanian : The Armenian Highland: Western Armenia and the First Armenian Republic Of 1918
October 27
Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross
November 21
Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple
November 23
Knights and Daughters of Vartan Fall Christmas Bazaar
December 9
Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary
December 31
New year Gala 2020
January 13-22, 2020
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
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27Որովհետեւ ինչպէս փայլակը, որ ելնում է արեւելքից եւ երեւում է մինչեւ արեւմուտք, մարդու Որդու գալուստը այնպէս կը լինի։ 28Ուր որ դիակն է, այնտե՛ղ կը հաւաքուեն արծիւները»։29«Այդ օրերի նեղութիւնից անմիջապէս յետոյ, արեգակը պիտի խաւարի, եւ լուսինը իր լոյսը չպիտի տայ, եւ աստղերը երկնքից պիտի ընկնեն,ու երկնքի զօրութիւններ պիտի շարժուեն։ 30Եւ ապա երկնքի վրայ մարդու Որդու նշանը պիտի երեւայ, ու այդ ժամանակ երկրի բոլոր ազգերը լացուկոծ պիտի անեն եւ պիտի տեսնեն մարդու Որդուն, որ գա¬լիս է երկնքի ամպերի վրայով՝ զօրութեամբ եւ բազում փառքով։ 31Եւ նա պիտի ուղարկի իր հրեշտակներին մեծ շեփորով, ու պիտի հաւաքեն նրա ընտրեալներին չորս կողմերից՝ երկընքի ծագերից մինչեւ միւս ծագերը»։32«Թզենո՛ւց սովորեցէք առակը. որովհետեւ, երբ նրա ոստերը կակղեն, եւ տերեւը ցըցուի, կ՚իմանաք, որ ամառը մօտ է։ 33Նոյնպէս եւ դուք՝ երբ այս բոլորը տեսնէք, իմացէ՛ք, թէ մօտ է Նա, դռների առաջ։ 34Ճշմա¬րիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, որ այս սերունդը չպիտի անցնի, մինչեւ որ այս ամէնը կատարուի։ 35Երկինք եւ երկիր պիտի անցնեն, բայց իմ խօսքերը չպիտի անցնեն»։36«Բայց այդ օրուայ եւ ժամուայ մասին ոչ ոք չգիտէ. ո՛չ երկնքի հրեշտակները եւ ո՛չ էլ Որդին, այլ՝ միայն Հայրը։
(Մատթէոս 24:27-36)
27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 30 "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
(Matthew 24:27-36)
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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.
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 week after Sunday Church services and by appointment.
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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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