June 21

TOP STORY   

The Man Who Remembered God

Every year, the Armenian Church reserves a day to remember one of the more obscure figures of the Old Testament: The Prophet Zechariah. This year his saint day falls on June 25.

Zechariah’s collection of prophecies stands among the last books of the canonical Old Testament, set down some 500 years before the birth of Christ. Some of the most vivid prophetic images in the New Testament originated in Zechariah’s uncanny visions.

It was Zechariah who first envisioned such figures as the Four Horsemen and the Harlot of Babylon, long before they were revealed to St. John in his Book of the Revelation. But the prophet also influenced the Gospel writers, who used the words and hopes of Zechariah to relate the life story of Jesus.

 Zechariah took up his vocation in the worst of times: periods of unsettling societal crisis. His common motive was one of restoration, wherein the Man of God must minister to a nation scarred by faithlessness, war, and the abuse of political power, helping the people to restore a wholesome relationship with each other and with their heavenly Lord.

In this way, among others, he anticipated the mission of Christ. Indeed, Jesus explicitly referred to Zechariah during his own ministry.

June 23, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

Anna Seferian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Svetlana Hovhannisyan

Choir

Dr. Hratch Semerjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 2:5-11, 

Romans 8:31-10:4, 

Matthew 13:24-30

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of:

George Sarkissian (50 anniversary), Rosaline Sarkissian, Orbel Khanbabaian

Requested by:

Yolande Khanbabaian and family

Prayer of the Week

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.

   Keep watch, Lord, over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord. Deliver the world from every conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

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

Join us this Sunday at St. Mary's for an uplifting worship experience!

Delight in the beauty of our blooming lilies and the serene presence of our cherished Armenian Apricot tree. Come and be part of a warm and welcoming community where worship and fellowship unite in harmony. Embrace the rich traditions of the Armenian Church and feel the comforting embrace of the Holy Spirit.

We can't wait to welcome you with open arms and joyful hearts!

Father's Day at St. Mary

Last Sunday, during the Badarak at St. Mary Armenian Church, fathers were remembered in a special way. Parishioners gathered to participate in the liturgy, where Der Hovsep extended well wishes, blessings, and prayers to all fathers, acknowledging the significant roles they play in their families and communities.

Fatherhood was highlighted as a privilege, duty, and blessing. As Father’s Day was observed across the United States, we were invited to reflect with gratitude on the deeper meaning of fatherhood. While contemporary culture often overlooks the importance of fatherhood, the Armenian Church holds fathers in high regard.

A poignant part of our Badarak is the prayer that emphasizes the reverence of calling God “Father,” a privilege that signifies a profound relationship. The prayer recited by the priest states:

“God of truth and Father of mercy, we are grateful that you have exalted us above even the Old Testament patriarchs. For you were called ‘God’ to them, but you are pleased to be named ‘Father’ to us.”

This prayer, said before the congregation sings the Hayr Mer (Our Father), reminds us that it was Jesus Christ who taught us to call God “Our Father.” This understanding of God as our Father underscores the godliness to which all fathers are called.

We were called to thank the fathers who exemplify such divine fatherhood in our lives and to remember in prayer those fathers who have departed from this world.

A New Cross to Grace St. Vartan Cathedral

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral has been undergoing a major renovation in 2024, to repair and restore the structure of the cathedral. Top architects and artisans are undertaking the project.

Sunday, June 30, will mark an exciting milestone in the renovation process. On that day, following badarak, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan will bless a new cross for the cathedral dome.

The new cross will grace St. Vartan Cathedral for the next era of its existence. Designed in a beautiful, stately Armenian fashion, it will shine proudly atop St. Vartan Cathedral—affirming our undying faith to the Heavens, and our distinctive Armenian Christian identity to the surrounding world.

This milestone in the life of our Diocesan cathedral will take place on Sunday, June 30. The Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Mesrop will begin at 10 a.m. The cross-blessing ceremony will follow badarak, on the outdoor cathedral plaza.

The public is cordially invited to join in this uplifting event and the reception that follows—and to bear witness to the blessing of the cathedral’s new cross. Click here to view a flyer.

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is located at 630 Second Avenue (at 34th Street), in New York City. Learn about the restoration—and contribute to the ongoing project—by visiting the website StVartan.org.

Above: The new cross that will soon sit atop St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, in its manufacturing workshop (at left), alongside its future “home” (at right). The cross will be raised to the summit of the cathedral during the night hours of June 30, in accordance with New York City construction ordinances. Once installed, it will be gilded to match the cathedral dome.

Seven New Priests Ordained by Bishop Mesrop’s Hand

This week, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan was blessed to ordain seven new priests to serve the Armenian Church. He did so while he was visiting Armenia to attend the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting at Holy Etchmiadzin (see the item below under World News).

The ordination service took place on Sunday, June 16, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan. Each of the seven young men who knelt before the altar embodied a unique calling that God had planted in their hearts. These seven represent the first priests to be ordained by the hand of our Primate.

The day was especially meaningful to Bishop Mesrop as it coincided with Father’s Day. “This day has now taken on a new meaning for me,” he reflected during the ceremony, “as I have become the spiritual father to these seven new priests, consecrating them and dedicating them to the Lord. As I laid my hands on each candidate, I felt a father’s profound sense of responsibility and joy.”

“This day also reminds me of the ultimate Father,” he went on: “our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and calls us to follow Him. He is our guide, our protector, and our source of strength. As we honor our earthly fathers today, let us also give thanks to God for His boundless love and grace.”

Bishop Mesrop expressed gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, for giving him the opportunity to serve in the sacred role of ordaining new clergy to serve the church.

Of the new priests, the Primate said: “May they be blessed in their ministry, and may they always feel the presence of God guiding their steps. As they embark on this journey, let us keep them in our prayers, asking the Lord to fill them with His wisdom and love, so they may faithfully shepherd their flocks.”

Among the newly-ordained clergy, five are married priests and two will serve in the celibate order. All will be blessings for the Armenian Church, and we congratulate them and Bishop Mesrop on this hopeful occasion.

Click the following links to view an extensive photo gallery of the ordination, and to watch a video of the beautiful ceremony.

Supreme Spiritual Council Meets at Holy Etchmiadzin

The Armenian Church’s Supreme Spiritual Council convened at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from June 11 to 13. His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the meeting, which featured an expanded roster of participants.

It was jointly chaired by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe, and Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of America.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of our own Eastern Diocese, traveled to Armenia for the meeting as a formal member of the Supreme Spiritual Council.

An important part of the discussion involved concerns over Armenia’s present security, internal unrest, and a June 12 incident in which police used force against a peaceful protest in Yerevan. The council issued a statement appealing to Armenia’s authorities to respect the rule of law, and calling on all Armenians to work towards societal solidarity during a critical moment in the republic’s existence. (Click here to read the statement.)

The Supreme Spiritual Council also heard reports on the renovation of the Mother Cathedral, which is in its final stage and will re-open, with a special consecration ceremony, in September. That period will also include the Blessing of Holy Muron, whose preparations were also detailed to the council.

Other matters under discussion included plans to convene a National Ecclesiastical Assembly of the worldwide church at Holy Etchmiadzin in 2025.

Click here to read more in Armenian.

FAR’s “Green Charity Run / Walk” Will Support Yerevan Botanical Garden

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has enjoyed an ongoing partnership with Yerevan Botanical Gardens to promote environmental education. Most recently, FAR sponsored the opening of the “Eco Education Center,” equipped with microscopes and other technology, enabling the organization of events, summer science camps, and research projects.

FAR’s “Ayo!” platform is currently raising funds to further develop the Botanical Gardens, by building a professional therapeutic horticulture space for children. The therapeutic space will be particularly useful to children with special needs, and to those who have experienced trauma.

“Ayo!” is organizing a Green Charity Run/Walk to support the initiative. It kicks off this weekend—on Sunday, June 23, at 9 a.m. Yerevan time—on the Botanical Gardens grounds. But all friends of FAR, no matter where they are, are invited to join remotely to show their solidarity.

You can register at the link below, gather with friends or family, and go for a run or walk wherever you are. Share your photos on social media with the hashtags #WeAreAyo, #FAREmpowers, and #GreenCharityRun.

Click here to register.

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 92nd Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church. "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund was established on the occasion of the 90th anniversary and continues 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.

June 30 ACYOA meet and greet

July 7 Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

August 18 Feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God

24 Նա մէկ ուրիշ առակ էլ նրանց առաջ դրեց ու ասաց. «Երկնքի արքայութիւնը նմանուեց մի մարդու, որ իր արտի մէջ բարի սերմ սերմանեց։ 25 Եւ երբ մարդիկ քնի մէջ էին, նրա թշնամին եկաւ եւ ցանած ցորենի վրայ որոմ ցանեց ու գնաց։ 26 Եւ երբ ցորենը բուսաւ ու պտուղ տուեց, ապա երեւաց եւ այն որոմը։ 27 Տանտիրոջ ծառաները մօտեցան ու ասացին նրան. «Տէ՛ր, չէ՞ որ քո արտի մէջ դու բարի սերմ սերմանեցիր, ուրեմն որտեղի՞ց է այդ որոմը»։ 28 Եւ տէրն ասաց նրանց. «Թշնամի մարդ է արել այդ»։ Ծառաները նրան ասացին. «Կամենո՞ւմ ես, որ գնանք ու քաղենք հանենք այն»։ 29 Եւ տէրը նրանց ասաց. «Ո՛չ, մի գուցէ որոմը քաղելիս, ցորենն էլ նրա հետ արմատախիլ անէք։ 30 Թողէ՛ք, որ երկուսն էլ միասին աճեն մինչեւ հունձը, եւ հնձի ժամանակ ես հնձողներին կ՚ասեմ՝ նախ այդ որոմը քաղեցէ՛ք եւ դրանից խուրձեր կապեցէ՛ք այրելու համար, իսկ ցորենը հաւաքեցէ՛ք իմ շտեմարանների մէջ»։

(Մատթեոս 13:24-30)

24 Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

(Mathew 13:24-30)

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