November 10

TOP STORY   

The Holy Apostles Andrew and Phillip



On November 18 the Armenian Church commemorates the feast of the Holy Apostles Andrew and Philip.

St. Andrew the Apostle - was the brother of Simon Peter (Matt., 10: 2; John 1:40). Both were fishermen (Matt4:18; Mark 1:16), and at the beginning of Our Lord's public life, they occupied the same house at Capharnaum (Mark1:21, 29). From the fourth Gospel, we learn that Andrew was a disciple of the Baptist, whose testimony first led him and John the Evangelist to follow Jesus (John 1:35-40). Andrew at once recognized Jesus as the Messiah and hastened to introduce Him to his brother, Peter, (John 1:41).

It is generally agreed that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas or Aegeates, at Patrae in Achaia, and that he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, to prolong his sufferings. The cross on which he suffered is commonly held to have been the decussate cross, now known as St. Andrew's, though the evidence for this view seems to be no older than the fourteenth century. His martyrdom took place during the reign of Nero, on 30 November, A.D. 60).

St. Philip the Apostle - Like the brothers, Peter and Andrew, Philip was a native of Bethsaida on Lake Genesareth (John 1:44). He also was among those surrounding the Baptist when the latter first pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. On the day after Peter's call, when about to set out for Galilee, Jesus met Philip and called him to the Apostolate with the words, "Follow me", Philip obeyed the call, and a little later brought Nathaniel as a new disciple (John 1:43-45). He has preached in Asia Minor. Apostle Philip was martyred in the town of Heliople.

November 12, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Sara Arabian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Sean McClure

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 24:1-12,

 Ephesians 5:15-33

Luke 8:49-56

For the Soul of :

Vahe Abalian (40 days anniversary)

Requested by:

Robert and Elvina Avetisyan

Hospitality Table is Hosted by:

Avetisyan Family

Altar Flowers donated by:

Saraydaroglu family

-------------------------------------------

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.

O Lord our God, turn not your face from me! O beneficent Lord, I beseech you, be my helper.

O Lord, despise me not and forsake me not, O God, my Savior. Amen.

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

Historic Visit of Baroness Cox to St. Mary Armenian Church

On Sunday, November 5th, St. Mary Armenian Church was blessed with the distinguished presence of Baroness Caroline Cox during the Badarak service. In a spirit of reverence and community, the service was officiated by Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, who warmly welcomed Baroness Cox into our fold.

Baroness Cox, a renowned advocate for peace and justice, honored us with her presence, partaking in the liturgy and providing an inspiring example of service and commitment to humanitarian causes. Her work, especially in Armenia and Artsakh, resonates deeply with our values and mission as a church community.

Following the divine liturgy, the congregation gathered in the church’s hall to hear from Baroness Cox about her experiences and ongoing projects that continue to impact lives around the world. Baroness Cox addressed the parishioners emphasizing the deep faith the Armenian nation has adopted since its inception. She encouraged everyone to continue praying for Artsakh and its population stressing that our Heavenly Father is capable of and continues to deliver miracles. At the conclusion of the discussion and Q&A session, the congregation was invited to a special reception in the church’s cultural hall, kindly sponsored by the Armenian Assembly of America. This reception offered a rare opportunity for parishioners to continue their conversation with Baroness Cox and getting to know her personally.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Baroness Cox for visiting our parish and to Archbishop Aykazian for facilitating this momentous event. Our thanks also go to the Armenian Assembly of America for their hospitality and support in making this visit a memorable one.

We were encouraged to witness such a strong turnout from the community, reflecting our shared commitment to the causes that Baroness Cox champions. Your presence helped to make this a day of significant fellowship and learning.

Prayer for Healing Service & Bible Study at St. Mary

On the evening of November 7, the community members of St. Mary Church came together in a Healing Prayer Service and an insightful Bible Study. This gathering was not just a routine assembly; it was a profound journey into the depths of spiritual healing and scriptural understanding.

The Bible Study that followed was centered on one of Christ’s healing miracles – the healing of the Canaanite woman’s daughter, as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 15:21-28). This passage was not only a narrative but a profound lesson in faith, humility, and the power of persistent prayer.

In this story, the Canaanite woman’s plea to Jesus for her daughter’s healing and her unwavering faith despite initial rebuffs was a testament to the power of persistent faith. This woman, an outsider by cultural and religious standards, demonstrated an understanding of Jesus' mission that even His disciples sometimes failed to grasp. Her story is a compelling reminder that faith knows no boundaries and that God’s mercy extends beyond all human-imposed barriers.

This ancient story resonates profoundly with our modern lives. In a world often fragmented by differences, the faith of the Canaanite woman is a call for inclusivity and persistence in our spiritual journeys. It teaches us that our approach to God should be characterized by humility and relentless faith, even when faced with challenges and seeming rejections.

The Healing Service and Bible Study at St. Mary reinforced the idea that healing is multifaceted. Sometimes, it may not come in the form we expect or desire, but it always aligns with a higher, divine wisdom that surpasses our immediate understanding.

Prayer of Healing and Bible Discussions will continue to be offered every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. 

12 Vocations Banquet Overwhelming Success

Saturday, November 4, was an evening to remember as 12 seminary graduates - eight clergy and four lay ministers - were honored in the presence of family and friends and over 200 guests. It was a spirited and elegant affair with delicious food and sense of purpose. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean, emceed the program and announced each of the honorees:

Archbishop Avak Asadourian

(priestly ordination in 1977, episcopal consecration in 1982

Fr. Krikor Sabounjian

(ordained 1998)

Fr. Sarkis Petoyan

(ordained 1998)

Fr. Mikael Devejian

(ordained 2000)

Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

(ordained 2004)

Fr. Aren Jebejian

(ordained 2004)

Fr. Bedros Kadehjian

(ordained 2005)

Yn. Sirarpi Feredjian Aivazian

(graduated 1978)

Nancy Basmajian

(graduated 1979)

Shake Ajemian Derderian

(graduated 1989)

Fr. Abraham Ohanesian

(ordained 1999) - not present

Yn. Valerie Goekjian Zahirsky

(graduated 1974) - not present

The gala banquet was held at Macaluso's in New Jersey, and His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, officiated. Also in attendance were board members, clergy, seminary faculty and staff, the president and academic dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and guests who traveled from the West Coast, the Southwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. The event was lovingly co-chaired by Margaret Kachigian Ajamian and Lynn Pinajian Beylerian.

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Ararat Avak Society

Invites you to Join

The Armenian Style Brunch - Հայկական Նախաճաշ

on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 11:30 AM

At St. Mary Church Hall

Menu

Sujuk & Egg Omelette, Pasterma Pide, Cigar Cheese Boreg, Armenian String Cheese, Armenian-Style French Toast, Katmer, Kata, Ser (Kaymak), Shakshouka (Menemen), Mimosas, Coffee and Samover Tea, and various homemade desserts!

Donation: $25

Everybody is welcome!

For More Information or to Reserve Your Seat Call:

Takuhi Hallajian (301) 219-4041

Raffi Sahakian (301) 221-4533

St. Mary Armenian Church

Invites you on Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00 PM

To an enlightening presentation By Whitney Adana Kite, 

Junior Fellow, Byzantine Studies:

The Lay of the Land: Armenian Monasteries in their Local Landscapes 

Join us for the Celebration of the 91st Anniversary of St. Mary Armenian Church on Sunday, December 10th, 2023 in the Church Hall after a Special Requiem Service officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.

Mark your calendars and sign-up for THE charity event of the holiday season.

Food will be made available and items will be for sale to help the Armenian refugees of Artsakh.

This event will focus on explaining to non-Armenians the dire humanitarian needs of our people, so all Armenians are encouraged to bring friends. After buying tickets for yourself, purchase a few extra and invite your charitable friends - and don't forget to share the flyer and link on social media!

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!

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

The Tragic Aftermath of War, Three Years Later

Today marks a very solemn milestone in the modern history of the Armenian people. It was three years ago—on November 9, 2020—that the Artsakh war ended, after 44 days of brutal conflict, initiated through an unprovoked surprise attack on our homeland.

Three years later, the terrible realities of the war—the loss of land, the displacement of our countrymen, the tragedy of Armenian P.O.W.’s and M.I.A.’s, and (worst of all) the sacrifice of countless precious lives among our courageous soldiers and civilians—remain deeply painful.

But that pain has only been magnified in recent months, as Armenians have borne the great costs of an inhuman blockade, renewed conflict, and further casualties—culminating in the unspeakable loss of our precious and holy land of Artsakh. And now, as the refugees of Artsakh struggle to resettle in the Republic of Armenia, that solitary country finds itself vulnerable to attack and desecration by an emboldened, hostile enemy.

We are aware, of course, that our people are not strangers to distress and affliction. Struggling against hatred, and persevering against the odds, are hallmarks of Armenian history. Our ancestors knew all too well that at such times, the purposes of God may be very hard to discern. But He has not sustained us through the past centuries only to see us fracture and fragment. The Armenian people are called to live in the spirit of unity. And in that spirit, we must ask our Father in Heaven to reveal His will for us.

Now, the passage of a third year since that heartbreaking day is a moment to offer such prayers again. Today, we ask our merciful Lord to console all of our people: in Armenia, America, and around the world. We ask Him to place His protective hand over our sisters and brothers of Artsakh, in this time of dire need. We pray as one people that the Lord Jesus Christ will remember, and honor, every sacrifice made in those 44 days of struggle, and in the three years since the war—for every single one was made in His name. We ask our risen Lord to lead us on the difficult and uncertain path that lies ahead.

Most of all, we ask Him to bless, heal, and protect His faithful children of Armenia, Artsakh, and the entire Armenian Church throughout the world, now and always.

Reach Out Through the Diocesan-Wide “Artsakh Refugee Fund”

In a message to the Diocesan faithful early this month, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan announced a Diocesan-wide fundraising effort to bring aid to Artsakh refugees now forced to flee the land of their birth.

The “Artsakh Refugee Fund” was announced in all our parishes as a unified effort of the entire Eastern Diocese to respond to this time of grave crisis for the Armenian people.

You can support the Eastern Diocese’s “Artsakh Refugee Fund” by making an online contribution. Please note that all the fundraising proceeds will go to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for direct distribution to the Artsakh refugees.

Click here to donate now, using the Diocese’s secure server. Make sure to select “Artsakh Refugee Fund” from the dropdown menu.

In addition, our Diocese’s Fund for Armenian Relief is doing urgently needed work to help the refugee population, including on-the-ground, person-to-person efforts through its Ayo! crowdfunding platform. (See the FAR item below for links.)

Please lend a helping hand to this effort and keep our sisters and brothers of Artsakh in your prayers during these urgent times. May God support and protect our people.

UPCOMING EVENTS

“The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalms 147

Prayers for Healing

Աղօթք Բժշկութեան

Join us in this ancient Armenian Church tradition:

A brief prayer service, holy Scripture, and blessing of holy water asking God to ease the pains of body, mind, and soul and bestow his peace.

The Bible Discussions on the healing miracles of our Lord will follow the services.

Prayer of Healing and Bible Discussions will be offered every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

ALL ARE WELCOME

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.

November 11 Armenian Style Brunch hosted by AVAK Society at 11:30 AM

November 12 Shnorhali School Talent Show

November 21 Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple

December 3 Lecture on the Armenian Monasteries by Ms.Whitney Adana Kite

December 9   Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary

December 10 Celebration Of the 91st Anniversary of the Church

December 16 ACYOA Seniors Fundraising Event

December 24 Shnorhali School Christmas Celebration

49 Եւ մինչ նա խօսում էր, ժողովրդապետի տնից մէկը եկաւ եւ Յայրոսին ասաց. «Աղջիկդ մեռաւ, յոգնութիւն մի՛ պատճառիր նրան»: 50 Իսկ երբ Յիսուս լսեց, նրան պատասխանեց եւ ասաց. «Մի՛ վախեցիր, միայն հաւատա՛, եւ նա կապրի»: 51 Եւ նրա տունը մտնելով՝ ոչ ոքի չթողեց ներս մտնել, բացի Պետրոսից, Յակոբոսից, Յովհաննէսից եւ երեխայի հօրից ու մօրից: 52 Ամէնքը լալիս ու ողբում էին նրա վրայ: Եւ նա ասաց. «Լաց մի՛ եղէք, որովհետեւ մեռած չէ, այլ ննջում է»: 53 Իսկ նրանք ծաղրում էին նրան, որովհետեւ գիտէին, որ մեռած էր: 54 Եւ ամէնքին դուրս հանելով՝ բռնեց նրա ձեռքից, գոչեց եւ ասաց. «Վե՛ր կաց, կանգնի՛ր, ո՛վ մանուկ»: 55 Եւ նրա հոգին վերադարձաւ, եւ մանուկն իսկոյն կանգնեց: Եւ Յիսուս հրամայեց, որ նրան ուտելու բան տան: 56 Եւ նրա ծնողները զարմացած մնացին, իսկ նա պատուիրեց, որ ոչ ոքի չասեն, ինչ որ եղել էր:

Ղուկասի 8.49-56

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Luke 8.49-56

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