August 4

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Տոն Շողակաթի`Սբ. Էջմիածնի, ըստ Սբ. Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի տեսիլքի

Feast of the Apparition of Holy Etchmiadzin

ACCORDING TO THE VISION OF ST. GREGORY

The Feast of “Shoghakat” of Holy Etchmiadzin commemorates the inauguration of the Cathedral of the Mother See, and this year is celebrated on August 12. The fifth-century Greek historian Agathangelos tells us of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s divine vision, wherein our Lord Jesus Christ descends from Heaven and strikes the ground with His golden hammer. In view of biblical Mount Ararat, in the city of Vagharshapat, the place where the Only Begotten descended identified the site for the foundation of the new cathedral of the Christian Armenian Nation. The vision of Gregory became known as “Shoghakat”, as the Saint saw a fiery column descending from the sky. The foundation was laid in 301 A.D. and the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was consecrated in 303 A.D. on the day of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. We learn from Archbishop Malachia Ormanian that as the Mother Cathedral of the Armenian Church and Nation is dedicated to St. Mary, the feast of her foundation and inauguration is celebrated in the Armenian Church on the Saturday preceding the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. For 1,700 years, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has been, and continues to be, the spiritual heart and center of the Armenian Church, and is her most sacred sanctuary. Her spiritual, national, and historical significance has only increased through the centuries. Through the vision of St. Gregory, God Incarnate descended upon the soil of Armenia and predetermined her future, making Armenia the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion.

August 6, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mrs. Anna Seferian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Sean McClure

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 7:1-9,

1 Corinthians 13:11-14:5,

Mark 2:1-12

Prayer of the Week

By the holy cross let us beseech the Lord, that through it He may deliver us from our sins and save us by the grace of His mercy. Almighty Lord, our God, save us and have mercy on us.

    Lord, please keep watch 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.

For the Soul of:

Misho Sakian (40 Days)

Requested by:

His wife, Lucy Sakian, two children, Tamar and Zaven, his son-in-law, Louis, and their Families

For the Soul of:

Dr. Arshag & Verkine Sarkissian

Mattavos & Zaven Ouzounian

Ohan Sakian & Yeghisa Mansourian

Requested by:

Sakian Family

For the Souls of:

 Hnazant Tahmazian (1st anniversary); & Khatchadour Tahmazian (9th anniversary)

Requested by:

Tahmazian Families

For the Souls of:

Hermine Manoukian (40 Days);

Requested by:

Harold and Victoria Sakaryan

For the Souls of:

Iskoohi Pirijanian (40 Days);

Matevos Shahverdian

Hamayak Ghazarian 

Khachatoor Pirijanian 

Artoosh Aslanian

Requested by:

Ghazarian and Shahverdian Families

The Hospitality Table is hosted by:

Sakian, Tahmazian, Ghazarian and Shahverdian Families

Altar Flowers are donated by:

Sakian 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

Prayers for Artsakh

Recent weeks have brought troubling news reports from Artsakh: increased tension and military aggression against our people; a spiraling humanitarian crisis due to the cruel blockade; and even despicable kidnappings.

As our Armenian brothers and sisters in Artsakh brave these and other outrages against their right to a peaceful and independent existence, please pray for them, and for the courageous soldiers defending Artsakh’s integrity as an ancient and holy Armenian land:

Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, and protect the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord. 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. Amen.

Dear Parish Community,

The staff and teachers of Shnorhali Armenian School are delighted to welcome you to the 2023-2024 academic year. The registration is now open. We are only weeks away from the first day of school and looking forward to seeing our school once again be filled with positivity and learning and fueled by kids’ laughter and joy!

The new academic year starts on August 27th with the Celebration of Knowledge and Education. Following our tradition, the school’s staff and teachers will evaluate the students’ knowledge of the Armenian language, history, and culture on the first day of school while students spend a fun day getting to know each other. Students and parents will participate in the Patarak (Badarag) to receive a special blessing during the service. The day will conclude with a meeting with parents.

Please click on the link below for more information.

Volunteer Corner

We extend our utmost appreciation to Anna Seferian for taking the initiative to offer altar flowers throughout the year. We welcome any parishioner who would like to adorn the church’s altar with flowers be it from their own garden or from a flower shop. 

There are many ways we could serve our church and community. Please do not hesitate to share your skills and talents with us.

Email the church’s office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com with your interest and ways you would like to serve.

NEW RECYCLING PROGRAM AT ST. MARY'S



There is now a blue recycling bin in the hall at St. Mary Church. Please only deposit empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the container. We are looking for volunteers to sign up about once a month to take the recyclables home with them after church or during the Food Festival. It involves sorting through what's in the clear recycling bag and discarding any trash that might have been put in the bag. Then, you replace the clear bag with one from the box in the kitchen marked "Recycling Bags, Not for Trash". I have created a SignUp Genius link to sign up for a slot. Please see St Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church: St. Mary's Recycling Committee (signupgenius.com). If you have any questions, please email me at rangerrox@msn.com. Thanks for your help in keeping God's good earth cleaner!

Special Appeal - Emergency Funding

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Recently, during our Spring Food Festival, some of you might have experienced the unusual rise in temperature at St. Mary's Cultural Hall. That was due to the breakdown in 2 of our Air Conditioning units.

The malfunction of our Air Conditioning Units came at a terrible time with summer heat around the corner. Moreover, the $15,000 was unbudgeted for this fiscal year.

We are reaching out to our faithful and loyal supporters to kindly consider helping us raise the much-needed funds. Regardless of the amount, we are grateful for each and everyone's thoughtfulness and participation.

May God bless you all abundantly.

Prayerfully,

Der Hovsep and St. Mary Parish Council

UPCOMING EVENTS

St. Nersess to Honor 12 Priests and Lay Alumni on Nov. 4



St. Nersess Armenian Seminary will highlight the vocations of 12 alumni priests and lay ministers, with a gala banquet on Saturday, November 4, 2023.

This will be the second in a series of tribute events featuring alumni of St. Nersess who serve the Armenian Church in various capacities. The first celebration took place in November 2021 and established the “12 Vocations” theme. The upcoming event will build on that idea, under the title: “12 Vocations: Broadening the Call.”

This year, the event will honor a seminary graduate who became a hierarch of the Armenian Church: Archbishop Avak Asadourian (priestly ordination in 1977, episcopal consecration in 1982), who recently retired after a long tenure as Primate of the Diocese of Iraq.

He will be honored along with seven clergymen and four lay ministers—listed here by ordination or graduation date: Fr. Krikor Sabounjian (ordained 1998); Fr. Sarkis Petoyan (ordained 1998); Fr. Abraham Ohanessian (ordained 1999); Fr. Mikael Devejian (ordained 2000); Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan (ordained 2004); Fr. Aren Jebejian (ordained 2004); Fr. Bedros Kadehjian (ordained 2005); Mka. Valerie Goekjian Zahirsky (graduated 1974); Yn. Sirarpi Feredjian Aivazian (graduated 1978); Nancy Basmajian (graduated 1979); and Shaké Ajamian Derderian (graduated 1989).

Invitations and further details on the November 4 banquet will be coming soon. Contact event co-chair Lynn Beylerian at lynnbeylerian@gmail.com or access the seminary website: www.stnersess.edu. 

Armenia by Armen Sayar

Shushi, Artsakh

Dear Parishioners and Friends!

We want to introduce the Armenian Artists Project to you!

The Armenian Artists Project (AAP) is a non-profit organization founded in San Diego, CA, USA in 2018. The AAP operates an online art gallery to support Armenian artists living and working in the Motherland by providing a platform to exhibit, promote and sell wonderful pieces of Armenian art to a wide international market.

Featuring vivid colors, inspired by Armenian motives, original art pieces will make your space look magnificent. 

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. 

HELP NEEDED

Armenian Speaking Caregivers are needed. For information, please contact the church office at 202-363-1923 or stmarychurchdc@gmail.com.

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.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Three Primates of North America to Meet in California

Primate of the Eastern Diocese Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan will be in California this weekend, where he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the beautiful “mother sanctuary” of our sister Western Diocese: St. Leon Armenian Cathedral.

Fr. Mesrop will be on the west coast at the gracious invitation of the Primate of the Western Diocese, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, to help honor the 125th anniversary of the birth of the Armenian Church’s Diocese of America.

Also present at St. Leon Cathedral for the Badarak will be Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Diocese of Canada. During the weekend, the three churchmen will meet to discuss future collaborations between the dioceses. But in this milestone year, the presence of all three diocesan leaders also resonates with a larger significance.

“When Catholicos Mgrdich Khrimian first established the ‘Diocese of America’ in 1898, it encompassed the entire Western Hemisphere,” explained Fr. Mesrop. “In North America, it united all of the Armenian Church communities ‘from sea to shining sea.’ But it’s a measure of our church’s impressive growth over the past 125 years that we now have three dioceses serving our faithful here. The Western Diocese became a distinct entity in 1927; and it was joined in 1984 by the Diocese of Canada.”

(For the historically minded, South America’s Armenian churches were first incorporated as a separate jurisdiction in 1938; and today, four distinct dioceses serve that continent.)

Fr. Mesrop continued: “What began in Worcester, Massachusetts, a century and a quarter ago is an achievement shared by all the faithful of the Eastern, Western, and Canadian dioceses—and it is a cause for all of us to celebrate together.”

That spirit of “togetherness” will be on display during the Badarak this Sunday, symbolized by the presence of all three Primates of North America.

Above: (left) The Armenian Church Primates of North America: Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan (Canadian Diocese), Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan (Eastern Diocese), and Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (Western Diocese), during a meeting in New York last February. All three will be present for the August 6 Divine liturgy at the Western Diocese’s St. Leon Cathedral (top right), honoring the 125th anniversary of the Diocese of America.

Explore the World of St. Nersess Shnorhali

In a Pontifical Encyclical issued earlier this year, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, called on the worldwide Armenian Church to honor St. Nerses Shnorhali throughout 2023, which marks the 850th anniversary of the saint’s death.

“Shnorhali’s entire life was focused on the glorification of God, and the urgent mission of leading the hearts of the people to Him,” the Catholicos wrote. “We invite our entire church to commemorate Shnorhali’s eternal memory during this 850th anniversary year.”

To help honor the legacy of St. Nersess—and deepen understanding of his contributions to Armenian and global Christian spirituality—the Eastern Diocese’s digital ministries platform, VEMKAR, will present an online discussion series, under the title: “Entering the World, Mind, and Soul of St. Nersess Shnorhali.”

On Tuesday evenings from late August through late September, experts on the history, spirituality, and artistry of St. Nersess Shnorhali will present online lectures, and entertain questions from viewers, on a variety of topics that bring this medieval Armenian saint to life for the modern world.

Click the following links to view a flyer with details, and to register in advance for the sessions that will take place over the Zoom conference platform, from August 22 through September 26.

Relatedly, see the item below under Events, to learn about the Diocese’s Sacred Music Festival scheduled for September, which is dedicated to the musical legacy of St. Nersess Shnorhali.

FAR NEWS

FAR’s GTech Launches Vanadzor Engineering Education Center

With the opening of its Vanadzor Engineering Education Center, the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has made a great advance in empowering young students in Armenia who are aiming at careers in science and technology.

The new center—part of FAR’s GTech school—provides an avenue to higher education in Artificial Intelligence and IT for young people in Armenia’s third-largest city. Tuition is absolutely free, making it accessible to all.

The center welcomed its first summer class of 44 high school students . Their curriculum will span two years, covering mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and AI. As a result, before they even enter a university, these students will have learned to create, design, and develop products highly demanded by the military and tech fields.

To learn more about how FAR provides opportunities for young Armenians—and to support its ongoing efforts—click here.

Ayo is the crowdfunding platform of Fund for Armenian Relief, the social arm of the Eastern Diocese. We’re passionate about partnering with Armenians all over the world to promote sustainable development through low-budget, big-impact projects.

This summer, Ayo! is partnering with GOALS (Girls of Armenia Leadership in Sports) to organize a sports camp for kids aged 11-17. It will intertwine learning and fun through games, promoting positive values such as teamwork, leadership, respect, and gender equality. 

The camp will be held in the rural Shirak region for 70 boys and girls from surrounding villages. In addition to soccer, basketball, and tennis, lacrosse will be introduced this year!

It costs $125 to sponsor one village child’s unforgettable week of camp.

Get involved!

• Donate tax-deductible through Ayo’s website here:

www.weareayo.org/donate

• One day of camp, including meals, costs $25/month

Click Here to DONATE!

We’re turning 10 this year!

With the support of Hilton, we’re organizing a special all-expenses paid trip to Armenia for one lucky person (chosen at random).

Enter here!

August 13 Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother- of- God (Picnic)

August 27 First Day of Shnorhali School

September 17 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

September 24 Shnorhali School Back to School Night

October 1        Feast of Holy Cross of Varak

October 6-7-8 Fall Food Festival

October 29      Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross

October 29 Shnorhali School Talent Show

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

December 9     Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary

December 24 Shnorhali School Christmas Celebration

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12 He got up, took his mat, and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

(Mark 2:1-12) 

Մի քանի օր յետոյ, երբ նա դարձեալ Կափառնայում մտաւ, լուր տարածուեց, թէ տանն է. 2եւ շատեր հաւաքուեցին, այնպէս որ այլեւս տեղ չմնաց, ոչ իսկ դռան առջեւ։ Եւ նրանց քարոզում էր Աստծու խօսքը։ 3Եւ եկան նրա մօտ՝ բերելով մի անդամալոյծի, որին տանում էին չորս հոգով։ 4Եւ երբ ամբոխի պատճառով Յիսուսին չկարողացան մօտենալ, քանդեցին երդիկը այն տան, ուր գտնւում էր նա. եւ բացելով առաստաղը, իջեցրին այն մահիճը, որի մէջ էր անդամալոյծը։ 5Եւ Յիսուս, տեսնելով նրանց հաւատը, անդամալոյծին ասաց. «Որդեա՛կ, քո մեղքերը քեզ ներուած են»։ 6Օրէնսգէտներից մի քանիսը, որ նստած էին այնտեղ, իրենց մտքում խորհում էին. 7«Այս ի՞նչ է խօսում, սա հայհոյում է. ո՞վ կարող է մեղքերին թողութիւն տալ, եթէ ոչ՝ միայն Աստուած»։ 8Եւ Յիսուս իր հոգում իմացաւ, որ այնպէս են խորհում իրենց մտքում. ուստի ասաց. «Ինչո՞ւ ձեր մտքում այդ էք խորհում. 9ո՞րն է աւելի դիւրին. անդամալոյծին ասե՞լ՝ քո մեղքերը քեզ ներուած են, թէ՞ ասել՝ վե՛ր կաց, ա՛ռ մահիճդ եւ գնա՛ քո տունը։ 10Բայց որպէսզի իմանաք, որ մարդու Որդին երկրի վրայ իշխանութիւն ունի ներելու մեղքերը, - ասաց նա անդամալոյծին, - 11քե՛զ եմ ասում, վե՛ր կաց, ա՛ռ քո մահիճը եւ գնա՛ քո տունը»։ 12Եւ վեր կացաւ ու անմիջապէս վերցնելով մահիճը՝ բոլորի առաջ դուրս ելաւ, այնպէս որ ամէնքը զարմացան եւ փառք էին տալիս Աստծուն ու ասում. «Այսպիսի բան երբեք չենք տեսել»։

(Մարկոս 2:1-12)