October 4

TOP STORY   

Join Us for a Unique Blessing of Water Ceremony with the Newly Consecrated Holy Muron!

This Sunday, October 6, after the Divine Liturgy, we invite you to experience a special and sacred moment at our church: the Blessing of Water ceremony, using the newly consecrated Holy Muron.

The journey of this Holy Muron began at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, where His Holiness Karekin II, the 132nd Catholicos of All Armenians, led the sanctification of this sacred oil in a profound ceremony on September 28. He declared the Muron as a symbol of Hope and Renewal for the Armenian people, a spiritual turning point amidst the challenges we have faced as a nation.

This Friday, October 4, Der Hovsep journeyed to the Eastern Diocese to receive the Holy Muron at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York and bring it to our parishes for use in the sacraments.

We encourage all parishioners to take part in this momentous event, where we will welcome the Holy Muron into our church. Join us in celebrating this powerful expression of our faith, hope, and unity as a community.

Let this new Muron fill our hearts with the spirit of revival and remind us of our steadfastness in overcoming challenges. We look forward to seeing you at this unique service that will follow the Divine Liturgy.

Come, be part of this historic occasion and receive the blessings of the newly consecrated Muron!

Join Us for the 76th Annual Armenian Fall Food Festival! 



St. Mary Armenian Church warmly invites you to our 76th Annual Armenian Fall Food Festival, a celebration of tradition, community, and, of course, incredible food!

Indulge in a variety of Traditional Armenian Dishes, including:

• Lamb Kabob Platter and Chicken Kabob Platter (both served with pilaf & salad)
• A selection of A la Carte Items: Yalanchi, Eech, Boreg, Eggplant, Hummus & more
• Delicious Desserts: Baklava, Haskanoush, Cheese Kadayif, Simit & more

Event Schedule:

• Friday, October 4: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Saturday, October 5: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Sunday, October 6: 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
•  Location: St. Mary Armenian Church

Exciting Announcements!

• Vendors: Explore a variety of unique items and crafts from Friday through Sunday.
• Entertainment: Enjoy live music and dance performances throughout the festival.
• Silent Auction: Bid on wonderful items and experiences!

Come and be part of this joyful celebration, where delicious food, great company, and lively entertainment come together to create unforgettable memories.

See you there!

October 6, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Patricia Yeghissian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Shahnur Bostan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 17.7-14; 2

2 Corinthians 13.5-13

Mark 11.27-33

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

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 and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Grant them strength, and lead us together through the present time of trial.

    O Lord, sanctify those who have greeted in love the beauty of your house. Glorify us with your divine power and forsake not those who put their trust in you. Grant peace to the whole world and to all your people. Amen.

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

A Remarkable Weekend at Holy Etchmiadzin

During two days that combined splendid pageantry with profound spiritual significance, the worldwide Armenian Church bore witness to a historic chapter in the life of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

It began on Saturday, September 28, with the “Blessing of the Holy Muron”: the grand ceremony sanctifying the holy oil employed in the church’s sacraments across the globe.

His Holiness Karekin II, the 132nd Catholicos of All Armenians, led the service, assisted by a retinue of bishops from throughout the worldwide Armenian Church. These included our own Primate, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, who played a role in the Muron ceremony by serving as one of the oil-bearers who conveyed the Balm Muron, or the “Oil of Healing,” to the great caldron to be incorporated into the Holy Muron.

The following day, Sunday, September 29, marked the re-opening and re-consecration of the Mother Cathedral after a comprehensive, decade-long restoration. Once again, the Catholicos of Armenians celebrated the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, during which he sanctified the altar using the new Holy Muron.

As the vast procession of clergy entered the sanctuary, it was clear that the restoration had been a magnificent success, with exquisite details of architecture and artwork that had lain hidden for centuries now revealed at last, for the edification of present and future generations of worshippers.

Join the St Mary Teen Youth Group

The ACYOA Juniors, for teens from 13 to 18 years of age (12-year-olds to participate in local events), provides a vehicle through which young people may express themselves and demonstrate their abilities, skills, interests, concerns, and faith; developing programs through which the young people may participate, receive information, experience meaningful relationships, feel a sense of belonging, and gain exposure to the Armenian Christian faith and cultural heritage. 

Typically the group holds a monthly membership meeting (after church with pizza in the office) to plan events, socialize, and hear a brief speaker. Then the teens participate in a service project, party, or activity (bowling, skating, volleyball) once a month. The teens also travel to Eastern Diocese sports weekend events once or twice a year.  

If you have a teen who might be interested please email rebeccaBagdasarian@yahoo.com with your name/email/phone and the name and birth date of your teen.

Register Now for the ACYOA Seniors National Fall Retreat

Online registration is now open for the ACYOA Seniors National Fall Retreat—scheduled to take place over the weekend of November 8-10, at Camp Washington in Lakeside, CT.

All young adults, 18 years and older, are encouraged to participate in this weekend-long program hosted by the ACYOA Central Council. Click the following links to download a Fact Sheet with background on the retreat (including arrival and departure information), and to view a flyer.

To field remaining questions, feel free to contact Jennifer Morris at jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org, or the ACYOA Central Council at acyoacc@gmail.com.

Click here to register online now. A confirmation e-mail containing further details will be sent to all registrants. The registration deadline is Friday, October 25.

Read Bishop Mesrop’s Reflections on the Holy Muron

Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan was in Armenia throughout last week, alongside his fellow bishops, to take part in the ceremonies surrounding the Blessing of the Holy Muron and the re-opening of Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

He played a unique role in the Muron ceremony, by serving as one of the oil-bearers who conveyed the Balm Muron, or the “Oil of Healing,” to the great caldron on the outdoor altar, which Catholicos Karekin II then incorporated into the Holy Muron (seen here).

Later, Bishop Mesrop and his fellow diocesan primates met with His Holiness to receive vessels containing the new Muron, to take back to their respective jurisdictions.

Throughout these sacred ceremonies, Bishop Mesrop kept a running “diary” of his thoughts and experiences, which he shared with the faithful on social media platforms and on the Eastern Diocese’s website.

Click the links below to read Bishop Mesrop’s inspirational reflections:

• READ: The Seal of Identity.
• READ: The Balm of Healing.
• READ: Distributing the Holy Muron.

The final leg of the Holy Muron’s journey to our Diocese will take place this Friday, October 4. On that day, clergy from across the Eastern Diocese will gather at New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral to receive a quantity of the new Muron, to employ in the sacraments of our local parishes.

Many pastors are planning special services upon their return this Sunday (October 6), so that their faithful parishioners can welcome the Holy Muron into their churches. Contact your local parish for details.

FAR NEWS

FAR Improves Childhood Nutrition in Rural Armenia

Thanks to the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Child Health and Nutrition” project, the Kosh Community Kindergarten has become a lifeline in the fight against hunger and food insecurity in Armenia’s rural Aragatsotn region.

The kindergarten’s menu of nutritious, balanced meals is an essential ingredient in the mental and physical development of its young students. Principal Armine Gharibyan and her team, with support from FAR, ensure that every meal is carefully prepared and stored to avoid waste, a former challenge before they received much-needed equipment like refrigerators.

Beyond providing three vital meals a day to children from struggling families, the Kosh Kindergarten also empowers the community. Staff and parents receive training on nutrition, while activities teach children the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods.

For well over a decade, FAR has been a leading force in improving nutrition in Armenia. By supporting these and other FAR efforts, you can make a real difference. Click the link to learn more on FAR’s blog.

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.

October 4-5-6 Fall Food Festival

October 27 Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross

October 27 "Parallel Faiths and Fates: Armenians and Syriacs in their Ancestral Lands, Past and Present" Lecture

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

December 7 St. Mary Church Anniversary

Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Der Hovsep's Ordination

December 9    Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" 29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John's baptism-was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!" 31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32But if we say, 'Of human origin' ..." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Mark 11:27-33

26Դարձեալ Երուսաղէմ եկան. եւ մինչ նա այնտեղ, տաճարում շրջում էր, նրա մօտ եկան քահանայապետները, օրէնսգէտները եւ ծերերը 27ու ասացին նրան. «Ի՞նչ իշխանութեամբ ես դու այդ անում, եւ ո՞վ տուեց քեզ այդ իշխանութիւնը»։ 28Յիսուս պատասխան տուեց եւ ասաց նրանց. «Ես էլ ձե՛զ մի բան հարցնեմ, պատասխանեցէ՛ք ինձ, եւ ես ձեզ կ՚ասեմ, թէ ինչ իշխանութեամբ եմ այս անում։ 29Յովհաննէսի մկրտութիւնը երկնքի՞ց էր, թէ՞՝ մարդկանցից. պատասխանեցէ՛ք ինձ»։ 30Նրանք իրար միջեւ խորհում էին ու ասում. «Եթէ ասենք՝ երկնքից, մեզ կ՚ասի՝ իսկ ինչո՞ւ նրան չհաւատացիք. 31իսկ եթէ ասենք՝ մարդկանցից, ժողովրդից ենք վախենում». որովհետեւ բոլորը գիտէին, թէ Յովհաննէսը մարգարէ էր։32Պատասխան տուեցին եւ Յիսուսին ասացին՝ չգիտենք. եւ Յիսուս նրանց պատասխանեց ու ասաց. «Ես էլ ձե՛զ չեմ ասի, թէ ինչ իշխանութեամբ եմ այս անում»։

Մարկոս 11:27-33

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