September 8

TOP STORY   

Commemoration of 318 Pontiffs participating in the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

It was the great religious "confab" of the 4th century: a gathering of Christian bishops from throughout the world, convened by no less an authority than the Roman Emperor Constantine I. In A.D. 325, a town in the Black Sea province of Bithynia played host to 318 scholars of the church who met to deliberate on the burning theological questions of the day.

We remember it today as the Council of Nicaea: the first attempt to forge a truly "ecumenical" Christianity-that is, a Christianity that encompassed all the world's human habitations-by coming to a consensus on church doctrine.

The most significant result of the council was the Nicene Creed: the first uniform expression of Christian doctrine. The Creed would be elaborated upon in subsequent councils, but its essential form, conceived during that historic gathering in Nicaea, remains the fundamental statement of orthodox faith, embraced by churches throughout the world and repeated during every Armenian badarak as the Havadamk ("We believe").

The Armenian Church participated in the council, with St. Aristakes, the younger son of St. Gregory the Illuminator, representing his then-ailing father. This Saturday, our church will remember the 318 Fathers of the Holy Council of Nicaea, and the project they began 1,693 years ago.

September 10, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Garbis Chubukian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Catherine Sahakian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 13.1-11,

 2 Corinthians 7.4-16

Mark 7:31-37

For the Soul of:

  Barkev Kibarian

Requested by:

Mary Ann Kibarian, Maral Skelsey and 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

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Prayer of the Week

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.

    Guard us, O Christ our God, in peace under the shadow of your holy and venerable Cross. Deliver us from the visible and invisible enemy. Make us worthy to give you thanks and to glorify you together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always. Amen.

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

Act Now to Advocate for Artsakh and Prevent Another Genocide

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Our brothers and sisters in Artsakh are experiencing a grave crisis, the one that threatens their lives, culture, and their very existence. The disturbing echoes of past genocides reverberate in the present situation, making our intervention crucial.

I encourage you to take a moment to write a letter to your local representative, senator, or any influential person in your network. Advocate for peace in Artsakh and call for preventative measures against another potential genocide. Your voice matters, and it can make a difference.

The attached letter is for your convenience. It highlights the historical and cultural significance of Artsakh, the human rights abuses currently taking place, and the urgent need for international intervention. You can also access the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee website and use their platforms. 

Remember, each letter counts, each voice matters, and each prayer has the potential to change the course of events. Let's stand in solidarity with our brethren in Artsakh and do our part to avert another tragic chapter in history.

May God grant us the strength and guidance to make a difference in this critical situation. Your prayers and actions will undoubtedly bring comfort to those suffering in Artsakh.

May God's peace, blessings, and protection be upon our people of Artsakh.

Prayerfully,

Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

“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

 THE FIRST SERVICE WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12th, 2023

St. Mary Food Festival -Sponsorship Opportunities

Dear Friends, 

At St. Mary, we are very excited to host the 75th Annual Armenian Fall Food Festival on October 6, 7 and 8, again bringing the culinary delights and cultural riches of Armenian heritage to the Greater Washington, DC area. 

Our community is hard at work preparing for the Food Festival, but we need your support and sponsorship for it to be a success.

Please Click on the Link Below to BECOME A SPONSOR. 

All donations are tax-deductible.

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.

SHNORHALI SCHOOL CALENDAR

• Sunday, September 10th, 9:30am– 2pm –School resumes its normal schedule.
• Sunday, September 24th - Back to School fun event after school for students and parents, Book Fair, and the School Yearbook sale

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. 

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Welcome Our Newly-Ordained Primate Back to America on Oct. 14

With autumn upon us, our Diocese is approaching some uplifting milestones, revolving around our Mother See in the homeland, the ministry of our Primate, and all the faithful people he serves throughout our local parish communities.

As reported here previously, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on Sunday, October 1, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will lead the sacred ceremony of the “Blessing of the Holy Muron”—the first time the blessing service will have taken place since 2015.

A week later, on October 8, Catholicos Karekin II will celebrate an Episcopal Consecration service, wherein he will ordain several new bishops for the Armenian Church. Among those receiving the sacrament of episcopal ordination will be our Primate, the Very Reverend Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan.

Finally, on Saturday, October 14, the faithful of our Diocese will be able to welcome our newly-ordained Primate back home. The newly-ordained Bishop Mesrop will celebrate his first episcopal badarak at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The entire public is invited to witness this joyous occasion, when our Primate will officially greet his people as our new bishop. A reception, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Berge and Vera Setrakian, will follow in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

Click here to view a flyer for the October 14 badarak. Parishes across our Diocese are arranging pilgrimages to St. Vartan Cathedral for the occasion (check with your local parish for details). Plans also call for the service to be broadcast over the Internet.

Whatever way you can participate, please help us welcome our Primate Bishop Mesrop on October 14, and join together in prayerful goodwill for the future of our Diocese. Until then, we offer prayers of thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, for guiding us to these bright developments, and for shining His holy light on our people always.

Leaders of U.S. Armenian Churches Appeal to President

Leaders of Armenian churches in the United States wrote an urgent letter to U.S. President Biden, calling for “immediate action to prevent a second Armenian Genocide” against the people of Artsakh.

The leaders—gathered under the banner of “Armenian Churches Together of the United States of America,” and representing Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Protestant denominations—included Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Bishop Mikhael Mouradian, Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian, and Zaven Khanjian.

“For over 260 days, Azerbaijan has imposed a cruel and inhumane blockade of Artsakh, which has deprived Artsakh’s 120,000 indigenous Armenian Christians of access to food, fuel, medicine, electricity, water, and other essential goods,” the letter states.

“This humanitarian catastrophe continues to rapidly deteriorate by the day,” it continues. “Critical shortages of basic food and nutrition endanger the most vulnerable, with the region’s 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly, 9,000 disabled, and 2,000 pregnant women facing grave risks. Just last week, a young Armenian man succumbed to starvation, a tragic reminder of the horrific fate that awaits the Armenians of Artsakh should the international community continue to turn a blind eye to their suffering.”

It concludes on a determined note: “In the spirit of your commendable decision to recognize the Armenian Genocide, we would remind you of your pledge to ‘renew our shared resolve to prevent future atrocities from occurring anywhere in the world.’ As we bear witness to a second Armenian Genocide unfolding in Artsakh today at the hands of Azerbaijan, we urge your renewed leadership in saving Christian Armenian lives and advancing a truly democratic peace that respects the right to self-determination of Artsakh, an ancient cradle of Christianity.”

Click here to read the entire letter

And in the critical days to come, do not cease to make your own voice heard, and to offer prayers to the Lord for our countrymen in Artsakh.

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.

Dear Parishioner,



St Mary’s is preparing for its FY 2023 Fall Food Festival, and we are seeking your participation. The Woman’s Guild makes excellent traditional food and dishes. The workshops are an opportunity to learn how to make traditional Armenian food and learn from our culinary experts in these classic dishes. Please click on the link below to complete the volunteer form, if you would like to participate in any of the workshops. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DA4A82FA6F5C25-fall 



We look forward to hearing from you.

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!

FAR NEWS

Kids in Artsakh are Breathing Easier, Thanks to FAR Supporters

Stepanakert native Gavrusha, age 16, is healthier today, thanks to generous supporters of the Fund for Armenian Relief.

Some months ago, Gavrusha’s asthma started flaring up, due to the blockade-induced lack of nutrition, and the difficulties of getting to a doctor. Medication reserves that help the young man and countless others in the beleaguered region were also dwindling as a result of the cruel blockade of Artsakh.

But last spring, parishioners across the Eastern Diocese donated to the #BreatheEasy Project—an undertaking of FAR’s “Ayo!” crowdfunding platform. Through this project, more than 100 children like Gavrusha in Artsakh received vital asthma medication before the blockade tightened. These medicinal provisions will sustain asthma sufferers for the next three to four months.

On behalf of Gavrusha’s family and FAR’s on-the-ground team in our homeland, the Fund for Armenian Relief thanks you for being a beacon of light in these dark, urgent times. Read more about Gavrusha and Ayo!'s #BreatheEasy project on FAR’s blog.

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 28 Celebration of the 12th Anniversary of the Church Gift Store

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 10 Celebration Of the 91st Anniversary of the Church

December 24 Shnorhali School Christmas Celebration

31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.

Mark 7.31-37

^{31 Եւ դարձեալ, դուրս ելնելով Տիւրոսի եւ Սիդոնի սահմաններից, եկաւ Գալիլիայի ծովեզրը՝ Դեկապոլսի սահմաններից ներս: 32 Նրա առաջ բերեցին մի խուլուհամր մարդ եւ աղաչեցին, որ իր ձեռքը դնի նրա վրայ: 33 Եւ Յիսուս, նրան ամբոխից մի կողմ տանելով, իր մատները դրեց նրա ականջների մէջ եւ այնտեղ թքեց. ապա բռնեց նրա լեզուից. 34 դէպի երկինք նայեց, հոգոց հանեց եւ ասաց՝ եփփաթա, որ նշանակում է՝ բացուի՛ր: 35 Եւ իսկոյն նրա լսողութիւնը բացուեց, եւ լեզուի կապանքներն ընկան, եւ խօսում էր ուղիղ: 36 Եւ նա նրանց պատուիրեց, որ ոչ ոքի չասեն. բայց ինչքան էլ նա պատուիրում էր նրանց, նրանք է՛լ աւելի էին տարածում: 37 Եւ աւելի ու աւելի էին զարմանում եւ ասում. «Սա ամէն ինչ լաւ արեց, որովհետեւ խուլերին լսել է տալիս եւ համրերին՝ խօսել»:}

Մարկոս 7.31-37

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