April 25

TOP STORY   

Holy Week and Easter Celebration at St. Mary

The sacred journey of Holy Week at St. Mary Armenian Church began on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, as the community gathered to joyfully mark the beginning of the most solemn and hope-filled season in the Christian calendar. Sponsored by St. Mary ACYOA, the day began with a Divine Liturgy led by Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, featuring a palm procession and a special blessing of the children, reminding us of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the promise of renewal and salvation.

Following the service, parishioners gathered in the Church Hall for light hospitality and a Palm Sunday program. Dr. Ani Shahinian delivered a presentation titled “But take courage, I have overcome the world”: The Resurrection and Christian Martyrdom, offering reflections on the strength and hope we draw from the Risen Christ in the face of suffering and sacrifice.

The Holy Week continued with Great and Holy Thursday, commemorated on April 17, which brought the faithful into deeper reflection through the celebration of the Holy Badarak and the Washing of the Feet service, reenacting Christ’s humility and love during the Last Supper. The day concluded with the Khavaroom (Service of Darkness), where the church was filled with meditative silence as we reflected on Christ’s betrayal and the mystery of His Passion.

On Great and Holy Friday, April 18, the community gathered in reverence to commemorate the Crucifixion and Entombment of our Lord. Through scripture, hymns, and solemn procession, the services invited all into the mystery of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of the world.

The vigil of Easter Eve, held on Saturday, April 19, opened with Evening Vespers and Scriptural readings presented by students of the Shnorhali School, culminating in the beautiful celebration of the Jragalouits (Easter Eve) Badarak, ushering in the light of the Resurrection.

Easter Sunday, observed on April 20, was a radiant celebration of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Morning Service and Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Fr. Hovsep, were filled with spiritual joy and triumphant hymns. The celebration concluded with the Antasdan (Blessing of the Four Corners of the World), echoing Christ’s Resurrection to all creation.

The Holy Week and Easter celebrations at St. Mary offered a powerful reminder of the enduring hope, love, and life we receive through Christ. We give thanks to all who participated, served, and shared in these sacred days.

April 27, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

11:00 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Ms.Sara Arabian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr.Vazrik Nishanian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Acts 5:34-6.7

Jas 3:1-12

 John 1:1-17

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

Christ our God, you crown your saints with triumph and you do the will of all who fear you, looking after your creatures with love and kindness.

   Hear us from your holy and heavenly realm by the intercession of the Holy Mother of God and by the prayers of all your saints, especially the Holy Martyrs who gave their lives during the Armenian Genocide for faith and for the homeland, whom we commemorate today.

   Hear us, Lord, and show us your mercy. Forgive, redeem, and pardon our sins. Make us worthy thankfully to glorify you with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. Now and always unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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

Ecumenical Prayer Service at St. Mary's

You are warmly invited to a time of prayer, remembrance, and solidarity as we honor the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. Together, we will reflect on the enduring legacy of faith and resilience in the face of injustice.

The day will begin with a Badarak, followed by an Ecumenical Prayer Service and commemoration. Following the formal program, the students of the Shnorhali School will present a special performance: Aurora of Hope: Christian Witness and the Armenian Journey from Genocide to Survival. The gathering will conclude with a reception in the Church Hall, offering a time for fellowship.

Let us stand together in this sacred moment of remembrance, and renew our hope for a future rooted in peace and justice.

Join Us for St. Mary's Annual Spring Food Festival!



At St. Mary, we are very excited to host the 15th Annual Armenian Spring Food Festival on May 16th, 17th, and 18th, 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.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enjoy great food, connect with your community, and support St. Mary in our biggest event of the year.

To donate, pre-order, or sign up to contribute, please visit the links provided below. Your generosity and spirit are what make this festival possible.

All donations are tax-deductible. 

St. Mary Annual Armenian Spring Food Festival

Dear Parishioners,

St. Mary’s Spring Food Festival is right around the corner (May 16–18), and we’re so excited to kick things off! Our very first workshop is happening this weekend, and we’d love for you to be part of the fun. Be sure to check out the Signup Genius link (CLICK HERE) — it’s your one-stop shop for all the upcoming Food Festival workshops and the volunteer spots we need to fill to make this event a huge success!

Please click on the link below to complete the volunteer form if you would like to participate in any of the workshops. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Shnorhali School Embraces The Resurrection Of Jesus

In celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, one of the most significant and sacred events in the Christian faith, Shnorhali School hosted a spiritually enriching gathering on April 19th at St. Mary Armenian Church. The event brought together students, staff, and families in a heartfelt reflection on the meaning of Easter and its enduring traditions.

Led by Principal Nunik Nishanian, our Pastor, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, and Religious Education Coordinator, Nicolette Blackwell, students embarked on a journey of spiritual discovery. Through engaging and thoughtful teachings, they explored the profound symbolism of Easter and the sacred traditions rooted in Christian belief. Together, they reflected on the transformative power of the Resurrection, where hope triumphs over despair and the promise of eternal life renews the soul.

With joy and reverence, students dyed Easter eggs, each one symbolizing new life and spiritual rebirth. As evening approached, the community gathered for Holy Liturgy, where the sacred verses of Scripture resonated deeply. Following the service, students partook in the traditional Egg-Fight with our Pastor—a cherished custom that added joy and connection to the spiritual celebration.

This occasion not only deepened our students’ understanding of Christian teachings but also strengthened their bond with the Armenian Church, culture, and heritage. It served as a beautiful reminder of the values that anchor our faith: love, compassion, unity, and reverence for the divine.

Through this Easter celebration, Shnorhali School reaffirms its mission to nurture both the spiritual growth and cultural identity of its students, ensuring that the light of faith continues to shine brightly in their hearts for generations to come.

We are collecting information to congratulate St Mary parishioners who are graduating from High School or college. Do you have the information for your student? If so, please send it to stmaryyouthdc@gmail.com we will add the information to the document which will be published in the church eh-Newsletter.

• Student Name:
• School/City, State:
• Major (if graduating from college):
• Plans after graduation: (this might be a school or a job or travel - whatever his/her plans might be - or Undecided)
• a photo of your student
• please include your student's email address so he/she can be added to ACYOA Sr email list, and we can keep in touch. E-mail information will NOT be shared with the congregation.  

Application for the WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. 

The application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is

May 31, 2025.

Click here to access the scholarship application.

 If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Catholicos Karekin II: “Christ Broke the Chains of Death”

For the first time in a decade, the vaults of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin rang with the Easter refrain of the Armenian Church, “Krisdos haryav ee merelots,” as His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Easter Sunday: the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prior to its re-opening in the fall of 2024, the Mother Cathedral had been undergoing a years-long process of restoration and repair. But on this Easter morning, its splendor was fully revealed to the worshippers who packed the sanctuary celebrate Christ’s resurrection, and receive Catholicos Karekin II’s blessing.

His Easter sermon on April 20 addressed the reality of the Resurrection, and the power of hope it contains. Christ’s resurrection “broke the chains of death, brought forth the light of salvation into the world, and made those who believe in Him heirs of eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven,” the Catholicos said. “The course of human history was transformed, and the meaning of life revealed.”

His Holiness also struck more somber notes, as he surveyed the difficulties Armenians have endured, in recent years and throughout history.

Yet even in the face of the harshest realities, the Resurrection is an assurance that hope for the future is not in vain. “We are heirs of the grace of the Lord’s Resurrection,” His Holiness said, “and with unshakable faith, we are capable of transforming our sufferings and losses into national rebirth—by remaining faithful to the Lord’s commandments and by expressing unreserved love and devotion toward our people and homeland.”

“Let us unite around our faith, our identity, our values, our history, our statehood, and our shared vision for the future,” he said.

Click the following links to:

• READ His Holiness’ Easter message in English and Armenian.
• VIEW photos of the Easter liturgy.
• WATCH a video digest of the service, including Catholicos Karekin II's sermon.

In the Mystical Company of Our Saints

On Thursday, April 24—the worldwide Armenian Church observed the “Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.” It has been a decade now since the 2015 centennial year of the Armenian Genocide, when the martyrs of 1915 were ceremonially recognized as holy saints. With their canonization, the Genocide martyrs joined other great exemplars of holiness, virtue, and sacrifice, in the “canon” of revered saints from church history.

This year, the Armenian faithful once again gathered together in large numbers—in person with each other, and in the mystical company of our saints.

Watch a special episode of the Diocese’s “Bread and Salt” series, which revisits the April 2015 canonization service, and explains the way we now regard the Holy Martyrs of 1915. Click here to view that video.

For a more in-depth look at the meaning of Christian sainthood and martyrdom, click on the following link to watch “A Great Cloud of Witnesses.”

In Memoriam: His Holiness Pope Francis (1936-2025)

This week, in a message to the faithful, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan mourned the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away in the early hours of April 21: the day following Easter Sunday.

“This morning, with the celebration of Christ’s resurrection still fresh in memory, the world received the sorrowful news of the passing of His Holiness Francis, of blessed memory, the late Pope of the Roman Catholic Church,” wrote the Primate.

He went on: “Pope Francis was a remarkable figure in so many ways—and a friend, certainly, to the Armenian Church and people. He was very gracious to the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, during their meetings in Rome and in Armenia. Pope Francis’ personal example of humanity, tenderness, and love for people from every background and walk of life, were a beautiful witness to the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus.”

Known to many as “The Pope of Mercy,” His Holiness took great strides during his pontificate to advance inter-church relations. His recognition of the Armenian Genocide on its 100th anniversary, and his 2016 visit to the Republic of Armenia (pictured above, left), served to strengthen the bonds between the Armenian and Roman Catholic churches. At the behest of Pope Francis, the 10th-century Armenian saint, St. Gregory of Narek, was recognized as a Doctor of the Church.

In his message to the Diocese, Bishop Mesrop expressed his high regard for the late Pope, and recalled their personal meeting in 2020 (above, right), when he experienced the spirit of affection and sympathy Pope Francis felt for the Armenian Church and people.

In the aftermath of the Pope’s passing, His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, paid his own personal tribute, and announced that he would be traveling from Holy Etchmiadzin to Rome, to attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

In New York, Bishop Mesrop took part in an April 22 prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, at the invitation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Catholic Archbishop of New York.

Click the following links to read the Primate’s memorial tribute, in English and Armenian, and to view a gallery of photos from Pope Francis’ history of friendship with the Armenian Church.

"

Register Now for Diocesan Summer Camps

Online registration is now open for the Eastern Diocese’s summer camp programs, Hye Camp and St. Vartan Camp. Every camper will find something enriching in the experience—whether it involves learning about the Armenian heritage and faith, making lifelong friends, or enjoying fun summer activities.

To encourage potential campers and mark the opening of online camp registration, the Eastern Diocese released a heartwarming short video featuring young campers and teen-aged counselors sharing their thoughts on what camp has meant to them.

Click here to watch the video.

And click the following link to register and learn more on the Diocesan Camps website.

Teens and Young Adults: Experience Armenia This Summer!

The Eastern Diocese and ACYOA are offering three exciting opportunities for teens and young adults to travel to Armenia this summer.

The 2025 ACYOA Seniors Armenia Service Program (ASP) will run June 30 to July 18, and is open to young adults ages 18-30 from across the Diocese. A registration link, fact sheet, and detailed itinerary are all available on the ACYOA website. Participants are encouraged to register soon; click here for details.

ACYO Youth Pilgrimage and Forum will be a special international gathering in Armenia this summer, meeting July 2 to 7, and open to young adults ages 18-30. The Eastern Diocese aims to send 30 representatives to the Youth Forum (facility in the Armenian language is strongly encouraged). Full details and links to register can be found by clicking here.

ACYOA Juniors Armenia Service Program (ASP)

ACYOA Juniors (ages 14-17) are invited to participate in the ACYOA Juniors Armenia Service Program (ASP) running June 30 to July 14. Click the following link to learn more and to register for the trip.

For information on any of these trips, contact Jennifer Morris in the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org or (248) 648-0702.

Summer Programs at St. Nersess Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary has announced its schedule of 2025 Summer Conferences for high school and post-high school students. The conferences will be held at the St. Nersess Seminary campus in Armonk, NY.

June 27 - July 6

Deacons’ Training Program

Directors: Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian & Dn. Alex Calikyan

July 9 - July 13

Yn. Diane Chevian Memorial Choir Workshop

Director: Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian

July 19 - July 27

High School Summer Conference A

Director: Fr. Ghevond Ajamian | Coordinator: Maria Derderian

August 2 - August 10

High School Summer Conference B

Director: Fr. Ghevond Ajamian | Coordinator: Maria Derderian

Click the links to find registration and other information on the St. Nersess Seminary website, and to view a flyer.

FAR NEWS

Training Armenia’s Next Generation of Innovators

Thanks to the Fund for Armenian Relief, 23-year-old Hovhannes Tosunyan (seen here) has been able to turn his childhood love for drawing into a thriving career in 3D modeling.

His journey began at FAR’s Gyumri Information Technologies Center (GITC), through a program supported by the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA). Its aim is to help veterans of the 2020 Artsakh war build new careers in high-tech fields. With GITC’s help, Hovhannes developed his skills and, in March 2024, completed an advanced Blender course. Not long after, he secured a job as a machine-building parts modeler, setting him on the path to a promising future.

Since the program’s launch in 2021, some 500 veterans have gained valuable skills for future careers. Learn more about how FAR is helping to train and shape Armenia’s next generation of innovators, on FAR’s website.

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Diocesan Scholarship Applications Available Online

Applications for Diocesan scholarships are now available online. The application deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is May 19, 2025.

 Each year the Diocese awards scholarships to promising youth who are headed to college. The Diocese seeks students who are active in their local parishes and have assumed leadership roles in their communities.

Click here to access the scholarship application. For information, contact Maria Barsoumian at (212) 686-0710, ext. 136, or e-mail mariab@armeniandiocese.org.

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 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.

May 11 Mother's Day Celebration Shnorhali School

May 16-17 -18 Spring Food Festival

Սկզբից էր Բանը, եւ Բանը Աստծու մօտ էր, եւ Բանը Աստ¬ուած էր։2 Նա սկզբից Աստծու մօտ էր։ 3Ամէն ինչ նրանով եղ¬աւ. եւ առանց նրան չեղաւ ոչինչ, որ եղել է։ 4Կեանքը նը¬րանով էր։ Եւ այդ կեանքը մարդկանց համար լոյս էր։ 5Եւ լոյսը խաւարի մէջ լուսաւորում է, եւ խաւարը նրան չնու¬աճեց։ 6Կար մի մարդ՝ Աստծուց ուղարկուած. Նրա անունը՝ Յովհաննէս։ 7Սա եկաւ որպէս վկայ, որպէսզի վկայի լոյսի մասին, որ բոլորը նրա միջոցով հաւատան։ 8Ինքը լոյսը չէր, այլ եկել էր, որ վկայի լոյսի մասին։ 9Այդ լոյսն էր ճշմարիտ լոյսը, որ լուսաւորում է ամէն մարդու, որ գալու է աշ¬խարհ։ 10Նա աշխարհի մէջ էր, եւ աշխարհը նրանով եղաւ, սակայն աշխարհը նրան չճա¬նաչեց։ 11Իւրայինների մօտ ե¬կաւ, բայց իւրայինները նրան չընդու¬նեցին։ 12Իսկ ովքեր նը¬րան ընդունեցին, նրանց իշխանութիւն տուեց լինելու Աս¬տըծու որդիներ, նրանց, որոնք իր անուանը կը հաւա¬տան։ 13Նրանք ո՛չ արիւնից, ո՛չ մարմնի կամքից եւ ոչ էլ մարդու կամքից, այլ Աստծուց ծնուեցին։ 14Եւ Բանը մարմին եղաւ ու բնակ¬ուեց մեր մէջ, եւ տեսանք նրա փառքը, նման այն փառքի, որ Հայրն է տալիս Միածնին՝ լի շնորհով ու ճշմարտութեամբ։ 15Յովհաննէսը վկայում էր նրա մասին, աղաղակում եւ ասում. «Սա՛ է, որի մասին ասացի։ Նա, որ իմ յետեւից էր գալու, ինձնից մեծ եղաւ, որովհետեւ ինձնից առաջ կար»։ 16Մենք բոլորս նրա լրիւութիւնից ստացանք շնորհ՝ շնորհի փոխարէն. 17որովհետեւ օրէնքը Մովսէսի միջոցով տրուեց, իսկ շնորհը եւ ճշմարտութիւնը Յիսուս Քրիստոսի միջո¬ցով եղան։ 

(Յովհ. 1:1-17)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word be-came flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

(John 1:1-17)

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