April 14

Holy Week and Easter Sunday at St.Mary Church

This year's celebration of Palm Sunday and Holy Week took place at St. Mary Church with great joy and excitement.

On April 2, Palm Sunday was celebrated, commemorating our Lord's entrance to Jerusalem. During the Badarak, Der Hayr blessed the children of our community. A special installation service for newly elected ACYOA members took place, followed by an ACYOA luncheon and program in the church hall.

On April 6, the Great and Holy Thursday, the Holy Badarak and Washing of the Feet took place, commemorating the Last Supper of our Lord. It was followed by a solemn service of the Betrayal and Passion of our Lord (Khavaroom) that took place in the evening.

The Order of the Crucifixion of Christ and the Order of the Entombment of the Lord were held on Great and Holy Friday, April 7.

On Easter Eve, Saturday, April 8, the Vespers and Scriptural readings by our Shnorhali School students were followed by the celebration of the Jragalouits Badarak. 

Easter Sunday, the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, was on April 9. It began with a Morning Service and Badarak celebrated by H. E. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian with the participation of our choir members and deacons and followed by Antastan (blessing of the four corners of the world) service.

Our utmost thanks to Mrs. Jermen Hallajian for hosting the dinner on Thursday; Mrs. Asanet Hacikoglu for decorating the Tomb of Christ, Hermine Khatchatoorian for donating the Palm leaves; Mrs. Anna Seferian for donating altar flowers on Palm Sunday and Ms. Sara Arabian for making crosses for Palm Sunday; Stepanyan, Barseghyan, McClure and Guiragossian families for changing the altar curtain and preparing the church for Easter celebration.

St. Mary Parish Council and Der Hayr would like to thank all those who contributed towards the Easter Lilies and Yughakin Donations, supporting our church during this difficult time.

To see the list of donors, click here.

April 16, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 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

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.

Shnorhali School celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus



In commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus, the most important celebration of Christianity, on April 8^th Shnorhali School students gathered at St. Mary Armenian Church to participate in a fun and educational event to learn about Holy Week and Christian traditions. With our Pastor Rev. Hovsep Karapetyan and Religious Education Coordinator Beverly Sivaslian students learned that Easter celebrates the defeat of death and the hope of salvation and that the sins of humanity were paid for by the death of Jesus and that his Resurrection represents the anticipation believers can have in their own resurrection. Students also decorated Easter eggs and after dinner, participated in Holy Liturgy and read verses from Holy Scriptures. 

Participation in this sacred and fun event was a great opportunity for our students to learn about the significance of our holy traditions, to strengthen their connection with our Church, culture, and heritage, for team building, and to help our students to establish everlasting bonds with their Armenian friends.

There is a wonderful opportunities for our children to participate in Armenian camps and conferences this summer. St. Vartan Camp and St. Nersess Summer Conferences and trainnigs are now oper for registration. If your child is interested please contact the the church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com and provide your name, contact information (phone and email) and your student’s name/age. Put "St Vartan Camp," or "St. Nersess" in the subject line.  An interest meeting will be arranged, where parents/students can ask questions and arrange carpools.

This year, through generous donations made to a number of memorial funds, St. Mary will be able to offer a discount for each camper.   

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. 

Armenian Speaking Caregivers Available

For information please contact the church office at 202-363-1923 or  stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

Part-time help needed

Rockville Town Center (a few minutes walk from the Rockville Metro stop on the Red Line), for details, contact Lilit at "Saints Valley" Boutique:   https://www.instagram.com/saintsvalley/?hl=en

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.

Catholicos Karekin II: The Power of Faith Against Earthly Trials

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated a splendid Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan, on Easter Sunday: the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

His Easter sermon on April 9 was based on Jesus’ troubling question from the gospel of Luke: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). His Holiness enumerated many of the afflictions plaguing the world in the present day, and affirmed that these troubles can only be challenged, and overcome, through faith in Christ’s resurrection.

“The 21st century was supposed to be an enlightened new era of scientific accomplishment and technological achievement,” he said. “We were promised that international law would protect human rights, life, and dignity. Yet how many innocent people today are subjected to tribulation and sorrow through the Golgotha of war? How many nations are nailed to the cross? How many souls suffer under injustice, the obsession for power, discrimination, and existential threats?”

The Armenian people have had a bitter experience of these trials, the Catholicos said: “We, too, endured such disastrous realities during a 44-day war, which continues through attacks on the borders of Armenia. In our motherland, it is a daily trial simply to ensure a life of safety and peace in the face of internal and external challenges. Our precious Artsakh has been under siege, and is facing untold hardship and deprivations.”

Against these earthly afflictions stands a greater reality, embodied in the Easter greeting: “Christ is risen from the dead.” Faith in that reality will sustain individuals, societies, and whole nations in their times of trial. “Faith means victory over trial,” His Holiness said. “It is not characterized by a spirit of fear, despair, or disastrous complacency. However difficult and hopeless the current situation may seem, our faith should be stronger and firmer.”

Throughout the Easter liturgy, Catholicos Karekin II was assisted on the altar by Bishop Musheg Babayan and Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanyan. The mammoth cathedral in Yerevan was packed with worshippers, who received Catholicos Karekin’s blessings as he processed through the sanctuary.

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINKS TO:

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

A Personal Message of Thanks from Our Primate

On the Monday following Easter, Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan took to various social media platforms to express his gratitude to the public.

“This week I had the joy and privilege of celebrating my first badarak at St. Vartan Cathedral on Easter Sunday since my car accident last summer,” he wrote. “It was a moment of great significance and gratitude for me to stand before the altar again and offer prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of life and healing.

“My accident was a trying and humbling experience, but it also brought profound reflection and renewal. It reminded me of the fragility of life, the importance of faith and community, and the power of God's love and grace.

“As we celebrate Easter, I feel the spirit of our Lord's Resurrection in a new way, with a greater sense of possibility and promise. Despite our present trials, I pray that this reality will be true for all the people in our Diocese, and especially for our precious homeland of Armenia and Artsakh.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who have offered prayers, support, and encouragement during my recovery. I am deeply grateful for your love and care, and I ask for your continued prayers as I strive to serve our Diocese and community with renewed dedication and purpose."

Fr. Mesrop concluded his message: “May the blessings of Easter fill your hearts and homes with joy and peace.”

Above: Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan during the Easter Sunday “Release of Doves,” alongside Fr. Hovel Ohanyan and Maria Stepanian, who with her husband Brian served as godparents of the dove ceremony. (Photo by Levon Mark.)

Helping the Homeland Through Mathematics

In one of its latest initiatives, the Fund for Armenian Relief is sponsoring university students in Armenia pursuing degrees in high-level Mathematics. The sponsorship has been made possible by FAR’s Yervant Terzian Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF) and the Armenian Society of Fellows (ASOF).

The program was launched to encourage undergraduates to pursue studies that challenge their math abilities, and will prepare them for post-graduate work and a variety of careers. 

Four promising math students—Hayk Karapetyan, Vahagn Hovhannisyan, Vahram Asatryan, and Erik Babasyan—have received “Fellowships of Encouragement” to participate in the program. All are in their second semester of the program, receiving online instruction through the Honors Program of the University of California Irvine. Courses are led by Armenian-American professors in the U.S. who wanted to help their countrymen following the Artsakh war of 2020. Teaching assistants based in Armenia guide participants with their coursework, and help them prepare for exams.

“This is one of the rare courses that I find challenging and very exciting,” said Erik Babasyan, a freshman at Yerevan State University. Math, he said, has changed his life, making him more disciplined, logical, and analytical. “Mathematics sharpens your mind, and urges you to find new values in life and community.”

Aram Budaghyan, 22, is one of the teaching assistants. He says UC Irvine’s program lets students dig deeper into the subjects like algebra, geometry, and probability.

“We had around 50 applicants at first, but very few people could finish the first phase and pass the exams successfully,” he said. “Young talents here are often reluctant to use their abilities effectively, to fully pursue their intellectual potential. This FAR program gives them the opportunity to do that.”

Read more on FAR’s blog.

FAR is Hiring a Development Director

The Fund for Armenian Relief is searching for a “Director of Institutional Marketing and Development.” The position will be responsible for the overall strategic development and management of the set of communications that FAR deploys to reach its audience.

The Development Director is expected to contribute to strengthening FAR’s image in the market and to further developing trust among the diaspora and make it the foundation of choice for individuals to consider when planning their charitable giving efforts. This position will report to Garnik Nanagoulian, Executive Director.

For complete information, click here.

April 23 An illustrated talk about the Armenian Genocide and Armenian resilience by Khatchig Mouradian immediately after Badark

April 24 Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

May 18 Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 19, 20,21 Spring Food Festival

May 28 W.G.Hampartzoom program and lunch

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Application for WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2023-2024 academic year is

May 31, 2023.

Click here to access the scholarship application. If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

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)