March 24

Beginnings and Endings: The Sunday of the Advent

Early in our journey through Great Lent, we observed the Sunday of the Expulsion, which retold the story of mankind's first disobedience, our exile from paradise, and the beginning of humanity's long history of separation from God.

In a nice expression of symmetry and resolution, Lent concludes with the Sunday of the Advent (March 26): that is, the coming of Jesus Christ, through whom God entered human history and restored what had been lost in exile from Eden.

The Advent calls to mind the birth and revelation of our Savior, his subsequent sacrifice for mankind, and his victory over sin and death. As the last Sunday of Lent, this day is especially devoted to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, reminding us that he is our eternal Lord and King. Just as everything once began with God, so too will everything one day end with Him. 

Click on the following links to read more about Advent Sunday on the Diocese's educational website, Vemkar, and to view our archived Lenten video series.

Join us in person or on our YouTube channel for our 2023 Lenten Series Spiritual Journey Toward Easter on Lenten Wednesday at 7:00 pm. 



To see the 2023 Lenten Series flyer Click Here.

March 26, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

Ms. Patricia Yeghissian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Artur Sivaslian

Choir

Mrs.Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 66:1-24

Colossians 2:8-3.17

Matthew 22:34-23.39

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

O Lord our God, turn not your face from me. O beneficent Lord, I beseech you, be my helper. O Lord, despise me not and forsake me not, O God, my Savior.

    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.

Holy Week and Easter Schedule



Sunday, April 2 - PALM SUNDAY - The entrance of our Lord to Jerusalem

• Morning Service 10:00 AM
• Holy Badarak 10:30 AM
• Opening of Doors Service 12:00 AM
• ACYOA Lunch-Program 1:00 PM

Thursday, April 6 - GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY: The day’s services memorialize the Last Supper, Jesus’ vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane, His arrest and trial. 

• Holy Badarak 6:00 PM
• Washing of the Feet 7:16 PM
• Betrayal and Passion of our Lord 8:00 PM

Friday, April 7 - GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY: The Crucifixion and Burial of Christ will be marked with two services:

• The Order of the Crucifixion of Christ 12:30 PM 
• Order of the Entombment of the Lord 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 8 - GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY: The Evening Service and Scripture-reading will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by the Jrakalouyts (“Lamp-Lighting”) service at 7:00 PM

Sunday, April 9 - EASTER SUNDAY: The central holy day of the Christian calendar, commemorating the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb and the news of His Resurrection. 

• Morning Service 9:30 AM
• Holy Badarak 10:30 AM
• Antasdan Service 12:00 Noon

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD 

BLESSED IS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

We thank you for your continued support by making an Easter Youghakin Donation to St. Mary. The link below is for your convenience to "keep the lamps of our Church buring brightly".

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.   

Lenten Period Continues 

According to the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church, the Lenten season has begun on Monday, February 19. This year, at St. Mary, Lenten Services and Discussions will occur every Wednesday. The year's theme is "The Holy Sacraments of the Church and their meaning." We will learn about the Holy Sacraments of the Church and their very real implications on our daily lives. A sacrament is a rite that not only signifies some specific grace but also produces that grace in the soul of the person to whom it is administered. Although everything within the Church is sacramental, there are seven formal sacraments of the Armenian Church which correspond to the different states and situations of a person's life.

The fifth of the six-week series took place on Wednesday, March 22. Sub-deacon Armen Asik explained the holy orders currently practiced in our church (acolytes, deacons, priests, and bishops). After a lively round of questions, the program was closed out in prayer. Dinner was served in the parish hall. It was prepared by our newly re-established ACYOA Seniors chapter. Seniors is a young adult group for college students and people in their 20s or early 30s.

During the fellowship hour, parishioners and friends enjoyed an interesting presentation by Harouriun Istepanian, who spoke about the Armenian community in Iraq,  showed slides of the community, their everyday life, and their challenges.

"St. Mary's ACYOA chapter members hosted Wednesday's Lenten dinner"

Hello friends!

I'm excited to announce that St. Mary's ACYOA Seniors is back after a long absence! We've been meeting at the Church on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and welcome anyone 18-30 who is interested in joining! We offer a zoom option for those who can't physically be present.

If you're interested in forming deep friendships with local young Armenian adults, this is the club to join! Our goal is to glorify God and grow in His grace through the five circles of the cross - including fellowship with one another.

For no cost, email, text, or call me* to be added to our email list and WhatsApp group chat. We're already planning events, trips, and feasts together and would love for you or another young Armenian you know, to join. Even if you can't make it on Tuesday, please connect anyway so we can still include you in future events.

Yours in Christ,

Alex Madajian

Founder and Chairman

St. Mary ACYOA Seniors

*AlexMM1112@gmail.com or 805-400-5168

ACYOA Juniors Lent Lock-in Retreat

Friday, March 17th, 15 teens met at church to participate in the annual Juniors Lent Lock-in Retreat. After eating dinner and playing games, the youth were led to a Bible study by Zaven Kalayjian. They discussed service/alms-giving, among other topics. After a dessert break, Der Hovsep Karapetyan led them in an evening worship service and meditation in the sanctuary. Following several rousing games, including the annual game of hide and seek, the teens settled down and eventually, in the wee hours, went to sleep. Many thanks to Becky, Zaven, Der Hovsep, all who participated, and the parents who brought their teens.

Support the Shnorhali School Lenten Good Deeds

Have you seen the new bulletin board outside the church office? It was constructed by the school children in support of their first Lenten good deed, collecting old blankets and towels for the Montgomery County animal shelter. We ask you to go through your linen closet to see if there are any towels or blankets that you might be able to part with (maybe they aren't being used or have seen a lot of use!). The donation receptacle will be underneath the bulletin board during Lent.

The second Lenten Good Deed is for our older students (4th grade through high school). We will be asking for donations of sandwich materials that the students will assemble into sandwiches to be donated to the homeless through an organization in DC called Martha's Table. If you would like to donate sandwich materials, please use the following Signup Genius   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094eafaf2da64-lenten#/      We would like to have all sandwich materials brought to school on Sunday, March 19.

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.

Mother See Issues Statement on 100th Day of the Artsakh Blockade

The Armenian world passed a grim milestone on March 21: the 100th day of the cruel blockade of the Lachin Corridor, effectively stifling travel and commerce between Artsakh and Armenia.

On that same day, the Supreme Spiritual Council, under the Presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, issued a statement condemning the blockade and other efforts to “deepen the catastrophic humanitarian situation” threatening the Armenian population of Artsakh.

“Contrary to the efforts of the peacekeeping personnel stationed in Artsakh, the criminal actions of the Azerbaijani authorities have resulted in the violation of the fundamental rights to life, treatment, and movement of Artsakh’s people—including children, women, and the elderly,” the statement said.

The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed appreciation to the International Court of Justice for its ruling on the removal of the blockade by Azerbaijan—but acknowledged that the decision has still not been implemented by Azeri authorities, who have thereby shown “a blatantly disrespectful approach” to the institutions of international justice.

The statement concludes with an assurance that the Armenian Church “will consistently protect the realization of the right of self-determination of the people of Artsakh.” Click here to read the entire statement, in English translation.

Readers will recall that in January of this year, to help relieve the stresses of the blockade crisis, Catholicos Karekin II had called on the world’s Armenian Church dioceses to raise funds to send containers filled with necessary supplies into Artsakh.

In support of His Holiness’ appeal, the Eastern Diocese undertook special collections at the parish level. This week, Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan announced that through the generosity of our faithful, and with a large contribution from the Diocese’s Fund for Armenian Relief, the Eastern Diocese raised more than $75,000 for that effort: enough to fulfill its goal of sending two, 20-ton containers into Artsakh, to bring humanitarian relief to the native Armenians there.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who generously responded to the appeal of our Catholicos, at this critical time for our people,” the Primate said. “May our Lord bring His protection, peace, and justice to our brothers and sisters in Artsakh.”

St. Vartan Cathedral Announces Schedule of Holy Week Services

As Lent draws to a close, the worldwide Armenian Church looks forward to the beginning of Holy Week, culminating in the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 9.

The coming Holy Week will go forward in the Eastern Diocese under local safety regulations, with provision for in-person worship as well as the online broadcast of services.

At St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York, Holy Week will be observed April 2 through April 9. Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan will celebrate the Easter Sunday liturgy for the first time as Primate, and deliver the homily.

Plans call for the cathedral’s Easter service to conclude in the “Release of Doves” ceremony on the plaza, resuming a longstanding Easter tradition after its suspension during the pandemic years.

Click here for the complete schedule of Holy Week services at St. Vartan Cathedral.

All services will be broadcast over the St. Vartan Cathedral Facebook page. The Easter Sunday badarak will be broadcast additionally on the Eastern Diocese’s YouTube page.

Holy Week services will be held in parishes throughout the Eastern Diocese. For information on local service schedules, contact your parish.

A New Home and a New Life, with Help from FAR

Since his early childhood, 12-year-old Vahe Sargsyan has lived with his grandmother in the town of Etchmiadzin. He moved there after his parents divorced; but when Vahe’s grandmother passed away, he went to the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Child Protection Center” in Yerevan, a full-service facility for children in need.

“The Child Protection Center gave me the feeling of a caring, healing family,” said Vahe, recollecting his heartfelt conversations with the center’s teachers and therapists. “It also gave me the opportunity to forget my ‘bad boy' character, and learn to respect and care for my family and friends.”

But Vahe had always wanted to be in a family of his own: to live in a loving environment with a mom and a dad—something he felt he had never really experienced. So the FAR Center provided him with an opportunity to continue his life in a foster family, with his foster parents Arsen and Lilit Tadevosyan, who have their own 2-year-old son, Hover.

Currently, the family lives in Etchmiadzin, where Arsen is a deacon at the Mother See, and Vahe attends the local public school. Deacon Arsen said that he and his wife were confident about their decision to take Vahe into their family, and he has already noticed a great change in the boy’s character and outlook.

As for Vahe, he has, at last, found the family he’s been dreaming of. “I learn a lot from Arsen and Lilit. We like to attend Sunday badarak together, have dinner on weekends, and play with my ‘little brother’ Hover. I’ve also learned to read the Bible before going to bed,” he said.

Read more on FAR’s blog.

March 29 Lenten Service, discussion & dinner @7pm

March 29 A Presentation about AYO by Sarah Stites

April 2 Palm Sunday, ACYOA Day & W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

April 9 Easter Sunday, W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

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

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.".

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 sayings, "What do you think about Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." 43 He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44 "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet"'?

45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?" 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach but do not practice.4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their fingers. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 22:34-23:39

34Իսկ փարիսեցիները երբ լսեցին, թէ նա պապանձեցրեց սադուկեցիներին, ի մի հաւաքուեցին. 35եւ նրանցից մէկը նրան փորձելով՝ հարցրեց ու ասաց. 36«Վարդապե՛տ, Օրէնքի մէջ ո՞ր պատուիրանն է մեծ»։ 37Եւ Յիսուս նրան ասաց. «Պիտի սիրես քո Տէր Աստծուն քո ամբողջ սրտով, քո ամբողջ հոգով ու քո ամբողջ մտքով։ 38Այս է մեծը եւ առաջին պատուիրանը. 39եւ երկրորդը սրա նման է. Պիտի սիրես քո ընկերոջը, ինչպէս քո անձը։ 40Այս երկու պատուիրաններից են կախուած ամբողջ Օրէնքը եւ մարգարէները»։41Եւ երբ փարիսեցիները հաւաքուեցին, Յիսուս նրանց հարցրեց ու ասաց. 42«Ի՞նչ կարծիք ունէք Քրիստոսի մասին, ո՞ւմ որդին է»։Նրան ասացին՝ Դաւթի։ 43Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Իսկ Դաւիթն ինչպէ՞ս նրան Սուրբ Հոգով կոչում է Տէր եւ ասում է. 44«Տէրն իմ տիրոջն ասաց՝ նստի՛ր իմ աջ կողմում, մինչեւ որ քո թշնամիներին դնեմ քո ոտքերի տակ իբրեւ պատուանդան»։ 45Իսկ եթէ Դաւիթը նրան Տէր է կոչում, ինչպէ՞ս նրա որդին կը լինի»։ 46Եւ ոչ ոք նրան մի բառ պատասխան չկարողացաւ տալ։ Եւ այդ օրուանից ոչ ոք չէր համարձակւում նրան մի որեւէ բան հարցնել։ 23 Այն ժամանակ Յիսուս խօսեց ժողովրդին եւ իր աշակերտներին ու ասաց. 2«Մովսէսի աթոռի վրայ նստեցին օրէնսգէտներն ու փարիսեցիները. 3ամէն ինչ, որ նրանք ձեզ ասեն,արէ՛ք եւ պահեցէ՛ք, բայց մի՛ արէք ըստ նրանց գործերի, քանի որ ասում են,բայց չեն անում։ 4Ծանր ու դժուարակիր բեռներ են կապում եւ դնում մարդկանց ուսերի վրայ, բայց իրենց մատով անգամ չեն կամենում շարժել դըրանք։ 5Եւ իրենց բոլոր գործերն անում են՝ ի ցոյց մարդկանց.լայնացնում են իրենց գրապանակները եւ երկարացնում են իրենց զգեստների ծոպերը։ 6Սիրում են ընթրիքների ժամանակ պատուոյ տեղերը,ժողովարաններում՝ նախապատիւ աթոռները եւ հրապարակներում ողջոյններ առնել 7ու մարդկանցից կոչուել՝ ռաբբի, որ նշանակում է ուսուցիչ։ 8Բայց դուք որեւէ մէկին ուսուցիչ մի՛ կոչէք, որովհետեւ ձեր ուսուցիչը մէկ է, եւ դուք բոլորդ եղբայրներ էք։ 9Եւ երկրի վրայ ոչ մէկին ձեզ հայր մի՛ կոչէք, որովհետեւ մէ՛կ է ձեր Հայրը, որ երկնքում է։ 10Եւ ուսուցիչներ չկոչուէք, որովհետեւ Քրիստոս է ձեր ուսուցիչը։ 11Եւ ձեզնից մեծը ձեր սպասաւորը պիտի լինի։ 12Ով իր անձը բարձրացնում է, կխոնարհուի. եւ ով խոնարհեցնում է իր անձը, կբարձրանայ.

Մաթէոսի 22:34-23:39