October 27

TOP STORY   

On Sunday, October 29, the Armenian Church will observe the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross. The feast day marks the 4th-century “discovery” of the actual cross of the Crucifixion by Queen Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine.

At the advanced age of 80, this pious Christian woman made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to identify places where Christ had walked some 300 years earlier. There, after years of prayer and good works, Helena was witness to a miracle: at the foot of Golgotha—the hill where Christ was crucified—workers under her sponsorship unearthed three wooden crosses.

But which one was the true Cross of Christ? St. Helena came up with an ingenious way to reveal the answer.

Click here to find out what it was—and to learn more about the saintly woman behind the Discovery of the Holy Cross. 

October 29, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Rouzanna Oganissian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Shahnur Bostan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Wisdom 14.1-8

Isaiah 33:22-34:1

1 Corinthians 1:18-24

Matthew 24:27-36

Prayer of the Week

By the holy cross let us beseech the Lord, that through it He may deliver us from our sins and save us by the grace of His mercy. Almighty Lord, our God, save us and have mercy on us.

   Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, strengthen those fleeing persecution, and protect the holy soil of Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord.

  Preserve the name and spirit of Artsakh in our hearts, forever. 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. Amen.

For the Soul of :

 Jora Azizyan(40 Days)

Requested by:

Artak Azizyan & Karine Yenokyan

For the Soul of :

Kirkor Cimen (1st anniversary)

Requested by:

 Seyran Cimen (wife), Senyurt Chimenian/Rossi Chimenian (son), Ani Cherot/Bevin Cherot(daughter), Gazar Cimen/Surpik Cimen (brother)

For the Souls of :

Haikouhi Koudoussian (2nd anniversary) & Agop Koudoussian (30th anniversary)

Requested by:

Alexandrian, Koudoussian, and Balian families 

For the Soul of :

Mr. William Ervant Docter

Requested by:

The WED committee

For the Souls of :

Hripsime Kochoyan, Levon Rstakyan, Serj Kocharyan

Requested by:  

Anush Rstakyan and Stella Kocharyan 

Hospitality Table is Hosted by:

Cimen, Azizyan, Alexandrian and Koudoussian families

Altar Flowers are donated by:

Cimen Family

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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

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

Prayer for Healing Service & Bible Study at St. Mary

On October 24, St. Mary's was graced with a profound Healing Prayer and Bible Study session led by Dn. Mark Krikorian. The evening illuminated the message from Luke 8:43-48, where Jesus heals a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. The story is not just an account of physical healing but is layered with spiritual lessons that remain deeply relevant today.

The Tale of Unwavering Faith

The woman's condition was more than a physical ailment. For twelve years, societal norms and religious laws branded her as 'unclean', leading to isolation and emotional despair. In her deepest desperation, she believed that touching even the fringe of Jesus' garment would heal her. This wasn't a mere touch; it was a profound expression of faith. And her faith wasn't in vain. Upon touching Him, she was immediately healed. But more than her physical restoration, Jesus offered her emotional and social healing, publicly acknowledging her and calling her "Daughter."

Modern-day Relevance

In today's fast-paced world, many of us feel isolated or 'unclean' due to personal failures, societal judgments, or emotional traumas. This story reminds us that:

1. Faith is Powerful: Even when it feels like we've been suffering for too long, faith can lead us to healing and transformation.
2. Jesus is Always Accessible: Amidst life's chaos, He is always present, waiting for us to reach out.
3. Healing is Holistic: Jesus offers more than just solutions to our immediate problems. He brings restoration in all areas of our lives.

Let this story serve as a beacon of hope in our personal journeys, reminding us of the transformative power of faith in Christ.

Prayer of Healing and Bible Discussions will continue to be offered every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. 

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Ararat Avak Society

Invites you to Join

The Armenian Style Brunch - Հայկական Նախաճաշ

on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 11:30 AM

At St. Mary Church Hall



Donation: $25

Everybody is welcome!

For More Information or to Reserve Your Seat Call:

Takuhi Hallajian (301) 219-4041

Raffi Sahakian (301) 221-4533

Come to the St. Mary ACYOA Juniors



Bake Sale

To benefit Artsakh relief

Sunday, October 29th

After badarak in the small hall

Please come visit with the teens,

make a donation of $5,

and select some baked goods.

The funds will be forwarded to the Fund For Armenian Relief (FAR)

https://www.farusa.org/ for the Artsakh refugee relief effort.

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!

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Enthronement Anniversary of Catholicos Karekin II

The coming weeks will mark the 24th anniversary of the consecration and enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II. It was on November 4, 1999, that His Holiness was formally enthroned as the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in a magnificent ceremony at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia.

To mark the anniversary, Armenian churches worldwide will offer prayers for the health and prosperity of the Catholicos. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan has directed parishes of the Eastern Diocese to conduct the “Special Prayer for the Catholicos” at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 5.

Throughout the bitter tribulations of our age, His Holiness has been a singular voice of strength, conviction, and reassurance for our people: an exemplar of our ancient Christian heritage, and a champion of our national aspirations to secure a just and peaceful future.

Four years ago, Catholicos Karekin discouraged holding a grand celebration of his 20th anniversary while the Mother Cathedral was undergoing a restoration. And in the subsequent years, with our homeland at war and in crisis, his entire attention has been focused on the well-being of our people. Nevertheless, his 24th year on the pontifical throne is a blessed opportunity for all of us, the Armenian faithful, to unite in prayer on his behalf.

Please join in those prayers at church and at home in the coming week. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to grant robust health, long life, and spiritual fortitude to our Catholicos.

Reach Out Through the Diocesan-Wide “Artsakh Refugee Fund”

In a message to the Diocesan faithful early this month, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan announced a Diocesan-wide fundraising effort to bring aid to Artsakh refugees now forced to flee the land of their birth.

The “Artsakh Refugee Fund” was announced in all our parishes as a unified effort of the entire Eastern Diocese to respond to this time of grave crisis for the Armenian people.

You can support the Eastern Diocese’s “Artsakh Refugee Fund” by making an online contribution. Please note that all the fundraising proceeds will go to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for direct distribution to the Artsakh refugees.

Click here to donate now, using the Diocese’s secure server. Make sure to select “Artsakh Refugee Fund” from the dropdown menu.

In addition, our Diocese’s Fund for Armenian Relief is doing urgently needed work to help the refugee population, including on-the-ground, person-to-person efforts through its Ayo! crowdfunding platform. (See the FAR item below for links.)

Please lend a helping hand to this effort and keep our sisters and brothers of Artsakh in your prayers during these urgent times. May God support and protect our people.

UPCOMING EVENTS

“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

CLASSIFIED ANNOUNCEMENT

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. 

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.

October 29  Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross

October 29 Family Worship Sunday (Babysitting will be provided)

October 29 ACYOA Juniors' Bake Sale

November 12 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 16 ACYOA Seniors Fundraising Event

December 24 Shnorhali School Christmas Celebration

27Որովհետեւ ինչպէս փայլակը, որ ելնում է արեւելքից եւ երեւում է մինչեւ արեւմուտք, մարդու Որդու գալուստը այնպէս կը լինի։ 28Ուր որ դիակն է, այնտե՛ղ կը հաւաքուեն արծիւները»։29«Այդ օրերի նեղութիւնից անմիջապէս յետոյ, արեգակը պիտի խաւարի, եւ լուսինը իր լոյսը չպիտի տայ, եւ աստղերը երկնքից պիտի ընկնեն,ու երկնքի զօրութիւններ պիտի շարժուեն։ 30Եւ ապա երկնքի վրայ մարդու Որդու նշանը պիտի երեւայ, ու այդ ժամանակ երկրի բոլոր ազգերը լացուկոծ պիտի անեն եւ պիտի տեսնեն մարդու Որդուն, որ գա¬լիս է երկնքի ամպերի վրայով՝ զօրութեամբ եւ բազում փառքով։ 31Եւ նա պիտի ուղարկի իր հրեշտակներին մեծ շեփորով, ու պիտի հաւաքեն նրա ընտրեալներին չորս կողմերից՝ երկընքի ծագերից մինչեւ միւս ծագերը»։32«Թզենո՛ւց սովորեցէք առակը. որովհետեւ, երբ նրա ոստերը կակղեն, եւ տերեւը ցըցուի, կ՚իմանաք, որ ամառը մօտ է։ 33Նոյնպէս եւ դուք՝ երբ այս բոլորը տեսնէք, իմացէ՛ք, թէ մօտ է Նա, դռների առաջ։ 34Ճշմա¬րիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, որ այս սերունդը չպիտի անցնի, մինչեւ որ այս ամէնը կատարուի։ 35Երկինք եւ երկիր պիտի անցնեն, բայց իմ խօսքերը չպիտի անցնեն»։36«Բայց այդ օրուայ եւ ժամուայ մասին ոչ ոք չգիտէ. ո՛չ երկնքի հրեշտակները եւ ո՛չ էլ Որդին, այլ՝ միայն Հայրը։ 

(Մատթէոս 24:27-36)

27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. 29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 30 "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

(Matthew 24:27-36)

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