December 12

TOP STORY   

Celebrating Faith and Service: A Milestone Weekend

On Sunday, December 7, 2025, the St. Mary Armenian Church community gathered with joy and gratitude to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of our beloved parish. For nearly a century, St. Mary has stood as a beacon of faith and fellowship in Washington, D.C., a spiritual home where generations have prayed, learned, healed, and grown together in Christ.

The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian. A special Hokehankist followed, offered in loving remembrance of our departed parishioners, benefactors and loved ones, and in memory of the victims of the 1988 Earthquake in Armenia.

Following the services, parishioners and friends filled the Church Hall for a festive anniversary luncheon and program. The celebration was enriched by the inspiring talents of our community: the St. Mary Bell Choir under the leadership of Maria Stepanian; the joyful voices of the Shnorhali School Young Voices guided by Armine Khatchaturian; and a heartfelt reflection by Nicolette Blackwell on her transformative summer in Armenia through the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Youth Program.

A highlight of the afternoon was the recognition of Dn. Mark Krikorian as St. Mary’s Special Honoree of the Year. His devotion, humility, and steadfast service at the Holy Altar have been a blessing to our parish for many years.

Special appreciation was extended to all who contributed to the day: Our Master of Ceremonies, Mrs. Anna Seferian, the St. Mary Parish Council for sponsoring the luncheon; Classic Bakery for the beautifully crafted anniversary cake; and Nora’s Catering for preparing a delicious meal that brought everyone together in fellowship.

The celebration of our 93rd anniversary was a day filled with joy, fellowship, remembrance, and hope—a day that honored our past, uplifted our present, and prepared our hearts for the future God is shaping for us. May the Lord continue to bless St. Mary Armenian Church as a place where His love is tasted, shared, and lived, today and always.

To support the "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund, visit:

St. Mary's Embracing the Future Endowment Fund

St. Mary Parish Council and Der Hayr would like to thank all those who contributed towards the Gift-of-Love Donations in support of our church.

Your continued generosity means so much to us.

To see the list of donors click here

The Saint Who Searched for the Ark

This Saturday, the Armenian Church will commemorate St. James of Nisibis—a favorite saint of the Armenians, who is considered a nephew of St. Gregory the Illuminator.

St. James (known as Hagop in Armenian) was a celebrated 4th-century ascetic and theologian. In A.D. 308, he was appointed as the second bishop of the Christian community in the Mesopotamian city of Nisibis—modern Nusaybin, situated near the Syrian border of historic Armenia. He was a signatory at the Council of Nicaea in 325, which devised the Nicene Creed (the Havadamk). St. James is also known as the first Christian to have searched for Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat. He died around A.D. 338.

The Eastern Diocese has four parishes named for St. James—in Evanston, IL; Richmond, VA; St. Petersburg, FL; and Watertown, MA—where this weekend’s celebration of the saint’s feast day will hold special significance.

Click here to learn about St. James of Nisibis.

December 14, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mrs. Rouzanna Oganissian

Parish Council Member on Duty

Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings



Isaiah 38.1-8,

Hebrews 1:1-14

Luke 17.1-10

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Souls of:

The Rev. Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian (10 Days), Khachadur Hakobyan (10th anniversary), Noubar Kupelian (1st anniversary), Kevork Megerdich Tashjian (51st anniversary)

Requested by:

Mike and Naira Tashjian 

For the Soul of:

Mary Jerikian Mardoian (grandmother)

(1st anniversary)

Requested by:

Aram and Anoush Gavoor

and Family

For the Soul of:

Arto Satian (5th anniversary), Requested by:

Marggie Satian and Family

Hospitality Table is Hosted by:

Gavoor Family

Prayer of the week

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

Lord, keep watch over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Defend the innocent and voiceless and strengthen those in captivity.

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.

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

Shnorhali School Holiday Initiative: Bringing Hope to Displaced Artsakh Children

This holiday season, Shnorhali School is proud to launch a heartfelt initiative led by our youngest students in partnership with Amicus Youth, a youth-led nonprofit founded by our dedicated volunteer Ani Nishanian.

Our Elementary students are crafting hand-made bracelets as a gesture of love, care, and solidarity - from children to children - to support displaced children from Artsakh. Every bracelet, thoughtfully created by our students, represents a tangible way to make a difference and bring hope to those in need.

Bracelets are available for $3 each, with all proceeds going directly to the Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation’s Ser Artsakh program. This vital program provides essential supplies and support to displaced children and newborns, helping families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. Through this project, our students are not only expressing creativity—they are learning the power of compassion, community service, and giving back.

We warmly invite our community to join us in donating, supporting, and sharing this initiative with friends and family so we can bring even more hope and joy to displaced Artsakh children this holiday season.

With gratitude,

Shnorhali School Administration

Shnorhali School Christmas Celebrations & Holiday Initiatives 



This Christmas season, Shnorhali School is celebrating with a series of meaningful events that bring our students, families, and church community together.

On December 21 at 2:00 PM, students will enjoy our Christmas Party filled with festive crafts, games, a short performance, and a visit from Santa.

We will continue our celebrations with the Christmas Handes on January 4, a cherished Shnorhali tradition, followed by the Christmas Candlelight Service (Ճրագալույց) on January 5. Students will participate in Patarag readings from 4:00–7:00 PM, with a light dinner and readings beginning at 6:00 PM.

These moments remind us that the season is about faith, togetherness, and joyful preparation for Christ’s birth.

ACYOA Seniors Bake Sale for Ayo’s Christmas Project

Join us for our Bake Sale on December 13th from 11:00 am–5:00 pm and on December 14th after Patarag!

All proceeds will support Ayo!’s mission to bring holiday joy to 200 vulnerable and displaced families in Sisian by providing Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, and festive food packages.



Thank you for helping us share warmth and hope this Christmas season!

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

“Virtual Visitation” with Parish Leaders of Richmond, VA

Last week, the Eastern Diocese held the latest in its series of “virtual parish visitations.” Through these online gatherings, Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan meets with the leadership of our local parishes to discuss the latest developments and ongoing needs.

A meeting with St. James Church of Richmond, VA, took place on December 4. Along with pastor Fr. Samuel Rith-Najarian, parish council members and Diocesan delegates took part in the 90-minute meeting, as did Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian, and Diocesan Council member Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, who served as facilitator for the meeting.

Some 50 parishes have met with the Primate in this way over the past two years. The schedule of “virtual visitations” will proceed in the weeks to come.

The Man Who Saved the First Christmas 

Despite the warm, peaceful feelings Christmas evokes, the story of Christ’s birth could have ended in tragedy—cut off before it had barely begun.

It was one man’s calling to lift the Nativity story out of tragedy and allow the warmth and sweetness of Christmas to prevail. That man was Joseph the Carpenter: the husband of Mary, and the earthly father who raised and instructed Jesus.

Understanding Joseph’s indispensable role in the first Christmas can be the first step in approaching Jesus—and learning what it means to be a person of faith.

Read a Christmas meditation on the gentle father who ministered to our Lord—by clicking here.

2026 ACYOA Mission Trip Now Open for Applications

The ACYOA Central Council is pleased to announce that the 2026 ACYOA Mission Trip will take place February 26 through March 1, 2026, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and St. Nerses Shnorhali Armenian Church of Jacksonville, FL. This faith-based service weekend invites young adults (ages 18-30) to serve a mission parish and its local community while working on a Habitat home build.

Led by Fr. Yeprem Kelegian and Jennifer Morris, the trip is fully funded through the generosity of the Dadourian Foundation and includes lodging, ground transportation, meals, and a donation to Habitat for Humanity. Participants are responsible only for their travel to and from Jacksonville (arrival by February 26 at 9 p.m.; departure after 5 p.m. on March 1).

Space is limited to 18 participants, with priority given to first-time attendees. Applications are due January 10, with acceptances sent by January 15.

The Registration Link and the Fact Sheet are available on the ACYOA website. For questions, contact Jennifer Morris at jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org or (248) 648-0702.

FAR NEWS

FAR’s Campaign to Fund ACT College Scholarships 

Gor is a first-year Computer Science student at the Fund for Armenian Relief’s new "Armenian Creative Technologies College" (ACT). He grew up in Stepanakert dreaming of becoming a programmer. Despite being among the Armenians displaced from Artsakh in 2023, Gor is now thriving at ACT—thanks to a scholarship he received from FAR.

FAR’s crowdsourcing platform, Ayo!, is currently running its ACT for Armenia campaign, with the goal of helping 12 talented students like Gor with scholarships, in the amount of $2,500 each.

And this week, your gift can go twice as far: a generous FAR supporter, Sonya Hacet, has pledged to match all donations received through December 9. If FAR supporters raise $10,000—enough for four scholarships—she will match that amount, resulting in four more scholarships.

Help FAR unlock the full matching grant—and support Armenia’s next generation of innovators—by clicking here.

FAR NEWS

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. 

St. Mary Armenian Church

Legacy Brick Drive

Honor your loved ones with

a memorial that will last a lifetime

Buy a brick and leave your legacy at St. Mary Armenian Church.

When you buy a brick, it is then engraved with your specified words or message, installed in front of the church, and becomes

a memory to view for years to come.

Laser engraved bricks will be displayed in our Church plaza,

on both sides of our beautiful Khatchkar, and can be dedicated to those

you wish to remember, honor Loved Ones, commemorate a

a special milestone like a baptism or wedding, or

acknowledge an organization or business.

Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.

Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.

CLASSIFIED ANNOUNCEMENT

 Armenian-Speaking Caregiver Available

For information, please 📞 Contact the Church Office

Phone: 202-363-1923

Email: stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

December 13 Christmas Market – 10:00 AM -5:00 PM (Vendors and more)

December 13 ACYOA Seniors Christmas Bake Sale

December 13 ACYOA Juniors Christmas Party

December 21 Shnorhali School Christmas Party

December 28 Blessing of Pomegranates

December 31 New Year Celebration @ St. Mary Cultural Hall @ 8 pm

January 5 Shorhali School Christmas Eve Scripture Reading

January 6 Ararat Avak Society Christmas Luncheon at the Church Hall @ 1 pm

1 Յիսուս ասաց նաեւ իր աշակերտներին. «Անկարելի է, որ գայթակղութիւնը չգայ, բայց վա՜յ նրան, որի ձեռքով կգայ: 2 Նրա համար լաւ կլինէր, եթէ իր պարանոցից երկանաքար վէմ կախուէր, եւ նա ծովը գցուէր, քան թէ այս փոքրիկներից մէկին գայթակղէր: 3 Զգո՛յշ եղէք ձեր անձերի համար: Եթէ քո եղբայրը մեղանչի, սաստի՛ր նրան. եւ եթէ զղջայ, ների՛ր նրան: 4 Եւ եթէ եօթ անգամ մեղանչի քո դէմ եւ եօթ անգամ դառնայ քեզ եւ ասի՝ զղջում եմ, ների՛ր նրան»: 5 Եւ առաքեալները Տիրոջն ասացին. «Աւելացրո՛ւ մեր հաւատը»: 6 Եւ Տէրն ասաց. «Եթէ մանանեխի հատիկի չափ հաւատ ունենաք եւ այս թթենուն ասէք՝ “Արմատախի՛լ եղիր եւ տնկուի՛ր ծովի մէջ”, նա իսկ կհնազանդուի ձեզ: 7 Իսկ ձեզնից ո՞վ է, որ հողագործ կամ հովիւ ծառայ ունի, երբ սա ագարակից տուն մտնի, նրան կասի իսկոյն. “Անցիր, սեղա՛ն նստիր”. 8 այլ նրան չի՞ ասի. “Պատրաստի՛ր, ինչ ընթրելու եմ, եւ գօտի կապած ծառայի՛ր ինձ, մինչեւ որ ուտեմ ու խմեմ, եւ ապա կուտես եւ կխմես դու”: 9 Մի՞թէ տէրը շնորհապարտ կլինի այդ ծառային, որ իր բոլոր հրամանները կատարեց: 10 Նոյնպէս եւ դուք, երբ կատարէք այն բոլորը, որ ձեզ հրամայուած է, ասացէք, թէ՝ “Անպիտան ծառաներ ենք. ինչ որ պարտաւոր էինք անել, այն արեցինք”»:

(Ղուկասի 17.1-10)

17 Jesus[a] said to his disciples, “Occasions for sin[b] are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to sin.[c] 3 Be on your guard! If a brother or sister sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a[d] mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’

(Luke 17.1-10)

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

St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor

4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

| 202-363-1923 | www.stmaryaac.org