December 26

TOP STORY   

A Week of Re-Introductions

One of the wonderful things about the Christmas season is the way it re-introduces us to such interesting people. And it's not limited to friends and family: some of the most memorable re-introductions come from the surrounding culture. Who can suppress a warm smile at their first yearly sighting of Santa, Rudolph, and the elves? Or at the Grinch and the whole Peanuts gang?

But the church, too, is actively bringing some memorable people to our attention in the run-up to Christmas. It shares these vivid personalities with us through the feast days that occupy the weeks in the latter half of Advent.

We meet King David, poet and warrior; James, the apostle called the "Brother of the Lord"; Stephen, the first deacon of the church and its first martyr; Peter and Paul; and the brothers James and John. These are the stories the church reintroduces to us through the feasts of this week.

Somehow, getting to know these figures prepares us for that greatest re-introduction of all: when we will once more welcome the infant Jesus into our hearts and lives.

December 28, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Ms. Marina Gagikyan

Parish Council Member on Duty

Mrs. Svetlana Hovhannisyan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings

Isaiah 41.4 14,

 Hebrews 7.11-25,

Luke 19.12-28

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

With your peace, Christ our savior, which surpasses all understanding and speech, defend us and keep us fearless of all evil.

   Please keep watch over your faithful people and strengthen those fleeing persecution. 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. Protect the holy soil of Armenia; foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord.

   Make us equal to your true worshipers, who worship you in spirit and in truth; for to the most-holy Trinity is befitting glory, dominion, and honor, now and always. Amen.

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

SHNORHALI SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY: A JOYFUL CELEBRATION TO CLOSE THE YEAR

The holiday season came alive at Shnorhali School this past Sunday, December 21st, as our community gathered to celebrate the Christmas Party, marking our final school day before the New Year. The school was filled with laughter, music, creativity, and the unmistakable warmth of the Christmas spirit, as students, teachers, and volunteers came together to share in this special moment.

The celebration began with heartfelt blessings from Der Hovsep, who welcomed our students and reflected on the true meaning of the Christmas season. His words about faith, love, generosity, and hope set a reverent and uplifting tone, reminding us that Christmas is not only a time of joy, but also a season of gratitude, compassion, and unity.

Adding an element of learning and excitement, our Religion teacher, Linet Khoranian, led an engaging Christmas trivia activity. Students participated with great enthusiasm, eagerly answering questions and demonstrating their understanding of the traditions and spiritual significance of the season. The festive atmosphere was further enriched by a beautiful musical performance from 8th-grade student Ruben Babasyan, whose Christmas melodies on the guitar brought warmth and harmony to the celebration.

Throughout the afternoon, students rotated through a variety of joyful activity stations -writing letters to Santa, preparing magical reindeer food, decorating Christmas ornaments, enjoying face painting, and creating festive crafts. The excitement reached its peak when Santa paid a special visit, delighting students as they posed for photos and shared moments filled with laughter and wonder.

We extend a special note of gratitude to Shnorhali Religious Education Coordinator, Nicolette Blackwell, whose thoughtful planning, coordination, and dedication to every detail ensured the celebration ran smoothly and successfully.

The Shnorhali School Christmas Party was a touching reminder of the strength of our community and the values we strive to instill in our students - faith, kindness, creativity, and togetherness. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our teachers, volunteers, families, and students who helped make this celebration so meaningful and memorable.

Wishing our entire Shnorhali family a blessed Christmas and a joyful, peaceful New Year!

ACYOA Seniors' Christmas Party



The ACYOA Seniors gathered for a joyful Christmas Potluck celebration filled with laughter, games, meaningful conversation, and plenty of delicious homemade dishes!

Beyond the food, the night offered a chance for our seniors to reconnect during a busy season through shared fellowship and warm conversation, friendships were strengthened and new memories were made.

Events like these remind us that ACYOA Seniors is more than a group—it is a community rooted in faith, service, and connection. We are grateful to everyone who contributed a dish, helped organize the evening, and brought such positive energy to the celebration. A special thank you to Der Hovsep and Yeretskin Jennifer for hosting this wonderful dinner!

As we continue into the Christmas season, we look forward to more opportunities to gather, grow, and celebrate together as part of ACYOA Seniors.

Blessing of Pomegranates Service

December 28, 2025

Following the Divine Liturgy

As the year draws to a close, join us for the beautiful and meaningful tradition of the Blessing of Pomegranates. The pomegranate - a timeless symbol of life, prosperity, and fertility in Armenian culture - has graced our art, architecture, literature, and faith for centuries.

Be a part of this inspiring ceremony of hope, renewal, and abundance.

Pomegranates will be blessed and joyfully shared with everyone following the service.

Whether you are a lifelong parishioner or visiting for the first time, we warmly invite you to join us in fellowship and gratitude.

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016

May this season bring you joy, health, and prosperity. We look forward to seeing you there!

Click Here to See the Flyer

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.

We will celebrate 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.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

It is that time of the year again to remind our dear parishioners and friends of their dues and pledges to St. Mary Armenian Church.

As a reminder, the dues are $250 per person and $500 per family and are due by December 31, 2025.

We depend on our faithful donors and their monetary contributions. Your membership dues not only ensure your voting privileges during our annual assembly but also shows your commitment to your church. Your support enables us to continue our mission of preaching the Word of God, reaching out to our community, and bringing the rich and wonderful blessings of our heritage and identity to all for the glory of God.

We thank you for your generous past support and hope you will continue your commitment to your church.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE 

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church relies on the generosity of individual donors so that it may continue ensuring service to God and fellowship to the Armenian Community. Your support is deeply appreciated.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

The Bishop’s Appeal is the Eastern Diocese’s annual fundraising campaign: a vital effort that sustains our work, and our outreach to local parishes and families.

These final days of the year are crucial for reaching our goals—and every contribution makes a meaningful difference.

For the finals days of 2025, a $15,000 Matching Gift Challenge is in effect, which can double the impact of your gift! All gifts made to our 2025 Bishop’s Appeal—up through the final minute of December 31, 2025—will be matched dollar-for-dollar until we reach the Matching Challenge goal.

Most of all, in this blessed season of giving and gratitude, we thank you for your thoughtful support of the Armenian Church in America.

Click the buttons below to watch a short video message, and make your contribution to the Bishop’s Appeal.

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

Spreading Christmas Joy in Armenia’s Border Villages

This week, Ayo!—the crowdfunding platform of the Fund for Armenian Relief—launched its annual Christmas Wishlist project, which aims to bring warmth and cheer to 200 vulnerable families (each with three or more children) living in Armenia’s Syunik region.

The target beneficiaries include both local families from Syunik, as well as families displaced from Artsakh who live in border regions.

Ayo! is inviting churches across the Eastern Diocese—through their respective Sunday Schools and ACYOA chapters—to raise funds to sponsor several families via the Christmas Wishlist project.

An entire family can be sponsored for $100—which will deliver a Christmas tree, ornaments, lights, and festive foods to the household, to help realize the beauty and hope of the season.

 Click here to sponsor a family—and make sure to note your home parish when you make a contribution.

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 28 The Blessing of Pomegranates Following Badarak

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

January 4 Shnorhali School Christmas Hantes

January 5 Eve of the Theophany and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ - Shorhali School Christmas Eve Scripture Reading 4:00–7:00 PM

January 6 Feast of the Theophany and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas Luncheon hosted by Ararat Avak Society following Badarak at the Church Hall

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto everyone which hath shall be given; and from him, that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. 28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.                                                                       

(Luke 19.12-28)

12 Նա ասաց. «Մի ազնուական մարդ գնաց հեռու աշխարհ իր թագաւորութիւնը ստանալու եւ վերադառնալու համար: 13 Եւ կանչելով իր ծառաներին՝ նրանց տասը մնաս տուեց ու ասաց. “Շահարկեցէ՛ք դրանք, մինչեւ որ գամ”: 14 Բայց նրա համաքաղաքացիները ատում էին նրան. պատգամաւորներ ուղարկեցին նրա յետեւից եւ ասացին. “Մենք չենք կամենում, որ նա մեզ վրայ թագաւորի”: 15 Եւ ազնուականը վերադարձաւ՝ իր թագաւորութիւնը ստացած, եւ կանչեց այն ծառաներին, որոնց տուել էր դրամը, որպէսզի իմանայ, թէ ով ինչ է շահել: 16 Եկաւ առաջինը եւ ասաց. “Տէ՛ր, քո մէկ մնասը տասը մնաս բերեց”: 17 Եւ տէրը նրան ասաց. “Ազնիւ եւ բարի՛ ծառայ, քանի որ այդ փոքր բանի մէջ հաւատարիմ եղար, իշխանութիւն ունեցիր տասը քաղաքների վրայ”: 18 Եկաւ երկրորդը եւ ասաց. “Քո մէկ մնասը հինգ մնաս բերեց”: 19 Տէրը նրան ասաց. “Դու էլ՝ հինգ քաղաքների վրայ”: 20 Միւսն էլ եկաւ ու ասաց. “Տէ՛ր, ահա՛ քո մնասը, որ թաշկինակի մէջ ծրարած պահում էի. 21 վախենում էի քեզնից, որովհետեւ խիստ մարդ ես. վերցնում ես, ինչ որ չես դրել, եւ հնձում ես, ինչ որ չես սերմանել”: 22 Եւ տէրը նրան ասաց. “Հէնց քո բերանով քեզ պիտի դատեմ, անհաւատարի՛մ ծառայ. գիտէիր, որ ես մի խիստ մարդ եմ, վերցնում եմ, ինչ որ չեմ դրել, եւ հնձում եմ, ուր չեմ սերմանել: 23 Հապա ինչո՞ւ իմ դրամը լումայափոխներին չտուեցիր, որպէսզի ես գալով՝ տոկոսներով հանդերձ պահանջէի այն”: 24 Եւ սպասաւորներին ասաց. “Վերցրէ՛ք դրանից մէկ մնասը եւ տարէք տուէք նրան, ով տասը մնաս ունի”: 25 Եւ ծառաներն ասացին նրան. “Տէ՛ր, արդէն նա տասը մնաս ունի”: 26 “Ասում եմ ձեզ, թէ ով որ ունի, նրան պիտի տրուի, իսկ նրանից, որ չունի, պիտի վերցուի եւ այն, ինչ որ ունի: 27 Բայց իմ այն թշնամիներին, որոնք չէին կամենում, որ ես թագաւորեմ իրենց վրայ, բերէ՛ք այստեղ եւ սպանեցէ՛ք իմ առաջ”»: 28 Եւ երբ այս ասաց, առաջ գնաց Երուսաղէմ ելնելու համար:

(Ղուկասի 19.12-28)

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