July 5

TOP STORY   

Experience the Transfiguration of Christ on July 7

Three disciples come face-to-face with the mind-boggling nature of God. How do they react? And is there a lesson for us in their experience?

That’s the question posed during the Feast of the Transfiguration—also known as Vartavar in the Armenian Church—which will be observed on Sunday, July 7. The feast recalls the miraculous event that occurred on the summit of Mount Tabor.

Click the following links to read St. Matthew’s account—and to read a meditation on the mystery of the Transfiguration and what it might mean for us.

In anticipation of the feast day, download the Diocese’s interactive Transfiguration iBook. Also, an episode in the Diocese’s Bread & Salt video series teaches about the delightful Armenian customs that have clustered around Vartavar. It’s titled “Make a Splash”—and you can watch it by clicking here.

Also, Join Us for the Annual Vardavar Water Festival at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church!

Celebrate a cherished Armenian tradition right here in Washington, DC. This joyful event is open to all ages, making it a perfect family outing. Dive into fun with water balloons and sprinklers provided by us, ensuring everyone gets into the spirit of Vardavar. Embrace this unique opportunity to partake in a festive Armenian tradition of joy and community. Come prepared to splash and be splashed!

Above: “Christ’s Transfiguration,” from an Armenian illuminated gospel executed in 1475 by a scribe identified as Aristakes; from the collection of the Walters Art Museum.

July 7, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

All Ushers

Parish Council Members on Duty

All Parish Council Officers

Choir

Dr. Hratch Semerjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Zechariah 14:16-21, 

1 John 1:1-7, 

Matthew 16:13-17:13

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

Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland.

   Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord. Deliver the world from every conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind.

   In faith I confess and bow down to you, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, uncreated and immortal nature, creator of angels, of men, and of all things. Have mercy upon your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner. Amen.

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

Exciting Summer Adventures at Camp Vartan for St. Mary’s Youngsters

Last week, three of our young members embarked on their inaugural journey at St. Vartan Camp. Accompanying them was Der Hovsep, who stayed for five days, enriching their experience by teaching religion classes and preaching, ensuring their first encounter with the camp was both memorable and spiritually uplifting.

Camp Vartan is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually enriching. It is here that our young Armenian-American Christians find a unique blend of faith, culture, and fun. This year, our campers have had the extraordinary opportunity to immerse themselves in daily classes that deepen their understanding of the Armenian faith and culture, all while making new friends from across the diocese.

The camp schedule is packed with uplifting morning and evening services, fostering a spiritual atmosphere that encourages personal growth and reflection. A variety of sports activities ensure that all campers enjoy physical engagement and teamwork.

Additionally, three other young members from our church, accompanied by Dn. Mark Krikorian are currently at St. Nersess Seminary, participating in the Deacon Training Program. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to deepen their liturgical knowledge and skills, further strengthening their service within our church community.

We look forward to hearing all about their adventures and the memories they will cherish for a lifetime!

St. Mary Church Welcomes Armenian Assembly and ANCA Summer Interns

This past Sunday, St. Mary Church was honored to host about 25 enthusiastic young interns from the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of America Summer Internship Programs.

These interns, who are currently engaged in learning about public policy and Armenian issues in Washington, D.C., participated in our Badarak and joined the fellowship reception held downstairs, organized by St. Mary ACYOA. During the reception, Der Hovsep addressed the interns, emphasizing the significance of their commitment in Washington, D.C., and underscoring the pivotal role that young people play in shaping the future of both the Armenian nation and the church.

The visit provided a beautiful opportunity for worship and fellowship, allowing everyone to connect over shared heritage and faith.

A New Family and a New Life, Thanks to FAR

For the past six months, the home of Narine and Tigran has been full of joy, with the addition of their foster son Max.

Married for seven years, the couple had dearly wanted a child. Meanwhile, young Max had been living in the Fund for Armenian Relief’s Child Protection Center in Yerevan, Armenia, following the child’s abandonment in 2022.

When Narine met Max on December 8, 2023, it was love at first sight. “He ran towards me and hugged me tightly, like a son would hug his mom after a long separation,” Narine remembers. “My heart just melted.”

That was the moment Narine knew that she and Tigran would become foster parents, regardless of the challenges it might bring. She received extensive training at the FAR Child Protection Center to qualify and prepare for this monumental step. But once the program was completed, Narine, Tigran, and Max became a family together. “It’s been just several months, but it feels like we’ve been together for our whole lives,” Narine says today.

Contributions to FAR’s Child Protection Center ensure that Armenia’s most vulnerable children—including those abused and abandoned—can have a safe place to live and thrive. The center is one of the leading players in the foster movement, actively vetting and training couples as parents.

Click here to learn more about this important and uplifting effort of the Fund for Armenian Relief.

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 92nd Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church. "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund was established on the occasion of the 90th anniversary and continues 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.

July 7 Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

July 7  ACYOA Jr - Water fight and Volleyball 

August 18 Feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God

September 15 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

September 29 Feast of Holy Cross of Varak

October 4-5-6 Fall Food Festival

October 27 Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross

November 21 Presentation of the Holy Mother-of-God to the Temple

December 9    Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Manis?"14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the proph ets."15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."10 The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"11 Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. 

(Matthew 16:13-17:13)

13 Եւ Յիսուս Փիլիպպեան Կեսարիայի կողմերը գնալով` հարցրեց աշակերտներին ու ասաց. «Մարդիկ իմ մասին ի°նչ են ասում, ո°վ է մարդու Որդին»: 14 Եւ նրանք ասացին. «Մէկը, թէ` Յովհաննէս Մկրտիչը, եւ ուրիշներ` Եղիան, իսկ ոմանք, թէ` Երեմիան, կամ մարգարէներից մէկը»: 15 Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Իսկ դուք իմ մասին ի°նչ էք ասում, ո°վ եմ ես»: 16 Սիմոն Պետրոսը պատասխանեց ու ասաց. «Դու ես Քրիստոսը` կենդանի Աստծու Որդին»: 17 Յիսուս պատասխանեց եւ նրան ասաց. «Երանի¯ է քեզ, Սիմո°ն, Յովնանի° որդի, որովհետեւ մարմինը եւ արիւնը չէ, որ յայտնեց քեզ, այլ` իմ Հայրը, որ երկնքում է: 18 Եւ ես քեզ ասում եմ, որ դու վէմ ես, եւ այդ վէմի վրայ պիտի շինեմ իմ եկեղեցին, ու դժոխքի դռները այն չպիտի յաղթահարեն: 1 Եւ վեց օր յետոյ Յիսուս իր հետ վերցրեց Պետրոսին, Յակոբոսին եւ նրա եղբօրը` Յովհաննէսին եւ նրանց հանեց, առանձին, մի բարձր լեռ 2 եւ նրանց առաջ պայծառակերպուեց. եւ նրա դէմքը փայլեց ինչպէս արեգակը. եւ նրա զգեստները դարձան սպիտակ ինչպէս լոյսը: 3 Եւ ահա նրանց երեւացին Մովսէսն ու Եղիան, որ խօսում էին նրա հետ: 4 Պետրոսը պատասխան տուեց եւ ասաց Յիսուսին. «Տէ°ր, լաւ է, որ մենք այստեղ ենք. եթէ կամենաս, երեք տաղաւարներ շինենք, մէկը` քեզ համար, մէկը` Մովսէսի, մէկն էլ` Եղիայի»: 5 Եւ մինչ նա դեռ խօսում էր, ահա մի լուսաւոր ամպ նրանց վրայ հովանի եղաւ. ամպից մի ձայն եկաւ ու ասաց. «Դա° է իմ սիրելի Որդին, որին հաւանեցի, դրա°ն լսեցէք»: 6 Երբ աշակերտները այս լսեցին, իրենց երեսի վրայ ընկան եւ սաստիկ վախեցան: 7 Եւ Յիսուս, մօտենալով, դիպաւ նրանց ու ասաց. «Ոտքի° ելէք եւ մի° վախեցէք»: 8 Նրանք աչքները բարձրացրին եւ Յիսուսից բացի ոչ ոքի չտեսան: 9 Եւ մինչ լեռից իջնում էին, Յիսուս նրանց պատուիրեց ու ասաց. «Այդ տեսիլքը մարդու չասէք, մինչեւ որ մարդու Որդին մեռելներից յարութիւն առնի»: 10 Աշակերտները նրան հարցրին եւ ասացին. «Հապա ինչո°ւ օրէնսգէտներն ասում են, թէ նախ Եղիան պիտի գայ»: 11 Յիսուս պատասխանեց եւ ասաց նրանց. «Եղիան կը գայ եւ կը վերահաստատի ամէն ինչ. 12 բայց ձեզ ասում եմ, որ Եղիան արդէն իսկ եկել է. բայց նրան չճանաչեցին, այլ, ինչ որ կամեցան, արեցին նրան. նոյնպէս եւ մարդու Որդին նրանց ձեռքով չարչարուելու է»: 13 Այն ժամանակ աշակերտները հասկացան, թէ Յովհաննէս Մկրտչի մասին էր ասել իրենց: 

 (Մատթեոս 16:13-17:13)

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