May 17

TOP STORY   

“The Dove Came Down”: Celebrate Pentecost

The Dove came down with great sound from on high,

Like the flashing of light. It armed the disciples with fire

While they were sitting in the holy Upper Room.…

Today, O new people, rejoice for the coming of the Holy Spirit!

These are the words of the sublime sharagan, Arakeloh aghavnoh, sung in the Armenian Church on Pentecost—the feast day we will mark on Sunday, May 19.

After his ascension, Christ had promised to send a “comforter” to his disciples—and the disciples had faith that the Holy Spirit would make known God’s purpose for them. Pentecost—also observed as “Vocations Day”—encourages us to likewise consider how God has called us.

On the first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit inspired the birth of the Christian Church. In time the Spirit went forth to inspire two apostles to travel to Armenia, preach among the people, and plant the seeds for a spiritual revolution that would transform our homeland. That story is retold in “Tongues of Fire,” a video in the Bread & Salt series. Click here to view it—and share it with others—in preparation for Sunday.

May 19, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

9:30 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:00 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:

Acts 2:1-21,

 John 14:25-31

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service 

Please contact the Church Office

by Noon on Thursday

202-363-1923

or Click here to see the form

Prayer of the Week

May you pour on us, O Lord, the grace of your spirit—the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, power; the spirit of understanding and of the mystery of worship in God—which you received in the River Jordan. Fill us with the spirit of fear towards you. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy.

   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 single conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

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

Join Us for the St. Mary Annual Spring Food Festival!

We are excited to welcome you to the 14th Annual Armenian Spring Food Festival, happening May 17th, 18th, and 19th! This vibrant celebration will bring the culinary delights and cultural riches of Armenian heritage to the Greater Washington, DC area.

Event Highlights:

Friday, May 17th

5:00 p.m. - Edward Vardanyan, Junior Pianist

Saturday, May 18th

12:00 p.m. - Junior Performances by Levon Zanyan & Elona Zanyan

1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. - Michael Derdzakyan, Young Adult Pianist

5:30 p.m. - St. Mary's Handbell Ensemble, led by Maria Stepanyan

6:00 p.m. - Hayi Hoki Dance Ensemble

Sunday, May 19th

1:30 p.m. - Shnorhali School Students Performance

Throughout the Festival:

Sanctuary Tours with Ara Stepanyan and Anahit Tevosyan

St. Mary Gift Shop; White Elephant Table; Vendors & More!

Get Involved:

Support our community and make this event a success through donations, pre-orders, or signing up to volunteer. Your generosity makes this event possible.

All donations are tax-deductible. To contribute or learn more, visit the provided links. Don't miss this opportunity to savor great food, connect with friends, and support St. Mary in our biggest event of the year!

St. Mary Shnorhali School Students Celebrate Mother's Day with Holy Communion and Reflection

On Mother's Day, the students of St. Mary Shnorhali School attend the Holy Badarak and receive Holy Communion, marking a special celebration for both the children and their families. Fr. Hovsep, in his message to students, reflected on the profound significance of motherhood in the lives of Armenian Christians.

He emphasized the importance of cherishing three mothers: our biological mother, who gives us life and nurtures us; our Motherland, which embodies our cultural and national identity; and our church, the spiritual mother that guides and supports us in our faith journey. He highlighted how each of these mothers plays a pivotal role in shaping our lives and our community.

In addition to honoring their mothers, the students also celebrated Teachers' Appreciation Week. They showered their teachers with flowers, heartfelt gifts, and greeting cards, expressing their gratitude for the dedication and love their teachers poured into their education.

St. Mary Shnorhali School continues to be an important part of our community, dedicated to educating our children in both the Armenian and Christian traditions. The school’s mission remains steadfast in fostering a strong sense of cultural and spiritual identity among the young generation, ensuring that they grow up with a deep appreciation for their heritage and faith. This Mother's Day celebration at Holy Badarak serves as a reminder of the vital role the school plays in the spiritual and cultural upbringing of our children.

St. Mary's Handbell Ensemble Returns:

A New Opportunity for Young Musicians

St. Mary's Handbell Ensemble is back, and this is the perfect chance for young parishioners to embark on a rewarding musical journey! Led by the talented Maria Stepanyan, the ensemble invites children ages 10-18 to join and explore the wonderful world of handbell ringing.

Learning and Connection

As part of the ensemble, children will learn to master a unique instrument that requires both skill and teamwork. Maria will guide them through the intricacies of playing the handbells while fostering a supportive environment where creativity thrives. It's a wonderful opportunity to expand musical horizons and cultivate new friendships.

Weekly Practices

Practices are scheduled every Sunday from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m., giving participants consistent opportunities to hone their craft and bond with their fellow musicians.

Join Us!

Don't miss out on this chance to be part of something special. Encourage your young musicians to enroll and share in the joy of making music together. If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to contact Maria Stepanyan directly at smariaarmenia@gmail.com.

Let’s make the Handbell Ensemble a resounding success!

Attention All High School and College Graduates!

As the graduation season approaches, we are eager to celebrate the wonderful achievements of our high school and college graduates. We invite all graduates or their parents to submit the graduates' names, schools, contact info - email or phone and future plans to St. Mary’s Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com. 

We look forward to recognizing and honoring their hard work and dedication. Let’s celebrate this significant milestone together!

Diocesan Clergy Gather for 2024 Conference

The annual Clergy Conference of the Eastern Diocese was held April 30 to May 2, in Springfield, MA, as part of the 122nd Diocesan Assembly hosted by the city’s St. Mark Church. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan presided over the gathering, with nearly the entire complement of active pastors from the Diocese in attendance, alongside several clergy in retirement.

Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan served as conference chair, with Fr. Paren Galstyan as vice chair, and Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan and Fr. Avedis Kalayjian as the Armenian and English secretaries, respectively. Host parish pastor Fr. Nigoghos Aznavourian welcomed the participants.

The Primate reviewed the previous year’s celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Diocese and also gave an update on the ongoing work to restore St. Vartan Cathedral. He described his vigorous schedule of parish visits through the year, and looked forward with hope to a church consecration and a priestly ordination in the coming months.

Bishop Mesrop also reported to the clergy on progress made on the Diocesan “action plan” introduced at last year’s Diocesan Assembly titled, “Growing In Faith Together.” Beyond these vital practical matters, however, the heart of the Primate’s message to the clergy was pastoral, revolving around the themes of spiritual renewal and witnessing to the Christian faith.

The clergy also heard about the need to identify those with a vocational calling to serve God and the church; about efforts on the world ecumenical stage; and about recent initiatives from the Diocesan Ministries departments. Two visiting clergy from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin spoke on developments in the homeland.

The Clergy Conference concluded with badarak at St. Mark Church, celebrated by Fr. Ruben Zargaryan of Holy Etchmiadzin. Brother clergy sang under the direction of Dn. Rubik Mailian. A requiem service for the departed clergy of the Eastern Diocese was offered at the end of the liturgy.

Click the following links to read more, to view photos, and to watch a video digest of the Clergy Conference.

Employment Opportunity at the Eastern Diocese

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is currently seeking candidates to fill the position of Executive Director of the Eastern Diocese.

The Executive Director will be responsible for all administrative and operating functions for the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). This includes oversight of Administration and Operations, Finance, Communications, Facilities, Business Function/Rentals, Development, and Information Technology. The Executive Director will coordinate with the Director of Ministries for executional aspects; manage Human Resources services, including salaries; and provide support as needed.

The Executive Director will report directly to the Primate and the chair of the Diocesan Council, in accordance with the directives and policies established by the Primate and the Diocesan Council.

Please consult the job description and list of qualifications posted on the Eastern Diocese’s website. Qualified applicants should contact the Diocese via e-mail at jobs@armeniandiocese.org.

FAR Seeks Executive Director of Operations

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to oversee the organization's administrative functions, bringing at least 10 years of managerial experience in the non-profit sector. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in driving the strategic growth of one of the most respected diasporan organizations, with impactful projects in Armenia.

FAR’s work is focused on five key program areas: education, child protection, economic development, healthcare, and social services. It is dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities through support and opportunities, and building and strengthening infrastructure and systems in Armenia.

The Executive Director of FAR Operations will oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning of all aspects of the organization, including the overall administrative functions as they relate to FAR's Armenia offices. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively develop and maintain broad based relationships throughout Armenia with an emphasis on developing the right framework to ensure the continued excellence and efficiency for which FAR is well known.

If you are passionate about Armenia and share FAR’s commitment to its mission, and if you possess more than 10 years of managerial experience in the non-profit sector, FAR invites you to apply. Please send CV and cover letter to Garnik Nanagoulian at gnanagoulian@farusa.org, and Bree Carriglio at bree@farusa.org.

Go to www.farusa.org to see the full job description.

Half-Way to Reaching Our Goal!

Readers of this newsletter are aware that our Diocese is undertaking a major project to restore and renovate the great edifice that unites our community of faith: St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.

Our beloved Diocesan cathedral currently stands under a network of scaffolding, as exterior restoration work moves forward. This first phase is making desperately-needed repairs to the structure’s limestone facing and roof.

A renovation of the interior will follow in subsequent phases. In the meantime, St. Vartan Cathedral remains open for worship, candle-lighting, and visits of prayer—as it was throughout Holy Week and Easter.

Last week, the cathedral restoration committee announced that it has reached the halfway point in its goal of raising $28 million to fund the project!

Still, the committee remains hard at work raising the necessary funds, and creating resources to inform and involve the public—including an attractive website titled “Renewing the Vision, Cementing the Future,” where people can learn more about the project and watch its progress.

 Click the links below to:

• VISIT the Cathedral Project website.
• WATCH the promotional video.
• MAKE A GIFT to the Cathedral Restoration Project.

Bringing English to the Regions

Ինչքան լեզու գիտես, այդքան մարդ ես։ “You are as many people as the languages you know.” 26-year-old Lilit has always been passionate about English. When she graduated from Yerevan’s linguistic university during the pandemic, she moved back home to the region of Berd and reached out to our Diocesan organization Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) to make her dream of opening a language school come true. She was quickly and pleasantly overwhelmed with interest from 7-year-old to retirees. From lively discussions and interactive group activities to thought-provoking quizzes and immersive English movie screenings, Lilit ensures that her students remain engaged and make progress as they learn the language that will open doors for them. Since 2013, FAR has steadfastly supported border communities in Armenia’s eastern Tavush region through the “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty” program that is made possible with support from Detroit's own Mardigian Family Foundation. To help drive change in border communities, please consider donating to FAR today: https://www.farusa.org/bcpp 

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.

May 17, 18,19 Spring Food Festival

May 19: Pentecost (Hokekaloust)

June 8 Dinner Dance with Bartev (see flyer for details)

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Application for the WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is

May 31, 2024.

Click here to access the scholarship application. If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

25Իսկ Մխիթարիչը՝ Սուրբ Հոգին, որին Հայրը կ՚ուղարկի իմ անունով, նա ձեզ ամէն բան կ՚ուսուցանի եւ ձեզ կը յիշեցնի այն ամէնը, ինչ ես ասացի ձեզ»։26«Խաղաղութիւն եմ թողնում ձեզ, իմ խաղաղութիւնն եմ տալիս ձեզ. ձեզ չեմ տալիս այնպէս, ինչպէս այս աշխարհն է տալիս. ձեր սրտերը թող չխռովուեն, եւ չվախենաք։ 27Լսեցիք, որ ձեզ ասացի, թէ՝ գնում եմ եւ կը գամ ձեզ մօտ. եթէ ինձ սիրէիք, ապա դուք ուրախ պիտի լինէիք, որ ես Հօր մօտ եմ գնում, որովհետեւ իմ Հայրը մեծ է, քան ես։ 28Եւ հիմա ասացի ձեզ, երբ դեռ չի եղել, որպէսզի, երբ լինի, հաւատաք։ 29Այլեւս երկար չեմ խօսի ձեզ հետ. գալիս է աշխարհի իշխանը եւ իմ վրայ ոչ մի իշխանութիւն չունի։ 30Իսկ որպէսզի աշխարհը գիտենայ, որ ես սիրում եմ Հօրը, այնպէս եմ անում, ինչպէս որ Հայրը պատուիրեց ինձ. դե՛հ, վե՛ր կացէք գնանք այստեղից»։

Յովհ. 14:25-31

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my, Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that, when it comes to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and even so, as the Father gave me commandment, I do. Arise, let us go hence.

John 14:25-31

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