St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
Address: 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-363-1923
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Feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior
St. Sarkis the Warrior is one of the most beloved saints of the Armenian people, known for his unwavering faith and courage. This year his feast will be celebrated on, Saturday, February 15. He was a military leader serving as the Prince and General-in-Chief of Cappadocia, a region bordering Armenia.
During the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate (360-363), Christians faced persecution. St. Sarkis, along with his son Martyros, sought refuge in Armenia, where King Tiran warmly welcomed them. Later, they moved to Persia, where St. Sarkis served as a military captain under King Shapur. However, when ordered to worship fire and offer sacrifices to pagan gods, St. Sarkis boldly refused, proclaiming his faith in the Holy Trinity. In defiance, he destroyed the temple of idols, leading to his imprisonment and eventual martyrdom. His son, Martyros, was also killed for his faith.
Click here to read more.
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Morning Service
9:30 AM
Holy Badarak
10:00 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Usher
Ms. Sara Arabian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Sean McClure
Choir
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Mrs. Karine Muradyan
Bible Readings:
Is. 63:7-18
2 Timothy 3:1-12
John 6:22-38
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
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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
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Prayer of the week
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, great sinner that I am.
Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, strengthen those fleeing persecution, and protect the holy soil of Armenia.
Preserve the spirit of Artsakh in our hearts; console those who grieve; deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.
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Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks | |
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INVITATION TO THE PARISH ASSEMBLY – 2025
We invite you to our Annual Parish Assembly on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 12:00 PM in the church social hall.
Join us for a light luncheon before the meeting, where you’ll have the chance to connect with fellow parishioners before we discuss important matters that shape the future of our church community.
To help you prepare, you’ll find the Annual Report booklet linked below, which includes updates from all our church organizations. This is a great opportunity to stay informed, share your thoughts, and help strengthen our church family.
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ACYOA Laser Tag Night – A Fun-Filled Evening!
Our ACYOA Laser Tag Night on Saturday, February 8th, was a great success, bringing together our youth for an evening of fun, fellowship, and friendly competition! Everyone had a blast playing laser tag, enjoying delicious pizza and arcade games, and sharing laughter throughout the night.
The evening was made even more special as we took a moment to celebrate Yeretsgin Jennifer’s birthday with a delicious cake, adding to the joy of the gathering.
A huge thank you to Becky Bagdasarian for organizing this wonderful event and to everyone who joined in the fun. We look forward to more exciting ACYOA events in the future—stay tuned!
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St. Mary Armenian Church & Ararat Avak Society
Invite You to Attend
Saint Sarkis Day Celebration & Armenian Style Brunch
📅 Saturday, February 15, 2025
🕦 11:30 AM
📍 St. Mary Armenian Church
ՍԲ․ ՍԱՐԳԻՍ | Սիրոյ եւ Երիտասարդութեան Սուրբ
St. Sarkis the Warrior is one of the most beloved saints among the Armenian nation. Together with his 14 soldier companions, he was martyred for the sake of the Christian faith.
Join us for a heartwarming gathering filled with faith, fellowship, and delicious homemade Armenian cuisine as we honor this cherished saint.
🍽️ Armenian Style Brunch Menu 🍽️
Gata; Cheese Boreg; Feta & Armenian Cheeses; Soujukh with Egg; Milk Cream (Ser); Chorek & Assorted Jams; Dessert & More!
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📜 Special Program to Follow!
💵 Donation: $30
🔗 RSVP by February 14
💳 Secure your spot online with the Square Payment Link
📞 For More Information & Reservations:
📲 Takuhi Hallajian - (301) 219-4041
📲 Raffi Sahakyan - (301) 221-4533
📍 St. Mary Armenian Church
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
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Constantinople, Nicaea, Armenia: Walk in the Footsteps of Faith
The Eastern Diocese and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have announced a joint pilgrimage to Constantinople, Nicaea, and Armenia in the summer of 2025. This momentous journey will commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea—a pivotal moment in Christian history that established the Creed of Nicaea as a foundational confession of the Christian faith, shared by the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Led by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, pilgrims will embark on a profound journey of faith and discovery, from August 29 to September 8. This will be the first joint pilgrimage of the Eastern Diocese and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
In Constantinople, pilgrims will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate (the center of Eastern Orthodoxy) and see iconic landmarks such as the Theological School of Halki, Hagia Sophia, and the Armenian Patriarchate in Constantinople.
In Nicaea, they will explore the ancient city where the council convened in A.D. 325: a site of immense historical and theological significance to all Christians.
Finally, in Armenia pilgrims will visit the Ancient Manuscript Repository (Matenadaran), Khor Virab Monastery (where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned), and the ancient cave of Areni (considered to be the world’s oldest-known winery). They will also experience the beauty of Lake Sevan and Sevan Monastery, and worship at the newly-restored Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Spaces are limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged. For inquiries and reservations, contact Cloud Tours at (718) 721-3808, or e-mail stephen@cloudtours.com. Detailed information regarding costs, travel arrangements, and accommodations will be provided upon request.
Click here to view a flyer with details.
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The Science of Botany is Blossoming in Armenia
Thanks to major support from the Fund for Armenian Relief, Armenia’s Institute of Botany has launched a new Graduate Research Center, offering the country’s first-ever Master’s Degree program in Biodiversity and Conservation.
Funded by Ara Cherchian through FAR’s “STEM for Rural Armenia” initiative, the center is designed to inspire young researchers to explore Armenia's wildlife, plant life, ecology and climate.
The new center includes a dedicated space for education: a facility that the Institute of Botany lacked until today. The opportunities on offer are already attracting students (like the ones seen here). Among them is Marianna Sargsyan, a mother of two from Artsakh, who is pursuing her dream degree thanks to a FAR scholarship.
This initiative, along with the FAR-funded “Eco Education Center” at Yerevan’s Botanical Gardens, is igniting a passion for science in Armenia’s next generation of conservationists. Read more on FAR’s blog
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TO READ MORE NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE, CLICK HERE
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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!
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING FEASTS AND EVENTS | |
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February 15 Saint Sarkis Day Celebration and Armenian Style Brunch
February 16 Annual Parish Assembly
March 5 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM
March 12 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM
March 19 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM
March 26 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM
April 2 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM
April 9 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM
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PRAYERS FOR SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR | |
Aram Andonian, Hripsime Apkarian, Lucy Badalian, Allison Bajger, Ellen Boudreau, Karen Calabrese, Mrs. Coleman, Leman Cubuk, Mari Dogum, Fitzgerald Ryan, Matt Girardi, Anahit Greene, Antaram Grigoryan, Susana Grigoryan, Simon Gukasyan, Karen Hatchik, Charles Hoke, Tamara Hramushina, Takvur Hubi, Jo-Anna Jacob, Edward Jamgochian, Yn. Anahid Kalayjian, Michael Kolenick, Nancy Kolenick, Jack Kooyoomjian, Helen Krikorian, Queen Manoogian, Toros Mermer, Susanna Mkrtchyan, Charles Suren Mosesian, Haik Naltchayan, Armen Mark Nostrant, Mikael Ovanesov, Zaven Ovian, Hacik Ozdul, Kamer Ozkayan, Margaret Rustemian, Sakayan Victoria, Robert Schlee, Bob Semonian, Tamara Shatvoryan, Mihran Tavoukjian, David Tonyan, Kristin Chakarian Turza, Rahmin Vaziri | |
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22 Յաջորդ օրը ժողովուրդը, որ մնացել էր ծովի այն կողմը, տեսաւ, որ այնտեղ այլ նաւակ չկայ, բացի միայն մէկից, որի մէջ մտել էին Յիսուսի աշակերտները, իսկ Յիսուս իր աշակերտների հետ նաւակ չէր մտել, այլ միայն իր աշակերտներն էին գնացել: 23 Սակայն Տիբերիայից ուրիշ նաւակներ էլ գալիս էին մօտ այն տեղին, ուր հացն էին կերել: 24 Ուրեմն, երբ ժողովուրդը տեսաւ, որ Յիսուս այդտեղ չէ, եւ ոչ էլ՝ նրա աշակերտները, նաւակներ նստեցին ու եկան Կափառնայում՝ Յիսուսին փնտրելու: 25 Եւ երբ նրան գտան ծովի միւս կողմում, ասացին նրան. «Ռաբբի՛, ե՞րբ եկար այստեղ»: 26 Յիսուս պատասխանեց նրանց եւ ասաց. «Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ. դուք ինձ փնտրում էք ոչ թէ նրա համար, որ նշաններ տեսաք, այլ՝ որովհետեւ կերաք այն հացից եւ կշտացաք: 27 Գնացէք աշխատեցէ՛ք ոչ թէ կորստեան ենթակայ կերակրի համար, այլ այն կերակրի, որը մնում է յաւիտենական կեանքի համար, եւ որը մարդու Որդին կտայ ձեզ, քանի որ նրան իր կնիքով հաստատել է Հայրը՝ Աստուած»: 28 Նրան ասացին. «Ի՞նչ անենք, որ Աստծոյ ուզած գործերը գործենք»: 29 Յիսուս պատասխանեց եւ ասաց նրանց. «Աստծոյ ուզած գործը այս է. որ հաւատաք նրան, ում նա ուղարկեց»: 30 Նրան ասացին. «Ի՞նչ նշան կանես, որ տեսնենք եւ հաւատանք, ի՞նչ գործ կգործես: 31 Մեր հայրերը անապատում մանանան կերան, ինչպէս որ գրուած է. “Երկնքից նրանց հաց տուեց ուտելու”»: 32 Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Ճշմարիտ, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ. Մովսէսը չէ, որ ձեզ երկնքից հաց տուեց, այլ իմ Հայրն է, որ տալիս է ձեզ ճշմարիտ հացը երկնքից. 33 որովհետեւ Աստծուց է այն հացը, որ իջնում է երկնքից եւ կեանք է տալիս աշխարհին»: 34 Նրան ասացին. «Տէ՛ր, ամէն ժամ տո՛ւր մեզ այդ հացը»: 35 Յիսուս նրանց ասաց. «Ես եմ կենաց հացը. ով դէպի ինձ գայ, քաղց չի զգայ, եւ ով ինձ հաւատայ, երբեք չի ծարաւի: 36 Բայց ես ձեզ ասել եմ, որ ինձ տեսաք եւ չէք հաւատում: 37 Բոլոր նրանք, ում Հայրն ինձ տալիս է, կգան ինձ մօտ, եւ ով որ ինձ մօտ կգայ, դուրս չեմ անի. 38 որովհետեւ ես երկնքից իջայ ոչ թէ իմ կամքը կատարելու համար, այլ՝ կամքը նրա, ով ինձ ուղարկեց:
Հովհաննես 6:22-38
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
John 6:22-38
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Please Stay Current with Your Membership
St. Mary Church brings us together to worship, educate, and serve, yet we need your help to sustain this mission. We call upon you to renew, or become a new member, because dues are the largest part of our church income to help keep our beloved parish doors open.
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Your Membership
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Help us fulfill our mission to sustain and grow our ministries, worship programs and activities to strengthen our church family for generations to come. Thank you for your generosity and support. To Learn More About Membership
To Become A Member
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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
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Serves the Greater Washington, DC and Baltimore communities. Our mission is to proclaim and grow together in our Apostolic Faith in Christ Jesus and to sustain our Christian Armenian identity. We celebrate our long and enduring legacy,
the beautiful traditions of our religious and national heritage, with Christian servitude, and with love and reverence towards our Church.
We invite you and welcome you to be a part of our church,worship with us, and experience the true love of Christ as we grow together as a community.
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Signup / Stay Connected with St. Mary Church E-Newsletters and Correspondence.
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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. | |
St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor
4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com
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