July 21

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Dawn of the Christian Faith in Armenia

On Saturday, July 22nd, the Armenian Church will observe the Feast of St. Thaddeus the Apostle and St. Sandukht the Virgin. The story of these two saints sheds light on the early days of Christianity in Armenia.

Armenia in the first century was a pagan kingdom ruled by a powerful royal family. It held strongly to its inherited pagan practices—until a man named Thaddeus ventured to Armenia.

He was one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and preached the Lord’s message in people’s homes, in hidden underground chambers, in the market, and on the streets. Moved by the Good News, many of the common folk converted to Christianity.

Rumors of this unusual man reached the royal court and caught the ear of Sandukht, the daughter of Armenia’s king Sanadrouk. Sandukht declared her faith in Christ and was baptized by Thaddeus. But when the king’s spies reported the news to her father, Sandukht was thrown in prison.

The king commanded his daughter to choose between the crown and the sword: either she would renounce Christianity and serve as a pagan princess, or face death. Sandukht chose the sword and became Armenia’s first Christian martyr. Shortly after Sandukht’s death, Thaddeus was also executed by the king. Their sacrifices planted the seeds of the Christian faith in Armenia—a faith that 300 years later would become the foundation on which to build a new Christian Armenia.

Sandukht’s dramatic story is the subject of a powerful video in the Diocese’s Bread and Salt series: “Crown or Sword.” Click here to view the video.

July 23, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Ms. Arlin Diratsuyan

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mrs. Shoghig Sahakyan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 3:16-4:1

1 Corinthians 1:25-30

Matthew 18:10-14

For the Soul of :

Richard G. Hovannisian

Requested by :

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan and the Parish Council

For the Souls of :

Zadig Ozbenian (1st anniversary), Hariknaz Ozbenian (7th anniversary), Misak Mermer (5th anniversary)

Requested by:

Mariam Mermer, Garo and Juliette Ozbenian, John and Jaqueline Ozbenian, their children, and families

For the Soul of :

Ani Keshishian (2nd anniversary)

Requested by:

Vartkes Keshishian, Mr. & Mrs. Yeprem Festekjian and family & Mr. & Mrs. Peter Festekjian and family

The Hospitality Table is hosted by:

Ozbenian, Keshishian, and Festekjian Families

 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



My soul is always in your hands, and I place my hope in your Holy Cross, O Heavenly King. May the multitude of your saints intercede on my behalf.

You who are patient with everyone, do not neglect me who trusts in you but keep me in peace with your precious and Holy Cross.

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. Amen.

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Morning Service 10:00 AM

Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM

Following the Church Service

Please join us for the

Picnic Style Celebration with Mediterranean Menu, Games & More.

Place your order by August 1st.

The Feast of Transfiguration



The Feast of Transfiguration was celebrated at St. Mary on July 16, 2023. The church was adorned with beautiful flowers and candles, creating a sacred and reverent atmosphere. The day began with morning service, hymns, and prayers, setting the tone for our spiritual journey. During Badarak, in his sermon, Der Hovsep reflected on the significance of the Transfiguration of Christ. Through scriptural insights, we were reminded of how this event revealed Christ’s divine nature and served as a glimpse of His glory, encouraging us to seek transformation in our own lives and allowing God’s light to shine through us in our daily interactions. 

Following Badarak, a special Andantan service took place, during which the four corners of the world were blessed, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all creation and the belief in God’s providential care for the world. It serves as a reminder of the Church’s call to seek God’s blessings not only for individuals but also for the entire world and all its inhabitants. Particular emphasis was given to praying for the peace, stability, and blessing of Armenia and Artsakh during these difficult days for our homeland. 



On this occasion, parishioners were happy to welcome Lieutenant General Edward Asryan, Chief of General Staff of the Republic of Armenia, accompanied by  Colonel Arman Mkrtchyan, Defense Attaché of the Republic of Armenia. Lieutenant General Asryan attended Badarak and joined us during fellowship hour, briefly updating our parishioners about the latest development in Armenia and Artsakh. He also presented Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan with a special award from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia. 

Project Kharpert 2022



On July 20th, St. Mary parishioners and friends enjoyed an exciting presentation by Ara Sarafian, Archival Historian and Executive Director of the Gomidas Institute.

Mr. Sarafian's illustrated presentation focused on his project "Kharpert 2022," highlighting the Armenian sites and church of the historic city Kharpet, which before the Genocide, was mainly populated by Armenians. He updated the attendees on his project and discussed ways to get involved. The presentation ended with a Q&A session. On this occasion, we were delighted to have the Armenian Assembly summer 2023 interns with us.

If you missed this rare opportunity, you are welcome to follow the updates on Social Media, dedicated Facebook page Projectkharpert2022. Those interested in learning about Mr. Sarafian's publications may visit St. Mary Gift Store to purchase the limited editions the store has acquired.

Special Appeal - Emergency Funding

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Recently, during our Spring Food Festival, some of you might have experienced the unusual rise in temperature at St. Mary's Cultural Hall. That was due to the breakdown in 2 of our Air Conditioning units.

The malfunction of our Air Conditioning Units came at a terrible time with summer heat around the corner. Moreover, the $15,000 was unbudgeted for this fiscal year.

We are reaching out to our faithful and loyal supporters to kindly consider helping us raise the much-needed funds. Regardless of the amount, we are grateful for each and everyone's thoughtfulness and participation.

May God bless you all abundantly.

Prayerfully,

Der Hovsep and St. Mary Parish Council

UPCOMING EVENTS

St. Nersess to Honor 12 Priests and Lay Alumni on Nov. 4



St. Nersess Armenian Seminary will highlight the vocations of 12 alumni priests and lay ministers, with a gala banquet on Saturday, November 4, 2023.

This will be the second in a series of tribute events featuring alumni of St. Nersess who serve the Armenian Church in various capacities. The first celebration took place in November 2021 and established the “12 Vocations” theme. The upcoming event will build on that idea, under the title: “12 Vocations: Broadening the Call.”

This year, the event will honor a seminary graduate who became a hierarch of the Armenian Church: Archbishop Avak Asadourian (priestly ordination in 1977, episcopal consecration in 1982), who recently retired after a long tenure as Primate of the Diocese of Iraq.

He will be honored along with seven clergymen and four lay ministers—listed here by ordination or graduation date: Fr. Krikor Sabounjian (ordained 1998); Fr. Sarkis Petoyan (ordained 1998); Fr. Abraham Ohanessian (ordained 1999); Fr. Mikael Devejian (ordained 2000); Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan (ordained 2004); Fr. Aren Jebejian (ordained 2004); Fr. Bedros Kadehjian (ordained 2005); Mka. Valerie Goekjian Zahirsky (graduated 1974); Yn. Sirarpi Feredjian Aivazian (graduated 1978); Nancy Basmajian (graduated 1979); and Shaké Ajamian Derderian (graduated 1989).

Invitations and further details on the November 4 banquet will be coming soon. Contact event co-chair Lynn Beylerian at lynnbeylerian@gmail.com or access the seminary website: www.stnersess.edu. 

NEW RECYCLING PROGRAM AT ST. MARY'S



There is now a blue recycling bin in the hall at St. Mary Church. Please only deposit empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the container. We are looking for volunteers to sign up about once a month to take the recyclables home with them after church or during the Food Festival. It involves sorting through what's in the clear recycling bag and discarding any trash that might have been put in the bag. Then, you replace the clear bag with one from the box in the kitchen marked "Recycling Bags, Not for Trash". I have created a SignUp Genius link to sign up for a slot. Please see St Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church: St. Mary's Recycling Committee (signupgenius.com). If you have any questions, please email me at rangerrox@msn.com. Thanks for your help in keeping God's good earth cleaner!

Armenia by Armen Sayar

Shushi, Artsakh

Dear Parishioners and Friends!

We want to introduce the Armenian Artists Project to you!

The Armenian Artists Project (AAP) is a non-profit organization founded in San Diego, CA, USA in 2018. The AAP operates an online art gallery to support Armenian artists living and working in the Motherland by providing a platform to exhibit, promote and sell wonderful pieces of Armenian art to a wide international market.

Featuring vivid colors, inspired by Armenian motives, original art pieces will make your space look magnificent. 

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. 

HELP NEEDED

Armenian Speaking Caregivers are needed. For information, please contact the church office at 202-363-1923 or stmarychurchdc@gmail.com.

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.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

In Memoriam: Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian (1932-2023)

With deep sorrow, the Eastern Diocese mourns the passing of Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, America’s pre-eminent scholar of Armenian studies, who passed away on July 10, in California. He was 90.

In an academic career spanning some 60 years, Professor Hovannisian was internationally acknowledged as one of the most distinguished, prolific, and honored figures in his field. As the first holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA, and later as Professor Emeritus of History, Hovannisian was the author or editor of 32 books, including multiple volumes on the Armenian Genocide and the first Republic of Armenia.

He was a founder of the Society of Armenian Studies, a member of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, and a Guggenheim Fellow. But Dr. Hovannisian was above all a teacher who, through several generations of students, bequeathed to the field of Armenian studies many of its leading academics.

Dr. Hovannisian was the son of Genocide survivors, and with his dear wife of half a century, Vartiter, he raised a family whose children and grandchildren have extended the Hovannisian legacy of advocacy and service into the realm of the arts and politics. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this time.

An extended note on Dr. Hovannisian’s life and career can be read here.

During the Armenian Genocide Centennial year in 2015, staff of the Eastern Diocese’s Communications department had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Hovannisian for a film project sponsored by our Wynnewood, PA, parish. In the resulting video, titled From Horror to Hope, Dr. Hovannisian gives a gripping, brief account of the origins of the Genocide, in which his profound powers as a teacher and scholar are on full display. View the video by clicking here.

Richard Hovannisian’s memory will surely be honored and blessed by the Armenian people hereafter. May our risen Lord Jesus remember him at the coming of His kingdom.

Catholicos Congratulates Diocese on 125 Years of Growth and Achievement

To honor the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Church’s Diocese of America, Catholicos Karekin II issued a special congratulatory message.

“It was in the year 1898 that the Armenian Church’s Diocese of America began its history. This was a time that also saw the massacre of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; the destruction of age-old monasteries and churches on our native soil; and the depopulation of Armenians from their ancestral lands. So it was an act of remarkable foresight when Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian—“Khrimian Hayrig,” of blessed memory—had a vision that a bright, enduring future awaited the Armenian people on the soil of the United States, where so many faithful Armenians had lately taken refuge. And under that vision he established the Armenian Diocese of North America, to advance the ministry of our Holy Church in the New World.”

After extolling the growth and achievements of the Armenian Church in America, the Catholicos observed: “The jubilee of the Diocese’s establishment is an occasion to remember your fathers and mothers, the pious servants and benefactors of blessed memory, who for more than a century occupied their time and talent to advance Armenian life in America.”

He also expressed thanks for the Diocese’s role in helping other communities—including our homeland of Armenia and Artsakh—to persist and prosper. He concluded with a prayer that “our beneficent Father in Heaven will keep the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America under the protection of His Righteous Hand, and always bless the faithful American Armenians, for the glory of God and for the brightness of our Holy Apostolic Church.”

Read Catholicos Karekin II’s entire message, in English translation, by clicking here.

Join the Eastern Diocese on a Pilgrimage to Armenia!

This September, the Eastern Diocese will lead a pilgrimage to Armenia, to witness the historic events scheduled to take place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. These include the Blessing of the Holy Muron, and the re-opening of the Mother Cathedral after an extensive restoration process.

Pilgrims will also bear witness as our Primate, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, is consecrated as a bishop of the church, by the hand of His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians.

The trip—which runs September 27 to October 10—also visits spiritual and cultural sites of our homeland, including Khor Virab, the Genocide Memorial, Noravank, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Garni, Geghard, and Haghpat.

Click here to view a flyer with further details. The deadline to register is June 25. For information, contact Sima Tours at simatours@gmail.com, or (610) 359-7521.

FAR NEWS

FAR’s GTech Launches Vanadzor Engineering Education Center

With the opening of its Vanadzor Engineering Education Center, the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has made a great advance in empowering young students in Armenia who are aiming at careers in science and technology.

The new center—part of FAR’s GTech school—provides an avenue to higher education in Artificial Intelligence and IT for young people in Armenia’s third-largest city. Tuition is absolutely free, making it accessible to all.

The center welcomed its first summer class of 44 high school students . Their curriculum will span two years, covering mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and AI. As a result, before they even enter a university, these students will have learned to create, design, and develop products highly demanded by the military and tech fields.

To learn more about how FAR provides opportunities for young Armenians—and to support its ongoing efforts—click here.

Ayo is the crowdfunding platform of Fund for Armenian Relief, the social arm of the Eastern Diocese. We’re passionate about partnering with Armenians all over the world to promote sustainable development through low-budget, big-impact projects.

This summer, Ayo! is partnering with GOALS (Girls of Armenia Leadership in Sports) to organize a sports camp for kids aged 11-17. It will intertwine learning and fun through games, promoting positive values such as teamwork, leadership, respect, and gender equality. 

The camp will be held in the rural Shirak region for 70 boys and girls from surrounding villages. In addition to soccer, basketball, and tennis, lacrosse will be introduced this year!

It costs $125 to sponsor one village child’s unforgettable week of camp.

Get involved!

• Donate tax-deductible through Ayo’s website here:

www.weareayo.org/donate

• One day of camp, including meals, costs $25/month

Click Here to DONATE!

We’re turning 10 this year!

With the support of Hilton, we’re organizing a special all-expenses paid trip to Armenia for one lucky person (chosen at random).

Enter here!

August 13 Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother- of- God (Picnic)

September 17 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

October 1        Feast of Holy Cross of Varak

October 6-7-8 Fall Food Festival

October 29      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

10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

(Matthew 18:10-14)

10 Զգո՛յշ եղէք, որ այս փոքրիկներից մէկին չարհամարհէք. ասում եմ ձեզ, որ երկնքում նրանց հրեշտակները մշտապէս տեսնում են երեսն իմ Հօր, որ երկնքում է. 11 որովհետեւ մարդու Որդին եկաւ փրկելու կորածը»։ 12 «Ձեզ ինչպէ՞ս է թւում. եթէ մի մարդ հարիւր ոչխար ունենայ, եւ նրանցից մէկը մոլորուի, իննսունինը ոչխարը լերան վրայ չի՞ թողնի ու գնայ որոնելու մոլորուածին։ 13 Եւ եթէ պատահի, որ այն գտնի, ճշմարիտ եմ ասում ձեզ, թէ նրա վրայ աւելի կ'ուրախանայ, քան իննսունիննի վրայ, որ մոլորուած չեն։ 14 Այսպէս՝ իմ երկնաւոր Հօր կամքը չէ, որ այս փոքրիկներից մէկը կորչի»։

(Մատթեոս 18:10-14)