May 16

TOP STORY   

St. Mary's Annual Spring Food Festival Has Kicked Off!



We are very excited to announce the beginning of the 15th Annual Armenian Spring Food Festival today, on May 16th. It will continue through May 17th and 18th, bringing the culinary delights and cultural riches of Armenian heritage to the Greater Washington, DC area.

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enjoy great food, connect with your community, and support St. Mary in our biggest event of the year.

To donate and pre-order, please visit the links provided below. Your generosity and spirit are what make this festival possible.

The Apparition of the Holy Cross

On May 7 in the year 351, those living in Jerusalem witnessed an intensely illumined cross appear in the sky extending from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives; a span of almost two miles. As it remained visible for several hours, the population of Jerusalem assembled in the church to praise Jesus Christ for the miraculous sign, but this apparition not only affected the locals. St. Cyril the Bishop of Jerusalem wrote about the miracle in a letter to the Emperor Constantius of Constantinople who at the time, believed in the Arian heresy which denies Jesus is God and claims He was a created being, subordinate to God the Father. Upon reading the letter, Emperor Constantius was deeply moved and returned to the orthodox teaching of the Church that Jesus is God, equal in nature to the Father.

May 18, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mrs. Rouzanna Oganissian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Sean McClure

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Acts 17:1-15

1 John 1:1-10;

John 7:14-23

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Souls of:

Vanouhie Margossian



Requested by:

Mr. Harout Margossian, Mrs. Tsoghig and Mr. Chris Hekimian, and children Van and Soseh,

Hovig and Christine Margossian and children, and Mr. Sahak and Emily Margossian and children,

Frank and Barbara Hekimian

Prayer of the week

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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

Bible Study Series on Philippians Begins at St. Mary

On Tuesday evening, May 13, St. Mary Armenian Church held the first session of its new Bible Study series, A Pilgrimage with St. Paul through Philippians. The focus for Week 1 was Philippians 1:1–11, a passage filled with gratitude, joy, and deep spiritual connection. Participants reflected on St. Paul’s heartfelt message to the Christian community in Philippi — a community that supported him in prayer and love, even while he was imprisoned.

Led by Der Hayr, the session offered historical and theological insights into Paul’s words, including his use of terms like “servants,” “saints,” and “fellowship.” The discussion explored how the joy Paul experienced was not based on freedom or comfort, but on union with Christ and shared ministry with the faithful.

This opening session reminded us that fellowship in the Armenian Church — through liturgy, prayer, and service — is part of a larger work that God is bringing to completion in each of us.

The study continues every Tuesday through June 24 at 7:00 PM in the church hall.

All are warmly invited to join us for this journey through Scripture and community.

Thank You to All Volunteers – Let’s Support the Festival Together!

St. Mary extends heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who have generously given their time, talent, and love in preparation for the Spring Armenian Food Festival. From rolling sarma and folding boreg to preparing each traditional dish with care, their tireless efforts during the workshop sessions have been a beautiful expression of service and pride in our heritage. Their commitment ensures that the rich flavors and cherished traditions of Armenian cuisine continue to nourish both body and spirit in our community.

As the festival weekend approaches, all parishioners are warmly encouraged to take part. Whether you are a seasoned volunteer or offering a helping hand for the first time, your presence and participation is deeply appreciated.

By volunteering, attending, or spreading the word, you help share the beauty of Armenian culture and the hospitality of our Church with the wider community. Together, let us make this festival a joyful and memorable celebration of our faith, fellowship, and tradition.

St Mary ACYOA Juniors Spring Activities



The ACYOA Juniors held monthly membership meetings in April and May. During the April meeting the students participated in a short Bible Study about encouraging others. Then they wrote out Easter cards which were sent to the Senior Citizens of the parish (Avaks), as a gesture of service and encouragement. At the May meeting the teens participated in a Bible Study, discussing the daily reading, about the need to be born again from water and the Spirit. They discussed how various Christian denominations had different traditions concerning baptism and other sacraments.

On May 9th, the Murad family graciously hosted an end-of-year party for the teens at their home in Vienna. The gathering featured a variety of activities, including soccer and volleyball, alongside delicious hotdogs and hamburgers prepared with love by Der Hovsep Karapetyan.  The teens also honored the graduating High School seniors by writing messages in graduation cards and participating in the annual know-your-graduate game. The event culminated with a year end slide show.  The evening was a wonderful time for the teens and their parents to gather and share fellowship before the summer travel season.  Congratulations to our ACYOA Junior High School graduates: Taggie Gomtsyan, Ani Grigoryan, Yeva Grigoryan, Anahit Harutyunyan, Gurgen Manukyan, Madeleine Movsessian, and Alek Tekeyan.

St. Mary Shnorhali School Celebrates Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation with Faith, Joy, and Gratitude



On Sunday, May 11th, St. Mary Shnorhali School students honored Mother’s Day in a heartfelt and spiritually enriching celebration that brought together faith, family, and tradition. During Armenian classes, students created beautifully decorated cards with heartfelt messages for their mothers, setting the tone for a day filled with love and reflection.

The celebration continued with students and their families attending the Holy Badarak and receiving Holy Communion, grounding the day in the spiritual values that are central to the school’s mission. During the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Hovsep offered a touching sermon about the sacred role of mothers, drawing inspiration from St. Mary, the Holy Mother-of-God. He reminded the congregation that mothers are not only life-givers but also the first teachers of faith, and called them the “quiet heroes” of our lives. Citing Armenian tradition, he honored the strength, faith, and sacrifice of mothers throughout history and encouraged students to express their love through kindness, respect, and faithful living.

After the service, the youngest students, our kindergartners, touched hearts with a charming presentation dedicated to their mothers and teachers. Their performance, a delightful combination of poetry, song, and dance, radiated innocence and affection, leaving smiles across the audience. Adding a deeply moving moment to the day’s program, the after-school Choir, led by instructor Armine Seropian, performed a song devoted to mothers. Their heartfelt rendition brought grace and emotion to the celebration, highlighting the talents and spirit of our students.

In parallel with Mother’s Day, the school also marked Teacher Appreciation Week. Students expressed their gratitude with flowers and handmade cards that spoke volumes about the respect and admiration they hold for their dedicated educators.

St. Mary Shnorhali School continues to serve as a vital pillar of Armenian and Christian education in our community. Events like this reflect our ongoing commitment to nurturing students not only academically, but also culturally and spiritually. We extend our sincere thanks to all our teachers and staff for their unwavering dedication, and to the students and families who made this celebration so meaningful.

This year’s Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation events were a true reflection of the love, unity, and faith that define our Shnorhali School family.

We are collecting information to congratulate St Mary parishioners who are graduating from High School or college. Do you have the information for your student? If so, please send it to stmaryyouthdc@gmail.com we will add the information to the document which will be published in the church eh-Newsletter.

• Student Name:
• School/City, State:
• Major (if graduating from college):
• Plans after graduation: (this might be a school or a job or travel - whatever his/her plans might be - or Undecided)
• a photo of your student
• please include your student's email address so he/she can be added to ACYOA Sr email list, and we can keep in touch. E-mail information will NOT be shared with the congregation.  

Application for the WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. 

The application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is

May 31, 2025.

Click here to access the scholarship application.

 If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

WCC’s Armenian Heritage Conference Will Address Plight of Artsakh

An Armenian Heritage Conference, to be held in Bern, Switzerland on May 27-28, will address the consequences of the ongoing conflict in Artsakh, with focus on the protection of its Armenian Christian and cultural heritage, the human rights of its people, and the future security of the Armenian nation.

Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in collaboration with the Protestant Church in Switzerland, the conference will bring together experts on international law and human rights, historians, politicians, and representatives from international organizations.

Among the speakers is Dr. Luis Moreno Ocampo, the international advocate who has been outspoken in affirming that the war on Artsakh and the expulsion of its Armenian inhabitants constitutes a genocide.

Current plans call for His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to address the conference, as will leaders of other churches.

In the lead-up to the conference, WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay released a short video in which he recalls being stopped at the Artsakh border in September of 2023, on the day the ethnic cleansing of Armenians began. “Their suffering reminds us of the urgent need for a just and lasting peace,” he said in his message.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director of the Eastern Diocese, who is also a Vice Moderator of the WCC, has been instrumental in organizing the conference, and in keeping the plight of Artsakh and its people a priority in the ecumenical movement. His message on the need for action in that cause was the subject of a brief video from the WCC.

Click the following link to learn more about the conference on the website of the World Council of Churches.

Above: The tragic exodus of thousands of Armenians from Artsakh, in 2023. (Photo by David Ghahramanyan.

Catholicos Karekin II Congratulates Pope Leo XIV

Last week, as the world learned of the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, His Holiness Karekin II extended a message of congratulations to the new Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians wrote: “On behalf of the clergy and faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, we extend our prayerful best wishes to you, as you assume the high and responsible mission of shepherding millions of Catholic believers living in the four corners of the globe.”

He went on: “In this new phase of your Apostolic ministry, we pray that God will grant Your Holiness the strength and grace to lead the Catholic Church with truth and mercy, and to bear constant witness to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world—which presently lives in great need of peace, justice, and spiritual renewal.

“We give thanks and praise to the Lord for the strong bond of Christian love that prospers between our two sister churches. Both have been fortified in recent times through our mutual gestures of reverence, fraternal meetings, and a shared witnessed to the Gospel.”

The Catholicos closed by wishing the new Pope Leo many years of health and spiritual strength in his leadership of the faithful flock entrusted to him by God.

Register Now for Diocesan Summer Camps

Online registration is now open for the Eastern Diocese’s summer camp programs, Hye Camp and St. Vartan Camp. Every camper will find something enriching in the experience—whether it involves learning about the Armenian heritage and faith, making lifelong friends, or enjoying fun summer activities.

To encourage potential campers and mark the opening of online camp registration, the Eastern Diocese released a heartwarming short video featuring young campers and teen-aged counselors sharing their thoughts on what camp has meant to them.

Click here to watch the video.

And click the following link to register and learn more on the Diocesan Camps website.

Teens and Young Adults: Experience Armenia This Summer!

The Eastern Diocese and ACYOA are offering three exciting opportunities for teens and young adults to travel to Armenia this summer.

The 2025 ACYOA Seniors Armenia Service Program (ASP) will run June 30 to July 18, and is open to young adults ages 18-30 from across the Diocese. A registration link, fact sheet, and detailed itinerary are all available on the ACYOA website. Participants are encouraged to register soon; click here for details.

ACYO Youth Pilgrimage and Forum will be a special international gathering in Armenia this summer, meeting July 2 to 7, and open to young adults ages 18-30. The Eastern Diocese aims to send 30 representatives to the Youth Forum (facility in the Armenian language is strongly encouraged). Full details and links to register can be found by clicking here.

ACYOA Juniors Armenia Service Program (ASP)

ACYOA Juniors (ages 14-17) are invited to participate in the ACYOA Juniors Armenia Service Program (ASP) running June 30 to July 14. Click the following link to learn more and to register for the trip.

For information on any of these trips, contact Jennifer Morris in the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org or (248) 648-0702.

Summer Programs at St. Nersess Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary has announced its schedule of 2025 Summer Conferences for high school and post-high school students. The conferences will be held at the St. Nersess Seminary campus in Armonk, NY.

June 27 - July 6

Deacons’ Training Program

Directors: Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian & Dn. Alex Calikyan

July 9 - July 13

Yn. Diane Chevian Memorial Choir Workshop

Director: Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian

July 19 - July 27

High School Summer Conference A

Director: Fr. Ghevond Ajamian | Coordinator: Maria Derderian

August 2 - August 10

High School Summer Conference B

Director: Fr. Ghevond Ajamian | Coordinator: Maria Derderian

Click the links to find registration and other information on the St. Nersess Seminary website, and to view a flyer.

FAR NEWS

FAR Strengthens Geriatric Care in Rural Armenia

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has long been committed to strengthening healthcare in Armenia’s rural communities by empowering local professionals through targeted training and support.

As part of its “Supporting the Development of Geriatrics in Armenia” program—launched in 2023 in partnership with the Armenian Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology—FAR recently held a certified training workshop on elderly care, dementia prevention, and healthy aging.

Among the participants was Anahit Manukyan, 57, who for nearly 35 years has served as the sole healthcare provider in the remote village of Yeghegis, in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor province. Anahit cares for more than 400 residents—from school children to the elderly—offering not only medical treatment but also emotional support.

The training has equipped her with new skills—such as memory games and cognitive exercises—that she now incorporates into her care for seniors. “When you help someone feel better physically, you feel better spiritually,” Anahit says.

Learn more about this and other healthcare programs on the Fund for Armenian Relief website.

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Diocesan Scholarship Applications Available Online

Applications for Diocesan scholarships are now available online. The application deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is May 19, 2025.

 Each year the Diocese awards scholarships to promising youth who are headed to college. The Diocese seeks students who are active in their local parishes and have assumed leadership roles in their communities.

Click here to access the scholarship application. For information, contact Maria Barsoumian at (212) 686-0710, ext. 136, or e-mail mariab@armeniandiocese.org.

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. 

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 16-17 -18 Spring Food Festival

May 20 and 27 Bible Study @ 7:00 pm

May 29 Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 31 Hambartzoum Ascension Luncheon @ 12pm

June 3, 10, 17, and 24 Bible Study @ 7:00 pm

14Տօնակատարութեան կէսին Յիսուս տաճար ելաւ եւ ուսուցանում էր։ 15Հրեաները զարմանում էին ու ասում. «Սա ինչպէ՞ս գիտէ Գըրուածքները, քանի որ բնաւ չի սովորել»։ 16Յիսուս նրանց պատասխան տուեց ու ասաց. «Իմ ուսուցումն իմը չէ, այլ՝ նրանը, ով ինձ ու¬ղարկեց։ 17Եթէ մէկը ուզում է նրա կամքը կատարել, կ՚իմանայ այս ուսուցման մասին, թէ Աստծո՞ւց է արդեօք, թէ՞ ես ինքս ինձնից եմ խօսում։ 18Ով ինքն իրենից է խօսում, իր համար է փառք փնտռում, իսկ ով փնտռում է նրա՛ փառքը, ով իրեն ուղարկել է, նա ճշմարիտ է, եւ նրա մէջ սուտ բան չկայ։ 19Օրէնքը ձեզ Մովսէսը չտուե՞ց, բայց ձեզնից ոչ ոք Օրէնքը չի կատարում։ 20Ինչո՞ւ էք ուզում ինձ սպանել»։ Ժողովուրդը պատասխան տուեց ու ասաց. «Քո մէջ դեւ կայ, ո՞վ է ուզում քեզ սպանել»։ 21Յիսուս պատասխան տուեց նրանց ու ասաց. «Մի գործ արեցի, եւ ամէնքդ զարմացել էք։ 22Մովսէսը դրա համար ձեզ տուեց թլփատութիւնը (թէեւ այդ ոչ թէ Մովսէսից էր, այլ՝ հայրերից)։ 23Եւ շաբաթ օրով մարդ էք թլփատում։ Իսկ արդ, եթէ մարդը շաբաթ օրով թլփատւում է, որպէսզի Մովսէսի Օրէնքը չըխախտուի, իմ վրա՞յ էք բարկացած, որ շաբաթ օրով մի ամբողջ մարդ բժշկեցի։

(Յովհ. 7:14-23)

In the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. The Jews marveled at it, saying, "How is it that this man has learning when he has never studied?" So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him, there is no falsehood. Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" The people answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man upon the sabbath. If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made a man's whole body well?"

(John 7:14-23)

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