November 14

TOP STORY   

The Holy Apostles Andrew and Phillip



On November 15, the Armenian Church commemorates the feast of the Holy Apostles Andrew and Philip.

St. Andrew the Apostle - was the brother of Simon Peter (Matt., 10: 2; John 1:40). Both were fishermen (Matt 4:18; Mark 1:16), and at the beginning of Our Lord's public life, they occupied the same house at Capharnaum (Mark 1:21, 29). From the fourth Gospel, we learn that Andrew was a disciple of the Baptist, whose testimony first led him and John the Evangelist to follow Jesus (John 1:35-40). Andrew at once recognized Jesus as the Messiah and hastened to introduce Him to his brother, Peter (John 1:41).

It is generally agreed that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas or Aegeates, at Patrae in Achaia, and that he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, to prolong his sufferings. The cross on which he suffered is commonly held to have been the decussate cross, now known as St. Andrew's, though the evidence for this view seems to be no older than the fourteenth century. His martyrdom took place during the reign of Nero, on 30 November, A.D. 60.

St. Philip the Apostle - Like the brothers, Peter and Andrew, Philip was a native of Bethsaida on Lake Genesareth (John 1:44). He was also among those surrounding the Baptist when the latter first pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. On the day after Peter's call, when about to set out for Galilee, Jesus met Philip and called him to the Apostolate with the words, "Follow me." Philip obeyed the call and, a little later, brought Nathaniel as a new disciple (John 1:43-45). He has preached in Asia Minor. Apostle Philip was martyred in the town of Heliople.

November 16, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mrs. Suzy Simonyan

Parish Council Member on Duty

Mr. Shahnur Bostan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings

Isaiah 25:9-26:7

Philippians 1:1-11

Luke 9.44-50

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of:

 Patty V. Rostomian

Requested by:

 Raffi and Maro Rostomian, Areg and Predita Gharakhanian, and daughters (Audrey, Stella, Emalyn)

Hospitality Table is Hosted by:

Rostomiam & Gharakhanian Families

Prayer of the week

Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people and the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia, now and always. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord, and strengthen those in captivity.

   Preserve the name and spirit of Artsakh in our hearts, forever. Console all those who grieve, and remember those who sacrificed their very lives in your Name. Deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind.

   O Lord, sanctify those who have greeted in love the beauty of your house. Glorify us with your divine power and forsake not those who put their trust in you. Grant peace to the whole world and to all your people. Amen.

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

St. Mary Armenian Church 93rd Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Join us as we joyfully celebrate 93 years of faith, heritage, and community at St. Mary Armenian Church!

Divine Liturgy & Celebration

The Divine Liturgy will be officiated by

His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,

Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate.

Special Requiem Service

In loving remembrance of our departed parishioners and benefactors,

and in memory of the victims of the 1988 Armenian Earthquake.

Anniversary Luncheon & Program

Following the Divine Liturgy, please join us in the Church Hall for a festive luncheon and program, featuring reflections and performances by our Church Youth and ACYOA.

📞 RSVP by December 3, 2025

Call 202-363-1923 or email stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

Luncheon hosted by the Parish Council

Donation: $40 per person

Bible Study: “The New Commandment”

On Tuesday, November 11, parishioners and friends gathered for the sixth session of our ongoing Bible Study on the Gospel of John. This week’s focus was on chapters 12 through 14, where Jesus reveals the full depth of His love as He prepares His disciples for His Passion.

The evening began with the anointing at Bethany (John 12:1–8), where Mary’s act of devotion filled the house with the fragrance of love. The discussion then moved to the washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17), exploring how Christ’s humility transforms our understanding of leadership and service, reminding us that true greatness is found in kneeling before others.

Finally, the group reflected on Jesus’ “new commandment” (John 13:34) and His promise of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–27). We considered how love is the mark of Christian discipleship and how the Spirit continues to dwell among us, guiding the Church in peace and truth. The evening closed with the reminder that Christ’s farewell gift, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,”is not the absence of trouble but the enduring presence of His love.

Our next session will take place on Tuesday, November 18, as we continue with John chapters 15–17, exploring Christ’s teaching on the True Vine and His High Priestly Prayer. All are warmly invited to join us for prayer, study, and fellowship.

ACYOA Juniors/Seniors Art Workshop

On Saturday November 8th, the St. Mary ACYOA members met in church hall where they explored Armenian art through an engaging interactive workshop.  This workshop was conducted by Fr. Garabed Kochakian, an ordained priest in the Armenian Church, who possesses an MA in Art History with a focus on Armenian Art and Architecture. 

The session opened with a special prayer traditionally recited before painting Holy Icons, followed by a brief PowerPoint presentation that highlighted several uses for the Armenian letters and the importance of their sequence within the alphabet. It also touched upon the abbreviations, motifs, and colors that are characteristic of sacred icons. After the presentation, the group tried their hand at painting Armenian decorative letters.  The young people took a lunch break where they had a time of Q and A with Der Garabed and enjoyed each others company. After lunch the group finalized their artistic creations and gathered for a group photograph. The workshop was a delightful, relaxing event, enjoyed by all!

On Sunday, Der Garabed joined us for the Badarak and delivered an inspiring message on the sacred icons of St. Mary Church.

ADVENT CALENDAR



The Children and Family Ministry is excited to announce the start of the Advent season. This year, once again, we introduce you to our Digital Advent Calendar, created by the Children and Family Ministry. We hope this calendar will make the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas more joyful and special, as each day we are filled with His light, in anticipation of celebrating the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Please follow this LINK to view the Advent Calendar. To access it easily and use it daily, you can save this calendar as an app on your phone or tablet's home screen with a few easy steps (see the attached directions). Please note that you won't be able to open the Doors before Sunday, November 17 (no peeking).

After you have the calendar available on your screen, start opening the "Doors" on Sunday, November 17. Through this calendar, each day, a new "Door" will lead you to a new message and a Bible reading according to the Armenian Church's lectionary. Enjoy this calendar with your family and share it with your loved ones.  

Also, find attached the informational material about Advent in the Armenian Church.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

ACYOA Seniors Retreat: Choosing Faith Over Fear

The Eastern Diocese held its annual “ACYOA Seniors National Fall Retreat” over the weekend of November 7-9, at St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, WI. Some 60 young adults from 24 parishes across the Diocese gathered for a weekend focused on the theme: “Faith Over Fear.”

The participants were excited to have the Primate, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, with them during the retreat, so they could spend time interacting with and learning from him. Bishop Mesrob led the opening session on “Courage Powered by God,” which laid the foundation for the weekend’s spiritual explorations.

“In a world that often feeds anxiety and uncertainty,” Bishop Mesrop reflected, “we have come together to be reminded that faith is stronger than fear: that when we trust in God, we can face any challenge with peace in our hearts and courage in our steps.”

Also speaking to the young participants were Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Fr. Andreas Garabedian, Fr. Hratch Sargsyan, and Fr. Sahak Kaishian, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Members of the ACYOA Central Council led group discussions and presented upcoming ACYOA Seniors initiatives.

The ACYOA participants had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful setting and nature trails, and hiked through the woods one midnight to hold an outdoor candlelight prayer service.

They were also blessed by the presence of clergy from the Diocese’s Midwest region, including Fr. Avedis Kalayjian and Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan; Diocesan Ministries staff members Jennifer Morris and Dn. Armen Terjimanian; and St. Nersess seminarians who supported the retreat and assisted with worship services throughout the weekend.

Click the following links to read more about the retreat, and view an extensive gallery of photos. Scroll down to read about the retreat in Armenian.

Supreme Spiritual Council Holds its Fall Meeting

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the November 4-7 meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The meeting began with requiem prayers for the recently departed Archbishop Kissag Mouradian, the former Primate of the Diocese of Argentina.

Legal matters dominated the subsequent proceedings, with presentations given by experts in international law and Armenia’s judicial code. Scholars and attorneys discussed the ongoing detention of Armenian military personnel and civilians forcibly held in Baku, as well as the recent arrests of high-ranking Armenian clergy within the Armenian republic.

The Supreme Spiritual Council reaffirmed the position of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to promote the establishment of justice, defend the civil rights of clergy and the faithful, and support the principles of freedom of conscience and expression.

A report documenting the destruction of Armenian spiritual and cultural monuments in Artsakh was also received by the council, with members hearing of the various efforts by the church to mobilize international support to preserve Artsakh’s spiritual heritage.

Other topics addressed at the four-day meeting included questions pertaining to the pastoral mission of the church, disciplinary matters, a resolution to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the death of St. Gregory the Illuminator, and a project to formally canonize Gomidas Vartabed.

The session concluded with words of blessing and gratitude from the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Click the following links to read more in English and Armenian.

“A Family Doctor Must be Ready for Everything”

When faced with a life-threatening case in her native Karaglukh village, Dr. Tanya Martirosyan realized it was time to strengthen her medical expertise. Despite nearly three decades of experience as a family doctor serving 6,000 residents across 13 villages in Vayots Dzor, Tanya knew she needed to feel more confident handling complex conditions like diabetes.

Through the Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Continuing Medical Education” program (CME), she spent a month training with top specialists in Yerevan, focusing on endocrinology and modern treatment protocols. Tanya immersed herself in lectures, patient rounds, and hands-on clinical practice—earning 120 professional development credits and a renewed sense of purpose.

“A family doctor must be ready for everything,” she said. “In a village, you face every kind of case, and people have nowhere else to go.”

Her story is a powerful reminder of how FAR’s CME program empowers regional physicians to bring quality care—and hope—back to Armenia’s most remote communities. Learn more about FAR’s full suite of healthcare programs on the Fund for Armenian Relief website.

St. Nersess Seminary to Honor its Third Group of 12 Alumni on Nov. 22

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary will celebrate the vocations of 12 alumni—three bishops, seven priests, a deacon, and a lay minister—with a gala banquet on Saturday, November 22.

This will be the third in a series of tribute events featuring alumni of St. Nersess who serve the Armenian Church in various capacities. The prior celebrations in 2021 and 2023 established the “12 Vocations” theme—which will continue in the upcoming event, titled: 12 Vocations: Variety of Gifts, One Spirit.

This year’s honorees will include the following—listed here by ordination or graduation date: Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian (ordained 1990), Bishop Nareg Berberian (1992), Bishop Daniel Findikyan (1997), Fr. Vartan Joulfayan (1998), Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatian (2010), Fr. Ghevond Ajamian (2013), Fr. Samuel Rith-Najarian (2014), Fr. Yeghishe Ksachikyan (2015), Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (2016), Fr. Armash Bagdasarian (2016); Dn. Rubik Mailian (graduated 1998), and Maria Derderian (2007).

The celebratory evening will be filled with nostalgic reflections, special awards, and entertainment by Dottie Bengoian, who will present “God’s Gift: Humor and Hope.”

Invitations will be mailed in September, and information on how to include a message to the honorees in a commemorative keepsake booklet will be shared in August. All proceeds from the event will support the ongoing mission of St. Nersess Seminary. For questions, contact co-chair Lynn Beylerian at lynnbeylerian@gmail.com.

Discover the Armenian Wonders of the Holy Land

The Eastern Diocese is sponsoring a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for January of 2026. The trip will run January 15 to 26, 2026—a period coinciding with the celebration of Armenian Christmas in the city of Bethlehem (January 18/19).

The pilgrimage will be led by Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, assisted by Fr. Mardiros Chevian. Pilgrims will attend the Christmas badarak at Bethlehem’s Church of the Holy Nativity; view holy sites in and around Jerusalem; travel to Jericho, Qumran, Galilee, and Jaffa; spend time in the famous Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem; and experience our Armenian Patriarchate of Sts. James.

Click the following link to view a four-page pamphlet with the itinerary and full details. The registration deadline is Nov. 1, 2025. For information, contact Educational Opportunities Tours at (800) 247-0017, ext. 338.

FAR NEWS

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.

CLASSIFIED ANNOUNCEMENT

 Armenian-Speaking Caregiver Available

For information, please 📞 Contact the Church Office

Phone: 202-363-1923

Email: stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

November 18 Bible Study "I Am the Vine "

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

November 23 Building a Healthier Future for Armenian Youth

Presentation by Maria Stepanyan and Aurmin Amirmokri

November 25 Bible Study "The Passion"

December 2 Bible Study "That You May Believe"

December 7 93rd Anniversary of St. Mary's church

December 9   Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary

December 13 Christmas Market – 11:00 AM -5:00 PM (Vendors and more)

December 31 New Year Celebration

 44Եւ ամէնքը զարմանում էին Աստծու մեծագործութիւնների վրայ։ Եւ մինչդեռ բոլորը զարմանում էին այն ամենի վրայ, որ նա կատարում էր, նա իր աշակերտներին ասաց. «Ձեր ականջների մէջ պահեցէ՛ք դուք այս խօսքերը. որ մարդու Որդին մատնուելու է մարդկանց ձեռքը»։ 45Սակայն նրանք չէին ըմբռնում այս խօսքը, եւ դա ծածկուած էր նրանցից, որ չիմանան. եւ վախենում էին այդ խօսքի մասին հարց տալ նրան։ 46Աշակերտների մէջ մի վէճ առաջ եկաւ, թէ արդեօք իրենցից ո՛վ է մեծ։ 47Երբ Յիսուս իմացաւ նրանց սրտի խորհուրդները, վերցրեց մի մանուկ, կանգնեցրեց նրանց մէջ իր մօտ 48եւ ասաց նրանց. «Ով որ այս մանկանը ընդունի իմ անունով, ինձ է ընդունում. իսկ ով որ ինձ ընդունի, ընդունում է ինձ ուղարկողին. որովհետեւ, ով որ ձեր մէջ փոքրագոյնն է, նա՛ է մեծ»։ 49Յովհաննէսը պատասխանեց եւ ասաց. «Վարդապե՛տ, տեսանք մէկին, որ քո անունով դեւեր էր հանում, եւ արգելեցինք նրան, որովհետեւ մեզ հետ չի շրջում»։ 50Յիսուս ասաց նրանց. «Մի՛ արգելէք նրան, որովհետեւ, ով որ ձեր թշնամին չէ, ձեր կողմն է»։

(Luke 9:44-50)

44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest." 49 "Master," said John, "we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him because he is not one of us." 50 "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

(Ղուկաս 9:44-50)

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

St. Mary Armenian Church, Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, Pastor

4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

| 202-363-1923 | www.stmaryaac.org