E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Church |
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Greetings!
E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
38-65 234th. St. Douglaston, NY, 11363
Sunday: 5/30/2021
ՀՈԳԵԳԱԼՈՒՍՏԷՆ ԵՏՔ Ա. ԿԻՐԱԿԻ - FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Sunday Readings:
1 Kings 18:29-46; 2 Kings 2:1-15; James 5:16-20; Luke 4:25-30
Morning Service 10:00 AM
Divine Liturgy 10:45 AM - Sermon 11:45 AM
Մասնակցեցէք Ս. Պատարագին՝
Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 10։00
Ս. Պատարագ 10։45- Քարոզ 11։45
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ANNIVERSARY OF MAY 28 INVITES TO HARD WORK AND INTROSPECTION |
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Today Armenia marks the 103rd anniversary of its first independence, which finds our homeland wounded and in mourning after the 44-day war in Artsakh, at a time when the foundations of the Armenian statehood appear compromised. Healing will take time and can only be achieved with a collective effort.
Much ink has been spilled over what we Armenians need to do or refrain from doing to finally attain peace in our own homeland. This is not the time or space to do it. The web of political interests and alliances that are determining the course of events in that part of the world exceeds by far the scope of this column. But we must learn to rely on ourselves as individuals and as a nation.
Now is the moment to rebuild, pained as we are as we grieve over our most recent martyrs, who died defending Armenia from a second Genocide. As a nation, we have been here before, in even more desperate circumstances. Yet we must not despair, for that will truly be the hour of capitulation.
“Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
We must not give in to our fears and anguish. Resistance is not futile. We shall overcome.
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THANKSGIVING PRAYER AND DEDICATION PRAYER OF THE FLAG |
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This Sunday, May 30, prayers and ceremonies of thanksgiving will take place in all churches of the Eastern Prelacy by order of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate. Requiem services will be held for the heroes fallen in the battles of Sardarabad, Pash Abaran, and Gharakilise and for our present-day martyrs in the struggle for Artsakh. In view of the conditions created by the coronavirus pandemic, a prayer will also be said for the health and unity of the people of Armenia, the United States, and the entire world.
Bless, O Lord, this tricolor flag. And just as after the flood you placed your rainbow on Mt. Ararat and established a covenant with mankind, now too after the flowing of so much holy and heroic blood, may this flag with its beautiful colors be sealed as a sign of our covenant with you.
Bless, O Lord, our country, our Fatherland, where you established the paradise of bliss at the time of the world’s creation. Over the course of centuries the inexorable enemy has reduced it to ruin, but now with your mercy and bountiful grace you have caused it to bloom even more. Adorn our churches, monasteries, schools, and charitable organizations with progress and holiness, and protect them from the enemies. Bless all that is good there, especially the first of names, the name ARMENIA.
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Saturday School Graduation Ceremony! |
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On Saturday, May 22, 2021, members of the St. Sarkis community gathered together for both a joyous and bittersweet occasion. For many, it was the first time they had been back within the church walls since the outset of the Covid19 pandemic. The event brought together some of the most important aspects of our lives: the love of our faith, our culture, and of course, our children. Considering the time of year, those things together can only mean one thing - graduation.
This past Saturday, 20 students of the St. Sarkis Suzanne and Hovsep Hagopian Armenian School came to the end of their journey as students. Some of these students had been attending every week going back as early as the “mommy-and-me” program. Others joined the school in time for pre-k, kindergarten, or later years. These students attended week after week, spending hours learning about their culture, history, religion, and of course, mayreni lezou (mother tongue). The school not only educated them, but also helped them form bonds with the church, and their classmates. These bonds will act as the basis for connections that will hopefully last a lifetime. During the afternoon’s program, the students read a poem for their family members and friends in attendance, and each gave a short speech. The student portion conclude with a video montage created by one of their teachers, Oriort Nora Zohrabian. The beautiful video included photos of each of the graduates, showing how they grew up with us over years, along with video messages from many of their teachers, past and present.
While the students said goodbye to their beloved school, the school also had to say a difficult goodbye. After nearly 20 years of service, Digin Nairy Zohrabian made the decision to retire as principal. Under Digin Nairy’s guidance, with the support of our pastor and Board of Trustees, the school flourished. Student registration increased to numbers not seen in a generation. As was pointed out by our Prelate, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, in the nearly 45 years of its existence, the school has only had three principals, and Digin Nairi held one of the longer tenures. The school was blessed to have her as a leader, and she will be missed as move on to our next chapter. On the occasion of her retirement from her role, Digin Nairy was presented with a certificate from Anoushavan Srpazan, along with a gift from the church to show our appreciation for her many years of devoted service. The afternoon concluded with refreshments provided by the school’s PTA.
On this wonderful occasion, we congratulate our graduates. We also remind them that the end of one journey is only the start of another. Some may return in September for post-graduate studies, or as teacher’s helpers, but we hope they all return as proud members of our church and our greater Armenian community. The school helped to put down roots, and now we watch as they continue to grow.
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Saint Sarkis Summer Camp! |
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Dear Parishioners & Friends,
We are happy to announce that St. Sarkis Church Summer Camp registration is now open to the general public.
Please keep in mind space is limited and only 40 slots are available per week.
Slots are filling up fast, so register your child today! The deadline to register is May 30, 2021.
We look forward to seeing your children in July!
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We Need Your Sponsorship!
Camp Sponsor ...................$2000
- Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Antranig Boudakian
Obstacle Course……………...$250
Ice Cream Truck………………$450
Individual Lego Kit…..……..…$400
- Sponsored by Miss Margaret Sarkissian & Dr. Siranush Cholakian
Individual Building Blocks……$450
Arts & Crafts Supplies (session 1)……..…$300
Arts & Crafts Supplies (session 2)……..…$300
Armenian Dance……………….$350
- Mr. & Mrs. Krikor & Florina Krikorian
Pizza (session 1)…………………………....$200
- Dr. & Mrs. Edmond & Nyeree Demirdjan
Pizza (session 2)…………………………....$200
- Dr. & Mrs. Edmond & Nyeree Demirdjan
Science………………………....$350
Treasure Hunt………………….$250
- Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian
Individually wrapped meals (session 1)......$250
- Mr. & Mrs. Eduard & Alina Kochoumian
Individually wrapped meals (session 2)......$250
Individually wrapped snacks......$250
Life-size games………………...…….$300
General camp supplies…………......$200
If you wish to sponsor an event/item for summer camp
please contact the church office at 718-224-2275.
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St. Gregory Of Datev Institute |
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The St. Gregory of Datev Institute will once again hold a virtual Summer Program for youth ages 13-18 from June 28 to July 2, 2021. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the Program will be an hour long, 11:00 am to noon, Monday to Friday, and it will include two mini-presentations, focusing on the Bible, the teachings and the history of the Armenian Church, along with engaging discussions on faith-related issues. We have opted for the virtual format due to the Covid pandemic.
We invite our youth to take part in this unique Christian educational program. To register, please send your contact information to Deacon Shant Kazanjian (shant@armenianprelacy.org), including name, address, date of birth, phone #, email address, and parents' contact information (name, phone #, and email). If you have any questions please contact Dn. Shant by email or at 212-689-7810.
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THE CHILDREN OF MARTYRED FATHERS NEED US
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THE CHILDREN OF MARTYRED FATHERS NEED US
New lists of war orphans are coming to us through the St. Nerses the Great Organization office in Yerevan. Currently, 71 orphans from fathers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war in Artsakh are registered in the waiting list of the St. Nerses the Great Organization in Yerevan, along with other 11 orphans with heartbreaking stories. We appeal to the generosity of our fellow Armenians to sponsor one or more of them.
Click here for online sponsorship of minors up to the age of 18.
Click here for online sponsorship of orphans who become students at a higher education institution upon turning 18.
You can always contact the Prelacy by email (sophie@armenianprelacy.org) or telephone (212-689-7810) for the sponsorship of both minors and university students in the program of the St. Nerses the Great Organization in Armenia.
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A READING FROM THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS (2.1-15)
And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still."
Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be still." Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.
Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐՈՒԹԵԱՆ ՉՈՐՐՈՐԴ ԳԻՐՔԷՆ (2.1-15)
Երբոր հասաւ ժամանակը երբ Տէրը մրրիկով երկինք պիտի բարձրացնէր Եղիան, Եղիա եւ Եղիսէ Գաղգաղայէն մեկնեցան: Եղիա Եղիսէին ըսաւ.- Հո՛ս մնա, Տէրը զիս Բեթէլ կը ղրկէ:
Եղիսէ պատասխանեց.- Վկայ ըլլայ կենդանի Տէրը. կ՚երդնում քու կեանքովդ, թէ պիտի չթողում քեզ:
Բեթէլ եկան: Բեթէլ բնակող մարգարէները խումբով եկան Եղիսէի եւ ըսին.- Գիտե՞ս որ Տէրը այսօր քեզմէ պիտի առնէ Եղիան՝ քու տէրդ: Գիտեմ, այդ մասին մի՛ խօսիք,- պատասխանեց Եղիսէ: Ապա Եղիա Եղիսէի ըսաւ.- Հո՛ս մնա, Տէրը զիս Երիքով կը ղրկէ: Եւ ան պատասխանեց.- Վկայ ըլլայ կենդանի Տէրը. կ՚երդնում քու կեանքովդ, թէ պիտի չթողում քեզ:
Եւ Երիքով եկան: Երիքով բնակող մարգարէները խումբով մօտեցան Եղիսէի եւ ըսին.- Գիտե՞ս որ Տէրը այսօր քեզմէ պիտի առնէ Եղիան՝ քու տէրդ:
Գիտեմ, մի՛ խօսիք այդ մասին,- պատասխանեց Եղիսէ: Եղիա Եղիսէի ըսաւ.- Հո՛ս մնա, Տէրը զիս Յորդանան կը ղրկէ:
Եղիսէ պատասխանեց.- Վկայ ըլլայ կենդանի Տէրը. կ՚երդնում քու կեանքովդ, թէ պիտի չթողում քեզ:
Եւ երկուքը միասին գացին: Մարգարէներու խումբէն յիսուն հոգի հետեւեցան անոնց մինչեւ Յորդանան գետը: Եղիա եւ Եղիսէ գետեզրին կանգ առին, իսկ միւսները կանգնեցան քիչ մը հեռու: Եղիա իր վերարկուն հանեց, ծալլեց զայն եւ անով զարկաւ ջուրերուն: Ջուրերը այս ու այն կողմ բաժնուեցան, եւ անոնք երկուքով անցան ցամաք տեղէն:
Երբ անցան, Եղիա ըսաւ.- Եղիսէ՛, քանի դեռ հետդ եմ՝ խնդրէ՛ ինչ որ կրնամ ընել քեզի:
Խնդրեմ, մարգարէական հոգիէդ կրկին բաժին թող ժառանգեմ*,- պատասխանեց Եղիսէ:
Դժուար բան խնդրեցիր,- ըսաւ Եղիա,- բայց պիտի ստանաս զայն, եթէ տեսնես իմ երկինք բարձրացուիլս. այլապէս պիտի չստանաս:
Եւ մինչ խօսելով կ՚երթային, ահա յանկարծ հրեղէն ձիերով կառք մը իրարմէ բաժնեց Եղիան ու Եղիսէն, եւ Եղիա մրրիկով երկինք բարձրացաւ: Եղիսէ տեսաւ եւ աղաղակեց. «Հա՜յր, հա՜յր, ահա Իսրայէլի կառքն ու հեծեալները». եւ այլեւս չտեսաւ զայն: Ուստի քաշեց, պատռեց իր վերարկուն, զայն երկու կտորի վերածելով: Ապա վերցուց Եղիայի վերարկուն որ իր վրայ ինկաւ, եւ դարձաւ Յորդանան գետին եզերքը: Առաւ Եղիայի վերարկուն եւ ջուրերուն զարկաւ, բայց անոնք չբաժնուեցան: Այն ատեն գոչեց. «Ո՞ւր ես, Տէ՛ր, Եղիայի Աստուածը», եւ դարձեալ ջուրերուն զարկաւ: Ջուրերը այս ու այն կողմ բաժնուեցան եւ Եղիսէ անցաւ միւս կողմ:
Երբ Երիքովի մարգարէները դիմացէն տեսան զինք, ըսին. «Եղիայի հոգին Եղիսէի վրայ հանգչեցաւ»: Գացին դիմաւորեցին զինք եւ մինչեւ գետին խոնարհեցան իր առջեւ:
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE (4.25-30)
I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-only Naaman the Syrian."
All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՂՈՒԿԱՍԻ (4.25-30)
Ձեզի օրինակներով խօսիմ: Իսրայէլի մէջ բազմաթիւ այրիներ կային Եղիայի օրերուն, երբ երեքուկէս տարի երկինքը չանձրեւեց եւ ամբողջ երկրին մէջ սաստիկ սով տիրեց: Բայց Եղիա անոնցմէ ոեւէ մէկուն չղրկուեցաւ, այլ ղրկուեցաւ Սիդոնի մօտիկ Սարեփթա գիւղը բնակող այրի կնոջ մը: Նոյնպէս, Եղիսէ մարգարէի օրերուն Իսրայէլի մէջ բազմաթիւ բորոտներ կային, բայց անոնցմէ ոչ մէկը բժշկուեցաւ, այլ միայն Նէեման անունով ասորի մը:
Այս ակնարկութիւնները լսելով՝ ժողովարանին մէջ գտնուողները բարկութեամբ լեցուեցան: Ելան, Յիսուսը քաղաքէն դուրս հանեցին եւ գահավէժ ընելու նպատակով զայն տարին մինչեւ կատարը այն լերան, որուն վրայ շինուած էր իրենց քաղաքը: Բայց Յիսուս անոնց մէջէն անցաւ գնաց:
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REMEMBRANCE OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH
This Sunday (May 30) the Armenian Church remembers Elijah, one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament recorded in 1 and 2 Kings. He appeared along with Moses at the Transfiguration as the prophet of life and the new covenant. The Armenian Church (like all the Eastern churches) holds Elijah in the highest esteem. Most importantly, Elijah did not experience death; he was taken to heaven, like the Holy Mother of God. He is mentioned in the Armenian hymn Ee Verin Yerousaghem, sung during the Requiem Service.
“Receive us in Jerusalem above, in the dwellings of the angels, in Eden, the paradise where Enoch and Elijah live worthily resplendent in dove-like purity and in old age. O merciful Lord, have mercy upon the souls of ours who have fallen asleep.”
From the Armenian hymn Ee Verin Yerousaghem (Receive us in Jerusalem above), sung during the Requiem Service.
SAINTS HRIPSIME AND GAYANE AND THEIR COMPANIONS
This Monday and Tuesday, May 31 and June 1, the Armenian Church commemorates the virgin saints Hripsime and Gayane and their companions. Thirty-three nuns, led by Gayane, left Rome and sought refuge in Armenia hoping to escape the Roman Emperor who desired one of the nuns, the beautiful Hripsime. In Armenia, King Dertad became captivated by Hripsime’s beauty and sought to wed her. She refused. Enraged, the king had Hripsime (and the other nuns) imprisoned and tortured to death.
When Gregory was released from his imprisonment in the deep pit (Khor Virab) he built chapels over the relics of the nuns, which Catholicos Sahag Bartev renovated in the 4th century. During the 7th century, churches were built over both sites. The church dedicated to Hripsime, built by Catholicos Gomidas, is considered an architectural masterpiece and influenced the future course of Armenian architecture. Catholicos Gomidas also wrote a sharagan (hymn) in their memory—the well-known Antsink Nviryalk (Dedicated Beings).
The two churches, as well as a third (Shoghakat), are in the city of Etchmiadzin (Vagharshapat), not far from the complex of buildings that comprise the Holy Mother See of Etchmiadzin, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
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- Mr. & Mrs. Kevork and Ani Kelejian Esayan, Mr. Varand Michael Esayan, Mr. & Mrs. Greggory and Nairi Natalie Esayan Hagopian and son Sahag Request requiem service for the souls of their beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather ARSEN ESAYAN (34th year memorial service), beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother NAZENI ESAYAN (5th year memorial service).
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Adds From Sister Organizations |
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St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church |
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Address: 38-65 234th Street,
Douglaston, NY 11363
Phone:(718) 224-2275
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