Join us Sundays for worship
Divine Liturgy: 10:00am
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38 Elton Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
617-924-7562
Pastor: Rev. Arch. Antranig Baljian
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E-bulletin- September 24, 2021 |
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Program - Sunday, September 26, 2021
ՏՕՆ ՎԱՐԱԳԱՅ ՍՐԲՈՅ ԽԱՉԻՆ
Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak
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Fundraising For Lebanon
Prayer Requests and Virtual Candle
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ALL DONATIONS WILL
BE MATCHED THROUGH END OF OCTOBER
Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered.
Please join our Facebook fundraising campaign
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SAVE THE DATE - Annual Bazaar -TO GO! |
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SAVE THE DATE - Honoring Mayda Melkonian - October 17
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Longtime Armenian Educator To Be Honored with Mesrob Mashdots Award
On behalf of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, dedicated Armenian educator, humanitarian activist, and St. Stephen's community member Mayda Melkonian will be awarded the Mesrob Mashdots Award. His Eminence, Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, will present the award.
The aware will be presented on Sunday, October 17 immediately, following divine liturgy, followed by a light luncheon in the Church Hall.
The Mesrob Mashdots Award honors those individuals who have made a life-long commitment to serving the Armenian people, specifically in preserving our culture. It is awarded to those who have made significant contributions in the fields of Armenian music, arts, education and literature.
Details
Reservations are required for this event, and attendance will be limited due to COVID-19. Click here to make an online reservation, or call the Church office at 617-924-7562. Seating will be limited to six per table; reservations for tables of 8-10 from the same household or “pod” can be made.
Masks must be worn at all times except when eating, according to local Watertown mandates. We strongly encourage those who have not been vaccinated, have an underlying health issue, or wish to avoid crowds to refrain from attendance. We want and pray for our community to stay healthy.
For those who wish to honor Mayda, donations can be made in her honor, with all donations going to Lebanon Relief efforts.
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In accordance with the Town of Watertown, as of August 25, an indoor mask mandate is in order. All parishioners attending Church will need to wear a mask for the foreseeable future.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak |
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This Sunday, September 26, is the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak, a holiday that is unique to the Armenian Church and is celebrated two weeks after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. After coming to Armenia, the Hripsimiants Virgins lived near Mount Varak. They had brought with them a fragment of the True Cross. Fleeing persecution, they sought refuge on the mountain where Hripsime hid the cross among the rocks before fleeing to Vagharshapat. In 653, a hermit named Todik found the hidden cross by following a brilliant light that illuminated the mountain and guided him inside the church to the altar where he found the cross. The light shone for twelve days. In memory of this event, Catholicos Nerses the Builder established the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak. He wrote the beautiful hymn, “By the Sign of Your All-Powerful Holy Cross” (Nshanav Amenahaght Khachit).
The Monastery of St. Nishan, also called Varakavank, was built on Mount Varak, which is in the southeastern region of Van. It was home to one of the greatest libraries and museums, filled with ancient and contemporary books and works of art. The Monastery became even more prominent when Khrimian Hayrik established a publishing house and a school there, hoping to make the monastery an educational center. He founded the first newspaper to be published in historic Armenia, Artziv Vaspurakani (The Eagle of Vaspurakan). The massacres and deportations of 1915 destroyed Hayrik’s hopes and plans, as well as so much more. Varakavank was destroyed by the Turkish army on April 30, 1915, during the siege of Van.
By the sign of your all-victorious cross, O Christ, lover of mankind, keep us from the unseen enemy, for you alone are the King of Glory, blessed forever. On it you stretched out your spotless hands and shed your blood for the salvation of the universe for you alone are the King of Glory, blessed forever. At your second coming when the holy sign shall appear, once again make your servants worthy of renewal for you alone are the King of Glory, blessed forever.
May your cross be our refuge by its flame-like radiance; it is named the tree of life; you crushed the enemy and unloosed the sentence of death for the salvation of the universe. Sending up praises the heavens rejoice and the earth rejoices at the discovery of the holy cross like the four-winged rock which enlightened this world by its sun-like rays. Jerusalem rejoiced, believers were glad; they adorned themselves in marvelous garment for they saw the victorious sign; all creation was adorned with its light.
(Canon to the Cross of Varak from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church)
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For VAHE CHAMLIAN, Seven Days (Lebanon)
Ara & Tsolig Chamlian & Family.
For HAYGOUHIE BAKHDIGIAN, 40 Days (Lebanon)
Terfanda Sarkissian; Vatche & Silva Sarkissian & Family; Avedis Sarkissian; Vehanoush Sarkissian & Family.
For KEVORK JANESSIAN, One Year
Hovhanness, Ani, Sako & Ari Janessian, Seta Janessian; Sarkis Janessian; Levon & Maria Melik-Shahnazarian & Children.
For MARTHA KEUMURIAN, Four Years
In Memory of HAMPARTSOUM & MARI KEUMURIAN; OSANNA KEUMURIAN & All KEUMURIAN Deceased Family Members
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Keumurian & Family; Mr. & Mrs. Hovnan Keumurian & Family; Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Keumurian & Family; Hampar Keumurian & Family.
For DIANE ARDEMIS BARSAMIAN, 12 Years
For VAHAN MIHRAN BARSAMIAN, 19 Years
Mr. & Mrs. David & Karen Proctor; Mr. Vaughn Barsamian;
Mr. & Mrs. Andries Elburg & Family; Mr. & Mrs. Michael Proctor & Family; Mr. & Mrs. Michael Barsamian & Family; Mr. Edward Barsamian & Family; Mrs. Grace Manoogian.
For VAROUJAN SETIAN, 19 Years
In Memory of NAZARET VARTANIAN
Alice Vartanian; Vartan & Nazig Setian.
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Daily Readings:
Proverbs 3:18-26; Isaiah 65:22-25; Galatians 6:14-18; Matthew 24:30-36
The Gospel
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the Earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
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REGISTER NOW | "A Very Short Discipline of Prayer" |
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CATHOLICOS ARAM I: INDEPENDENCE IS KEY TO OUR NATION’S GREATNESS |
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“On occasion of the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, we greet with patriarchal blessings our beloved people from the Mother Monastery of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias,” said His Holiness Catholicos Aram I in a statement released on Tuesday, Sept. 21, the day when the people of Armenia took back the reins of its destiny in 1991.
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ALL DONATIONS FROM STYou can send your donations to the Prelacy offices with a check to the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, memo "Lebanon."
To make an online donation and to see the list of donations, please press here.
The situation in Lebanon is dire, and our brothers and sisters need our help.
Any amount is welcome and contributions can be me online or sent to Prelacy Offices in New York.
Check
Please make checks payable to:
Armenian Apostolic Church of America
memo "Lebanon"
138 E 39th Street, New York, NY 10016
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MEMBERSHIP DUES:
REORGANIZING AND EXPANDING OUR MISSION
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At the Prelacy we spare no effort to modernize our capabilities to keep pace with the times. We are reorganizing and expanding our mission to strengthen the Church, the house of God and ours. The Membership Dues are one of the means to express your support. Thank you in advance for your contribution. |
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WORCESTER PARISH SPONSORS 29 CHILDREN OF WAR MARTYRS; MORE SPONSORS NEEDED
In response to the Prelacy’s appeal to support the families of martyred Armenian soldiers, Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian, Pastor, and the Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, called upon the parish, who has undertaken the sponsorship of 29 children who lost their fathers in the Turkish-Azerbaijani war against Armenia last year. Our thanks to all sponsors, wishing that this example may have followers.
Unfortunately, new names were added this week and we currently have a total of 144 children, orphans of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Artsakh war, waiting for your assistance in the lists of the St. Nerses the Great Organization in Armenia.
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.
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Community News and Events |
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