Weekly Oshagan

May 12th, 2024, Newsletter of

St. James Armenian Church of Los Angeles

Rev. Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian, Parish Priest

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Title: "Ascension: Empowered for Mission".

English Summary of Father Haroutioun Tachejian's sermon delivered on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at St. James.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we prepare ourselves this week to celebrate the glorious feast of the Ascension, let us reflect upon the profound significance of this momentous event in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and its implications for our own lives as believers.

The Ascension marks the culmination of Christ's earthly ministry. Forty days after His glorious resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, where He gave His final instructions before ascending into heaven. It was a moment of both sorrow and joy for the disciples, as they witnessed their beloved Master departing from their midst yet filled with the promise of His continued presence and power.

The Ascension reminds us that Jesus, the Son of God, triumphed over sin and death, and now reigns in glory at the right hand of the Father. Christ's ascension signifies His exaltation and sovereignty over all creation, and His victory over the powers of darkness.

But the Ascension is not merely a historical event to be commemorated; it holds profound significance for us as believers today. For just as Christ ascended into heaven, He entrusted His mission to His disciples. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, we read His commission to them: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

This mission, dear friends, is not just for the apostles of old, but for each and every one of us who profess faith in Christ. We are called to be His witnesses and proclaim the good news of salvation. Like the apostles, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out this sacred task, for Jesus promised, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Let us heed the words of the early church fathers, who understood the urgency and importance of this mission. Saint Augustine reminds us, "Lord, You ascended from before our eyes, and we turned back grieving, only to find you in our hearts." Indeed, Christ's ascension does not signify His absence, but His abiding presence within us through the Holy Spirit.

Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, let us renew our commitment to fulfilling the mission entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us go forth with courage and conviction to all our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ sharing with them the good tidings, that He who ascended into heaven will be with us always, even to the end of the age.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

PASTORAL/RITUAL SERVICES

Ձեր Խորհրդակատարութիւններուն, Տնօրհնէքի, հիւանդի այցելութեան եւ այլ խնդրանքներուն համար

դիմեցէք Եկեղեցի (323) 295 4588

կամ հեռացայնեցէք Տէր Յարութիւննին (818) 649-4796

For the arrangement of sacramental services, home visitation, home blessing or healing prayers, and Holy Communion, 

please call the church office at (323) 295-4588 

or Fr. Haroutioun directly at (818) 649-4796

Our Diocesan Delegation had an opportunity to attend the Assembly in Scottsdale, AZ. More to come soon - but photos are already available on the Diocesan Facebook page, a few choice photos shared here!

Follow along from today’s... - Western Diocese of the Armenian Church | Facebook

A Night to Ignite Change: Honoring the Akian Family

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce an upcoming event, A Night to Ignite Change: Honoring the Akian Family. Hosted by AUA supporters Vahe and Ruzan Kuzoyan, the event will benefit the University as it continues to expand, while also recognizing the Akian family’s generous contributions to AUA over many decades, highlighting the transformative power of change and the family’s impact on higher education in Armenia.

Taking place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, the function will be held at the beautiful Kuzoyan residence, which will serve as a fitting backdrop for a night of elegance, impact, and celebration. The event will feature two alumni emcees, Anna Bakunts (MBA ’11) and Hayk Mamajanyan (LLM ’12), and several esteemed guest speakers, each recognized as AUA Changemakers for their remarkable contributions to their respective fields: Sharon Anoush Chekijian, M.D., MPH, Yale University School of Medicine; Vahan Janjigian, Ph.D., chief investment officer, Greenwich Wealth Management, LLC; Christine Soussa, global client director, Equinix; and Lilit Yenokyan, director of engineering, Roku. The evening’s musical performances will include notable Armenian artists Vardan Ovsepian and Christine Pepelyan.

“We are grateful to the Kuzoyan and Akian families for their commitment to AUA and their shared vision of empowering Armenia’s future generations,” comments Vice President of Development Gaiane Khachatrian, adding, “This event not only celebrates their kindness and generosity, but also serves as testament to the enduring power of philanthropy and its impact on higher education and society in Armenia as a whole.”

The 200 Changemakers of AUA campaign aims to bring together a group of visionary philanthropists who embrace change and join AUA on the path to achieving our vision of building a stronger, more resilient, and globally competitive Armenia. Through such initiatives, the University is able to nurture the next generation of leaders and change agents who will drive positive change in Armenia and beyond.

As AUA Changemakers themselves, Vahe and Ruzan look forward to following the continued progress of the campaign and witnessing the benefits the students reap from it. “We see firsthand the impact AUA has on Armenia’s ability to produce talent based on the alumni hired at ServiceTitan’s Yerevan office. We are big believers in AUA’s mission and want to inspire others,” they comment.

For tickets and more information, visit https://changemakers.aua.am/ignite-change/

Campership Application Here:

https://forms.gle/EwaKHbeBR79J1Ugu8

Կիրակի, Մայիս 12, 2024

Ս. Պատարագ  - Ժամը  10:30ին

Ս. Հաղորդութիւն - Ժամը  11:45ին

Քարոզ - Ժամը  12:00ին

Հոգեհանգստեան Պաշտօն - Ժամը  12:15ին

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Divine Liturgy - 10:30 am

Holy Communion - 11:45am

Sermon - 12:00 pm

Requiem Service   - 12:15 pm

ՍՈՒՐԲ ԳՐԱՅԻՆ ԸՆԹԵՐՑՈՒՄՆԵՐ

ԿԻՐԱԿԻ , Մայիս 12, 2024

ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆ ԸՍՏ ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆՈՒ 12.12-23

Յաջորդ օր, ժողովուրդի մեծ բազմութիւն մը, որ Զատիկի տօնին առիթով Երուսաղէմ եկած էր, երբլսեց թէ Յիսուս Երուսաղէմ կու գայ, արմաւենիի ճիւղեր առաւ եւ Յիսուսը դիմաւորելու ելաւ, բարձրաձայն աղաղակելով.

«Ովսաննա՜,

օրհնեա՜լ ըլլայ ան՝ որ կու գայ Տիրոջ անունով,

Իսրայէլի թագաւորը»:

Յիսուս էշ մը գտնելով՝ նստաւ անոր վրայ, ինչպէս որ Սուրբ գիրքերուն մէջ գրուած է.-

«Մի՛ վախնար, ո՜վ Երուսաղէմ, Սիոնի՛ աղջիկ.

ահա թագաւորդ քեզի կու գայ

իշու մը աւանակին վրայ նստած»:

Յիսուսի աշակերտները այս բոլորը չհասկցան ատենին, բայց երբ Յիսուս փառաւորուեցաւ՝ այնատեն յիշեցին, թէ այս կատարուածները Յի­սուսի համար գրուած էին եւ իրենք այդ գրուածն էր որկատարեցին: Բոլոր անոնք, որոնք Յիսուսի հետ էին՝ երբ անիկա Ղազարոսը կանչեց գերեզմանէն եւզայն մեռելներէն յարուցանեց, այդ մասին վկայութիւն կու տային: Այդ իսկ պատճառով Երուսաղէմգտնուողները բոլորն ալ զինք դիմաւորելու ելան, որովհետեւ լսած էին, թէ ի՛նչպէս անիկա յարութեանհրաշքը գործած էր: Իսկ Փարիսեցիները իրարու կ’ըսէին.

– Կը տեսնէ՞ք որ բան մըն ալ չենք կրնար ընել. ահա ամբողջ աշխարհը իրեն կը հետեւի:

Տօնին առիթով կարգ մը Յոյներ ալ եկած էին Երուսաղէմ՝ Աստուծոյ երկրպագելու: Անոնք մօտեցանՓիլիպպոսի, որ Գալիլեայի Բեթսայիդա քաղաքէն էր, եւ աղաչելով ըսին.

– Տէ՛ր, կ’ուզենք Յիսուսը տեսնել:

Փիլիպպոս եկաւ Անդրէասին ըսաւ եւ երկուքը միասին Յիսուսի ներկայացուցին անոնց խնդրանքը:

Յիսուս պատասխանեց անոնց.

– Ահա Մարդու Որդիին փառաւորուելու ժամը հասաւ:

ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼՆԵՐՈՒ ԳՈՐԾԵՐԸ 23.12-35

Յաջորդ առաւօտ, կարգ մը Հրեաներ իրարու քով եկան եւ իրենք զիրենք նզովքի տակ դնելով՝ երդումըրին չուտել ու չխմել, մինչեւ չսպաննեն Պօղոսը: Քառասուն հոգիէն աւելի էին այս երդումը ընողները: Ասոնք մօտեցան աւագ քահանաներուն ու երէցներուն եւ ըսին.

– Մենք մեզ նզովքի տակ դնելով երդում ըրինք՝ բան չճաշակել, մինչեւ Պօղոսը չսպաննենք: ԴուքԱտեանին անունով հազարապետին լուր ղրկեցէք որ զայն ձեզի ղրկէ, պատճառաբանելով՝ թէկ’ուզէք իր մասին աւելի ստոյգ տեղեկութիւն ունենալ: Իսկ մենք պատրաստ կ’ըլլանք արդէն, եւանիկա տակաւին հոս չհասած՝ կը սպաննենք զինք:

Պօղոսի քրոջ տղան այս դաւադրութիւնը իմանալով, եկաւ զօրանոց եւ Պօղոսին պատմեց: Պօղոսհարիւրապետներէն մէկը կանչելով, ըսաւ.

– Այս պատանին հազարապետին տար, որովհետեւ իրեն ըսելիք մը ունի:

Հարիւրապետը զայն հազարապետին տարաւ եւ ըսաւ.

– Բանտարկեալ Պօղոսը զիս կանչեց եւ խնդրեց որ այս պատանին քեզի բերեմ, որովհետեւ քեզիըսելիք մը ունի:

Հազարապետը պատանիին ձեռքէն բռնելով մէկ կողմ տարաւ եւ հարցուց.

– Ի՞նչ ունիս ինծի ըսելիք:

Պատանին ըսաւ.

– Հրեաները համաձայնեցան քեզմէ խնդրել, որ վաղը Պօղոսը Ատեան ղրկես, որպէս թէ աւելիմանրակրկիտ հարցու-փորձելու համար զայն: Բայց մտիկ մի՛ ըներ իրենց. որովհետեւ իրենց մէջէնքառասունէ աւելի մարդիկ իրենք զիրենք նզովքի տակ դնելով երդում ըրած են չուտել ու չխմել՝ մինչեւչսպաննեն զայն. եւ հիմա դարան մտած ու պատրաստ՝ կը սպասեն քու հրամանիդ:

Հազարապետը պատանին ճամբեց, պատուիրելով.

– Ոեւէ մէկուն մի՛ ըսեր ինչ որ ինծի յայտնեցիր:

Ապա հազարապետը հարիւրապետներէն երկու հոգի կանչելով, ըսաւ.

– Երկու հարիւր հետեւակ, եօթանասուն հեծեալ եւ երկու հարիւր տիգաւոր զինուորներ թողպատրաստ ըլլան գիշերուան ժամը իննին դէպի Կեսարիա ճամբայ ելլելու: Պօղոսին համար ալգրաստ պատրաստեցէք եւ զայն ապահով կերպով Ֆելիքս կառավարիչին հասցուցէք:

Նամակ մըն ալ գրեց, հետեւեալ բովանդակութեամբ.-

«Կլաւդիոս Լիսիասի կողմէ՝ նորին գերազանցութիւն Ֆելիքս կառավարիչին: Ողջոյն»:

«Հրեաներ բռներ էին այս մարդը եւ զինք սպաննելու վրայ էին: Իմանալով որ Հռոմայեցի է, վրայհասայ եւ զինք ազատեցի: Ուզեցի գիտնալ թէ ի՛նչ յանցանքով կ’ամբաստանեն զինք. ուստի իրենցԱտեանը տարի զինք. եւ հասկցայ թէ իրենց Օրէնքին վերաբերող խնդիրներու համարկ’ամբաստանեն. այսինքն՝ մահուան կամ բանտարկութեան արժանի յանցանք մը չունի: Բայց երբինծի իմացուցին՝ թէ Հրեաներ դաւ մը լարած են իր կեանքին դէմ, զայն իսկոյն քեզի ղրկեցի, հրամայելով որ ամբաստանողները քեզի ներկայացնեն իրենց ըսելիքները: Ողջ եղիր»:

Հազարապետին հրամանին համաձայն, հետեւակ զինուորները առին Պօղոսը եւ գիշերովԱնտիպատրիս փոխադրեցին, եւ յաջորդ օրը զայն իրենց ընկերացող հեծեալներուն յանձնելով՝իրենք զօրանոց վերադարձան: Հեծեալները Կեսարիա հասան եւ նամակը կառավարիչին տալով՝Պօղոսն ալ անոր ներկայացուցին: Կառավարիչը նամակը կարդաց եւ Պօղոսին հարցուց թէկայսրութեան ո՛ր նահանգէն է. եւ հասկնալէ ետք թէ Կիլիկիայէն է, ըսաւ.

– Երբ որ քեզ ամբաստանողները գան, կը լսեմ քեզ:

Եւ հրամայեց որ զայն Հերովդէսի ապարանքին մէջ պահեն:

BIBLICAL READINGS

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024

John 12:12-23

  The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,   

“Hosanna! 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— 

the King of Israel!”   

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:   

“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. 

Look, your king is coming, 

sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”   

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Acts 23:12-35 

In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives.”   

Now the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush; so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to rep ort to him.” So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.” The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent. So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of this.”   

Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor.” He wrote a letter to this effect:   

“Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him. Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council. I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”   

So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters. 

HOKEHANKIST REQUESTS:

To Request a Hokehankist:

For any Requiem (Hokehankist) service requests,

please contact the church secretary

by Noon time on WEDNESDAY

to be included in Sunday’s bulletin.

The secretary may be reached at

secretary@stjamesla.net or by calling +1(323) 295-4588.

Walk-in requests are welcomed on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. The information will be listed in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

OSHAGAN SPONSORSHIP

Sunday May 12, 2024

Today's Oshagan Newsletter is

sponsored by Ed and Shirley

(Krikorian) Hopkins

"In Loving Memory of our Mom's

Betty Krikorian 05/30/2009 and

Evelyn Hopkins 11/18/2011 and all

the other loving Mothers of My Friends that

become 2nd Mom's to me"

THANK YOUS AND DONATIONS

Sunday, May 5, 2024, to Friday May 10, 2024

We thank our faithful parishioners

for the generous donations and support of our church.

GENERAL DONATIONS

Week of May 5th to May 10th, 2024

Dr. Anita Agzarian and Gus Rendon, Gary and Nina Turpanjian

SUNDAY BULLETIN SPONSORSHIP

Ed and Shirley Hopkins

**********************

HOKEHAKIST DONATIONS

Sunday, May 5, 2024

For

ZABEL ZADOYAN

By:

Rita Chedotte, Shant & Hasmig Aprahamian,

Silvana Barkhoyan, Seta Cherokian

**************************

"IN MEMORY OF" DONATIONS:

Are gratefully received

For:

GEORGE BACHAWATI

By:

Gustavo Rendon and Dr. Anita Agzarian

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ST. JAMES OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday

9 AM to 1 PM

2 PM to 5 PM

The office is closed for lunch between 1-2 PM

Monday through Friday