ST. GREGORY WEEKLY
E-NEWSLETTER
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan, Pastor
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Sunday,
December 18, 2022
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A Message from Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
Act in Support of Artsakh
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My Dear Friends:
If you have been keeping up with the news from our homeland this week, you will know that our long-suffering people in Artsakh have been dealt yet another blow to their right to a peaceful, humane existence. This time, the forces of Azerbaijan have cut off precious fuel supplies to Artsakh.
By way of background, under the trilateral agreement of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan guaranteed the safety of citizens, vehicles, and goods traveling between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. Azerbaijan has violated the terms of this agreement several times in the ensuing, painful two years. But in this latest episode, and twice now in two weeks, Azeri forces have closed off the single, solitary road connecting Artsakh with Armenia.
With the road closure continuing for a second day, Azerbaijan has cut off gas supplies to Artsakh. With the winter months already upon us, this cruel act can only lead to a desperate humanitarian crisis for our people in Artsakh. Please click here to read the entire message.
Prayerfully,
Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate
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Click the link below to contact your U.S. government representatives:
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Commemoration of the Pontiff St. James of Nisibis, hermit St. Maruge and Bishop St. Melitus
Pontiff St. James of Nisibis is one of the authoritative and beloved saints of the Universal Church. He deserved the epithet “Thaumaturge (Wonderworker) for the numerous miracles related to his name. According to hagiographical sources St. James was from a Parthian dynasty and the nephew of St. Gregory the Illuminator. When the family members of Anak the Parthian were killed, nurses secretly fled to Caesaria taking with them baby Suren and James, where they were educated in Christian spirit. Soon after, baby James and his sister Sakden were taken to Persia and for a while lived in the royal palace. However, James refused a safe and well-to-do life and became a hermit. He left for Nisibis where he met the hermit St. Maruge, who was famous for leading a life befitting saints. Learning from the hermit Maruge that many people despite their conversion to true faith were skeptic and suspicious about the existence of Noah’s Ark, James decided to climb the mountain in order to see the Ark and bring a piece of it back. Despite his unwavering will-power he couldn’t reach the peak and after long suffering, he had a short nap. The angel visited him in his dream and put a piece of the Ark under his head. According to the tradition in the place where St. James had lain down there appeared a cold stream having healing and miraculous qualities. Later, a church bearing the saint’s name was built beside a nearby stream. The piece of the Ark, to this day, is kept in the museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
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SENIOR OUTREACH PROJECT
On Saturday, December 10, St. Gregory's Outreach committee created 42 Christmas packages for our senior parishioners. Each Christmas tote bag was filled with homemade Armenian treats, jams, sweets, and a Christmas ornament. The team of amazing volunteers included bakers, shoppers, assemblers, and a delivery team. Der Mesrob led the team of Women's Guild members, parish council members and parishioners as they filled each tote with Christmas cheer and lots of love. The Atrium was filled with music and singing and friendship: it was St. Gregory's parish at its best!!!
Thank you to all who supported this effort especially Lisa K. and Lauren K. for helping Alicia W. manage this effort. Thanks to Anoush G. for supplying the tote bags, and Annie O. for making a generous donation to help defray the costs of the project.
We've heard from many of our senior parishioners who were thrilled to receive such a special gift. If you would like to be a part of this St. Gregory's Outreach Committee please contact Dawn Papalian, Chair of the Women's Guild or Alicia Devejian Wood.
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Book Presentation - Silent Angel
On Sunday, December 11 we welcomed author Antonia Arslan, and Professor Siobhan Nash-Marshall who presented and discussed Ms. Arslan's newly published novella, Silent Angel.
Arslan, a diminutive, charming and humble personality who is also the author of the best-selling The Skylark Farm and Road to Smyrna, commented, “I wrote this small book and it was also placed in Yerevan’s great Matenadaran Library of ancient manuscripts with this huge treasure of the St. Arakelots Monastery. It is symbolic of the Armenian civilization.”
The novel was translated from the Italian to English by Professor Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Chairperson of the Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy at Manhattanville College. She related that this book is a testament “on how a culture was saved. This is what makes Armenia rich — the transmission of culture and heritage to the world.”
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Armenian School students decorated the Christmas tree placed in the Tutak Hall. |
Sunday School students made Christmas snow globes with their teacher, Edna Cassetta. |
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Morning Service
9:45 am
Divine Liturgy
10:15 am
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Live Stream will be available this Sunday,
December 18
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December 18, 2022
Sunday
Requiem service will be held this Sunday.
Dr. Albert Wolohojian; Jon Andrew Wolohojian; Mugrdich & Mendoohi Wolohojian; George & Almas Egavian
Requested by: The Wolohojian Family
Richard Sarkisian; Suren & Virginia Fesjian
Requested by: The Sarkisian and Fesjian Families
May God rest their souls in His eternal peace and presence and grant their loved ones the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
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SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
ARMENIAN BUSINESSES
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Enjoy the variety of Armenian products from Armenia & Artsakh
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322 Central Avenue,
White Plains, NY 10606
914-682-8449
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Photo Sessions
25% will be donated to St. Gregory Armenian Church.
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Please email your current information for your family - Home Address, Landline, Mobile numbers, and emails - for us to reach you with news, updates and more!
Our Church Family grows with your involvement!
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Calendar of Upcoming Events |
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All children are welcome to attend the Western Christmas Party following the church services.
Organized by the Armenian School and
Sunday School
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Commemoration of St. Stephen the Protomartyr and the first martyr
Western Christmas Eve - 5:30 pm
Sing-along Christmas Caroling will follow the vespers service.
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WESTERN CHRISTMAS
Morning Service only
11:00am-12:00pm
Divine Liturgy will not be celebrated
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Divine Liturgy will be celebrated
Blessing of Pomegranates Service to follow
immediately after the Morning Service - 11:00am.
Divine Liturgy will not be celebrated.
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EVE OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - J’RAKALOOYTZ
6:00 - Scripture readings
6:30 - Candlelight Divine Liturgy
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FEAST OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Matins - 9:45am
Christmas Badarak & Blessing of Water Service - 10:15am
Potluck Luncheon
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FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE FEAST OF NATIVITY
Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Water Service
Christmas Brunch hosted by Women's Guild
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CHURCH-WIDE SERVICE PROJECT
Martin Luther King Day
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
The flyer can be found above.
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The St. Gregory Women's Guild Invite you to:
A book discussion afternoon of the book
The Island Of Missing Trees
Winner of the 2022 Book Tube Silver Medal in Fiction
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction
Saturday, 2 -4 pm
Lead by Aida Pisani and Ellie Krolian
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1131 North Street
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428 2595
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