October 30

TOP STORY   

Feast of All Saints

On Saturday, October 31, the worldwide Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of All Saints - the old and the new, the known and the unknown

By this feast, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the memory of all those saints whose names are not included in the Church Calendar, but whose names are registered in the sacred book of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Many people have been subjected to severe torments and have been martyred during the wars for the sake of faith. Unfortunately, we do not know their names. So, the Church has established this feast in the Church Calendar in order to commemorate their memory. They are persons who shed their blood for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Click here to read a prayer on the occasion of the Feast of All Saints.

November 1, 2026

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Mrs. Patricia Yeghissian



Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Garbis Chuibukian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian



Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 22:15-24

Ephesians 1:1-14

Luke 8:17-21

 HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE 

For the Souls of :

All departed sisters of Dikranouhi Otyag

Requested by:

Daughters of Vartan

Hospitality Table is Hosted by:

Daughters of Vartan

Prayer of the week

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.

   Keep watch over your faithful people, Lord. Remember those who have sacrificed in your name, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

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

Shnorhali Welcomes Bishop Daniel Findikyan: A Conversation on Faith and Calling



On October 25^th Shnorhali students had the special privilege of spending time with His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary during his recent visit to St. Mary’s. For our Middle School and Senior High Religion students, the visit became much more than an opportunity to meet a bishop. His Grace spoke openly about his own journey within the Armenian Church - sharing that regular participation in Padarak did not become part of his life until his teenage years, that St. Nersess youth programs played an important role in his spiritual formation, and that he began learning Armenian as a young adult. His story offered students a powerful reminder that faith is not always a straight path begun in early childhood; it can deepen gradually through experience, questions, learning, and a willingness to listen for God’s call.

Bishop Daniel also shared the important decision he once faced between pursuing medicine and entering the priesthood. His reflection on vocation gave students a rare opportunity to hear how a life of service can take shape through discernment, prayer, and the courage to ask not only What do I want to become? but also how can I best serve God and others?

The students responded with thoughtful questions about the responsibilities of a bishop, the path to ordination, and life in ministry. The conversation was warm, candid, and personal, allowing our teens to see the Church not only through its traditions and structure, but through the life and experience of someone who has devoted himself to serving it.

Before leaving the classroom, His Grace offered the students a message rooted in John 14:21, encouraging them to keep God’s commandments, to show their love for God through the way they love others, and to trust that through such a life, God reveals Himself more deeply to us. The connection continued beyond the classroom. Bishop Daniel stayed to share lunch with Shnorhali students, joining them in relaxed and engaging conversation. Around the table, students had the opportunity to speak with him more personally, ask additional questions, and simply enjoy time together. That informal fellowship made the visit especially memorable, reminding our students that spiritual leadership is not distant - it is lived through presence, conversation, listening, and community.

We are deeply grateful to His Grace Bishop Daniel for giving our students his time, his wisdom, and such an honest glimpse into his own journey of faith.

November Winter Coat Drive



The ACYOA Juniors Youth group cordially invites all parish members to participate in a November Winter Coat Drive, designed to extend warmth and compassion to our neighbors throughout the District of Columbia. We welcome both new and gently used coats in all categories—women's, men's, and children's sizes—which will be distributed through the Central Union Mission. Parishioners are requested to deliver coat donations to the designated collection receptacle located in the parish hall during all Sundays throughout the month of November.

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Twenty-Seven Years on the Pontifical Throne

The coming days will mark the 27th anniversary of the consecration and enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II.

It was on November 4, 1999, that His Holiness was formally enthroned as the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in a magnificent ceremony at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia.



To mark the anniversary, Armenian churches across the world will offer prayers for the health and prosperity of the Catholicos. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan has directed parishes of the Eastern Diocese to conduct the “Special Prayer for the Catholicos” at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 1.

Diocesan Council Advances “Renewed in Hope” Vision

The Diocesan Council met October 22–23 at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, MA, under the leadership of Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, to discuss priorities for strengthening the Diocese and its parishes.

A central focus was translating the Primate’s “Renewed in Hope” vision into practical initiatives, including plans for a new Department of Parish Growth to support local ministries. Council members also discussed leadership development, financial stewardship, the ongoing St. Vartan Cathedral renovation, and preparations for the 2027 Diocesan Assembly in Providence, RI.



Bishop Mesrop emphasized the importance of providing parishes with the resources, personnel, and organizational support needed to sustain vibrant ministries. He thanked Cambridge pastor Fr. Vasken Kouzouian and the parishioners for extending their warm hospitality to the Diocesan Council members.

Graduate Students: Apply for the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship



The Eastern Diocese is accepting applications for the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Graduate Fellowship, which supports graduate studies in the United States. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens with outstanding academic records, demonstrated financial need, and a bachelor’s degree. Interested candidates should contact Hovannes Khosdeghian at zohrabcenter@armeniandiocese.org to request an application. Application deadline: December 20, 2026.

FAR NEWS

Making a Difference Across Armenia

This month the Fund for Armenian Relief welcomed Sona Haratunian, a longtime leader of the St. Vartan Cathedral community, who was visiting FAR projects in Armenia in her capacity as a board member of the New York-based Gulamerian Foundation. Accompanied by FAR staff, Sona visited the Mardigian Child Protection Center, the Armenian Church Youth Center in Ashtarak, and ACT College—programs that have benefited from the Foundation’s longstanding support.

During her visits, she learned more about each institution’s work and spent time connecting with the children. At ACT College, Sona (pictured above at left) also inaugurated a new laboratory named in honor of the Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Foundation.



Through its partnership with FAR, the Gulamerian Foundation makes a difference in the lives of children and families across Armenia, supporting displaced Artsakh Armenians, kindergarten nutrition programs, STEM science camps, education for children who have lost parental care, and other vital initiatives.

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.

October 31 - Feast of All Saints

November 10 - Bible Study Series, 7 pm

November 17 - Bible Study Series, 7 pm

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

November 21 - Concert by Lilit Pipoyan at the Church's Cultural Hall at 1 PM

November 22 - Presentation on the nutrition education program by Maria Stepanyan at 1:00 pm

November 24 - Bible Study Series, 7 pm

November 26 - Thanksgiving Day

17 Որովհետեւ չկայ գաղտնիք մը՝ որ բացայայտ պիտի չըլլայ, ո՛չ ալ պահուած բան մը՝ որ պիտի չգիտցուի ու երեւան չելլէ: 18 Ուրեմն զգուշացէ՛ք թէ ի՛նչպէս կը լսէք. որովհետեւ ո՛վ որ ունի՝ պիտի տրուի անոր, իսկ ո՛վ որ չունի՝ անկէ պիտի առնուի նոյնիսկ ինչ որ ինք կը կարծէ թէ ունի»: 19 Անոր մայրն ու եղբայրները եկան իրեն, բայց բազմութենէն չէին կրնար մօտենալ իրեն: 20 Անոր լուր տուին՝ ըսելով. «Քու մայրդ ու եղբայրներդ դուրսը կայնած են եւ կ՚ուզեն տեսնել քեզ»: 21 Ան ալ պատասխանեց անոնց. «Իմ մայրս ու եղբայրներս անո՛նք են, որ կը լսեն Աստուծոյ խօսքը եւ կը գործադրեն զայն»:

(Ղուկաս 8:17-21)

17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

(Luke 8:17-21)

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