Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate

E-NEWSLETTER H - J:RJIK
AArmenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland
FFr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate
119 February 2011, Issue 7, Vol 2
ARMENIAN CHURCH OF GB AND IRELAND
THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE
25 Cheniston Gardens Kensington London W8 6TG Tel: 020 8127 8364 Fax: 0872 111 5548 E-mail:
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armenianchurch.co.uk Website:
armenianchurch.co.uk
CONTINUING EDUCATION
MINISTRY (C.E.M)
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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information@
armenianchurch.oc.uk
Online Calendar:
/events.asp
ARMENIAN CHURCH YOUTH
FELLOWSHIP (ACYF)
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ACYF@ armenianchurch.oc.uk
THE PRIMATE’S BLOG
Archives
“ARMENIANS IN JERUSALEM: PEOPLE AND SHRINES”
The Armenian community in Dublin, Ireland, and its surrounding is happy to announce the offering of the lecture “The Armenians in Jerusalem: People and Shrines,” on Saturday, 26 February at 1:00pm. The lecture, to be offered by the Primate, the Very Revd Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, will take place at the Carysfort 1 Suite in Stillorgan Park Hotel in the Dublin area. The lecture is being offered as part of a welcome reception for the Primate to take place in the same hall beginning at at 12:00 noon. Admission to the lecture is free, and all are welcome. Please mark your calendar and join us. For further information about the lecture and the reception, kindly contact Margaret at: margretsarafian@hotmail.com.
Stillorgan Road, Dublin 18, Co. Dublin, ireland
PILGRIMAGE 2011 REUNION: The Primate’s Office cordially announces the coordination of a “Pilgrimage Reunion” on Wednesday, 30th March, at 7:00pm. All pilgrims who joined the Primate in the first pilgrimage of the Armenian Church of the UK are invited to a wine reception to go over the highlights of the pilgrimage and discuss future ones. A slide/video show will take us all back to the details of the beautiful days of the pilgrimage. You were not a pilgrim? That’s alright. You can still join us at the reception and enjoy the slide show and the presentation by the Primate. The reunion will take place in the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall. Please be there at 7:00pm sharp, and bring a friend. For further information please contact the Primate’s Office at 020 8127 8364 or e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk
ECUMENICAL SERVICE FOR PEACE AT ST. SARKIS: The St. Sarkis Church Trustees and the St. Sarkis Pastoral Council have the pleasure of inviting you to an Ecumenical Service for Peace. The service, scheduled on this Saturday, 19th February at 6:00pm, is on the occasion of the Feast of St. Sarkis, the patron saint of the Church (the Church’s Name Day). The service will be presided over by the Rt. Revd. Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Armenian Church of the UK and Ireland, and will be attended by Councilor James Husband, the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea and representatives of sister Churches as well as Armenian community organizations and the faithful. All are welcome.
ST. SARKIS CHURCH NAME DAY – DIVINE LITURGY & MADAGH Join us on Sunday, 20th February to celebrate the Name Day of St. Sarkis Church, starting with the Divine Liturgy at 11:00 AM and by taking part in the blessing of Madagh following the church service at 12:30 pm. This year we will celebrate St. Sarkis with 'Harissa' (Հարիսա), the traditional Armenian dish (a sort of porridge made of stewed and boned chicken and coarsely ground soaked wheat). The dish has been passed on since ancient times and is offered on memorial or commemoration of significant events in the life of the community. Following the blessing of the madagh by the priest, it is distributed to the congregation and to the poor.
The Feast of St. Sarkis
SSarkis (Sargis or Sergius) is a fourth-century saint of the Armenian Church who was
born in Caesarea. During the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, St. Sarkis, being
a very courageous warrior, was appointed the commander and General in chief of the
region of Cappadocia bordering Armenia. Being a Christian general in a pagan army,
St. Sarkis spread the teachings of Christ and witnessed to his Christian faith whoever
he came contact with and wherever he went. Under the reign of Emperor Flavius
Claudius Julianus (331-363AD), commonly known as Julian the Apostate, a great
persecution of Christians by the Romans was launched. Consequently, St. Sarkis and
his only son Mardiros (or Martyros) departed to Armenia. From Armenia they went to
Persia, and started serving in the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the commander
of regiments.
King Shapur, impressed by St. Sarkis’s courage and bravery yet displeased with, and
concerned about, the latter’s Christian faith, tested his allegiance to God and invited
him to worship the pagan gods. St. Sarkis refused. King Shapur became enraged, and
commanded St. Sarkis to worship his pagan gods. In a bold expression of defiance, St.
Sarkis fearlessly attacked the idols and images in front of him destroying them and
demonstrating complete contempt for the heathen worshippers.The emperor,
frustrated by the faith and dedication of St. Sarkis and his son Maridiros, ordered the
arrest of both of them. First he ordered the killing of Mardiros, in front of his father. Finally, St. Sarkis himself was also
martyred by beheading. 14 soldiers-companions of the saint also were martyred for Christian faith.
Soon after his martyrdom, St. Sarkis became a popular saint among Christians as a symbol of courage, zeal and total
commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, even if that commitment means sacrifying one’s social, political and
economical status in this world. St. Sarkis is a popular saint among the Armenians as well. According to Church
traditions, St. Gregory the Illuminator established the Fast of Catechumens to precede the feast of St. Sarkis. It is also
because of the saint’s popularity that a century or so later, St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of St. Sarkis to
Armenia, and with a solemn pageantry relocated them to the village of Karbi (or Garbi in the Ashtarak Region) where a
monastery and the Church of Sarkis were built over his relics.
Many pious and popular practices among the Armenians have been woven around the feast of this great martyrs. On
the eve of St. Sarkis feast, for example, young people eat salty cookies and anticipate the appearance of St. Sarkis and
their future bride or bridegroom in their dream that night! On the day of the feast a Divine Liturgy (Badarak) is
celebrated in all Armenian churches named St. Sarkis. Following the Liturgy a special ceremony of blessing of the
madagh or harissah takes place.
This year, the St. Sarkis Church in London will be offering a special evening ecumenical service of peace in memory of
the Saint, this Saturday, 19th February. The following day a special celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Badarak) will be
celebrated in the Church at 11:00am following by a procession and the blessing of the Madagh (Harissah). All are
welcome.
HOLY COMMUNION, HOKEHANGISD AND HOUSE BLESSINGS IN DUBLIN, IRELAND
The Very Revd Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will be visiting the Armenian community in Dublin, Ireland, and its surrounding on 25-27 February. During his visit, Fr. Vahan will meet with representatives of the Armenian Community and the Armenian School. Saturday, 26 February, will be dedicated to activities for the Armenian community. In the morning, the Primate will preside over the Holy Communion service followed by Hokehangist. The same afternoon the Primate will meet with the Armenian community in a reception and an open forum which will take place at the Carysfort 1 Suite in “Stillorgan Park Hotel” in the Dublin area. The reception is scheduled Saturday, at 12:00 noon. During the reception Fr. Vahan will be offering a talk accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation entitled: “Armenians in Jerusalem: People and Shrines.” Fr. Vahan also intends to visit Armenian families to have house blessings. Those interested to have Fr. Vahan visit them and conduct the house blessing service, are kindly asked to contact Margaret at: margretsarafian@hotmail.com. If you or someone you know lives in the Dublin area and would like to know more about the Primate’s visit to Dublin, and the planned itinerary please contact the Primate’s Office directly at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk.
Let Us Promote Our Own Armenian Traditions
For Armenians, the church building is sacred grounds. It is a place consecrated for our encounter with God. When entering the church building, all our worldly concerns and engagements are left aside to help us focus on the purpose of our visit to the Church: to be in God’s presence and to become in communion with Christ our Lord. As soon as we enter the church we make the sign of the cross, saying “Hanoon Hor yev Vortvo yev Hokvooyn Srpo. Amen” (In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen.) This is usually followed by a silent prayer (Hayr Mér). This should allow for the peace of Christ to enter us and set our heart, mind and soul in the right attitude to enjoy the liturgy and receive its blessings. Please make sure the way you dress and behave in the church is appropriate and does not distract the worshippers. Needless to say mobile ring tones rudely interfere with our spiritual signals, trying to connect with the heavenly beings and God! For questions or comments please write directly to the Primate.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
(According to the Armenian Church Lectionary)
Monday 21/2
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-21 Isaiah 18:7-19:7 John 16:1-5 2 Corinthians 4:10-5:5
Tuesday 22/2
Proverbs 22:1-12 Isaiah 56:6-7 Hebrews 11:32-40 Luke 12:4-8
Wednesday 23/2
Fasting Day
2 Timothy 3:16-4:8 John 7:1-13
Thursday 24/2
Proverbs 24:1-12 Jeremiah 30:18-22 Matthew 5:1-12 2 Timothy 3:10-12
Friday 25/2
2 Timothy 4:8-22 John 7:14-23
Saturday 26/2
Catholicos Sahak Bartev
Wisdom of Solomon 7:12-18 Isaiah 61:3-7 Hebrews 13:17-21 John 10:11-16
Sunday 27/2
Isaiah 63:18-64:12 Titus 1:1-11 John 7:37-52
FOUR GENERATIONS IN THE SERVICE OF GOD:
Razmig Couligian is one of the youngest altar servers in the Armenian Church! Two weeks ago on Sunday, 6th February, young Razmig was serving at the altar of the Armenian Church in Manchester for the first time in his life. However, he is not a stranger to the Armenian Church liturgy. His father, Ara Couligian, serves at the altar and his grandfather, Mr. Tatto Couligian, being the chairman of the Armenian Church Trust in Manchester, is himself a senior deacon who attends church services, singing in the choir and helping at the altar whenever needed. It was so inspiring to see the father-son-grandson team of altar servers serving the Lord at the same time and on the same bema. There is no doubt that the family owes this commitment and dedication to the Armenian Church to the patriarch of the family, Fr. Khoren Couligian, who served as an Armenian priest in Cyprus. What a beautiful example to emulate of four generations of Armenians in the service of the Lord. God bless!
ARMENIAN CHURCH YOUTH TRIP TO SAN LAZZARO (ACYF):
We are happy to confirm that the ACYF will be leading a group of young Armenians from the UK on a weekend-trip, 1-3 April, to the Armenian Monastery of San Lazzaro. For over three centuries, the island has been a centre of research and publication of Armenian scholarship in theology, history, literature and art. The group of Armenian young men and women will learn more about the Mekhitarist brotherhood that created and continues to live in San Lazzaro, and about the history of the Armenian people in Venice. Due to the limited space and very popular interest in the trip, we regret to inform our readers that the ACYF can no longer accept reservation for this trip. However, if you are interested to hear more about future events by the ACYF please write to the ACYF chairman or call the Primate’s Office at: 020 8127 8364
READING A NEW BOOK – JOIN US!
The Bible Study sessions in Armenian and English will resume this week. The Study group in English will meet on Wednesday, 23rd February at 7:30 pm. The group has just finished reading the Gospel of Matthew. Beginning this Wednesday, the group will start reading the Book of Acts. This is a perfect opportunity for people who have not yet experienced the Bible Study programme to join us. You do not have to be a theologian, a regular church-goer or even a believer to join our Bible Study. You don’t even need to own a Bible. We will provide you with a copy. The Armenian study group will meet on Tuesday, 22nd February, at 7:00pm. Both groups meet in Nevart Gulbenkian Hall. All are welcome.
INTENSIVE SUMMER COURSE OF ARMENIAN LANGUAGE: The Primate’s Office has been informed that the Department of Asian and Mediterranean Studies of the University of Venice in collaboration with the Cultural Association “Padus- Araxes” will be offering its popular summer course of Armenian Language, to take place 1-18 August. Tuition fee € 700. Deadline for registration is 31st March. For information please fax +39 041 241 4448, or e-mail: Daniela@padus-araxes.com. You can learn more about the language course by visiting the following website: http://padus-araxes.com/summercourse/index.htm
ARMENIAN CHURCH OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
The Primate’s Office: 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG, UK Website: Armenianchurch.co.uk • E-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk Phone: 020 8127 8364 • Fax: 087 2111 5548