The official online publication of the Primate’s Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland Issue 35 (Volume 4), 1.September 2013

E-NEWSLETTER...............Է-ԹԵՐԹԻԿ ≠≠

CONSECRATION OF THE LARGEST DIASPORA ARMENIAN CHURCH

A newly built Armenian Church complex will be inaugurated in Moscow on September 17 by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The construction of the church complex, took over five years. The Armenian community of Moscow plans to hold a grand opening ceremony, to be attended by senior Russian officials and prominent representatives of the Armenian community.The complex, which includes the Cathedral, the small church of "Holy Cross", educational, cultural, and administrative and reception facilities and a museum, will be the seat of the Primate of the Novo- Nakhichevan and Russian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The main part of the inauguration ceremonies will be the consecration of the Cathedral by His Holiness the Catholicos. The Cathedral itself is about 13.2 thousand-meter sq., with a height of 50 meters, and a large cross on the main dome, of 7 meter in height. Participating in the consecration will be HG Bp Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the Novo- Nakhichevan and Russian Diocese as well as several Armenian and non-Armenian ecclesial hierarchs, including our Primate, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian. Congratulations to the Armenian community in Russia and Moscow for this great achievement.

OPERA GALA AT ST YEGHICHE CHURCH - RESERVE YOUR SEAT

Back by popular demand, and this year as part of the worldwide celebration of the cultural month in October, the Armenian Church Trust of the United Kingdom (ACTUK) cordially invites our faithful and friends to an Opera Gala Evening on Sunday, 27 October 2013, at 7:00 pm in the magnificent cathedral of St. Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington. This year’s programme, which promises to be even better than last year’s very successful one, will include works by composers Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini, Bizet, Dvořák, Rossini and many more. Most of the performers are graduates of the Royal College of Music, including Jonathan Gale, Anaïs Heghoyan, Jassy Husk, Suzanne Shakespeare, Paula Sides, and Alex Tsilogiannis, among others. Accompanying on the piano will be our own Deacon Artur Bobikyan. Tickets are £22 in advance or £25 at the door. Tickets are available by calling 07931 377 539 or 07931 377 537. Please make your cheques payable to: The Armenian Church Trust UK. Finally click here for a highlighted preview from last year’s inspiring first Opera Gala performance at the Royal College of Music.

ACYF GENERAL MEETING – FUTURE VISION AND ELECTION

This Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) is a network of young Armenian men and women in the UK who are proud of their Armenian identity and committed to their ancestral faith and the Armenian Church. This year, the ACYF entered its fourth year of ministry in the UK. During the past three years it created and organized several activities and programmes some of which have become successful annual programmes such as the Christmas Carol Candlelight Service, the annual ACYF Service Project, the ACYF Basket Distribution on major Feast Days, and others. The Executive Committee of the ACYF is calling a general meeting, inviting its members and those interested (ages 18-38) to learn more about the ACYF and join them on Wednesday, 11 September 2013 at 7:00pm in the Gulbenkian Hall. A reception will follow. Admission is free. You can learn more about the ACYF by clicking here to visit their Facebook, or sending a note to:ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk.

YEREVAN STATE PUPPET THEATRE: “FLIGHT OVER THE CITY”

The Armenian Church Parish Council in Cardiff, Wales, is happy to inform our readers about the forthcoming performance by the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre: “Flight Over the City” which will be performed on Saturday 14 September, 2013 at 13:30 and 18:30 in Richard Burton Theatre of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. Flight Over the City is moving story following a young girl’s journey through life. Following a tragic accident the girl loses her sight, and for nearly 20 years she remains isolated within her own constructed world. But the most important inhabitant of that world is the girl’s doctor. We follow their story together as they face love and then loss, but a love which can raise you over reality, and which can give you wings to fly.Admission price: £6. Click on the appropriate time to purchase the 13:30 or 18:30 performance.

Yerevan State Puppet Theatre

ORIENTATION PILGRIMAGE TO HISTORIC ARMENIAN CHURCHES

The Primate’s Office is finalizing a booklet of the Armenian history of the various villages and cities to be visited during the first pilgrimage to the historic Armenian cities and villages in today’s Eastern Turkey. The booklet with other materials will be distributed to the pilgrims on the orientation session, which is on Friday 13 September 2013 at 7:00pm in Nevart Gulbenkian Hall. The orientation will also be an opportunity for pilgrims to meet each other and with the Primate and discuss the details of the itinerary and the pilgrimage, and answer the pilgrims’ enquiries. As announced earlier, the pilgrimage, under the auspices of HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will take place 3 -13 October 2013, led by MrArmenAroyan. In addition to the various historic Armenian cities and villages, the pilgrims will also spend two days in Istanbul, and visit the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey. Please note that by the time of this announcement the full amount of the pilgrimage cost should have been paid. For more information please contact the Primate’s Office at: 0208 127 8374.

Church of the Apostles Gars (Kars), Turkey

PREMIER RADIO: MENA WITH DR HARRY HAGOPIAN

Whether one looks at Egypt, Iraq or Syria (to recall only three countries), the present looks decidedly bleak and the future uncertain, especially for the Armenian and Christian communities in these lands which have been safe havens for our people for centuries. This is one reason why Premier Radio is collaborating with our own Dr Harry Hagopian, Ecumenical Consultant to the Primate, in putting together a one-hour monthly MENA Analysis that looks at some of the issues of the MENA region, confirms some truths and debunks others. The very successful introductory programme, with Dr Hagopian and presenter Marcus Jones, was aired last Thursday, 29 August, at 10 PM. We invite our readers to listen in via different ways as explained on the following web-page. You can hear the first show by clicking here.

OBITUARY: LEVON ANANYAN(13 October 1946 – 2 September 2013)

President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, Armenian journalist and translator from the region of Tavush, Armenia, Levon Ananyan passed away yesterday 2 September, 2013. The late Ananyan was one of our guest lecturers this summer,here in London, on this year’s theme: St Gregory of Narek. He is a graduate of the Department of Philology, of the Yerevan State University. He has worked for a number of state journals. For approximately 25 years he worked for the "Garoun" monthly. In 2001, he was elected President of the Writers' Union of Armenia. He was a lecturer in the Department of Journalism of the Yerevan State University. He has authored many articles on social and political issues, which have been printed in the state press. He has also translated and published Russian and English books to the Armenian language. Condolences to the family and friends of Levon Ananyan and especially to our own TubeerHovik Hovhannisyan, who is the nephew of the late Mr. Ananyan. God rest his soul in peace.

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WESTERN ARMENIAN COURSES

The Programme of Armenian Studiesis delighted to announce the start of the new academic year 2013-2014, beginning from first week of October. We are offering three levels of Western Armenian. The course consists of one two-hour lessons each week, organised into three terms of ten weeks each. Elementary: Tuesdays (6-8pm) starting from 1st of October; Intermediate: Wednesdays (7.30-9.30pm) starting from 2nd of October; Advanced: Tuesdays (8-10pm) starting from 1st October. Tuition fees: £165 per term. Venue: HyeDoon For more details please contact DrKrikorMoskofian moskofiank@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 K. Tahta Armenian Sunday School is happy to announce: K. Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School Coffee Morning;and K. Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School Information

 BIBLE STUDY: The weekly Bible Study group will meet this Thursday at 7:00pm to continue reading St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

 THE LONDON OPERA COMPANY is currently seeking BASS chorus members for their forthcoming production of GARINEH. If you are interested call Aris on 07890 339928 or e-mail londonarmenianopera@virginmedia.com. Click here for their online flyer.

The Primate’s Office c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG www.armenianchurch.co.uk information@armenianchurch.co.uk