The official online publication of the Primate’s Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland Issue 40 (Volume 4), 6.October 2013

E-NEWSLETTER...............Է-ԹԵՐԹԻԿ

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PRIMATE LEADS PILGRIMAGE TO HISTORIC ARMENIAN CITIES

Thursday night, 3 October, a group of 16 pilgrims landed in Istanbul Airport launching the first Pilgrimage of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland to historic Armenian cities and villages in Eastern Turkey. The first day of the pilgrimage, 4 September, included a tour of Istanbul and a visit to the Armenian Patriarchate where the pilgrims were received by HE Abp Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar. During the private audience His Eminence shared with the pilgrims highlights of the history and current state of the Armenian community in Istanbul and Turkey. The pilgrims were then led in a tour of the museum and treasures of the Patriarchate as well as the Soorp Asdvadzadzin (Holy Mother-of-God) cathedral. The same afternoon the pilgrims flew to Kars to start their visit to the interior of Turkey and the historic Armenian cities. The first stop was Kars, where the pilgrims visited the various Armenian churches, including the Church of the Apostles, now converted to a mosque. On the second day, group then headed to Ani, where the entire day was spent walking among the ruins of the city once the capital of Armenia and known as the “City of 1000 churches.” Special requiem (hokehankisd) prayers were offered at the Church building in Kars and inside the Cathedral in Ani. The pilgrimage will continue through the 13 of October.

BISHOP SYNOD CONCLUDES ITS MEETINGS IN ETCHMIADZIN

On Friday, 27 September the Bishop Synod completed its conclave in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of HH Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; and HH Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Present at the meeting were 62 Bishops from Etchmiadzin and Cilicia. The Synod discussed the tradition of canonization of saints and martyrs and agreed on the collective canonization of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The Synod discussed also the works of the Liturgical Committee on the sacraments of Baptism. HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, led the discussion of the newly proposed text. Following discussion, the Synod approved the proposed text, and discussed reports on canonical issues and the publication of a booklet of moral-instructive guidelines concerning Baptism. The sessions of the final day, on Friday 27 September, were devoted to modern challenges facing the Armenian Church. Discussing the challenges on various aspects of the church life and ministry, the Synod members noted those to be of predominant priority and decided to include them in the agenda of the upcoming Synod meetings. Finally, and as a solution to those challenges and problems, and as their service to the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Bishops decided to establish a foundation for supporting the disadvantaged children of Armenia, Cilicia and Armenians in Syria, with the blessings of the two Catholicoi.

BADARAK AND COUNCIL MEETING IN DUBLIN

Last Sunday, 29 September, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian was the guest celebrant of Badarak at Taney Parish Church in Dublin, Ireland. Assisting during the Badarak was the Choir of the Armenian Church of Dublin who sang the hymns so beautifully without an accompanying organist. Serving at the altar wereTubirsRichard Cherkerzian and HovikHovhannisyan. After the celebration of Badarak a lunch fellowship was offered to the faithful courtesy of the Parish Council of Dublin. Prior to the Badarak His Grace met with the members of the Parish Council to discuss the various programmes and issues facing the Council. The Council unanimously voted on designating Sunday, 17 November as the date of the third Annual Parish Assembly, at 1:30pm in Taney Parish Church. All dues-paying members are invited to join the Assembly to vote on matters related to the mission and programmes of the Armenian Church Parish in Dublin. If you live in or around Dublin, Ireland, and have not yet signed up for the Church Parish, please do so, by contacting the Parish Council Chairman: Ayda at: alundon@eircom.net, or Vice Chairman Paul at:pmanook@hotmail.com. For more information please visit the website at: http://www.armenians.ie/

BADARAK AND FELLOWSHIP LUNCH IN MANCHESTER

This Sunday, 6 October, 2013, the Very Revd Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan will be celebrating Badarak at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester. AS always Badarak is scheduled to start at 11:00am, followed by lunch: Adults £6; Children £3. The faithful are encouraged to reserve their seats for lunch in advance by contacting Penny Evenson at pennyevenson@gmail.com, or 0161 434 4996 or Elsie Couligian at 01625 549 123. Meanwhile, if you live in or near Manchester and are interested in getting involved with youth programmes and ministries, please contact Deacon Artur: bobikemes@gmail.com, to learn more about eh Manchester Chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF). For general information about the Holy Trinity Church activities please visit their website at: http://www.armenianchurchmanchester.org/

ORTHODOX EDUCATION DAY

The Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches (COOC) in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland invites our faithful to the Second Orthodox Education Day, which is scheduled on Saturday 3 November 2013 in St Sarkis Church, Kensington, London. The theme of the Education Day is “Extra Biblical Sources of Faith and Tradition.” Presenting papers at the Education Day will be His Eminence Abba Seraphim from the British Orthodox Church, Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian and Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan. Admission (including lunch and beverages) £7.00 General, at the entrance on the day £5.00 Students (with ID) and £5.00 General, paid in advance to “The Armenian Church Trust UK” and mailed to The Primate’s Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. Donations are welcome to defray the cost of the organisation and lunch. For more information please contact the Primates Office at:primatesoficce@armenianchurch.co.uk.

ARMEN SARKISSIAN NEW AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA TO THE UK

It is with great joy that the Armenian community in the UK received the good news of the decree by Armenia’s President H.E.Mr SerzhSargsyanappointing the world-renownedArmenian philanthropist and successful entrepreneur, Dr. Armen Sarkissian as Ambassador to the UK. Dr Sarkissian served as the Prime Minister of Armenia from 1996 to 1997. Prior to this post, he was the Armenian Ambassador to the UK, Senior Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Europe and concurrently represented Armenia as Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and The Vatican. Following his term as Prime Minister of Armenia, he was reappointed Ambassador to the UK in 1998. Dr. Sarkissian was Professor of Physics at Yerevan State University and subsequently Head of the Department of Computer Modeling of Complex Systems. In 1984 he became a Visiting Research Fellow and later professor at the University of Cambridge. He is the founding president of Eurasia House Internationaland a member of a list of impressive societies and associations around the world. Congratulations to Dr and MrsArmenSarkissian and theArmeniancommunityworldwide.Maythe Lord bless his leadership role in protecting and pursuing Armenia’s interests.

AN EVENING OF OPERA GALA AT ST YEGHICHE CHURCH

Several of the Pilgrims with HE Abp Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar On the first day of Pilgrimage

62 Archbishops and Bihops The Bishops’ Synod 24-27 September 2013 Holy Etchmiadzin

Holy Communion

ACYF in Armenian Monastery

Dublin, Ireland San Lazzaro. Venice

H.E. Abba Seraphim HE HE

As part of the worldwide celebration of the cultural month inOctober this year, the Armenian Church Trust of the United Kingdom (ACT UK) cordially invites our faithful andfriends to an Opera Gala Evening on Sunday, 27th October 2013, at 7:00pm in the magnificent Cathedral ofSt. Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington. This year’s programme will include works by composers Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini, Bizet,Dvořák, Rachmaninov and many more. Most of the performers are graduates of the Royal College of Music,including Anaïs Heghoyan, Artur Bobikyan, Jassy Husk, Suzanne Shakespeare, Paula Sides, AlexTsilogiannis and Ross Ramgobin with Jonathan Gale accompanying on the piano. If you would like to sponsor part of this event or would like to advertise in our programme please contact the Primate’s Office. Tickets are £22 in advance or £25 at the door; £10 for students and free for under 12’s. 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 highlightedpreview from last year’s inspiring first Opera Gala performance at the Royal College of Music.

AN EVENING WITH MARC (MAGAR) BALAKJIAN: PAINTER AND PRINTMAKER

The Armenian Institute cordially invites members of our community to attend an evening of illustrated talk by painter Marc Balakjanian about the source of his inspiration. The evening is scheduled on Thursday, 17 October 2013 at 7:30 pm at the Armenian House, 25 Cheniston Gardens, W8 6TG (Tube: High Street Kensington). Marc Balakjian is the son of survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. He grew up in Lebanon.In 1966 he came to England to study architecture. After working a year in Oxford as an architectural draftsman he decided to study art. From 1967 to 1970 he studied painting at Hammersmith College of Art in London and from 1971 to 1973 postgraduate printmaking at the Slade School of Fine Art. He has taught printmaking in many art schools in Great Britain, Europe and the USA. He has had one man shows in London, Belgium, Norway and Canada and participated in numerous group shows including many International Print and Drawing Biennales and Triennials in Europe, Japan and the USA. He was awarded many international prizes in these exhibitions.

His work is included in a great number of public gallery and museum collections in Great Britain, Europe and the USA. These include

The British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum, London; City Art Gallery, Edinburgh; Glynn Vivien Art Gallery, Swansea;

Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris; Albertina Museum, Vienna; Modern Art Museum, Dublin; Modern Art Museum Fredrikstad, Norway and

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

the National Gallery of Art Washington, USA.

 RESUMPTION OF OUR WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY: Please note that our weekly Bible Study sessions will resume next Thursday, He currently lives and works in London.

17 October at7:30 PM, in Nevard Gulhbenkian Hall of St Sarkis Church. All are welcome. Meanwhile, there will be no Bible Study

session this Thursday, 10 October.  TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE NEWLY PUBLISHED “Sunday Morning Services” book (£5 a copy), please contact the Primate’s Office at:

0208 127 8364, or e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk.  Ifsomeoneyouknowwouldenjoys reading our E-newsletter, kindly forward theperson’se-mailto: information@armenianchurch.co.uk

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