The official online publication of the Primate’s Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland Issue 46..(Volume 4), 29 November..2013

E-NEWSLETTER...............Է-ԹԵՐԹԻԿ fa

PRIMATE MEETS WITH ST YEGHICHE COUNCIL

On Monday evening, 18 November, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, presided over the first meeting of the newly elected St Yeghiche Church Parish Council. Following the opening prayer, His Grace welcomed and congratulated the Council members and spent some time discussing the vision of strengthening the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland by the strengthening and organisation of its parishes, according to the tradition of the Armenian Church. This was followed by a discussion of the different aspects of establishing and nurturing the various units needed for a successful Parish Council ministry, such as its own auxiliary committees, Women’s Guild, Bible Study, Altar Servers, fundraising, and others. The Council also discussed ways of cooperating with the other parishes in the Diocese including St Sarkis Church Parish in London and the Holy Trinity Church Parish in Manchester, as well as the Mission Parishes in Birmingham, Cardiff and Dublin. His Grace then led the process of electing the officers of the Council. At the end of the meeting, and before the closing prayer, Bp Vahan congratulated the council members, blessing them and wishing them a fruitful and successful ministry for the glory of God and the strengthening of the Armenian Church.

ARMENIAN AND WESTERN ADVENT

This Sunday, 1st of December is the beginning of Advent for the Western world. Following the publication of our reflection on Armenian Advent in the previous issue of the E-Newsletter, we received several enquiries which we would like to address briefly in this paragraph. As mentioned earlier, Advent is a period of preparation for the Feast of the Birth and Nativity of Christ. As such it is a cheerful season of anticipation, gatherings of family members and friends and expression of love and care demonstrated by the exchange of gifts and greeting cards. Historically, Advent included periods of fasting. During this final season of the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church, several important saints are also commemorated such as several of the Apostles including the enlighteners of Armenia, King David, St Stephen the first deacon and others. Advent in the Armenian tradition is longer than the Western Advent, because it continues through the New Year to 5 January, which is the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity. Western Advent on the other hand, ends on 24 December. Armenians designate fifty days prior to the Eve of the Nativity as Advent (Hisnag = 50). It is because of this reason that Advent in the Armenian Church start also a week or so earlier than that of the Western Church. Despite the different length and its beginning and ending times, the season has the same theological meaning: preparing to welcome the King of kings!

DUBLIN ARMENIAN CHURCH ELECTS THIRD PARISH COUNCIL

The Armenian community in Dublin and its surrounding was gathered at Taney Parish Church on Monday, 17 November 2013 for a very productive and busy church day. First it was the celebration of Badarak by HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. Then, the community was ushered to the baptismal font where the newest member of the Dublin Church was baptized. Following Baptism the faithful were invited to the Church Hall to participate in the third annual Parish Assembly. The opening prayer by the Primate,ushered the Assembly’selection of its Tivan (president and secretary)which was followed by the Agenda. The minutes of the previous assembly were received and confirmed. The reports of the Parish Council chairman and treasurer as well as a programme report of the Parish Council were discussed and received by the Assembly, which discussed also the possibilities of securing a location in Dublin as a church and community centre for the Armenians in Dublin. At the conclusion of the Assembly the faithful were treated to lunch courtesy of the Parish Council, where despite their very busy schedule they managed to celebrate Srpazan’s 50th birthday as well. Congratulations and God bless. Click here for more info.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH ACYF MANCHESTER

Members of the Manchester Chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) are busy at work preparing for their second annual Christmas Carols Candlelight Service. This inspiring evening worship service will take place in the Holy Trinity Armenian Church on Friday, 20 December at 7:00pm. The programme will include the traditional Armenian Church Vespers interspersed with readings of Biblical passages concerning the story of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The programme will also comprise traditional Armenian and English Christmas Carols sung with the congregation as well as solo hymns by professional singers. All are welcome and admission to the Candlelight Christmas Carol service is free. Refreshments and a light reception will follow at the Church Hall. For more information about this service or other programmes of the ACYF Manchester please contact the chairman,Zareh at: 07813 864697. Meanwhile, the London ACYF is preparing for its Christmas Carols Candlelight which will take place in St Yeghiche Church on Tuesday, 24 December at 7:00pm. Details to come.

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PILGRIMAGE EXTENDED DEADLINE: MONDAY 2 DECEMBER

Responding to popular demand the Primate’s Office is happy to announce the second extension of the deadline for registration for the “2014 Armenian Church Pilgrimage to the Holy Land” to Monday 2December. The Pilgrimage will include visits to Armenian, Biblical and Christian sites in Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Galilee, including River Jordan and the Dead Sea. There will also be fellowship hours, brief biblical reflections and prayer sessions. The cost of the Pilgrimage is: £1,200 for shared-room accommodations, and £1,450 for private room. The amount covers the expenses for British Airways airfare, transfer to and from the airport in Israel, luxury hotels, tour guide, daily breakfast and dinner, airconditioned bus transportation, boat sail and cable-car ride. To secure your place in the 2014 Pilgrimage, for the price indicated above, please send your deposit of £500, payable to “The Armenian Church Trust UK” to The Primate’s Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. For further information please call the Primate’s Office 0208 127 8364, or e-mail: pilgrimage2014@armenianchurch.co.uk. Click here to read the flyer online. Your deposit must be received in the Primate's Office by Friday, 2 December. Please note British Airways prices may go up after this deadline.

CELEBRATING ADVENT: BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO

Join us for Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” (Weihnachts-Oratorium)on Sundaythe 15th of Decemberat 7.30pm in the beautiful Cathedral of St. Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington. Soloists include our own AnaïsHeghoyan, ArisNadirian, Jassy Husk and AlexandrosTsilogiannis. As our readers may know Anaïs is in involved in various aspects of our church life including serving as an executive member of the London Committee of the ACYF. ArisNadirian, on the other hand, is the capable Maestro of St Yeghiche Church Choir. The soloists will be accompanied by a full Baroque Orchestra the London Early Opera.The programme of the Oratorio will include highlights from stories 1, 2 and 3 from the Oratorio and will be sung in English. The Oratorio programme will last approximately 1hr and 20 mins. Tickets are £15 and are available by calling Anais: 07931 377 539, Sossi: 07815 633 628 or Mariana: 07951 363 620. The programme is co-sponsored by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and The Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) of London.

First Parish Council St Yeghiche Church, London

Dublin ACYF

ACYF in Armenian Monastery San Lazzaro. Venice

SUPPORT THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN UK/IRELAND WHILE SHOPPING ONLINE

The Primate’s Officeof the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland has joined the worldwide charity fundraising programme Easyfundraising in an effort to raise funds for the programmes and ministries of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Simply by shopping online through easyfundraising.org.uk, at any of your favorate stores online, you help making a donation from the store to the Armenian Church. There are no catches and it's completely free to use. It's really simple – just shop online via easyfundraising.org.uk with over 2,700 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay, and many more, and whenever you buy something online, the retailer makes a donation to your chosen good cause. It doesn't cost you a single penny extra. Get started now by clicking here, or going to the following website: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/invite/26OYUG/

THE ACCC IS NOW ACCUK

In a letter addressed to HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, the chairman of the Armenian Community and Church Council of Great Britain (ACCC), Mr Are Palamoudian informed the Primate that “The name of the ACCChas now changed to Armenian Community Council of the United Kingdom and we have made the amendments to the Constitution of the Community’s Council removing all references to, and responsibilities of the Council towards, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Primacy and any one particular church in the community.” In his reply to Mr Palamoudian, the HG Bp Vahan once again thanked the ACCC for their cooperation in organising the Armenian Church administratively in the UK and offered to help the ACCUK in any capacity needed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY: The Bible Study group will meet this Thursday 28 November at 7:00PM in St Thomas Syrian Cathedral. All are welcome. Join us and bring a friend with you. We will start reading the Gospel according to St. Luke.

 KOMITAS CHOIR: A professional Armenian Choir is being established in London by London Tekeyan Trust to enhance Armenian musical culture not only in the Armenian Communities in UK but also internationally. Those interested to join the Choir are requested to contact SipanHagopian @ 07428788644, e-mail: info@tekeyantrust.com.. A Chorus Endowment has been created also to finance the operation of the KOMITAS Choir. Supporters are invited to be Patrons of the Choir. For more information please contact Me VartanOuzounian @ 07940522606, e-mail: vouzounian@tekeyantrust.com.

 VOLUNTEERSare needed for the “2014 Reunion Committee” of the K. Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School. Those interested are requested to e-mail: armenianschool@hotmail.co.uk

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