Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland Volume 2, Issue 6 19 February 2016 Armenian Church News

Eve of the Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple 

In this issue: 

Eve of the Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple 

Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord 

Primate’s Office Ladies 

Committee
New Clergy Arrive in the UK Lenten Vigils Begin 

The Treasure that is the Armenian Church 

On Saturday, 13th February, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Church in the Great Britain and Ireland, presided over the evening service (Նախատոնակ) on the Eve of the Feast of Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple at St Sarkis Church in London. 

Soloist Anais Heghoyan (mezzo- soprano) sang the hymns "Incarnated from the Virgin" (Մարմանացեալդ ի կուսէն) and "Holy God" (Սուրբ Աստուած). 

All the faithful in the church were engaged in the liturgy equally with the clerics. At the end of the service six newlywed couples, who had married in Armenian churches 

in London in 2015, were blessed. This ceremony celebrates the preservation of traditional family values, strengthening and encouraging young families. During the blessing His Grace asked to take the Lord’s family as a life example. 

“The Holy Fathers of the church called the family ‘a smaller church’ or ‘a house church’. As in the church, in the family there should also be love, affection and union. There is a need to preserve our cherished national and spiritual values, and you become keepers of our national values and educate your children with those 

Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland 

His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate 

Diocesan Office
Tel. 0208 127 8364 primatesoffice@ armenianchurch.co.uk 

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values. The church is the Body of Christ, we are the parts of the body, and if we speak symbolically, young couples are the heart that brings new blood and energy to the whole body. We are a nation that survived genocide; it is more than important for us to preserve family values. In the 20th century Armenian generations survived after the Genocide also because our sacred traditions were kept alive within the family and the church,” said the Primate during his sermon. The priest lit a candle from the Holy Altar, and distributed the flame to all present. In the conclusion of the service, representatives of the Ladies Committee of the Primate’s Office -Ms Aurelie Tcharbatchian and Mrs Karina Gevorgyan - presented the young couples with special gifts: blessed crosses and CDs with spiritual and traditional songs. After the church ceremony, a traditional bonfire was lit in the churchyard and the congregation danced the “circle of life”. This dance was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and was choreographed by Mrs Shakeh Major Tchilingirian. After the dance all the youth jumped over the fire one by one or with their partners signifying health and fertility after Bishop Hovakim and Father Shnork took the lead in jumping over it. 

The guests were then ushered to the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall where they enjoyed a full Lenten feast prepared by the Ladies Committee and listened to the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Komitas Choir that performed three songs: “Arpa-Sevan”, “It's raining” and “My Chinar Yar” under their Artistic Director Sipan Hakobyan. The event concluded with a speech of gratitude and а prayer for guidance and protection. Bishop Hovakim particularly thanked the Trustees of the St Sarkis Church Trust, Dr Hratch Tchilingirian and Mrs Shakeh Tchilingirian, representitives of the Ladies Committee, as well as to Mrs Soci Nersessian, Mrs Vera Bardakjian, and Mrs Tanya Race who supported the event. He also thanked the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) London Chapter headed by Anais Heghoyan, the Chairman of the Tekeyan Trust Vartan Ouzounian, and Armine Vosganyan, a young Armenian from Romania studying photography and filmography in London and all those who made the service and event possible as well all the guests who attended. 

The members of Ladies Committee of the Primate’s Office are as follows: Mrs Jeanine Gulvanessian, Mrs Elba Karapetian, Mrs Sylva Yeghiazarian, Mrs Araxi Heghoyan, Mrs Gassia Yardim, Mrs Karina Gevorgyan, Miss Aurelie Tcharbatchian, Mrs Jeanette Daghlian, Mrs Zaza Balian, Mrs Vera Harland and Mrs Angel Arevian. 

  

  

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Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple 

On Sunday, 14th February, Armenians from Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and various other places gathered at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester. His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland, presided over the service dedicated to the Feast of Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple. 

“This feast is an invitation to each of us to go forward to our Lord, who revealed Himself to people as a human. In the past, and also nowadays, humanity projected God in its own way: sometimes ‘God’ was perceived as a philosophical idea, sometimes ‘God’ was replaced by material values, some people made wars in the name of ‘God’, as they do now in the Middle East. However, the true God revealed Himself to us and came to us. He is with us and one of us. He was born in Bethlehem, presented to the Temple as it is the case with every new–born in Christian families. To go forward to the invitation of the Lord means to follow 

Him and to do whatever He did and witnessed Himself, and the most important among those is to “do unto others whatever you would like them to do to you (Mt. 7:12)”. In conclusion the Primate blessed the newlywed couples as well as performed the blessing of pomegranates (Նռօրհնէք). Following the Divine Liturgy a delicious Lenten feast was prepared by the ladies of the parish and enjoyed by everyone. 

In the evening the procession of the clergy and faithful led by the Primate lit the candle from the altar of the church and left the church singing Armenian hymns or sharakans (Լուսաւորեա Երուսաղէմ եւ Ուրախ Լեր). A traditional bonfire was lit in the churchyard followed by joyful songs and dance. The bonfire was organised by the ACYF Manchester Chapter who also prepared cocktails and served Armenian halva. The Chairman of the ACYF Manchester Chapter Zareh Nersessian made a presentation of their upcoming activities. Bishop Hovakim thanked the Holy Trinity Church Trust headed by Tato Couligian, the Chairman of the Parish Council Hagop Erimian, Ladies Committee Chair Mrs Penny Evans and the ACYF Chairman. He also acknowledged the constant hard and attentive work from Deacon Artur Bobikyan. 

  

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Primate’s Office Ladies Committee 

A New Committee to Organise Social Events and Promote Armenian Cultural and Spiritual Values 

On 17th February, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan met with members of the newly formed Ladies Committee at the initiative of the Primate. The mission of the committee will be to assist the Primate in organising various social events to promote Armenian cultural and spiritual values. 

The Primate thanked the committee for their help in organising the Pomegranate Blessing event on New Year’s Day and the celebration on the Eve of the Feast of Presentation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the Temple. Plans of upcoming events were also discussed. On 27th March, the Ladies Committee will be organising an Easter Luncheon at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington following the Easter Divine Liturgy. 

At the end of the meeting, Bishop Hovakim introduced the committee members to Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Diocese of Damascus, who was in London on a private visit. Bishop Armash greeted the committee members and spoke about the current situation in Syria as well as challenges that are faced by the Armenian community in that country. 

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New Clergy Arrive in the UK 

With the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Revd Fr Vram Ghazaryan, who has been appointed to serve at the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland, has now arrived in London. 

On Sunday, 21st February, the Primate Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, will introduce Fr Vram to the congregation of St Yeghiche Church. Fr Vram was born in Yerevan in 1975. He studied at Mkhitar Sebatsatsi School in Yerevan, then Sevan before enrolling at the Vasgenian Theological Seminary in Sevan. Afterwards he continued his studies at the Theological Seminary of the Catholicossate of Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon. He was ordained a deacon in 1994 by Bishop Vartan Ajemian and a year later was elevated to the sacred order of priesthood by His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan. 

Fr Vram served as the Director of Archives at the Catholicossate and taught at the Theological Seminary. He moved to Holy Etchmiadzin in 1996 and became a member of the Brotherhood of the Mother See. He served as pastor at the Armenian community in Odessa, Ukraine, Samarkand and Central Asia and Stepanavan, Armenia. He speaks both Eastern and Western variants of Armenian Russian, Ukrainian and English. He is the author of number of articles and publications, among them the book ‘History of the Armenian Church in Central Asia from 5th to 15th centuries’ in Armenian and Russian (2008). 

   

Parish Life 

Friday Lenten Vigils Begin 

On Friday evening, 12th February, the first Lenten Evensong (Հսկում) took place at St Sarkis Church. During the service the clergy and the faithful sung hymns such as “Look Lovingly, Compassionate Father” (Nayats seerov - Նայեաց սիրով), “Grant Us, Lord at Night, Your Heavenly Peace” (Shnorhya mez Der ee keesheree (Շնորհեա մեզ Տէր, ի գիշերի) for protection at night, and the hymn of the Peace Hour (Ee ken haytsemk (Ի քէն հայցեմք) and recited the prayer ‘’I Confess With Faith’’ (Havatov Khostovanim Հաւատով խոստովանիմ) by the 12th century Armenian Church father, Catholicos Nerses the Gracious. 

At the end of the service the participants socialised in the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall and were served Lenten food prepared under the supervision of the 

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Primate and Primate’s Office On behalf of the Primate and Primate’s Office we thank Mrs Tania Race and Jakobs restaurant for providing the Lenten food and their continuing support. 

Spirituality 

Through the Eyes of an Englishman 

The Treasure that is the Armenian Church 

Having been brought up a Christian, attending an Episcopal Church in Scotland as a teenager and even singing in the church choir for four years the feeling of being “close to God” or even in a certain sense a welcome guest in his home only really came over me as I had the honour to step into my first Armenian chapel on the corner of Abovyan Street in Yerevan. 

The “family feeling” and “casualness” of the Episcopal Church suddenly gave way to a feeling of great mysticism, something truly unique and in a certain sense a feeling of being transplanted from the normality of a modern city street into another dimension, another world so distant from your everyday toils but yet so close, right across the street from my modern hotel. 

Attending a church in the United Kingdom is most certainly a different experience than entering into the “reality of faith” which is how I would describe the feeling of an Armenian church to be. 

The interior feels mysterious, not in any way threatening but at the same time intriguing and strong. Participating in an Armenian service is a wonderfully enhancing experience for your faith, not as in an Episcopal environment which fills you with uplifting hymns and kind words from the pulpit, but rather an environment which touches you inside and leaves you with the distinct feeling that you really did pass an hour in God’s house and in some way you were touched by the experience. 

Many say that words are everything, but as a non–Armenian speaker it could be assumed that not understanding the guidance and commands from the minister leading the service would lessen the effect the service may have on you as a participant, but in my view, the lack of language does nothing more than enhance your other senses and the feeling and energy that comes from the service embraces you even more strongly. Your senses are not preoccupied with the language; rather with other sensations transmitted 

   

  

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through other senses and you are so much more attuned to receive and embrace them. 

I have had the honour and pleasure to visit many churches and religious sites in numerous parts of Armenia during the last few years and having the opportunity to continue to engage on a regular basis with our beloved Armenian churches in Kensington remains a blessing I appreciate everyday of our lives in London. (James Mckeown) 

  

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Joint Public Meeting 

Socialist History Society Iraqi Women Solidarity Centre for Armenian 

Information & Advice 

Wednesday 6th April 2016 7:30pm- 9:00pm
at 

Marx Memorial Library 

37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1 

Free to attend Retiring collection 

*** 

Talk + Slide Show 

ZABELLIANA
Life & Art
Of The Magnificent Polymath 

Zabelle Boyajian 

Painter, Poet, Playwright, 

Translator, Multi-Linguist
(b. 1872, Diyarbakir, d. 1957, London) 

Speaker 

KHATCHATUR I. PILIKIAN *** 

Residing in London in early 1900, Zabelle studied at Slade School of Fine Art.
She became the author of the first play in the English language, Gilgamesh, a Dream of the Eternal Quest, published in 1924, based on the Sumerian epic poem, Gilgamesh, of the second millennium BC. 

Zabelle’s mother, Catherine, was a kinswoman of the poet Samuel Rogers (1763- 1855), and of the Egyptologist Samuel Sharp (1794-1881).
Zabelle’s father was Thomas Boyajian, the British Vice Consul in Turkey (victim of the Hamidian genocidal massacres of 1894- 1896). 

After the world was engulfed in the total war of WW1, culminating in the Genocide of the Armenians in 1915, Zabelle fought back by publishing, in 1916, her Armenian Legends & Poems – another first in the English language.
Soon, the noted Shakespeare scholar, Sir Israel Gollancz invited her to contribute a poem –which she did - commemorating the tercentenary of the Bard’s death, in a book 

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Tekeyan Trust London 

Our mission is to enrich lives through music,
but we can’t do it without your support. 

You can make a personal difference in the work of the Komitas Choir. Please consider that your financial support helps sustain the choir’s rehearsals, 

concerts, musical performances, and community activities. 

Give a little and make a big difference... 

TO MAKE A DONATION 

BY CHEQUE
Send chequespayable to the Tekeyan Trust 

15 Brunswick Court, 1 Darlaston Road London SW19 4LF 

Tel: 020 3582 0190, Mob: 07940 522 606 vouzounian@tekeyantrust.com 

KOMITAS CH OI R 

BY BANK TRANSFER 

Barclays Bank PLC
A/C Name: The Tekeyan Trust A/C No.: 50773093
Sort Code: 20-68-79 

SWIFT BIC: BARCGB22
IBAN: GB35 BARC 2068 7950 7730 93 

  

Memo: "Support to the Komitas Choir" 

____________________ 

Every pound is valuable to us and greatly appreciated! 

Thank you for your consideration and your commitment to the Komitas Choir! 

KOMITAS CHOIR OF TEKEYAN TRUST LONDON 

In November 2013, the Tekeyan Trust London, on the initiative of its Honourary Secretary Mr Vartan Ouzounian, founded the Komitas Choir. The idea of creating the choir, the brainchild of Mr Sipan Olah, a young and promising tenor and conductor from Armenia, was also enthusiastically supported by benefactors both from the UK and abroad. 

Currently the Komitas Choir consists of 30 members. Mr Ouzounian is the choir chairman, Mr Olah is its artistic director and conductor, and Mrs Ellida Babayan (originally from Armenia) is the pianist. They all work relentlessly and passionately to bring together young and old choir members and guide them to maturity. Under the baton of conductor Olah, the Komitas Choir aims to research, preserve and enhance Armenian musical heritage. 

The choir repertoire includes a wide range of songs and music, including Armenian folk, classical, spiritual as well as international ones. 

Diligence of the choir and devotion to music smoothed the way towards many successful performances at concerts and celebrations amongst which were Armenian Street Festival (August 2014), the 23rd Armenian Independence Day (September, 2014), Christmas Carol concert organized by Baroness Caroline Cox in support of charity organization HART (2014, 2015). 

The Komitas Choir’s first major concert was dedicated to the 145th anniversary of Komitas and took place at St Yeghiche Church in October, 2014. The concert included solo and choir performances and made a deep impression on the attendants. It has been an encouraging start for the choir and its artistic director Olah whose natural talent is growing stronger and more compelling from concert to concert. 

It is also gratifying to see the zeal of the choir members, a dedicated group of volunteers who diligently attend all the rehearsals for delivering high quality music and reaching new heights in the world of music. And the true measure of their success is that the choir performances always attract large audiences. 

Starting January 2016, after a compelled break from March to December, 2015, the Komitas Choir has resumed rehearsals which are going on without interruptions since the choir is perfecting a new programme for performing at several concerts after summer period. 

The majority of the choir members are older generation, yet it would be wonderful to see more young members of the Armenian Community joining the Komitas Choir, in order to continue the excellent choral traditions set by Komitas himself and to spread the ancient Armenian musical and cultural heritage in the UK. 

The Tekeyan Trust and the Komitas Choir invite talented young volunteers who love choral music and care for Armenian traditional songs, to become a choir member and to support its existence for forthcoming years. The youth can be constant initiators of new musical projects and can lead the Komitas Choir to the world stages. 

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Upcoming Events 

DIOCESAN PROGRAMMES
Forthcoming Events in February and March 

Bible Studies 

Every Thursday, at St. Sarkis Church Gulbenkian Hall led by the Primate and the 

clergy of the Diocese 

Next dates: February 18th, 25th; March 3rd, 10th, 17th 

Bible Studies are an important part of the church’s ministry as they provide opportunities for the faithful and those who are interested and curious to have a deeper understanding of Christianity and to ask questions about their faith, beliefs 

and concerns. During Bible studies we make observations (what do passages in the Bible say?), provide interpretation (what do they mean?) and ask how 

applicable these passages are to our lives today. Open to everyone. 

Great Lent 

Liturgy of the Hour of Peace (Խաղաղական ժամերգութիւն) or Liturgy of the Hour of Rest (Հանգստեան ժամերգութիւն)
St Sarkis Church continues its tradition of Friday night evening Lenten vigil services. The Services start at 6:30 pm. There will be services on February 19th, 26th, March 4th, 11th, 18.th 

The services are followed by a Lenten fellowship meal at the Nevart Gulbenkian hall, where the faithful have the opportunity to socialise and encounter the clergy. The faithful are welcome to make a small donation during these meals. 

Each meal is prepared by a London–based Armenian organisation such as Primate’s Office, ACYF, St Sarkis and St Yeghiche Ladies Committees and the K Tahta Armenian Sunday School. 

Liturgy of the Hour of Sunrise (Արեւագալի ժամերգութիւն)
There will be the Liturgy of the Hour of Sunrise, in the Armenian Churches at St Yeghiche and St Sarkis Churches every Sunday after the Eucharistic service. 

There will be also Liturgies of the Hour of Sunrise at St Sarkis Church every Wednesday at 10:30 am on February 24th, March 2nd, 9th, and 16th 

Elmridge Multi-Faith Forum 

Wednesday, 24th February, 11:00 am, St. Sarkis Church 

Visit of multi-faith Group, organised jointly by Elmridge Multifaith Forum and the Primate’s Office. The idea is to increase the mutual understanding between different faith groups. 

   

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Theophania Concert 

Saturday, 27th February, 7:00pm, St. Yeghiche Church  “Theophania Concert”. A spiritual celebration, organised by the St. Kyrel Trust, St. Yeghiche Church and Primate’s Office. Presented by Armenian, Coptic, Greek, Moldovian, Russian, Maronite and Syriac choirs.  Armenian Sacred and Classical Music Concert for Syrian Relief  Saturday, 19th March, 7:30 pm, St. Yeghiche Church  A concert of Armenian Sacred and Classical Music welcoming in Holy Week. Musical Director Aris Nadirian and Anais Heghoyan will be coordinating this concert. Invited to perform will be soloists from Saghmosergu male ensemble from Armenia and The London Armenian Opera Chorus. Tickets can be purchased

at St. Yeghiche Church on the day at £15 and all profits made from the concert will go to Syria Relief.

Holy Week Celebrations in the Armenian Churches of Holy Trinity in Manchester, St Sarkis and St Yeghiche in London 

Palm Sunday (Ծաղկազարդ) and Blessing of Children
Sunday, 20th March, 11:00am
The Liturgy will be followed by the rite of Opening of Doors (Դռնբացէք) 

Holy Thursday 

Thursday, 24th March, 11:00am 

Liturgy of Institution of the Eucharist, 4:30pm Washing of Feet ceremony (Ոտնլուայ), 7: 30pm Passion Evening 

Good Friday 

Friday, 25th March, 4:30pm 

Burial Service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 

Easter Eve 

Saturday, 26th March, 5:30pm 

Easter Eve Liturgy 

Easter Divine Liturgy 

Sunday, 27th March, 11:00am 

Easter Luncheon 

Sunday, 27th March, 2:00pm, Copthorne Tara Hotel 

To celebrate Easter together and to feel the joy of unity at Eastertide 

The Ladies’ Committee of the Primate's Office is organising a luncheon at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington on 27th March, after the Easter Divine Liturgy, at 2:00pm. It is a unique opportunity to gather together as a community for fellowship to enjoy a very special and new menu, break coloured eggs and feel the 

  

  

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joy of Easter in a celebratory atmosphere! We wholeheartedly invite everybody to join us at this event. For more information, please contact the Primate’s Office at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk. 

The prices per ticket are:
Adults - £25.00, Children under 12 years - £15.00, Children under 4 years - Free. 

Gassia Yerdim: 07850644874 

To book please contact: 

Jeanine Gulvanessian: 02073705848 

Sylva Yeghiazarian: 02088649216 

Karine Gevorgyan: 07515336637 

Aurelie Tcharbatchian: 07500110598 

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel: 6th – 14th June 2016 

Armenians have made pilgrimages to the Holy Land since the 5th century. It is a unique opportunity for every Christian man and woman to have a spiritual journey and retreat. On 9th June, the pilgrims will participate in the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Old Julian Calendar). 

For the Armenian pilgrims it has another added value because apart from visiting Holy Places they will visit the Armenian quarter and St. James Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem to get acquainted with the legacy of the Armenian fathers in Jerusalem. 

The group will be led by the Primate. Special guides will facilitate the visits. The group will stay 5 days in Jerusalem at the Christmas Hotel and two nights in Tiberias at the Boutique Hotel and one night in Tel Aviv at the Deborah Hotel. 

For more details please contact primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk 

Editorial: 

The main objective of the diocesan e-newsletter is to serve and reach out to Armenians throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The community members and organisations are welcome to send their announcements for the e-newsletter, including information not only about public events but also about important family events such as christening, matrimony or passing away. 

Prayer intentions for February

We join sister Churches and pray that people may take good care of creation – a gift freely given – cultivating and protecting it for future generations

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Worship Services in the Armenian Churches 

Services are held in the Armenian Churches in London every Sunday starting at 11:00 am. In Manchester, there is a service on the 1st Sunday of the month. For further details, please contact the parish nearest to you: 

Holy Trinity Armenian Church 

229 Upper Brook Street Manchester, M13 0FY
Tel: 0161 273 1074 www.armenianchurchmanchester.org/ 

St. Sarkis Church 

Iverna Gardens Kensington, London, W8 6TP Tel: 020 7937 0152 http://www.stsarkisparish.co.uk 

St. Yeghiche Cathedral 

13b Cranley Gardens Kensington, London SW7 3BB Tel: 020 7373 8133 http://www.styeghiche.org.uk/ 

Other Parishes of our Diocese: 

Cardiff - Tel: + 44 771 279 2304, +44 2920779248. john@jagproperties.co.uk
Dublin - Tel: +44 2891 863559. http://www.armenians.ie/
Birmingham – Tel: +44 121 675 1469. St John’s Church, Stratford Road, Birmingham, B11 4EA Oxford - Tel: +44 7810 490242. armenian.society@studentsclub.ox.ac.uk 

   

We invite those who have questions or wish to gain deeper understanding of the faith, moral discernment, teachings and traditions of the Armenian Church to contact the Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in United Kingdom and Ireland: 

The Primate’s Office
The Armenian Vicarage
Iverna Gardens
London, W8 6TP
or email: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk 

PLEASE NOTE OUR CHANGE OF POSTAL ADDRESS 

Editorial Committee: 

His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate 

Garen Arevian
Lena Boghossian
Hovik Hovhannisyan Aznive Simon
Gagik Stepan-Sarkissian Sossi Yerissian