Armenian Church E-Newsletter - Issue 18, Vol. 2

E-NEWSLETTER

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AArmenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland

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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programs@ armenianchurch.oc.uk Download Audio/Video

GENERAL INFORMATION

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armenianchurch.oc.uk

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V. Revd Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate

88 May 2011, Issue 18, Vol 2

INSPIRING PILGRIMAGE TO ST. DAVID’S CATHEDRAL Early morning, Saturday, 30th

St. David’s Cathedral – First Armenian Badarak

April, a 57-passenger bus left Cardiff’s Ibis Hotel with Armenians from London, Manchester, Cardiff and its surroundings, heading to the Atlantic shores. The bus-trip was accompanied by several cars from the various parts of the UK carrying passengers joining those in the bus to launch the first pilgrimage of the Armenian Church to the sixth-century monastery and shrine of St. David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales, organized by the Primate’s

Office under the leadership of the Very Revd Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. On the night before the journey to St. David’s, the Mission Parish Council (MPC) of the Armenian Church in Cardiff, Wales, was the host of a dinner reception and programme for the out-of-town pilgrims which took place at the Ararat Church in Cardiff. Following the welcoming remarks by Mr. John Torossian, MPC Chairman, the pilgrims were treated to a delicious dinner courtesy of the Women’s Guild of the Cardiff MPC. The beautiful fellowship and the delightful menu of food and pudding that followed inspired the members of the choir from London and Manchester to start an impromptu “concert.” Organizing the on-site programme was maestro Aris Nadirian, and performing on the piano was Deacon Artur Bobikyan. At the end of the evening, the Primate thanked the Cardiff MPC and Women’s Guild, for the reception dinner, and all who joined in the pilgrimage, wishing them an inspiring pilgrimage. The following day, Saturday, after the almost-3-hour journey, the pilgrims found themselves at the gates of the magnificent St. David’s Cathedral. At 12:00 noon the inspiring Armenian Badarak commenced, celebrated by the Very Revd Dr. Vahan

/events.asp Hovhanessian, Primate, and assisted by Fr. Jirayr Tashjian and Fr. Garegin Hambartzuyan. For the first time in history, the beautiful Armenian hymns and

spirit-renewing prayers of the Badarak resounded in this historic Cathedral. In

his sermon, Fr. Vahan reflected on the message of Easter reminding all of FELLOWSHIP (ACYF) Christ’s new commandment to love one another as He loved us, and elaborating

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on the importance of love, reconciliation and solidarity for the sake of truth and justice. He then praised the Welsh community for their solidarity with the Armenian people. “Today especially, as our Easter coincides with our people’s commemoration of the 1915 Genocide,” said the Primate, “we are grateful to our brothers and sisters in Wales who have always supported our immigrant community and defended our cause, for the sake of the gospel and justice, and have acknowledged the atrocities committed by the Turko-Ottoman governments in historic Armenia at the turn of the 20th century as Genocide.” At the end of his reflection Fr. Vahan thanked the Bishop of St. David, His Grace John Wyn Evans and the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Revd D Jonathan R Lean for allowing the Armenians to use the Cathedral and for being present at the liturgy. Turning to Canon Patrick Thomas, seated on the right of the altar, the Primate expressed his gratitude and love on behalf of the pilgrims and of the Armenian people for his continuous support of the Armenians in general and for coordinating the pilgrimage and the celebration of the first Armenian Badarak in St. David’s cathedral. Badarak was followed by a requiem service, Hokehangist, in memory of the 1915 martyrs, organized by the Cardiff MPC, whose members were present at the Badarak and the Hokehankisd. At the end of the church service, Canon Patrick Thomas invited all to a tour of the Cathedral library which was exhibiting manuscripts, rare books and publications in Armenian and about the Armenian people. It was indeed a memorable pilgrimage. Thank you “Church in Wales” and Armenian Church MPC in Cardiff!

PHOTOS OF THE PILGRIMAGE TO ST. DAVID’S CATHEDRAL (29-30 APRIL, 2011)

FFr. Garegin offering the absolution

Fr. Jirayr’s address @ Cardiff MPC reception/dinner

Fr. Jirayr chanting the Gospel

Fr. Garegin leading the chalice procession

Maestro Aris leading the choir

“This is life and hope of resurrection”

Distribution of Holy Communion

Dean, Fr. Jirayr, Fr. Vahan, Mr. Torossian

Final Gospel chanting

Exhibition - Armenian publications St. David’s Library

THE ARMENIAN STREETS FESTIVAL IN LONDON ... NEEDS YOU!

On Tuesday, 26 April a group of over 30 people of all ages gathered in Gulbenkian Hall of the St. Sarkis Church, to participate in the first meeting of the first Armenian Street Festival in London. The meeting was presided over by the Primate, who presented the concept and discussed the various aspects and objectives of the Festival. He then invited A. Violetta Barzankian-Kaydan, of the Primate’s Office to present a report of the applications for the closure of the streets and to obtain the permits necessary for organizing a street festival in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Primate then invited those present to discuss various ideas concerning the programme, food menu, children’s activities and stall- holders. A volunteer sheet was distributed asking those present to volunteer their time in the various aspects of the Festival including in the committees for serving food, setting up the tents and tables and cleaning up. At the end of the meeting the date of the next meeting was fixed. Fr. Vahan then thanked all present for their time, ideas

and participation. The Primate’s Office is the official body organizing the first Armenian Street Festival in London in cooperation with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. The Festival is scheduled on Sunday, 12th June, 2011 following Church services on the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday). The Festival will include an impressive programme of entertainment including Armenian songs, music and dance, as well as a children’s area with puppet show, bouncing castle, and other activities. There will be stalls with vendors selling paintings, books, jewelry and arts and crafts. Meanwhile, delicious Armenian food and grills (Khorovadz) wil be available for purchase in Gulbenkian Hall as well as grills on the churchyard. The blocked Iverna Gardens Street will turn into a public plaza with its beautiful garden in the centre and two big tents and tables and chairs where people can sit and enjoy the Armenian music, dance and the delicious food, as well as the beautiful backdrop of the St. Sarkis Church and its grounds. Dignitaries and guests are invited as well as residents of the local community. A production of this magnitude obviously needs the help of as many Armenians as we can get. Volunteers are needed to help us serve the food and setup the grounds (tents, tables and chairs). If you are available on Sunday, 12 June, and are willing to volunteer, please contact Violetta at the Primate’s Office: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk. More details to come. Until then please mark your calendar (12th June) and prepare to join us as we inaugurate the first street festival in London sponsored by the Armenian Church.

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AN INTENSIVE COURSE IN CLASSICAL ARMENIAN - KRAPAR By. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan

The Continuing Education Ministry (CEM) of the Armenian Church of the UK and Ireland announces the offering of an introductory course in the Classical Armenian language. Using handouts and PowerPoint projection, Fr. Garegin Hambartzumian, instructor, will demonstrate how one can learn the basics of this beautiful language and be able to understand it in 8 sessions. Fr. Garegin, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, is currently pursuing his theological studies at Sheffield University in the UK, The course will include reading actual paragraphs from the liturgy and Bible as well as from manuscript fragments. The sessions will meet on four consecutive Saturdays and Sundays, May 14/15, 21/22, 28/29, and June 4/5 from 18:00-20:00 at Gulbenkian Hall. You do not have to know conversational Armenian to sign up for this course. The session will be instructed in Enlgish and Armenian. The course will be offered free of charge courtesy of the Continuing Education Ministry. To sign up for the course or for further information, please contact the Primate’s Office at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk.

HOUSE BLESSING FOR EASTER

For centuries now, Armenian clergy took the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the sanctuaries to the homes of Armenians in their neighbourhoods, through the beautiful service of the blessing of the house. This is a 10- minute service which includes short prayers, singing of a hymn, and the chanting of a Gospel passage. The host family does not need to prepare much for the visiting clergy other than a glass of water, some salt and bread. According to the Bible these three elements symbolize life and survival. By blessing these three elements the priest blesses the entire house and all those who live in that house. To arrange a house blessing please contact your parish priest or a member of the Pastoral Committee/Church Committee/Board of Wardens of the church. If you live in or near Cardiff or Dublin, please contact your MPC chairman. If you live in Birmingham please contact Deacon Artur Bobikyan: bobikemes@yahoo.co.uk. You can also contact the Primate’s Office at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk, or call 020 8127 8364. Let us make sure to preserve this beautiful ancestral Armenian custom and keep it alive in our homes.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS

(According to the Armenian Church Lectionary)

Sunday 8/5

Sunday of World Church

Acts 9:23-31 1 Peter 2:1-10 John 2:23-3:12

Monday 9/5

16th Day of Easter

Acts 9:32-43

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1 Peter 2:11-17 John 3:13-21

Tuesday 10/5

17th Day of Eastertide

Acts 10:1-23 1 Peter 2:18-25 John 3:22-36

Wednesday 11/5

18th Day of Eastertide

Acts 10:24-48 1 Peter 3:1-9 John 4:1-23

Thursday 12/5

19th Day of Eastertide

Acts 11:1-26

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1 Peter 3:10-22 John 4:24-42

Friday 13/5

Twentieth Day of Eastertide

Acts 11:27-12:24 1 Peter 4:1-11 John 4:43-54

Saturday 14/5

21st Day of Eastertide

Acts 12:25-13:15 1 Peter 4:12-19 John 5:1-18

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YOUR FEEDBACK IS NEEDED – NEW PUBLICATIONS Lenten and Holy Week publications and Badarak Book – ideas:

This year’s Holy Week services were different thanks to the newly published books, which contained the Classical Armenian texts of the Holy Thursday’s “Betrayal Service” (Khavaroom), and Good Friday’s “Burial Service” Taghman Gark, alongside their English translation & transliteration (phonetic), which were made available to the worshipers. The sound of the turning pages of the books by the faithful, as the hymn, psalmody and Scripture readings reached the end of each page, was truly comforting and

inspiring to all, especially to the clergy and deacons who are used to offering these inspiring services, once a year, with minimum involvement by the faithful. We hope these books will be a helpful step in bringing the faithful closer to the spirituality and theology of the Armenian Church, especially during these most sacred days of the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church. The Good Friday book was used also by Fr. Vahan during his Friday evening reflections, before the screening of the Passion of the Christ film and the reception prepared by the ACYF. If you are one of those who attended the Holy Thursday or Good Friday services and used the newly published books, we would like to hear from you. Please write to the Primate’s Office: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk, and let us know if you have any suggestions or recommendations regarding the layout, translation or transliteration in these books. The Primate’s Office hopes to publish 3 more volumes to cover the services of the Opening of the Gates (Tunpatsek), Ten Virgins (Himar Imasdoon) and Washing of the Feet (Votnlva). Your feedback will help us make sure that these books are most effective and useful for the worshippers.

Good Friday Reflections

ARMENIAN CHURCH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP - MEMBERSHIP: IN order for the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship ACYF) participate in the international Armenian Church youth assembly, delegates need to be elected to represent the UK/Ireland ACYF. Please be part of the process and join us by filling out the membership form. To request the form CLICK HERE.

BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS: The Bible Study groups, a programme of the Continuing Education Ministry (CEM), meet during the week: Armenian on Tuesdays at 7:00pm, English on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. Both groups meet in the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall. Please note that this Wednesday there will be no Bible Study session in English. In general, these sessions are great opportunities for people who have not yet read the Bible or those who want to read it in a group. All are welcome and admission is free.

ONLINE LIST: We are happy to inform our readers that the Armenian Church of GB and Ireland has a website that is updated regularly. You can visit the website at: www.armenianchurch.co.uk. If someone you know wishes to receive the E- Newsletter, or if you want us to send the E-Newsletter to a relative or a friend, kindly forward the person’s e-mail to: information@armenianchurch.co.uk. Meanwhile, we are building up our e-list UK/Ireland-wide. If you know of someone who lives anywhere in the UK and Ireland, please forward the person’s e-mail address to: information@armenianchurch.co.uk.

ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

The Primate’s Office: 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG, UK Website: www.armenianchurch.co.uk • E-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk Phone: 020 8127 8364 • Fax: 087 2111 5548

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