Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 7, Volume 3

18 FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE 7, VOLUME 3

E-NEWSLETTER H- J:RJIK A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE OF THE DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Meeting With the Archbishop of Westminster

Last Thursday, 9th February, His Eminence Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster of the Roman Catholic Church received His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland, in the Bishop’s House in London. The two hierarchs discussed the centuries-old joint relationships between the two sister churches, including the Pontifical visit of Pope John Paul II of blessed memory to Armenia, to visit the late Catholicos of all Armenians, then ailing, Karekin I. His Grace shared with Abp. Nichols some of the forthcoming plans and programmes for organizing the Diocese of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland. The two hierarchs committed to each other to working together for the benefit of the faithful of the two churches and for the glory of God. Attending the meeting were Fr. Marcus Stock, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales and Dr. Hary Hagopian, Ecumenical Consultant to the Armenian Primate.

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Great Lent Begins This Monday

This Sunday, 19th February, is Poon Parégentan (Boon Barekendan), the Sunday that precedes the forty-day period of Fasting known as “Great Lent,” Médz Bahk. Monday, 20th February, is thus the first day of Great Lent, the annual season for Christians around the world to turn consciously away from worldly matters, and make the effort through prayer, fasting, and self-examination, to prepare for the Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Click Here to read the Primate’s reflections.

Check out the Holy Etchmiadzin Website:

www.armenianchurch.org

The Primate’s Office c/o Hye Doon (Armenian House) 25 Cheniston Gardens Kensington, London W8 6TG

The Primate’s Office

c/o Hye Doon 25 Cheniston Gardens Kensington London, W8 6TG

Church Website

armenianchurch.co.uk

E-mail

primatesoffice

@armenianchurch.co.uk

Telephone

0208 127 8364

The Primate visits Abp. Vincent Nichols

18 FEBRUARY 2012

ISSUE 7 VOLUME 3

... AND MADAGH

Armenian Clergy Meet In

Holy Etchmiadzin

Under the auspices of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a meeting of Armenian clergy took place in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on the Feast of St. Leontus the Priest, Tuesday, 15 February. Participating in the meeting were approximately 200 Armenian priests from dioceses in Armenia and the diaspora. Representing the Diocese of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland was the Revd Fr. Shnork Bagdassarian, pastor of the St. Sarkis Church in London.

The theme of the meeting was “The Priest As the Principal Actor in the Church’s Social Ministry.” The day started with a Sunrise service in the morning, following which the meeting began in the main auditorium of the Gevorkian Seminary. The meeting opened with remarks by His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak, who on behalf of the clergy gathered, thanked His Holiness for his presence and participation in the meeting. Paper presentations were followed by discussions and the adoption of a concluding statement.

Քահանայից հավաք Մայր Աթոռ Սուրբ Էջմիածնում Հավաքի արդյունքում ընդունվեց հայտարարություն

Փետրվարի 15-ին, Մայր Աթոռ Սուրբ Էջմիածնում, նախագահությամբ Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. Գարեգին Բ Ծայրագույն Պատրիարք եւ Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոսի, տեղի ունեցավ Ս. Ղեւոնդյանց քահանայից տոնի առիթով գումարվող քահանայից ավանդական ամենամյա հավաքը: Քահանայից ժողովին մասնակցում էին շուրջ երկու հարյուր երեսուն եկեղեցականներ, ովքեր իրենց ծառայությունն են բերում Մայր Աթոռի կառույցներում, վանքերում, Հայաստանի ու Արցախի թեմերում, ինչպես նաեւ ներկայացուցիչներ Սփյուռքի հայոց թեմերից: Մեծն Բրիդանիոյ եւ Իռլանտիայի թեմը մներկայացուց՝ Արժ. Տ. Շնորք Քհնյ. Պաղտասարեան: Ժողովի քննարկման նյութն էր` «Քահանան եկեղեցական-սոցիալական աշխատանքի հիմնական դերակատար»: Առավոտյան հոգեւորականաց դասը Մայր Տաճարում մասնակցեց Արեւագալի ժամերգության, որից հետո ժողովն սկսեց իր աշխատանքը Գեւորգյան հոգեւոր ճեմարանի հանդիսությունների դահլիճում: Ժողովը բացվեց հավաքի կազմակերպիչ, Շիրակի թեմի առաջնորդ Տ. Միքայել եպիսկոպոս Աջապահյանի խոսքով, ով քահանայից դասի անունից շնորհակալություն հայտնեց Վեհափառ Հայրապետին Մայր Աթոռում համախմբվելու, Նորին Սրբության օրհնությունն ու հայրական պատգամները ստանալու հնարավորության համար, ապա շնորհավորեց հոգեւ- որականներին տոնի

առիթով` մաղթելով նրանց ընթանալ Ղեւոնդյանց ոգով` արձանագրելով նոր- անոր հաջողություն- ներ ու ձեռքբե- րումներ հովվական ասպարեզում:

|au;l;ale karjal fos

HAVE YOU VISITED OUR DIOCESAN WEBSITE RECENTLY?

www.armenianchurch.co.uk

Monday is the first day of Great Lent 2012 Have you planned your daily prayer schedule and fasting discipline?

18 FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE 7, VOLUME 3

‘BOLIS’ SCREENS FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE An evening of dialogue and discussion in memory of Hrant Dink featured the special screening of “Bolis,” a film by Eric Nazarian, at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) on January 27. Hosted by the Armenian Studies program at the University, over 200 British, Turkish, Armenian and international students, faculty and invited guests were captivated by the powerful film and panel discussion that followed. “This event is part of ongoing efforts to bring Turkish and Armenian students and audiences together for dialogue on the complexities of Turkish-Armenian relations,” said Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian (University of Cambridge), one of the organisers of the evening, along with Dr. Krikor Moskofian, director of Armenian Studies at SOAS. Eric Nazarian introduced the film and explained that the initial inspiration for the project was instilled by news of Hrant Dink’s murder on January 19, 2007 in Istanbul. “I felt the need to make a film that explores the rich cultural and musical contributions of Armenians to the history of Istanbul and in some way honor Hrant’s memory and legacy as a bridge builder between Armenians, the Diaspora and Turks,” said Nazarian. “Bolis” examines the pain of the genocide through the act of storytelling between an Armenian oud musician and a Turkish antique store owner. After the screening, a panel of distinguished speakers presented an analysis of the film against the background of current Turkish-Armenian tensions over the issue of the Genocide and the unresolved murder of Hrant Dink. The panel, moderated by Dr. Susan Pattie of the Armenian Institute, included scholar and author Dr. Kerem Oktem (Oxford University), archival historian Ara Sarafian and well-known columnist Koray Duzgoren. A lively question and answer session followed with the filmmaker and the speakers.

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST AND/OR CALL-OUTS

SECOND ANNUAL ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL Join us Sunday, 29th July, 2012, for the Second Annual Armenian Street Festival in the UK. Since its inception last year, the Armenian Street Festival was planned by the Primate’s Office as an all- Armenian festival and the emphasis has been put on inviting as many Armenian organisations and groups to be part of the planning and producing of the event as possible. Last year’s Festival attracted many celebrities and dignitaries including the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and over two thousand people. The Festival generated an income of over £6,000 after expenses. As always volunteers are needed to help with the various aspects of the Festival. If interested please contact the Primate’s Office by phone: 0208 127 8364 or E-MAIL. The Festival will include Armenian food, song, music, dance, church concert, stalls, children’s games and more.

FIRST ARMENIAN CHURCH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

Mark your calendar the new date for the first Annual Assembly of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland, which will take place on Sunday, 11th March, 2012 in the St. Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington, London, at 2:00pm, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. During the Assembly the following will be presented and discussed: the Primate’s Report; the report of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF); the activities and financial report of the Primate’s Office; and a proposed list of activities and budget for the year 2012. All are invited to participate in the Assembly. This is an effort to engage our people in every aspect of the Armenian Church operation and administration. The Armenian Church has always been the heart and soul of the Armenian people. For further information, please contact the Primate’s Office at: 0208 127 8364, or e-mail: primtesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk

CHECK OUT THE ARMENIAN CHURCH TRUST – UK WEBSITE (ACT-UK)

WWW.ARMENIANCHURCHTRUST.ORG.UK

18 February 2012

ISSUE 7, VOLUME 3

SCRIPTURE READINGS

According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 19 February

Poon Parégéntan

Isaiah 58:1-14 Romans 13:11-14:23 Matthew 6:1-21

Monday – 20 February

First Day of Great Lent

Isaiah 1:16-20

Tuesday – 21 February

Ezekiel 18:20-23

Wednesday – 22 February

Exodus 1:1-2:10 Joel 1:14-20

Thursday – 23 February

Romans 6:3-14

Friday – 24 February

Deuteronomy 6:4-7:10 Job 6:2-7:13 Isaiah 40:1-8

Saturday – 25 February

Sunday of Expulsion

Artaqsman Kiraki

Wisdom of Solomon 8:19-9:5 Isaiah 62:6-9 Romans 8:28-39 Matthew 10:16-22

During Great Lent, the traditional Peace and Rest services will be offered at St. Sarkis Church every Friday at 6:35pm. Service booklets have been prepared which contain the prayers, petitions and hymns of the services in Armenian and English. This will hopefully make participation in the service easier and more inspiring. The prayers and hymns of these services are some of the most inspiring prayers of the Armenian Church. Free parking available from 18:30 onward. Join us!

Every Friday, at the conclusion of the Lenten vigils, a Lenten dinner will be served in the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall. The dinner menu will include home made fasting food, prepared according to the Armenian traditional recipes, with wine, soft drinks, coffee/tea and dessert. Each Friday one of the church organisations in London will prepare the dinner. A donation of £10 will help defray the cost of the preparation of the dinner and support the various church programmes.

The Bible Study groups will resume their study and discussion sessions in the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall of the St. Sarkis Church next week according to the following schedule:

Tuesdays at 18:30-20:00 in Armenian, 21st February

Thursdays at 19:00-20:30 in English, 23rd February You do not have to be a biblical scholar or a regular church-goer to attend our Bible Study sessions. All are welcome, including new friends.

During the holy season of Great Lent, the church draws the altar curtain close, as an expression of voluntarily depriving ourselves from the privilege of partaking in the Holy Communion. By doing so, the Church reminds us of the consequence of our sin: alienation from God and separation from God’s presence. Consequently, no communion is distributed in Armenian Churches to the public during Lenten Sundays. Also, traditionally, weddings and baptisms are not celebrated during this season. The first Badarak where the distribution of the Holy Communion is resumed will be on Palm Sunday, 1st April, 2012.

CLICK HERE to read a document that The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has requested to be widely circulated: “KHOJALU IS A SPECULATIVE POLITICAL CAPITAL FOR OFFICIAL BAKU.”