Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 13, Volume 3

30 MARCH 2012 ISSUE 13, 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

Great and Holy Week - 2012

This Sunday, 1st April, is Palm Sunday— the feast that celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where He was greeted by the people of Jerusalem with branches of palm and olive trees, as narrated in all of the four Gospels (Mark 11:1–11, Matthew 21:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12– 19). In commemoration of this event, the Armenian Church distributes crosses made out of branches of palm trees to the faithful gathered in church on Palm Sunday. The feast highlights Our Lord’s love for His people that led Him to His voluntary return to Jerusalem: the headquarters of the enemies of the gospel, to challenge them and to redeem His creation, through His crucifixion, death and resurrection. Palm Sunday is an important feast in the Armenian Church calendar, because it ends the period of Great Lent and ushers in Holy Week: the sacred commemoration of the dramatic events leading to the final day of our Lord in this world: the Last Supper, Christ’s Betrayal, Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection, His victory over death and the redemption of humanity. During Holy Week, April 1 through April 8, the Armenian Church remembers these events through a series of special services, culminating in the Easter Sunday on April 8, 2012. Please check our Holy Week calendar and join us at as many of these services as you can.

WASHING OF THE FEET:

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 Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

New booklets have been published by the Primate’s Office which include the text of the service of the Washing of the Feet in Armenian and English to help the faithful actively participate in this inspiring service. If you are interested to have your son or grandson participate in the Washing of the Feet service, please contact the Primate’s Office: 0208 127 8364, or e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk

Check the Holy Week Calendar in London by:

Clicking Here

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

30 MARCH 2012

ISSUE 13 VOLUME 3

SHUSHI ANNIVERSARY

Commemoration & Celebration

The Friends of Artsakh, under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, invite you to an evening of commemoration celebrating the liberation of Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh), to take place on Saturday, 19th May, 2012 at 19:00 hrs in the Twyford Church of England High School (Twyford Crescent, Acton, London W3 9PP). The programme will include the screening of the documentary “Legends of Shushi” by Samvel Tadevosyan, and performances of music and poetry by UK Armenian talents. For further information please contact he Primate’s Office at 0208 127 8364, or e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk

First Parish Assembly in UK

This Sunday, 1st April, 2012, for the first time in the history of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom, a parish assembly will be convened at St. Sarkis Church. The Assembly is scheduled at 2:00pm inside the church. Registration of parishioners will take place outside the Gulbenkian Hall starting at 11:00am. Those registered will partake of a meal in the Gulbenkian Hall prior to proceeding to the Church for the Assembly.

PRIMATE MEETS MINISTER OF DIASPORA

Last Tuesday, 28th March, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian met with Her Honour Mrs. Hranoush Hakopyan, Minister of the Dispora of the Republic of Armenia, who was on a two-day visit to the UK. The meeting was part of a lunch gathering hosted by Her Excel. Mrs . Karine Ghazinian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia. Present at the meeting was Mr. Martin Sarkis Essayan, Chairman of the UK branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The discussion during the lunch- meeting covered subjects such as the cooperation of the diaspora Armenians with the projects of the Ministry and the various ways the Ministry can support the Armenian community in the diaspora. Following the meeting Mrs. Hakopyan presented Mr. Essayan with the Boghos Nubar Pasha award in appreciation of the many services of great support presented by Mr. Essayan and the Gulbenkian foundation to the Armenian people and the projects of the Ministry.

Round Table Discussion with the Minister

On Tuesday, 28th March, leaders of the Armenian community in the UK and Ireland were the guest of the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Mrs. Karine Ghazinian, to meet with Her Honour Hranoush Hakopyan, Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia. Present at the discussion was H.G. Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, who thanked the Minister for her visit and interest in supporting the diaspora Armenians. The Minister reported on the various programmes sponsored and supported by the Ministry, and discussed some of the issues facing the development of these programmes and the cooperation with the diaspora. Her reporting was followed by a video presentation highlighting the various programmes mentioned in her report. Following the video documentary, the Minister presented the following Armenian leaders and community workers with medals and letters of appreciation: Mr. Armand Abrahamian, Mr. Asadour Guzelian, Mr. Setrak Mouradian, Deacon Stepan Ovanessoff, Deacon Hratch Tchilingirian (in absentia) and Mr. John Torosyan. Congratulations to all!

Support the programmes of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland by donating to “The Armenian Church Trust – UK”. For further information please visit our website at: www.armenianchurchtrust.org.uk

30 March 2012

Issue 13, Volume 3

THE PRIMATE MEETS WITH HIS HOLLINESS KAREKIN II

His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, returned to London Wednesday, 28th March, after a weeklong visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. During his visit Bishop Vahan had several meetings with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Among the subjects discussed during the meetings were the finalization of a Diocesan bylaws for the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the UK andthe Republic of Ireland, the first annual Church assembly in the UK, the formation of the St. Sarkis Church parish, and the Mission Parish Outreach programme of the Primate’s Office. His Grace participated also in the meetings of the members of the joint committee of liturgical reformation appointed by His Holiness Karekin II and Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. Accompanying Bishop Vahan during the visit was the Revd Dr. William Taylor, Chairman of the Anglican and Orthodox Church Dialogue Committee. Fr. William was received by His Holiness in a meeting attended by Bishops Vahan and Bishop Hovakim of the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. During the meeting, the mutual relationshps between the two churches were discussed, and new projects of cooperation were introduced. H.G. Bishop Vahan was invited by the Dean of the Gevorkian Seminary to meet with the students of the two upper classes and discuss with them challenges facing pastoral ministry in the Armenian Church.

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Church Registry: March 2012

BAPTISMS SOPHIA ROSE AVAKIAN, daughter of Garabed and Orla Avakian was baptised at St. Sarkis Church on 11th March 2012. The Godfather was Shahe Avakian. There was no Baptism in St Yegiche Church this month.

MARRIAGES

There were no marriages this month.

FUNERALS SETH NAZLOOMIAN, born in Iran in 1916 was deceased on 18th February, 2012. The funeral service was held at Gunnersbury Cemetery Chapel followed by internment in Gunnersbury Cemetery on 1st March, 2012. ANOOSH DER BARSEGHIAN, born in Iran on 4th May, 1924 was deceased on 5th March, 2012. The funeral service was held at Gunnersbury Chapel and was followed by internment in Gunnersbury Cemetery on 13th March, 2012. SYLVIA LEDA PEARSON, born in London on 7th March, 1959 was deceased on 2nd March, 2012. The funeral service was held at Putney Vale Cemetery Chapel followed by internment in Putney Vale Cemetery on 15th March, 2012. EMMA GUEVHERIAN, born in Addis-Ababa on 27th May, 1946 was deceased on 11th March, 2012. The funeral service was held at St. Sarkis Church, followed by internment in Chiswick New Cemetery on 19th March 2012. NEKTARINE SIMONIAN, born in Iran on 15th September, 1931 was deceased on 10th March, 2012. The funeral service was held on 21st March, 2012 at Hendon Crematorium. There were no funerals in St. Yegiche Church.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS DURING HOLY WEEK

30 MARCH, 2012

ISSUE 13, VOLUME 3

SCRIPTURE READINGS

According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Palm Sunday – 1 April

Song of Solomon 1:1-2:3 Zechariah 9:9-15 Philippians 4:4-7 Matthew 20:29-21:17

Holy Monday – 2 April

1st day of Holy Week Fast

Matthew 21:18-22:14 Genesis 1:1-3:24; Proverbs 1:1-9 Isaiah 40:1-8; Matthew 20:17-28

Holy Tuesday – 3 April

Mark 12:13-44; Genesis 6:9-9:17 Proverbs 9:1-10:6 Isaiah 40:9-17; Matthew 24:1-26:2

Holy Wednesday – 4 April

Mark 14:1-11; Genesis 18:1-19:30 Prov 1:10-19; Zechariah 11:11-14 Matthew 26:3-16

Holy Thursday – 5 April

1 Cor11:23-32 and Mat 26:17-30

Holy Friday – 6 April

Jn 13:16-18:1; Lk 22:1-6; Mk 14:27- 72. Matthew 26:31-56; Matthew 26:57-75; John 18:2-27; John 18:28- 19:16

Saturday – 7 April Easter Eve – Eve of Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Matthew 28:1-20 Matthew 28:16-20

ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers are needed for the various aspects of managing the second annual Armenian Street Festival in London. As announced earlier, the main theme of the Festival, to take place on Sunday, 29th July, 2012, 12:00-18:00hrs, will be the Queen’s Jubilee. The Festival will highlight the 2012 Olympics as well. This year, the Primate’s Office, which organizes the Annual Armenian Street Festival, will be blocking a larger area for the festival to accommodate a larger crowd that is expected to visit this year’s Festival. If you are interested to join a team of enthusiastic volunteers to help make the 2012-Armenian Street Festival in London a great success for all, please e-mail your name to: festival@armenianchurch.co.uk. For stall rentals, please contact Susan at: levonsusan@btinternet.com. Sponsors are welcome and will be acknowledged at the Festival and in the E-Newsletter. For donations, please contact the Primate’s Office at: 0208 127 8364, or e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk. Help us make this year’s Festival once again a true celebration of our Armenian heritage, culture, and identity.

SHAKESPEARE’S “KING JOHN” IN ARMENIAN

For the first time in London, the Gabriel Sundukyan Academic Theatrical Group from Armenia, will be performing Shakespeare’s “King John” in the Globe on the 16th and 17th of May, 2012. Click Here for more info!

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Holy Thursday at St. Sarkis Church

11:00

17:30

20:00

The Institution of the Eucharist - Badarak Washing of Feet (Please note the change in time) Betrayal Service (Khavaroom)

Holy Friday at St. Sarkis Church 16:30 The Service of the Burial

Holy Saturday (Easter Eve) at St. Sarkis and St. Yeghiche

17:30 18:00

Evening Service – Scripture Readings Divine Liturgy – celebrant at St. Sarkis: Bishop Vahan

Easter Sunday- Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord 11:0 Divine Liturgy – celebrant at St. Yeghche: Bishop Vahan

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

WWW.ARMENIANCHURCHTRUST.ORG.UK