Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 15 (Easter Issue), Volume 3

7 APRIL 2012 ISSUE 15, 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

Easter Message of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos ofAll Armenians

The Primate’s Office has announced that a copy of the Easter Message of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Cathoicos of All Armenians. will be available on our official Church website following Easter Badarak: www.armenianchurch.co.uk.

N1S1&1T1T Gar;gin B4 Am;na\n Fa\oz

Kajo[ikosi ;u ?a\rago\n Patriarqi

Xatkakan Patkame

A5a=nordi gras;n;ake m;/ \ayo\qow ke \a\tararh or N1S1&1T1T1 Gar;gin B3 Am;na\n Fa\oz Kajo[ikosi ;u ?a\rago\n Patriarqi Xatkakan patkame4 piti fratarakoui ;k;[;zuo\s ka\qh=i wra\4 \auart Xatkoua\ Sourb Pataragin! Patkame kar;li h karjal f;t;u;al kape s;[m;low!

Easter Greetings

Qristos |ar;au i M;5;loz! &rfn;al h \aroujiunn Qristosi!

Krisdos haryav ee mérélots. Orhnyal é harootyoonun Krisdosi. Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the resurrection of Christ.

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 83647 APRIL 2012

ISSUE 15 VOLUME 3

AN ENGLISHMAN IN ARMENIAN

LANDS

The Continuing Education Ministry of the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland cordially invites Armenians in the London area to an animating talk entitled “An Englishman in Armenian Lands.” This is a photographic journey through Armenia and Artsakh by the speaker, Russell Pollard, and Englishman! During his talk he will discuss his trips to Armenia and why he has returned there many times. The lecture is scheduled on Sunday, the 15th April, at 2:30pm, in Nevard Gulbankian Hall. Wine reception to follow. Admission is free and all are welcome.

MINUTES OF FIRST ARMENIAN

CHURCH ASSEMBLY:

On Sunday, 11th March, 2012, history was made at St. Yeghiche Church, when for the first time in the history of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom, a Church Assembly was convened by the order of the Primate, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian. A large crowd of the faithful and church leaders participated in this public to discuss the various aspects, challenges and achievements of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland. Registered participants received a printed copy of the Annual Report, which included reports from the Primate, the Primate’s Office, the Armenian Church Trust, the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship, and the Parish Councils, Pastoral Councils, Board of Wardens and Mission Parish Councils of all the Armenian Church communities in the UK and Ireland. The Assembly was chaired by Dr. Paul Manoukian. We are happy to make the minutes of the Assembly, recorded by A. Violetta Barzankian-Kaydan, Assembly Secretary, available to our readers online. Visit our official Website: armenianchurch.co.uk, or Click Here.

The Primate’s Easter Message

The Primate’s Office has published the Primate’s Easter message which can be downloaded from the official Church website: armenianchurch.co.uk. In the message, His Grace Bishop Vahan emphasizes that “The resurrection of Christ, is truly a victory for all. It is a victory for the marginalized in our societies, the homeless, the poor, the orphans and those struggling to make ends meet, because Christ identified Himself with them and promised them His Kingdom. Easter is the triumph of those who are lonely, the neglected, the orphans, the sick, and the shut-in,

because Christ promised to be with them and invited them to be united with Him. Christ’s resurrection is the joy of those who mourn in this fallen world, the bereaved, those afflicted by evil in this world, the victims of hatred, wars and genocides, because the Lord comforts them and promised them endless life of joy. In fact, Easter is the celebration of every honest person seeking justice and the truth in this world, because Christ’s gospel and His life, death and resurrection constitute the most powerful testimony to these sacred realities in our life.” Click Here to read more.

A5a=nord Srbaxan F7r Xatkakan Patkame

9Fa\ vo[owourde am;nourhq a\s7r ke miana\ a,.arfi milionauor Qriston;an;roun3 dimauor;lou famar 2012-i Xatike! M;r Tiro= ;u

*rkcin 8a5auor;al \arouj;an t7ne3 ke mna\ am;nam;/ ankiunadar]a\in dhpqe fama\n mardkouj;an patmouj;an mh=! Iskaphs4 Xatike t7nn h oc mia\n fra,qn;rou fra,q dhpqin3 m;5;ln;rhn ;t k;anqi da5nalou iro[ouj;an! A5au;l ;us4 m;xi famar4 Xatike fastatoumn h Qristosi wardap;touj;an ;u bolor a\d ws;m arvhqn;roun ;u axniu skxbounqn;roun or M;r |arouz;al Thre qarox;z ;u ousouzan;z4 ;u oronz famar isk An mafapartou;zau Tayari qafanan;rou ko[mhn1111!!0

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

Mak your calendar and make sure to join us on Sunday, 29th July, for the second annual Armenian Street Festival Click Here for our flyer online

7 April 2012

Issue 15, Volume 3

25 VOICES: HOPES AND DREAMS FROM NAGORNO KARABAKH

Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) is pleased to announce the creation of our new exhibition 25 Voices: Hopes and Dreams from Nagorno Karabakh. This exhibition features photographs and stories celebrating the hopes and dreams of 25 ordinary people in Karabakh, accessible online at www.thekarabakhconversation.com. The 25 Voices project presents a glimpse into the lives of those at the centre of a “frozen conflict”. Undeterred by economic and political isolation, and the fragile nature of peace in the region, they are developing their country and attempting to build bridges to the rest of the world. This exhibition is a platform for their stories to be told and their hopes voiced to the wider world; and a reminder that no-one can be forgotten. HART will also be hosting an exhibition of 25 Voices in London: April 29, 6.30 p.m onwards. Gallery on the Corner in Battersea, 155 Battersea Park Road, SW8 4BU. Baroness Cox, Chief Executive of HART, has worked in the Armenian region of Nagorno Karabakh since 1991 and witnessed first-hand the suffering and devastation of the Karabakh War of the early 1990's. Today HART is working in Nagorno Karabakh to support a groundbreaking Rehabilitation Centre which gives treatment to people with disabilities.

EASTER HOUSE BLESSING

The Bible teaches us that our Lord visited His people at their homes and brought His blessings to them. Based on this dominical and biblical teaching, one of the beautiful Armenian traditions associated with major feast days, such as Easter, is the house blessing. The local priest would visit the house in his parish and conduct a brief service of blessing, bringing with him a communion wafer . The blessing itself takes about 10 minutes. Help us maintain and promote this ancient Armenian tradition here in Great Britain and Ireland. Call any of the Armenian Churches or the Primate’s Office to schedule a house blessing. You do not have to prepare anything, other than three items to be used during the blessing service: a glass of water, a loaf of bread and some salt. The house blessing can be anytime during the day or evening, weekdays or weekends.

EASTER CHURCH SERVICES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

Saturday, Easter-Eve, 7th April 2012

17:30 St. Sarkis, London, celebrant: Bp Vahan Hovhanessian

17:30 St. Yeghiche, London, celebrant: Fr. Nerses Nersesian

Birmingham MPC, celebrant: Fr. Garegin Hambartsumyan Contact MPC chairman

Sunday, Easter, 8th April 2012

11:00 St. Sarkis, London, celebrant: Fr. Shnork Bagdasaryan

11:00 St. Yeghiche, London, celebrant: Bp. Vahan Hovhanessian

11:15 Holy Trinity, Manchester:: Fr. Garegin Hambartsumyan

Monday, 9th April 2012

14:00 Dundrum Methodist Church, Dublin Armenian Mission Parish Bp Vahan Hovhanessian Contact MPC chairman

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His Grace BishopVahan Hovhanessian, Primate, and the volunteer staff of the Primate’s Office: Aznive, Hovik, Socie and Violetta wish you a

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PRIMATE’S EASTER MESSAGE IN ARMENIAN CLICK HERE TO READ THE PRIMATE’S MESSAGE EASTER IN ENGLISH

7 APRIL, 2012

ISSUE 15, VOLUME 3

FIFTY -DAY CELEBRATION!

According to the Bible, following His resurrection Christ appeared to His fololowers and even to those who rejected him for a period of 40 days, “Jesus appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). On the fortieth day, Our Lord ascended to Heaven. Ten days after the Christ’s Ascnesion, as He promised, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the followers of the Lord (Acts 2:1- 20). Based on these Biblical teachings, the Armenian Church observes a fifty- day period of celebration of the resurrection. This is known as Eastertide. Each one of these fifty days of Eastertide is a resurrection day. Traditionaly Armenians continued greeting each other with the Easter greeting, “Christ is risen!” during Eastertide. There is no fasting period in Eastertide, not even on Wednesdays or Fridays. The first 40 days of Eastertide culminate with the Feast of the Ascension (Hampartsum), celebrated always on a Thursday. Ten days later, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, which terminates the Eatertide season.

Happy Eastertide

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

BIBLE STUDY GROUP RESUMPTION

The Continuing Education Ministry (CEM) of the Primate’s Office announced the resumption of the two Bible Study groups according to the following schedule: The Bible Study group in English will resume this Thursday, 12th April, at 6:45pm. This is a good time to join the group, which will start reading a new book in the Bible: St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. The Bible Study group in Armenian will resume next Tuesday, 17th April, at 7:00pm. Both groups met at the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall of the St. Sarkis Church. Parking free after 6:30pm. Our Bible Study groups are beautiful opportutnities to learn about our faith in a very casual and friendly fellowship. All are welcome. You do not have to be a devout Christian, a theologian or a Bible thumber to join our groups.

AMBSSADOR CALLS A MEETING FOR THE

COMMEMORATION OF THE GENOCIDE - 2015

Her Excellency Karine Kazinian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia is calling a meeting to deliver and discuss the Presidential Decree, calling on all Armenian organisations to establish a Committee for preparing and planning for the 100th Anniversary of the Genocide of the Armenians in 1915, which will be commemorated in 2015. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 25th April 2012 at 7:30pm in the Armenian House. Present at the meeting will be His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate.

SHAKESPEARE’S “KING JOHN” IN ARMENIAN

For the first time in the United Kingdom, 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!