Armenian Church E-Newsletter - Issue 25

16 JUNE 2012

ISSUE 25 VOLUME 3

E-NEWSLETTER H- J:RJIK A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE OF THE DIOCESE OF THE

ARMENIAN CHURCH OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

COMMEMORATING THE FEAST OF

HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

ACCORDING TO the calendar of the Armenian Church, last Sunday, 11 June was the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Mother Sea of the Armenian Church. A special prayer service was offered at St. Sarkis Church on the occasion presided over by His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. During the service the Primate prayed that the Lord may grant His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, many years of inspiring and fruitful leadership of the Armenian Church worldwide in the path of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the sacred traditions of the Armenian Church. Holy Etchmiadzin was built by St. Gregory the Illuminator with the financial support of the King of Armenia, Drtad (Tiridates III), and the Armenian people in 301AD. Since then it has served as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian Church throughout the centuries. The Mother See of Etchmiadzin includes the Catholical Seat, the Cathedralthe, Seminary, a Museum, monastic complex, a printing house as well as the administrative offices. The Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was built on the spot indicated by Christ with a golden hammer, according to Armenian Church tradition, in a vision of St. Gregory in which our Lord descended on the City of Vagharshapat, Armenia. It is based on this vision that the city came to be known as Etch-miadzin, “The descent of the Only Begotten.” The wooden church was converted to stone in the V century and rebuilt in the VII century. The bell tower was added in 1653 and the vestry in 1869. Through the centuries, for political and security reasons, the Catholicos of All Armenians and the administrative offices had to move temporarily to different cities until 1441, when the seat of the Armenian Catholicosate was transferred from the Cilician town of Sis back permanently to Holy Etchmiadzin.

Tell your friends and join us on Sunday, 29th July, at the Second Annual Armenian Street Festival

The Primate’s Office c/o Hye Doon 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

16 June 2012

Issue 25, Volume 3

RECEPTION DINNER FOR KARABAKH’S OFFICIAL DELEGATION

AT A DINNER RECEPTION IN COPTHORNE TARA HOTEL on Tuesday, 12th June, H.G. Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, welcomed His Excellency Mr. Ashot Ghulian, chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Karabakh, heading the official delegation of the Parliament of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh to London. Accompanying Mr. Ghulian, as part of the official delegation, were the Minister of Cultural and Youth Affairs, H.E. Mrs. Narine Aghabalyan, as well as Armine Aleksanyan, head of the department of multilateral relations of NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Present at the dinner was H.E. Mrs. Karine Kazinian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia and 20 guests representing the Armenian Church councils in Great Britain and Ireland as well as the various Armenian organisations and political parties in the United Kingdom. H.G. Bishop Vahan welcomed Mr Ghulian and the delegation and raised a toast for the stability and prosperity of the Republic of Karabagh. Following the Primate’s welcoming remarks H.E. Mrs. Kazinian, Ambasador, joined the Primate in welcoming the NKR delegation and assured the support and cooperation of the Republic of Armenia with the government and people of Karabakh until the full recognition by the international community of the sovereignty of the Republic of Karabakh. The Primate then invited Mr. Ghulian to address the leaders of the Armenian community. Mr. Ghulian thanked the Primate for the welcome and reception, and the Ambassador for her support during the delegation’s visit. He then offered a brief review of the situation in Karabakh, and highlighted the various challenges facing the government and people of Karabakh. He then thanked the leaders of the Armenian community present, for the ongoing support that the Armenians of the diaspora and of England have demonstrated to the people and government of Karabakh. Following the comments by Mr. Ghulian, the Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, Mrs. Narine Aghabalyan highlighted some of the recent programmes of the ministry and some of the challenges facing the ministry. A period of questions and answers and general discussion followed while dessert and coffee/tea were being served. The reception ended with a concluding prayer by the Primate.

PILGRIMAGE REUNION

OVER FIFTY OF THE PILGRIMS WHO PARTICIPATED in the 2011 and 2012 Armenian Church pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and their friends, gathered last Friday, 8th June for a pilgrimage reunion prepared by the Primate’s Office. The reunion programme started with a powerpoint presentation highlighting key aspects in the 2012 pilgrimage itinerary and showcasing pictures of the pilgrims visiting various shrines and historic sites in the Holy Land. The presentation was followed by a period of discussion. The pilgrims and their friend were then invited to a wine reception, courtesy of the Primate’s Office and many of the pilgrims who cooked for the occasion. One of the subjects discussed in the reunion was the date of the next pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which will take place in 2013. The feasts of St. Stephan 8th January or Armenian Nativity 19th January were suggested as possible dates. If you or someone you know is interested to join our next pilgrimage to the Holy Land, please send the contact information to the Primate’s Office by E-Mail or telephone: 0208 127 8364.

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

WWW.ARMENIANCHURCHTRUST.ORG.UK

16 June 2012 Issue 25 Volume 3

GENOCIDE SURVIVOR ASTRID AGHAJANIAN PASSED AWAY

ON 11 MAY 2012 AT THE AGE OF 99

ASTRID AGHAJANIAN was one of the few remaining survivors of the Armenian genocide and possibly the last living in London, Britain. In 1915, when the Ottoman authorities began their systematic annihilation of the Armenians living in Western Armenia, their historic homeland, Astrid's father was shot and Astrid along with her mother, grandmother and younger brother were deported and force- marched into the deserts of Der El-Zor. Her life journey of struggle, perseverance, survival and faith, took her from her birth place to Palestine, Cyprus and finally London, UK. In 1997 Astrid was interviewed by Robert Fisk, which was published in his book The Great War for Civilisation. Her story appeared also in an article in The Independent entitled “Shameful echo of a forgotten holocaust”. This prompted the Imperial War Museum to interview Astrid. Finally, in 2010, Astrid was

interviewed for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website. Her voice recording in the Imperial War Museum, London, includes her experiences in Haifa, Tiberius and Nicosia. (CLICK HERE). You can watch the video-clip of her personal testimony on Holocust Memorial Day Trust website (CLICK HERE). You can read Astrid’s article in The Independent by CLICKING HERE.

BAPTISMS (St. Sarkis Church; none at St. Yeghiche)  XAVIER THADDEUS LOOSLEY, son of Adam Loosley and Anita (Artoonian) Loosley was baptised at St. Sarkis

Church on 5th May 2012. The Godfather was Gordon Grant.  ALEC JOSEPH, son of Abram Joseph and Adrine (Avakyan) Joseph was baptised at St. Sarkis Church on 6th May 2012.

The Godfather was Antranik Avakyan.  JOSEPH MAMIGONIAN FRANKHAM, son of Mark Andrew Frankham and Annie (Mamigonians) Frankham was

baprised at St. Sarkis Church on 6th May 2012. The Godfather was Martin Frankham.

MARRIAGES (St. Sarkis Church; none at St. Yeghiche)

There were no marriages in the month of May

FUNERALS (St. Sarkis Church; none at St. Yeghiche)  ARTAKI PARSEGH GUDENIAN, born in Konia, Turkey on 28th July 1912, was deceased on 17th April 2012. The

funeral service was held at the New Southgate Cemetery Chapel, followed by internment in the New Southgate Cemetery on

2nd May 2012.  KNARIG VOSKANIAN, born in Tehran, Iran on 1st February 1916 was deceased on 23rd April 2012. The funeral service

was held in Gunnersbury Chapel, followed by internment in Gunnersbury Cemetery on 3rd May 2012.  ASTGHIG AGHAJANIAN, born in Albistan, Turkey on 28th March 1913, was deceased on 11th May 2012. The funeral

service was held at Westerly Crematorium on 23rd May 2012.

16 June 2012

Issue 25 Volume 3

SCRIPTURE READINGS

According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 17 June

Isaiah 1:1-15 Romans 6:12-23 Matthew 12:1-8

Monday – 18 June

Wisdom 8:7-10 Nahum 1:7-9 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Mark 6:45-52

Tuesday – 19 June

Proverbs 16:9-17 Baruch 3:31-4:4 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 7:1-10

Wednesday – 20 June

Fasting Day

Romans 7:1-11 Matthew 12:9-15

Thursday –21 June

Wisdom 6:11-21 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 John 16:1-5

Friday – 22 June

Fasting Day

Romans 7:12-25 Matthew 12:15-21

Saturday – 23 June

Wisdom 4:7-15 Micah 7:7-10 Acts 20:22-32 John 10:11-16

UPDATES FROM HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND GB ON MAY 30, 2012 Hayastan All-Armenian Fund (HAAF) held its 21st annual meeting in Yerevan which was presided over by Serj

Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia and President of the fund’s Board of Trustees. Sargsyan said “We have come a long way together. It would be impossible to list all the projects that were realised during those 20 years. Given a portfolio of accomplishments so numerous and diverse, it suffices to note that Armenia andArtsakh would be inconceivable today without the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. While its jubilee inspires us with joy and pride, it also motivates us to continue building on the fund’s work with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.” The president went on to award 20th-anniversary commemorative Medals of Achievement to members of the Board of Trustees and chairpersons of the fund’s worldwide affiliates, in recognition of their far-reaching contributions to the development of Armenia and Artsakh. Click Here to read the full pictorial update.

UK PHOTOGRAPHER VISITING ARMENIA

WILL BERRIDGE, a UK based photojournalist and documentary photographer who is currently finishing his Masters degree at the University of Westminister, is seeking help regarding his final project, which deals with the Armenian people and which will be exhibited in London in September. Mr. Berridge will be in Armenia this month. As part of the project he will be looking for relatives both in the UK and Armenia to interview and photograph. If you know of anyone who may be interested please contact Will directly: wberridge@gmail.com.

NO ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY THIS THURSDAY

There will be no Bible Study session in English this Thursday. The Primate’s Office will announce the resumption of the study sessions in future communications. If interested to receive regular updates about our Bible Study sessions, please send your e-mail address to: information@armenianchurch.co.uk.

PRAYER MINISTRY

As part of the ongoing outreach mission of the Armenian Church in Great Britain and Ireland, the Primate’s Office has announced the launching of the “Prayer Ministry”. Those in need of a prayer visit by a priest or by the Primate are encouraged to contact the Primate’s Office or the clergy directly, to arrange a visit. Meanwhile, people are welcome to send their prayer requests to the Primate’s Office. Finally, those who feel the calling to help the clergy in the prayer ministry are encouraged to contact the Primate. May the Lord hear and accept our prayers.

PRAYER MINISTRY

Armenian graduates of UK universities contact the Primate’s Office regularly seeking employment in the UK. If you or someone you know can help these bright Armenians find a job please contact the Primate’s Office by Clicking Here or telephoning: 0208 127 8364. .

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Be a supporter of the only Armenian Street Festival in Great Britain and Ireland by sending your donation, payable to “The Armenian Church Trust UK” to: The Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TP. All donations and sponsors will be acknowledged and published in the Festival Booklet and the weekly E-Newsletter.