Issue 24 (Vol. 3) of the Armenian Church E-Newsletter

9 JUNE 2012 ISSUE 24 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 PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA TO INAUGURATE THE SECOND ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT of the Republic of Armenia has confirmed that His Excellency Mr. Serge Sarkissian, President of the Republic, will be attending the second annual Armenian Street Festival in London. H.E. Karine Kazinian, Ambassador of Armenia, is working closely with the H.G. Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, to coordinate the schedule of the President during his visit. According to the tentative schedule His Excellency President Sarkissian, is expected to arrive at the Armenian Street Festival on Sunday at 12:30 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony which will officially inaugurate the second Armenian Street Festival. The Primate is grateful for the efforts of H.E. Karine Kazinian, Ambasador to arrange the visit of H.E. the President of Armenia to the Festival in the UK. Other dignitaries, including ambassadors, diplomats, local government representatives and sister-church hierarchs have confirmed their attendance to the Festival as well. The Armenian Street Festival, hosted by the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, will take place in Iverna Gardens and the grounds of the St. Sarkis Church on Sunday, 29th July, 2012. A Festival booklet will be published on this occasion to be distributed to all who attend the Festival. It will include the programme of the day, a menu of the food to be sold at the Festival as well as a map of the various sections of the Festival. Armenian organisations, business owners and friends of the Armenian Church are welcome to support the Festival by sponsoring a page or half a page in the booklet. You can express your wishes or comments, and publish the name, address and contact info of your business according to the following fees: Full page: £250; Half a page: £150; business card: £50. Please send your cheques, payable to The Armenian Church Trust UK, to The Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. Full and Half page spnsors are welcome to send their personal greeting and wishes with their cheques to be published in the Festival booklet. Click Here for our GiftAid form. Inform a friend 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 9 June 2012 Issue 24, Volume 3 THIS TUESDAY: TALK BY SPEAKER OF KARABAGH PARLIAMENT THE ARMENIAN Studies programme of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London cordially invites all interested to a talk by Mr. Ashot Ghoulian, Chairman of the National Assembly of Karabagh. The talk will take place in the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre in the Brunei Building in SOAS, on Tuesday, 12th June at 6:00pm. The title of Mr. Ghoulian’s talk is: “Prospects of Progress and Stability in the Caucuses: Peace and Nation-Building in Nagorno Karabakh.” Chairing the talk will be Professor George Hewitt. Mr Ashot Ghoulian is a graduate of the University of Stepanakert specialising in History and Law. His contribution to the political life of Nagorno Karapagh is immense, holding various high positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2002 and Minister of Education in 2004. For further information please contact Dr. Krikor Moskofian, Director of the Armenian Studies Programme at SOAS: moskofiank@gmail.com. All are welcome. RENEWAL OF VOWS DURING PILGRIMAGE Among the various exciting and inspiring destinations of the 2012 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land was the “Church of the Wedding of Cana” in Nazareth. The church is built on the archeological ruins of a place believed to be where our Lord attended the Wedding and where He converted water to wine. (John 2). It has become a tradition for the participants in the annual pilgrimages organized by the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland to visit this church to read the story of the first miracle of our Lord and pray. Many married couples visit this church with the intent of renewing their matrimonial vows. During this year’s pilgrimage, we are happy to announce that St. Sarkis parishioners Amenag and Hasmig Topalian participated in a special blessing of the renewal of their vows on the fortieth anniversary of their wedding. The blessing service was offered by H.G. Bishop Vahan with the participation of altar servers Hovik and Alex, who participated in the Pilgrimage. Congratulations to Hasmig and Armenag and God bless. UK BASED PHOTOGRAPHER VISITING ARMENIA WILL BERRIDGE, a UK based photojournalist and documentary photographer who is currently finishing his Masters degree at the University of Westminister, contacted the Primate’s Office 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 travelling to Armenia this month for approximately six weeks to undertake a project in relation to the Genocide. 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. This is a great opportunity to raise more exposure for the Armenian Genocide and any help or information would be gratefully received and appreciated by the photojournalist. CHECK OUT THE ARMENIAN CHURCH TRUST – UK WEBSITE (ACT-UK) WWW.ARMENIANCHURCHTRUST.ORG.UK 9 June 2012 Issue 24 Volume 3 SCRIPTURE READINGS According to the Armenian Church Lectionary Sunday – 10 June Proverbs 9:1-6 Zechariah 3:7-4:9 Hebrews 9:1-10 John 10:22-30 Monday – 11 June Proverbs 29:2-7 Isaiah 18:7 Hebrews 2:14-18 Matthew 2:16-18 Tuesday – 12 June Isaiah 27:11-13 1 Peter 5:8-11 John 12:24-26 Wednesday – 13 June Fasting Day Romans 4:13-22 Matthew 10:34-42 Thursday –14 June Proverbs 6:1-5 Isaiah 33:5-8 Romans 8:18-27 Luke 21:12-19 Friday – 15 June Fasting Day Romans 5:12-21 Matthew 11:25-30 Saturday – 16 June Wisdom 2:23-3:8 Isaiah 57:15-16 Hebrews 13:7-9 Matthew 10:16-22 DUBLIN ARMENIAN CHURCH MISSION PARISH LECTURE AND DANCE Sunday, 3rd June, 2012, was a busy day for the Mission Parish Council of the Armenian Church in Dublin. That afternoon, Mrs. Ayda Lundon MPC Chairman, welcomed a crowd of over 75 people and the guests of the day Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian and his wife Mrs. Shakeh Major- Tchilingirian at Taney Parish Centre. The couple was there at the invitation of the Dublin MPC to offer a lecture & a workshop in Armenian dancing. Dr. Tchilingirian lectured on the Armenian diaspora and the essential role that the church, school and social institutions can play in promoting the Armenian identity. The lecture was followed by a very motivating discussion. Present at the lecture was Mr. Ohan Yergaynharsian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia to Ireland. Following the lecture, the Irish- Armenian community was invited to a special treat: dance-instruction by Mrs. Shakeh Major- Tchilingirian. Within a few minutes of her instructions and demonstration, all attendees were on their feet dancing the traditional and beautiful Armenian dances. All were then invited to a reception courtesy of the Mission Parish Council of the Armenian Church in Dublin. Thank you Hratch and Shakeh, and congratulations to Dublin MPC for such an interesting cultural and educational programme. 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. KEEP THE DATE Hayastan All-Armenian Fund GB Charity Concert. Young Talented Artists, including prize-winning vocalists and instrumentalists from Armenia. Saturday 10th November 2012 at St. John's Smith Square, London. 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.