Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 27

2 JULY 2012

ISSUE 27 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

AN INSPIRING AND HISTORIC PONTIFICAL VISIT

TO MARSEILLE, FRANCE

ON JUNE 28, Thursday, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, started his Pontifical Visit to the Armenian community in Marseille, France. The visit was to preside over the local Armenian community in celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the consecration of the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Translators in Marseille. Accompanying His Holiness for the Pontifical Visit were His Eminence Abp. Karekin Bekjian, Primate of the Armenian Church in Germany, His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian, Primate of the Armenian Church in Romania, and His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Armenian Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The visit which started with a Hrashapar Service in the church on Thursday evening, with the Participation of the heads of the Churches in Marseille, included a two-day conference of the Primates, representatives of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowships (ACYF) and diocesan councils of the Armenian Churches in Europe. Among the speakers at the Conference was H.G. Bp. Vahan whose lecture was titled “Tradition and Modernity in the Armenian Church.” The Pontifical visit included a concert on Friday evening, a banquet on Saturday night, and the celebration of a Pontifical Badarak on Sunday followed by a public reception. Assisting His Holiness during the Badarak were Bishops Vahan and Datev. During the sermon, His Holiness addressed the hundreds of Armenian faithful packing the Church and standing outside, emphasizing the importance of the Armenian community in Marseille working together as one unified family around the church to be able to reach out to the needs of the community and its children. At the end of His homily, Catholicos Karekin Presented His Eminence Abp. Norvan Zakarian, with a Banagiya, as a sign of his appreciation for all the efforts and services that the Primate continues to offer diligently to the Armenian community. His Holiness was also the guest of honour at luncheon receptions by the Mayor of the City of Marseille and the chairman of the assembly. His Holiness also visited the Hamazgayin Armenian School in Marseille and presided over the year-end ceremonies.

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

2 July 2012

Issue 27, Volume 3

DINNER & RECEPTION WITH THE ARMENIAN OLYMPIANS

THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY AND CHURCH COUNCIL (ACCC) of Great Britain cordially invites the members of the Armenian community to a Dinner and Reception with the Armenian Olympians to take place on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at the Palm Court of the Hurlingham Club. The Guest of Honour of the Dinner & Reception, which is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm, is His Excellency Mr. Serzh Sarkissian, the President of the Republic of Armenia. Minimum donation: £100. Funds raised will be donated to the Armenian Paralympic team. For further information about the event please click here to visit the ACCC website. For further information about the venue of the dinner and reception, please Click Here to visit the website of the Hurlington Club. As announced in earlier issues of the E-Newsletter the President will also be visiting the Second Annual Street Festival to take place in Iverna Gardens and the St. Sarkis Armenian Church grounds on Sunday, 29th July, and open the festivities of the day with the cutting of ribbon ceremonies. For further information,CLICK HERE.

EXCITING PROGRAMME AT THE SECOND ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL

DEACON ARTUR BOBIKYAN of the Armenian Church in Manchester, is chairing the Entertainment Sub-Committee of this year’s Armenian Street Festival (ASF). Recently he shared the following about the entertainment programme of the ASF. The street on one side of the Iverna Gardens will be left open for people to dance, while a DJ will be monitoring the music to be played throughout the Festival. The Armenian Dance group, Akhtamar, will be performing several traditional and modern Armenian dance pieces. Several singers and musicians, including the traditional Armenian instruments of Dhol and Zurna, will enhance the musical entertainment outdoors. Meanwhile, an anthology of beautiful Armenian songs performed by professional singers and musicians will make up the concert to be offered inside the St. Sarkis Church. So, mark your calendar and join us and the President of the Republic of Armenia on Sunday, 29th July, for an afternoon of fun, friendship, fellowship and food...Armenian style! The Primate’s Office has already securedtheclosureofthetwostreetsaroundIvernaGardens,securingalargerareafortheFestivalthanlastyear’s. AFacebookpage dedicated to the Armenian Street Festival has been designed. It includes all necessary information about the date, time, location and details of the programme of the Festival. You can join the ASF Facebook page by Clicking Here, to read about all future festival announcements. Click Here for an online announcement.

DEACONS’ TRAINING PROGRAMME RETREAT

THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE of the Armenian Church of the UK and Ireland is delighted to announce a forthcoming retreat for all those who attended the Deacons' Training Programme for over a year now. The retreat will take place in the Quiet Waters Retreat Centre, Bungay, Suffolk, 13-14 July. Five of the participants will take a written and an oral examination to test their knowledge of the liturgy, hymns and petitions of the Armenian Church. Those passing the tests will be qualified for ordination. The theme of the retreat is “21st Century Disciples of Christ to the Armenian Church.” The various DVD presentations, Bible Study sessions and discussions will focus on the theme of following the Lord in our life, studying and understanding His gospel and translating it to daily living and fellowship through the Armenian Church ministry and liturgy.

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

Discussion with several altar servers

WWW.ARMENIANCHURCHTRUST.ORG.UK

2 July 2012

Issue 27 Volume 3

On Sunday, 17th June, 2012, More than 200 people gathered at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cheltenham, USA, to celebrate Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian’s 65th anniversary of ordination into the holy priesthood. Archbishop Gizirian, who served for over two decades as the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in the United Kingdom, until 2003, was the celebrant of the the Divine Liturgy on that day. A luncheon and program followed the service in the church hall, courtesy of the Parish Council. Messages were read from His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. “In all the aspects of your ministry, you have always kept your priestly promise to our Heavenly Father, and shown your love and dedication to

the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,” His Holiness wrote. “May our almighty Lord keep you strong and protect you.” To watch Abp. Gizirian’s personal reflection CLICK HERE. To read more about the celebration on the official website of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, please CLICK HERE.

OUR ACYF PARTICIPATES IN THE PONTIFICAL VISIT

AS PART OF THE CONFERENCE PREPARED IN CELEBRATION OF THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY of the consecration of the Armenian Cathedral in Marseille, France, representatives of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) movements in the Armenian Churches in Europe were also invited to discuss the mission of the ACYF and the role that the youth can play in the mission of the Armenian Church. Invited to the podium, with His Holiness the Catholicos presiding, was altar server Hovik Hovhannisyan, who presented a brief summary of the various activities of the ACYF in the UK and offered his remarks regarding the role that the ACYF can play in the mission and ministry of the Armenian Church. Hovik seized the opportunity to include in his comments a personal invitation to His Holiness to attend the Street Festival and

see the ACYF in action, which triggered an applaud from the entire assembly including the Holy Father.

PRAYER REQUESTS

THE HOLY BIBLE encourages us to pray for each other—9A[7j;zhq irarou famar orphsxi bv,kouiq! Ardarin n;rgo/o[ a[;rsanqe ,at axd;zik h0 “Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" says the Apostle James (5:16). If you are, or someone you know is, in need of prayer, for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact the Primate’s Office by e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk, or telephone 0208 127 8364, and convey the name of the person for whom prayer is requested, and if possible, the reason for the request. The Primate will personally remember the person in his daily prayers. We will also be happy to share the prayer request in our Sunday Church bulletin, with our worshipping faithful in the churches ONLY if the person requesting the prayer wishes to have the request published.

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

BAPTISMS  LUCIA GULIAN, daughter of Haig & Natalie Gulian was baptised on 3rd June 2012 at St. Yegiche Church. The Godfather was Haig

Kiremidjian.  ELISE ANNE MARONEY, daughter of Shaun & Louise Maroney was baptised on 10th June 2012 at St. Yegiche Church. The Godfather

was Stephen Hogan (St Yeghiche church)

WEDDINGS  PHILIP MICHAEL BERGE, son of Berge Gumuchdjian and Irene Gumuchdjian married ELIZA LOUISE POKLEWSKI KOZIELL,

daughter of Vincent and Annabel Poklewski Koziell on 16th June, 2012 at St. Sarkis Church. The best man was William Salomon.  KHALID ALI AL- JAWAD, son of Ali & Hazel Al- Jawad married TALINE RIMA LIBARIKIAN, daughter of Varouj & Ingrid

Libarikian, on 2nd June, 2012 at St. Yeghiche church. The best man was Raffi Eghiayan.

FUNERALS  AROSYAG SARKIS (YEGHIAZARIAN), born in Baghdad, on 12th February, 1911, was deceased on 28th May, 2012. The funeral service

was held at Gunnersbury Cemetery Chapel, followed by internment in Gunnersbury Cemetery on 13th June, 2012.  ARSINEH GASPARIAN, born in Tehran, Iran on 25th August, 1970 was deceased on 31st May, 2012. The funeral service was held in

Mortlake Crematorium on 14th June, 2012.  FRANK MAMMERSLEY SPENCER, born in Nottingham, on 3rd March 1919, was deceased on 13th June 2012. The funeral service was

held at Norts Cemetery on 25th June 2012.

________ “BADARAK BASICS” INITIATED BY ST. SARKIS PARISH COUNCIL

ON SUNDAY, 24TH JUNE, the first session of Badarak Basics was held at the end of the Divine Liturgy. This new program, which will take place once a month, has been instigated by the St Sarkis Parish Council and aims to instruct members of the Parish in the Divine Liturgy. Father Shnork, Pastor, focused on the theme of the Badarak being a communication between God and His people, between Heaven and Earth and between the priest and the congregation, with the aim of encouraging participation by the congregation in the Liturgy. Fr. Shnork used the booklets of the Divine Liturgy which he had prepared for this occasion, containing a modified English translation and also a transliteration of the Choir parts. He highlighted the parts where participation by the congregation is very important. Father Shnork explained the roots of the various liturgical words, some originating from Greek, some from Hebrew, which shows how the Armenian tradition stems from, and is influenced by different traditions. Father Shnork also analysed the expressions used and explained that the dialogue about peace between the Priest and the Congregation was talking about a certain peace and harmony within our spirit, therefore encouraging spiritual peace and contentment. Stressing the importance of active participation of the congregation, Father Shnork said that for the Liturgy to be real prayer there has to be participation by the congregation. Another aspect that Father Shnork spoke about was the different roles of priest, deacons and choir; the Celebrant representing Christ in the Divine Liturgy, the Deacons symbolizing Angels and the role of the Deacons to guide the congregation at certain points of the service and the fact that the choir takes on the congregations part in terms of responding to the Priest and Deacons. Although the choir is representative of the congregation, Father Shnork’s aim is to have full participation of the congregation in various parts of the Armenian Liturgy. It was a most interesting session combining history, theology and practice.

- LousiaCalleton

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

2 July 2012

Issue 27 Volume 3

Scripture Readings According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 1 July Isaiah 2:5-11

Romans 8:31-10:4 Matthew 13:24-30

Monday – 2 July Proverbs 1:1-9 Isaiah 41:1-3 Hebrews 12:1-7 Mark 13:9-13

Tuesday – 3 July

Zechariah 3:7-4:9 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:3 Matthew 23:34-39

Wednesday – 4 July

Fasting Day

Romans 10:5-17 Matthew 13:31-42

Thursday –5 July 2 Kings 13:14-21 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Luke 4:25-30

Friday – 6 July

Fasting Day

Romans 11:1-12 Matthew 13:43-52

Saturday – 7 July Wisdom 9:9-10:2 Exodus 15:23-27 1 Thessalonians 2:9-16 Matthew 9:36-10:7

SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL MEETS IN HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church in Holy Etchmiadzin on Saturday, June 23. The meeting was chaired by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Participants discussed the forthcoming pontifical visits to Europe. They elaborated on a proposed meeting of diocesan representatives planned to take place in the fall of 2012, which will focus on the "Guidelines for Diocesan Bylaws of the Armenian Church"—a proposed constitutional framework for all Armenian Church dioceses. Archbishop Barsamian, Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, and Bishop Arshak Khachatryan presented reports on the work of the joint Canonical Committees of the Catholicate of All Armenians and the Catholicate of the Great House of Cilicia. The council also reviewed plans for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Armenian Dioceses around the world.

NO ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY IN JULY

As the Primate’s Office focuses on the forthcoming Armenian Street Festival on Sunday, 29th July 2012, we regret to inform our faithful that there will be no Bible Study session in English during the month of July. 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.

PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM IN JANUARY???

Since the publishing of the details of the inspiring and very successful second annual Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in our E-Newsletter, our volunteer editorial committee members have been receiving e-mails from our faithful regarding the details of our 2013 annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In order to help us best plan the pilgrimage, please let the Primate’s Office know if you or someone you know may be interested in joining a possible pilgrimage to the Holy Land: departing on Sunday, 6th January at night and return on Sunday 13th January.

HELP US HELP ARMENIAN GRADUATES

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..