Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 36

31 AUGUST 2012

ISSUE 36 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

BP. GEVORK, DEAN OF GEVORKIAN SEMINARY, IN LONDON

HIS GRACE BISHOP GEVORK SAROYAN, Dean of the Gevorkyan Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and President of the Armenian Bible Society, started last Wednesday, 29 August, his week-long visit to the Armenian Church in London. Bishop Saroyan is in London to meet with the General Secretary of the Bible Society for Eastern Europe and for academic consultation with the Department of Theology at Cambridge and Oxford

Universities. Bishop Saroyan is not a stranger to the Armenian community in Great Britain. He studied Theology at Mirfield College and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Pastoral Studies from Leeds University and a Master of Theology Degree in Applied Theology from Oxford University. His Grace will be visiting the St. Sarkis Church this coming Sunday, 2nd September, 2012 and deliver the sermon. Welcome Your Grace! Bari ;kaq Srbazan Fa\r.

HELP US HELP THE ARMENIANS IN SYRIA

AS ANNOUNCED EARLIER, RESPONDING TO A DIRECTIVE by His Holiness Karekin II, our Primate issued a call to Armenians in Great Britain and Ireland to help the church raise funds to support the Armenians in Syria. It is our Christian duty to help our brothers and sisters in Syria during these times of uncertainty and lack of security and peace. Please help us raise funds for the Armenians of Syria by sending your donation payable to: “The Armenian Church Trust UK” and post it to: The Primate’s Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG. The full amount of the donation will be transferred to the Armenian Church in Syria and a list of the donours will be published in future issues of the E-Newsletter. Click here to read the text of Bishop Vahan’s call to the Armenians of Great Britain and Ireland to support the Armenians in Syria.

We at the Primate’s Office would love to hear from you. Please send your comments, feedback and observations to: The Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, 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

31 August 2012

Issue 36, Volume 3

“AMEN” FATHER SHNORK!

LAST SUNDAY, 26 August, 2012, the parishioners of St. Sarkis Church were invited to the third session of “Badarak Basics”, an educational ministry launched by the St. Sarkis Parish Council. The session was offered by Revd Shnork Bagdasaryan. Pastor, at the conclusion of the Badarak. Fr. Shnork elaborated on the meaning of Badarak as a joint celebration of the congregation with the clergy of their faith and salvation through Christ. He explained the meaning of several liturgical words borrowed from foreign languages such as Alleluia (Hebrew) meaning “Praise the Lord,” or Proskhumen (Greek) meaning “let us pay attention” or Orthi (Greek) for stand up. However, the focus of the remainder of the presentation was on the meaning and function of the liturgical word “Amen.” Fr. Shnork emphasized that according to the biblical and early church traditions (quoting from the writings of the second-century theologian Justin Martyr) uttering the word Amen was meant to be the people’s expression of agreeing with what was stated in the prayer. In that sense, “Amen” means “let it be” or “truly it is”!. Fr. Shnork elaborated on the meaning and function of the word “Amen” in the Armenian Church liturgy, by reading and translating phrases from the Armenian Church Badarak. One of the highlights of the presentation was when the congregation of over 100 people gathered in the church responded to Fr. Shnork’s invitation and started singing the “Amen” with the choir whenever it is indicated in the liturgy. Thank you Fr. Shnork for such an inspiring, educational yet very clear presentation. Thank you St. Sarkis Parish Council, not only for preparing and offering such valuable programmes but also for being there in support of the programme.

ACYF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF), met for the first time, following the election of its new council members at the general meeting last Monday, 6th August. The meeting was presided over by His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. Members of the Executive Committee discussed the agenda which included reports and updates on the ACYF Service Programme which will take place 11-14 October 2012 at the Mekhitarist Armenian Monastery in San Lazzaro Venice. The committee, unanimously and with joy, welcomed the suggestion of the ACYF of France to join in their Service Programme in Venice. In addition to its site-seeing aspect in the beautiful city of Venice and to the inspiring fellowship among the Armenian young men and women, the Service Programme will focus mainly on the volunteer work to be done by the members of the ACYF at the Library of the Mekhitarist Monastery to help in an ongoing project of digitalising their very valuable collection of books and updating the Library’s

catalogue. The Service Programme is scheduled for Thursday, 11th October to Sunday, 14th October. The cost of the program, including roundtrip airfare, lodging in Venice and a group dinner is £350. Please make your your cheques payable to The Armenian Church Trust UK (ACT-UK) and post it to the Primate’ Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. The Committee discussed also other forthcoming activities of ACYF including a Round Table Discussion in October, a possible pilgrimage to Western Armenia in the summer of 2013 and a social event. All the programmes of the ACYF are funded by the Armenian Church Trust UK (ACT-UK). For further information about the ACYF please e-mail: ACYF@rmenianchurch.co.uk, or visit their Facebook.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SUPPORT THE ARMENIAN CHURCH TRUST – UK

(ACT-UK) WWW.ARMENIANCHURCHTRUST.ORG.UK

31 August 2012

Issue 36 Volume 3

UK ARMENIANS DEMAND JUSTICE FOR SLAIN ARMENIAN

LIEUTENANT GURGEN MARKARYAN

HIS GRACE BISHOP VAHAN HOVHANESSIAN, PRIMATE, met with Her Excellency Mrs. Karine Kazinyan on Friday, 31st August, 2012 in the Embassy of Armenia, a few hours after the release of an Azeri army officer convicted in Hungary of murdering Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Markaryan. The meeting was to discuss the updates and how the Armenians of UK can mobilise their efforts as one community to demand justice. The Azeri serviceman, Ramil Safarov, was convicted of the crime in Hungary and given a life sentence for hacking Markaryan to death with an axe in 2004 in Budapest. Armenia’s Ambassador informed HG Bishop Vahan that Armenia is severing diplomatic ties with Hungary after this shameful incident. The Ambassador asked the Bishop to help the Embassy in coordinating a public protest near the Hungarian Embassy this Wednesday, 5th September. Details to be announced. May the Lord rest the soul of Lieutenant Gurgen Markaryan in peace and grant comfort and consolation to his family and friends.

DEACONS’ TRAINING PROGRAMME - NEW CLASS THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED, that Monday, 3rd September, is the orientation day for those interested to join the Deacons’ Training Programme and learn to serve at the Armenian Church altar. This Sunday, 2nd September, four of the participants in the first class of the Training programme will be ordained Tubir (Dupirs) by Bishop Vahan in Manchester. The same four Tubirs will continue with the new candidates the second phase of their training sessions in preparation for the rank of Subdeacon (Kisasarkauag). If you, or someone you know, is interested in supporting the ministry of the Armenian Church by serving at the altar of the Church and traveling with the Bishop to the Mission Parishes to celebrate the Badarak and sacraments in these newly formed communities, please join us this Monday at 6:30pm, for the orientation session which will take place at the Vicarage.

ARMENIAN INSTITUTE’S CALL FOR ARTISTS

THE ARMENIAN INSTITUTE IN LONDON, is planning a 3-day event to be held in the popular art space of Shoreditch Town Hall from January 31 to February 3, 2013. During the day the art exhibitions, installations and film screenings will take place. In the evening the institute will have live performances. The intention of the Armenian Institute is to make this an annual event. For this year, the Institute has chosen the theme of displacement and regeneration and will be focusing on the Armenian experience of loss and resettlement. Artists interested to participate are encouraged to contact the Institute via e-mail: info@armenianinstitute.org.uk, by 16th September 2012. For further information please Click Here.

YOUNG TALENTED ARTISTS OF ARMENIA IN LONDON

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND GB invites you to a Charity Concert by the “Young Talented Artists of Armenia”, a group of highly talented musicians who have won prizes at numerous music festivals, as well as national and international competitions. The ensemble includes two vocalists and six instrumentalists, playing the piano, cello, kanon, shvi, flute and saxophone. The programme will include works from all genres of music including Armenian compositions. The concert will take place at St. John's, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA, on Saturday 10th November 2012, at 7:30pm. Tickets: £30, £25, £20, £15 and £10, with group and children's concessions. For tickets please email a.carapeti@btinternet.com or telephone: 020 8993 2266.

Are you interested to support the ministry of the Armenian Church by joining the Church choirs or altar servers? Please write to the Primate’s Office: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk

31 August 2012

Issue 36 Volume 3

Scripture Readings According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 2 September Isaiah 10:12-19 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:3 Mark 6:30-44

Monday – 3 September Proverbs 4:10-27 Isaiah 48:17-22 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Matthew 10:37-42

Tuesday – 4 September

Lamentations 3:22-56 Romans 8:18-27 John 16:1-5

Wednesday – 5 September 2 Corinthians 1:12-22 Mark 5:35-43

Thursday – 6 September Wisdom 5:16-18 Lamentations 3:22-56 2 Timothy 3:10-15 Luke 12:32-40

Friday – 7 September 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11 Mark 6:1-6

Saturday – 9 September Ezekiel 44:23-24 Hebrews 12:1-7 John 14:25-31

TUBIR ORDINATION SERVICE IN MANCHESTER

THIS SUNDAY, 2nd September, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will be ordaining four young men, participants of the Deacons’ Training Programme, to the Order of Tubir (Clerk, or Acolyte) according to the beautiful traditions of the Armenian Church. The ordination service is scheduled following the Divine Liturgy, Badarak, which will be celebrated by the Primate at 11:15 in the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester.

PRIMATE TO LECTURE AT LAMBETH PALACE

THE ANGLICAN AND EASTERN CHURCHES ASSOCIATION in conjunction with the Nikean Club, will be sponsoring this year’s Annual Constantinople Lecture. The guest lecturer will be His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. The title of the lecture is: “The New Testament Apocrypha and the Armenian Church Canon of the Bible.” The lecture is scheduled on Thursday 22nd November 2012. And will take place at Lambeth Palace, London SE1 7JU, by special permission of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. The evening will start at 5:30 with Evensong followed by Bishop Vahan’s lecture and 7:00pm Buffet supper, carriages at 9:00pm. Tickets for the event, including buffet supper, are £23 per person. For tickets please write to The General Secretary, Anglican and Eastern Churches Association, c/o The Old Deanery, Dean’s Court, London EC4V 5AA, or e-mail: janet.laws@btopenworld.com. Closing date for booking tickets is: Friday, 9th November 2012. Places are limited and will be allocated to AECA & Nikaean members first. For further information, Click Here.

DJIVAN GASPARYAN IN A CONCERT IN LONDON

WE ARE HAPPY to inform our readers about a forthcoming concert on 28th September featuring Armenia’s folk music icon Djivan Gasparyan. Master of the duduk, Gasparyan brings traditional Armenian music to the UK in this extremely rare appearance, accompanied by his ensemble. In this concert, Gasparyan will also rekindle his Grammy-nominated partnership with Iranian maestro Hossein Alizâdeh for a new finale collaboration. You can find all the info about the event by following this link: http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=13567

CLASSES IN WESTERN ARMENIAN

COURSES IN WESTERN ARMENIAN will be offered for beginners, intermediates and advanced students in Hye Doon by Professor Krikor Moskofian of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London). Courses will start the first week in October. For further information or to register please click here, or e-mail: moskofiank@hotmail.co.uk

SAHAK-MESROP CHOIR OF MARSEILLE IN LONDON

The Tekeyan Cultural Association of London invites you to a choral concert by the 50-member, award winning and internationally renowned “Sahak-Mesrop Armenian Choir of Marseille.” The programme will include popular Armenian choral songs, under the direction of Khatchig Yilmazian. The concert will take place in St. Yeghiche Armenian Church, Cranley Gardens SW7 3DB, on Saturday, 6th October, 2012, at 7:30pm. Tickets: £25, £20 and £10. For tickets, please e-mail tca@tekeyantrust.org.uk, or telephone: 0208 879 0758, or 0208 544 8034.

HELP THE ARMENIANS IN SYRIA

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