Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 40

29 SEPTEMBER 2012

ISSUE 40 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

BADARAK & MPC MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM:

On Sunday, 23rd September, 2012, as part of the Mission Parish Outreach (MPO) programme of the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church in Great Britain and Ireland, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, of the Armenian Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland, visited the Armenian community in Birmingham and its surroundings, where an Armenian Church Mission has been established by the Primate last year and a “Mission Parish Council” (MPC) was elected by the people, to coordinate the Armenian Church ministry and programmes in Birmingham. His Grace celebrated Badarak at the St. John Church Anglican Church, made available for the Armenians thanks to the efforts of the Mission Parish Council. His Grace celebrated Badarak and delivered the sermon, reflecting on the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia and calling on the faithful to work together to strengthen the Armenian community and people be it in the homeland, Armenia, or in England and the diaspora. Following Badarak an especial blessing service for the Republic of Armenia (Hayrapetakan Maghtank) was offered, according to the tradition of the Armenian Church. Assisting the bishop at the services were Revd Deacon Artur Bobikyan, from the Holy Trinity Church in Manchester and the newly ordained Tubir Alex Adamov, from the St. Sarkis Church, London. The Bishop and altar servers then joined the faithful in a fellowship hour hosted by the Birmingham MPC in the church hall, where a new immigrant Armenian community has been established and growing during the past decade or so. Following the fellowship hour the Bishop presided over a general meeting of the Mission Parish Council (MPC) to discuss recent developments and challenges facing

the Mission Parish in Birmingham. At the end of the MPC meeting, people were still conversing in the church hall All present were joyful and spiritually uplifted from the Badarak and the visit of the Primate. The Information Centre of the Primate’s Office, has produced a video clip on this occasion. Click here to watch the video clip. Funding for all Mission Parish Outreach programmes and activities of the Primates Office comes from the Armenian Church Trust UK.

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

29 September 2012

Issue 40, Volume 3

ACYF ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION POSTPONED - UPDATES

The Executive Committee of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) has issued the following statement regarding its forthcoming round-table discussion on the Armenian identity of the youth in UK: “Other Armenian organisations in the UK have asked us if we can postpone our "Armenian Identity in 21st Century Europe" Round Table Discussion on the 2nd October at 7pm, for them to become part of it as well and have their youth to participate in it. Because of this we will reschedule the Round Table and will announce the new date as soon as we all come to an agreement.” Meanwhile, the ACYF is leading a group of 15 young Armenian men and women in the first ACYF Service Project in the Mekhitarist Monastery in San Lazzaro, Venice. Participants in the Service Programme will do volunteer work helping in cataloguing and digitalizing the library collection of the monastery.

EPISCOPAL BADARAK AT ST. YEGHICHE WITH SAHAK MESROB CHOIR

On Sunday, 7th October 2012, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, will be the Guest Celebrant and homilist of the Divine Liturgy at St. Yeghiche Armenian Church in Cranley Gardens, London SW7 3BB. Singing the choir parts on that Sunday will be the “Sahak-Mesrob Armenian Choir of Marseille” from France. The entry procession of the Badarak is scheduled to commence at 11:00am. Click here for the flyer.

BRITISH-ARMENIAN ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP: PUBLIC CALL

“Dear fellow Armenian, please contact your Member of Parliament ( MP) by accessing the “Parliament”’ site, then click “MPs by Constituency” and having located the MP who is serving your constituency , please send the letter below or create your own wording; but please send it as soon as possible because we, Armenians in UK, need the British Authorities to express condemnation at the events in Hungary and specially at the actions of President Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Please gather as many signatures of residents of the same constituency as possible and send to the MP. Thank You.” The British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group. Click here for the sample letter.

ST. SARKIS PARISH COUNCIL – “BADARAK BASICS” THIS SUNDAY th

The St. Sarkis Parish Council is pleased to announce the presentation of the fourth part of "Badarak Basics" this Sunday 30 September, which will take place at the end of Divine Liturgy. As menioned before, the aim of this programme is to help the congregation understand the various aspects of the Armenian Divine Liturgy, and enable them to participate more actively in the service. We are happy to announce that Dr.Hratch Tchilingirian, Chairman of the St. Sarkis Trust and the St. Sarkis Parish Assembly will run this session on Sunday. Further Sessions will be announced.

ST. SARKIS BAKE SALE – RAISING FUNDS FOR ARMENIANS IN SYRIA

The St Sarkis Parish Council is hosting a cake sale on 30th September 2012 in the Gulbenkian Hall after Badarak, to raise money for Arnenians in need in Syria. Please do come and buy delicious home-made cakes!! Donations of Cakes for sale will be most appreciated. Please bring them to the Gulbenkian Hall on the day by 12 noon.

AREV – CHILDREN’S PLAY GROUP The AREV Children’s Play Group, for Pre-School to 7 years old children, of the St. Sarkis Parish will have its monthly play day this Sunday, 30th September, at St. Sarkis Church. 11:30am Storytelling and programme in Nevart Gulbenkian Hall; 12:30-12:45 children and parents attend church service. The group meets the last Sunday of each month. For more information please call or text Shakeh Major Tchilingirian 07968 4463223, or e-mail: parish@stsarkislondon.com.

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

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

29 September 2012 Issue 40 Volume 3

AMBASSADOR, MAYOR AND PRIMATE JOIN

CHILTREN-ARMENIAN SOCIETY PRAYS FOR VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE

The Chiltern-Armenian Society (CAS) , in cooperation with the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, the St Mary's and All Saints Church in Beaconsfield and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in UK, held on Sunday 23rd September a Eucharist celebration in memory of the Victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Rev Jeremy Brooks, pastor, celebrated the Eucharist assisted by the Clergy of St Mary's. His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, presided over the services and delivered the Sermon and the final Blessing. The two biblical lessons of the day were read by Christopher Kurkjian and Rev Cassa Messervy, and four hymns were sung by Anais Heghoyan (Mezzo Soprano) and Nikita Bazil (Soprano) accompanied by the organist David Hackett. Attending the service and the reception that followed were the Armenian Ambassador HE Mrs Karineh Kazinian, the Worshipful Mayor of High Wycombe Cllr Dr Chaudry Shaffique , Cllr Alistair Pyke (representing Beaconsfield Council ) and, filling the St Mary's Church to full capacity, a large congregation of local and Armenian parishioners. The Der Vghormya and “Lord’s Prayer” in Armenian were inserted in the Order of Service. His Grace Bishop Vahan elaborated on the two biblical lessons read during Badarak and connected the theme with that of seeking divine wisdom to be peace-makers.

- The Chiltern-Armenian Society

LIMITED SEATING REMAIN FOR THE DINNER & TALK @ LAMBETH PALACE

THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP OF LONDON has informed our Primate’s Office that in an unprecedented situation, a large number of tickets for the “Annual Constantinople Lecture” are already sold. This year’s guest lecturer, as announced earlier in this publication, 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, which is sponsored by the Anglican and Eastern Churches Association in conjunction with the Nikean Club, 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 at 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.

DID YOU MISS THE GREAT PERFORMANCE OF ANOUSH OPERA IN LONDON? No Worries! The Primate’s Office was informed by the London Armenian Opera that its members are already in full swing rehearsal mode in preparation for the repeat performance of Anoush Opera scheduled which is scheduled on the 27 and 28 of October 2012. As in the previous time, the Opera will be performed at The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11 2AY. So, don’t miss this opportunity as well! Because of the limited space available, the Company urges people to buy their tickets in advance and secure their seats by calling 01923 773277, or e-mail: LondonArmenianOpera@virginmedia.com. You can read more about the Opera by browsing the FLYER posted on our CHURCH WEBSITE

Are you interested to help in 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

29 September 2012

Issue 40 Volume 3

SCRIPTURE READINGS According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 30 September

Proverbs 3:18-26 Isaiah 65:22-25 Galatians 6:14-18 Matthew 24:30-36

Monday – 1 October Proverbs 13:1-7 Micah 7:18-20 Hebrews 12:1-7 Luke 13:22-30

Tuesday – 2 October Lamentations 3:22-56 2 Timothy 3:10-15 Matthew 5:1-12

Wednesday – 3 October 2 Corinthians 12:10-18 Mark 10:35-45

Thursday – 4 October Wisdom 6:11-21 Jeremiah 17:7-8 Romans 8:18-26 John 16:1-4

Friday – 5 October 2 Corinthians 12:19-13:4

Mark 11:15-26

Saturday – 6 October Wisdom 9:9-10:2 Exodus 15:27-16:1 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 Luke 10:1-9

NO BIBLE STUDY SESSION THIS THURSDAY

DUE TO A PRIOR COMMITMENT, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will be out of town this Thursday, 27 September 2012, consequently there will be no Bible Study session in English. The regular study sessions will resume the following Thursday, 4th October at 7:00pm. The group continues reading the thrilling Book of Revelation every Thursday. All are welcome.

HELP US SUPPORT THE ARMENIANS IN SYRIA

AS ANNOUNCED BY THE ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS ON THE 12TH OF AUGUST, and reiterated in the statement by His. Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, the Armenian Church worldwide is raising funds in support of our brothers and sisters in Syria during these times of war, uncertainty and lack of security and peace. Following the call of our Catholicos and Primate, we in the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland are continuing our efforts to raise funds from our faithful in support of this relief mission. All the funds raised by our church will be forwarded entirely to the Armenian Church in Syria, and a copy of the list of donors and funds raised will be published in our E-Newsletter. Please post your donations payable to the Armenian Church Trust UK to: The Primate’s Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG.

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

Tickets for over 300 seats have already been sold for the Tekeyan Cultural Association sponsored 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. Please make sure to reserve your seat ASAP. 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.

ARMENIAN VERSION OF OUR E-NEWSLETTER

The Primate’s Office is considering the possibility of publishing the E-Newsletter in Armenian as well as English. If you are, or someone you know is, interested in receiving the Armenian versiojn of the E-Newsletter, please send the name and e-mail address to: information@armenianchurch.co.uk

OVER 10,000 VIEWERS! DID YOU KNOW that the video clip released by the Information Centre of the Primate’s Office about our second annual Armenian Street Festival (ASF) has been viewed by over 10,100 viewers within a one-month period. If you have not seen it yet, you can do so by CLICKING HERE.

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