Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 45

2 NOVEMBER 2012

ISSUE 45 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

ADVENT 2012:

TRYING TO GO BEYOND THE MANGER

The month of November ushers the Advent, the final season in the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church. Advent is a period of preparation and anticipation that fills the world with hope, joy and warm fellowship. It is the time designated by the Church to contemplate about, and prepare for, the Feast of the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. This is the season for people to start decorating their homes, Christmas trees are installed and covered with beautiful and sparkling ornaments, holiday fellowships and parties take place all over, wreaths are fixed at the front entrances of the houses and candles lit behind the windows. However, the most important symbol of the Advent season remains the manger that represents the main theme of the season—the anticipation of the celebration of the miraculous and virgin birth of Jesus. However, have you ever ventured to think of what happened after Jesus’ birth? The manger-event after all is only the beginning. In and of itself it would have had no value for us today, had it not been followed by Christ’s ministry, miracles, teachings, passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection. How many of us looking at a manger, today, think of the shepherds who left their flocks behind, and the kings who traveled away from their kingdoms only to see and know Jesus? How many of us think of the young Jesus who struggled with the corrupt religious, social and political powers of His time to teach, explain and defend the truth and to enlighten His people? How many of us today are seriously willing and interested to go beyond the manger-scene and to make an effort to know the real Jesus: the Saviour as received, worshipped and preached by the Armenian Church for over two thousand years, and not the statue in a man-made manger? Advent is an annual invitation by our spiritual mother, the Armenian Church, to walk the extra mile and make an effort to know the real Jesus through His teachings, parables, ministry and love, the epitome of which was revealed on the cross. So, why not set some time aside during this season to think about the reason for the season. This Advent, I invite you to consider seriously initiating a life long journey to get to know the Redeemer and Savior, Jesus, whom you can know fully only if your heart, mind and soul take you beyond the manger scene. May the Lord grant us all a blessed Advent season.

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



THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG

2 November 2012

Issue 45, Volume 3

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND PARTICIPATES IN A MEETING OF

ARMENIAN CHURCH LEADERS IN HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

On Thursday, 1st November 2012, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, opened with prayer the first session of a three-day conference of the representatives of the dioceses of the Armenian Church around the world in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The conference’s agenda includes reports by representatives of the Patriarchal Sees of Jerusalem and Constantinople, and discussion of the forthcoming 100th anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the sanctification and canonization of the martyrs of the Genocide, the relief of the Armenians in Syria as well as the Bylaws of the Armenian Church worldwide. Representing the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland in the conference are His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Mr. Hagop Yeramian, Chairman of the Board of Wardens of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Man- chester, UK. Since the Armenian Churches in the UK are not yet incorporated as one diocese by bylaws based on the canons of the Armenian Church, the chairmen of the six Armenian churches and church communities were invited to a meeting under the auspices of the Primate, Bishop Vahan, to elect from among themselves one person to represent the Armenian Church in the absence of a diocesan council chairman. The three day conference started its session on Thursday, 1 November 2012, with the welcoming remarks of His Holiness, followed by the reports of the HE Abp. Aris Shirvanian, Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and HG Bishop Sahak, Director of the Ecumenical Department of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. The conference, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II and co-chairmanship of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Diocese of the Western United States of America and Bishop Michael Ajabahian, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak, will continue through Saturday, 3rd November, and will conclude with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, commemorating the 13th Anniversary of the consecration of His Holliness Karekin II, as Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians. .

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AND BADARAK IN DUBLIN MISSION PARISH

His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will visit the Mission Parish of the Armenian Church in Dublin on Sunday 11th November 2012. The Primate will celebrate Badarak at Taney Parish Church in Dundrum and preside over the Annual Assembly to follow. The Agenda of the assembly will include discussion of the proposed Diocesan Bylaws and annual membership dues, as well as the Church Trust. If you live in Dublin or its vicinities in Ireland, we invite you to join our growing community with its active programmes including a Sunday School, monthly celebrations of Badarak, monthly get-togethers and a fellowship hour, regularly organized lecture and discussion groups, choral rehearsals and other Armenian community activities. An annual donation of €60 per year will make you a member of the Mission Parish and give you a vote and a say in the administration of the Parish. You can learn more about the Parish Council and its activities by visiting their website: http://armenians.ie/ or contacting Ayda: alundon@eircom.net. Join us on Sunday, 11th November for Badarak and a get-together in the Church hall. Tea/Coffee will be provided and as usual feel free to bring your own food to share. We are looking forward to seeing you.

ACYF MANCHESTER MEETING – THIS SATURDAY

Under the leadership of the Very Revd Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, visiting priest of Manchester, the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) of Manchester invites young Armenians living in Manchester and its surroundings to a meeting with a glass of wine on Saturday, November 3rd, at 5p.m. During the meeting we are aiming to discuss ways in which our Armenian young people of Manchester can be involved in the community life through many exciting activities. Join us if you are interested!

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

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

2 November 2012 Issue 45, Volume 3

The “Information Centre” of the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland has recently released a new video clip discussing the ordination ceremony of four young men to the Minor Order of Acolyte (Tubir) which took place on Sunday, 2nd September in the Holy Trinity Church in Manchester. You can watch the clip by CLICKING HERE. The “Information Centre” has lately been focusing on producing short video clips thanks to the efforts of Zaruhi Arzumanyan, to introduce our faithful with the various programmes and activities of the Armenian Church in Great Britain and Ireland and the faith and traditions of our people. To watch all previous video clips of the “Information Centre”, CLICK HERE.

The Anahid Association takes immense pleasure in inviting you to the Celebrations of the 2794th ANNIVERSARY of the Founding of the Armenian Capital EREBOUNI-YEREVAN which will take place on SUNDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2012 , from 2.30 to 6.00pm SUDBURY GOLF CLUB Bridgewater Rd Wembley Middx HAO 1AL ( one mile from Hanger Lane and Alperton). Buses: Number H17 and Number 487 . Parking : ample spaces available and also permitted on single yellow lines. We will have a three course hot meal , Coffee or Tea , Singalong , pleasant surprises, dance, music, fun and NO raffles. Tickets : £24.00 per person (payable at the door ) and £12.00 for children under 12. Please encourage your relatives, partners, children, friends and neighbours to join us on this happy occasion and please reserve your seats as soon as possible by calling any member of the Committee: Mona: 0208 567 9319, Flora: 0208 997 2946, Anna: 0208 997 7563, Sylva: 0208 864 9216, Ani: 0208 876 2836, Socie: 0208 847 2014, Odette : 01494 816 757. Awaiting to welcome and greet you with much affection. - The Anahid Association.

Do you live in the Windsor area? The Orthodox Church of Great Britain is happy to announce the opening of the new Orthodox Mission of St Andrew. This is a new ministry of the British Orthodox Church within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, with the intention of developing a pan-Orthodox community of faithful Orthodox Christians as God wills. Visit their website, and send an email if you have any questions or would like to join us in Orthodox prayer. www.orthodoxwindsor.co.uk

LAMBETH PALACE: DINNER AND TALK

HG Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian will offer this year’s “Annual Constantinople Lecture” titled: “The New Testament Apocrypha & the Armenian Church Canon of the Bible.” The lecture—sponsored by the Anglican and Eastern Churches Association in conjunction with the Nikean Club—is scheduled on Thursday 22nd November 2012, 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 Bp Vahan’s lecture and at 7:00pm Buffet supper, carriages at 9:00pm. Tickets for the event and 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. For further information, Click Here.

PRIMATE’S OFFICE

The Primate’s Office is open during the week 9:00am-2:00pm. Our faithful who would like to meet with the Primate are welcome to make an appointment by calling the Primate’s Office: 02081278364. Outside the office hours the faithful can call and leave a message on the same number.

PILGRIMAGE ORIENTATION: The 2013 Holy Land orientation session is scheduled for Friday, 16th November 2013, at 7.00 pm at the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall. HG Bishop Vahan will lead the orientation session, which will include discussion of the concept of the pilgrimage, specifics related to flight details and the pilgrimage itinerary. Pilgrims are encouraged to attend. Invited to the event also are those who participated in the 2011 and 2012 pilgrimages and friends. Admission is free.

2 November 2012

Issue 45 Volume 3

ACYF CHRISTMAS CAROLS – SATURDAY, 15 DECEMBER

SCRIPTURE READINGS According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 4 November

Isaiah 22:15-24 Ephesians 1:1-14 Luke 8:17-21

Monday – 5 November Wisdom 5:1-8 Amos 3:12-15 Ephesians 3:1-10 John 10:11-16

Tuesday – 6 November Proverbs 8:12-21 Nahum 2:1-7 1 Timothy 5:17-21 Luke 9:23-27

Wednesday – 7 November Ephesians 1:15-2:3 Luke 8:22-25

Thursday – 8 November Wisdom 6:22-25 Zechariah 12:6-10 Hebrews 13:7-9 Matthew 4:23-25

Friday – 9 November Ephesians 2:4-22 Luke 8:40-48

Saturday – 10 November Genesis 18:33-19:2 Job 38:4-

Isaiah 6:1-7 Ezekiel 1:1-20 Hebrews 1:6-14 Matthew 18:10-14

The Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) has announced the date of this year’s “Christmas Carols” to be on Saturday, 15th December at St. Sarkis Church. So, please mark your calendar and join us for this ever popular, annual Christmas church celebration. The Carol-singing is scheduled in St. Sarkis Church at 7:00pm followed by a wine reception at 8:00pm in the Nevart Gulbenkian Hall of the St. Sarkis Church. Celebrate the spirit of the season with what has become a traditional annual Armenian celebration in London.

YOUNG TALENTED ARTISTS OF ARMENIA

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.

THIS MONDAY COURSE IN CLASSICAL ARMENIAN

The Continuing Education Ministry of the Primate’s Office is happy to announce the offering of a course in reading and translating Classical Armenian, the language of the Badarak (Patarag) and Armenian Church Liturgy. The course will be offered by Bishop Vahan, and will meet in the Vicarage. No knowledge of any Armenian is required. Classes will meet on Mondays in the evening at 8:00pm, beginning on the 5th November, 2012. A donation of £50 will help defray the cost of the handout to be distributed to the students. To sign up or for further information please contact the Primate’s Office: 0208 127 8364.

OPERA GALA EVENING AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC

You are invited to an Opera Gala Evening at the Royal College of Music produced by Anais Heghoyan who will feature in the programme as well as many other internationally acclaimed singers and pianists including Artur Bobikyan. This not-to- miss event will take place on Sunday the 4th of November at 7.30pm in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at The Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BS. For booking or any enquiries please contact Anais on 07931 377 539 or Mimi on 07931 377 537. Click here to download the flyer.

BIBLE STUDY THIS THURSDAY – BOOK OF REVELATION

The Bible Study group will meet this Thursday, 8th November, in the Nevart

Gulbenkian Hall of the St. Sarkis Church at 7:00pm. The group continues reading the

Book of Revelation. All are welcome to join in, even if they missed the earlier sessions.