Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 52

14 DECEMBER 2012

ISSUE 52 VOLUME 3

E-NEWSLETTER H- J:RJIK THE OFFICIAL ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE PRIMATE’S OFFICE OF THE DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

THE OLDEST ARMENIAN CHURCH IN THE WEST

RENEWED BY COMMITTED YOUNG LEADERS

The Christmas Carol Candle-light Service of the Manchester Chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) last Sunday evening was truly a smashing success witnessed by a full-house attendance of the faithful. The service was organized by the members of the Executive Committee of ACYF under the direction of the Revd Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, and

the artistic supervision of Deacon Artur Bobikyan, and the leadership of Mr. Zareh Nersessian, Chairman of the Manchester chapter of the ACYF. The evening started with a procession whereby the youth joined the clergy in escorting His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, to the Church. Chairman Nersessian welcomed all and briefly introduced the mission and objectives of the Manchester ACYF. Highlights of the traditional Armenian Vespers followed, and several traditional Carols and readings from the Bible were interspersed. Mezzo-Soprano Anais Heghoyan enhanced the inspiring evening even further by singing two solo carols with her angelic voice. At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Vahan thanked the ACYF, Deacon Artur and Fr. Garegin for the beautiful evening. Addressing the packed church, with people standing in the back, His Grace added, “Among the many lessons we learn during the Advent season is that of the Shepherds, who re-organised their priorities to listen to God’s invitation and act upon it. Ordinary men, by accepting the Divine invitation and through their work with God, achieved extraordinary results. This evening our ACYF members in Manchester did a very similar thing. Three years ago, when I first moved to the UK, I was told there are only a few elderly families in Manchester and that I should focus on London only. Three years later, I proudly proclaim to you that I am happy to witness your ACYF proving those people to be wrong. Our young men and women have proven to us that they care about the Church in Manchester and will do any extra- ordinary thing they can to make sure that Manchester remains a centre of Armenian Christianity. The same day in the morning, the Sunday School children presented an equally impressive Advent hantes. Congratulations all! Click here for a video clip.

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

14 December 2012

Issue 52 Volume 3

“ARMENIAN CHRISTIANS ARE THE MOST PERSISTENTLY

PERSECUTED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD” –BISHOP JOHN

The September issue of Highlights of the Church in Wales Governing Body, His Grace Bishop John of Bangor, Wales, answers a question by Canon Patrick Thomas about the Armenian Genocide. Below we publish the text of the question and answer. “2015 will be the centenary of the genocide of around a million and a half Armenian Christians in Ottoman Turkey. Would it be possible to designate April 24th as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day in the Church in Wales diaries and for a prayer to be provided? -Canon Patrick Thomas (St Davids) A The Armenian Christians are the most persistently persecuted people in the world. The Welsh Government has officially recognised the treatment of Armenians as genocide, and has made a commitment to include the massacre of Armenians in Holocaust Memorial Day, 27th January. A memorial to the Genocide was unveiled at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff in 2007. The Bishops will look at the best way for the Church in Wales to commemorate what was a tragic and dreadful event, and try to find ways of making people aware.-Bishop John.” Thank you Church of Wales! Click here to read the Q&A section, on page 6.

Join us this Saturday for the annual Candle-Light Christmas Carol service of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF), associated with the holy season of Advent. For the third consecutive year, the ACYF invites our faithful of all ages to join them in an evening of worship, meditation and singing along of the traditional Christmas carols. The date of this year’s “ACYF Christmas Carols” is this Saturday, 15th December at St. Sarkis Church. The evening will include a reflection-service in Armenian and English, enhanced with the singing of traditional Christmas Carols in English and Armenian. The programme will also include a beautiful Nativity scene presentation by the AREV Children of the St. Sarkis Parish. 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. Admission is free and all, including children, are welcome. Click here to watch the video clip produced by the Information Centre for the Manchester Carol service.

THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU – ANNUAL ADVENT APPEAL

As we approach the end of the year, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, published an appeal to the Armenian community in Great Britain and Ireland seeking their support of the Primate’s Office and its various programmes. During the past two years and a half, the Primate’s Office has developed many new programmes and promoted several ongoing others, with the objective of strengthening the sacred mission of the Armenian Church and the bonds of the Armenian community in United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Among these programmes we mention the annual pilgrimages, Armenian Street Festivals, the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF), the Mission Parish Outreach (MPO), the Deacons’ Training Programme, the Continuing Education Ministry (CEM), the weekly online E-Newsletter, Sunday Bulletin, website and others. Two years after the programmes mentioned above were launched, and some of which have already entered their third year of operation, it has become a serious financial burden for the Primate’s Office to maintain them, without a budget for a hired office assistant. No Armenian church trust or council, in the UK contributes to the above-mentioned programmes. You can read the full text of the Appeal on the official website of the Armenian Church, by clicking here. You can donate online by clicking here, or send your donation payable to “Armenian Church Trust UK” to the mailing address of the Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG. During this blessed and beautiful season of Advent, please remember the Armenian Church and pray for her. Our Primate and thousands of Armenian children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors who have benefitted from our Church programmes will be grateful to you.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO CLIP

“MANCHESTER ACYF’S CHRISTMAS CAROL EVENING SERVICE”

Click here to watch the video clip (English) prepared by the Information Centre of the Primate’s Office Click here to watch the video clip (Armenian) prepared by the Information Centre of the Primate’s Office

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS CAROLING – THIS SATURDAY, 15 DECEMBER

14 December 2012

Issue 52, Volume 3

AGBU NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER-DANCE

The AGBU would like to welcome you to join us for a New Year's Eve Dinner Dance and Live Entertainment at the Holiday Inn, Brentford Lock. With an exclusive live performance by Eurovision star Hayko and guest appearance from comedian Grigor Aghakhanyan. Tickets cost £80 including drink reception and three course meal with wine. To reserve and purchase tickets please contact Noushig on 01494538319 or Armen on 07932024631. Click here to see flyer with full details.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER–ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY, HOMENETMEN AND HAMAZKAYIN

On behalf of the Armenian Relief Society, Homenetmen, and Hamazkayin, we would like to welcome you to join us for an evening of dinner and music by Yorgantz and DJ Alex to welcome in the New Year! Information about booking tickets can be found on the flyer. Further inquiries can be sent to Janet Mardirossian. Click here to download the flyer.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER – TEKEYAN AND NOR SEROUNT

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR – HOMENETMEN LONDON Homenetmen-London held its 34th AGM on Sunday, October 21st. Thanks to all our members who contributed to a lively debate on various topical issues. By way of a circular, we'll be providing an update this week to all our members on our annual programme of events and the make-up of the Executive Committee Members of the Executive Committee for 2012/13: Edmond Abrahamian – Chairman; Melineh Jacob – Secretary; Shiraz Vartanian – Treasurer; Adrienne Khachaturian – Sports and Activities Liaison; Peter Mardirossian - Scouting Activities Liaison; Aline Abramian - Ladies & Social Activities Liaison; Alek Khachaturian - Vice Chairman. We have started the year with great gusto with planning activities for our 34th Scouts Day in March of next year already well in progress. More presently, we have our annual "Christmas Bazaar" on Saturday 8th December at Acton High School. This promises to be a great day with many activities and games for the kids as well as food and art & craft stalls for some last minute Christmas shopping. We'll also be drawing the prizes for our Christmas Raffle. If you haven't already, you'll have an opportunity to buy some tickets on the day before the draw at 4pm. We look forward to welcoming you at this fantastic event. For further information please click here to download a PDF version of our flyer.

- Homenetmen - London Executive Committee. Issue 46, Volume 3

Have you recently visited the video page of the Information Centre of the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland? If not, please click here.

For the first time Tekeyan Cultural Association & Nor Serount Cultural Association, jointly are organizing New Year’s Eve Dinner and

Dance at London’s Tara hotel. The three-course meal Dinner will be served to the tables and there is going to be an excellent entertaining

programme of music and dancing. There will be raffle as well, and part of the income will be dedicated to the Syrian Armenians who are

under tremendous problems due to current state in Syria. The location of the Tara hotel and ticket prices make this an excellent New Year’s

Eve party, particularly for the younger members of our community. Tickets for adults are £60 and for Students £50. For tickets please

contact: Rosette Ouzounian 07957 268 534; Sossi Yerissian 07815 633 628 and Silva Yeghiazarian 020 8864 9216. Those families who are

prepared to come with their children, please contact any of the names on the flyer, and they will be able to take the matter with the hotel and

arrange a special rate or even arrange a children room with a nanny there. We very much appreciate your support to our associations and look

forward for an enjoyable evening. Book your table through contacting any person on the flyer or by emailing us. For further information,

please click here to download our flyer.

- TCA Executive Committee

14 December 2012

Issue 52 Volume 3

SCRIPTURE READINGS According to the Armenian Church Lectionary

Sunday – 2 December

Third Sunday of Advent

Sunday 16 December

Isaiah 38:1-8 Hebrews 1:1-14 Luke 17:1-10

Monday 17 December

Wisdom 5:1-8 Jeremiah 6:16-21 1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Mark 9:32-36

Tuesday 18 December

Proverbs 24:1-12 Jeremiah 15:19-20 Hebrews 12:1-7 Matthew 10:26-33

Wednesday 19 December

Hebrews 2:1-10 Luke 17:11-19

Thursday 20 December

Wisdom 3:1-8 Jeremiah 30:18-22 1 Peter 4:12-19 John 15:17-25

Friday 21 December

Hebrews 3:12-4:10 Luke 18:1-8

Saturday 22 December

Proverbs 11:2-11 Isaiah 4:2-6 Colossians 1:21-29 John 10:11-16

REGULAR MEETING - MANAGING BOARD OF ACT-UK

Eleven members of the Managing Board of the Armenian Church Trust of the United Kingdom (ACT-UK), met last Wednesday 14th December 2012, for the Board’s second regular annual meeting. The Agenda included a presentation of the financial report of the Charity, where the members of the Board examined every category of income and expenditure, and based on their observations proposed a budget for the Primate’s Office programmes and activities for the year 2013. This is the first time that a budget is being proposed for Church programmes. The proposed budget will be presented to the public at the second Annual Church Assembly to be held sometime in early next year. Board members discussed also all the programmes offered by the Primate’s Office including the annual Street Festival and Pilgrimages, and the need for professional staff (secretary/book keeper) for the primate office. New fundraising and public relation programmes were suggested and discussed as well. HG Bp. Vahan presided over the meeting, chaired by Mr. Agop Mouradian, Chairman of the Trust.

CANONTHOMASPATRICK:CARMARTHENTOKARABAGH

The Mission Parish Council (MPC) of the Armenian Church in Cardiff invites you to a very interesting talk about similarities between the Armenian and Welsh people to be offered by the Very Revd Canon Patrick Thomas. The lecture will take place at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church, New Zealand Rd, off Whitchurch Rd, Cardiff at 19.30. For further information please contact John: john@jmpropertiesltd.co.uk

CHRISTMAS FAIR @ ST. SARKIS THIS SUNDAY

Join the Parish Council and parishioners of St. Sarkis Church following Badarak this

Sunday, 16th December, 2012, for the annual Christmas Fair prepared by the Ladies

Committee of the St. Sarkis Church in Kensington, London W8 6TP. This is a special

90th Anniversary fair and authentic Armenian food will be on sale. A fun-filled day for

the entire family starting at 1:00pm. All are welcome.

BIBLE STUDY GROUP –FINAL SESSION OF THE YEAR

This Thursday, 20th December, the Bible Study group will have its final session of the

year. The session will conclude the reading of the Book of Revelation. As always, the

group will meet in Nevart Gulbenkian Hall at 7:00pm. A wine reception will follow.

All are welcome: old, current and future members.

CHRISTMAS GIFT SUGGESTION

A beautifully packaged CD including a selection of inspiring religious and popular

Christmas Carols, played by the world-renowned pianist Artur Bobikyan. The organist

at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester, Bobikyan has prepared this CD with

his own piano interpretation of carols. To obtain your copy please call St. Sarkis

Office 0207 937 9049, or e-mail: office@stsarkislondon.org. Donations: £10 to pick

it up from church office; and £12 to have it posted (please send address).

ANNOUNCE YOUR ORGANISATION’S EVENTS HERE

Please send a paragraph describing the event and a flyer (if available) electronically to:

information@armenianchurch.co.uk. We will happily promote your events.