Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 8

E-NE W S L E T T E R ...............Է-ԹԵՐԹԻԿ

The official online publication of the Primate’s  Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland Issue 8 (Volume 4), 23February 2013

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF GREAT LEND: THE PRODIGAL SON

The third week in Great Lent starts with the story of the Prodigal Son. In fact this Sunday is known as the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, which is based on a parable taught by our Lord in Luke 15:11-24. It is about a young man who decides to leave his father, demanding his inheritance share. His loving father gives him his share of the inheritance and allows him to leave. In several months, the son wastes the money he received from his father to the extent of being homeless with no food. Finally, he comes to his senses and thinking about his life he realizes that he made a mistake and had disrespected his father. So, he decides to return to the   father’s   house   and   beg   his   father’s   forgives,   asking   him   to   accept   him   back,   as   one   of   his   servants.   Instead,   when   the   father   hears   about   the   son’s   repentance,   he   runs   to   the   street   to   meet   his   son   midway.   Not only does the father forgive his son, but he reinstates him in his house as one of his sons and an heir to his wealth. The father, rejoicing, commands  his  servants,“Bring  quicklythe  best  robe,  and  put  it  on  him,   and puta ring on his hand, andshoes on his feet. And bringthe fattened calf and kill it, andlet us eat and celebrate.For   this   my   sonwas   dead,   and   is   alive   again;   he   was   lost,   and   is   found.’   And   they   began   to   celebrate.”  The  parable  is  obviously  about  our  relationship  with  God,  our  heavenly  father...Read more

MANCHESTER ACYF CELEBRATE DRNDEZ

On Friday, 15 February, the Manchester chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) had organized a special evening of prayer, fellowship and bonfire in commemoration of the biblical eventof the presentation of the Lord to the Temple (Luke 2:22-40). at the Holy Trinity Church in Manchester. The evening began with the traditional Armenian Church vespers at 8:00pm in the church, presided over by HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate. In his reflection the Primate congratulated and thanked the Manchester ACYF, under the guidance of FrGareginHambardzumyan and DnArturBobikyan, for their effort in organizing the evening. Addressing a mixed congregation of young and older Armenians that filled the church, with some standing in the back, the Bishop thanked the Manchester Church Trust and wardens for supporting the newly formed ACYF chapter.  “I  am  sure,”  added  the  bishop,  “the  founding  fathers  of   our church here in Manchester, are looking down at our ACYF and joyfully blessing them for this successful and inspiring service. Who would have thought that 143 years after its consecration, the church will host such as an inspiring service organised by the Armenian youth!”...     Read more

ARMENIANS IN DUBLIN REMEMBER THE LATE AMBASSADOR

The Armenian Church community in Dublin, together with the Armenian Consulate in Dublin has organized a Badarak followed by a special Hokehangist, requiem, for the late Ambassador KarineKazinian. The celebrant of the day was His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, who in his services reflected about the faith of the late Ambassador, remembering her first public visit in the community which was to St. Sarkis Church, two days after her arrival to the country as the new ambassador. The Primate then invited Mr Ara Margarian, Charge  d’Affaires, to say a few words on behalf of the Embassy. Mr. Margarian, thanked the Church community in Dublin and the Consulate for coordinating the event. A special reception, with Lenten food, was prepared by the Church community in honour of the guests, which took place at the hall of the Taney Church. During his visit to Dublin, His Grace Bp Hovhanessian had a chance to make a pastoral visit to one of the community members, and a benefactor of the Church community in Dublin, meet with the Parish Council in Dublin to discuss some details related to the church ministry and administration, and was introduced to the newly appointed pastor of the Taney Parish, Fr. Robert Warren.

ARMENIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY DISCUSSED IN WALES

The On the 20th February at St Josephs Church, Cardiff, Canon Patrick Thomas gave a talk on Armenian Culture and History to an audience of Welsh, Jews and Armenians, organized by the Mission Parish Council of the Armenian Church in Cardiff, Wales. It was not just the accuracy of the historical facts and the depth of content but His praise of the Armenian history, culture, Religion, music, poetry and the spirit of its peoples, so inspired the collective audience, that they requested more information on the history and culture of Armenia. The talk also covered the similarities and the differences between the Welsh and the Armenians as well as the history of the Armenian's adoption of Christianity, the inspiring art of the Khatchkars, as well as the impact of successive invasions and the impact theses have had on the Armenian peoples. Read more

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PRIMATE VISITS BIRMINGHAM ARMENIAN CHURCH COMMUNITY

Last Wednesday, 20 February, 213, His Grace Bp Vahan Hohvanessian, spent the entire day visiting the Armenian community in Birmingham. During his visit, Bp Vahan joined in prayer a family whose young son has been diagnosed with Lucimea. The Bp comforted the family with his visit and prayer and was happy to hear that the young boy is doing very well. He then joined the community leaders at a store, recently purchased by one of the members of the community. He blessed the store and wished the owners success and  God’s  blessing.  During  the  visit  Bp  Vahan  got  to  meet  with  the members of the Armenian Church community council including MrVaruzhDavtyan, chairman. The members of the council discussed with His Ggrace the various challenges facing the community and reviewed the several achievements that they registered during the past  year,....         Read more

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED!

Every year, on the Thursday before Poon Paregentan for Great Lent, the Armenian Church commemorates the Battle of Avarayr (451),

General Vartan and his brave soldiers who died in the battle in defense of Christianity and the Armenian Church. The Battle of Avarayr

became a turning point in defining the identity  of  the  Armenian  people.  The  historian  Yeghiche  quotes  General  Vartan,  saying:  “

We are

ready for persecution and death and every affliction and torture for the sake of the holy churches which our forefathers entrusted to us by

the power of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby we were reborn to the one hope of faith by baptism in Christ Jesus. In the

same fashion we wish to renew ourselves by torments and blood. For we recognize the Holy Gospel as our Father, and the apostolic

catholic church as Mother.  Let  no  evil  partition  come  between  us  to  separate  us  from  her.”

COURSE: READING THE BIBLE FROM THE ARMENIAN CHURCH’S PERSPECTIVE

Session  two  of  the  course  “Reading  the  Bible  from  the  Armenian  Church’s  Perspective”  is  scheduled  for  this  Thursday,  28  February at

7:00pm. All are welcome, even if you missed the first session. Registered participants will receive a copy of the handouts. To register, for

free, please contact the Primate’s  Office: 020 8127 8364.

MONTHLY GAMES CLUB – THIS TUESDAY

The St Sarkis Church Parish Council are pleased to announce that the next date of the monthly Games Club (formerly Chess & Backgammon Club) will be Tuesday 26th February from 7pm at the London Visitors Hotel, 42-44 Holland Road, Kensington, London W14 8BB. We are also pleased to announce that starting from this month we will be introducing card games to the club. Please reserve your place by emailing stsarkisparish@armenianchurch.co.uk, as spaces are limited. Entry is for free and open to all. For map and public transport information, please visit http://bit.ly/Vby505. Facebook Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/483632601693484

AREV CHILDREN’S GROUP – THIS SUNDAY:

Please note the next AREV will meet on Sunday, 24 March 2013, on Palm Sunday, instead of 31st March, which is Easter Sunday. On this day, NanehHovhanisyan of Brainy Beans will be the featured guest. AREV Children’s   Play   Group   is   fun   and   games   through   Armenian   songs,   storytelling   and   exciting   activities.   Parents’   participation   is   essential.   For   more   information   about   AREV   please   call   Shakeh   Major Tchilingirian 07968 446223 or send an email to info@stsarkislondon.org. Click here to watch a video clip.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  GREAT LENT: Friday Lenten (Click here) vigils at 6:30 followed by a Lenten dinner at Gulbenkian Hall. Dinner donation: £5/person.  VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK: The 90th Anniversary Celebration of St. Sarkis Church. Click here.....      Thank you, Zara!  CHURCH REGISTRY: For the Month of January, click here.  SCRIPTURE READINGS OF THE WEEK: Click here for  a  list  of  this  week’s  Bible  readings  according  to  the  Armenian  Church  lectionary.  BADARAK IN OXFORD: This Wednesday, 27 February at 6:00pm in Pembroke College Chapel. Click here for more details.  CLICK HERE to  read  Bp  Vahan’s  Statement  on  the  resignation  of  the  Pope

The  Primate’s  Office c/o HyeDoon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG www.armenianchurch.co.uk information@armenianchurch.co.uk