E-NEWSLETTER...............Է-ԹԵՐԹԻԿ

The official online publication of the Primate’s Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland Issue 27 (Volume 4), 6 July 2013

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD -

Several books of the New Testament narrate, and others refer to, an event in the life of our Lord where he took three of His Apostles: Peter, John and James to the top of a mountain and revealed His divinity there by appearing in a transfigured form, shining bright and white. Appearing on his both sides were the Prophets Moses (Giver of the Law, Torah) and Elijah (prophet par excellence), as if learning from Him. None of the biblical references (Mt 17:1–9, Mk 9:2-8, Lk9:28–36, 2 Peter 1:16–18), date the event. After the conversion of Armenia to Christianity in 301 AD, St Gregory designated the date of this biblical event to be on the 14th Sunday after Easter, which coincides with the pagan feast of Vardavar. The latter was observed as the feast of the goddess Astghik (Aphrodite) whom pagan Armenians worshipped and believed to spread love in the land by sprinkling rose water all over and on each other. Preserving the ancient festivities, St Gregory replaced the pagan theme of the festivity with that of the transfiguration of the Lord. The Feast is considered one of the Five Major annual feasts of the Armenian Church, because it reveals Christ’s divinity, and His oneness with God. Like the Baptism event, so in the Transfiguration, the voice of God is heard commanding “This is my son whom I love. Listen to Him” (Mk 9:7).

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Inside the dome of the Transfiguration Church on Mount Tabor in the Holy Land Moses & Elijah on Jesus’ sides

PRIMATE VISITS THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN IRELAND

On Sunday, 30 June, the RtRevd Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, visited the Armenian Church community in Dublin, Ireland and met with the Mission Parish Council members of the Armenian Church in Ireland. At 2:00pm in the afternoon, His Grace celebrated Badarak and delivered the homily to a congregation which almost filled the beautiful sanctuary of the Taney Parish Church, in Dublin, Ireland. Badarak was followed by a lunch reception courtesy of the Mission Parish Council. This gave the Primate an opportunity to mingle with the faithful, the Sunday School students, teachers and parents and the youth. At the conclusion of lunch, the Primate delivered a talk on the spirituality, theology and writings of St. Gregory of Narek, highlighting key events in his biography. The final agenda on the Bishop’s visit was a deacons’ training session which he conducted in the church sanctuary. Three Armenian young men are interested in learning the deacons’ part of the beautiful liturgy of the Armenian Church and help in the celebration of Badarak in Dublin. Accompanying Bp Vahan during the visit, and assisting him during the Badarak and the Deacons’ Training session was Mr Richard Cherkerzian, an altar server of the St Yeghiche Armenian Church in London, UK.

Worshippers in Dublin volunteering to sing the choir’s parts duringbadarak

ACYF CELEBRATES THE TRANSFIGURATION

The Executive Committee of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) in London cordially invites young Armenian men and women to an afternoon of fellowship and fun in celebration of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the traditional Baydzaragerbootyoon/Vardavar. The event is scheduled this Sunday, the 7thof July, 5pm onwards. There will be appetizers, canapés, salad, drinks, coffee and tea. Meanwhile, and prior to the event, members of the ACYF will gather in the Church ground to watch the Wimbledon 2013 Tennis finals on a large size screen. His Grace Bp Vahan will visit the event and discuss with the youth the various ways that members of the ACYF can help by volunteering at the Annual Armenian Street Festival. Come casual to the event and prepared, possibly, to get wet. Armenian young men and women from the greater London area and their friends are welcome. Admission is free. For information about the ACYF afternoon this Sunday, or about other forthcoming events and projects of the ACYF, please contact the ACYF at: ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk.

ACYF Gathering Srpazan Srjaran 22 June 2013

ONE WEEK FOR THE ARMENIAN FESTIVAL IN LONDON

Next Sunday, 14 July, 2013 is the annual Armenian Street Festival in London, sponsored by the Armenian Church Trust UK, with the support and participation of all Armenian parishes and Church communities as well as Armenian organizations and associations in the UK. The Festival is scheduled to start at 12:00 noon, following Badarak (Divine Liturgy). Iverna Gardens will be closed for vehicular traffic to accommodate the crowd and the marquees to be installed on the occasion. The Festival will include a variety of delicious Armenian and Middle Eastern food, Armenian and International songs and music, Armenian dance, Tavli/Nardi games, raffle, stalls and vendors, Armenian circle dancing, and several surprise dignitaries who will visit the Festival at different times during the afternoon. The Baroness Caroline Cox and Mr

His Grace Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, at 1:00pm for the official inauguration of the Festival with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. An impressive programme has been prepared for the day long Festival including a concert in the Church, traditional Armenian dances and

performances by the students of the Armenian Schools in Birmingham, Dublin, London and Manchester.

Stephen

Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North will join

Armenian Street Festival 2011

BP VAHAN TO CELEBRATE TRANSFIGURATION AT ST YEGHICHE

The Right Revd Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will be the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy, Badarak, at St Yeghiche Church in Cranley Gardens, London, this Sunday, 7 July, 2013 on the occasion of the Major Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (ՔրիստոսիԱյլակերպութեանՏաղաւարՏօն). Badarak is scheduled to start at 11:00AM. Following the distribution of the Holy Communion, His Grace will offer the hoily elaborating on the meaning of the Feast and its relevant to us today. Meanwhile, Fr. ShnorkBagdasarian, Pastor, will be the celebrant at St Sarkis Church, London, and Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan, at Holy Trinity Church in Manchester. All the churches mentioned above will have a morning service at 10:30AM prior to the Badarak. Please Note that due to the Major Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and in accordance with the canons of the Armenian Church, there will be no hokehankisd services (Requiem) this Sunday, 7 July. Requests for hokehankisd services will be honoured on the following Sunday, 14 July 2013.

FESTIVAL RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE IN ADVANCE

This year, the Festival Raffle tickets are available in advance. An impressive list of prizes, including a round-trip Airline ticket to Cyprus, Jewellery by Tateossian, a meal for four at The Abingdon Restaurant and other prizes are confirmed for this year’s raffle. To purchase your Raffle tickets please call Mimi Heghoyan on 07931 377 537; send an e-mail to: festival@armenianchurch.co.uk; or contact the Primate’s Office: 0208 127 8364.

PLAY BACKGAMMON @ FESTIVAL AND WIN A PRIZE

Don’t miss your chance to play the community and win a prize!As in the previous years, this year also the Armenian Festival Committee (ASF) is designating a corner in the Festival floor-plan on the St Sarkis Church grounds for a Tavli/Nardi tournament. Registration in the tournament is: £5. You can win the 1st Prize - £50 or the 2nd Prize - £30. Please contact Anais at: (m) 07931377539, e- mail:anaishegoyan@yahoo.co.ukfor further information or to book your place as there are only 32 spaces available!!

VOLUNTEERS AT THE FESTIVAL

It’s fun! It’s a Christian virtue! It helps making the Armenian Festival even more successful. Please send your name to the Primate’s Office, indicating the time you are available to volunteer and the kind of work you are willing to do (Welcome table, Food Tent, Coffee/Tea/Dessert, setup and clearing, and other). The more volunteers we have, the shorter a time-slot will be assigned to a volunteer. The Primate’s Office (0208 127 8364) will finalise a volunteer schedule and e-mail it to all volunteers.

SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL – DONATION DEADLINE THIS TUESDAY, 9 JULY 2013

If you still haven’t sent you cheque in support of the one and only Armenian Street Festival in London and UK, may we please encourage you to do so as soon as you can. Please make your donation payable to: The Armenian Church Trust UK, which is the Primate’s Office charity that sponsors the Festival, and mail it to: The Primate’s Office, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG. Donations received by Tuesday, 9th July, will be acknowledged in the Festival booklet. Thank you in advance for supporting this year’s Armenian Festival.

BADARAK NEXT SUNDAY, 14 JULY STARTS AT 10:00AM

In an effort to help the faithful, altar servers and members of the choir to be at the Armenian Festival and assume their volunteer work on time the Councils of the St Yeghiche and St Sarkis Churches decided to schedule the start of the Badarak on the Festival Day, 14 July 2013 one hour earlier than the regular starting time. So please mark your calendars, iPhones,&Galaxies and join us next Sunday at 10:00AM for the beginning of the Badarak. According to this schedule, Badarak and hokehankisdservices should be concluded by noon.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  PLEASE HELP US HELP A YOUNG ARMENIAN MAN: The Primate’s Office received the following plea for help. “Arthur is an 18 year old

man from St Petersburg in Russia. He is battling with Hodgkin’s lymphoma for two years. Arthur initial treatment in Russia, with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, was not successful. He suffered a relapse. If you want to help Arthur thourhg the Armenian Church Trust please make your donation payable to “Armenian Church Trust UK” and post it to: The Primate’s Office, c/o HyeDoon, Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG. God bless.

 BIBLE STUDY: The Bible discussion and study group will meet this Thursday, 11 July at 7:00pm in Gulbenkian Hall. All are welcome.  CHURCH REGISTRY:Click here for May 2013 Church Registry.  PRIMATE’S OFFICE STALL: Among the 14 stalls participating in the Armenian Festival next week, will be the stall by the Primate’s Office,

managed by Mrs Tamara Stephan. The stall will showcase and have on sale Armenian books, souvenirs, CDs and DVDs. So please stop by our stall and say hello to Tamara.

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