Armenian Church E-Newsletter, Issue 31‏

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 31(Volume 4),1 August 2013

PRIMATE RECEIVES REVEREND BOB FYFE GENERAL SECRETARY CHURCHES TOGETHERIN BRITAIN AND IRELAND

His Grace Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Patriarchal Legate, received the Reverend Bob Fyfe,

General Secretary of the “Churches Together in Britain and Ireland” (CTBI) on Thursday, 25 July, 2013.

Attending the meeting was also Dr Harry Hagopian, the Ecumenical Consultant to the Primate. During the

meeting the Primate discussed with the General Secretary the status of the membership of the Armenian

Church in the CTBI. Among the other subjects discussed during the meeting were the presence of the

Orthodox Family of Churches in the CTBI, the involvement of the Armenian Church in the causes

supported by the CTBI and the contribution of the Armenian Church to the ongoing inter-church and

inter-faith discussions in the UK and Ireland. Bp Vahan assured Revd Fyfe of the total commitment of the

Armenian Church to supporting ecumenism and the unity and strength of the Church in the UK and

Ireland and the causes endorsed by the CTBI. Armenians have settled in the UK since 1850s, and had their

first church in the UK as early as 1870, however until today the Armenian Church is not a member of the

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland something our Primate and Dr Hagopian are pursuing effectively.

ST MARYFEAST DAY PICNIC ON ST SARKIS CHURCH GROUNDS

The Parish Council of the Armenian Church of St Sarkis is happy to announce the coordination of a picnic on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which will be celebrated on Sunday, 18 August, 2013. The picnic will take place on the grounds of the St Sarkis Church in Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TP. In order to allow for the Parish Council to prepare and setup, the Picnic is scheduled between the hours of 5:00pm to 8:00pm. All are welcome to attend. Join us and bring your family members and friends with you. Please Note: Prior registration for the Picnic is essential to help the Parish Council prepare enough food for all. You can register by informing any of the St Sarkis Parish Council members or by contacting the St Sarkis Church office at: 020 7937 0152, or e-mail: stsarkisparish@armenianchurch.co.uk. Donation for picnic is £7 for dues-paying parishioners of St Sarkis, £10 for non-members of St Sarkis Parish, and £65 for pensioners. The admission fees includea lunch plate of mixed grillsàla Armenia (Xorovadz) and a drink. Non-registered guests may attend the picnic. However, the Parish Council cannot guarantee the availability of food. For more information about the St Sarkis Parish Picnic please click here.

Icon of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

ACYF GIFT BOXES FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

On the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, on Sunday, 18 August, 2013, the executive committee of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) is planning a gift box distribution mission for elderly Armenians who live alone and those who are shut-in. After the very successful Easter Box distribution project, members of the ACYF will be preparing a box including blessed grape, choreg, chocolate box and a prayer book about the Virgin Mary. If you live alone, or someone you know does, please contact the ACYF at: ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk, or call the Primate’sOffice: 0208 127 8364, to give us the name of the person, detailed address and, and clear delivery instructions and preferredtime. Thanks to the ACYF the church will be able to reach to those in our community who otherwise will not be able to attend the church services and the blessing ceremony of the grapes on this important feast day in our church calendar. Please support this and other ACYF programmes by donating to: The Armenian Church Trust Fund, indicating ACYF on the back of the cheque, and mail your cheque to: the Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Don, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. Thank you.

Manchester ACYF with Fr Garegin

“ARMENIAN THREADS” IN MANCHESTER

The Board of Wardens of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester cordially invites the Armenian community to the preview of Armenian Threads on Wednesday 21st August, 6pm, in The Basement, 20 Dale Street (entrance on Little Lever Street) Manchester M1 1EZ. The Arts Council funded exhibition “Armenian Threads” is a vibrant installation of artworks in response to Greaves’ residency in Armenia and research with the Armenian community in Manchester. Ancient Armenian imagery, embroidered wooden sculptures, zoomorphic creatures and soundscape create lenses to view culture, history and identity. The exhibition features collaboration with Armenian artist Armenak Grigoryan.Sarah Greaves has exhibited widely across the UK and Armenian Threads features on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

Badarak in the Holy Trinity Church in Manchester will be celebrated this Sunday, 4 August, by the Very Revd Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan, followed by lunch: Adults £6 and Children £3. Advance reservation required for booking and more information about the lunch please contact Penny Evenson via e-mail: pennyevenson@gmail.com

Holy Trinity Church Manchester

SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL MEETS IN HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over a regular meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 19 to 21 July 2013. AbpArisShirvanian, Vicar General of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem; and Abp Aram Ateshian, Vicar General of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, served as the co-Chairmen of the meeting. The Council discussed issues related to educational and outreach mission of the Armenian Church; the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Genocide, and the outcomes of the Bishops Council meeting, which was convened at the Mother See in September. During its2nd session the Council heard reports on the religious and educational institutions of the Armenian Church by Bp Gevork Saroyan, Rector,and FrVartanNavasardyan, Director of the Christian Education Department of the Mother See. During the 3rd session the Syrian relief aid by Holy Etchmiadzin was examined. The Council discussed also the resignation letter of HE Abp NorvanZakarian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in France,and related issues. The Supreme Council officially accepted the resignation letter of Abp Zakarian. A request was issued to His Holiness for final confirmation. The Council offered their support to the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of France in resolving the current issues.

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Supreme Spiritual Council Holy Etchmiadzin

LORD DR ARA DARZI: FELLOW OF PRESTIGIOUS ROYAL SOCIETY

Last Friday, 12 July 2013, Lord Dr Ara Darzi, was inducted as Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society. The ceremonies, which took place at the “Welcome Trust Lecture Hall” of the Royal Society building (Carlton House Terrace, London) started with a procession of the trustees and the candidates of the Royal Society followed by the welcoming remarks of the President of the Royal Society, Sir Paul Nurse. This ushered the formal Admission Ceremony. At the end the new Fellows were invited to add their signature to the Charter Book of the Society. A reception at the “City of London Rooms” followed. The Royal Society was established on 28 November 1660, after the return from exile of King Charles II. The King took interest in the Society from its inception granting it the name “The Royal Society.” In 1663 he presented the Society with a Mace “of the same fashion and bigness as those carried before His Majesty.” The Mace was displayed before the Society’s President during the admission ceremonies. The Society is a fellowship of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. Congratulations to Lord Dr Ara Darzi and his family for yet another milestone in his life which makes us all proud.

ORIENTATION: ACYF ANNUAL SERVICE PROJECT IN VENICE

The Executive Committee of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF), invites all the participants in the 2013 ACYF Service Project to an orientation to take place at the Vicarage this Monday, 5 August, 2013 at 7:00pm. His Grace Bp Vahan will lead the orientation discussing the details of the itinerary, including the flight and lodging, as well the service to be rendered by the group at the Armenian Monastery in San Lazzaro, Venice, and the rest of the programme. For more information about the Orientation, please e-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk. Click here for a video clip of the “2012 ACYF Service Project”.

GRAPES FOR BLESSING SERVICE ON THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

As in the previous years, this year also Mr Tamara Stepan has graciously agreed to coordinate the preparation of grape for the blessing ceremony for the Assumption of Mary. If you would like to donate grapes or to help the volunteers bag the grapes please e-mail Tamara. Finally, to help us purchase the grapes, please make a donation to: the Armenian Church Trust UK, and write grapes on the back of your cheque. Mail your cheque to the Primate’s Office c/o HyeDoon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG.

MORE WORLDWIDE ECHOESOF OUR SUCCESSFUL ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL

In a correspondence from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadizn, His Holiness Karekin II congratulated HG Bp Vahan for the successful third Annual Street Festival and commended him on the efforts in bringing the Armenian community together. Meanwhile, worldwide media continued joyfully reflecting on the success of the Church-sponsored 3rd annual Armenian Street Festival in London.

WhichFestival.com Yerkramas, Armenia 1in, Armenia News.am, ArmeniaParty Earth Tert, Armenia Azatutyun, Armenia Demotix

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 BIBLE STUDY: There will be NOBible Study session this Thursday, 8 August, due to the ACYF Annual Service Project.  FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY: This year, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and the service of the Blessing of the Grapes will

take place on Sunday, 18 August, 2013. The traditional one-week Fast preceding the Feast will start on Monday 11 August 2013.  ARMENIAN CHURCH REGISTRY:Click here to download the June 2013 Armenian Church registry.  Click here to watch the video clip of the 3rd annual Armenian Street Festivalfrom the Information Centre of the Primate’s Office.  PRIMATE’S OFFICE: Please note that the Primate’s Office, as announced last week, will NOT be accessible via e-mail or telephone,

through 5 August. This is due to a brief holiday that the office Administrator Ms Hrachik Sarian is taking through Monday, 5 August. Please note that telephone and e-mail messages may not be answered until the following week.

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