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 34 (Volume 4), 24.August 2013

WRAP-UP STREET FESTIVAL MEETING – 2014 FESTIVAL DATE

One of the three ACYF groups Delivering  the  St  Mary’s   Assumption Feast Baskets

On Wednesday, 21 August, members of the Armenian Street Festival Committee met in Hye Doon at

7:00pm for a Wrap-Up meeting of the Festival. The participants represented Armenian organisations and

individuals who spearheaded one of the various subcommittees of the third annual Armenian Street

Festival, on Sunday 14 July 2013. The participants at the meeting, presided over by HG Bp Vahan

Hovhanessian, Primate, evaluated every aspect of the Festival, highlighting the areas that need attention and

improvement or different strategy of organizing and handling. The final act of this part of the meeting was

to finalise the date of the next annual Armenian Street Festival to be: Sunday, 20 July, 2014. The Primate’s  

Office already initiated contact with the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to explore the various

possibilities of pursuing  next  year’s  Festival.  At  8:00pm  the  group expanded to over 50 people including

volunteers and members of the ACYF who helped at the Festival in various capacities. This was to

participate in the reception celebrating the very successful third annual Armenian Street Festival,which

attracted over two thousand Armenians and non-Armenians, politicians, and diplomats. Thank you all!

ASSUMPTION DAY PARISH PICNIC

The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the traditional blessing of the Grapes, on Sunday 18 August, were crowned with a beautiful fellowship and picnic organised by the St Sarkis Parish Council on the grounds of the St Sarkis Church in Iverna Gardens, London, 5-8PM. As soon as the church services were over, the St Sarkis Parish Council members led by the chairman, MrHovik Hovhannisyan, were in full action setting up the tables and preparing the appetizers and the grill for the xorovadz. Meanwhile, Tubeer Nyrie, from the St Yeghiche Church, joined forces bringing his xorovadz expertise to prepare the meat for the barbeque. Already by 4:00pm the parishioners of St Sarkis Church and their friends were taking their places in the beautifully prepared chairs and tables on the grounds of St Sarkis Church. The picnic included delicious variety of Armenian grills, drinks and sweets. Having enjoyed the delicious food and drinks, the participants of the Picnic sprung into a joyful repertoire of Armenian folk and choral singing. The presence of members of the London Opera Group was obviously a great asset. All present, including some of the non-Armenian neighbors who joined in at he sing-along part of the picnic, agreed that this should be an annual event, if not more than once a year. Thank you St Sarkis Parish Council for brining the community together and for an evening of fellowship, fun and delicious Armenian food.

Preparing the xorovadz

ACYF REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY – ASSUMPTION BASKETS

On Thursday, 15 August, the Executive Committee of the ACYF met with the Primate, following the weekly Bible Study session, to finalise the strategy of the preparation of the baskets for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary and their delivery. By Saturday afternoon, 30 baskets were ready, filled with a prayer book, chocolate box, choreg, plants and a wafer (nushkhar), waiting for the grape to be blessed on Sunday and added. The ACYF Executive and volunteers divided themselves into three groups to deliver the baskets to the intended recipients, indicated  on  a  list  prepared  and  updated  by  the  ACYF  and  the  Primate’s  Office.  It   took the three teams several trips to complete their mission successfully. Whenever available the Primate joined the teams to deliver the baskets and bless the homes visited. The ACYF intends to continue this ministry on major feasts day of the Armenian Church. Similar mission was conducted on Easter by the ACYF chapters in London and Manchester. If you know of someone who lives alone or is unable to attend church services, please inform the ACYF by e-mailing: ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk. Thank you ACYF for yet another demonstration of living your faith. God bless you all.

One of the three ACYF groups Delivering Assumption Baskets

2013 FESTIVAL – ARMENIAN CIGAR AND COGNAC TAVERN

One   of   the   new   features   of   this   year’s   successful   Armenian   Street   Festival   was   the   introduction   of   the   Armenian Cigar and Cognac Tavern, which took place at the Vicarage garden, throughout the Festival. Donated by Davidoff of London, a variety of the best of the cigars was made available for those interested to enjoy a puff in a beautifully decorated marquee erected in the garden, and managed by Mr and Mrs Nerses Yeretsian. A free glass of Armenian Cognac was served, courtesy of the Festival committee, to those who enjoyed the companionship of the cigar tavern. Some just passed by and said hello, enjoying the novelty. Others spent almost the entire Festival in the Tavern, exchanging jokes at times, and discussing serious topics in politics, finance and sports, at others. Special thanks to Davidoff of London for their very generous donation toward making this idea a reality. See you next year in the Tavern

RECOGNISING ST YEGHICHE CHOIR’S COMMITMENT

On Sunday the 28th of July, by the blessing of H.G. Bp. Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, visiting pastor of St. Yeghiche Church, together with Mr. Viken Halajian, Chairman of ACCC’s  Church  Committee  of  St  Yeghiche,  invited  the  congregation  to  a  small  presentation  in  the  church   hall to thank the Church choir for filling our church with their heavenly voices and singing the church hymns week after week. The ladies of the church had prepared some delicious treats for the event. During the celebration silver crosses were given to all the members of the choir. Fr. Garegin explained in his speech that the silver used in making the crosses was cultivated from the Araratian plateau, home of Holy Etchmiadzin, the cradle of the Arminian Apostolic Church, and thanked them for their unreserved attendance to St Yeghiche wishing them continued strength and ability to continue their dedication to the church and God.

- Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan

PREPARING GRAPES FOR THE FEAST OF MARY

Last Saturday morning, 17 August, Mr Viken Halajian, Chairman of the St Yeghiche Church Committee of the Armenian Community and Church Council (ACCC), was busy volunteering his time to transport and carry the boxes of grapes purchased by the ACCC to be used for the services of the Blessing of the Grapes in the Armenian Churches in the UK. Meanwhile, a group of volunteers led by Mrs Tamara Stepan, were setting up the table and the bags to wash and pack bags the grapes for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary on the following day. The bags of grapes prepared by this team of volunteers were used at the Blessings services in St Sarkis Church by HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, and FrShnorkBagdasarian, Pastor, including a special basket containing the grape to be distributed later on by the ACYF members to the elderly and those who could not come to the church services. Grapes were also blessed in St Yeghiche Church, celebrated by Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan. Thank you Viken, Tamara and all volunteers for your love and service of the Armenian Church, and your effort and time in preparing the beautifully packaged grapes.

Thank you all!

ARMENIAN CHURCH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP GENERAL MEETING

The Executive ACYF Committee is calling a general meeting inviting its members and those interested (ages 18-38) to learn more about the ACYF to join them on Wednesday, 11 September at 7:00pm in the Gulbenkian Hall. A reception to follow. Free admission. The meeting is to discuss several forthcoming activities , review the past ones and elect members of the Executive Committee for the year 2013-2014.The Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) is a network of young Armenian men and women who are proud of their Armenian identity and committed to their ancestral faith and the Armenian Church. The ACYF entered its fourth year of ministry. During the past three years, it created and organised several successful activities, some of which have become successful annual programmes such as the Christmas Carol Candlelight Service, the annual Service Project, the ACYF Baskets on Feast Days, and others. The ACYF also represents the Armenian youth of UK and Ireland in European and International meetings of the Armenian Church Youth Organisation. For more information about the ACYF, please write to: ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk, or visit their Facebook by clicking here.

ACYF Service Project San Lazzaro, Venice

COURSES IN WESTERN ARMENIAN

The Programme of Armenian Studies is delighted to announce the start of the new academic year 2013-2014, beginning from first week of October. We are offering three levels of Western Armenian. The course consists of one two-hour lessons each week, organised into three terms of ten weeks each. Elementary: Tuesdays (6-8pm) starting from 1st of October; Intermediate: Wednesdays (7.30-9.30pm) starting from 2nd of October; Advanced: Tuesdays (8-10pm) starting from 1st October. Tuition fees: £165 per term. Venue: Hye Doon. For more details please contact Dr Krikor Moskofian moskofiank@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS: ELBIS NADIRIAN

.  OBITUARY: It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing away of Mrs Elbis Nadirian, the mother of our beloved Maestro Aris,

the Choir Director of St Yeghiche Church. Funeral services were conducted in Iran. God rest her soul in peace and grant Aris and the

family members the comfort and consolation of the Holy Spirit.  BIBLE STUDY: Our Bible Study group will meet thisThursday at 7:00pm at Gulbenkian Hall to continue reading the Corinthian Letter.  THE LONDON OPERA COMPANY is currently seeking BASS chorus members for their forthcoming production of GARINEH. If you are

interested call Aris on 07890 339928 or e-mail londonarmenianopera@virginmedia.com. Click here for their online flyer.  Click here to watch the video clip of the 3rd annual Armenian Street Festival, and here for the 2012 Festival (over 12,000 viewers)!

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