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 33 (Volume 4), 17-August 2013

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 33 (Volume 4), 17-August 2013

VERY SUCCESSFUL SECOND ACYF SERVICE PROJECT

As the sun was setting in the beautiful horizon of the San Marco island on Sunday 11 August, and at the conclusion of their very successful 2nd annual Armenian Church Youth Fellowship(ACYF) Service Project, the participants of this programme were at the vaporetto-stop of the Mekhitarist Monastery bidding farewell to the abbot, monks and friends they met during their visit. The participants volunteered to help organizing and cleaning the newly setup Publishing museum of the Monastery as well as the Cathedral and the cloistered garden. The weekend programme included a Bible Study session, prayer and meditation, tour of the over-three-hundred year old headquarters of the Mekhitarist Monastery, and participation in the Sunday Badarak. The programme included recreational activities as well, including playing football with the Monastery team (our team won!), touring the historic and Christian sites in Venice including the magnificent San Marco Basilica, swimming in Lido di Veneziabeach, Gondola rides and communal meals. Thank you ACYF for yet another demonstration of living of our faith in action and enjoying our ancestral Christian fellowship.Click here for a photo collage, thanks to Richard Cherkerzian. Thanks Richard!

ARMENIAN CHURCH DEFACED – PRAYER SATURDAY EVENING

The St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Cairo, consecrated in 1927, is one of the many targets of the recent violence in Egypt. On Wednesday, August 14, Churches and Christian businesses were attacked across Egypt by extreme Islamist groups and their supporters. On the same day, a graffiti defaced the sign at the entrance of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Cairo stating “Egypt is Islamic”. Similar writings were found on the gates of several Cairo churches during the demonstrations of the past several days. It has been stated that over 20 churches and monasteries have been burnt and several Christian schools and businesses were damaged during the recent violence. HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, is calling on Armenians in London to join him at the Vigil on this Saturday, 17 August, at 6:30pm in Sarkis Church in Kensington. The Vigil was initially scheduled for the traditional evensong of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. With the escalation of violence in Egypt, the evensong will include special petition and prayer for peace in Egypt. The Primate, in his capacity as the chairman of the Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches (COOC) has also issued a statement calling on all parties involved to protect the innocent civilians caught up in the violence, and to resolve their political disagreements in peaceful manner, seeking God’s compassion and guidance. Click here to read the statement online.

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY – THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, 18 August, is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The Church celebrates the corporeal assuming into heaven of the Virgin Mary following her death. According to church tradition, the Apostle Thomas was not present at the funeral because he was away. Upon his return, he wanted to see the face of the Virgin one more time. So, the Apostles opened the tomb, only to find it empty. The apostles then remembered what the Lord had promised them about assuming His mother’s body to heaven. Because of the important role that the Virgin Mary played in the history of our salvation, the church soon elevated this feast to be one of the five major annual feasts. Grapes are blessed on this occasion because they are symbols of the Virgin Mary. The Primate’s Office is publishing a prayer book dedicated the Virgin Mary, which will be included in the ACYF Gift Box to be distributed on this occasion to the elderly. A copy of the Booklet can be obtained by contacting the Primate’s Office. Finally, the St Sarkis Parish Council is organising a picnic on this occasion on the grounds of the St Sarkis Church in Iverna Gardens, London. Click here for the Picnic Flyer. HG Bp Vahan, Primate, will be celebrating the Assumption Badarak in St Sarkis.

WRAP-UP MEETING ARMENIAN FESTIVAL MEETING

The Primate’s Office is organizing a wrap up meeting for the members of the committee that prepared and organized the third annual Armenian Street Festival hosted by the Armenian Church. The meeting will take place in the Armenian House (Hye Doon), on Wednesday 21 August 2013 at 7:00pm. All volunteers who helped before, during and after the Festival day are invited to join the meeting. Reports will be received from all the subcommittees of the Festival and recommendations and suggestions will be heard from all who contributed to the success of the Festival. A wine reception will follow the meeting. This year’s Festival is the most successful one, so far, based on the number of participants, vendors, general feedback and financial outcome. As mentioned in an earlier issue of the E-Newsletter, the 2013 Armenian Street Festival generated over £21,000 income. The annual Armenian Street Festival is an idea conceived by our Primate, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, which was organized for the first time in 2011. Many celebrities and politicians have visited our Festival including His Excellency Mr Serzh Sargsyan, the President of the Republic of Armenia who visited the Festival on 2012.

ORIENTATION PILGRIMAGE TO HISTORIC ARMENIAN CHURCHES

The Primate’s Office is hard at work to prepare for the first pilgrimage to historic Armenian cities in Eastern Turkey. A booklet is being prepared of the Armenian history of the various villages and cities to be visited during the pilgrimage. An orientation session is being planned on Friday 13 September, 2013 at 7:00pm in Nevart Gulbenkian Hallto meet with the Primate and discuss the details of the itinerary and the pilgrimage, and answer the pilgrims’ enquiries. As announced earlier, the pilgrimage, under the auspices of HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will take place 3 -13 October 2013, led by Mr Armen Aroyan. In addition to the various historic Armenian cities and villages, the pilgrims will also spend two days in Istanbul, and visit the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey. Please note that the remainder amount of the cost of the pilgrimage, which is £2000 for those sharing a room and £2250 for a single room, is due in full on Monday morning, 26 August 2013.Kindly post your cheque payable to “The Armenian Church Trust UK” to: The Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG. For more information please contact the Primate’s Office at: 0208 127 8374.

CHARLES AZNAVOUR IN ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON

The Legendary French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time, will be appearing for a one night only performance in Royal Albert Hall, in his first live concert in the UK for over 25 years. Charles Aznavour, born on May 22 1924, is the son of Armenian immigrant parents, and was by chance born in the French capital. He should have been born in the United States, but his parents, were temporarily based in France awaiting an American visa when their son was born. Charles Aznavour came from an interestingly mixed background. His father Micha Aznavourian had been born in Georgia; his mother, Anar, came from a family of Armenian tradesmen who were based in Turkey. In a career spanning over 60 years, over 100 million record sales, 1,200 songs, 80 movies, 294 albums, and thousands of concerts worldwide, Charles Aznavour performs and has recorded in seven languages. Aznavour is the longest standing "A-List" star in the world. Besides being an entertainer, activist and diplomat, Aznavour founded the charity Aznavour for Armenia and has so far raised many millions of dollars for this cause.Click here to purchase Charles Aznavour’s Albert Hall tickets online.Soyez bienvenus à notre pays M. Aznavour.

FUNERAL SERVICE: GIRAGOS KARAIAN

St Gregory the Illuminator defaced by graffiti

It is with great sorrow that the St Yeghiche Church Committee, ACCC informed us of the passing of GIRAGOS KARAIAN on 9th August 2013.Mr Karaian has been a long standing member of the St Peter Church Committee and later Chairman of the St Yeghiche Church Committeetill his illness.The funeral will be held on Monday 19th August at 12 Noon at New Southgate Cemetery Chapel, Brunswick Park Road,New Southgate, London N11 1JJ. May the Lord rest his soul in peace. Click here for more details.

WESTERN ARMENIAN COURSES

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

ST SARKIS PARISH PICNIC THIS SUNDAY

The St Sarkis Parish Council is organizing picnic on the Feast of the Assumption. The picnic, this Sunday, 18 August, will take place on the grounds of the St Sarkis Church in Iverna Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TP, between the hours of 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Prior registration for the Picnic is essential. You can register 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 £5 for pensioners. For more information about the St Sarkis Parish Picnic please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  K. Tahta Armenian Sunday School: K. Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School Coffee Morning; K. Tahta Armenian Community

Sunday School Information.  BIBLE STUDY: The weekly Bible Study group will meet this Thursday at 7:00pm to continue reading St Paul’s First Letter to the

Corinthians. Bring a friend along and join us at the Vicarage Garden.  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. Over 1000 views in less than 2 weeks. .

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