The official online publication of the Primate’s Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland Issue 37 (Volume 4), 13.September 2013

E-NEWSLETTER...............Է-ԹԵՐԹԻԿ

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BP VAHAN TO JOIN 1ST BISHOP SYNOD IN HALF A MILLENNIUM

Under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, Archbishops and Bishops from all over the world will convene in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, for the week of 24-27 September, for a historic Armenian Church Synod, the first in over half a millennium. The Synod will examine various issues facing the mission and ministry of the Armenian Church worldwide. Subcommittees have been appointed by the two Catholicoiduring the past several years to discuss issues to be placed on the Synod’s agenda related to spiritual, canonical, liturgical and administrative aspects of the Church life worldwide. By the invitation of HH the Catholicos, Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate,will be traveling to Russia on the 17th of September to participate in the consecration of the Armenian Cathedral in Moscow, and return to Armenia for the celebrations of Armenia’s Independence Day, and to join the College of Bishop for the historic synod.

to confirm the decision of returningthe Mother See to Etchmiadzin. May the Holy Spirit use the Synod to renew our church and bless the fruits of the labour of

our hierarchs.9Թագաւորերկնաւոր4զԵկեղեցիքոանշարժպահեա0.Click here for a clipabout the synod.

The

last time such a synod convened in Etchmiadizn was in AD 1441

College of Bishops

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

This Sunday, 15 September, is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the fifth and final of the five annual Major Feasts of the Armenian Church. The Feast commemorates the public raising (exaltation) and adoration of the actual Cross of the Lord. While historically a Roman instrument of death and excruciating torture, the cross became a symbol of life and eternity for us Christians, thanks to our Lord’s death on it. His voluntary and courageous crucifixion and death on the Cross made Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is because of this great expression of Divine Love, that the Cross is revered among us Christians. We do not worship the cross, but the eternal God who died for us on the Cross. HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian will be leading the traditional procession of the Cross around the St Sarkis Church this Sunday, following Badarak. Several historical events of the exaltation of the Cross by Christians are documented. The First is that of St. James, one of Christ’s Apostles and the first bishop of Jerusalem, who exalted the cross and venerated it as a symbol of the power of God, chanting: “We bow down before your Cross, O Christ.”... Click here to read more

FIRST BAPTISM IN SOORPKHACH, VAN, IN ALMOST A CENTURY

For the first time in almost a century, Armenian Church Baptism was celebrated in the Holy Cross Church in the island of Akhtamar, in Van, Turkey. The AnadolouAganecy announced that Armenians as well as non- Armenians, including Turkish officials, gathered in the Church of the Holy Cross (SurpKhach) on Sunday, 8 September to be part of the 4th celbration of Badarak in that ancient church. Abp Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Locum Tenens, presided over the services which began at 11am. According to eyewitnesses the actual baptism and the immersion of the six baptismal candidates, including an infant, took place in Lake Van following the prayers in the Church. In his comments, Abp Ateshian said, “We will pray for our country’s peace, unity and solidarity. ... For the first time in 100 years, we will have a baptism inside the church. I would like to take this occasion to thank our governor, the security forces and the mayor.”Worshippers prayed for peace in the Middle East and in the world during the service.SoorpKhach Church is a 10th century Armenian church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van. The church had its first celebration of the Badarak (Divine Liturgy) in 95 years in 2010 after it was restored by the Turkish government in 2005-2007.

Holy Cross Church, Akhtamar, Van

OPERA GALA EVENING AT ST YEGHICHE ARMENIAN CHURCH

Back by popular demand, and this year as part of the worldwide celebration of the cultural month inOctober, the Armenian Church Trust of the United Kingdom (ACT UK) cordially invites our faithful andfriends to an Opera Gala Evening on Sunday, 27th October 2013, at 7:00 pm in the magnificent Cathedral ofSt. Yeghiche Armenian Church in South Kensington. This year’s programme will include works by composers Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini, Bizet,Dvořák, Rachmaninov and many more. Most of the performers are graduates of the Royal College of Music,including Anaïs Heghoyan, ArturBobikyan, Jassy Husk, Suzanne Shakespeare, Paula Sides, AlexTsilogiannis and Ross Ramgobin with Jonathan Gale accompanying on the piano. If you would like to sponsor part of this event or would like to advertise in our programme please contact the Primate’s Office. Tickets are £22 in advance or £25 at the door; £10 for students and free for under 12’s. Tickets are available by calling 07931 377 539 or 07931 377 537.Please make your cheques payable to: The Armenian Church Trust UK. Finally click here for a highlightedpreview from last year’s inspiring first Opera Gala performance at the Royal College of Music.

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UPDATES FROM THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

The Armenian Church Council in Dublin is busy preparing for the Badarak to be celebrated by HG Bp Vahan on Sunday, 29 September at the Taney Parish Church at 2:30pm, followed by a lunch reception and a Parish Council meeting.Meanwhile, this summer, on Saturday the 31st August, the Councilorganised a picnic/BBQ at Newbridge Park outside Dublin. “The weather was 'kind' to us and there was a goodly turnout with some of the returnees from Armenia after their summer holidays. With delicious Middle Eastern kebabs and Armenian khorovats all were well fed...alongside the wasps who were having a busy day” said Dr Paul Manook, Vice Chairman of the Council. .The children's play area proved very popular with the younger members of the community. We look forward to welcoming our faithful and friends at the Badarak on the 29th September.

THE ARMENIAN CHURCH TRUST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

The Armenian Church Trust of UK (ACT-UK) was established by the Primate, Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, over two years agoto build a solid financial foundation for the Armenian Church in UK and Ireland enabling the church to reach out to the Armenian people in UK and Ireland and achieve her mission entrusted to us by the Lord and our forefathers. The annual budget of the Primacy of the Armenian Church in 2011, for example, was only £3000: after one hundred and forty years after the Armenian Church establishment in the UK by the Catholicos. Thanks to our family of supporters and friends, ACTUK grew up gradually and was able to fund existing and many new programmes that helped putting the vision into action in the UK and Ireland. Today, ACTUK sponsors and funds the operation of most of the ministries and programmes of the Armenian Church including the Deacons’ Training Programme, which has produced over 10 young altar servers in the past two years; the publication of urgently needed worship and liturgical material; the finding and nurturing of three Mission Parishes; the creation and support of our Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) in London, Manchester and Dublin, the organisation of lectures about the Armenian Church spirituality, history and doctrines by clergy and guest speakers, the weekly Bible Study sessions, the preparation of this E-Newsletter and website, the strengthening of the Pastoral ministry and outreach to the elderly and lonely, the conceptualization and organisation of our very popular Armenian Street Festival, and the equally popular annual pilgrimages. ACTUK is registered with the Charity Commission. Its reports are made public by the Primate’s Office every year through the Church’s Annual Assembly and posted on the Charity’s government website. The funds raised by ACTUK are managed by trustees from the various church communities in UK, who support ACTUK financially. No funds raised by ACTUK are transferred anywhere else outside the UK. They are spent exclusively on the church programmes in the UK. Would you like to learn more? Please contact the Primate’s Office.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:  BADARAK IN BIRMINGHAM:The V RevdFr Garegin Hambardzumyan will be celebrating Badarak at St John’s Church in Birmingham on

Saturday, 5 October at 2:00pm, followed by a talk. For more info please contact Church Council chairman VaruzhDavtyan.  BADARAK IN DUBLIN:Join the Primate to celebrate Badarak with the Armenian community in Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, 29 September.

 BIBLE STUDY: There will be NO BIBLE STUDYsession this Thursday. We will resume on Thursday, 17 October at 7:30pm.

PRIMATE PARTICIPATES IN INVESTITURE OF KNIGHTS PRIMATE PARTICIPATES IN INVESTITURE OF KNIGHTS

Bishops, priests and deacons representing the various Oriental Orthodox Churches in the UK, including HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, spent the weekend of 6-7 September in Ely Cathedral participating in

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the Armenian, British Orthodox, Coptic, Indian and Syrian Churches, met last Tuesday,3 September for the investiture ceremonies of knights of the Order of St Lazarus in the UK. The Order of Saint Lazarus, which

the regular meeting of the Council of the Oriental Orthodox Church in Great Britain and Ireland (COOC), in traces its founding roots to Armenians in Jerusalem, is an international self-governing and independent body,

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are members of the Christian faith in good standing within their particular denomination (e.g. Orthodox, Roman- Hovhanessian, President of COOC,was “Orthodox Education Day” which will take place on Saturday

catholic, Anglican, Protestant, ...and other Christians), laity and clergy, upholding with their lives, fortunes and 2 November at St Sarkis Church, with the Theme: “Sources of Orthodox Faith Besides the Holy Bible.”

honour the principles of Christianity. The mission of the Order is dedicated to the care and assistance of the poor Other subjects discussed included the Pan-Orthodox Liturgy and Festival; the visit of the Catholicos of the and the sick. Its aim is to preserve and defend the Christian faith, to guard, assist succor and help the poor, the

Indian Church to London, the Nayrouz service at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, the situation of sick and dying, to promote and maintain the principles of Christian chivalry and to follow the teachings of our

Christians in Syria, Egypt and Iraq and the looming threat of war against Syria, the COOC website and Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Church in all its works. The impressive and spiritually uplifting ceremonies

H.H. CATHOLICOS BASELIOS IN LONDON

His Holiness Baselios Mar ThomaPaulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church was on a pastoral visit to the Indian Orthodox community in UK, 7-11 September. During his five-day pontifical visit, His Holiness presided over the consecration ceremony of the newly constructed St Marys Indian Orthodox Church in Bristol. On Sunday 8th September, the Metropolitan celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church at Brockley in London, the mother church of all the Indian Orthodox Churches in the UK. On Monday, 9th September, an Ecumenical Banquet was held at Lambeth Palacein honour of His Holiness. During the banquet, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, was asked to offer greetings and welcoming remarks on behalf of the Armenian Church as well as the Council of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the UK and Ireland, of which our Primate serves as the President. This was the first visit of the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church to the UK since HH BaseliusGeevarghese II, visited the UK and participated in the World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Commission at Edinburgh in 1937.

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