Issue 8, Volume 5 22 February, 2014 PRIMATE CELEBRATES ST SARKIS FEAST BADARAK

ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ

DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Տ.Վահան.Եպս..Յովհաննէսեան,.Հայրապետական.Պատուիրակ.եւ.Առաջնորդ The Right Revd Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate

Last Sunday, 16 February, His Grace Bp VahanHovhanessian, Primate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and offered the homily at St Sarkis Church in London, on the occasion of the Feast of St Sarkis, the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church in Iverna Gardens, Kensington. In his sermon, SrpazanHayr invited the faithful to imitate the Patron Saint in all of his attributes including faith, courage, and commitment, especially his commitment to follow and live the message of the Gospel even when it meant challenging man-made customs and established traditions and the status quo. ‘We,  like  the  saint,’  said  our  Primate,  ‘need  to  think  outside  the  box,  when  it  comes  to  renewing   and   strengthening   our   people’s   identity   in   the   lands   of   diaspora   and   our   church’s   mission.’   Following the sermon, a procession was formed which led the clergy and the faithful to Gulbenkian Hall where the traditional blessing of the Madagh took place.

EPISCOPAL BADARAK IN OXFORD

Armenian families and students in Oxford will gather on Saturday, 22 February for the second celebration of the Armenian Church Badarak (Divine Liturgy). HG Bp VahanHovhanessian, Primate, will celebrate Badarak at 5pm at the magnificent chapel of Pembroke College, Oxford, scheduled at 5:00pm. This will also be the debut Patarag singing of the fabulous Oxford Armenian Choir. The fellowship will also be an opportunity to discuss the request by the community to establish a Mission Parish in Oxford. In an effort to help building the nucleus of a Mission Parish in Oxford, FrGareginHambardzumyan is planning to offer several spiritual and educational programmes in Oxford. A Night Vigil (PahotsHangstean) is being planned for the night of Wednesday, 19 March at 9:00pm. Also under consideration is the planning of a Bible Study group to meet every other week in Oxford in the Trinity term. If interested in any of the above programmes and ideas, please contact Fr. Garegin at: frgaregin@gmail.com.

ACYF CELEBRATES “PRESENTATION OF THE” LORD IN LONDON

A vigil scheduled at 10:30 on Saturday night, 15 February, by the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) of London attracted more than the young men and women of London. Families and parishioners gathered inside the candle-lit St Sarkis Church for the vigils of the Feasts of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple and for the Feast of St Sarkis. presided over by Bp Vahan and attended by the church clergy. Following church services the faithful went out where the ACYF has prepared the woods for a bonfire as is the Armenian tradition associated with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple (Dyarnuntarrach or Drndez). Bishop Vahan was invited to light the fire, assisted by the members of the ACYF. A fellowship hour and reception was prepared following the vigils and bonfire ceremonies. For more information about the ACYF and its forthcoming programmes please write to: ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk.

THIRD ANNUAL ARMENIAN CHURCH ASSEMBLY

Have you ever asked yourself what does the Armenian Church do throughout the year, as part of its mission statement, in addition to celebrating Badarak every Sunday and the sacraments (Baptism,  Weddings,  ...  etc?  Do  you  know  how  much  it  costs  to  fund  the  various programmes of the Church including the Youth Ministry, publication of the E-Newsletter and Sunday bulletin and the various on-going correspondence? Do you know that the Armenian Church in the UK as of now, does not have it sown diocesan headquarters and offices? The Annual Armenian Church Assembly is the opportunity to ask these question and discuss the answers and learn more about the mission and ministry of the Armenian Church. This year the Assembly is scheduled on the 6th of April following the Church Services at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester. A lunch will follow the Assembly (£6 per person). To reserve a seat at the lunch please contact Ara.

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2014 PILGRIMAGE ORIENTATION: MINISTRY, MEMOIRES AND MORE

The Nevard Gulbenkian Hall was packed with participants of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 pilgrims as well as the 34 people registered for the 2014 pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Bishop Vahan, with the aid of a powerpoint presentation guided the participants through the itinerary of the Pilgrimage, commenting on the various shrines to be visited. His Grace highlighted also the details of the check-in, flight and arrival in Tel Aviv. TubeerHovikHovhannisyan, coordinator of the 2014 pilgrimage, then elaborated on the various forms that need to be filled out and the details of the procedures of the transportation, flight and lodging. A wine and cheese reception followed. Pilgrimages   has   been   essential   components   of   the   ministry   of   the   Primate’s   Office,   thanks   to   the   financial support of the Armenian Church Trust (ACTUK). For more information please contact the Primate’s  Office  at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk.

ST SARKIS PARISH ACTIVITIES

. Meanwhile, the AREV Children Club, targeting children ages 4-7, continues its ministry and play sessions and gathering once a month in St Sarkis Gulbenkian Hall. Each AREV session explores different Armenian artists, composers, folk tales, songs and dances. Parents participation is essential. For more information o to sign up your child in the Arev Children Club, please call programme Director Shakeh Major Tchilingirian at 07968 446223 or

send an email: info@stsarkislondon.org.

The St Sarkis Church Parish Council is pleased to announce that the next date of the monthly

Games Club will be Tuesday 25 February from 7pm to 10:30pm at the London Visitors Hotel, 42-

44 Holland Road, Kensington, London W14 8BB.Please reserve your place by emailing

stsarkisparish@armenianchurch.co.uk, as spaces are limited. Entry is for free. Refreshments and

light snacks will be available.For map and public transport information, please

visithttp://bit.ly/Vby505.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 BADARAK IN OXFORD NEXT SATURDAY: Join the Primate and the Armenian students in Oxford for the second celebration of Badarak in Oxford on Saturday, 22 February, 2014. HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian will celebrate the Badarak, at Pembroke College Chapel (Pembroke College, Oxford, OX1 1DW) and deliver the homily. The Badarak is scheduled to commence at 5:00pm. Refreshments after the celebration of Badarak are organised by the volunteers at Oxford and by the Armenian Studies and Armenian Society of Oxford University. Click here for the online flyer.

 GARINEH OPERA: 'Garineh' the first completed operatic work written by an Armenian composer, originally performed under the title of 'LebledjiHorHor Agha' in Istanbul in 1875 will be performed by the London Armenian Opera on Saturday 29 March (7:30pm) and Sunday 30 March (6:30pm), in the Tabernacle. To purchase tickets online, click here, call 01923 773 277 / 07867 672 787 / 07850 777 520 or e-mailLondonArmenianOpera@virginmedia.com

 BIBLE STUDY GROUP: The Bible Study group will meet this Thursday, Thursday, 28 February, in the Gulbenkian Hall at 7:00pm. All are welcome.

 Primate’s   Office is happy to announce the creation of the Summer Internship Program which is designed to provide a practical learning opportunity and experience for college students or recent graduates in different administrative fields

INTERNSHIP:The

. For information please click here. To apply, please contact the Primate’s  Office.

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The Primate’s  Office has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (collected from different people and parish council members), which is published in a document accessible by clicking here.

SUPPORT THE CHURCH WITHOUT DONATING MONEY: If you shop online, then you can go to the easyfundraising website  below  and  choose  “Armenian  Church  Trust  UK”  as  the  cause  you  want  to  support.  Shop,  as  you  usually  do.  The   website will donate a small percentage of the money spent on the purchase to our Church. It is very easy: 1) go to easyfundraising.org.uk; 2)  sign  up  for  free;;  3)  Choose  the  “Armenian  Church  Trust”  as  the  cause  you  want  to  support;;  4)   shop as much as you want. Nobody will know what you purchased or from where. Easyfundraising will simply transfer a small percentage to the Church. To try it, click here.

The  Primate’s  Office,  HyeDoon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG – 0208 127 8364 – primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk