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

ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ

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

Issue12, Volume 5

GOD’S WILL BE DONE Last Friday after long nights of prayer and many conversations with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, our Primate agreed to have his name forwarded to the list of candidates for the Primacy of the Armenian Diocese of France .‘Faced with this huge task ahead of the person elected to this ministry, I am confident in the will of the Almighty,’ Bishop Vahan said, adding ‘As a priest of the Church, I am ready to be His servant anywhere. I also believe that there is still much to be done in the UK and Ireland. However, I am ready to submit to His will in laboring for the Armenian Orthodox Church anywhere. Please remember me in your prayers during these blessed days of Great Lent, as I pray for you.’ The Primacy throne of the Armenian Church in France has been vacant since Monday, 1 July, 2013, when His Eminence Abp NorvanZarkarian submitted his resignation. ‘Heavenly King, keep your Church unshaken, and the worshippers of your name in peace.’(Ancient Armenian Hymn).

LENTEN REFLECTION: THE STEWARD–TNT:SIKIRAKI(LUKE 16:1-12) Around the time of the preaching of our Lord, stewards were servants who lived in the houses of their masters to manage their wealth. Masters in general entrusted their stewards with their wealth and expected them to invest them and generate income. Stewards would lend their master’s money out for a percentage or rent their property for an amount which usually covers also their commission. When false rumours against the steward forced the master to fire him, the steward knowing how important his connections with the affluent clients of his master were to continue his career, called them and offered them a lower percentage on their borrowing or less payment for their rental, foregoing his percentage. This made them appreciate him more. By doing so, he guaranteed his ties with those who can secure him future jobs. God gives us status, financial capabilities and connections with others. How are we using our status and positions in society to establish and nurture ties with God and the saints who can secure our eternity?

DUBLIN PARISH LAUNCHES DEACONS’ TRAINING PROGRAMME

As part of the ongoing development of new programmes and activities in the Mission Parishes of our Diocese the Primate’s Office is happy to announce the launching of the ‘Deacons’ Training Programme’ in the Armenian Church of Dublin. The programme will be under the direction of Deacon ArturBobikyan from the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester. Three candidates have already signed up and began their training session: Kevork, Malkhasian, KrikorSarafian and ArturKyuregyan. Last Sunday, 16 March, was the second session of the programme,which took place in Taney Parish Church, 2:30-5:30PM, after the initial introduction which took place a few weeks earlier. The group plans to meet twice a month. Its next session is scheduled for Sunday, 30 March, 2014. If interested to join the Training Programme in Dublin please contact DnArtur by clicking here. Click here for more Dublin Church parish news. To support this and other Mission Parish ministries please click here.

ST SARKIS PARISH ANNOUNCES HOLY FRIDAY PROGRAMME

The St Sarkis Church Parish Council invites our faithful in the London area to a special evening following the Burial Services on Holy Friday, 18th April at St. Sarkis Church. The evening is designed as a reflection on the mystery of the passion and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The programme will include a light dinner served immediately after church services,which are scheduled to commence at4:30 pm. Following dinner, abrief introduction by the Primate HG Bishop Vahan Hovhanessianwill elaborate on the Biblical teachings concerning the voluntary death of our Lord as the eternal sacrifice to redeem God's creation, and on the Armenian Church's understanding of the theology of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Following the introduction, the Parish Council will screen the film ―"The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. A general discussion will follow. All are welcome. Donation of £5 per person will defray the cost of the dinner.

BIBLE STUDY COURSE IN MANCHESTER

The Armenian Church of Holy Trinity in Manchester is happy to announce the launching of its first educational ministry programme. You are welcome to join us this Sunday, 23 March, at 3:00 p.m. for the initial Bible Study course at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester. The study group will be led by the V. Rev. Fr. KarekinHambardzumyan, the Parish’s visiting pastor.The Bible Study course will be followed by a brief Evening Prayer led by HayrSoorp. This and the coming study sessions will offer great opportunities for our people to read the Bible in a group and to discuss the Word of God in a relaxed and casual fellowship.At the first session we will start reading St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans.You don’t need to have a great knowledge of the Bible to attend the course.Just grab your copy of the Bible, if you have one, and come along!!!

EASTER BASKETS TO CHEER THE ELDERLY AND THE LONELY

Members of the Executive Committee of the London chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) are updating their list of elderly Armenians in London and are preparing their yearly Easter baskets which will contain traditional Chocolate Easter eggs, Painted eggs, Panettone, Fruits and Nuts to be delivered to the elderly. This has become a beautiful tradition of our ACYF in sharing the cheers of Easter with our loved ones. If someone you know lives alone or cannot come to Church, please contact the Primate’s Office at 02081278364, or e-mail ACYF@armenianchurch.co.uk, to give us the person’s contact info. Meanwhile, to support this nice gesture by our youth, please send your donation, payable to the ‘Armenian Church Trust UK’ posted to the Primate’s Office at 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG.

JOINUS ON FRIDAY LENTEN VIGILS AND DINNERS

The Primate’s Office is happy to announce the scheduling of Lenten Vigils every Friday evening during Great Lent at 6:45PM in the St Sarkis Church in Kensington, London, followed by Lenten dinner in the Gulbenkian Hall (dinner: £5 per person, Children under 12 free). Our host for this Friday, 21 March is the St Sarkis Choir. The schedule of the remaining Fridays are:

21 March: St Sarkis Parish Choir 28 March: ---- There will be no dinner after Church services --- 4 April: Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) 11 April: St Yeghiche Parish Choir

21 March, 2014

BpNorvanZakarian Primate of France

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  OBITUARY: Click here to read the statement issued by HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, on the sad occasion of

the passin away of His Holiness Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church.  ASF GENERAL MEETING: A general meeting will be convened in Gulbenkian Hall on Wednesday, 26 March at 7:30pm of the Armenian Street Festival committee, under the presidency of HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, to

discuss the various aspects of the planning of this year’s Armenian Street Festival.  GAMES’ CLUB: '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-Mail: LondonArmenianOpera@virginmedia.com.

 BADARAK COURSE: HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian continues offering a course on the theology and spirituality of our Divine Liturgy, Badarak, on Monday evenings, in Gulbenkian Hall, at 7:00pm.

 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. Please send your questions or comments to the Primate’s Office.

 BIBLE STUDY: Every Thursday at 7:00PM. Next session, 27 March in Nevart Gulbenkian Hall The Primate’s Office, Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG – 0208 127 8364 – primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk