ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Տ.Վահան.Եպս..Յ ովհաննէսեան,.Հայ րապետական.Պատուիրակ.եւ.Առաջ նորդ The Right Revd Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate

Issue 15, Volume 5 12..April, 2014

A VERY SUCCESSFUL THIRD ANNUAL CHURCH ASSEMBLY

The Holy Trinity Armenian Church was full to capacity, with a few standing in the back, on Sunday 6 April, for the celebration of the traditional Lenten Sunrise service and the Third Annual Armenian Church Assembly. Following church services, the those participating in the Assembly which was open to all, received a copy of the annual report which included the Primate’s Annual Report, the Financial Statement of the Armenian Church Trust of UK, a report of the Primate’s Activties January through December 2013, a report of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship, and reports from all the Parish Councils of our church in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Dublin, including financial reports from the St Sarkis Church and the Dublin Parish. Lengthy discussions pursued the presentation of the reports. Srpazan promised all to post the reports, as in the previous two years, on the diocesan website and be accessible throughout the year for those who want to examine them further and ask questions. Chairing the Assembly was Dr. Paul Manook, and the secretary was MrsViolettaBarzankian-Kaydan. Present at the meetings were Very Revd Fr Aren Shaheenian, Visiting Pastor of St Yeghiche Church, Very Revd Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan, Visiting Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church and the Church in Birmingham, and chairmen of all Parish Councils. Bishop Vahan thanked all for their participation. A lunch followed courtesy of the Holy Trinity Church.

PALMS SUNDAY, 13 APRIL.... SO WHAT?

This Sunday, 13 April, 2014, according to the Armenian Orthodox Church calendar, Armenians join the rest of the Christian world celebrating Palm Sunday, one of the major feasts of the Christian liturgical year. It commemorates the historical event of the voluntary return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. Today churches are decorated with branches of palm trees, which are also distributed to the faithful, recalling the public welcome of Jesus by the people of Jerusalem. According to the Gospel of Matthew, “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (Matthew 21:8). Waving branches of palm trees and spreading cloaks at the feet of a person entering a city was a clear statement of joyous welcome and proclamation of that person as a victorious hero and king. This is the biblical event that the Church celebrates on Palm Sunday. But, what does ......

Read more. Calendar of the Holy Week Services

Hosanna!

&wsanna!

PALM SUNDAY IN ARMENIAN CHURCH PARISH IN CARDIFF

His Grace Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will celebrate Palm Sunday Badarak with the Armenian Church parish in Cardiff. Church services will take place in the „Old Church Rooms‟ Church (Park Road, Radyr CF15 8DF), at 11:30AM. His Grace will reflect on the meaning and relevance of this feast in our lives today. Several years ago Palm Sunday was declared by the Armenian Church also as a day for the blessing of children. On this occasion Srpazan Hayr will offer a special blessing for the children present at the service. Lunch will be served after Church services courtesy of the Women‟s Guild of the Cardiff Parish. Meanwhile, Palm Sunday will be celebrated in the other parishes as well. Fr Aren will preside over the services in St Yeghiche, London; Fr. Garegin, in the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchesterwhile Fr Shnork in St Sarkis. So, bring your children and join us for this beautiful celebration!!! For the schedule of services please call your local Parish Council or click here.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL

Visit our Facebook Page

The Primate‟s Office staff and the volunteers of the fourth annual Armenian Street Festival

(ASF) in London are hard at work pursuing every aspect of the preparation for the Festival,

scheduled at Sunday, 3 August, 2014. Already several dignitaries have confirmed their

participation in the Festival. Arrangements are being made to prepare an impressive and

entertaining programme. Meanwhile, the food committee is discussing the menus including the

possibility of grilling on site! As always the success of the Festival depends on our volunteers. If

you are interested in volunteering in any of the following aspects please contact the Primate‟s

Office at: 0208 127 8364:- Distribution of food; ACYF Bar and distribution of drinks; Welcome

Desk; Sale of raffle tickets; and Setup. Finally, to help the Primate‟s Office by defraying the cost

of the Festival which is roughly £15,000, your kind donations are always welcome. Please send

your donations payable to the Armenian Church Trust UKto the Primate’s Office or click here.

ORDINATION OF SUB-DEACONS IN LONDON

The Deacons‟ Training programme has entered its fifth year now. Over 12 people have been involved in the programme since its inception. Of these right continue participating in the progrmme and serving at the altars of St Sarkis and St Yeghiche Churches. The young also join the Primate when his visits Mission Parishes to celebrate the Eucharist and offer church services. After four years of deacons‟ training and having received the initial order of Tubir (Dupeer), the eight young men are now candidates for ordination to the rank of Subdeacon. A special retreat is being organized for this purpose. During the retreat the candidates will go through a written and oral examination to test their knowledge of the material required for the rank of Subdeacon. Those who will successfully pass the written and oral tests, and based on the recommendation of their pastors will be ordained Subdeacon on Sunday, 11 May. Mark your calendar and join us. More details to come. „Lord keep your church unshaken‟ (Armenian Church Hymn).

AGBU INAUGURAL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT

AGBU London Branch proudly presents its InauguralChamber Orchestra Concert on Saturday the 26th ofApril at 7.30pm at St. Yeghiche Church, SW7 3BB. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased at the door. For questions please write to info@agbu.org.uk. The Orchestra was created this year by Artistic Director Sarkis Zakarian to promote Armenian musicians and culture to the community and audiences in the UK. AGBU is honoured to appoint acclaimed violinist, LevonChilingirian OBE, as the Orchestra‟s Patron. It welcomes talented musicians AniBatikian, Anna Margarian and VeronikaVard-Patrikyan to join the orchestra. The Orchestra will present a specially commissioned piece based on the Armenian National Anthem, by composer Kristina Arakelyan, and pieces by other composers. AGBU London Branch would like to invite all to come and support this wonderful initiative and witness the creation of an ensemble.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE OF SERVICES: The Primate‟s Office has published a comprehensive schedule of the liturgical services during Holy Week to be offered at the vcarious Armenian Churches in the UK and Ireland. Click here to download the schedule.

 ‘The Passion’: The St Sarkis Parish Council invites our faithful for the traditional Burial Service on Good Friday at 4:30. Following the Church services with the traditional burial procession alight dinner will be offered courtesy of the Parish Council followed by the screening of the film: The Passion. A minimum donation of £5 will help defray the cost of the diner.Allare welcome.

 ARMANIA: In association with the Armenian Institute, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse presents Armania: an evening of Armenian folksong, dance and poetry curated and directed by Seta White and performed on 13 and 14 April. Exploring Shakespeare‟s influence on Armenian culture, the evening will feature performances from the Dudukner Ensemble with Levon In association with the Armenian Institute, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse presents Armania: an evening of Armenian folksong, dance and poetry curated and directed by Seta White and performed on 13 [sold out]and 14 April. The evening will feature performances from the Dudukner Ensemble with Levon. Click here for the online flyer.

 BADARAK COURSE: There will be NO BADARAK lecture this Monday. The course will resume after Easter on Monday, 21 April.

 BIBLE STUDY: The Bible Study sessions will be suspended beginning with Holy Week to be resumed on Thursday 15 May.

 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.

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

ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴՈՒԹԻՒՆ.ՀԱՅՈՑ.ՄԵԾՆ.ԲՐԻԴԱՆԻՈՅ.ԵՒ.ԻՐԼԱՆՏԱՅԻ DIOCESE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Տ.Վահան.Եպս..Յ ովհաննէսեան,.Հայ րապետական.Պատուիրակ.եւ.Առաջ նորդ The Right Revd Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate and Pontifical Legate

Issue 15, Volume 5 12..April, 2014

A VERY SUCCESSFUL THIRD ANNUAL CHURCH ASSEMBLY

The Holy Trinity Armenian Church was full to capacity, with a few standing in the back, on Sunday 6 April, for the celebration of the traditional Lenten Sunrise service and the Third Annual Armenian Church Assembly. Following church services, the those participating in the Assembly which was open to all, received a copy of the annual report which included the Primate’s Annual Report, the Financial Statement of the Armenian Church Trust of UK, a report of the Primate’s Activties January through December 2013, a report of the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship, and reports from all the Parish Councils of our church in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Dublin, including financial reports from the St Sarkis Church and the Dublin Parish. Lengthy discussions pursued the presentation of the reports. Srpazan promised all to post the reports, as in the previous two years, on the diocesan website and be accessible throughout the year for those who want to examine them further and ask questions. Chairing the Assembly was Dr. Paul Manook, and the secretary was MrsViolettaBarzankian-Kaydan. Present at the meetings were Very Revd Fr Aren Shaheenian, Visiting Pastor of St Yeghiche Church, Very Revd Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan, Visiting Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church and the Church in Birmingham, and chairmen of all Parish Councils. Bishop Vahan thanked all for their participation. A lunch followed courtesy of the Holy Trinity Church.

PALMS SUNDAY, 13 APRIL.... SO WHAT?

This Sunday, 13 April, 2014, according to the Armenian Orthodox Church calendar, Armenians join the rest of the Christian world celebrating Palm Sunday, one of the major feasts of the Christian liturgical year. It commemorates the historical event of the voluntary return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. Today churches are decorated with branches of palm trees, which are also distributed to the faithful, recalling the public welcome of Jesus by the people of Jerusalem. According to the Gospel of Matthew, “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (Matthew 21:8). Waving branches of palm trees and spreading cloaks at the feet of a person entering a city was a clear statement of joyous welcome and proclamation of that person as a victorious hero and king. This is the biblical event that the Church celebrates on Palm Sunday. But, what does ......

Read more. Calendar of the Holy Week Services

Hosanna!

&wsanna!

PALM SUNDAY IN ARMENIAN CHURCH PARISH IN CARDIFF

His Grace Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will celebrate Palm Sunday Badarak with the Armenian Church parish in Cardiff. Church services will take place in the „Old Church Rooms‟ Church (Park Road, Radyr CF15 8DF), at 11:30AM. His Grace will reflect on the meaning and relevance of this feast in our lives today. Several years ago Palm Sunday was declared by the Armenian Church also as a day for the blessing of children. On this occasion Srpazan Hayr will offer a special blessing for the children present at the service. Lunch will be served after Church services courtesy of the Women‟s Guild of the Cardiff Parish. Meanwhile, Palm Sunday will be celebrated in the other parishes as well. Fr Aren will preside over the services in St Yeghiche, London; Fr. Garegin, in the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchesterwhile Fr Shnork in St Sarkis. So, bring your children and join us for this beautiful celebration!!! For the schedule of services please call your local Parish Council or click here.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE ARMENIAN STREET FESTIVAL

Visit our Facebook Page

The Primate‟s Office staff and the volunteers of the fourth annual Armenian Street Festival

(ASF) in London are hard at work pursuing every aspect of the preparation for the Festival,

scheduled at Sunday, 3 August, 2014. Already several dignitaries have confirmed their

participation in the Festival. Arrangements are being made to prepare an impressive and

entertaining programme. Meanwhile, the food committee is discussing the menus including the

possibility of grilling on site! As always the success of the Festival depends on our volunteers. If

you are interested in volunteering in any of the following aspects please contact the Primate‟s

Office at: 0208 127 8364:- Distribution of food; ACYF Bar and distribution of drinks; Welcome

Desk; Sale of raffle tickets; and Setup. Finally, to help the Primate‟s Office by defraying the cost

of the Festival which is roughly £15,000, your kind donations are always welcome. Please send

your donations payable to the Armenian Church Trust UKto the Primate’s Office or click here.

ORDINATION OF SUB-DEACONS IN LONDON

The Deacons‟ Training programme has entered its fifth year now. Over 12 people have been involved in the programme since its inception. Of these right continue participating in the progrmme and serving at the altars of St Sarkis and St Yeghiche Churches. The young also join the Primate when his visits Mission Parishes to celebrate the Eucharist and offer church services. After four years of deacons‟ training and having received the initial order of Tubir (Dupeer), the eight young men are now candidates for ordination to the rank of Subdeacon. A special retreat is being organized for this purpose. During the retreat the candidates will go through a written and oral examination to test their knowledge of the material required for the rank of Subdeacon. Those who will successfully pass the written and oral tests, and based on the recommendation of their pastors will be ordained Subdeacon on Sunday, 11 May. Mark your calendar and join us. More details to come. „Lord keep your church unshaken‟ (Armenian Church Hymn).

AGBU INAUGURAL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT

AGBU London Branch proudly presents its InauguralChamber Orchestra Concert on Saturday the 26th ofApril at 7.30pm at St. Yeghiche Church, SW7 3BB. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased at the door. For questions please write to info@agbu.org.uk. The Orchestra was created this year by Artistic Director Sarkis Zakarian to promote Armenian musicians and culture to the community and audiences in the UK. AGBU is honoured to appoint acclaimed violinist, LevonChilingirian OBE, as the Orchestra‟s Patron. It welcomes talented musicians AniBatikian, Anna Margarian and VeronikaVard-Patrikyan to join the orchestra. The Orchestra will present a specially commissioned piece based on the Armenian National Anthem, by composer Kristina Arakelyan, and pieces by other composers. AGBU London Branch would like to invite all to come and support this wonderful initiative and witness the creation of an ensemble.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE OF SERVICES: The Primate‟s Office has published a comprehensive schedule of the liturgical services during Holy Week to be offered at the vcarious Armenian Churches in the UK and Ireland. Click here to download the schedule.

 ‘The Passion’: The St Sarkis Parish Council invites our faithful for the traditional Burial Service on Good Friday at 4:30. Following the Church services with the traditional burial procession alight dinner will be offered courtesy of the Parish Council followed by the screening of the film: The Passion. A minimum donation of £5 will help defray the cost of the diner.Allare welcome.

 ARMANIA: In association with the Armenian Institute, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse presents Armania: an evening of Armenian folksong, dance and poetry curated and directed by Seta White and performed on 13 and 14 April. Exploring Shakespeare‟s influence on Armenian culture, the evening will feature performances from the Dudukner Ensemble with Levon In association with the Armenian Institute, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse presents Armania: an evening of Armenian folksong, dance and poetry curated and directed by Seta White and performed on 13 [sold out]and 14 April. The evening will feature performances from the Dudukner Ensemble with Levon. Click here for the online flyer.

 BADARAK COURSE: There will be NO BADARAK lecture this Monday. The course will resume after Easter on Monday, 21 April.

 BIBLE STUDY: The Bible Study sessions will be suspended beginning with Holy Week to be resumed on Thursday 15 May.

 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.

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