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

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

Issues 25, Volume 5

CHRIST’S BIRTH TO RESURRECTION: INSPIRING PILGRIMAGE JOURNEY Passengers from three continents and six countries converged in Tel Aviv Airport, on the early morning of Saturday, 7 June, launching the fourth annual Armenian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land organised by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Under the leadership of HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, the group of pilgrims visited biblical shrines and sites of interest to the Armenian faithful. The pilgrimage covered the biblical span of the story of our Lord beginning with the church of the Annunciation of Mary in Nazareth and the Church of the Visitation where Mary visited Elizabeth, moving along to the scenes of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, the valley of the shepherds where the angels appeared and proclaimed the birth of the Savior, to the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized and the Mount of Temptation where He was tempted by Satan. The pilgrimage continued to Nazareth where Jesus lived, grew up, initiated His ministry, gathered His apostles and ... Click here to read more

ACYF REQUIEM IN REMEMBRANCE OF ARCHBISHOP TOUMAYAN

Last Sunday at 3:00PM several Armenian couples, married by the late Abp Bessak Toumayan, joined a group of Armenian faithful who have gathered at the graveside of the late Primate to join the clergy, ACYF and altar servers in offering a special requiem service in his memory. Before the service, our Primate, welcomed all and explained the reason for the scheduling of the requiem. “Abp Toumayan led the Armenian people during a very difficult time in the history of our community here in London, when political powers were trying to use the Armenian Church for their own agenda,” said Bp Vahan, adding, “He endured a lot. He had his admirers and those who disliked him. Yet not much is written about this Armenian leader.” After the requiem service, attended by Frs Bisak Hatapian and Shnork Bagdasarian, a fellowship hour proceeded organised by the ACYF whose members cleaned & beautified the graveside of Abp Toumayan earlier. Those present shared their memories about the Archbishop.

BLACK-TIE DINNER IN OXFORD

The Oxford Armenian Mission Parish Council is pleased to announce that for the first time in the history of Oxford University, on Monday, JUNE 30th at 7pm, the academic year for the University’s Armenian students will conclude with a FORMAL BLACK TIE DINNER comprised of delicious Armenian dishes. The members of the Armenian Student Society and the Mission Parish Council are working hard on the menu to make it as superb and unforgettable as possible. The formal dinner will be preceded by a short EVENING CHURCH SERVICE led by V. Rev. Garegin Hambardzumyan, our visiting pastor, at the magnificent Pembroke College Chapel. The service is scheduled at 6:15pm, during which our astonishing choir will perform several church hymns. The seats for the dinner are limited and the cost is still to be announced. All are invited and welcome. Please, let us know ASAP if you are willing to attend by emailing to ani.nersisyan@univ.ox.ac.uk.

MANCHESTER DISCUSSES THE BIBLE & BLESSES NEW VESTMENTS

Our monthly gatherings for reading the Holy Bible is proving to be very successful. During the past two months we have had a close look at the Letter to the Romans which is one of the pillars on which the doctrine of the Church is based. During our next Bible Study session with Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, scheduled on Thursday, July 3rd, 7pm at the Holy Trinity Church Hall, we will go through the major themes of this letter and will start reading the Gospel to Luke. All are warmly welcome to join us!! Bring your copy of the Bible, and if you don't have one, just come along as there will be copies of the passage to be examined! Meanwhile, on Sunday 1st of June, Fr Garegin celebrated Badarak in Manchester and offered the homily, explaining that the 7th Sunday after Palm Sunday is known as 2nd Palm Sunday, which is an invitation for us to be united in prayers and praise with those who greeted Jesus when He entered Jerusalem and to be ready for His second glorious coming! After Badarak, Fr Garegin blessed a new set of vestments for the priest and a tapestry for liturgical use. Congratulations Manchester!

BADARAK, BAPTISM AND BEYOND IN DUBLIN ARMENIAN CHURCH

21 June, 2014

Fr. Garegin blessing new vestments

HE Abp Jackson visits Dublin MPC

His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will be visiting the Mission Parish of the Armenian

Holy Trinity Church Wardens, Manchester

Church in Dublin, Ireland. The Parish Council has arranged a full schedule for the weekend, starting . with house visitations, a farewell party to a parish member and a Parish Council meeting to be

presided over by the Primate. On Sunday morning, the Primate, assisted by Subdeacon Hovik Hovhannisyan, will lead the celebration of the Badarak and deliver the homily. Following Badarak a baptism service is scheduled for the newest member of the Armenian Parish in Dublin. A fellowship hour, as usual, will follow the church services. If you or someone you know lives in or near Dublin, please make every effort to join us this Sunday, 22 June, at the Taney Parish (http://www.taneyparish.ie) for the church services scheduled to start at 12:30noon. For more information please contact the Chairman, Dr Paul Manook: pmanook@hotmail.com, or visit the Church Parish website: www.armenians.ie

ARMENIAN CHURCH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP (ACYF) DISCUSSES EVENTS

Last Tuesday, 17 June, members of the Executive Committee of the ACYF, elected by the General Assembly of the ACYF, met with the Primate to finalise their summer activities. The first item on the agenda was the election of the Executive Officers: Alex Adamov, Chairman, Anais Heghoyan, Vice Chairman, Koko Sabounjian, Treasurer, Nairi Afrikyan, Secretary, and the rest serving as members at large. The ACYF Executive Committee publishes its activities & financial reports annually as part of the annual Armenian Church Assembly. The group discussed the forthcoming events for the Feasts of the Transfiguration (July) and Assumption of Mary (August), and their participation in the worldwide meeting in Holy Etchmiadzin of the ACYFs of all dioceses around the world, 1-4 July, 2014. The ACYF also discussed its important role in managing the drinks’ corner of the Armenian Street Festival as well as the forthcoming annual Service Project in the San Lazzaro Monastery in Venice. For more info visit their Facebook page or E-mail them.

“GOD BLESS OUR HOME” ARMENIAN CERAMIC IN OUR GIFT SHOP

A beautifully decorated ceramic of the phrase “God Bless Our Home” in a traditional Jerusalem- Armenian design is the latest addition of artefacts and gift-items to the impressive collection of our diocesan Armenian Gift Shop (armeniangiftshop.org). This Jerusalem-made Armenian Ceramic is an excellent gift idea which can be a beautiful decoration hanging from the wall or on the study desk. The 15 X 7.4 piece of Jerusalem Armenian ceramic weighs less than 100 grams and can be easily shipped to your address within 48 hours of your order. To purchase your copy of this Armenian piece of art from the Holy Land, please visit our gift shop by clicking here. There, you can find other items of interest including beautiful Armenian mugs, Armenia style wooden crosses, and an impressive collection of Armenian religious artefacts, CDs, DVDs, books, and gifts. Click here for more info.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 FEAST OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN: According to the Armenian Church calendar, this Sunday, 22 June, is the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Mother See and worldwide headquarters of the Armenian Church. By orders of HG Bishop Vahan Hohvanessian, Primate, a special blessing service will be offered in all Armenian churches (UK & Ireland).

 SOMERTIME PICNIC: The Ladies Association of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Manchester invites you to a Summertime Picnic (bring your own food) at Lyme Park, Sunday 22nd June. Disley, Stockport SK12 2NS. Click here.  STREET FESTIVAL UPDATES: Very limited number of stalls are available: Click here. Volunteers are needed, e-

mail: festival@armenianchurch.co.uk. To support the Festival click here. Have you watched the PROMO? Click here.  BIBLE STUDY: No Bible Study the following 3 weeks. Will resume in mid-July.

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