Information Centre The Primate's Office Armenian Church of Great Britain and Ireland

Attached please find Issue 36 (Vol. 5) of the weekly Armenian Church E-Newsletter published by the Primate's Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. In this issue: His Holiness's statement condemning the persecutions and destruction of Christian and Yazidi communities in Mosul and Northern Iraq. This Wednesday, 3 September is a special day of fasting and prayer in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Iraq. The Appointment of St Yeghiche's New Pastor Garden Party by St Sarkis Parish Council The Armenian Gift Shop online Best wishes, Issues 36, Volume 5 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 30 August, 2014 CALL FOR A DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING IN SOLIDARITY His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, issued a statement condemning the atrocities in Mosul and Northern Iraq. Click here to read the text. Meanwhile, responding to the statement by His Holiness the Catholicos and to the serious and growing humanitarian situation affecting thousands of Christian refugees in northern Iraq, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of the UK and Republic of Ireland, issued a statement last week calling on all Armenians in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to a day of fasting this Wednesday, 3 September, in prayerful solidarity with Iraqi Christians and other persecuted minorities and refugees. You can read the Bishop’s call for fasting and prayer by clicking here. In London at the conclusion of the Fasting Day the faithful are exhorted to attend the Night Vigil which will take place in St Sarkis Church at 9:30PM. May the Lord be with our brothers and sisters in Mosul and Iraq and comfort those persecuted . PRIMATE TO MEET WITH THE ARCHBISHOPS OF DUBLIN During his weekend-long visit to the Armenian Church parish in Dublin, Ireland, for 30 August to 1 September, His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, will be meeting with the Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. His Grace will also meet with the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough. During the visit, and among the various subjects, the hierarchs will discuss ideas for the 100th anniversary commemoration in Dublin of the Armenian Genocide. During his visit to Dublin, Bishop Vahan will also preside over church services of the Armenian Parish in Dublin scheduled to take place at Taney Parish Church in Dublin Sunday at 2:30pm. A special service of the traditional blessing of grapes will take place for the first time in the Dublin Parish, followed by a talk by the Bishop entitled “The Laity’s Participation in the Parish Ministry.” A lunch and fellowship hour will follow. For more info please visit the Parish Council’s website. BADARAK CELEBRATION TO WELCOME NEW PASTOR Last Sunday, 24 August, HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, presided over the Divine Liturgy celebration at St Yeghiche Church and the official welcoming of the new pastor of the parish, the V Rev Fr Aren Shaheenian, who was the celebrant of the day. Accompanying the Primate was the V Revd Fr Garegin Hambardzumyan, who for almost a year served as the visiting Pastor of the St Yeghiche Church. Per the request of the Parish Council a month or so ago, the Primate appointed Fr Aren as Pastor of St Yeghiche Parish & the President of its Parish Assembly & Council. The Primate delivered the homily of the day reflecting on the person of the Virgin Mary and her function in the history of our salvation as a role model for all Christians to emulate, as last Sunday was the 8th day of the Octave of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. His Grace emphasised that our clergy, “like our new pastor Fr Aren, are called to be examples of the Virgin Mary’s devotion and surrender to God.” A reception followed in honor of Fr Aren. Congratulations. SUCCESSFUL SECOND GARDEN PARTY BY ST SARKIS PARISH COUNCIL Parish Council members had to set a few extra tables and chairs because of the unexpected large number of parishioners and friends who joined in the second Garden Party of the St Sarkis Parish which took place last Saturday, 23 August. The sunny afternoon was only the magnificent background to a beautiful fellowship enriched by the delicious Khorovadz (Armenian BBQ) prepared by Nairi and his friends. The evening attended by our Primate and all the clergy of our diocese culminated with an inspiring and impromptu sing-along session around the piano by all those present. Congratulations to Sarkis Parish Council for such a successful programme. The next scheduled programme by the Parish Council is Badarak Basics which will take place this Sunday at the conclusion of the Badarak and will introduce the newly published Badarak Books by the Pastor, Revd Fr Shnork Bagdasarian. Finally do not forget the next Parish Armenian Movie Night which is scheduled on Friday. 19 September, featuring the comedy-drama ‘Vodka Lemon’. WORLDWIDE ECHOES OF THE FOURTH ANNUAL ARMENIAN FESTIVAL The Primate’s Office continues receiving ‘thank you’ notes and positive feedback from people who attended the Festival including the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Meanwhile, media outlets around the world continue echoing the details of the very successful fourth Armenian Street Festival, sponsored by the Primate’s Office of the Armenian Church her in the UK, 3 August, 2014. Premier Christian Radio, which for the 1st time participated in our festival this year, prepared a brief broadcast about the Festival, which can be downloaded by clicking here. Not only in the UK but also in Armenia, news agencies continued reflecting upon the success of the Festival. You can read more about was the press said by clicking here, here, here and here. Meanwhile, in case you have not yet watched it, the Information Centre of the Primate’s Office has released a video clip (click here, 4000 browsers in less than one month) highlighting the key aspects of the Festival. Thanks to the Festival Committee and all the volunteers. DEADLINE: PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY ETCHMIADZIN, ARMENIA Please note that the deadline for registering for this year’s pilgrimage to Holy Etchmiadzin and Armenia is approaching: 5 September. To register for the pilgrimage, please send a deposit of £300 to the Primate’s Office, c/o Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, London W8 6TG. Make your cheque payable to: The Armenian Church Trust UK. The Pilgrimage, 15-22 October, will include visits to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and historic sites and shrines, as well as visits to important attractions and cultural centers and monuments in Armenia. The pilgrimage, including airfare, hotel transfer in Yerevan, lodging in luxury hotels, breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as admission to all facilities and programmes including a night at Yerevan Opera House now costs: £1050.00 for private/single room and £930.00 for shared room/2-in-one room. For more info, call: 0208 127 8364, or E-mail: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk. VIOLIN AND PIANO RECITAL OF VIRTUOSO FAVOURITES The Armenian Embassy to the UK and the Tekeyan Cultural Association are eagerly looking forward to the opening of the Autumn Season at St John's Smith Square for the concert "Violin and Piano Recital of Virtuoso Favourites" featuring Ani Batikian on a Stradivarius violin and Benjamin Frith on the piano next Saturday, 6th September.The good news is that a few days before the concert, on Wednesday 3rd September 2014, Ani has been invited to the BBC Radio 3 programme "In Tune", hosted by the noted broadcaster Sean Rafferty, for an interview and live performance at 4:30pm. To book your tickets (£20, £15, £10) please visit the official website of St John’s Smith Square: http://www.sjss.org.uk/events/violin-and-piano-recital-virtuoso-favourites, or call Zepyur at: 07981770375. Booking fees per transaction £2 by telephone and £1.50 online. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  BIRMINGHAM BADARAK & ACYF PICNIC: Join the ACYF of London, Manchester & Birmingham on Sunday, 14 September, for a Badarak celebration in Birmingham followed by an Armenian BBQ.  COME FOR COFFEE AND CAKE at St Sarkis Church on 28 September for a fundraising opportunity to help MacMillan Cancer Support raise funds for its programmes.  BIBLE STUDY: There will be no Bible Study this Thursday, 4 September. We’ll resume next week.  SAVE THE DATE: Charity Concert by Hayastan All-Armenian Fund to be held on 21 February 2015, in St John's Smith Square.  VISIT THE ARMENIAN GIFT SHOP ONLINE: http://www.armeniangiftshop.org  SUPPORT THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN UK: by sending your donation payable to ‘the Armenian Church Trust UK’ (ACTUK) to the Primates Office (see below), or click here. Remember the Armenian Church in your will. The Primate’s Office, Hye Doon, 25 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington, London W8 6TG – 0208 127 8364 – primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk