Friday 6 November 2015

Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland Volume 1, Issue 13 6 November 2015 Armenian Church News


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Ecumenical Evensong at Westminster Abbey with the Archbishop of Canterbury
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In this issue:
Evensong at Westminster Abbey
Divine Liturgy at St. Yeghiche Church
Book Launch at Holy Trinity Church, Manchester
Reparations and Genocide
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On Tuesday, 3rd November, the Primate along with the clergy attended Evensong at Westminster Abbey, which was held in the presence of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby.
The service was part of the programme of the visit of His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch to the United Kingdom and was also attended by metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of the Orthodox and Oriental Churches and the Anglican Communion.
The welcome was given by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall. In his short speech, the Dean expressed his appreciation of the presence of the Armenian delegation and recalled the historical special service which took place a week earlier to celebrate the lives of the newly-sainted martyrs.
The Archbishop and the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the
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service to mark the publication of a new agreed statement between their two Churches. They were presented with bound copies of a Common Statement, 'In the Image and Likeness of God: A Hope-Filled Anthropology', by the Chairmen of the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue, His Grace Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia and His Grace the Archbishop of Perth, Western Australia, The Most Reverend Roger Herft.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Ecumenical Patriarch each gave an address.
His Grace and His All Holiness, with other prelates and the Dean and Chapter, prayed in the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, having
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Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland
His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate
Diocesan Office
Tel. 0208 127 8364 primatesoffice@ armenianchurch.co.uk
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Armenian Church News
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first venerated the Shrine of the Saint.
After the Evensong the Primate attended the Nikaean Club and participated in a dinner hosted by the Club and the Archbishop of Canterbury on the occasion of the visit of His All-Holiness Bartholomew I.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is a member of the Oriental Orthodox Family of Churches. As a member of the Oriental Orthodox Family, the Armenian Church participates in theological dialogues both with the Anglican Communion and the Eastern Orthodox Church. There are bilateral good relations between the Anglican and Armenian Churches as well as between the Armenian and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The Ecumenical Patriarch has visited Armenia several times, the last visit being in September 2008 on the occasion of the Blessing of the Holy Muron in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
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Divine Liturgy Celebrated at St. Yeghiche Church
left everything.” Quoting the 20th century German martyr theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he reminded the congregation that “the forces which tried to interpose obedience were as formidable then as they are today. Reason and conscience, responsibility and piety all stood in the way, and even the law and ‘scriptural authority’ itself were obstacles which attempted to prevent people from following Him. But the call of Jesus made short work of all these barriers and created obedience. Jesus called His disciples and they followed Him. Jesus calls us today to follow and listen to Him. Unfortunately, not everyone takes these words seriously. The average person in this age attends church three times in his or her life. Sometimes we
On Sunday, 1st November, there was a solemn liturgy celebrated by Rev. Fr. Movses Sargsyan at St. Yeghiche Church in London. During the liturgy, the Primate, His Grace Bishop Hovakim delivered a sermon based on the accounts from the Gospel of Luke: “My mother and brother are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:21). Commenting on the Gospel passage, the Primate said “the will of God as it is written in today’s Gospel is unequivocally to listen to the word of God and to fulfil His commandments. To listen to the words of God and realise them in our own lives we first of all need to obey His will unconditionally. Unconditional obedience to the will of God shows our faith and trust in Him. When Jesus called Peter or Levi to follow him, they followed without any reservation. They
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outwardly show that we do believe and follow the teaching, but inwardly we are strongly attached to our own values and do not change. Let us imagine a situation; when a father tells a child “go and sleep, it is late”, the child interprets it as the father telling him to go and play outside. The consequences will be unpredictable if a child goes out at a late hour. Unfortunately, we are acting like this child. God tells us to do something, but we interpret his words in a different way, as befits our own interests. What are the consequences? Just two examples - the issue of global warming and climate change, and the desperate situation in the Middle East. All these happen because of human sin. It is because we do not take the word of God seriously. As Christians, we are called to listen to the word of God and to obey Him, to trust Him, which will help us to safeguard not only our own person but also everything around us.” In his sermon the Primate also urged the faithful to attend Sunday services more frequently, where they had a unique chance to listen to the word of God.
The Divine Liturgy Celebrated at Holy Trinity
Church, Manchester
Launch of New Book: Remembering the Armenian Genocide 1915
On Sunday,
Divine Liturgy
Church in
celebrated by Revd. Dr. Nerses Vrej Nersessian. Since January 2014 - on the invitation of the Trustees of Holy Trinity Church - Revd. Nerses Nersessian has conducted the Divine Liturgy on the first Sunday of each month. The homilies delivered are woven around the themes of the feasts celebrated by the Armenian Church in the previous month.

In October, the Armenian Church marked the ‘Feast of the Holy Translators’ [Սրբոց Թարգմանչաց] followed by the ‘Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross ’[ Գիւտ Սուրբ Խաչի]. The homily for 1st November combined the themes of these two events
1st November the at Holy Trinity Manchester was
locked together by the story of the ‘poor widow and the two mites’ (Gospel of St. Mark 12:41-44). This very otherwise insignificant event was immortalised by the observation of Jesus “verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury”. The ‘treasury’ in the context of the two feasts - in the case of the Armenian people - is the Gospel of Jesus which we as a nation
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‘discovered’ and into which we have for centuries ‘cast the most’. We even adorned the meaning of the Only Begotten [Son] by inventing the Armenian script, reinforcing the faith, forging by means of the alphabet a new national identity that was marked by its Christian character.
The future of our nation lays in its active presence in the future of the world, in the future of human beings, above all those who no longer know a future: the wounded, oppressed and abandoned. An Armenian should know the words of the Psalmist “zeal for your house has consumed me” whenever celebrating these twin feasts.
Canon Patrick Thomas was present at the Liturgy and after lunch he gave a presentation and signed copies of his new bookRemembering the Armenian Genocide 1915, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2015.
In his speech Canon Patrick said that the book has been a "revelation" and an "education" for those who were ignorant that such an episode in history had ever taken place. He pointed out that unless the past is remembered and acknowledged such atrocities will be "diluted" or "airbrushed" out of history.
This was the fourth launch of the book. The premiere launch was in the Senedd Building, National Assembly for Wales on 24th April, and the second in the Gulbenkian Hall on 31st May, with the third one on the same dayat the AGBU Tea Party, where the entire stock sold out.
Revd. Dr. Nerses Vrej Nersessian
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Reparations & Genocide: The Law, Ethics, and Politics of Making Amends
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HorizonArmenianTV
On Friday, 29th October representatives of the ACYF attended the Armenian Youth Federation’s ‘Reparations 360event, the second panel discussion in their annual ‘360’ series.
Panel representatives Ara Papian - an Armenian lawyer, historian and diplomat, and Professor Henry Theriault - Chair of the Philosophy Department at Worcester State University in the United States, offered an unprecedented comprehensive analysis of the legal, historical, political, and ethical dimensions of the question of reparations for the Armenian Genocide.
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Arrmeniian Churrch News
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Dear friends,
AGBU London Branch is pleased to present
Together for Armenia” concert dedicated to the
Centenary of the Armenian Genocide and the 24th Anniversary of Armenia’s Independence.
This concert will be the biggest concert of the AGBU London Chamber Orchestra to date and will introduce five international Armenian soloists: Nairi Azezian - Flute (Finland), Sylvie Zakarian - Marimba (USA), Anais Heghoyan Mezzo (UK), Ani Batikian Violin (Armenia) and Sarkis Zakarian Piano (Bulgaria).
The orchestra, whose Patron is the renowned violinist Levon Chilingirian OBE and is itself formed by Armenian and non-Armenian professional musicians currently residing in UK, will perform under the baton of conductor Gustavo Ubeda.
The programme will comprise pieces by Armenian composers Komitas, Ganatchian, Alan Hovhaness and Kristina Arakelyan, American composer Pasquale Tassone, a specially commissioned work by British composer Roland Roberts and concluding with Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto.
The concert will be held on Saturday 7th November at 19.30 in St. John’s Smith Square, London. Tickets are available on-line and at the box office at St. John's Smith Square (£20, £15, £10).
Please follow the link below for online tickets
Saturday, 7 November, 2015 - 19:30
AGBU London Chamber Orchestra
Together for Armenia
We hope you will be able to support this memorable event. It promises to be a fitting musical tribute to Armenia as a heroic nation remembering its victims and celebrating its future, while bringing all Armenians together.
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London Armenian Opera “Davit Bek”
London Armenian Opera will be Performing
Armen Tigranian's Opera "Davit Bek"
18th and 19th December 2015 at 7.30pm
at the Benjamin Britten Theatre at the Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BS.

Ticket prices: £35, £25, £15 Concessions (under 16 & disabled) = 20% (Not suitable for children below 8 years of age)
To book tickets please contact:
01923 773 277 or 07867 672 787
Or email:Londonarmenianopera@virginmedia.com Cheques made payable to London Armenian Opera to: 10 Beacon Way, Rickmansworth, WD3 7PG www.londonarmenianopera.com
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Upcoming Events
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DIOCESAN PROGRAMMES
Forthcoming Events in November and December
Bible Studies
Every Thursday, at St. Sarkis Church Gulbenkian Hall led by the Primate and the clergy of the Diocese.
Bible Studies are an important part of the church’s ministry as they provide opportunities for the faithful and those who are interested and curious to have a deeper understanding of Christianity and to ask questions about their faith, beliefs and concerns. During Bible studies we make observations (what do passages in the Bible say?), provide interpretation (what do they mean?) and ask how applicable these passages are to our lives today. Open to everyone.
Forthcoming dates:
November: 12th, 19th, 26th December: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd
Deacons’ Training
Deaconstraining takes place every Sunday at 5:00pm in the Vicarage, St. Sarkis Church. In November and December rehearsals are taking place for special hymns of the Midday Prayer - Ճաշու շարական, which are sung during the Divine Liturgy. For more details please contact the Diocesan Office.
Cardiff Parish
Special Prayer Service at the Genocide Memorial - Temple of Peace
8th Anniversary Remembrance Service at Genocide Memorial
Saturday, 7th November, Cardiff
(10: 00am Poppy laying; 11:00am Welcome by the Cardiff Parish at Ararat Church (Whitchurch); 11:30am Divine Liturgy & Hokehankist; 2:00pm presentation of two books on the genocides of 1896 and 1915: “In the Shadow of the Sultan” by R.P. Sevadjian and “Memoire” by Delphine Jacquart.
Pontifical Prayer Հայրապետական Մաղթանք and Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 8th November, 11:00am at St. Yeghiche Church
His Grace Bishop Hovakim, the Primate, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the pontificate of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Lecture by Rev. Fr. Movses Sargsyan
Sunday, 8th November, 6:00pm at the Navasartian Centre
A lecture on the Armenian Army Chaplaincy.
Armenian Church Trust (UK) Donors Meeting
Saturday, 14th November
For more details, please contact the Diocesan Office.
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St. Sarkis Parish Council
Movie Screening of The Bible
Sunday, 15th November at 1:30pm in the Gulbenkian Hall
Continuing with the screening of The Bible”. A minimum donation of £5.00 per person will cover nachos, popcorn, hot-dogs and refreshments. All are welcome.
Youth Meeting in Manchester
Wednesday, 18th November
Meeting with the Armenian Church Youth Fellowship (ACYF) Manchester Chapter. For more details, please contact Mr. Zareh Nersessian (Chairman) on 07813 864 697.
Student Visit to St. Sarkis Church
Friday, 20th November
A group of students will be visiting St. Sarkis Church from the Theology Department of St. Mary's University Twickenham led by Revd Archimandrite Dr. Nikodemos Anagnostopoulos, Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies.
Lecture: “St. Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Universal Church, with the Canonised Armenian Martyrs”
Tuesday, 24th November, 7:30pm
By the invitation of the Society of St. John Chrysostom, the Primate will pay a visit to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral and speak about the centenary of the Genocide and canonisation of the victims.
Lecture: Challenges Facing Eastern Christianity Caught in Extremism and Destruction in the Middle East
Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian, the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford.
Monday, 30th November, 7:00pm at Armenian House
The Middle East is the cradle of Christianity and multi-ethnic Christian communities are amongst the most ancient natives in the region. Four of the five most important hierarchical centres in Christianity are in the Middle East today whose roots go back two millennia (namely, the Patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Constantinople). While small in numbers relative to global Christianity, communities in the Middle East, especially the Levant, have ecclesial significance for the wider Christian world. This talk will discuss the many challenges that Eastern Christians face in the Middle East today, including war, militant extremism, interreligious conflicts, exile, socio-economic decline and migration.
Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian is a sociologist of religion and associate faculty member of the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford. From 2002 to 2012 he taught and held various positions at University of Cambridge and has published and lectured extensively on inter-ethnic conflicts in the Caucasus, the Armenian Church, minorities in the Middle East, and Diaspora (www.hratch.info).
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Dublin Dedication of Memorial Khachkar (Cross stone)
Saturday, 5th December, 2:00pm in Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch Place, Dublin 8, Republic of Ireland.
The dedication of specially sculpted Khachkar Memorial, service and concert on the occasion of the opening of the first ever memorial dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in the Republic of Ireland, thanks to the efforts of the Armenian Church Parish in Dublin.

Dublin Divine Liturgy
Sunday, 6th December, 12:30pm at Taney Parish Church, Taney Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14, Ireland.
Workshop: Being a Christian in a Secular World
Wednesday, 9th December, 7:00pm at Armenian House
Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate, PhD, Church History, will lead this workshop on being a Christian in the modern world and challenges of evangelism on the occasion of the feast of St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, the first evangelizers of Armenia. The discussions will be facilitated by Dr Hratch Tchilingirian.
An evangelising church needs to open up to the people and not be timid to enter the public realm. Such a presence could become possible through the Church’s engagement with the world, as well as the testimony and example Christians provide in their working and living environment. What are the opportunities for the Church to engage with the secular world? How could the Church function in the secular world of media, education and culture and find ways of collaboration in these spheres? How do the diaconal, charitable activities of the Christian faith become realities in the world today? These are some of the questions that will be explored by the Primate.
Pembrokeshire Divine Liturgy
Saturday, 19th December, 1:00pm
Following the Divine Liturgy in St. Davids Cathedral, St. David’s, Pembrokeshire, the unveiling ceremony of a full size bronze statue will take place. The statue is a gift from all Armenians to the Church in Wales in gratitude for their recognition of 24th April as Armenian Genocide Day.
AGBU/Tekeyan Cultural Association
New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance
Thursday, 31st December, 7:30pm 2:00am
New Year's Eve Dinner-Dance at the Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, W8 5SY. As before, having seen the New Year in, those wishing to do so may proceed to St. Sarkis Church for a short service by Bp Hovakim and then return to the hotel until 2 am. The flyer contains all necessary information. Early booking will ensure your place.
New Year’s Eve Service
Friday, 1st January, 12:30am in St. Sarkis Church
A prayer service for the New Year and the blessing of pomegranates.
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Prayer intentions for November:
We invite our faithful to pray for justice and peace in the world, especially for the refugees from the Middle East who are trying to find shelter in Europe. We ask for the intercessions of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide for the refugees and for having God’s mercy and grace pour forth wherever justice is shaken, wherever tranquility is disturbed, wherever security is violated, wherever human rights are trampled, wherever social welfare is threatened, wherever faith and identity are fanaticised.
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Editorial:
The main objective of the diocesan e-newsletter is to serve and reach out to Armenians throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The community members and organisations are welcome to send their announcements for the e-newsletter, including information not only about public events but also about important family events such as christening, matrimony or passing away.

Armenian Church News
Worship Services in the Armenian Churches
Services are held in the Armenian Churches every Sunday starting at 11:00 am. For further details, please contact the parish nearest to you:
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Holy Trinity Armenian Church
229 Upper Brook Street Manchester, M13 0FY
Tel: 0161 273 1074
www.armenianchurchmanchester.org/
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St. Yeghiche Cathedral
13b Cranley Gardens Kensington, London SW7 3BB Tel: 020 7373 8133 http://www.styeghiche.org.uk/
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Other Parishes of our Diocese:
St. Sarkis Church
Iverna Gardens Kensington, London, W8 6TP Tel: 020 7937 0152 http://www.stsarkisparish.co.uk
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Cardiff - Tel: + 44 771 279 2304, +44 2920779248. john@jagproperties.co.uk
Dublin - Tel: +44 2891 863559. http://www.armenians.ie/
Mission Parish of Birmingham – Tel: +44 121 675 1469. St John’s Church, Stratford Road, Birmingham, B11 4EA Oxford - Tel: +44 7810 490242. armenian.society@studentsclub.ox.ac.uk
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We invite those who have questions or wish to gain deeper understanding of the faith, moral discernment, teachings and traditions of the Armenian Church to contact the Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in United Kingdom and Ireland:
The Primate’s Office
The Armenian Vicarage
Iverna Gardens
London, W8 6TP
or email:
primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk
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PLEASE NOTE OUR CHANGE OF POSTAL ADDRESS
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Editorial Board:
His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate
Garen Arevian
Hovik Hovhannisyan Aznive Simon
Gagik Stepan-Sarkissian Sossi Yeretsyan 

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