Sts. Vartanantz Church WEEKLY BULLETIN

Reverend Father Kapriel Nazarian 402 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909 Pastor Office: 831-6399 Fax: 351-4418 Email: info@stsvartanantzchurch.org Website: stsvartanantzchurch.org

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE EXALTATION OCTOBER 1, 2017

Please Join Us in Worship this Sunday

Morning Service 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy 10:00 am - Sermon 11:15

Մասնակցեցէք Ս.Պատարագին`

Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 9:30

Ս. Պատարագ 10:00 - Քարոզ 11:15

Blessing of the Armenian Flag

By the directive of the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan, last Sunday all Prelacy parishes, including Sts. Vartanantz Church, offered special prayers for the Republic of Armenia and blessed the tricolor flag on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the Republic.

O Christ our God, guardian and hope of the faithful, keep, guard, and bless the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian nation, the Armenian Church, and your people present in peace, under the protection of your holy and venerable cross. Deliver us from visible and invisible enemies. Make us worthy to thankfully glorify you together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen. (From “Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Republic of Armenia.”)

Sts. Vartanantz Church Annual Meeting Part 1 of our Annual Membership Meeting was held

last Sunday, September 24th, in the Fermanian Fellowship Hall. The Ladies’ Guild prepared a lovely light lunch which was enjoyed by everyone prior to the start of the meeting. John Takian was elected as Tivan Chair

and Alysha Phillips was elected as Tivan Secretary.

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ

ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍԻ (24:30-36)

Ապա Մարդու Որդիին նշանը պիտի երեւի երկնքի մէջ եւ աշխարհի բոլոր

ժողովուրդները պիտի ողբան, երբ տեսնեն Մարդու Որդին, որ կուգայ

ամպերուն վրայ բազմած՝ զօրութեամբ եւ մեծ փառքով: Երբ մեծաձայն

փողը հնչէ, ան իր հրեշտակները պիտի ղրկէ, որպէսզի հաւաքեն իր

ընտրեալները աշխարհի չորս կողմերէն, երկնքի մէկ ծայրէն մինչեւ միւսը:

Թզենին ձեզի թող օրինակ ըլլայ: Երբ տեսնէք որ անոր ճիւղեր կը

կակուղնան եւ տերեւ կ՚արձակեն, գիտէք թէ ամառը մօտ է: Նոյնպէս ալ, երբ

բոլոր ըսածներս կատարուին, գիտցէք թէ Մարդու Որդիին գալուստը մօտ է

եւ արդէն հասնելու վրայ: Վստահ եղէք, որ այս սերունդը չանցած՝ ասոնք

բոլորը պիտի պատահին: Նոյնիսկ եթէ երկինքն ու երկիրը անհետանան,

խօսքերս պիտի չանհետանան: Սակայն ոչ ոք գիտէ թէ երբ պիտի գայ այդ

օրը կամ ժամը. ո՛չ երկնքի հրեշտակները, ո՛չ ալ Որդին, բայց միայն Հայրը:

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (24:30-36)

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE GALATIANS (6:14-18)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ

ԳԱՂԱՏԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (6.14-18)

Գալով ինծի, քաւ լիցի որ մեր Տիրոջ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի խաչէն զատ ուրիշ

բանով պարծենամ: Այդ խաչին միջոցաւ մեղքի աշխարհը մեռած է այլեւս

ինծի համար, ինչպէս ես մեռած եմ այդ աշխարհին համար: Կարեւորը

մարդուս թլփատուած կամ անթլփատ ըլլալը չէ, այլ նոր արարած ըլլալը:

Թող Աստուծոյ խաղաղութիւնն ու ողորմութիւնը ըլլան բոլո՛ր անոնց հետ՝

որոնք այս սկզբունքին համաձայն կ՚ապրին. բո՛լոր անոնց՝ որոնք իր

ընտրեալ ժողովուրդը կը կազմեն:

Այսուհետեւ, խնդրեմ, ոեւէ մէկը աշխարհիկ հոգերով թող զիս չնեղէ,

որովհետեւ ես Յիսուսի կը պատկանիմ, ինչպէս մարմնիս վրայ վէրքերուն

սպիները կը վկայեն:

Եղբայրներ, մեր Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոսի շնորհքը ձեր բոլորին հետ ըլլայ:

Ամէն:

REQUIEM SERVICE October 1, 2017

Peter B. Bedrosian

Sarkis Bedrosian

Serarpi Bedrosian

Vartoohe and Vahan DerMuksian

Ossanna Donoyan

Polly Gallas

Levon Antranig Garabedian

Vartan and Yeghsapet Kashmanian

Richard Keoseian

Michael and Alice Markarian

John Menissian and Theresa Bedrosian Morin

Avedis Albert and Yeranik Swajian

Stella Takian and Aghavni Tootonjian

Yeprem and Victoria Yepremian, Arousiag Jamgotchian, and Sarkis and Mary Abrahamian

This Sunday, October 1, 2017

Altar Flowers and Altar Candles

are donated in Loving Memory of

OSSANA DONOYAN By

Hagop & Salpi Donoyan and Family

Side Altar Flowers

are donated in Loving Memory of

STELLA TAKIAN AND MICHAEL MAKOKIAN By

Gloria Nahabedian

REQUIEM SERVICE October 8, 2017

Avetis Oundjian – 40th Day Remembrance

Michael Matigian --- First Year Anniversary

Harry Alahverdian

Mark Daniel Asadoorian

George and Mary Avakian, Michetar and Araxie Ohanian and Jiryr Mezdurian

Anahid Elmasian

Lucy Hovanesian and Eugenia Stoian

Iris Kinoian

Maurice Legros

Karen Alexanian Mignano

Dawn Morris, Margaret and John Donabedian and Helen DeCiccio

Setrag Shahrozian

Setrag, Vartoohe and Bedros Tatoian

CALENDAR of EVENTS

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no Adult Bible Study on

Monday, October 2, and Monday, October 9.

Bible Study will resume on

Monday, October 16 at 7:00 pm.

Saturday, October 14 ARS Ani and Arax Chapters with the Rhode Island Hamazkayin

Educational and Cultural Society present the Rhode Island Premiere of Bared Maronian’s

award-winning documentary WOMEN OF 1915

Rhode Island College Gaige Auditorium – 5:30pm

Sunday, October 15 Elections for Board of Trustees and NRA Delegates – 10am-1pm

Annual Membership Meeting – Part 2 (Following Divine Liturgy)

Saturday, October 28 Homenetmen Annual Costume Party

Aramian Auditorium – 6pm

Sunday, November 5 AYF Seniors and Juniors Coffee Hour and Panel Presentation

Come hear about current AYF activities and initiatives, as well as the progress of the renovations of the AYF Youth Center!

Immediately following Divine Liturgy Fermanian Fellowship Hall

ARMENIAN FEST 2017 Preparations are underway!!! We need your help!

Please come and join us for a few hours.

Every Mon & Wed starting Sept. 6 and 11 = Choreg and Katah 8:30am

Every Tuesday starting Sept. 12 = Micheeg 9am

Every Thursday starting Sept. 21 = Kufta 6pm

Choreg, Katah, and Kufta may be picked up Monday through Wednesday

between 10am and 1pm or after Church on Sundays.

Special Request Please consider donating a "Unique Item," such as

Tickets for Events, Gift Items, etc. for the

“SILENT AUCTION” for our 2017 Armenian Fest.

Your donations will help our Church and may qualify as a tax deduction for you…

Also, we are accepting any items you would like to donate for the

FLEA MARKET.

Please contact the Church Office (401-831-6399) for further information.

From the September 28, 2017 edition of **********************************************************

FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS OF VARAK

The Monastery of Varak before 1915.

This Sunday, October 1, is the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak, a holiday that is unique to the Armenian Church and is celebrated two weeks after the Exaltation of the Cross. After coming to Armenia, the Hripsimiantz Virgins lived near Mount Varak. They had brought with them a fragment of the True Cross. Fleeing persecution, they sought refuge on the mountain where Hripsime hid the cross among the rocks before fleeing to Vagharshapat. In 653, a hermit named Todik found the hidden cross by following a brilliant light that illuminated the mountain and guided him inside the church to the altar where he found the cross. The light shone for twelve days. In memory of this event, Catholicos Nerses (the Builder) established the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak. He wrote the beautiful hymn, “By the Sign of Your All Powerful Holy Cross,” (Nshanav Amenahaght Khatchit). The Monastery of St. Nishan (Varakavank) was built on Mount Varak, which is in the southeastern region of Van. It was home to one of the greatest libraries and museums, filled with ancient and modern books and works of art. The Monastery became even more prominent when Khrimian Hayrik established a publishing house and a school there hoping to make the monastery an educational center. He founded the first newspaper to be published in historical Armenia, Artsiv Vaspurakani (The Eagle of Vaspurakan). The massacres and deportations of 1915 destroyed Hayrik’s hopes and plans, as well as so much more. Varakavank was destroyed by the Turkish army on April 30, 1915, during the siege of Van. By the sign of your all-victorious cross, O Christ, lover of mankind, keep us from the unseen enemy, for you alone are the King of Glory, blessed forever. On it you stretched out your spotless hands and shed your blood for the salvation of the universe for you alone are King of Glory, blessed forever. At your second coming when this holy sign shall appear once again make your servants worthy of renewal for you alone are the King of Glory, blessed forever. May your cross be our refuge by its flame-like radiance; it is named the tree of life; you crushed the enemy and unloosed the sentence of death for the salvation of the universe. Sending up praises the heavens rejoice and the earth rejoices at the discovery of the holy cross like the four-winged rock which enlightened this world by its sun-like rays. Jerusalem

rejoiced, believers were glad; they adorned themselves in marvelous garment for they saw the victorious sign; all creation was adorned with its light. (Canon to the Cross of Varak from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church)

SAINT GEORGE (KEVORK) THE COMMANDER

Tomorrow, September 30, the Armenian Church commemorates St. George (Kevork) the Commander, a third century Roman general who challenged the Emperor’s persecution of Christians by publicly tearing up the Emperor’s decree, and urging others to follow his example. To this day he remains a popular saint in the Armenian Church and is the patron saint of soldiers and scouts. As in many other instances, the Armenians have given St. George an Armenian national character. The Feast of St. George is always on the Saturday before the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak that is preceded by a week of fasting (Monday to Friday). Although the fast is not connected to St. George, through the centuries it has been popularly identified as the Fast of St. George. Also commemorated this week:

Monday, October 2, St. David of Tvin. Tuesday, October 3, St. Eustace. Thursday, October 5, Princes Sahag and Hamazasp.

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please visit: www.armenianprelacy.org,

click on the tab for "News and Events",

go to CROSSROADS, and click on the link

to sign up for the CROSSROADS E-Newsletter.

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50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

The Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, invite you to attend a Jubilee Celebration in honor of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, October 29, 10 am, at St. Illuminator Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City, presided by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia. Following the Liturgy a reception and dinner will take place at The Lotte New York Palace, 455 Madison Avenue, New York City.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET: SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS

OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER

The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.

Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts,

and your pocketbooks.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF

EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN SYRIA

WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY

MORE DIFFICULT.

THE NEED IS REAL.

THE NEED IS GREAT.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF

CAN BE MADE ON LINE AT WWW.ARMENIANPRELACY.ORG

Click on the DONATE link and select Syrian Armenian Relief

OR IF YOU PREFER, YOU MAY MAIL YOUR DONATION TO:

Armenian Prelacy 138 E. 39th Street

New York, NY 10016 Checks payable to: Armenian Apostolic Church of America

(Memo: Syrian Armenian Relief)

Thank you for your help.