Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

Armenian Church News 3 APRIL 2020 Volume 6, Issue 10

A Helping Hand from the Church and the Community to those who are in need

people focused on hope, peace of mind, and God’s strengthening presence in uncertain times.

However, the plan makes clear that it is not just the physically vulnerable who need attention. In a situation that is completely novel, anyone—even those who usually seem physically robust and secure in life—are likely to be subject to stress, depression, and the discouragement of isolation.

That is why a spiritual perspective is a paramount In this extraordinary time, the Armenian Church in the emphasis of the plan. Conveying a tone of comfort, UK and Ireland is extremely concerned for the care, reassurance, and the power of faith in adversity wellbeing of people among our local parishes and may be the most important tool to bring to the communities. A Joint committee has been established situation. that aims to meet the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of parishioners and community members across the UK and Ireland. It addresses several dimensions where people may need care and comfort. Pastors and parish leaders are asked to reach out spiritually, to keep Armenian Church News | 2

In enacting the outreach plan, clergy and community leaders are reminded to comply with current local Follow Church government regulations issued to contain and mitigate the Coronavirus pandemic. But they are also urged to keep a focus on the larger objectives of Christian Services online ministry. Reach out with practical information on the COVID-19 virus, and to refer people: www.acemc.org.uk This coming Sunday service and various prayer services will be made available for broadcast throughout the course of .

The

faithful can access these services on the Facebook pages of our parishes in London; these broadcasts can be accessed via the links below: https://www.facebook.com/ArmenianChurchoftheUK andIreland/

https://www.facebook.com/StYeghiche/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSCPLondon/

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‘#StayHome and The Armenian Church Around #StayConnected’ the World Join the Online Video Gatherings for members of our Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, March 28th 2020

On March 28, the Commemoration day of St. Gregory Due to the unprecedented spread of Covid-19 the Illuminator's torture and commitment to the pit was and following the guidance of the Government held under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, to self-isolate and practice social distancing; the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. A doors of our churches will remain closed for the Prayer for the Republic was offered at the St. Trdat coming weeks. However, faithful Armenian Open Air Altar at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; Christians are finding creative ways to connect for our Homeland and our nation. On this occasion, one of the greatest sanctities of the with each other and join together in prayer, Armenian Church, the Holy Right Hand of St. Gregory worship, and spiritual reflection using various the Illuminator, Holy Father of our faith; was brought internet platforms. Details of the coming online out. During the Service, the Catholicos of All community events are listed below: Armenians, blessed the Armenian world and our nation with the Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator, asking the intercession of our tortured Pontiff that . Bible study in Armenian - Every Tuesday Heavenly Lord support and assist to overcome the evening at 7 pm pandemic that the world and our nation faces today in covid-19. At the conclusion of the ceremony, once . Bible study in English – Every Wednesday again blessing our people all over the world with the evening at 7 pm Holy Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator and the “Protector” prayer, the Pontiff of All Armenians conveyed His special message to Armenians worldwide. . Online tea/coffee with Bishop and discussions on various topics every Friday evening at 6 pm. Please click here to read the message of His Holiness KAREKIN II. All those interested in joining us can follow our

Facebook page below: https://www.facebook.com/ArmenianChurchoftheU KandIreland

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this feast is celebrated on the eve of the 6th Sunday of Saturday, March 28th the Great Lent, the Sunday of the of the . First Christians had a strong faith and they Armenian Church celebrated and ardently believed the words of that says “everyone will hate you because of me but not a hair of your head dedicated the feast of St. will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life” (Luke 21:17- Gregory’s torments that he 19). St. Gregory is an example among the countless Saints. He stood firm and lived in the pit for 13 years but suffered during imprisonment. did not abandon His faith. He is an example to us and a source of inspiration. Jesus also said, “truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened”. (Luke 21:32).

Armenian Church celebrates the feast of

The Feast of Annunciation is one of the major feasts in the Armenian Church. It is based on the story of the Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary while she was at the house of Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist. The feast is celebrated by the Armenian Church on April This feast is the first one among the three 7th. commemoration days dedicated to the memory of St. In the (1:26-) we read: “God sent the Gregory the Illuminator, the first Catholicos of All angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged Armenians. According to the Armenian Church to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The Calendar, it is celebrated on the eve of the 6th Sunday virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, during the period of Great Lent. According to historical “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with sources, St. Gregory the Illuminator was the son of Anak you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what Partev, a knight and nobleman, who killed the Armenian kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not King Khosrov Arshakouni. In retaliation, Anak was be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive executed by the Armenians. His son, Gregory, lived and and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be studied in Caesarea, and was brought up as a pious great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God Christian. Gregory returns to Armenia as an adult and will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over becomes a member of the royal court. King Tiridates Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Trdat), the son of King Khosrov and heir to the throne, The Armenian Church teaches that at the time of the appoints Gregory as the Chancellor of the Armenian Annunciation, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she Kingdom. Tiridates, learning that Gregory is a Christian was cleansed of the original sin, as she was to be the and the son of Anak, subjects him to severe tortures and bearer of God’s Word incarnate. sentences Gregory to death, by imprisoning him in a deep underground pit. St. Mary’s is our role model to follow, to live our lives through her mediation that so that we are ready to In 301 A.D., after spending 13 years in the pit, St. become vessels of God’s will. As St. Paul says in his Gregory the Illuminator is freed from the dungeon and second letter to the Corinthians: "For we are the temple emerges to spread the Light of Christ in Armenia. He of the living God”. God has reaffirmed this: “I will live thus becomes the first pontiff of the Armenian Church, with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, baptizes the royal family, and evangelizes the whole of and they will be my people” (2 Cor. 6:16.). the Armenian Nation. Armenia becomes the first nation in the world to officially proclaim as her state In Armenia, April 7th is Mother's Day. On this religion. St. Gregory the Illuminator is recognized by all occasion, we pray for all mothers and sisters and extend of Christendom as a Saint, and he is commemorated in our congratulations to all of them. The Western and all traditional Christian Churches. It is symbolical that Armenian Church News | 5

Byzantine Churches celebrate the Feast of Annunciation on March 25th. Holy Week

Palm Sunday & Holy Week Ծաղկազարդ եւ Ավագ Շաբաթ

Palm Sunday

Holy Week is the week beginning up to Easter; it always starts on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. Here are the dates for Holy Week 2020: Sunday April 5 - Saturday April 11.

Holy Monday is in remembrance of Creation day, cursing the fig tree and of Jerusalem. It reminds us to preserve and care for our creation.

Holy Tuesday is in Remembrance Day of the 10 wise virgins. As wise virgins we have to be attentive and have to keep the torches of faith lit as we do not know when Palm Sunday marks Christ's triumphant entry into the groom will come at the end of times. Jerusalem. When Jesus entered Jerusalem “they took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, Holy Wednesday symbolises the and “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the betrayal by Judas. It was on this day that a woman Lord!” Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13). anointed Jesus with expensive oil at Simeon the Lepers’ house in Bethania, predicting Jesus’ death. It was here when Judas made his decision to betray Jesus. Palm Sunday is referred to as Advent, in reference to Christ's coming as the to Jerusalem and to His Maundy Thursday symbolises the and the Passion. For that reason, it is connected with Christ's establishment of the sacrament of Eucharist or Holy Second or Final Coming and is celebrated in the Communion. The faithful prepare themselves through Armenian Church in the evening with the special penance and by receiving absolution and receive Holy "Opening of the Doors" (Դռնբացէք) ritual; a Communion. foreshadowing of the Second Coming of Christ, the End of Days and the Last Judgment. Washing of the Feet- (Ոտնլվա) On Holy Thursday the ritual of the washing of the feet is celebrated in the On Palm Sunday in the Armenian Churches, there is also Churches. The ritual is based on the accounts of the a special service of blessing for the children. The Lord (13:1-17). The washing of feet was a Jesus Christ said “Let the little children come to me, and gesture of hospitality normally performed by a household do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to slave, not the presiding host. Jesus thus shows himself a such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone, who will not model of humility (1 Tim 5:10) and, at the same time, receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never gives a preview of the historic service he will render when enter it.” (Mark 10.13-16). Both rites will be celebrated he accepts the humiliation of the cross (Mk 10:45, Phil immediately after the Divine Liturgy. 2:5-8). Armenian Church News | 6

Easter Sunday is the greatest Christian feast. During the Grand Vigil or Betrayal Service (Խաւարում) Easter Sunday, Christians all over the world celebrate the In the Armenian Church originally it was practiced in glorious Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and His more simple fashion. The priest would wash and bless victory over the death. Again exchanging the Easter with oil the feet of all the faithful in the vestibule greeting: Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the (narthex) of the church. Later, this ritual became more resurrection of Christ! (Քրիստոս յարեաւ ի մեռելոց, elaborate enriched with special hymns and is performed օրհնեալ է յարութիւնն Քրիստոսի) Easter Sunday, on the altar. Though there is not a fixed number, the April 21st . clergymen usually wash the feet of 12 people. Holy Easter Sunday is followed by a period of 40 days, Thursday It symbolises Jesus’s Betrayal, Crucifixion and during which time there are no saints' days or fasting Burial. During the services the Gospel readings describe days. This period is dedicated to the glory of Christ's the last hours of Jesus’s earthly life; betrayal, arrest, denial Resurrection and to the 40 days He spent on earth after of Peter, trial of Pontius Pilate, the decision of death, His Resurrection. The 40th day after the Resurrection is sufferings, agony, crucifixion on Golgotha, eclipse, death Ascension Day, commemorating our Lord's entry into and burial. No liturgy is celebrated on Holy Thursday heaven. with the services being divided into three parts. To remember these events, the Church has services on Thursday evening, Friday afternoon and Friday evening. Armenian Traditional Easter Meals The Evening Service (Խավարման գիշեր) is performed in remembrance of Christ's betrayal and suffering. It is called Passion Evening. Jesus was arrested by the Temple guards of the Sanhedrin in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately after the , which is traditionally said to have been an act of betrayal. The arrest led immediately to his trial before the Sanhedrin, during which they condemned him to death.

Holy Friday, The Burial of Christ Service symbolises the Christ. It is conducted on Friday evening. It can also be considered as the Rite of the . The Trisagion (Սուրբ Աստված) is sung on bended knees and is traditionally dedicated to Joseph of Arimathea, who, according to tradition, sang it as Christ's body was taken down from the Cross. The symbolical coffin is decorated with followers and there is a procession around the Church. During the procession passages from Gospel are read. Traditional Easter food consists of coloured eggs, fish, rice, herbs and traditional Armenian pastry. They also have bread, salt and water so that the priest blesses them Holy Saturday is dedicated to the Saviour’s burial and and shares the good tidings of Resurrection. the sealing of the tomb. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated The eggs and fish are symbolic foods. The Church at the end of the day. "Now after the sabbath, toward the fathers have a lot of interpretations about them. St. dawn of the first day of the week" (Matt. 28:1). For that Gregory of Datev (15th century) said that “we dye the reason it is called Ճրագալույց (Candlemass), because it egg with red colour, because the egg symbolises the was at that time that in all homes every lamp was lit to world, the shell resembles heaven, skin symbolises the air, signify the beginning of a new day. During this liturgy whiteness is water and the yellow is the earth.’’ This Christians around the world exchange the Easter means that the world is saved by the blood of Christ, greeting: Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the which He spilled for the love of humanity. resurrection of Christ! (Քրիստոս յարեաւ ի մեռելոց, օրհնեալ է յարութիւնն Քրիստոսի․)

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Worship Services in the Armenian Churches

London: Services are held every Sunday st Manchester: Services are held on the 1 Sunday of the month.

For further details, please contact the parish nearest to you:

Holy Trinity Armenian Church St. Sarkis Church St. Yeghiche Church 229 Upper Brook Street Iverna Gardens 13b Cranley Gardens Manchester, M13 0FY Kensington, London, W8 6TP Kensington, London SW7 3BB Tel: 0161 273 1074 Tel: 020 7937 0152 Tel: 020 7373 8133 www.armenianchurchmanchester.org www.stsarkisparish.co.uk st www.styeghiche.org.uk 1 SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Birmingham: St. Peter Church, 208, High St, Walsall, WS3 3LA

Republic of Ireland Dublin: [email protected]; Tel. +353 1 451 5087, www.armenians.ie

Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom & the Republic of Ireland His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate

Diocesan Office Tel. 0208 998 9210 [email protected] http://armenianchurch.org.uk/

ACT UK Trustees Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Ayda Lundon, Viken Haladjian, Hovnan Hampartsoumian, Alan Simonian

Registered office address: Kemp House 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX

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