Sts. Vartanantz Church WEEKLY BULLETIN Archpriest Father Gomidas Baghsarian 402 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909 Office: 831-6399 Fax: 351-4418 Email: [email protected] Website: stsvartanantzchurch.org

Third Sunday after Pentecost Sunday, June 29, 2014

Please Join Us in Worship this Sunday Մասնակցեցէք Ս.Պատարագին` Morning Service 9:30 am Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 9:30 10:00 am - Sermon 11:15 Ս. Պատարագ 10:00 - Քարոզ 11:15

PONTIFICAL BLESSINGS THIS SUNDAY FOR ARAM

By order of the Prelate, parishes of the Eastern Prelacy will offer Pontifical Prayers and Blessings this Sunday, June 29, on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness , Catholicos of the of .

His Holiness was consecrated Catholicos on July 1, 1995, after serving

as Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox community in for fifteen years.

Catholicos Aram was ordained a celibate priest in 1968 and earned the title “Vartabed” (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. He received his Episcopal ordination in 1980. Born in in 1947, His Holiness studied at the Holy See’s Theological Seminary in , Lebanon, and the Near East School of Theology before attending the American University of Beirut. He pursued his graduate education at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Oxford University, and Fordham University, earning two Master’s degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D).

During the past 19 years, His Holiness has enriched the legacy of the Holy See especially through its Seminary which has produced outstanding clerical and lay leaders for the Armenian Church, and the ecumenical encounters that have elevated the Armenian Church presence in the greater Christian family. During Catholicos Aram’s pontificate the ’s prolific printing press has produced an impressive list of books on theology, history, biography, music, and literature.

We wish His Holiness good health and many more years of his devoted leadership.

Providence HAMAZKAYIN Artsakh Dance Group Performs in Boston

This past Sunday, June 22nd, the older group of our Providence HAMAZKAYIN Artsakh Dance Group performed for the first time. The performance, which took place in the Lasker Auditorium of Newton (MA) High School, was received with great enthusiasm by the audience. Our Providence dancers shined alongside the host, the Boston HAMAZKAYIN Erebouni Dance Group.

The younger group recently performed at our Mourad Armenian School Hantes on June 10th at Hope Highlands School in Cranston. All of these youngsters and young adults of the dance groups are either attending or graduates of our Sunday School and/or Mourad Armenian School. They are members of the AYF and/or Providence Homenetmen Chapters etc., and they continue to serve our community in various capacities. Since the beginning of the year, both the younger and older members of our Artsakh Dance Group have been practicing under artistic director, Arman Mnatsakanyan. This past Wednesday, an "open class for the community" was held in Aramian Auditorium. The event was well attended and was very encouraging and energizing for both the dancers and their families. This past Tuesday, accompanied by Archdeacon Souren Mouradjian, Der Hayr visited Knightsville Manor where he conducted a short Morning Service for the Armenian residents. Der Hayr also served Holy Communion to the residents.

Kenneth Iavarone and Sonya Parseghian

exchanged the vows of Holy Matrimony in Sts. Vartanantz Church on June 22, 2014

May God Bless You and May He keep you in His care always ÚÇëáõë øñÇëïáëÇ ²õ»ï³ñ³Ý¿Ý Àëï Marjhisu(12: 1-8)

Þ³µ³Ã ûñ ÙÁ ÚÇëáõë ³ñï»ñáõÝ Ù¿ç¿Ý Ϫ³ÝóÝ¿ñ: ²ß³Ï»ñïÝ»ñÁ ³Ýûûó³Í ÁÉɳÉáí ëÏë³Ý ѳëÏ ÷Ýïñ»É »õ áõï»É: ºñµ ÷³ñÇë»óÇÝ»ñÁ ³ëÇϳ ï»ë³Ý, ÁëÇÝ ÚÇëáõëÇ. ¦î»ë ³ß³Ï»ñïÝ»ñ¹ ÇÝã ϪÁÝ»Ý. µ³Ý ÙÁ áñ ³ñ·ÇÉáõ³Í ¿ Þ³µ³Ã ûñáí Áݻɧ: ÚÇëáõë å³ï³ë˳ݻó. ¦â±¿ù ϳñ¹³ó³Í ÿ ÇÝã Áñ³õ ¸³õÇÃ, »ñµ ÇÝù »õ Çñ Ñ»ï »ÕáÕÝ»ñÁ ³Ýûûó³Ý: ²ëïáõÍáÛ ïáõÝÁ ãÙï³±õ »õ ²é³ç³õáñáõû³Ý гóÁ ãÏ»ñ³±õ, áñ ûñ¿ÝùÇÝ Ñ³Ù³Ó³ÛÝ ÙdzÛÝ ù³Ñ³Ý³Ý»ñáõÝ ³ñïûÝáõ³Í ¿ñ »õ áã ÿ Çñ»Ý ϳ٠Çñ Ñ»ï »ÕáÕÝ»ñáõÝ: γ٠㿱ù ϳñ¹³ó³Í Øáíë¿ëÇ úñ¿ÝùÇÝ Ù¿ç, ÿ Þ³µ³Ã ûñ»ñ ù³Ñ³Ý³Ý»ñÁ ï³×³ñÇÝ Ù¿ç ÏÁ ëñµ³åÕÍ»Ý Þ³µ³ÃÁ »õ ë³Ï³ÛÝ ³ïÇϳ Ù»Õù ãÇ Ñ³Ù³ñáõÇñ Çñ»Ýó: ²Ñ³ ϪÁë»Ù Ó»½Ç, áñ ï³×³ñ¿Ý ³õ»ÉÇ Ù»Í Ù¿ÏÁ Ï³Û Ñáë: ºÃ¿ Çñ³å¿ë ѳëÏݳÛÇù ÿ ÇÝã ÏÁ Ý߳ݳϿ Ù³ñ·³ñ¿ÇÝ ËûëùÁ. ¦àÕáñÙáõÃÇõÝ Ïªáõ½»Ù »õ áã ½áѧ. ³ÛÝ ³ï»Ý ã¿Çù ¹³ï³å³ñï»ñ ³ÝÙ»ÕÝ»ñÁ, áñáíÑ»ï»õ Ù³ñ¹áõ àñ¹ÇÝ ï¿ñÝ ¿ Þ³µ³ÃÇݧ:

GOSPEL Matthew 12: 1-8 Lord of the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread - which was not unlawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. (On Page 966 in your )

EPISTLE Romans 6:12-23 Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at the time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (On Page 1117 in your Bibles)

Church Summer Schedule is now in effect

Soorp Badarak begins at 9:15 am

REQUIEM SERVICE June 29, 2014

Dr. Anthony Fusco --- Fortieth Day Remembrance

Dionsia (Sula) Tavitian --- Fortieth Day Remembrance

Peter B. Tikoian --- First Year Anniversary

Lucia Tamamian

Altar Candles are donated in Loving Memory of Dionysia (Soula) Tavitian by Paylazo and Shoghig Tavitian

Altar Flowers are donated in Loving Memory of Peter B. Tikoian by Mrs. Ann Tikoian and Family

REQUIEM SERVICE July 6, 2014

Emma Petrosova --- Fortieth Day Remembrance

Edward Karoghlanian --- First Year Anniversary

Bessie Bogosian and Victoria Margosian

Ohan Dolbashian

Krikor Elmasian

Setrag Elmayan

Manoog, Calipse and George "Frenchy" Gregorian, and Krikor and Aghavnie Esraelian

Hykas Krikorian

Dr. Charles Nahabedian

Azbar Agnes Nalbandian

Paroonag Topalian

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Adult Study will resume in the Fall

Congratulations to all of Our Graduates

We wish you much success in all your future endeavors.

Please forward your picture and brief bio by email ([email protected]) by July 15th if you wish to be included in our Graduates' Page which will appear in a special August issue of the Gantegh

This Saturday, June 28th March to Commemorate Our Martyrs and Our City Vigil at the Martyrs' Monument, North Burial Ground 6:30 pm Eternal Flame March to the State House 7 pm Ceremony of Honor at the State House 8 pm

This Sunday, June 29th Presentation of the Souren Mouradjian Awards following the Soorp Badarak Men's Club will host a Coffee Hour in Fermanian Fellowship Hall

Sunday, July 6, 2014 ARS Senior Citizens Bus Trip Lunch and 3 hour Jazz Cruise of the Cape Cod Canal RSVP to Joyce Yeremian at 354-8770

Saturday, July 19, 2014 8th Annual ACA-RI Armenian Open Golf Tournament Triggs Memorial Course 1 pm RSVP by July 12th to Melissa Danielian 401-480-6886

Saturday, July 19, 2014 Ladies' Guild and ARS "" Chapter "Hye Summer Night IX" Dinner - Dance Alpine Country Club in Cranston RSVP by June 30th to Joyce Bagdasarian 434-4467 or to Joyce Yeremian 354-8770

Sunday, July 20, 2014 Annual Homenetmen Picnic at Colt State Park in Bristol RSVP by July 1st to Siran Krikorian at 263-7514

Sunday, July 27, 2014 His Grace, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, will ordain Harold Nazarian as a Deacon Coffee Hour/Reception to follow

Sunday, August 10, 2014 Annual Church Picnic at Camp Haiastan

Parishioners, Please Support Your Church

Annual Membership Forms and Stewardship Envelope Books for 2014 are available from the Office.

Please obtain and remit yours as soon as possible.

Visit our website for updated Church news

http://www.stsvartanantzchurch.org

From the June 26th issue of Crossroads

ST. NERSES THE GREAT AND BISHOP KHAT

This Saturday, June 28, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos Nerses the Great and Khat the Bishop. Nerses the Great was the father of Catholicos Sahak I. He succeeded two catholicoi whose reigns were unexceptional, and the people were eager to return to the line of their beloved . Nerses was a student of St. Basil of Caesarea, one of three great . Nerses’ pontificate was the beginning of a new era. He brought the church closer in service to the people, rather than to royals and nobles. He convened the Council of Ashtishat that resulted in numerous laws on issues related to marriage, worship, and customs. He built many schools, hospitals, and monasteries. He sent monks to preach the Gospel throughout the country. His bold actions resulted in great displeasure by the royal family and in 373 he was reportedly poisoned by the king. His accomplishments for the spiritual and social well-being of the common people earned him the gratitude of the entire nation and the honorific “Great.”

Khat the Bishop worked closely with St. Nerses the Great. Like Nerses he had great passion for social issues, especially helping the poor. Nerses entrusted most of the benevolent work of the church to Khat. He is so closely associated with St. Nerses that the church honors them on the same day.

By the light of unspeakable grace of your divine knowledge you arose on the land of , merciful heavenly Father; have compassion on us who have sinned. Saint Nerses, pure in soul, from birth you were chosen to inherit the paternal lot of shepherding righteously and lawfully. You adorned the Church with the laws of truth and established good order within it; through his prayers have mercy on us, O Christ. (Canon to the Holy Nerses the Great from the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Church)

CONSTANTINE AND HIS MOTHER HELENA

This Tuesday, July 1, the Armenian Church remembers Constantine the Great and his mother, Helena. Constantine was the first Christian emperor of Rome. In 330 he founded Constantinople as a “second Rome,” and considered himself to be a servant of God. He was buried amid the apostles in the basilica he founded in their honor in Constantinople. Helena followed her son in becoming a Christian and devoted her life to charitable work. She built many churches and monasteries and is believed to have played an important role in the recovery of the true cross in Golgotha. She is also believed to have helped find Christ’s exact place of burial where later the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built.

Please Remember...

Copies of the following Bi-Lingual Prelacy publications are available for purchase from the Church Office

Historical Atlas of Armenia $40

Commentary on the Nicene Creed $15

"Arevakal" CD $15

Either or all of these would be a wonderful addition to anyone's library. Each would also make for a wonderful gift, especially for graduation etc.

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Please … keep us up-to-date with your contact information!

Please call the Church Office at 831-6399 to reserve a specific Sunday in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special occasion for the Sunday Fellowship following Church Services.

Due to Federal Privacy Laws, hospitals no longer provide Der Hayr with a Patient Religion List. We ask that you notify the Church Secretary (401-831- 6399) of family members and parishioners who are ill and/or hospitalized so that Der Hayr may call or make a visitation.

Please contact the Church Office at 831-6399 with any address/telephone changes.

ARS Senior Citizens Bus Trip

Please RSVP to Joyce Yeremian 401-354-8770