Volume 1, Issue 1 Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland 3 July 2015

Armenian Church News

New Primate Arrives and Gets to Work His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manoukian, the new

Primate of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland, th arrived on 27 June to assume his new ministry.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Diocese of the Armenian Catholicos of All Armenians Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic appointed Bishop Hovakim of Ireland to his new position based on the consent of the His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate representatives of the parishes in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Primate's Office Tel. 0208 127 8364 of the Ecumenical Relations afternoon, Bishop Hovakim primatesoffice@ “With the blessing of His Department of the Mother continued his informal armenianchurch.co.uk Holiness and the support of See of Holy Etchmiadzin. discussions and meetings the community, I am with community leaders at looking forward to working His Grace has already had a the Homenetmen garden with our faithful,” said busy first week in London. party. On 2nd July, the th Bishop Hovakim upon his On Sunday, 28 June he Primate presided over the arrival. presided over the Divine event commemorating the Liturgy at St. Yeghiche centenary of the twenty His Grace Bishop Hovakim Church and get acquainted Hunchak Martyrs, organized was the founding Primate with the congregation and by the Social Democratic of the Diocese of Artik in the pastor the Rev. Fr. Aren Hunchakian Party of Great northern Armenia and head Shahinian. In the Britain.

Primate’s Inauguration, 12th July

His Grace Bishop Fest of Transfiguration on will be take part. All Hovakim will be formally Sunday, 12th July at St. Armenians in the UK are installed as the Primate Yeghiche Church. The invited to take part in of the Armenian Church faithful of the parishes, this special ceremony at a solemn ceremony dignitaries, ecumenical and greet the new (Hrashapar) following guests and Primate. the celebration of the representatives of Divine Liturgy on the community organisations Page 2 Armenian Church News

Meeting with the Elders Club Bishop Hovakim visited Hayashen, the Centre for Armenian Information and Advice, and met with members of the Elders Club during their weekly gathering organised by the Hayashen Director Mr. Misak Ohanian, who welcomed the Primate to the Centre. His Grace conversed with the participants and acquainting himself with the activities of the centre.

“ I am looking forward to working with our faithful.”

Anglican & Eastern Churches Association head The Primate met with the issues related to Anglical‐ Rev. Canon Dr. William Armenian church Taylor, Chairman of the relations and the wider Anglican & Eastern Eastern Churches were Churches Association on discussed. 30th June. A number of

AREV Celebrates 5th Anniversary AREV Children’s Play introduction to artists and month on a Sunday Group at St. Sarkis Church composers. "Parents’ morning. Congratulations celebrated its 5th participation is essential to the AREV children and anniversary on 28th June during the activities," said their committed parents; 2015. Conceived and AREV director Shakeh and special thanks to founded by Shakeh Major Major Tchilingirian. She Shakeh Major Tchilingirian, the play commended the parents Tchilingirian for her group for pre‐School to for making the initiative and continued 11 years old children is an commitment to bring dedication to brining exciting hour of fun their children to an Armenian cultural and through Armenian songs, "Armenian world" at St. spiritual heritage to dance, storytelling and Sarkis Church once a children. Forthcoming Events Page 3

The Feast of Transfiguration

Referred to admonished his disciples. the New Testament: as Paytsarakerputiun, the About a week later, Jesus Matthew 17:1‐8; Mark Feast of the had his miraculous 9:11‐7; Luke 9:29‐36; and Transfiguration is one of Transfiguration. Peter II 1:17‐18. the five principal feasts of the Armenian Church, so He went up Tabor named because of Christ's Mountain with three of luminous appearance. In His disciples—Simon Armenia it is also known Peter, James, and John as Vardavar (Վարդավա Zebedee—to pray as the ռ) (the Festival of Roses) other tired disciples after the old pagan feast, remained at the bottom which it replaced. During of the mountain. It was the celebrations of there that Jesus began to Vardavar in Armenia, assume a new people from various social appearance. The three groups drench each other disciples were amazed with water. when they saw His new radiant being. The feast marks Christ's appearance with a Though it was night time, resplendent countenance the disciples saw light to three of His disciples, coming from the sun in Peter, John, and James, the sky. Among the light on the holy mountain of they saw two other Galilee, also known as men—said to be Moses Mount Tabor. and Elijah—speaking to Jesus about His remaining The Bible tells us that time left on earth and the when Jesus was sacrifice He would soon considering going to make. Jerusalem, he spoke with his disciples of the torture Then a cloud came upon “Get up,” that was in store for Him the group. The voice of and of the end of His life God was heard, saying the Jesus said. on earth. Jesus wanted same phrase He said “Don’t be afraid.” when Jesus was baptized, His disciples to be Matthew 17:7. prepared for the coming "This is my Son, my events. Chosen; listen to Him!" (Luke 9:35). His disciples, however, did After the Transfiguration, not believe that Jesus Jesus asked His disciples could possibly face such not to talk about it until tribulations and Peter His coming Resurrection. adamantly said none of Jesus' predictions would This scene can be found in come true, and Jesus four different places in Page 4 Armenian Church News Armenian Street Festival

The 5th annual Armenian 12:00 with the ceremony of Andastan (Blessing of Street Festival will take the Four Corners of the World) and end at 6:00 pm. place on the grounds of th St Sarkis Church (Iverna On 30 June, His Grace presided over the meeting Gardens). During this of the Street Festival Committee, which was unique event the faithful chaired by Dikran Bedrossian. of the Armenian Church and other dignitaries will gather to enjoy the riches of the Armenian culture, particularly the music and food. It is also a unique opportunity to celebrate our unity in faith and dedication to our cultural and national heritage.

The Festival will open at

Pilgrimage: Blessing of Holy Muron

On this special centenary year in the life of the Armenian nation, the solemn ceremony of the blessings of the Holy Muron (Chrism) will take place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in th Diocese of the Armenian Armenia on 27 Church of the United September 2015. The Kingdom and the Republic blessing of the Holy of Ireland Muron takes place once in seven years. His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate The Primate’s Office is organising a pilgrimage

to Holy Etchmiadzin on Primate's Office this special occasion as For further information regarding our pilgrimage to Tel. 0208 127 8364 an opportunity to the Armenia please contact the primate's office via primatesoffice@ faithful to take part in phone call on 0208 127 8364 or email: armenianchurch.co.uk this unique ceremony. [email protected]