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

Armenian Church News 14 NOVEMBER 2019 Volume 5, Issue 27

The Primate attended the Remembrance Day in London meeting of the Bishops of and Canterbury Kensigton

Armenians in London remembered and honoured On November 13th His Grace Bishop Hovakim soldiers and civilians who fell victim in the Great Manukyan attended the meeting of the Bishops of War, praying for their loving memory as well as for Kensigton, which took place at the headquarters of peace at a special service after the divine Liturgy at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese in the UK. St. Yeghiche Church on 10th November 2019. Following the prayers, there was a ceremony that During the meeting, The Primates shared commemorated those who bravely lost their lives in information of their respective Church activities domestically and internationally. Also, considering the First World War. In its conclusion, a wreath was the recent atrocities on Christians in the Middle lay by representatives of the Embassy of to East and Syria, The Primates highlighted their the UK, The Armenian Community Council and St struggles and suffering as well as the importance of Yeghiche Parish with words of tribute to the remembering the modern Martyrs. Soldiers.

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comrades to those who perished so many years ago.

Following the service, a small procession continued to the Cathedral’s memorial garden's khachkar for a special prayer to remember the one-and-a-half million who perished for their faith and nation in the of 1915. Father Nshan was accompanied by Rev. Max Kramer and the Venerable Jo Kelly Moore of the Anglican church, as well as Nayiri Afrikyan and "THEY DIED SO WE MAY LIVE": BRITISH Ara Sarafian of AGBU London and others. The ARMENIANS REMEMBER THEIR DEAD ON Canterbury khachkar, a prominent feature of the memorial garden, was made by local craftsmen REMEMBRANCE DAY AT CANTERBURY Brigadier John Meardon and Vartan Moskofian. CATHEDRAL During the prayer service Brigadier Meardon lay a by Nora Vosbigian (London 11.11.2019). special wreath with the dedication, “They died so we may live” “Մեռան որպէսզի մենք ապրինք.” "We are blessed by the kindness of the Anglican On a grey, November 11th, 2019, a delegation of church" noted Moskofian, "in allowing us the voice Armenians left London for Canterbury Cathedral to to mourn our dead in such a manner. We attend the annual Remembrance Day remember "and pray for peace." Three quarters of commemoration marking the end of WWI. The historical Armenia was cleansed of its Armenian ceremony honoured British soldiers and civilians population in 1915, in what is today the Turkish who fell victim in the Great War, as well as republic. remembering the victims of all wars and terrorism, and praying for peace. The Khachkar dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide" was inaugurated on February The main ceremony took place in the main 22nd last year by Archbishop of Canterbury and Cathedral and included Rev. Fr Nshan Alaverdyan, His Grace Bishop Manukyan. It is also a symbol of pastor of St. Yeghiche Church who attended the fraternal relations that exist between the Anglican event with the blessings of His Grace Bishop and Armenian Churches worldwide. Hovakim Manukyan and was representing the Primate. After the church service and two minutes' silence, several regimental banners were presented to remember the dead, in a somber, moving ceremony. Many of the attendees were the Armenian Church News | 3

Fund Raising Lunch For Holy sending your cheques/donations payable Ejmiadzin to: “The Friends of Etchmiadzin” to the Bishop’s House, 27 Haven Green, London W5 2NZ. Reference your donation as “Renovation”. All donations will be acknowledged in a special book, which will be published by the international committee when the renovations are concluded.

Updates from the restoration of the On 10 November 2019, following the Divine Liturgy at St Sarkis Church, St Sarkis Parish Council with the cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin cooperation of the Ladies Committee held a fund- raising lunch at Gulbenkian Hall. Almost £500.00 Following from the previous newsletter, The was raised thanks to the tireless work of the Ladies Renovation of The Mother Cathedral continues with Committee and the members of the Parish Council. As the reinforcement works nearing completion. mentioned on their social media page Currently, The Architects are engaged in re- (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSCPLondo constructing the bell towers. As they say a Picture is n/), all proceeds will be donated towards the worth a thousand words so please follow the link to restoration of Holy Ejmiadzin Cathedral. watch a video of the progress of the landmark restoration : https://youtu.be/BdW- Donations large or small can be made X0ek_zw?list=UUPLAYER_Sho securely through the Friends of ghakatTVcompany Etchmiadzin, a UK registered charity, via the following account number: Acc No: 27895718, Sort code: 50-30-10, BIC: NWBK GB 2L, IBAN: GB20 NWBK 5030 1027 8957 18 or by Armenian Church News | 4

Notably, the fundraiser was attended by His Holiness Armenian Cause Fundraiser Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and Banquet in Brussels Artsakh President Bako Sahakian. The event was organised by the initiative of The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau. A Message from Armen Sarkissian, the President of Republic of Armenia was also presented during the event. The Armenian National Committees worldwide work for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, advocating the self-determination rights of the Armenians in Artsakh and strengthening of the Armenian state. Children’s club

Դրամահաւաք յաջակցութիւն Հայ Դատի յանձնախմբերու գործունեութեան

On Saturday, 9th November, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan travelled to Brussels to participate in a Fundraiser event to assist in advancing the Armenian Cause and delivered the message of His Holiness KAREKI II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians to the attendees.

The Children's club will meet on Saturday 7th December at 2pm. Children of all ages are welcome and those wishing to bring their children, please inform us by contacting us via email at: [email protected]. The address for the club is 27 Haven Green, W5 2NZ, and the entrance can be accessed via Woodville road.

Small donations of £ 1 are welcome!!!

Art Wellbeing Women

The Club Art wellbeing women will meet at Bishop’s House on Saturday 7th December, at 1 pm. The sessions are focused on art therapy sessions for females led by artist Anna Virabyan. Feel free to More than 100 benefactors from around the world attend the next session, which will take place at participated in the fundraiser. Bishop’s House at 1PM. In the absence of linguistics, At the conclusion of the event it was announced that the session provides the opportunity for expression $2.4 million was raised for the advancement of the and empowerment through the different avenues of Armenian Cause and offices that engage in that work, painting and art in general. Those who wish to attend adding that the fundraising efforts were continuing. Armenian Church News | 5 please contact the Primates office via email at:[email protected] Small donations of £ 3 are welcome!!! Pilgrimage to Holy Land and Jerusalem

Armenian Church Trust UK Travel dates: 16th to 24th January 2020. The AGM Pilgrimage will cover many early Christian hotspots such as Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and The Dead Sea. Also, with this, The visit will include Armenian Christmas mass (Սուրբ Ծննդյան

ACT UK is the main centralised charity for the Armenian Church in The UK and Ireland help towards advancing The Christian faith within The Armenian Պատարագ) in Bethlehem on January 19th as community. Amongst many strengths of the Trust, celebrated in Old Calendar. their transparency and accountability are pivotal in their ethos. The cost per person: Please do join us for the annual general meeting Double room sharing £1350. Single supplement £250. which showcases the work that the generous Flights included, donations of the community make possible on Please kindly note that there will be a lot of walking nd Monday 2 December, at 7:30 pm at the Bishop's involved in visting these often vast locations. House (27 Haven Green, W5 2NZ) Anybody who feels this may be a challenge is encouraged to contact the given details included to clear any uncertainty regarding this. Those who are interested in taking can make their HAMAINK TV deposits of £250 to ACT UK accounts until before the deadline of 1st December to secure their place and the Please follow the link to know more about the bank details for this can be found below: exciting community events on HAMAINK TV: ACT UK account number: 20573160 sort code: 30- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC85KA3Tw 94-65, REF: Jerusalem ffknsNEA0eCVD1w Please contact Ms Hrachik Sarian via email: [email protected] or Tel: 07949810704 for all inquiries related to the Pilgrimage.

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Please read the following knowledgeable source. Before the presentation, Armenian -Iranian food will be served also. information and save a date to Donations of £ 20 are welcome!!! attend and participate in our upcoming events: 4. Friday, December 5th, 7pm Baroness Cox will be speaking about the situation of Christians in Syria. The lecture titled “Syria: frontier of faith” makes light of the in Kasab, Aleppo 1. Friday, November 15th, 7 pm “Armenian and other cities that were also densely populated Diaspora Lives: As I saw them” by Dr Hrayr with Armenians. The lecture will cover the Jebejian. Dr Jebejian is based in Saudi Arabia and following topics: The reasons behind why most of is one of the leading Armenian Evangelical our compatriots have left the Mother Diaspora theologian, as well as playing a prominent role in Community. The city of Damascus, where St. The Bible Societies of Gulf countries. His Paul converted into Christianity. The city of presentation will include interesting insights on Antioch where the Christians were called as such his book. 27 Haven Green, W5 2NZ, and the for the first time in 38 AD. The centre of Syriac entrance can be accessed via Woodville road. Orthodox Church within Syria, where Christianity Small donations of £ 5 are welcome!!! exists in its all diverse forms. As well as what is happening now and what we can do as Christians 2. Tuesday, November 19th, 7pm Christian de to help our brethren and sisters in present day Vartavan is a French Armenian scholar who Syria. currently resides in London. He is involved in Donations of £ 1 are welcome!!! Artificial Intelligence and is the head of Egyptian studies at State University. His lecture is based on his family story, which is also linked to House of Hasan-Jalalyans in Artsakh and his 5. Saturday, December 14th, Youth (ACYO) Boat granddad was an immediate assistant of General Party. Antranik Ozanian, who was the leading member https://www.tickettailor.com/events/acyo/314226 of the Armenian Community in Egypt. ?fbclid=IwAR2_vNiviJctqMZCAa- Furthermore, de vartanyan is also related to RLEGnCcoLw3T2Obi7ixzLL0wdfu1O4TcgGLw Galouste Gulbenkian. tbe0 Small donations of £ 5 are welcome!!!

3. Thursday, November 22nd 7pm, Dr Hratch Tchilingirian will present some of the aspects surrounding the teaching of the Armenian Church on Holy Matrimony. It is an interesting insight especially for younger couples and families. A key question that Tchilingrian will address is how exactly do we understand the sexuality according to the teaching of the Church based on the theological texts of matrimony? He has spoken on this topic at Yerevan State University and is a unique opportunity to learn from such a Armenian Church News | 7

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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://armeniandiocese.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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