Armenian Church News 26 OCTOBER 2019 Volume 5, Issue 24
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Armenian Church News 26 OCTOBER 2019 Volume 5, Issue 24 The main message of the evening was participation of Restoring the Mother Cathedral every Armenian around the world -- to take part in the restoration of this most significant Armenian holy place for many generations to come through their donations. The Primate Bishop Hovakim Manoukian in his opening remarks emphasised that more than the amount of a donation, what is more meaningful is the commitment that members of the British Armenian community make to take part in this historically significant restoration project. He said, “we are all called to secure the physical structure of the The extensive restoration of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was discussed at a special gathering on 25th October at St Yeghiche Church, featuring Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the chair of the renovation and fundraising committee. Soprano Sevan Habib, accompanied by Jacqueline Karanfilian on the organ, performed a selection of beautiful and heart-warming Armenian songs, which added solemnity to the occasion. “’Etchmiadzin’ literally means ‘the only Begotten descended’”, point out the evening’s MC Shakeh Major Tchilingirian in her introductory remarks, and said, “as such, the Etchmiadzin Mother Cathedral is the holiest place Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin for the coming centuries and for the Armenian nation, because it is the very spot where to pass on our legacy to generation to come.” Christ instructed St. Gregory the Illuminator to build the Archbishop Hovan Derderian, the Primate of the Western first Armenian church.” She underlined that “beyond the Diocese in the United States, who is leading the fundraising physical edifice, Etchmiadzin is a symbol of the Armenian efforts, provided details about the restoration project, about Christian values that we have upheld as a nation for which a short documentary film was shown. He explained centuries.” the international efforts throughout the dioceses of the Armenian church to make sure that all Armenians take part in this national project. Archbishop Hovan pointed out that Armenian Church News | 2 the fundraising is carried out by an independent committee and all accounts will be audited professionally and presented K Tahta Armenian Community to the public. He said the names of all donors from around the world are being centrally recorded and will be published Sunday School's celebration of in a special book about this historic renovation. the Feast of Holy Translators K Tahta Armenian Community Sunday School celebrated the Feast of Holy Translators (Սրբ Թարգմանչաց տօն) on 20th October. The creation of the Armenian alphabet in 405AD was a significant historical event, a vital turning point in the Armenian history as the small nation gained a distinct diversity that still holds strong today. The Cathedral of Echmiadzin, the birthplace of Armenian Christianity, has been undergoing extensive and much- needed major renovations for the last few years. The Cathedral was built in the early 4th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over the 1700 years of its long history, the Mother Cathedral of the Armenians has attracted countless pilgrims and visitors from around the world and continues to attract thousands of visitors every Children in all year groups participated in the event, as year. senior students researched and presented the role and At the conclusion of the evening, Bishop Hovakim thanked significance of the Holy Translators for the preservation of Abp Hovnan Derderian for coming from LA to London and the Armenian identity in religion, culture, traditions, and extended His gratitude to Mr Viken Haladjian for helping to literature. Also, the younger pupils recited Armenian organise this event, Sévan Habib and Jacqueline Karanfilian authors' poems and songs. for the concert of the spiritual songs and Shakeh Major Tchilingirian, the MC of the day. He thanked all those who attended, donated and committed to help. Donations large or small can be made securely through the Friends of 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 sending your cheques/donations payable to: “Friends of Etchmiadzin” to the Bishop’s House, 27 Haven Green, London W5 2N. 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. https://armenianchurch.org.uk/?p=5828 His Grace Bishop Manukyan attended the event and was warmly welcomed by the school community. At the end of the event the Primate extended His blessings to the teachers and students of the school. He also offered for the school to Armenian Church News | 3 hold their traditional celebrations of Holy Translators and Vartanants at St. Yeghiche Church in London. Armenian Bibles & Sacred Armenia 20th October, Sunday Within the coming weeks, ACT UK will The Primate celebrated Holy Badarak and preached at St purchase a quantity of Bibles in Armenian to continue to distribute to the faithful Bibles during the Baptisms and Weddings in all the Churches in UK and Ireland. Sarkis Church in London. While preaching, The Primate reminded us of The Golden Rule of Christianity which is found in Matthew 7:12, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” he invited the faithful to remain so in the face of testing times at the hands of others and always acting as if you expect the same is the key to a harmonious life. In addition, The Primate continued delivering the message of Also, we are currently in the process of The Gospel by explaining its teaching that we must overcome pride and envy which we all to often surrender to publishing a brilliant book called “The book in everyday life in order to achieve Salvation. Sacred Armenia.” The book is based on the diary of a pilgrim illustrated by photos, which together demonstrate the rich, historical, and Publicizing your business in our spiritual Christian culture and heritage of newsletter Armenia as a Biblical country. "The Armenian Church News" has thousands of As with many Church activities, we rely on subscribers across the UK and abroad and acts as a the assistance of our community to further its platform to inform all members of the Armenian success. As such if you would like to donate community of all the happenings surrounding Armenia or think you can be of any assistance in aiding and The Church as well. It is also an opportunity for Armenian organisations and businesses to make the these projects please kindly readers aware of their presence. contact: [email protected] or Call: 07949810704. If you think more people in the community should know about your organisation and that it also meets the guidelines of the Diocese, please contact us. We look forward from hearing from you. For more information on suitability and fees/donations: [email protected] or Tell: 07949810704. Armenian Church News | 4 the discovery, the celebrations of the event can still be The Feast of the Discovery of vividly seen in the Armenian calendar, with four feasts being dedicated to the Holy Cross each year. the Holy Cross On Sunday, October 27, the Armenian Church will celebrate the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Kyood Khach), which The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Saint (Khachverats in Armenian) Helena, the mother of Byzantine Emperor Constantin the Great in 317AD. Perhaps the most notable of these feasts is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats in Armenian). It is considered as one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church, and the most important of the four feasts of the Holy Cross as it highlights the differentiation of divinity of Jesus Christ. The feast is related to a chain of major historical events as well as religious ones. In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov with a mammoth army behind him, successfully attacks and occupies a large portion of the Byzantine Empire. In 614 A.D encouraged by the success of the earlier conquest; the Persian army enters Jerusalem to claim complete control over the Empire. In this process Many people are killed and imprisoned. However, The Persians were still unsatisfied and enter the Church of Holy Sepulcher and take the Holy Cross displayed in the Church. After 14 long years, In 628 A. D., the Byzantine army led by the King Herakles finally recoups its power and successfully fights against the Persians to return the Holy Cross to its rightful place. The Armenian army regiment, led by Mzhezh Gnounie, supported the army and with The Lord’s help the Byzantine army wins the battle. The Holy Cross is solemnly brought to the Armenian town Karin, from where it is carried to Constantinople, and then – to Jerusalem. On the way the Holy Cross was raised for the people to see and worship. The Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak (Varaka Khach) According to tradition, in 327 AD Saint Helena arrives in Jerusalem with the aim to locate the Holy Cross of The Lord. On the Sunday nearest to September 28th (always two Shortly after, A Jewish man named Judas, helps the Empress weeks after the Exaltation) The Armenian Church celebrates to search the site where Christ was crucified in Golgotha. the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak (Varaka Khach) After digging the site together, the wooden crosses of Christ commemorating the third century placement of an authentic and the two criminals crucified with him were found.