ê. ¶ñÇ·áñ Èáõë³õáñÇã гÛó. ²é³ù»É³Ï³Ý ºÏ»Õ»óÇ ²ñÅÝ. î. Ø»ëñáå øÑÝÛ. Úáíë¿÷»³Ý St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church Rev. Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan, pastor 1131 North Street, White Plains, NY 10605 / Office: (914) 428-2595 Pastor: (804) 405-9399 Email: Der Mesrob - [email protected], Office - [email protected] Web: www.stgregorywp.com Office Hours: Monday closed, Tuesday-Friday 9:30-3:00 pm

Յունիս 18, 2017 June 18, 2017

Welcome to St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church! “Legacy of Our Martyrs: A Gift to Carry Forward” The Morning Service starts at 9:45 a.m. on Sundays and is followed by Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy) at 10:15 a.m. Parish Council Members on Duty: Fram Cehreci, Greg Sahagian, Talene Dadian White Today’s Scripture Readings: Hebrews 9:1-10. John 10:22-30

FEAST OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN ՏՕՆ ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿԵ ՍԲ. ԷՋՄԻԱԾՆԻ

Requiem Service was requested for the souls of:

Alice Sakalian (40th day) By: Avedis Sakalian and family

Elise Derebegian, Khosrov Derebegian, Maryam Sevulyan, Istepan Sevulyan, Araksi Artuc By: The Sevulyan & Cehreci Families

May God rest their souls in His eternal peace and presence and grant their loved ones the comfort of the Holy Spirit. FEAST OF THE CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN One of the most celebrated feasts of the Armenian Church is the day when the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was established, according to the inspired vision of St. . According to tradition, and hagiographic sources, following the declara- tion of as the Official Religion of in 301 AD, St. Gregory has a famous vision, wherein the Only Begotten Son of God – Jesus Christ, descends from Heaven, his face lit aglow, and with the strike of a golden hammer designates the site where the Mother Cathe- dral for the entire Armenian nation is to be founded. Hence, the name of the spiritual center for the Armenians, “Etchmiadzin”, means “the De- scent of the Only Begotten” (Etch - descent, mi - only, dzin - begotten.) St. Gregory relayed the story about his vision to the Armenian King Tiri- dates, under whose royal auspices and support the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was built. King Tiridates and Queen Ashkhen participated in the construction, as did the entire capital city of Vagharshapat by bringing stones from the biblical mountain of Ararat to lay the founda- tions. In the site marked by Christ, a Holy Altar of Descent was built. According of Patriarch Malachia Ormanian, from the days of her estab- lishment, the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin has been the residence of the Supreme Patriarch and of All Armenians. Thus, it is the Mother See of the Armenian Church, and as such, her universal, spiritual and administrative headquarters. Another title bestowed upon the cathedral is “Catholic” - not to be con- fused with the Roman Catholic faith. Catholic is a Greek word meaning “Universal”. Theologically, the cathedral has been called “catholic” as a description of the catholicity (universality) of the Church. The feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is celebrated 64 days fol- lowing Easter. A Divine Liturgy is celebrated, and during services, a special hymn is sung, written by the eighth century Catholicos Sahak of Dzorap, telling of St. Gregory’s vision and the Cathedral’s construction.

ՏՕՆ ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿԵ ՍԲ. ԷՋՄԻԱԾՆԻ Հայոց եկեղեցու մեծ տոներից է Սբ. Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի տեսիլքով Կաթողիկե Սբ. Էջմիածնի հիմնադրման տոնը: Ըստ ավանդության՝ Խոր Վիրապի բանտարկությունից դուրս գալուց հետո Սբ. Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչը տեսնում է նշանավոր տեսիլքը, ուր Միածինը, ողողված հրաշափառ լույսով, իջնում է երկնքից եւ ոսկե ուռով զարկում Սանդարամետի գետնափոր մեհյանը` ցույց տալով այն տեղը, ուր պետք է կառուցվեր հայոց սուրբ հավատի տաճարը: Այստեղից էլ առաջացել է «Էջմիածինե անունը, այսինքն` էջ՝ (գրաբար) իջավ Միածինը: Սբ. Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչն իր տեսիլքը պատմում է հայոց Տրդատ թագավորին: Արքայի հովանավորությամբ կառուցվում է Սբ. Էջմիածնի Աստվածածնին նվիրված Կաթողիկե Մայր Տաճարը: Քրիստոսի իջման տեղում էլ կառուցվում է Իջման Սբ. Սեղանը: Էջմիածնի կառուցման աշխատանքներին ժողովրդի հետ մասնակցել են նաեւ Տրդատ թագավորը եւ Աշխեն թագուհին: Ըստ Մաղաքիա պատրիարք Օրմանյանի Ծիսական բառարանի՝ «կաթողիկեե նշանակում է աթոռանիստ մայր եկեղեցի, եւ այս անունը հատուկ տրվել է Էջմիածնի Մայր տաճարին: Սակայն մեկ այլ իմաստով կաթողիկե են անվանել գմբեթ ունեցող բոլոր եկեղեցիներն ընդհանրապես, իսկ աստվածաբանության մեջ այդ անվանումը համարվում է եկեղեցու ընդհանրականության խորհրդապատկերը: Այս երեք իմաստներն էլ համապատասխանում են Էջմիածնի Մայր Տաճարին, քանի որ այն աթոռանիստ եկեղեցի է, գմբեթավոր եւ ընդհանրական է բոլոր հավատացյալների համար: Կաթողիկե Սբ. Էջմիածնի տոնը նշվում է Սբ. Զատիկից 64 օր հետո կամ Հոգեգալստյան կիրակիին հաջորդող երկրորդ կիրակին: Տոնի օրը մատուցվում է Սբ. Պատարագ, իսկ ժամերգությունների ընթացքում այլ շարականների հետ երգվում է նաեւ նշանավոր «Էջ Միածինն ի Հօրէե շարականը, որը գրել է 8-րդ դարի կաթողիկոս Սահակ Ձորափորեցին: Շարականը Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի տեսիլքի եւ տաճարի կառուցման մասին է: TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING The reading is from the Letter of Hebrews 9:1-10 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lamp- stand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regu- larly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never with- out blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the pre- sent time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regula- tions applying until the time of the new order. THANK YOU On behalf of the Diocese of the Armenian Church, the Women's Guild Cen- tral Council and the St. Gregory Women's Guild, a warm "thank you" is ex- tended to all those who graciously & generously donated funds to support the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) by contributing to the "2nd plate collection" last week (June 8). The response was amaz- ing! The funds collected will support several orphaned children living in Armenia, as well as assist with their Kindergarten Meal plan, for a full year. If you missed the collection, but would like to contribute, kindly make check payable to: Women's Guild/St. Gregory (memo: CASP) and submit to Church office (ATTN: WG for CASP). Heartfelt thanks & God's blessings to all.

“MER DOON” SUMMER PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN 3 - 8 This program is designed for children ages 3-8 to take place at our school from Monday to Friday, June 26 – 30, 2017. Daily sessions begin at 9:00AM and conclude at 12 Noon. Children will learn Armenian songs, dance, key words and simple useful sentences, Armenian prayers and elementary Armenian cultural facts. Ex- perienced teachers constitute the staff. Sessions are held in safe environment with the loving care of the teachers. We need to know by April 25 your wish to register your child/ren. The nominal tuition of $100 per child will be charged with registration. Checks should be made to: ST. GREGORY ARMENIAN CHURCH, Memo: “Mer Doon”.

Today, please take a moment to remember in your prayers Arshaluys Kaleli, Gale Perzigian, Girair Poladian, Estella Garkavi, Adrienne Dodakian

as well as all the sick and recovering members of our community. May God touch His faithful servants with His healing hand, and grant them good health & recovery.

Please inform Der Hayr if you have friends or family who are suffering any physical or spiritual distress and are in need of prayer, and he will add them to his prayer list where they will be remembered before “the Holy and Immortal Lamb of God” during the Eucharist. We all need prayer – both to say for others and to be said for us. Khorenian Divine Liturgy 2 CD Set The Khorenian Badarak is an en- tirely original Divine Liturgy commissioned by the late Catholi- cos of All Armenians, His Holi- ness Vasken I, and composed by Maestro Khoren Mekanejian in the early 1980s. A masterpiece of sound and devotion, it has been performed all over the world, but no professional recording had been made until now. The present recording was completed in October 2016, with the par- ticipation of the choir of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yer- evan, Armenia. The two-disc album comes complete with an informa- tional booklet in an attractive plastic case. The price is $30. Please contact Anoush Givelekian at: (203)321-8642 or email: nuy- [email protected] to purchase. St. Gregory Church Choir will receive 30% of each sale.

Let us on this day remember in our prayers all Fathers, Grandfathers, Godfa- thers, and Reverend Fathers, asking God to give them the strength to meet their responsibilities and the challenges of each day with the help of our Lord’s merciful love and guidance. As we read in the Bible, “keep your father’s commandment and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.” (Proverbs 6:20-22). Farewell to Dn. Narek Garabedian & Nune Chukhajyan This Sunday will be Dn. Narek’s last Sunday in NY, as he and his wife, Nune, will be moving to a parish in Chicago, IL to continue on the next step of his pastoral ministry. He is ap- pointed to serve as the deacon-in-charge of St. Gregory the Illu- minator Armenian Church of Chicago, IL. Dn. Narek has graduated from St. Nersess Seminary last year and has been involved with our parish on various occasions. Nune Chukhajyan was one of our Armenian School teachers for the past 4 years teaching Pre-K grade. We wish Dn. Narek and Nune much happiness and success as they embark their new assignment. End of Season Sale at the White House Thrift Shoppe The Thrift Shoppe will close on June 29th and re-open in September.

Home Blessing /Dnorhnek/ is a beautiful tradition of the Ar- menian Church which is performed on several occasions: namely after the feasts of Holy Nativity and Holy Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as on the occasion of moving to a new home. Today, more than ever, we need the presence and blessing of the Lord in our homes and lives. The revival of this centuries old custom will certainly bring us close to our Lord. Schedule your Home Blessing with Der Hayr: direct (804) 405-9399, church office (914) 428-2595, email: [email protected]. Divine Liturgy. Special prayer service on the feast of Today Holy Etchmiadzin will be conducted at the end of the service. ACYOA Juniors Meeting and Night-out June 23, All juniors are invited to join. Friday Meeting - 5:00 pm, BBQ and Games - 6:00pm.

MER DOON Summer Camp June 26 - 30 The details are inside.

“They Shall Not Perish: June 28, The Story of Near East Relief” Wednesday Documentary screening at the Jacob Burns Film Center The details are inside.

St. Gregory Men's Club Grill Night - 7 PM June 29, RSVP: [email protected] Thursday or call: 914 707 2152

July 23, Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Sunday (Vartavar)

St. Gregory Women’s Guild July 30, Sunday ALL AMERICAN BBQ Details to follow.

September 17, FAMILY “FALL FAIR” & ARMENIAN PICNIC Sunday Details to follow.

Presentation by Adrienne G. Alexanian Speaking on her newly-edited book October 22, of her father’s memoirs, Sunday “Forced into Genocide: Memoirs of an Armenian Soldier in the Ottoman Turkish Army” - 1:00 PM