Armenian Church News NOVEMBER 6, 2020 Volume 6, Issue 34 Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland A Call for Prayer and Fasting: For the Peace of our Homeland “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” ( 2 Ezra 8:23) Dear Faithful, Joining the Armenian spiritual leaders of Europe, we call all faithful of our Diocese to dedicate the 6th of November to fasting by praying every hour of the day with these words: “Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, We rely on your mighty power, We cry out to you in prayers and ask: Stop the war in our homeland, Block the aggression of the enemy, Bring love and justice to the Armenian land, Sustain us in faith, hope, and love. Amen. In the evening of November the 6th at 6 pm, we call all faithful to join the leaders of our Church in Europe for prayer service. The service will be broadcasted live . We encourage you to join the service with the words of St. Gregory of Narek. The Fasting will end at the conclusion of the service. Fasting is based on Scripture and is a widespread Christian practice. It is a means to achieve the higher virtues of Christian life: justice, compassion, peace, and mutual up-building. Fasting is about making room for God and our neighbours by abstaining from our luxuries. It is always accompanied by prayer. Fasting helps us to simplify our lives, to find the courage to put aside everything non-essential and appeal to the only source of peace and healing, our Lord Jesus Christ. The service will take place at St. Sarkis Church and will be broadcast life on https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSCPLondon/. The Cross of Iron King Ashot By the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, the Cross of King Ashot (Երկաթ) has been sent to the frontline as blessing and protection for the brave Armenian soldiers. The cross is divinely significant as it contains one of the fragments of the True Cross of Jesus Christ. With it the Primate of Artsakh, Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan blessed the four sides of the world and prayed for the Armenian Army to achieve enduring peace and victory. Please click here to read more: Two young clergymen offered their lives for the Homeland. On October 29th, two courageous and dedicated deacons, Dn. Narek Petrosyan and Dn Rustam Poghosyan lost their lives in an attack by Azerbaijan. They were two men who selflessly defended the borders of their motherland with other brave soldiers and whose efforts will be undoubtedly remembered eternally. Please click here read and watch. Help Armenia & Artsakh Fundraising Campaign His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan met with the Clergy and chairs/vice-chairs of parishes and mission parishes here in the UK and Ireland. His Grace was pleased to inform the meeting that the Humanitarian and Medical fund raising initiative, in support of current crises in Armenia and Artsakh, undertaken by the Armenian Church Trust UK in coordination with ACYO, the Armenian Medical Association, Friends of Etchmiadzin Charity and Barnabas Funds has received, in total, the sum of £96,260.74. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the donors. Click here to read more. Artsakh: It is time for actions As Heroic soldiers battle on the frontlines, Diaspora and British Armenian community continues its protests demanding justice, end of hostilities and respect for human rights of the Armenians in Artsakh Republic, Nagorno Karabakh. In coming together as a community, we are hoping to demonstrate the need for the international community to act and condemn Azerbaijan and Turkey’s aggression. In particular, Manchester Armenian community organised a protest outside BBC against biased pro- Azeri propaganda on October 31st. It was a peaceful protest of hundreds of mainly young Armenians in support of Armenians in Artsakh. Led by Tatevik Bagratyan, the Armenian flags were waved high in the air as protestors chanted and held posters displaying the names of 1100 Martyrs and Heroes to appeal to the public and at the end, prayers were conducted by Deacon Artur Bobikyan. Please click here to watch. Armenian Flags Fly at Westminster On 4th November 2020, the last day before the second nationwide lockdown, the Armenian community in Great Britain held a peaceful demonstration at Parliament square to rally against the UK Parliament’s and British government’s passive attitude vis-à-vis the raging war against the Armenian population of Artsakh. Frustration among British Armenians has been growing for weeks, as the mainstream media - BBC, ITV, Channel 4 News and Sky News - cover less and less the escalating warfare ravaging Artsakh and the daily loss of life among civilian population. Please click here to read more: Statement of the Supreme Spiritual Council Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services, 29 October, 2020 The Supreme Spiritual Council, presided by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; has issued the following statement. STATEMENT OF SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL It has already been a month that the Republic of Artsakh has been withstanding large-scale attacks unleashed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with the open support of Turkey. Turkey has provided both international mercenary terrorists and special forces of the Turkish Army, as well as a large amount of the latest weapons. The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan, using its entire armory including internationally banned weapons, targets the civilian settlements of Artsakh and its numerous health, educational, cultural, and religious buildings, including the maternity hospital of Stepanakert; demonstrating unprecedented behavior, even from the perspective of terrorist groups. We have hundreds of wounded and martyred soldiers in the sacred struggle for the defense of the homeland; and the shelling of the settlements has resulted in many injured and victims among the civilian population. For these atrocities against the people of Artsakh, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev; as well as the other directly involved military-political figures who are supporting this violence; must be brought to the International Courts of Justice and be held liable as the organizers of crimes against humanity. The Supreme Spiritual Council calls on the international community, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs; remaining loyal to the principles of a peaceful settlement to the conflict; to take more practical, effective and decisive measures for stopping the bloodshed; re-establishing peace in the region; as well as, for supporting the self-determination of the Armenians of Artsakh; and for the just recognition of the people's right to life. Azerbaijan's policy of resolving the matter of Artsakh through military operations and annihilating the Armenians of Artsakh once again proves the fact that there can be no guarantee of security for Artsakh as a part of Azerbaijan. The Supreme Spiritual Council greatly appreciates the consistent efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries for the establishment and maintenance of the humanitarian ceasefire; which was openly violated by Azerbaijan for the third time. We are full of hope that the Minsk Group Co-Chairs will find ways to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and prevent innocent human lives from being sacrificed for geopolitical interests. Today, Artsakh needs humanitarian assistance from all over the world. We pray that the Lord Bless Armenia and Artsakh – our Homeland, keep our nation strong and united with faith and hope under His powerful Right Hand, and strengthen the might of our Homeland defenders. May the Merciful God keep the whole world in peace; free from disasters, pain and the sorrows of war. Artsakh and Armenia, NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER ADVOCACY: Please see the new campaign launched asking your MP to sign the EDM 1007 which condemns the shelling of Shooshi Cathedral. Please click the link. DONATIONS: Please make your cheques payable to: Armenian Church Trust UK and post it to: Bishop’s House, 27 Haven Green, London W5 2NZ or bank transfer: ACT UK, Acc No:20573160, Sort Code: 30-94-65. Remember both Armenia and Artsakh “now more than ever”, are in desperate need of your support, so please make your Donations now, today, directly to, www.himnadram.org or to Hayastan All Armenian Charitable Trust GB Account Number: 00541896 Sort Code: 30-94-65. Alternatively, hand in your cheques made payable to Hayastan All Armenian Charitable Trust GB, to Parish Council members at the Church. Note: If you are UK Taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid form This will allow the Trust to claim 25pence for every Pound you donate, from the Taxman, at no extra cost to you. PRAYER: Lord God, your own Son was delivered into the hands of the wicked, yet he prayed for his persecutors and overcame hatred with the blood of the Cross. Relive the sufferings of the innocent victims of war; grant them peace of mind, healing of body, and a renewed faith in your protection and care. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Scripture of the Week Prayer of the Week Upcoming Saints & Feasts Lord Jesus, please keep watch over 7 November: Holy Archangels Is 24:1-12 your faithful people and the holy soil Gabriel and Michael Eph 5:15-33 of Arstakh and Armenia, now and Lk 8:49-56 always. 9 November: Sts. Meletus of Antioch and Minas of Egypt * * * Grant them strength and lead them through this time of trial to a 10 November: St. Demetrius victorious and just peace. Amen. * * * CHILDRENS CLUB Please take the opportunity to join the Children's group next week, Saturday 14th November at 3 -4 pm via Zoom application: https://us02web.zoom.us/join using the following log in details: Meeting ID: 862 3858 5467, Password: 922533 UPCOMING EVENTS We organize a variety of events throughout the week, please follow us on Facebook @ArmenianChurchoftheUKandIreland or @ACYOlondon, on Twitter @ar_churchuk and subscribe via email to receive our weekly newsletter, to find out about what is happening in the Armenian Church in the upcoming weeks.