Pastor’s Points of Light: Confidence in In This Issue what we Hope for and Assurance Pastors Corner………………….…………………………………… .…….. 1 Index……………………….…………………………..……………………... 1 about what we do not see. Publication Information…………………………………………….……… 1 Have you ever been asked about your The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin……………………………………. 2 faith? How do you answer such a Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church ….……………..….…….…. 3 question? Do you confess an Orthodox Parish Council Corner………..…...………………………………………. 4 Additional Talent Show Photos………………………………………….. 4 Christian response, do you get into Request A Service ……………………………………….…..……………. 5 explanations of your spiritual journey or Organizations……………………………………………………………….. 6 do you rationalize your ideas about religion based on The Cultural Committee…………………………………………………… 6 feelings of nostalgia or on the basis of heritage— Junior Choir…………………………………………………………………. 6 (Armenians are Christians)? Arts Education Program…………………………………………………... 6 Nazeli Dance Group………………………………………………………... 6 Let’s look at how faith is described and what the word ACYOA……………………………………………………………………….. 6 itself means. According to the dictionary, faith is understood Womens Guild………………………………………………………………. 6 as either complete trust or confidence in someone or Sunday School……………………………………………………………… 6 something or a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a Picnic Committee…………………………………………………………... 6 religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. Church Choir………………………………………………………………... 6 A Tribute Concert…………………………………………………………... 7 Nowhere in the word does it depend on who or what Celebration Concert……………………………………………………….. 7 your understanding of God is. Any talk of spirituality, Junior Choir Performed…………………………………………………… 7 nostalgia, our parents’ practices or heritage have anything to Save the Date……………………………………………………………….. 7 do with Jesus Christ. Any exchange or alternative to true Hye Mrstoom in Watertown………………………………………………. 8 faith, hope in Christ alone is false religion and is an Flag Raising Ceremonies…………………………………………………. 8 exchange of truth for lies. (Romans 1:25) First Man Elected to AIWA Board……………………………………….. 8 Delegates With Newly Elected Primate………………………………… 8 True faith must necessarily begin and end with the Book Presentation…………………………………………………………. 8 person and work of Jesus Christ. The biblical explanation of Sunday School Graduation………………………………………………. 9 “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance Armenian School…………………………………………………………… 11 about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) How could Talent Show…………………………………………………………………. 12 anyone put faith in something that they were not completely Sports Night.………………………………………………………………… 13 committed or dependent on? How could you hope in Sunday School Graduation………………………………………………. 13 Martyrs Day 2018…………………………………………………………... 14 something that wasn’t completely sure? If a person did place Church Picnic………………………………………………………………. 15 any trust in that which was not worthy they would be a fool My youth pilgrimage to Jerusalem……………………………………… 15 and their faith would be in vain. Anyone who was Picnic Sponsorship Opportunities……………………………………… 16 reasonable would understand this and would not place their Coffee Fellowship Hour…………………………………………………… 16 trust on something that was unreliable. Even the faith as Food Drive…………………………………………………………………… 17 Father Shnork's Mission Statement……………………………………. 17 small as a mustard seed, if it is placed in Christ, is world Hokehankist/Memorial/Requiem………………………………………… 17 without end, greater and more immeasurably grand than a Weekly Sunday Fellowship………………………………………………. 17 faith placed in that which has no quality, undeserving of the Remember the Church in your Will…………………………………….. 17 trust we place in it (false religions, new age philosophies, Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals ………………………………………….. 17 any other spirituality from which Christ is absent) Membership / Stewardship……………………………………………….. 18 Newsletter Committee………………………………………………..……. 19 (Continued on page 5, Pastor) Advertise in the Paros………………………………………………..…… 19 Administrative Information………………………………………….….... 19 The PC would like to start printing the Paros in color and better quality. The PC is looking for a donor/donors Calendar of Events………………………………………….…………....... 20 “Paros” to handle the costs associated. The total upfront cost is Issued June 30th, 2018 roughly $9000 and the remaining service contract is Published 4 times a year Issue 18-02 – FREE – Print Edition another $8500. If interested please contact the Church. Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church 70 Jefferson St, Providence, RI 02908-4923 The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Catholicos of All Armenians Confirms Election of Father Daniel Findikyan as New Primate the clergy approached him to kiss his hand and receive his blessing. Officially representing Catholicos Karekin II at the ceremony was Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, visiting the Eastern Diocese from Holy Etchmiadzin. He read aloud the letter of the Catholicos of All Armenians, and offered some gracious words of congratulations to the Diocese, its new Primate, and Archbishop Barsamian. hoOn Tuesday, May 8, 2018, His Holiness Karekin II, the As outgoing Primate, Archbishop Barsamian spoke Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, gratefully about his years of service, and expressed warm confirmed the election of the Very Reverend Fr. Daniel optimism for the ministry of his successor. “With his Findikyan as the new Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the intelligence, his spirituality, and his skill at communication, Armenian Church of America. Father Daniel will speak to and help broaden our appeal to the Father Findikyan was elected as Primate on May 4, by the younger generation, and draw all our people more deeply into delegates to the 116th Diocesan Assembly. The gathering of the life of the church,”. representative from all the local parishes of the Eastern He revealed that the silver-headed walking stick, or “asa,” Diocese met May 3-5 in Westchester County, NY. had originally belonged to the late Catholicos Karekin He succeeds Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, who had Hovsepian, who prior to becoming Catholicos of the Great announced he would conclude his term as Primate after House of Cilicia served as Diocesan Primate, from 1939-1944. holding the office for 28 years, seven terms of office, making Archbishop Barsamian addressed the new Primate as a worthy him the longest-serving Primate of the Eastern Diocese. recipient of the late Catholicos Karekin Hovsepian’s staff. The letter from Catholicos Karekin II, dated May 8 and In his remarks, Father Daniel Findikyan addressed the addressing Father Findikyan for the first time as Primate, read gathering in Armenian, recalling the honored names of the in part: “With this letter we approve your election as Primate, previous primates of the Diocese. He thanked Archbishop and with prayers to God we ask that the Lord will support Barsamian and Archbishop Hovhannisian, and expressed your zealous service, so that the lofty responsibility entrusted brotherly affection for all the clergy. to you may be productive, strengthening the national and He continued: “It’s an almost unimaginable honor for me spiritual life of the Eastern Diocese, and bringing brightness to stand before you as Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the upon our Apostolic Holy Church.” Armenian Church of America.” He said that he has taken up His Holiness’ official confirmation of the election result the role with some trepidation, but mostly with hope and joy, paved the way for authority to be formally transferred from adding that it was deeply humbling to receive the staff Archbishop Barsamian to Father Findikyan. previously held by some of the greatest Armenian churchmen This was accomplished via a short enthronement ceremony of the 20th and 21st centuries. in Saint Vartan Cathedral on the afternoon of May 8. About a Addressing the broad body of clergy and faithful dozen clergymen, including two of episcopal rank, took part in throughout the Diocese, he said: “I take great strength from the service, which went forward before a group of Diocesan the thought that by your faith and strength, the Lord will guide staff members and guests from the surrounding locale. us all.” In the course of a procession of priests and deacons before With the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the the cathedral altar, Archbishop Barsamian transferred the Very Rev. Father Daniel Findkyan now goes forward as the Primate’s sign of office—a ceremonial walking stick known 12th Primate of the Diocese. What follows is the text of His as the “asa”—into the hand of Father Findikyan. The new Holiness Karekin II’s letter of confirmation, in English Primate thereupon took his place on the Primate’s throne, as translation. April/May/June 2018 2 “Paros” Saints Sahag and Mesrob A Message From The Primate “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling Dear Faithful: the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) My blessings and warm good wishes to you all. With blessings, I am writing to you about some Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians troubling news from Armenia in the last few days, regarding a small, Archbishop He Will Not Seek Another Term vocal group of protestors—clergy April 27, 2018 and lay people—agitating for the resignation of the Catholicos of All His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian announced Armenians. this week that he would not seek an 8th term as Primate of the In our