Volume 2, Issue 10 Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland 19 March 2016 Armenian Church News In Memoriam: Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian Lord as a young man, inspired by the examples of holiness he saw among such great figures as Catholicos Karekin Hovsepiants, Patriarch Shnork Kaloustian, and Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. In turn, Yeghishe Srpazan became an example of holiness to In this issue: subsequent generations, through his faithful, humble, loving In Memoriam: Archbishop service to God. His preaching Yeghishe Gizirian conveyed authority; yet his Armenian Street Festival With profound sorrow, we would personal example was one of Planning Committee like to inform you that today the humility and quiet grace. He was Palm Sunday and Holy Week Primate has received a letter from a leader of great inner strength and conviction; yet his greatest His Holiness KAREKIN II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All strength was the tender compas- Armenians about the passing away sion he showed to all—a quality of His Eminence Archbishop that made him beloved wherever Yeghishe Gizirian, the former he served. In Yeghishe Srpazan, Primate of our Diocese (1982- one perceived those remarkable 2000). Archbishop Gizirian (1925- qualities exemplified by our Lord’s earliest followers: the 2016) passed away in New York on March 18th at the age 90. The late apostles who illuminated the Archbishop was living and serving world, including our homeland, Diocese of the Armenian with the Light of Christ’’. Church of the United at the Eastern Diocese of Armenian Kingdom and the Republic Church in the USA after his of Ireland retirement from our Diocese. Archbishop Gizirian will remain His Grace Bishop Hovakim in our prayers. Manukyan, Primate As it is written in the press release Diocesan Office of the Eastern Diocese: “His During the burial service of the Tel. 0208 127 8364 late Archbishop there will be primatesoffice@ Eminence Archbishop Gizirian was armenianchurch.co.uk one of the senior Bishops of the prayer service (Հոգեհանգիստ) Armenian Church. Archbishop at St. Sarkis Church in London Gizirian answered the call of our March 23rd, at 6:30 pm. Page 2 Armenian Church News A special in memoriam event for the late Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian will be at St. Yeghiche Church on 15th May. This event will celebrate the legacy of our late Primate in the presence of the representatives other Churches. Details regarding Archbishop Gizirian’s final anointing and interment are as follows: Visiting hours will be held at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City on Tuesday, March 22, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The dahn gark (wake) service will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Final Anointing and Burial service will take place on Wednesday, March 23, also at St. Vartan Cathedral (630 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y.); the Divine Liturgy will begin at 11:00 a.m. Clergy who would like to take part should contact the dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian. Interment will be at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, N.Y., after which there will be ahokejash at the nearby St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church (1131 North Street, White Plains, N.Y.). In-lieu-of-flowers donations may be made to St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, or to the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (70 Main Street, Emerson, N.J.). For more details, please, visit the website of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in the USA. Armenian Street Festival The Planning Committee of the Armenian Street Festival commenced its work having the first meeting on Thursday evening, 17th March, in the Gulbenkian Hall. The 6th Armenian Street Festival will take place on Sunday, 17th July, 2016. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has granted permission to hold the event in the whole square of the Iverna Gardens. Ecumenical guests and other dignitaries are expected to attend the event. The Festival’s programme will include a traditional Armenian Church Procession with hierarchs and guest clergy, and special entertainment with traditional Armenian folk music and dancing. Armenian and Middle Eastern Foods will be served. There will be a special program for children. Ecumenical organisations and representatives of sister Churches will have stalls offered along with Armenian organisations. There will be surprises on the day. Volunteers are always welcome and needed for the ASF and those who are interested please contact the Primate’s Office for further information. Page 3 Armenian Church News Spirituality Palm Sunday and Holy Week Celebrations On 20th March, at 11:00am in the Armenian Churches of London and in Manchester there will be Divine Liturgies celebrating Palm Sunday (Ծաղկազարդ). Palm Sunday marks Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. When Jesus entered Jerusalem “they took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13). Palm Sunday is referred to as Advent, in reference to Christ's coming as the Messiah to Jerusalem and to His Passion. For that reason, it is connected with Christ's Second or Final Coming, and is celebrated in the Armenian Church in the evening with the special "Opening of the Doors" (Դռնբացէք) ritual; a foreshadowing of the Second Coming of Christ, the End of Days and the Last Judgment. On Palm Sunday in the Armenian Churches there is also a special service of blessing of the children. The Lord Jesus Christ said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10.13-16). Both rites will be celebrated immediately after the Divine Liturgy. Page 4 Armenian Church News Holy Week Celebrations The week following Palm Sunday is known as Holy Week and each day of that week, Monday to Saturday, is called ‘Holy’ because each day of this week symbolises events that took place after our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem. The events end with the celebration of the glorious Resurrection. The readings from the Holy Gospels describe that period from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem until the fulfilment of the divine plan of salvation. The lections from the Old Testament read during this period and the hymns remind us of the need for salvation. During this week, as during Great Lent, the faithful are invited to continue their fasting and ardent prayers. Holy Monday is in remembrance of Creation day, cursing the fig tree and cleansing of the Temple of Jerusalem. It reminds us to preserve and care for our creation. Holy Tuesday is in remembrance day of the 10 wise virgins. As wise virgins we have to be attentive and have to keep the torches of faith lit as we do not know when the groom will come at the end of times. Holy Wednesday symbolises the anointing of Jesus and betrayal by Judas. It was on this day that a women anointed Jesus with expensive oil at Simeon the Lepers’ house in Bethania, predicting Jesus’ death. It was here when Judas made his decision to betray Jesus. Holy Thursday symbolises the Last Supper and the establishment of the Page 5 Armenian Church News sacrament of Eucharist or Holy Communion. The faithful prepare themselves through penance and by receiving absolution and receive Holy Communion. Washing of the Feet- (Ոտնլվա). On Holy Thursday the ritual of the washing of the feet is celebrated in the Churches. The ritual is based on the accounts of the Gospel of John (13:1-17). The washing of feet was a gesture of hospitality normally performed by a household slave, not the presiding host. Jesus thus shows himself a model of humility (1 Tim 5:10) and, at the same time, gives a preview of the historic service he will render when he accepts the humiliation of the cross (Mk 10:45, Phil 2:5-8). The ritual is practiced in every Church. In the Armenian Church originally it was practiced in more simple fashion. The priest would wash and bless with oil the feet of all the faithful in the vestibule (narthex) of the church. Later, this ritual became more elaborate enriched with special hymns and is performed on the altar. Though there is not a fixed number, the clergymen usually wash the feet of 12 people. Holy Friday It symbolises Jesus’s Betrayal, Crucifixion and Burial. During the services the Gospel readings describe the last hours of Jesus’s earthly life; betrayal, arrest, denial of Peter, trial of Pontus Pilate, the decision of death, sufferings, agony, crucifixion on Golgotha, eclipse, death and burial. No liturgy is celebrated on Page 6 Armenian Church News Holy Friday. The services are divided into three parts. To remember these events, the Church has services on Thursday evening, Friday afternoon and Friday evening. The Evening Service (Խավարման գիշեր) is performed in remembrance of Christ's betrayal and suffering. It is called Passion Evening. Jesus was arrested by the Temple guards of the Sanhedrin in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately after the kiss of Judas, which is traditionally said to have been an act of betrayal. The arrest led immediately to his trial before the Sanhedrin, during which they condemned him to death. The Burial Service symbolises the burial of Jesus Christ. It is conducted on Friday evening. It can also be considered as the Rite of the Descent from the Cross. The Trisagion (Սուրբ Աստված) is sung on bended knees and is traditionally dedicated to Joseph of Arimathea, who, according to tradition, sang it as Christ's body was taken down from the Cross.