This Saturday, January 14, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Birth of St. John the Forerunner (also known as St. John the Baptist). John is an important figure in the New Testament and is mentioned prominently in all four Gospels, which indicates that he had an effective ministry baptizing those who repented their sins. He announced the coming of “one greater” than himself who is “to come baptizing not with water but with the Spirit.” (See Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16-17; John 1:26-27). According to the account in the Gospel of Luke, John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary. John is considered to be the last of the Old Testament prophets and then precursor of the Messiah. John is one of the two prime intercessors to Jesus Christ, the other being Mary, the mother of the Lord.
Posted in Saints | Tagged Elizabeth, ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER, Zechariah |
THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, January 6, 2012
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does
not have the Son of God does not have life.”
1 John 5:12
Dear faithful sons and daughters in the Homeland and the Diaspora,
Today before our souls and minds is that life-giving “great and wondrous” mystery which shone out over the heavens and the earth, when the bright star stood still over the cave in Bethlehem and the angels proclaimed the glad tidings of the Holy Birth of the Savior Son of God, saying, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11. The gospels tell us how the wise Magi who had travelled from afar and shepherds nearby, hurried toward the manger and bowed down before the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and welcomed the arrival of the Savior to the world.
On the feast of the marvelous mystery of the Holy Nativity, we are all pilgrims to Bethlehem, either by visiting the Holy Land or by making our souls Bethlehem, to bow down before the infant Jesus with the wisdom and strength granted to us by faith, to recognize Him and accept Him as the Only Begotten Son of God and the way to eternal life. As the apostle writes, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Today in the “Bethlehem of the Armenians” – this holy sanctuary where the Only Begotten Son of God descended – and in all of our churches established through its light, we, dear ones, and all children of our nation, joyfully praise the birth of the Savior who came to earth for us, and confess: You are our Lord. You are our Savior. You are the source of life and the path to eternity. This confession has illuminated and continues to illuminate the path of humanity. Through Christ, God’s love was revealed to mankind; the Son of God came into the world to eliminate sin, dissipate the darkness of death, and to lead humanity to its Creator – to accept everlasting life. Through Christ, divine love is dispersed throughout the world entire – over man and nature – to always renew and fill it with life and joy. However a way of life opposed to the divine will turns life into a focus of problems and challenges. Let us look at the modern world. It is burdened with manifold difficulties, deprivations, contradictions and conflicts. The rejection of Christ and His commandments gives birth to wars and tragedies, harms our planet, becomes the cause of a weakening soul and spirituality, as well as the violent interruption of God-granted life – murder and suicide. The universal crisis of our day, which is explained through political, economic and material causes, is also fundamentally a result of the alienation and straying from the luminous path that leads toward God, the rejection of the gifts of heavenly love by sinful ways. Christ is life and in keeping his commandments, God’s love, truth, holiness, justice and mercy are implemented in this world, leading it towards the good and perfect, the full life that was our Lord’s earthly life, which was faith and love for the heavenly Father and blessing for mankind.
Dear and pious faithful, faith and love are those unshakeable foundations, through steadfast reliance upon which shall the life of our country and people become stronger and be filled with joy and delight. The fruits of faith and love are the good works of honesty, righteousness, sympathy, support and assistance to one another, which shall always accompany us so long as our path does not divert from Christ’s luminous path. In our days, as well as in our lives, alongside the works built by faith and many God-pleasing enterprises, unfortunately we see God-denying processes, behavior incompatible with the Christian character of our people, distortion of our cherished national values, as well as ignoring the spiritual in favor of overvaluing material possessions and money – such that they become the main objective rather than a means of organizing a good and fair life. Truly, manifestations such as these empty life of the life-sustaining presence of Christ, denying it of that spiritual joy, empathy, philanthropy, noble and lofty emotions, and God-granted salvation. Christ warns of that destructive path, saying, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36. Dear ones, we shall renew our lives today through the true example of love shown by our Lord; our lives that are not yet free from needs and difficulties, from major external and internal issues that impede the progress and prosperity of our country and people. The challenges and demands of our present lives cannot undermine our will to overcome the obstacles and barriers and, supporting one another, to serve the strengthening of our land, the progress of our nation and the building of a bright future. The advancement of our life will open bright new horizons before us, if we unite our national efforts and commit ourselves to work to bring goodness to society, with the aspirations of serving the nation and the Homeland, combining the abiding of the law with love, justice with clemency, wealth with mercy, power with assistance, and ability with service, because we accept and profess the life-granting Son. Today, with the example of the Magi and the shepherds, let us bow down before Christ, accept the Lord within the mangers of our hearts, be renewed by the grace of salvation granted to us, and always remember that the Lord’s “mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50.
On the soul-renewing occasion of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of our Lord, we greet the incumbents of the hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Holy Church with Christ-bequeathed love: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; President Serzh Sargsian of the Republic of Armenia and the First Lady, present here today for the Divine Liturgy; and the state officials of the Armenians. We extend greetings to President Bako Sahakian of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh. We convey our pontifical love and blessings to the oath-bound clergy of our Church and to all our people dispersed throughout the world. With the glad tiding of the Holy Nativity, we greet the spiritual heads of our Sister Churches and the representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia.
On this day full of grace that brings glad tidings, dear pious faithful, let us pray and appeal to our Savior with these words, ‘Lord, may the graces of your Holy Birth illuminate the entire world, may the angelic tiding of peace resound in all corners of the earth, may goodwill and harmony accompany all nations and peoples, and may joy and happiness reign in all families. Let hatred, enmity, despair, indifference, bitterness and sadness retreat before the light of your Holy Nativity, and may the whole world be enveloped with the love and hope you have gifted. Keep our nation dispersed throughout the world united, Lord, in your loving care, and grant a prosperous and thriving life, welfare and strength to Armenia and Artsakh, and greater light and brilliance to our Holy Apostolic Church. And we, true to your words, shall bear witness to our faith through our works, and always feel within our hearts the joy of your life-giving presence, and exuberantly proclaim the good news of your Holy Birth.’ Amen.
Christ is Born and Revealed.
Great tidings to us all.
Posted in Sermon | Tagged Catholicos, Christmas message, Etchmiadzin, Karekin II |
PARIS, France (A.W.)—On Dec. 22, the French Parliament approved a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide and rendering it punishable with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($58,000).
The French Parliament approved a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
“I will vote thinking of Hrant Dink,” said one Member of Parliament as he concluded his remarks.
“We are not punishing any country, but we are fighting against genocide denial in our country,” said another.
“We are taking part in the mass destruction of Armenians when we allow its denial… We are voting in the name of Armenians who sought refuge here. How can we look in the eyes of our fellow citizens of Armenian heritage, while we know that there are those among us who deny the suffering of their grandparents?” said yet another Member of Parliament.
“Racism is not an opinion, it’s a crime,” said another.
The MPs who spoke highlighted the stories of the survivors who arrived in France after the genocide, and talked about the significance of honoring the memory of the victims, the survivors, and their descendants, as well as safeguarding historical truth.
Several proposed amendments that aimed at diluting the bill were voted down.
More than 2,000 Turks demonstrated against the bill outside the French Parliament building.
The French Senate is expected to vote on the bill in March 2012.
Turkey recalls ambassador, announces sanctions on France
Official Ankara announced it has recalled its ambassador to France. According to Turkish State Television (TRT), Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoglu will promptly return to Ankara.
Ankara also announced sanctions on France. “As of now, we are canceling bilateral level political, economic, and military activities,” said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to Zaman. “We are suspending all kinds of political consultations with France” and “bilateral military cooperation, joint maneuvers are canceled as of now.”
A special delegation of Turkish officials had arrived in Paris on Dec. 19 to prevent the bill from passing.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had likened the move as one from the Middle Ages. “If this proposal is legislated, France will pioneer the return of the Middle Ages mindset to Europe,” Anatolia News Agency quoted him as saying. The law would “create a new dogma about understanding history, to forbid alternative thoughts. This is the mentality of the Middle Ages. The adoption of this mindset in France is the greatest danger to Europe.”
Addressing his government officials, Davutoglu said it would be “out of the question to leave unanswered an attempt by any country leader, government, or parliament to dishonor our country and nation.”
“There will be irreparable consequences in all bilateral relations,” the undersecretary of the Turkish ambassador to Paris, Engin Solakoglu, told AFP. He said the proposed law was a “hostile act” and that “all cooperation with the French government, all joint projects, will be frozen.”
In contrast, Turkey’s Human Rights Association’s Committee Against Racism and Discrimination had issued a press release and had initiated a signature campaign calling on Turkey to unite against genocide denial, not against the French Parliament.
In 2001, France adopted a bill officially recognizing the 1915 events as genocide.
ANCA welcomes vote
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian offered the following comment on the vote:
“Today’s overwhelming vote by the French National Assembly reinforces the growing international consensus—and the mounting pressure on Turkey—for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.”
“Closer to home, France’s stand underscores the need for our own American president and Congress to finally reject Ankara’s gag rule on the proper condemnation and commemoration of this still unpunished crime against humanity. We mark this occasion by urging President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the House leadership to bring the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304, for a full floor vote.”
Posted in News | Tagged Armenian Genocide |
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Western Christmas Celebration
Western Christmas Service 10:30 AM
Narration of the Christmas story interspersed with Carols in participation with the congregation.
At the conclusion of the service their will be light luncheon. Everyone is cordially invited.
Santa will also visit us to distribute presents to the “nice” children of our church who are present on that day. We invite our community to join us in celebrating Christmas together.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany
Reading from the Prophetic writings and Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord
Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM
Blessing of Water Service 11:30 AM
Blessing of Home Service 12:15 PM
At the conclusion of the Church Services, we will have Blessing of Home Service in our Cultural hall followed by traditional Armenian Christmas potluck luncheon.
Posted in Service | Tagged Armenian Christmas celebration in Milwaukee |
Рождество Христова
Воскресенье, 9 ЯнварЯ, 2012г
Святая Литургия в 10:00
Осевщение Воды в 11:30
Благославление Дома (Церкови) и Рожденственский Обед в 12:15
После Рожденственской Литургии и Осевещение Воды в церковном зале торжеств должно произайти Благославление Дома (Церкови) и Рожденственский Обед, который приготовлен прихожанами нашей церкови.
Дорогие прихожани с любовю приглошаем вас вместе с нами встретить Рождество и Богоявление нашего Спасителя Исуса Христа 9-ого Января, 2012г.
Христос Родился и Явился,
Блогославенно Явление Христа!
С Рождеством Хрестовым!
***
Отец Нарек и церковный совет поздровляют Вас с Новым Годом и с Рождеством Хрестовым, желая вам долгих лет здоровой и счастливой жизни в новом 2012 году.
Posted in Service | Tagged Осевщение Воды, Рождество Христова, Святая Литургия |
This Saturday, December 17, is the feast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibis (Mdzbin). He participated in the first ecumenical council in Nicaea (325), where he earned great respect from the Emperor Constantine and the other attendees. He Was born and died in the city of Nisibis (Nusbyien) located in what is now southeastern Turkey, an important early Christian center in Asia Minor and a transit point of the caravans traveling east and west.
St. James is one of the most beloved saints in the Armenian Church. He is also honored by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Coptic Church, and the Eastern Catholic and Roman Catholic churches. He was ordained Bishop of Nisibis in 320 AD.
St. James sought to find Noah’s Ark as proof for skeptics. On the eve of his ascend as he rested, an angel appeared and told him he need not climb to the summit and gave him a piece of the Ark which was nearby. This piece is kept at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The heavenly hosts rejoiced at the greatness of your feats by which you in the flesh became like the angels on high; we have you as intercessor for us before the Father in heaven. And we with a joyful voice celebrate your holy memory, O venerable witness of Christ, holy bishop James; we have you as intercessor for us before the Father in heaven. You decided on severe toils to see Noah’s Ark and from the angel’s hand received a portion of the wood which served the human race as salvation; we have you as intercessor for us before the Father in heaven.”
(Canon to St. James, Bishop of Nisibis, from the Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church)
Posted for Crossroads E-Newsletter of the Armenian Prelacy (Eastern USA)
Posted in Saints | Tagged St. James (Hagop) of Nisibis (Mdzbin) |
Majority Leader Eric Cantor Brought Key Religious Freedom Measure to a Floor Vote
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives Dec. 13 adopted a landmark religious freedom measure, H.Res.306, calling upon Turkey to return the Christian church properties it stole through genocide, and to end its repression of the surviving members of the vast Christian civilizations that once represented a majority in the territory of the present-day Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The measure, spearheaded by Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.) was scheduled for House consideration by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, with the support of Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Berman, of the Foreign Affairs Committee. House Members speaking in support of the measure included Reps. Royce, Berman, Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution lead co-sponsor Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), and Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.).
Congressional Turkey Caucus co-chair Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) was alone in speaking out against the resolution. The measure was adopted by voice vote.
“Despite Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent claims of progress on religious freedom, Turkey’s Christian communities continue to face severe discrimination,” explained Royce. “Today, the U.S. House of Representatives considered and adopted my legislation, which calls upon the government of Turkey to end religious discrimination, allow religious prayer and education, and return stolen church property. The United States has a strong interest in promoting religious freedom abroad.”
Berman concurred, noting, “This important resolution calls attention to Turkey’s disturbing, persistent failure to respect the ancient Christian heritage of Anatolia and to treat its Christian
communities as free and equal citizens. Turkey should take immediate steps to restore all confiscated church property and allow full freedom of worship and religious education for all Christian communities.”
In July, Royce and Berman were joined by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) in spearheading House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of the “Return of Churches” amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill. Their amendment was overwhelmingly adopted by a vote of 43 to 1.
“The passage of House Resolution 306 is a great victory for religious freedom around the world, and is a turning point in the Armenian people’s fight for religious freedom. Respect for the full exercise of our civil rights is really central to who we are as Americans and central to the values and ideals that we promote all over the world. My home state of Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams on the principles of religious liberty and freedom and I am proud to co-sponsor the Resolution in that spirit,” said Congressman David Cicilline.
The text of H.Res.306 adopted today is the same as the abridged version adopted at the committee level.
“Today’s vote, over opposition from Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and, sadly, even our own American president’s administration, represents a powerful victory for religious freedom, and also reflects the growing American and international consensus that Turkey must—starting with the return of thousands of stolen Christian churches properties and holy sites—accept its responsibilities for the full moral and material implications of a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
Armenian Americans across the U.S. were joined by religious freedom advocates and their counterparts in the Greek, Assyrian, and Syriac communities in making thousands of phone calls to their Representatives in support of H.Res.306, following action alerts issued by the Armenian National Committee of America, American Hellenic Institute, and American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association and the American Hellenic Council.
With hours left to the scheduled vote on H.Res.306, Turkish American groups mounted a campaign to block the measure but were ultimately unsuccessful.
The ANCA will be posting full video coverage of U.S. consideration of H.Res.306 on its website at http://www.anca.org/return.
Text of H.Res.306
RESOLUTION
Urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties.
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State, in all official contacts with Turkish leaders and other Turkish officials, should emphasize that Turkey should –
(1) end all forms of religious discrimination;
(2) allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to organize and administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training, appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm, and other religious activities;
(3) return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and other artifacts; and
(4) allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of Christian church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to preserve, reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within Turkey.
Posted in News | Tagged confiscated churches in Turkey, religious freedom in Turkey, stolen churches in Turkey |
This Sunday, December 11, is the eve (paregentan) of the Fast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibus. This five-day fast, Monday to Friday, leads us to the Feast of St. James, which is next Saturday, December 17. Traditionally the entire fifty day period of Advent was a period of fasting, similar to Great Lent. In more modern times, three week-long fasts are observed during Advent, namely, Fast of Advent (Hisnagats Bahk), Fast of St. James (Sourp Hagopeh Bahk), and the Fast of the Nativity (Dznuntyan Bahk).
Posted from the Armenian Prelacy’s (Eastern) Crossroads E-Newsletter
Posted in Saints | Tagged Dznuntyan Bahk, St. James (Hagop) of Nisibus |
Friday, December 9, is the Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary. This is one of the eight feast days devoted to the Holy Virgin Mary in the Armenian Church’s Liturgical Calendar. This feast day is always on December 9, and is part of the church’s preparation for Christmas. The faithful rejoice in the event that celebrates Mary’s conception in fulfillment of the prayers of her parents and nurtured to become the mother of the Messiah.
Reposted from the Eastern Prelacy’s Crossroad E-Newsletter
Posted in Saints | Tagged Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary |
Apostle Thaddeus Apostle Bartholomew
This Saturday, December 3. The Armenian Church commemorates Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its apostolic identity and earning them the title, “First Enlighteners of Armenia.”
Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He was martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus (Iran) where a chapel was built in the third century.
Bartholomew is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He was martyred in Atamagerd [City of Adam], southeast of Lake Van.
An apostle is “someone who is sent,”—an emissary or ambassador of the Kingdom of God, sent to announce the Kingdom’s coming in Jesus Christ, and authorized to claim men and women’s allegiance to him. “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God,” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Posted in Saints | Tagged Apostle Bartholomew, Apostle Thaddeus, First Enlighteners of Armenia |
Milwaukee Armenians 
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