Milwaukee Armenians

Posted from Armenian Prelacy’s Crossroad E-Newsletter 
       
       This Sunday, February 13, is the Paregentan of the Fast of the Catechumens. It occurs three weeks before Poun Paregentan (eve of Lent) and 10 weeks before Easter, ushering in three days of strict fast (dzom). According to tradition, the Catechumens were instructed for several hours daily and required to stand through every church service apart from the baptized congregation. This continued until Easter when they were baptized, anointed and received their first Communion.

       February 14th, marks the Presentation of Jesus to the Temple (Dyarnuntarach, which literally means “going forward to meet the Lord”). In English it is known as “Candlemas.” This is a fixed feast since it always occurs on February 14.
       Forty days after the birth of Christ, Mary obeyed Mosaic Law and presented her son to the temple (Numbers 18:15). She was purified by the prayer of Simeon the Just in the presence of Anna the Prophet (Luke 2:22-40). This was the first introduction of Jesus into the house of God.
       Some pre-Christian Armenian customs have been incorporated with the feast, including one of the most popular. On the eve of the holiday a bonfire is lit using a flame from the church. Young people gather around the fire and the young men leap over the flames. The light of the bonfire is symbolic of Christ, the light of our lives.

Posted from Armenian Prelacy’s Crossroad E-Newsletter       

      According to the historian Movses Khorenatsi, the apostle Thaddeus came to Edessa where he healed the sick and baptized King Abgar. Khorenatsi writes that from Edessa, Thaddeus went to Armenia where he preached and converted the Armenian king, Sanatrouk, and the king’s daughter, Sandoukht. When faced with the opposition of his governors, the king recanted his conversion. Sandoukht, however, refused to renounce the Christian faith. She was imprisoned and executed by order of her father, and thus became Armenia’s first martyr.
       Thaddeus was martyred at Artaz (in present day northern Iran). The Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus is built on the apostle’s tomb. During the early 20th century the monastery was an important crossroads for the defense of the Armenian population of Van, Daron, and surrounding areas. A popular annual pilgrimage by Armenians from around the world takes place  in July. During the four-day festival thousands gather in tents pitched on the monastery grounds, attend services, sing and dance in remembrance of St. Thaddeus, one of the two apostles who brought Christianity to Armenia. St. Thaddeus Monastery and the other famous Armenian monastery in northern Iran, St. Stephen on the banks of the Arax River, have undergone major renovation and restoration in recent years.

By David Luhrssen

On Sunday, Jan. 30, Donald Rask was one of only three teenage piano students from the Milwaukee area to take part in the Milwaukee Music Teachers Association Youth Concert. He earned his position in the program by passing a citywide audition held in 2010.

Donnie’s talents are familiar to Milwaukee’s Armenian community. He serves as a tbir (acolyte) at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church, occasionally fills in on organ during the liturgy and has performed on piano at events in the church’s Culture Hall. A sophomore at Oak Creek High School, Donnie is a member of the marching band, symphonic band and jazz band as well as a pianist in the pit orchestra for school musicals. A multi-talented instrumentalist, Donnie also plays French horn and trumpet.

For the Sunday afternoon Youth Concert at the Steinway Piano Gallery, Donnie performed Beethoven’s Sonata in C minor Op. 10, Scarlatti’s Sonata in A major, Mendelssohn’s Duet Op. 38 and Sibelius’ Romance. Seated behind the shiny grand piano with a look of gracefully focused concentration, Donnie executed the challenging works of music with ease. His fingers climbed with great agility across the peaks and valleys of great compositions from Europe’s Romantic Era. Donnie allowed himself a smile of triumph as he bowed before the applauding audience.