THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
May 29, 2016

Feast of the Catholic Church of Holy Etchmiadzin

Feast of the Catholicon of Holy Etchmiadzin

One of the most celebrated feasts of the Armenian Church is the day when the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was established, according to the inspired vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator.

According to tradition, and hagiographic sources, following the declaration of Christianity as the Official Religion of Armenia in 301 AD, St. Gregory has a famous vision, wherein the Only Begotten Son of God – Jesus Christ, descends from Heaven, his face lit aglow, and with the strike of a golden hammer designates the site where the Mother Cathedral for the entire Armenian nation is to be founded. Hence, the name of the spiritual center for the Armenians, “Etchmiadzin”, means “the Descent of the Only Begotten” (Etch – descent, mi – only, dzin – begotten.)

St. Gregory relayed the story about his vision to the Armenian King Tiridates, under whose royal auspices and support the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin was built.  King Tiridates and Queen Ashkhen participated in the construction, as did the entire capital city of Vagharshapat by bringing stones from the biblical mountain of Ararat to lay the foundations.  In the site marked by Christ, a Holy Altar of Descent was built.

According of Patriarch Malachia Ormanian, from the days of her establishment, the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin has been the residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.  Thus, it is the Mother See of the Armenian Church, and as such, her universal, spiritual and administrative headquarters.

Another title bestowed upon the cathedral is “Catholic” – not to be confused with the Roman Catholic faith.  Catholic is a Greek word meaning “Universal”. Theologically, the cathedral has been called “catholic” as a description of the catholicity (universality) of the Church.

The feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is celebrated 64 days following Easter.  A Divine Liturgy is celebrated, and during services, a special hymn is sung, written by the eighth century Catholicos Sahak of Dzorap, telling of St. Gregory’s vision and the Cathedral’s construction.

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

• Hebrews 9: 1-10 (pages 200-201) New Testament
• John 10: 22-30 (page 95) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)

REQUIEM SERVICES: Karasoonk (40th Day memorial Service) today will be for:

• HAIG HAGOPIAN on the 40th day of His eternal life requested by Gay, Tina & Marie Hagopian (husband & father), Sue Hagopian (son) and Ginger & Karnik Seferian (brother).
• HAIG HAGOPIAN on the 40th day of His eternal life requested by the Sue and Gary Der Hagopian.
• HAIG HAGOPIAN on the 40th day of His eternal life requested by Gregory and Cookie Vosbkian.
• HAIG HAGOPIAN on the 40th day of His eternal life requested by Dave and Terri Mears.
• HAIG HAGOPIAN on the 40th day of His eternal life requested by Susan and Russell Terkhanian Cannon.

Hokehankist today will be for: 

• JAMES & SUSAN VOSBIKIAN, JACOB & VIRGINIA DER HAGOPIAN and NICOLE DER HAGOPIAN requested by Sue and Gary Der Hagopian.
• ARAM HAGOPIAN requested by Gay, Tina & Marie Hagopian, Sue Hagopian  and Ginger & Karnik Seferian.

Pray for One Another and especially for Mickey Sherian and Anita Mirijanian for their improved health; for the bereaved among us; for the Armenian soldiers fighting the Azerbaijanis to defend the homeland in Nagorno-Karabagh (Artsakh); for those who have been killed in the conflict, including relatives of our own church members who have volunteered and lost their lives to defend that region; for the Syrian refugees; and for all who are persecuted for their faith and forced from their homes during these trying times.

ALTAR FLOWERS & CANDLES: are donated today by Gay, Tina & Marie Hagopian, Sue Hagopian and Ginger & Karnik Seferian in loving memory of HAIG HAGOPIAN on the 40th day of His eternal life.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: there will be NO COFFEE HOUR TODAY due to the hall being rented.

Save The Date!  The 50th anniversary of the consecration of our Church Building will be celebrated with a banquet on Sunday, September 18.  Please contact Tom Torcomian at (610) 662-7879 if you would like to be a banquet sponsor.

The Ladies of Holy Trinity are sponsoring a trip to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Saturday, September 24. This is open to all members of our church family. The price is $110. Details are on the flyer. Please see Liz Barone or Jeanette Der Hagopian for details. Deadline for reservation is July 31.

MEMORIAL DAY GRAVE BLESSING –  If anyone wishes to offer prayers and have a graveside blessing for their loved ones on Monday, May 30, 2016 (Memorial Day), Der Hayr will be available by appointment. Please contact him for additional details at 917-213-8658 (cell) or in person at church.

ATTIC TREASURES: If you’re cleaning out your closets, we would greatly appreciate donations of your CLEAN & UNDAMAGED gently used items to be sold at the Attic Treasures table during the Harvest Bazaar.  No toys, clothing or books (except cookbooks).  Desired items are jewelry, women’s accessories, housewares, small furnishings, and more, more, more. Attic treasures can be left in the 1st room on the right down the Sunday School hall. Call Ayshe Chakmaklian for more info. at 610-828-2411.

DAUGHTERS OF VARTAN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT In honor of Earth Day, we will begin our Battery Recycling Community Service Project.  A box will be placed in the Church lobby so you can deposit your old, used Button cell batteries (used for hearing aids watches, and calculators) as well as household batteries size D, C, AA, AAA and 9 volt.  On the very first Earth Day, 20 million people gathered in the streets of America to protest the industrial revolution.  An environmental movement was born as a result.

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)
June

• Sunday June 12th: Church Picnic

The Bookstore: The Bookstore is open every Sunday after Liturgy. Please stop in and browse.

COUNTRY STORE: The Country Store is open every Sunday after church services in the kitchen. All are welcome.

If you know of anyone who is a shut-in, or ill and would like a visit from Der Hayr, please call the office and give their name to Maggie our church secretary.

CHURCH ETIQUETTE: We wish to remind you, our faithful, to please maintain a quiet and contemplative manner as you approach the chancel for communion. We especially ask that you refrain from conversation while waiting your turn for communion as well as afterwards as you return to your pew. Thank you.

THE KISS OF PEACE: After the gifts of the Eucharist are brought to the Altar Table, the deacon proclaims, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”  The person giving the greetings says, Kristos ee mech mer Haydnetsav – Christ is revealed amongst us.  The recipient would respond, Orhnial eh Haydnootiunun Kristosee – Blessed is the revelation of Christ.

Anyone who wishes to request any Requiem Services MUST inform the office by 1:30pm Wednesday the week before. If you also want to sponsor the Fellowship Hour you MUST call Merle Santerian at 215-947-3777.

Would you like to:

• receive this Bulletin on Friday via email?
• request a Hokehankist, house blessing or hall rental information?
• find in-depth information on our faith, our parish and our activities?
• sign up for an event online?
• If the answer to any of these questions is YES, please visit our parish website at www.holytrinity-pa.org

WE ASK THAT EVERYONE KINDLY TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES and all other such electronic devices prior to entering the sanctuary out of respect for the sanctity of our services.