THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
September 4, 2016

Paregentan of the Fast of Exaltation

318 Fathers of the Holy Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325)

This council is the First Ecumenical Council in the history of the Church, which was convened upon the order of the King Costandianos the Great in the town Nicaea near Constantinople, in 327 A. D. 318 prominent pontiffs representing the Universal Church participated in the Council. The reason for convening the council was priest Arios of Alexandria, who preached that Christ was not without beginning, that he was created upon the Will of God before times and centuries, in order the creation of God to be realized by means of Christ. The only one not having birth, the only one eternal and without beginning is God the father. Son has been created not from the essence of the Father, but from nothing. There was a time when the Son did not exist. Although the Son has received all the virtues of the Father and is adopted, he is not pure as the Father is, he is changeable, as all human beings.

Because of such viewpoints of Arios the Divinity of Christ was denied and the entire Christian doctrine was endangered. Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria opposed to Arianism. In his sermons he stressed that God is eternal, and Son is eternal, Father and Son are of the same time. Father does not precede the Son even for a moment, Father has always existed and Son has always existed. The false teaching of Arios is condemned during the first Ecumenical Council and it is declared to be heresy.

Aristakes, son of St. Gregory the Illuminator, also participates in the first Ecumenical Council. The doctrinal formulation adopted by the Council, which is known as Nicene Creed, is brought to Armenia by Aristakes and is presented to St. Gregory the Illuminator. The latter added to it the following passage: “As for us, we shall glorify him who was before the ages, worshipping the Holy Trinity and the one Godhead, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto ages of ages. Amen.”.

The Nicene Creed, adopted in Nicaea, and the passage added by St. Gregory the Illuminator, are up to date used in the rites of the Armenian Apostolic Church without any change. Aristakes brings to Armenia also 20 canons adopted by the Council of Nicaea, which are also ratified by St. Gregory the Illuminator.

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

• 2 Corinthians 7: 4-16 (page 166) New Testament
• Mark 7: 31-37 (page 39) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

• Yester Mazmanian Ergenian (15th Anniversary of Her eternal life) and Mardiros Ergenian requested by Mr. and Mrs. Nazareth and Markrid Keshishian and Ms. Arousiag Keshishian.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b). Please remember in your prayers: the St. Garabed parishioners and all the victims of the flooding in Baton Rouge, healing for Penny Hajatian, Mickey Sherian and Anita Mirijanian; law enforcement officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty; those killed in the many terrorist attacks in gatherings here and abroad and their families who are suffering their loss; comfort for the bereaved among us; for the current unrest in Armenia; all those affected by the ongoing conflict in Artsakh – families whose loved ones were killed and the injured as they try to recover; and all who are persecuted for their faith and forced from their homes during these perilous times.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: You are invited, long time parishioners, new members, and first time visitors, please join us after Badarak in our lovely hall for Christian fellowship, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and greet fellow parishioners and Der Hayr. The coffee hour begins when Der Hayr blesses the table. There are containers available to deposit your trash before leaving the hall. We appreciate your patience, cooperation, and support. Thank you.

Save The Date! The 50th anniversary of the consecration of our Church Sanctuary 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.

MEN’S CLUB RAFFLE – Tickets are now available – and selling fast – for the 200 Club Raffle. A one-time donation of $100 will entitle you to eight months of drawings, with five tickets drawn each month. The first drawing will take place in November and the last in June; the prizes in those two months will be $1000 / $400 / $200 / $200 / $ 200 !! And your chances are better than the lottery! Contact Larry Der Hagopian (215-672-4188) or Mickey Paretchan (215-947-4394) if you haven’t already purchased your ticket! The Men’s Club provides financial support for our church through this endeavor, and has been sponsoring two orphaned children via CASP for many years.

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. If you need a New Jersey pick up call Grace Meranshian at 856-217-9333.

THE NICENE CREED/ HAVADAMK – This is the Profession of our Faith which is recited every Sunday moments after the Gospel is read from the altar. Sometimes it is sung, but more often it is recited by the Deacons and/or the Choir. We invite you to affirm your own “Profession of Faith” by reciting along with us. God longs for all of us to express our faith and devotion to Him.

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)
September

• Sunday September 11th: FEAST OF EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS & Church School Opening
• Sunday September 18th: 50th Consecration Anniversary

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.