THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
Sunday May 8, 2016

Second Palm
Mother’s Day

Second Palm Sunday

On the Sunday following the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, the Armenian Church celebrates “Second” Palm Sunday. The name of the feast has been derived from Palm Sunday, which precedes Easter. In the week leading up to His betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection, the “first” Palm Sunday symbolized the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem where people met Him with great joy and glorified His Holy Name. The Second Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the triumphant entry of the Ascended Christ into the Heavenly Jerusalem, where the angels meet him with great happiness and delight.

According to tradition, during St. Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment in the pit, he was visited every day by the same angel. However one day, the angel did not come. The following morning, St. Gregory inquires to the reason for his absence, to which the angel responds that during the Ascension, Christ had passed through the ranks of the Angels, and they celebrate that feast each year. The angel visiting St. Gregory was from the fourth class of angelic hosts, and thus, on the fourth day following the Ascension, his rank of angels commemorates and celebrates Christ’s Ascension to heaven every year.

St. Gregory of Datev, one of the greatest theologians of the Armenian Church, has a famous interpretation of this event. Prior to His Ascension, the ranks of angels, except for the lowest class, who served Christ during His earthly life, were not aware of Christ’s incarnation for the salvation of man. St. Gregory’s commentary states that when the Lord was passing through the ranks of angels, they were surprised and asked, “Who was that powerful king?” The angels accompanying Christ thus informed them. This dialogue of angels is presented in the Holy Bible, in the book of Psalms:

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.”
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD
mighty in battle.”
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.”
“Who is this King of glory?”
“The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”
(Psalms 24:7-10).

The angelic dialogue is exhibited for us, when it is heard during the Divine Liturgy, as the deacon approaches the celebrant priest with the chalice during the Great Entrance (Verapehroom).

Second Palm Sunday is one more reminder of the Ascension of Christ and grants us the hope for ascending to heaven after our deaths, and being in the bliss of God’s presence.

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

• 1John 5: 13-21 (page 217) New Testament
• John 12: 12-23 (pages 97 – 98) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

• VANIK SIMONYAN and ALL THE ARMENIAN SOLDIERS who gave their lives protecting Artsakh requested by Araik and Manushak Simonyan.
• ELIZABETH ‘BETTIE’ ARSLANIAN requested by John Arslanian.
• DEACON KRIKOR MAHSEREJIAN (3rd Anniversary of His eternal life) requested by Anahis Mahserejian and Family.

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 CANDLES: are donated today by John Arslanian in loving memory of ELIZABETH ‘BETTIE’ ARSLANIAN .

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is sponsored today by Araik and Manushak Simonyan in loving memory of VANIK SIMONYAN and ALL THE ARMENIAN SOLDIERS who gave their lives protecting Artsakh.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is also sponsored today by John Arslanian in loving memory of ELIZABETH ‘BETTIE’ ARSLANIAN.

Ladies, have you had an interest in taking a Mural Arts Trolley Tour? The opportunity is at hand. The Ladies of St. Sahag & St. Mesrob are touring on Thursday, May 19 and they have invited our ladies to join them. The price of the trolley tour including lunch is $80. If you are interested, please call Nannette Zakian for a reservation, 610-662-2435.

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)
May

• Thursdays May 12th & 19th: Spring Bible Study 10:00 am

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.