Weekly e-newsletter of
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church
8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128
Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Pastor

February 12, 2016
Volume # 11
Issue No.6

Sunday Church Service starts at 10:30 A.M.
FEAST OF PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD TO THE TEMPLE
Տեառնընդառաջ
The second Sunday of the Great Lent is called Sunday of Exulsion which 
speaks about the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the paradise because of their disobedience. (Read Genesis 3.) It reminds us as well that, through this penitential season of Great Lent, with prayers and fasting we need to strive to find favor from God and restore in us the image of God. In today's term, God is giving us a second chance to come to our senses and long for His abundant grace.

But this Sunday is the Feast of Presentation of our Lord to the Temple as well. It is very rare that this feast falls on a Sunday. Having said that, this feast takes precedence and in honor of our Lord's Presentation we open the curtain and have a regular Badarak but no Holy Communion.

This feast which is called in Armenian Diarenentarach, is a source of very old Armenian tradition of lighting a bonfire in the Church's courtyard. For more information please read this pamphlet

Մեծ Պահոց երկրորդ Կիրակին կը կոչուի Արտաքսման Կիրակի մեզի յիշեցնելով նախամարդու, Ադամ եւ Եւայի արտաքսումը դրախտէն՝ իրենց անհնազանդութեան պատճա ռով։ Սա հրաւէր մըն է մեզի նաեւ, աղօթքով եւ զղջումով եւ պահեցողութեամբ վերականգնելու մեր մէջ Աստուծոյ պատկերը։ Այսօրուայ հասկացողութեամբ Աստուած մեզի կու տայ երկրորդ առիթ մը սթափելու եւ դարձեալ փնտռելու իր անհատնում շնորհքը։
 
Բայց այս Կիրակի է նաեւ Քրիստոսի Տաճար ԸՆծայման տօնը որ յայտնի է նաեւ Տեառնընդառաջ անունով։ Թէեւ շատ հազուդէպ է որ այս տօնը իյնայ Կիրակի օր մը, սակայն եւ այնպէս մեզի կը պարտադրէ որ այս Կիրակի մենք բաց խորանով պարզ պատարագ մատուցենք՝ առանց Սուրբ Հաղորդութիւն տալու եւ բնականաբար Արեւագալի ժամերգութիւնն ալ զանց առնելով։
 

FIRST LENTEN DINNER-PROGRAM
The first Leten Husgoom service will be held this evening @ 7 P.M.
followed by Lenten dinner and Movie on Genocide 

ARMENIAN INTERCOMMUNAL COMMITTEE NEWS 
Armenian Intercommunal Committee comprised of five Armenian Churches of the Delaware Valley commemorated the Feast of Vartanantz heroes on Thursday, February 4, 2016 in St. Mark's Armenian Catholic Church of Havertown.

Students of the Armenian Sisters Academy, under the direction of their music teacher, Karinne Andonian participated to the program with songs and recitations. Readings from the Historian Yeghishe's book was done by Alicia Handian, Sevag Bakalian, in Armenian, and Vicken Bazarbashian and Arpy Minassian in English.

Below picture depicts the Community leaders and program participants.


Front row, L-R: Alicia Handian, Vicken Bazarbashian, Sevag Bakalian, Arpy Minassian, Sister Emma Moussayan, Principal of ASA, Antranig Kzirian chairman of Intercommunal.
Back row, L-R: Rev. Hagop Gevorkya, pastor of Holy Trinity  Armenian Apostolic church, Archpriest Nerses Manoogian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Very Rev. Hyr Oshagan Gulgulian, pastor of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, Very Rev. Thomas Garabedian, pastor of St. Mark's Armenian Catholic Church, and Rev. Nishan Bakalian, pastor of Armenian Martyr's Congregational Church.

OBITUARY
FROM THE FACEBOOK OF THE ARMENIAN SISTERS ACADEMY
"It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear SisterHripsime. Sister Hripsime was a shining example of peace and love to so many. We are sure that from Heaven she will continue to intercede for all of her loved ones, her congregation and for all those whom the Lord entrusted to her great heart! We will miss her!"
Her funeral will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 in St. Mark's Armenian Catholic Church.
Viewing 9-11 A.M. Funeral Mess at 11:00. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, followed by memorial luncheon at Sisters Academy.

On behalf of the entire parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, I extend our deepest sympathies to the Armenian Sisters of the  Immaculate Conception and School's  family and Alumni.
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE


SEERARPEY SANTERIAN (nee Dermksian)

Seerarpey passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2016. She was the beloved wife of John, devoted mother of Sheryl (Kimon), John S. (Lori) and Lisa (Rick), cherished grandmother of Ani, Nikki, Kara, Alexander, Mark, Evan, Kyle, Christina and Amy, and loving sister of George of New York, NY.

Her funeral will be held at St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Philadelphia on Monday, February 15. Relatives and friends are invited to call at 11 A.M. at St. Gregory's and to the Service at noon. Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Gregory's and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.

MAY SHE REST IN PEACE
SUNDAY BIBLE READING
FEAST OF PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD TO THE TEMPLE (DIARENTARACH)
                                        

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles 7:47-50

            "But it was Solomon who built a house for him.  Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says, `Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool.  What house will you built for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?  Did not my hand make all these things?'"                          
 
The reading is from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians 4:1-7

            I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.  So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe.  But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"  So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.                                                                            
                                            
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE 2:22-38
 
       
When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.  As it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord." They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law,  28Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
 
   "Master, now you are allowing your servant to leave in peace
    according to your word.
    For my eyes have seen your salvation,
    which you prepared for all people to see-
    a light that will reveal salvation to the Gentiles
    and bring glory to your people Israel."
Jesus' father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall or rise. He will be a sign that will be disputed, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too."
Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer.  38Just then she came forward and began to
thank God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

ՀՈԳԵՀԱՆԳԻՍՏ - HOKEHANKIST - 

 

The following parishioners request Hokehankist for the souls of their loved ones.

Հետեւեալ ծխականները հոգեհանգիստ կը խնդրեն
իրենց հարազատներու հոգւոցն ի հանգիստ 
 

  • Mr. & Mrs. Mardios & Maro Habeshian, Mr. & Mrs. George and Rozig Habeshsian Esenwien and Ryan, George Boyadjian, Markarid Habeshian Burns, for the soul of their son, brother, uncle and nephew, Mourad Habeshian, 40th day.
 
  • Mr. Arthur Babaian, for the souls of his aunt and mother, Victoria Babaian   and   Arpenik Allenow.                                                    

Sunday School News
SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN CELEBRATED POON PAREGENTAN  
 

Haigazian School    
HAIGAZIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT VARTANANTZ


____________________________________________________________
HAIGAZIAN SCHOOL'S ANNUAL FEBRUARY FUNDRAISIN CAMPAIGN

Community Bulletin Board
 
 HELP A CHRISTIAN LADY IN HER MISSION

It was a pleasure speaking with you today. It is an honor to reach out to the Armenian church family of churches in communion with my church, being Coptic Orthodox myself. I am in need of housing to continue my full time service in the community helping patients navigate the healthcare system and be the voice of the sick and needy advocating on their behalf. I have been persecuted for praying with people in Philadelphia with the landlord throwing all my belongings in the street the week before the snow storm. I am currently in a motel with the support of generous donors but this support will end tomorrow. This is the story in the Philadelphia Inquirer I spoke to you about from 2 years ago. Please let me know if any of your congregants have housing that may be vacant or available. My cell phone number is 215-527-6604.
 
 
With Christ's love for all,
 
Sandra    

Community Flyers







Calender of Events


2016
 
February 12     Lenten Services/ Dinner / Program
February 19     Lenten Services/ Dinner / Program
February 21     General Membership Meeting
February 26     Lenten Services/ Dinner / Program
March 4           Lenten Services/ Dinner / Program
March 11         Lenten Services/ Dinner / Program
March 18         Lenten Services/ Dinner / Program
March 20         Palm Sunday - Sunday & Haigazian School Procession
March 24         Washing of the Feet - Khavaroom Services
March 25         Good Friday Services
March 26         Communion, Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt for children of community
March 26         Evening Services
March 27         Easter
April 2             ARS Celebration
April 24   
April 26-30      CARNIVAL        
May 8              Mother's Day Breakfast
May 22            Last Day of Sunday School & Haigazian Armenian School
June 4              ARF
June 12            Graduates' Communion & Breakfast
June 19            Father's Day Breakfast
August 14        Assumption Day, Grape Blessing & Picnic
September 11   Sunday School & Haigazian Armenian School openings
October 2         BINGO           

                      

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St. Gregory Church | 215-482-9200 | [email protected] | http://www.saintgregory-philly.org
8701 Ridge Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19128

St. Gregory Church | 8701 Ridge Ave. | Philadelphia | PA | 19128