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LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
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“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Some words have a ring of eternity to them, and the Declaration of Independence has long earned its rightful place among the most beautifully penned historical documents.
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MURON BLESSING KICKS OFF WEEK
OF CELEBRATIONS AT THE HOLY SEE
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His Holiness Catholicos Aram I will preside over the blessing of the Holy Muron on the evening of Friday, July 1, at the Monastery of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, with the participation of all members of the Brotherhood of the Catholicosate, as well as representatives of the Holy See of Echmiadzin, the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople, official personalities, and thousands of people.
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CATHOLICOSATE TAKES PART IN ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE
AT THE VATICAN
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The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches held its 18th session at the Vatican on June 20-24. Bishop Magar Ashkarian and Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian (co-secretary) participated in the meeting on behalf of the Holy See of Cilicia.
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DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM IN SESSION
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The Prelacy’s annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program is currently in session since Sunday, June 26, at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, after a 2-year hiatus due to Covid, with the participation of 35 students and 14 clergymen and lay leaders from 10 parishes.
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I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE
The Prelate’s Sermon, Sunday, June 26
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Today, on the fourth Sunday of the feast of Pentecost the Gospel reading is from Matthew 12:1-8. The Evangelist tells us that on a Sabbath day, as Jesus and His Disciples were crossing a grainfield, His hungry followers began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. Immediately the Pharisees scrutinized them for trespassing the Law of observing the Sabbath.
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The Prelacy’s Orphan Sponsorship program, established in 1993, remains the centerpiece of the Prelacy’s mission in Armenia and Artsakh. As part of the program, children regularly address letters to their actual or potential sponsors. We are pleased to share some of these letters through Crossroads.
This week’s letter is from Mkhitar,* who is sponsored by John Daghlian.
* We use only the first names of the children to protect their privacy.
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This is Mkhitar.
I was born in Armenia’s Gegharkunik region, in the village of Areguni. I went to Areguni’s elementary school until 5th grade and was a good student – responsible and willing to acquire knowledge.
Everyone in our family is patriotic. My grandfather reached the rank of captain in the army and participated in the fight for Artsakh’s independence. My father Harutyun was also serving in the army and had several medals. He died in the four- day war of 2016 and was posthumously granted the hero title.
Presently, our family has relocated to the city of Abovyan in the region of Kotayk. I am a student at Victor Hambartsoumian Public School #16. I am a good student and in the future I want to go to a military school and become a professional soldier of the Armenian Army.
Thank you for your sponsorship.
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THIRTY-FIVE ORPHANS IN ARTSAKH SEEK OUR SUPPORT
There are still 35 children living in Artsakh who need the sponsorship of our generous readers. They are the orphans of martyrs of the 2020 Artsakh war on the waiting list of the St. Nerses the Great Organization in Armenia.
Since 1993, the St. Nerses the Great Organization has sponsored a total of 3,329 orphans, including the current total of 1,296 orphans, both minors and university students. We are grateful to all our individual and institutional sponsors, who support our efforts with their annual contribution of $250 per child. This amount not only brings much needed relief to the financial burdens of the recipient and his or her family but most importantly boosts their morale, making them feel that they are not alone. Some sponsors periodically send additional amounts as special gifts.
You can always contact the Prelacy by email (sophie@armenianprelacy.org) or telephone (212-689-7810) for the sponsorship of both minors and university students in the program of the St. Nerses the Great Organization in Armenia. It is also possible to make donations of shares or IRA contributions.
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Click here for online sponsorship of minors up to the age of 18.
Click here for online sponsorship of orphans who become students at a higher education institution upon turning 18.
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Bible readings for Sunday, July 3, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, are: Isaiah 1:21-31; Romans 7:25-8:11; Matthew 12:38-45.
To read this Sunday's Bible Readings click here.
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Thursday, June 30: Sts. Theodotus of Galatia, Thalelaeus the Physician, and the Seven Virgins who were martyred at Ancyra.
Saturday, July 2: Discovery of the Relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator.
Monday, July 4: Holy Martyrs Antonius, Theophilus, Anectus, and Photinus.
Tuesday, July 5: Sts. Daniel the prophet and the three young men—Shadrach (Setrak), Meshach (Misak) and Abednego (Apetnakov).
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DISCOVERY OF THE RELICS OF ST. GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR
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This Saturday, July 2, the Armenian Church observes one of the three feast days dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator (Krikor Lousavorich): the discovery of his relics. St. Gregory is considered to be the “Apostle of Armenia,” and the patron saint of the Armenian Church. He preached throughout Armenia, built churches, including the great cathedral in Etchmiadzin, established the first canon laws, wrote many prayers, and organized the liturgical services.
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ST. DANIEL THE PROPHET AND COMPANIONS SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO
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This Tuesday, July 5, the Armenian Church commemorates Daniel the Prophet and his companions.
Daniel and his youthful companions Shadrach (Setrak), Meshack (Misak), and Abednego (Apetnakov), found favor with the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar after their captivity. When the king gave orders for a large statue of himself to be worshipped like a god, Daniel and the three youths refused. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were put into a large furnace.
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“THE MOON IN THE CUSP OF MY HAND"
(R. H. Lola Koundakjian)
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This is a collection of bilingual poetry (the English poems are paired with their Spanish translations), where the author remains faithful to her credo: to make poetry of exquisite moments. Nancy Agabian writes:
“Whether she encounters the quotidian or the extraordinary, what she conveys is profound. In her voice you’ll find experiences of the cosmopolitan, the bold, and the bereft, a life concocting meals, savoring music, commingling with the natural world, surveying lovers, testifying to war, searching for art, caring for ill parents, and traveling across NYC and the world as a poetry diplomat and empath. As you read her insights, you will feel discomfited, soothed, moved, and loved. Expertly fusing form and content, navigating between whimsy and gravitas, Lola offers a unique vision of hope.”
Click here to purchase your copy from the Prelacy bookstore
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Death of Hakob Melkumian (July 3, 1962)
Hakob Melkumian (Melkumov), a military officer in the Tsarist and the Bolshevik armies, fought in the First World War and the Russian Civil War, where he particularly distinguished himself fighting against the Basmachi movement on the Turkestan Front. He is known for commanding the unit that killed Enver Pasha, one of the executors of the Armenian Genocide, who had fled to Central Asia to command the Basmachi rebels.
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IT RAINS, MY SON...
(Vahan Tekeyan, 1878-1945)
It rains, my son… Autumn is wet,
Wet as the eyes of a sad deceived love…
Go, shut the window and the door
And come sit beside me in stately
Silence… It is raining, my son…
Does it at times rain in your soul as well?
Does your heart feel cold and do you shiver
Thinking of the bygone bright sunshine
Now beyond the shut door of dire fate…?
But, you cry, my son… In the dusk, sudden
Heavy tears tumble down your eyes…
Cry the unredeemable tears of innocence,
Cry oblivious, my sad unaware son,
You poor prey of life… Cry to grow up…
(Translated by Tatul Sonentz)
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ANOTHER MASHDOTS (NOT ST. MESROB)
Everybody knows that St. Mesrob Mashdots was the creator of the Armenian alphabet and has a fair idea of the efforts he made to that effect, as well as the work that he carried out in the first decades after the creation toward setting the grounds of Armenian written literature.
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ARMENIANS NEED A SPIRITUAL GUIDE
Dear Editor,
I love the initiative and the shares. It is keeping us in the pure Armenian spirit of faith and direct connectedness to the divine!
I believe we need to be proactive in this initiative. The Armenians need a spiritual guide. Too much noise, too many distractions are pulling us away from our pure roots!
Keep it up.... Come up with uplifting positive and simple yet potent shares.
Blessings,
Arline Malakian
Toronto, ON
Canada
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WE WELCOME YOUR LETTERS AND NEWS REPORTS
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Crossroads welcomes your letters, as well as school and parish news in English and/or Armenian. Letters should be addressed to the Editor and may be edited for clarity and style. Please indicate the city, town, and state where you are writing from, as well as the country if you are writing from outside the United States. The deadline for submitting items is Tuesday evening.
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August 7 — Annual church picnic and Blessing of the Grapes at Sts. Vartanantz Church (Providence, RI).
August 7 — Annual Picnic and Blessing of Madagh and Grapes at St. Stephen's Church (Watertown, MA).
August 14 — Annual Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes at Sts.Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, NJ).
August 21 — Annual church picnic and Blessing of the Grapes of Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church (Whitinsville, MA).
September 18 — Name Day of St. Stephen’s Church (New Britain, CT).
September 25 — Name Day of Holy Cross Church (Troy, NY).
October 2 — Annual celebration of St. Gregory Church (North Andover, MA).
October 16 — Annual celebration and deacon ordination at St. Sarkis Church (Dearborn, MI).
October 23 — Annual celebration of St. Hagop Church (Racine, WI).
October 23 — 65th anniversary celebration of Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church (Whitinsville, MA).
November 6 — Annual celebration of All Saints Church (Glenview, IL).
November 13 — Annual celebration of Soorp Khatch Church (Bethesda, MD).
November 20 — Thanksgiving annual banquet on the 65th anniversary of the Armenian Prelacy.
December 6 — Annual celebration of St. Gregory Church (Granite City, IL).
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