E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

38-65 234th. St. Douglaston, NY, 11363  

Sunday, 9/15/2024

ԽԱՉՎԵՐԱՑ - FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

Sunday Scripture Readings:

Isaiah 49:13-23; Galatians 6:14-18; John 3:13-21 



Join us in worship this Sunday.

Morning Service 10:00 AM

Divine Liturgy 10:45 AM - Sermon 11:45 AM

Մասնակցեցէք Ս. Պատարագին՝

Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 10։00

Ս. Պատարագ 10։45- Քարոզ 11։45

Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor

One of My Biggest Regrets...

Pastor's Update #21

One of my biggest regrets in life was not learning new languages when I had the opportunity in my younger years. I remember not taking my French classes seriously when I was a seminarian and later on just doing the bare minimum in Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek. When I reflect back on those days, I know that I messed up because potential dies if it’s not met with hard work. Now, I find myself...

READ MORE

This Sunday September 15, will celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross . 

On the Feast of the Exaltation of The Holy Cross we bless Basil.

The Basil for this Sunday are donated by

Mr. & Mrs. Armen & Zepiur Ardzivian

In preparation for the October 6, 2024 Banquet which pays Tribute to Past & Present St. Sarkis Leaders, we are featuring six St. Sarkis Church Board of Trustees Chairmen highlighting their service and contributions to the church. Please join us in celebrating together this special event.

The Pastor & Board of Trustees extend their deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks 

to all the parishioners and friends for their generosity and continued support of St. Sarkis Church

PATRON ($5,000)

Dr. Annita Nerses & Mr. Dennis Kurpius

PILLAR ($2,500)

Drs. Carlo & Aurora Bayrakdarian

BENEFACTOR ($1,000)

Drs. Bagdig & Ani Baghdassarian

Mr. Alexander Chmelev

Drs. Arthur & Louiza Kubikian

SPONSOR ($500)

Dr. & Mrs. Aram & Rima Cazazian

Mr. & Mrs. Sam & Lilit Indzhigulyan

Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis & Adriana Nercessian

DONOR ($250)

Dr. & Mrs. Kevork & Diane Boyadjian

Ms. Nazeli Vartabedian De Blasio

Mr. & Mrs. Berc & Narcisse Gokberg (Crown Findings Co. Inc.)

Mr. & Mrs. Varujan & Luiza Kalustian

Mr. Levon Manoukian

Ms. Karine Mouradian & David Brian Osgood

Mr. & Mrs. Yeprem & Madeleine Nazarian

Dr. & Mrs. Armen & Osanna Ovsepian

Dr. Alina & Mr. Dan Stanciu

Mr. & Mrs. Nichan & Christine Tchorbajian

FRIEND ($100)

Mr. & Mrs. Ghazar & Anny Baghdassarian

Mrs. Agavni Bodriguian

Mr. & Mrs. Shaun & Christine Hogan

Mr. & Mrs. Dickran & Nelly Minassian

Mrs. Takouhi Orangian

Mr. & Mrs. Dimos & Ani Papaioannou

Mr. & Mrs. Varouzh & Lilly Yavarian

Be Opened

Wow, Picnic 2024 was amazing! Despite the threat of rain, over 400 people showed up to enjoy the delicious meals prepared by the lovely ladies of St. Sarkis Church. Razmik Nenejian and Simon Bardizbanian, along with their awesome team leaders, made sure everything went smoothly. The youth and so many other volunteers worked hard to transform the church grounds into a fun playground in just a few hours. The entertainment was incredible, with the Hamazkain Nor Yeraz Dance Ensemble performing and DJ Nico getting everyone on their feet with great music. The energy of the dancers was so infectious that not even the looming dark clouds could ruin the fun until they were done dancing!

A big thank you to all the volunteers who made the picnic a success, including the Ladies Guild members, the Grill Team, the Beverage Servers, the Cashiers, the Food Service Crew, the Pastries Station, the Raffle & Fundraising Team, the Kids Zone Monitors, and everyone who helped with the food. Der Nareg even had his own station serving specialty coffee and Yn. Annie was helping everywhere. This fantastic picnic wouldn't have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the volunteers and committee members. It was a true team effort! See you next year, hopefully with better weather!

STATIONS

$1,000

Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Sorina Dumanian, (Carmel Grocery)

Grill & Serve $3,000 ($500)

Drs. Armand & Alma Asarian

Mr. & Mrs. Alex & Jackie Baron – Keller Williams Realty 

Dr. & Mrs. Hagop & Hilda Gorgissian

Drs. Arthur & Louiza Kubikian

Mr. Dennis Kurpius & Dr. Annita Nerses

Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Meline Yaziciyan

Tent/Tables/Chairs Rental $3,000 ($300)

Mr. & Mrs. Karl & Alice Alajajian

Mr. & Mrs. Karl & Alice Alajajian

Dr. & Mrs. Armand & Laura Asadourian

Dr. & Mrs. Kevork & Diane Boyadjian

Mrs. Lynn & Ms. Marissa Jamie

Drs. Aram & Michelle Kirkorian

Drs. Alina Djougarian & Demetri Koutsospyros

Ms. Aida Ounjian

Mourad & Virginia Voskinarian

Kids Zone $2,400 ($400)

Mr. Sarchiz & Dr. Elize Kochoumian Artim

Mr. Michael & Dr. Nouneh Gostanian

Mr. & Mrs. Eduard & Alina Kochoumian

Mr. Varouj Oghali

Helping Hands $1,500 ($250 )

Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Coharig Barsamian

Mr. & Mrs. Yeprem & Madeleine Nazarian

Mr. & Mrs. Razmik & Sonya Nenejian

Beverage Fountain $1,000 ($200)

Mr. Berc Gokberk (Crown Findings Co.)

Mr. & Mrs. Garbis & Vicky Hagobian

Mr. & Mrs. Varujan & Luiza Kalustian

Dr. & Mrs. Harry & Mary Kasparian

Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Aline Kassabian

Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis & Adriana Nercessian

$150

Mrs. Dirouhie Kasparian

Bistro Café & Pastries $600 ($100)

Mrs. Alice Asadourian

Mr. & Mrs. Jack & Zabel Hatem

Dr. & Mrs. Louis & Elenne Najarian

Mrs. Elizabeth Ohannessian

Ping Pong Group

Dr. Tatyana Ulubabova

Coffee Bar $500 ($100)

Armenian Heritage Cruise

Armenian Heritage Cruise

Mr. & Mrs. Ghevont & Lydia Baghdassarian

Mr. Gregory Boudakian

Ice Cream Stand $400 ($50)

Dr. & Mrs. Stephen & Liza Andreopoulos

Anonymous

Mr. & Mrs. Alex & Maria Bechirian

Mr. Michael & Dr. Nouneh Gostanian ($200) 

Dr. & Mrs. Daniel & Mary Zaccariello 

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your generous donation to St. Sarkis Church.

Your continuous support of St. Sarkis Church is sincerely appreciated. It is because of dedicated individuals like you, that our church continues its spiritual mission and service.

May God bless you for your kindness and reward you abundantly.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Pastor &

Board of Trustees

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE GALATIANS (6.14-18)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.   

Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.   

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

ՊՕՂՈՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ ԳԱՂԱՏԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ (6.14-18)

Գալով ինծի, քա՛ւ լիցի որ մեր Տիրոջ Յիսուս Քրիստոսի խաչէն զատ ուրիշ բանով պարծենամ: Այդ խաչին միջոցաւ աշխարհը մեռած է այլեւս ինծի համար, ինչպէս ես մեռած եմ աշխարհին համար: Կարեւորը մարդուս թլփատուած կամ անթլփատ ըլլալը չէ, այլ՝ նոր արարած ըլլալը: Թող Աստուծոյ խաղաղութիւնն ու ողորմութիւնը ըլլան բոլոր անոնց հետ, որոնք այս սկզբունքին համաձայն կ’ապրին. բոլոր անոնց՝ որոնք իր ընտրեալ ժողովուրդը կը կազմեն:

Այսուհետեւ, խնդրեմ, ոեւէ մէկը աշխարհիկ հոգերով թող զիս չնեղէ, որով­հետեւ ես Յիսուսի կը պատկանիմ, ինչպէս մարմնիս վրայ վէրքերուն սպիները կը վկայեն:

Եղբայրնե՛ր, մեր Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոսի շնորհքը ձեր բոլորին հետ ըլլայ: Ամէն:

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN (3:13-21)

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.  

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

 ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆՈՒ (3.13-21)

Ո՛չ ոք երկինք ելաւ՝ բացի Մարդու Որդիէն, որ երկինքէն իջաւ, եւ որ երկինքի մէջ է: Եւ ինչպէս Մովսէս պղինձէ օձը բարձրացուց անապատին մէջ, նոյնպէս ալ Մարդու Որդին պէտք է բարձրանայ, որպէսզի անոր հաւատացողը յաւիտենական կեանք ունենայ: Որովհետեւ Աստուած ա՛յնքան սիրեց աշխարհը, որ մինչեւ իսկ իր միածին Որդին տուաւ, որպէսզի անոր հաւատացողը չկորսուի, այլ յաւիտենական կեանք ունենայ: Որովհետեւ Աստուած իր Որդին աշխարհ ղրկեց՝ ո՛չ թէ որպէսզի աշխարհը դատապարտէ, այլ որպէսզի աշխարհը փրկէ: Ով որ կը հաւատայ անոր, չի դատապարտուիր. իսկ ով որ չի հաւատար անոր, արդէն իսկ դատապարտուած է, Աստուծոյ միածին Որդիին չհաւատալուն համար:

– Եւ դատապարտութիւնը այս է.- Լոյսը աշխարհ եկաւ, բայց մարդիկ խաւարը լոյսէն աւելի սիրեցին, որովհետեւ չարութիւն կը գործէին: Ով որ չար գործ կը կատարէ՝ կ’ատէ լոյսը եւ լոյսին չի գար, որպէսզի իր գործերը չյայտնուին: Սակայն ով որ կը կատարէ ինչ որ ճշմարիտ է՝ լոյսին կու գայ, որպէսզի յայտնի ըլլայ թէ իր գործերը Աստուծոյ կամքին համաձայն գործուած են:

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

This Sunday, September 15, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats), which is the last of the five Tabernacle Feasts observed by the Armenian Church during the liturgical year. The Exaltation celebrates the transformation of the cross as an instrument of punishment into a venerated symbol of life and victory. A sacred religious symbol that was now exalted and glorified. 

Most Christian churches commemorate this holy day on September 14. The Armenian Church celebrates it on the Sunday closest to September 14. It is the oldest of the feasts devoted to the cross. The cross, once a means of death for criminals, became the dominant symbol of triumph over death. Christ’s apostle James, Patriarch of Jerusalem, elevated the Holy Cross during a religious ceremony while chanting the hymn, “Khachee oh Krisdos Yergeer Bakanemk,” (To Your Cross We Bow), thus accepting the cross as a symbol of salvation and an object of utmost veneration. James was later martyred in Jerusalem, and upon his grave stands the expansive Armenian monastery of St. James in Jerusalem.

There are four feasts devoted to the cross in the Armenian liturgical calendar, with the Exaltation being the most important. The other three are: Apparition of the Holy Cross; Holy Cross of Varak, and Discovery of the Cross. Each of these four holidays devoted to the Holy Cross are related to the life and the salvific work of our Lord.  

The ceremony for the Exaltation begins with the decoration of the Cross with sweet basil (rehan), a sign of royalty, and also as a symbol of the living cross that is carried around the church in a procession led by the priest and followed by deacons and altar servers. After the Bible readings, the officiating priest lifts the Cross and makes the sign of the Cross and blesses the four corners of the world (Andastan service), asking God’s blessing and bounty for the prosperity of the Armenian Church and for the fruitfulness of the land, and all the holy places and inhabitants thereof. 

The Khachveratz ceremony was prepared by Catholicos Sahag Dzoraporetsi (677-703). He also composed the hymn that is sung on this day. As with other Tabernacle Feasts, the Exaltation is preceded with a period of fasting (Monday to Friday) and followed by a Memorial Day (Merelotz). The Eve of this Feast is also celebrated (Navagadik). Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, following Memorial Day are feast days dedicated to the Holy Church. 

Name day commemorations this Sunday include: Khatchadour, Khatchig, Khatcherets, Rehan, Khatchkhatoun, Khachouhi, Khatchperouhi, Khosrov, Khosrovanoush, Khrosrovitoukhd, and Nshan. 

LEO AGHJAYAN, son of Mr. & Mrs. Anto Aghjayan was brought to church for the 40th day dedication service, according to the rites of the Armenian Church. We welcome Leo to the life of the church and hope to see him soon for the Sacrament of Baptism.  

Mr. ARAZ STRAK MARASHLIAN and Ms. MADELEINE MAGARDICIAN were married on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Best man and maid of honor were Mr. Apik Shahinian and Mrs. Aida Shahinian. We congratulate the newly married couple & wish them a happy life together. 

-The Altar Flowers for this Sunday are donated by Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Sandy Shamlian