E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church

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

Sunday: 07/16/2023

ՏՕՆ ԱՅԼԱԿԵՐՊՈՒԹԵԱՆ ՏԵԱՌՆ ՄԵՐՈՅ ՅԻՍՈՒՍԻ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻFEAST OF TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Sunday Readings:

 Wisdom 7:25-8:4; Zechariah 14:16-21; 1 John 1:1-7; Matthew 16:13-17:13

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

St. Sarkis Church's Summer Camp Program for 2023 started on Monday, July 9, 2023, with an eventful week full of exciting activities and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

St. Sarkis camp welcomed 56 campers ranging from the ages of 4-12 years old. The campers have made new friendships and have reunited with old camp friends they have not seen since last summer. 

On Wednesday, July 11, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, visited our camp. The Prelate had an interesting meeting with the campers at the church sanctuary. He highly praised the dedication of everyone participating in this activity and thanked parents for their trust. 

We look forward to welcoming new campers for our second week of camp Next Monday!

Thank you to our main sponsors,

Mr. & Mrs. Antranig & Marion Boudakian

for their loyal and generous donations, for believing in our program and helping it

thrive for the past 16 years

$2,000.00

WATER PARK SLIDE $1000

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Eduard & Alina Kochoumian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Razmik & Sonya Nenejian

Sponsored By, Mrs. Seta Boyadjian 

DRY SLIDES PARK $1000 (Need 1 Sponsor)

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Aline Kassabian

Sponsored By, Dr. Siranush Cholakian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Dr. Dekran & Scarlet Arakelian

WHEELS ON THE BUS $1000

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Sorina Dumanian

LEGOLAND $900 

Sponsored By, The Ladies Guild of St. Sarkis Church

ARTS & CRAFTS $800 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Greg & Lusine Tchilingarian

SOFT PLAY $750 

Sponsored By, Ms. Malvina Shishmanian

FIRE & ICE SCIENCE SHOW $600 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Elizabeth Ohannessian

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Elie & Zabel Hatem

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Garo & Vicky Hagobian

UP, UP & AWAY SCIENCE SHOW $600 

Sponsored By, Dr. & Mrs. Louis & Elenne Najarian

TUMBLEBUS $600 

Sponsored By, Mrs. Aida Ounjian

Sponsored By, Mr. Varouj Oghali

SPORTS $500

Sponsored By, Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian

LITTLE CHEF $400 

Sponsored By, Anonymous

 PETTING ZOO COMES TO YOU $400

Sponsored By, Drs. Arthur & Louiza Kubikian

PLAY A DOUGH $400 

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Dennis & Annita Nerses Kurpius

SLIME TIME $400

Sponsored By, Ms. Aleene Voskerijian

FIRST FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, ARS Erebouni Chapter

SECOND FRIDAY PIZZA PARTY $300

Sponsored By, Mr. & Mrs. Setrag & Annie Kazandjian

The St. Sarkis Book Club met on July 11th to discuss Raffi’s The Fool. 

Two excellent presentations on themes and characters presented in the book helped kick start engaging discourse among all the members. Topics ranging from Armenia’s history and the diaspora, the role of Armenian women in society, and thoughts on Armenia’s future were all part of meaningful discussion. Members then shared insights about their own families and ancestry. The powerful and surreal final chapter lent itself to interesting exchanges of views on universal topics such as love, hope, life and death, and the author’s idyllic vision for Armenia. 

The next book selection is My Name is Aram by William Saroyan and the meeting will be held August 15th at 7pm.

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

COMMEMORATION OF THE OLD ARK AND THE FEAST OF THE NEW ARK: THE HOLY CHURCH

On Saturday, July 15, the Armenian Church commemorates the Old Ark of the Covenant and the Feast of the New Holy Church. This combined commemoration takes place on the Saturday prior to the Feast of the Transfiguration. Celebrating the old and new shows the perpetuity of the Church. God revealed Himself to humankind gradually through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets. The church existed from the beginning, and that is why the Old Testament is accepted as part of the Holy Scriptures and recognized as a preamble to the New Testament. The hymn designated for this day proclaims, “Who from the beginning established your church with wisdom, O, Father of Wisdom, who revealed to Moses upon Sinai.” 

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

This Sunday, July 16, the Armenian Church observes one of its five major feasts, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ (Aylagerbutiun/Vartavar). This Feast is observed fourteen weeks after Easter, and therefore can fall between June 28 and August 1. It commemorates an episode in the New Testament recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Peter, recalling Christ’s ascent up Mount Tabor with disciples John, James, and Peter.  

The Transfiguration took place on the “holy mountain” (believed to be Mt. Tabor) where Jesus went with his three disciples. As He was praying, “His face shone like the sun and his garments became white as light.” Moses and Elijah appeared at his side, representing the law and the prophets. It was at this moment that his appearance was “transfigured” revealing himself as God to his disciples as a voice from above said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Jesus urged his disciples to keep silent about what they saw, but the incident was recorded in the Gospels.  

The pre-Christian festival Vartavar (Festival of Roses) was assimilated into this new Christian holiday. Armenians would decorate the temple of the goddess Asdghig (goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and water) with roses, release doves, and engage in water games on this popular pre-Christian holiday. St. Gregory the Illuminator combined Vartavar with the Transfiguration. The fifth century historian Yeghishe wrote the prayer that is recited in church on this feast: “O Lord, bless the harvest of this year and defend from all the perils, and may your right hand, O Lord, protect us for the whole year.” 

Vartavar became a traditional day of pilgrimage to churches named in honor of St. John the Baptist. The most popular destination was the Monastery of Sourp Garabed of Mush, founded by Gregory the Illuminator in the province of Taron near Mush. (Garabed means Forerunner, referring to John the Baptist). The monastery was large and expansive and built like a fortress in the mountains. More than one thousand pilgrims could be accommodated. After 1915 the complex ceased to exist. The monastery was destroyed by the Turkish army, and the ravages of time, weather and scavengers completed its destruction. The once large and thriving Armenian monastery is now a mass of stone and rubble.  

This Sunday is the name day for those named Vartkes, Vartavar, Vart, Vartouni, Vartanoush, Vartiter, Varvar, Vartivar, Alvart, Sirvart, Lousvart, Hyvart, Baidzar. 

 A READING FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. JOHN (1.1-17)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆԷՍ ԱՌԱՔԵԱԼԻ ԸՆԴՀԱՆՐԱԿԱՆ ԱՌԱՋԻՆ ՆԱՄԱԿԸ (1.1-7) 

Մենք լսեցինք, մեր աչքերով տեսանք եւ մեր ձեռքերով շօշափեցինք Որդին, Բանը, որ սկիզբէն իսկ կեանքի ստեղծիչն էր: Անիկա նոյնինքն կեանքն էր որ յայտնուեցաւ: Մենք տեսանք եւ կը վկայենք, ձեզի պատմելով անոր մասին, որ Հօրը հետ էր եւ այժմ մեզի յայտնուեցաւ: Ինչ որ տեսանք ու լսեցինք կը պատմենք ձեզի, որպէսզի դուք ալ մասնակից դառնաք այն հաղորդակցութեան որ մենք ունինք Հօրը եւ անոր Որդւոյն Յիսուս Քրիստոսի հետ, եւ ձեր ուրախութիւնը կատարեալ ըլլայ: Ահա թէ ինչու կը գրենք ձեզի այս նամակը:

Պատգամը որ իրմէ լսեցինք եւ ձեզի կը փոխանցենք, սա է՝ թէ Աստուած լոյս է, բնաւ խաւար չկայ անոր մէջ: Արդ, եթէ ըսենք «հաղորդակից ենք իրեն» եւ միւս կողմէ շարունակենք խաւարի մէջ ապրիլ, կը ստենք ահա եւ ճշմարտութեան դէմ կը գործենք: Իսկ եթէ Աստուծոյ լոյսին մէջ քալենք, ինչպէս ինք լոյսի մէջ է, այն ատեն ճշմարտապէս հաղորդակից կ՚ըլլանք իրարու, եւ իր Որդւոյն Յիսուսի արիւնը կը սրբէ մեզ ամէն մեղքէ:



 THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (17.1-9)

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 

Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

ՅԻՍՈՒՍ ՔՐԻՍՏՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԸ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍԻ (17.1-9) 

Վեց օր ետք, Յիսուս իր հետ առաւ Պետրոսը, Յակոբոսը եւ Յովհաննէս եղբայրները եւ զանոնք բարձր լեռ մը հանեց, ուր առանձին էին: Հոն այլակերպեցաւ անոնց դիմաց. իր դէմքը արեւու նման լուսաւոր դարձաւ եւ հագուստները լոյսի նման ճերմակ եղան: Եւ ահա երեւցաւ Մովսէսն ու Եղիան, որոնք կը խօսէին Յիսուսի հետ: 

Պետրոս ըսաւ Յիսուսի. «Տէ՛ր, ի՜նչ լաւ է հոս. եթէ կ՚ուզես երեք վրաններ շինենք, մէկը քեզի, մէկը Մովսէսի եւ միւսը Եղիայի համար»: Մինչ Պետրոս կը խօսէր, ահա լուսաւոր ամպ մը ծածկեց զիրենք. ամպին մէջէն ձայն մը լսուեցաւ որ կ՚ըսէր. «Այս է իմ սիրելի Որդիս որ հաւնեցայ. անոր մտիկ ըրէք»: Երբ աշակերտները լսեցին ասիկա, սարսափահար՝ երեսի վրայ գետին ինկան: Յիսուս մօտենալով՝ դպաւ անոնց եւ ըսաւ. «Ոտքի՛ ելէք, մի՛ վախնաք»: Աշակերտները իրենց աչքերը վեր բարձրացուցին եւ Յիսուսէ զատ մարդ չտեսան:

Եւ մինչ լեռնէն վար կ՚իջնէին, Յիսուս պատուիրեց անոնց, ըսելով. «Մինչեւ որ մարդու Որդին մեռելներէն յարութիւն չառնէ, ձեր տեսածը ոեւէ մէկուն մի՛ պատմէք»: