St. Vartan Armenian Church of Mississauga

P.O. Box 53010, 5100 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 5A7

Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan, Pastor

Telephone (905) 549-2711    stvartan@cogeco.ca

(905) 617-7888

 

We Thank You For Donations Made to St. Vartan In Lieu of Flowers At Mrs. Rofik Tchaderjian’s Funeral Jan. 16, 2006

 

      Mr. & Mrs. Boghos Andonian                                200

      Dr. & Mrs. Berj Artinian                                         200

      Dr. & Mrs. Solomon Nigosian                               200

      Mrs. Silvia Alexanian                                             100

      Mr. & Mrs. Hrant Bardakjian                                  100

      Mrs. Aida Imasdounian                                         100

      Mr. & Mrs. Apig Imasdounian                                100

      Mr. & Mrs. Bedros Kokorian                                  100

      Mr. & Mrs. Berj Nalbandian                                   100

      Dr. & Mrs. Harry Sakarya                                      100

      Mr. & Mrs. Mardig Sevadjian                                 100

      Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Tchaderjian                              100

      Mr. & Mrs. Haig Thomasian                                  100

      Mr. Alain Tchaderjian                                            75

      Mrs. J. Kerr                                                            60

      Mr. & Mrs. Nazar Madjarian                                   60

      Mr. & Mrs. Kevork Artinian                                     50

      Mr. & Mrs. Nizag DerHovagimian                          50

      Mr. & Mrs. Nubar Karadjian                                    50

      Mrs. & Mrs. Hratch Melkonian                                50

      Mr. & Mrs. Garbis Martayan                                   50

      Mr. & Mrs. George Tahan                                      50

      Mr. & Mrs. Vartouhie Zaroukian                              50

      Mr. & Mrs. Mihran Jismejian                                   40

      Mr. Vahe Masrjian                                                  40

      Mr. Melkon Farkosian                                             25

      Mr.  & Mrs. R. Lush                                                20

      Mr. N. Pilavjian                                                       20

      Mrs. Azniv Thomasian                                           20

      Mr. and Mrs. Berge Shalvardjian                           40

 

Mrs. Tchaderjian was a long-time member of our community and a genocide survivor.  May God bless her soul.

 

Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006

 

Today’s service features Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan @ 1 p.m. Sunday School @ 1:30 p.m. with teacher Christine Ermarkaryan. 

 

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.  Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.  Until I get there, focus on reading the scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching  them. I Timothy 4:12-16

 

Welcome to St. Vartan Armenian Church

 

If you are a newcomer to St. Vartan, it is a pleasure to welcome you to our Badarak this afternoon.  Thank you for making time in your busy

schedule to be with us. We believe that you will sense God’s Spirit among us as we worship today.

 

Requiem services can be requested for the next church service by calling Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan.

 

Requiem services have been requested today by Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Rita Okhovati and their son Michel, for their sister-in-law Rosemary Khemichian, who passed away suddenly Jan. 13, 2006 in Iran.  Rosemary was the wife of Rita’s brother Garo.  May God bless her soul.

 

Did you know? News stories and Photos Now Available on St. Vartan’s Website: www.stvartan.ca

 

A Hearty Kef Night Saturday, Feb. 11 - My Heart Beats For You, Valentine

 

A Valentine’s Day Kef Night is being planned for Saturday, Feb. 11 by the Parish Council.  Favourite Iranian dishes will be featured, followed by dancing.  The Kef Night will be held at St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church hall in Oakville.  Tickets are limited, so reserve your table now. 

 

For tickets, $30 Adults, $20 Youth, please call Ani Kerametlian at (905) 274-7734 or Vartegez Simonian at (905) 542-9621 and leave a message.

 

Are You New to St. Vartan Armenian Church?

 

At St. Vartan, we understand how being a newcomer can be a bit intimidating.  It is our goal to do all we can to make your time with us comfortable and enjoyable.  Immediately following the service today we have planned a coffee hour and we invite you to join us in the parish hall.  We’re glad you’re here and we hope to see you again.  Our next service is Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.

 

Mailing List Being Updated. Make Sure you’re On It

 

Please fill out the mailing list forms you can find on clipboards at the doors of the church today. The Parish Council needs to keep its mailing list up-to-date and doesn’t want to miss you in future mailings.  If you would like to receive church news by email, please let us know.


Must I Fast Before Taking Holy Communion?

 

The answer is yes. The pious Christian must approach the Holy Altar with a clean mind, body and heart.  Confession, penance and fasting are the tools for cleansing one’s insides.

 

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:27

 

For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. 1 Corinthians 11:29

 

In his Winter Sermons, St. Gregory of Datev (14th century) urges all Christians to confess or admit sins they have committed, every Sunday, while they still remember what they have done or said during the week.  Failing to confess or admit one’s sins leaves one in a sinful state.  Receiving Holy Communion in such a state indicates the person treats the Holy Sacrament as a formality.  According to the fathers of our Church, such irresponsibility and lack of reverence turns the communion you receive from being the life-giving body of Christ to a “judgment upon” oneself. 

 

If you are required to eat breakfast for health reasons, you may do so before receiving Holy Communion.  The dietary rule also does not apply to people who are bedridden or hospitalized.

 

Get your tickets early for Comedy Theatre in Mississauga, March 4

 

If you like theatre, you will want to be there when Alexander Saroukhan’s Menk Hayeren Chenk Kider is performed on Saturday, March 4, 2006 in Mississauga.  It is a comedy, written and performed in Armenian, about Armenians living in the Diaspora.

 

A well-known and respected member of the Armenian community in Egypt, the late Mr. Saroukhan is best remembered for his political cartoons.  POKR PEM Theatrical Group, under the direction of Mrs. Sirarpi Acemyan of Toronto, is taking this play to Armenians in North America.

 

St. Vartan Armenian Church invites you to attend the Mezze Theatre evening which begins at 7:30 p.m. at Ecole Secondaire Ste. Famille, 1780 Meadowvale Blvd., Mississauga.  Exit Hwy 401 at Erin Mills Parkway/Mississauga Road and drive north to Derry Road.  Take Derry Road East and turn left at the second traffic lights.

 

Tickets are Adults $25, Youth $15 and can be purchased by calling Vartegez Simonian at (905) 542-9621 or Yeto Balian at (905) 785-2909.

 

What are the Different Requiem Services in the Armenian Church?

 

In the Armenian tradition, there are different rituals after the funeral services and the internment of a Christian.  The Book of Rituals (Mashdots) has special services for:

 

          the morning after the internment, when the ritual is held at the grave site (for deceased clergymen, services are held at the grave site for six consecutive days)

 

          the morning of the seventh day (yotnorek) of the internment, when the ritual is held at the grave site (for deceased clergymen, services are also held on the 15th day)

 

          the fortieth day (karasoonk) of the internment.  The requiem is the same as the seventh-day service (for clergy there is a special 40th day service)

 

This is usually held on the closest Saturday or Sunday when the name of the deceased is mentioned by the celebrant during the Divine Liturgy, particularly during the special prayers offered for the deceased.

 

          the first anniversary (dareleets) of the internment.  The requiem is the same as the seventh-day service (for clergy there is a special first anniversary service).

 

          memorial days (hokehankeesd) which follow the Divine Liturgy on five memorial days that follow the five major feasts during the year; the requiem for memorial days at the grave site can also be held on any day.

 

In the past, food was prepared and distributed to the poor after all requiem services.  This was the Armenian Christian way of providing for the poor.  This tradition has evolved to be observed as a shared meal (hokejash) with friends and loved ones today.

 

Our next Badarak will be Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006 at 1 p.m. at St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church.  We hope to see you then.