St. Vartan
Armenian Apostolic
Vol. 1 No. 10
For free email subscription or to
send comments: anijan2@gmail.com
Third Sunday of Great Lent
This is the
Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. The Sundays of Lent
analyze our lives through crises and difficulties and encourage us to think of
the great gift God gave us in the Resurrection.
If there was a
curtain before our altar today, it would be closed and the Divine Liturgy would
take place behind the curtain—this is what is done in Armenian Apostolic
churches during the Lenten period. With
the curtain closed, we know that Soorp Badarak is
going on, but we aren’t able to participate in it. The curtain is symbolic of all that keeps us
from God. It forces us to think about what life would be like without
Christ. It reminds us that sin is what
prevents us from truly enjoying God, from being one with God.
Reflection and Self-Evaluation
Lent is a time
for reflection and self-evaluation. The Church guides us through this period by
offering means of self-discipline and instruction, from dietary restrictions to
meditation and prayers.
It is a time to
slow down, to realize what choices we are making, what we consider important in
our lives. Ask yourself, what is really necessary to live? Life is made up of excesses which clutter our
lives and our values.
It is love that
must be at the centre of your Lenten journey, because it is the one ingredient
of life that gives meaning and purpose to life.
Love is a necessity of life that needs to be cultivated and nurtured
during Lent, so that it can become the main purpose of your life afterwards. The
goal is to be in love and harmony with your family, friends and nature.
Take the
opportunity to read the Bible and really pray with your heart, not just
reciting words to God, but really communicating with him. Take time to meditate and look at what is
happening around you in your life. When
you are able to be at peace with yourself, you will find that God is not far
away, just like when the curtain across the altar is opened, you can see God on
the other side. God is always with
us. We are the ones putting up barriers
to God with the sin in our lives.
Fr. Vazken Movsesian, St. Peter’s
Armenian Church & Youth Ministries
Welcome to St. Vartan
Armenian Church
If you are a
newcomer to St. Vartan, it is a pleasure to welcome
you to our Soorp Badarak this afternoon. Thank you for making time in your busy
schedule to be with us. We believe that
you will feel God’s Spirit and his renewing love among us as we worship
together.
Divine Liturgy @
Requiem
services (hokehankist) can be requested for the next
church service by calling Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan. A
requiem may be requested following the death of a loved one, 40 days after
their death (karasoonk),the yearly anniversary, name
day, birthday or Father’s/Mother’s Day.
Requiem services have been requested for today by:
† Mr. John Donelian,
Mr. Gomidas Donelian, Mr.
and Mrs. Jason and Lydia (and Kayla) Irwin, Mr. and Mrs. Michael and
Susan Sarian, Mrs. Dirouhie
Michelet, Mr. Jean-Paul Michelet,
Mrs. Jeanne-Lucie (and Emilie) Audrain, Mr. and
Mrs. Giragos and Rosie Boyadjian,
the Boyadjian, Mukhtarian, Tchakerian, MacLennan, El-Chaimi, Zakarian, and Donelian families, and their children for the loving memory
of his wife, their mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, and
great aunt, Mrs. Lucie Donelian (1 year). May God
bless her soul.
† Miss Ani kerametlian, Dr. and Mrs.Vatche
and Doris Kerametlian and sons Stephan, Raffi and Saro, and Mr. Vazken Kerametlian for the loving
memory of their mother and grandmother Mrs. Tefon Keuchguerian Kerametlian (I
year). May God bless her soul.
† The Armenian
Relief Society Aragast Chapter of Mississauga for the
loving memory of their members Roza Andreassian, Seda Amirkhanian, Alia Babayan, Areg Gharakhanian,
Lena Khodaverdian, Nina Melik
Hakopyan, and Arakse Vassilian. May God
bless their souls.
† Miss Julliet Sarvarian, Mr. and Mrs. Norik and
Agnes Nazarian and Edwin and Yvette, Mr. and Mrs. Mardik and Adrineh Jorjezian and children Talin and
Michael for the loving memory of their mother and grandmother Mrs. Aghavnik Boghossian. May God bless her soul.
† Mr. and Mrs. Norik and Agnes Nazarian
and Edwin and Yvette, and Mr. and Mrs. Khatchig and Jennik Haroutounian and family
for the loving memory of their mother and grandmother Mrs. Satenik
Arakelian. May
God bless her soul.
As God’s fellow
workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “in the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped
you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Daily Scripture
Isaiah
54:11-55:13
2 Corinthians
6:1-7:1
Luke 15:1-32
Meet our pastor
Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan
905-916-1886 905-617-7888
stvartan@hotmail.com
Are You On Our Mailing List?
The Parish
Council needs your help to keep its mailing list up-to-date. Sign up to receive
church news by email. Clipboards are at
the church entrance doors.
Church Envelopes
St. Vartan has offering envelopes available in the foyer, by
the candles. Please help yourself. We
thank God for your support and the blessing of your presence.
The Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Each Sunday in
Lent, we are encouraged to analyze our lives through the parables told by
Jesus. Today we remember the story of
the Prodigal or Lost Son, found in Luke 15:11-31. A man had two sons. The
younger son asked his father for his share of the estate now, and the father
agreed. The younger son took his share,
and went far away where he wasted all the money on wild living. When his money ran out, he was forced to get
a job feeding pigs on a farm. Starving,
and reduced to eating the pig food, he decided to return home to his father,
and beg his forgiveness. The older brother was angry that the father welcomed
his brother back with a great feast, when he was obedient and a good son, yet was never shown any attention for his loyalty, and
hard work.
Younger son selfish and
irresponsible
The younger son
showed arrogant disregard for his father’s authority, as head of the family, in
initiating the division of the estate, something that would have taken place
when his father died.
Like many who
are rebellious and immature, the younger son left home out of selfishness. He
wanted to be free, to live as he pleased, and he had to hit bottom before he
came to his senses. It often takes great sorrow, and tragedy, to cause people
to look to Jesus. Are you trying to live life your own way, selfishly pushing
aside any responsibility or commitment that gets in your way?
Stop and look before you hit bottom.
The pigs were
considered unclean animals, and were not eaten, or used for sacrifices, in the
time of the story. For a Jew to stoop to feeding pigs was a
great humiliation, and for this young man to eat food that the pigs had touched
was to be degraded beyond belief. The younger son had truly sunk to the
depths.
Father loving and patient
The father watched
and waited in this story. He was dealing with a human being with a will of his
own, but he was ready to greet his son if he returned. In the same way, God’s
love is constant and patient and welcoming. He will search for us and give us
opportunities to respond, but he will not force us to come to him. Like the
father in this story, God waits patiently for us to come to him.
God’s great
love reaches out, and finds sinners, no matter why, or how, they got lost. It
was hard for the older brother to accept his younger brother when he returned. People
who repent after leading notoriously sinful lives are often held in suspicion. The
older brother represents the Pharisees who were angry, and resentful, that
sinners were being welcomed into God’s Kingdom.
Instead, we should rejoice, like the angels in heaven, when an
unbeliever repents, and turns to God. Like the father, accept repentant sinners
wholeheartedly, and give them the support, and encouragement that they need to
grow in Christ.
The father
forgave, because he was filled with love. The older son refused to forgive,
because he was bitter about the injustice of it all. His resentment rendered
him just as lost to the father’s love as his younger brother had been. Don’t
let anything keep you from forgiving others. Make your joy grow: forgive somebody who has hurt you.
BRING SOMEONE WHO NEEDS A RIDE TO
CHURCH.
A Reminder for Members
The Parish
Council has prepared an envelope with year end reports for you to review for
today’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Please bring it with you to our meeting.
Today, after Soorp
Badarak
St. Vartan’s
Annual General Meeting
St. Vartan’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place today,
immediately following Soorp Badarak. His Eminence,
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church of Canada, will be with us.
The Annual
General Meeting is an opportunity for our faithful to review the year gone by. Reports
are provided by the church committees, our priest Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan, and Parish Council
Chair Vasken Altounian. Come,
listen, and make a positive contribution to what we do and how we do it. Your
input helps make St. Vartan a better church.
There are
positions available on the parish council (two year term), as a diocesan
delegate (three-year term), and nominating, and auditing, committees (one year
terms). Nominations should be directed to Loris Dumanian,
or Ani Shalvardjian.
St. Vartan members are encouraged serve on a church committee,
or the Parish Council. Although everyone is welcome at the AGM, only members
are able to vote, or run for office. By paying your 2008 church dues ($100 per
family, and $60 per individual), you are able to vote.
Friday Evening Prayers
Join us on
Friday, Feb. 22 for a short Lenten prayer service with Very Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan at
Check It Out
www.stvartan.ca
www.armenianchurch.ca
www.armenianchurch.org
Did you know?
St. Vartan members receive discounts and other benefits (as
determined by the parish council) ? Be a smart consumer. Members’ discounts for
baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other benefits at church events add up—and
could ultimately cover the cost of your membership! SIGN UP NOW!
Friday Evening Prayer Services
During Lent
We invite you
to worship with us each Friday evening during the Great Lent period. Very
Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovhannisyan
will be holding Peace and Rest services with prayer at
In the Armenian
Church, the Peace and Rest services are performed more often during Lent than
at other times of the year. They are used especially during Lent because
they are penitential in nature, and remind us of the sincere effort we are
making to restore our pure and joyous relationship with God.
Lent is a time
set aside by the Church for self-examination, spiritual discipline, and is a
time to rededicate our lives to Christ and his gospel. Join us, as we reflect
through evening services and prayer upon our existence, the purpose of our
creation, and our journey in this world.
Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of
the sick is one of the seven sacraments of the Armenian Church. This sacrament
(khorhoort, mystery) heals the soul and body of the
sick, and is most effective and beneficial when the patient is still alert, and
conscious. It is used for people who are very ill, and rely on God’s mercy and
belief that the holy oil will quicken the recovery, or in the case of
inevitable death, the oil will alleviate any death-related sufferings. The oil
is recognized as representing the power of the Holy Spirit in healing, as when
Christ sent out his disciples to preach: “They went out and preached that
people should repent. They drove out
many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Mark
6:12-13
It was
established as a sacrament according to the message of the Apostle who founded
it. “Are any among you sick? They should
call for the elders of the church, and have them pray over them, anointing them
with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14
According to
the Church fathers, the aim is to grant perfect health through penance. The
service does not have any association with the preparation for death, or “last
anointment.” It is strictly used as a sacrament for healing, and can be
repeated.
From the 4th to
the 15th centuries, the Armenian Church administered the sacrament of the
Unction of the Sick. This is recorded in the Church Canons and commentary
works. However, beginning in the 15th century, the Armenian Church did not
refuse, but abstained from conducting the sacrament in order to resist the influence
of the Catholic Church. Over time, it was left out of our liturgical life. Today,
the Unction of the Sick is not regularly practiced, but is still recognized as
a sacrament of the Church.
In the
administration of the sacrament, the clergyman prays, and reads the gospel of
healing, blesses the individual, then offers communion. At the same time, he comforts and admonishes
the sick person to trust in God’s infinite mercy, by repenting and
participating in Holy Communion, to secure his salvation in order to enter his
eternal rest with a peaceful mind and spirit. It is considered a remedy for
pains, and for forgiveness of sins.
Thus, both the
body and the soul of the individual find peace and healing. This sacrament,
which started as anointing the sick with oil, to show the care and concern of
Jesus and his church, became more and more associated with the dying, starting
after the 8th century. The Armenian Church does not practice Extreme Unction of
the Sick, which is performed in the Roman Catholic Church, because it finds no
religious value in it.
The Armenian
Church only anoints the hands, and foreheads, of the clergymen at their funeral
to honour them in regard to their priestly and holy
office.
Seven Sacraments of the Armenian
Apostolic Church
BAPTISM HOLY MATRIMONY
CHRISMATION ANOINTING OF THE SICK
PENANCE ORDINATION
HOLY COMMUNION
March 2008 Schedule:
Soorp
Badarak
Palm Sunday
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Today, Stay for AGM
Please join us
in the Church Hall immed-iately after Soorp Badarak for St. Vartan’s
Annual General Meeting. Everyone is welcome. Don’t Forget to Pick Up Your Order
for Sjoukh& Lahmajoun
Next Service
We hope to see
you at our next Soorp Badarak at