The Shogh Sunday Bulletin Issue # 250 -June 2, 2024

- SHOGH

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

FEAST OF HOLY ECHMIADZIN

SYNAXIS READINGS

Prov. 9:1-6 / Zech. 3:7-4:9

Heb. 9:1-10 / John 10:22-30

Morning Service at 9:30 am

Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am

Celebrated by:

REV. ARCHPRIEST FR. ZAREH ZARGARIAN

Vicar and Parish Priest

Choirmaster: Dn. Shahe Altounian

Organist: Mrs. Sona Artinian

HEBREWS 9:1-10

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the

sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings - external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

JOHN 10:22-30

Then came the Festival of Dedication b at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “Howlongwillyoukeepusinsuspense?IfyouaretheMessiah,tell usplainly.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch themoutof myFather’shand.IandtheFatherareone.”

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John14:27

ՏՕՆԿԱԹՈՂԻԿԷՍ.ԷՋՄԻԱԾՆԻ

Կաթողիկէ Սբ. Էջ-

միածնի տօնը կընշուի

Սբ. Զատիկէն 64 օրեր

ետք կամ Հոգեգալստ-

եան Կիրակիին յաջոր-

դող երկրորդ Կիրա-

կին՝ այս տարի Յունիս

2-ին: Միշտ 35 օրերու

շարժականութեամբ՝

Մայիս 24-էն մինչեւ

Յունիս 27 կրնայ հան-

դիպիլ: Աւանդութեան

համաձայն՝ Խոր Վի-

րապի բանտարկութե-

նէ դուրս գալով՝ Ս.

Գրիգոր Լուսաւորիչը

կը տեսնէ նշանաւոր

տեսիլքը, ուր Միածի-

նը, ողողուած հրաշա-

փառ լոյսով, կ'իջնէ

երկինքէն եւ ոսկեայ մուրճով կը զարնէ

Սանդարամետի գետնափոր

FEAST OF THE CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

Sixty-four days after Easter, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. This year it falls on June 2. The Etchmiadzin Cathedral was the first cathedral built in Armenia. It is located in the city of Etchmiadzin. The original cathedral was built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, who converted Armenia to Christianity. In 301, by the royal decree of King Trdat III Armenia adopted Christianity as its state religion. St. Gregory had a vision of Christ descending from heaven with a hammer and a gold spike. On the place where Christ planted the spike the outline of a

church appeared. The vision of Etchmiadzin inspired the construction of the Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Mother of God and became the Holy See of the Armenian Church. Later the name was changed to Holy Etchmiadzin, as a reference to that vision; it can be translated as “the Descent of the Only-Begotten”. On this feast day the Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, following which the Catholicos of All Armenians will offer a Pontifical Prayer at the Altar of Descent for the vibrancy and strength of the Mother See.

ST. GREGORY'S DELIVERANCE FROM THE PIT

After ordering the execution of Christian nuns Gayane, Hripsime and their companions, King Trdat III became very ill. King's sister Princess Khosrovidukht had a recurring dream, where she was told that there was one person who could cure her brother: the imprisoned Gregory. She told the nobles, that Gregory was alive and was the only man who could cure the King, but nobody believed her. She insisted and finally convinced the nobles to follow her request. They sent men to the pit and found that after more than 13 years of imprisonment, Gregory was alive. Gregory was brought to Vagharshabad. The first thing he did was to collect and bury the scattered remains of holy nuns. He built chapels over their relics (St. Hripsime. St Gayané and St. Shoghagat) After being anointed bishop by the Metropolitan of Caesarea Leontius in 302, he assumed the leadership of the Armenian Church as its first Catholicos, a post he graced for 25 years. He baptized the king and royal family in 303 on the Christmas day in the River of Aratsani. According to historian Agathangelos, for 7 days St. Gregory St. Gregory kept baptizing people and later conducted mass baptisms throughout Armenia.

The Deliverance of St. Gregory the Illuminator from the pit became the beginning of the “Great Conversion" of Armenian people. As a result, Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion in the year 301. The Armenian Church commemorates the Deliverance of St. Gregory the Illuminator from the Pit on Saturday following the feast of Sts. Hrimpsimé, Gayané.

DID YOU KNOW?...

A-As a universal Christian Saint, Gregory the Illuminator is also celebrated by Orthodox and Catholic churches. The sister churches commemorate St. Gregory on September 30.

B- On the Feast day of St. Gregory the Illuminator's Deliverance from the Pit, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates a special service and the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator were solemnly taken from the Mother See to Khor Virap.

COMMEMORATION OF ST. MANE AND ST.NUNE

The Armenian Church remembers Sts. Nunė and Manė on the second Tuesday after the Pentecost. St. Nunė and St. Manė were two of the companions of St. Hripsime, who fled persecutions by the Emperor Dioklethianos and came to Armenia. However, these nuns were not destined to die together with their companions.

ST.MANĖ

St. Manė was a follower of Sts. Hripsimė and Gayanė. After separating from her companions, St. Manė started living a life of solitary prayer and contemplation in one of the caves in mount Sebuh. Later, the cave was named ‘Mane’s Cave'. During that same period St. Gregory the Illuminator decided to live the remaining of his days in seclusion. He went to the Mountain Daraghanyats to find a place to live and chose the same cave where Mane was living her abstinent life. When he approached the cave, Mane askied him to return in three days, prophesying, that she would die by then. Following her wishes, St. Gregory returned to the cave three days later and found her dead and buried her body in the cave (323).

ST.NUNĖ

St. Nunė (in the Georgian sources Nino) was also a follower of Sts. Hripsimė and Gayanė. She was an active missionary and healer in Georgia. Escaping the persecutions of the Armenian King Tirdat she left for the Georgian capital city of Metskhita. There she continued to live a prayerful life and preached the Gospel.

Becoming famous for performing miracles in the name of Jesus Christ, Nune was brought to the royal palace where she cured the Queen. Refusing the precious gifts offered to her, Nooneh continued preaching the Gospel. The Georgian King Mihran, felt the might of Nune's God

and converted to Christianity. The Gospel was preached also to the nobles.

St. Nunė preached and wasconverting the Georgian people to Christianity. Following her advice a delegation was sent to St. Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridates asking them to send clergy for assistance. By the order of St. Gregory, St. Nunė destroyed all idols and raised crosses on these sites.

ST. NERSES THE GREAT AND BISHOP KHAT

On Saturday, June 8, the Armenian Church commemorates Catholicos Nerses the Great and Khad the Bishop. According to historical sources, St. Nerces the Great was from the family lineage of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the grandson of the Armenian Patriarch Houssik and the father of Catholicos Sahak I (Ս

). Following the death of Catholicos Paren I, King Arshak II summoned a meeting to select the next Catholicos. The people were eager to return to the line of their beloved Gregory the Illuminator.

At the time Nerses served in the royal army and was the chamberlain for King Arshak II. He was found to be the most deserving candidate for the throne of the Catholicos, but Nerses did not agree that he deserves the throne of Catholicos. Under the compulsion of King Arshak Nerces was ordained as a deacon on the spot and was sent to Caesarea to receive the Church Hierarchical levels and was consecrated as Catholicos. Nerses was a student of St. Basil of Caesarea, one of three great Cappadocian Fathers.

Nerses the Great established numerous monasteries and schools. He built hospices, residences and hospitals for the ill, homeless and the poor. For his devout activity Nerses the Great is also called the “Illuminator of Hearts”. His accomplishments for the spiritual and social well-being of the people earnedhimthename“Great.”

Bishop Khad worked closely with St. Nerses the Great. Like Nerses he had great passion for social issues, especially helping the poor. He was instrumental in the implementation of the Catholicos’ initiatives and undertakings. Nerses entrusted most of the benevolent work of the church to Khad. He was closely associated with St. Nerses and therefore the church honors them on the same day.

CELEBRATED NAMES

June 1st is the remembrance day of St. Gregory the Illuminator leaving the Virap, and the following names are celebrated:

KRIKOR & KOKO

Requested by

The Haghverdian Family

In Memory of

Their beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother

THE LATE YERJANICK HAGHVERDIAN

On the 1st anniversary of her passing

Requested By

Ms Rose Aharonian

In Memory of Her Beloved Father

THE LATE CHARLES SHAVARSH AHARONIAN

On the 6th anniversary of his passing

Requested by

Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Evelyn Tefoglou

Marianne Madjarian

Violette Nairie Madjarian and Family

In Memory of

THE LATE SETRAK ARTIN MADJARIAN

On the 8th anniversary of his passing

Requested by Mr. & Mrs. Hagop & Nayiri Kasar

In Memory of THE LATE ZABEL ISHKHANIAN

THE LATE SAHAG ISHKHANIAN

Altar Flowers are sponsored by MS. ROSE AHARONIAN

In loving memory of CHARLES SHAVARSH AHARONIAN

Arrangements by Ann's Flowers

List of Donations May 25- 31, 2024

CHURCH RENOVATION FUND

Mr. & Mrs. Sahnur & Madlen Buyukayna $4,000

GENERAL

Mr. & Mrs. John & Freda Kalaidjian $100

Mr. & Mrs. Mike & Vicki Kesian $200

Dr. Nana Sogomonian $150

Anonymous Donor $80

Mr. Salvadore Difalco & Ms. Lina Torosyan $100

Ms Talin Sarkisyan $100

Mrs. Hripsime Dwyer $50

LOUMA

Ms Lucine Terbanjian $50

Ms Goharik Mirzaian $100

MEMBERSHIP

Mr. Thomas Siraki $80

Mrs. Alvart Siraki $80

Mrs. Marigold Garabet $80

Ms Diane Garabet $80

Ms Angela Garabet $80

Mrs. Zaghik Siraki $80

Mrs. Heghineh Kazazian $80

Mr. Vicken Kazazian $80

LOUMA

Ms Taline Baltayan $100

Mr. & Mrs. Allen & Sonia Atamer $250

IN MEMORY OF

THE LATE CHARLES SHAVARSH AHARONIAN

Ms Rose Aharonian $100

THE LATE SETRAK ARTIN MADJARIAN

Ms. Marianne Madjarian

THE LATE ZABELL & SAHAG ISHKHANIAN

Mr. & Mrs. Hagop & Nayiri Kassarian $50

THE LATE MARIE CHINCHINIAN

Mr. Bedros Chinchinian $100

THE LATE SHAKEH BASMAJIAN

Mr. & Mrs. Edward & Lucie Khounganian $50 (Church Renovation Fund)

THE LATE MARIE JEANNE DONIKIAN

Mr. & Mrs. Vatche & Rebecca Koukounian $200

ALTAR FLOWERS

Ms Rose Aharonian $100

APPRECIATION

We thank all our donors for supporting Holy Trinity Armenian Church through their heartfelt donations. If you prefer to stay anonymous, please contact the Church office and inform the administration.

Donations may be made: Over the phone: 416 431 3001

E-transfer via: info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com

Cheques payable to: HTAC

Tel:

Vicar of Armenian Church Canadian Diocese and Parish Priest Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh Zargarian

Pastor’s Assistant Rev. Fr. Hayari Tanashian

Church Office Hours: Monday to Friday - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Executive Secretary, Ani Sarvarian Ani@TorontoArmenianChurch.com

Administrative Secretary, Betty Panossian Betty@TorontoArmenianChurch.com

920 Progress Ave. Toronto, ON, M1G 3T5 Tel: 416 431 3001 www.TorontoArmenianChurch.com info@TorontoArmenianChurch.com @TorontoArmenianChurch.com