- SHOGH
BULLETIN
EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
SYNAXIS READINGS
ISAIAH 49:13-23 / GALATIANS 6:14-18 / JOHN 3:13-21
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
FollowingDivineLiturgyProcessionoftheHolyCross followedbytheblessinganddistributionof“Harissa’’and“Rehan”
GALATIANS
6:14-18
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which a the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule to the Israel of God.
From now on, 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 and sisters. Amen.
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 wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, hat everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
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 they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people 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 their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
FEAST OF EXALTATION OF HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, September 15, the Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This is the last of the five tabernacle feasts on our church calendar. The Exaltation refers to the return of the True Cross (on which Christ was crucified) from imprisonment and its ceremonious elevation.
In 610 A. D, the Persian King Khosrov attacks the Byzantine Empire and in 614 A. D. the Persian army enters Jerusalem. The Persians seized the Cross of our Lord and took it to Persia. 14 years later, the Emperor Heraclius recaptured the Cross. First he took it to Constantinople, passing by the Armenian city of Garin and 3 years later back to Jerusalem. Patriarch Zakariah of Jerusalem decorated the Cross with flowers and elevated it on the Hill of Calvary.
The other traditional churches celebrate this Feast on September 14th but the Armenian Church celebrates Feast of Exaltation of Holy Cross on the Sunday nearest to September 14th .
THE TRADITIONS OF FEAST OF HOLY CROSS
On the Feast of Khatchverats Pilgrimages would take place, especially to churches and monasteries caring the name of the Holy Cross. One of the most famous pilgrimage sites was the monastery of Holy Cross near Karin.
For the feast, the main cross of the church was decorated especially with basil leaves. This decorated cross would lead the procession of Andastan. At the end of the procession the basil was distributed to the faithful. People also call basil the flower of Cross.
On the occasion of the feast in the province of Vasbouragan it was customary to bake a special bread with herbs and share it with poor.
In the region of Musa Dagh, during the Feast of Exaltation of Holy Cross the pilgrims would go to the monastery of St. Thomas the Apostle. They would bring the animals for offering and the wheat to prepare
traditional harissa. Preparation of harissa was considered to be the privilege of the pilgrims from the village of Yoghounolouk
The Saturday preceding the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the eve of the feast, this year September 10. That day, as well as the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are the feasts of the Holy Church.
This feast commemorates the completion and the consecration of Church of holy Sepulcher by the initiative of IV century Empress Helena. In our church Navagadik also means the first dedication or the anniversary of dedication for any newly built church.
The Armenian church celebrates Navagadik on the eve of the big feast days as well. The main feasts, such as the five Tabernacle feasts of the Armenian church have Navagadik on the eve of each feast. In this case, Navagadik means that the fast before each feast prohibiting the use of any animal product becomes less strict. After the Divine Liturgy, the fasting Faithful are permitted to use dairy products and fish. For 5 tabernacle feasts the use of dairy product and fish is allowed on Saturday: after the morning Liturgy for the Feasts of Vartavar, Assumption of Holy Mother of God and Feast of Holy Cross after the Evening Jeragaluyts Mass for the feasts of Holy Nativity and the Holy Resurrection.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tradition has it, that on its way to the Holy City of Jerusalem, the Cross passed through Armenia and was placed in somewhere near the city of Karin (Erzrum). From the place, where the Holy Cross was left, spring water started to flow and later it became a place of pilgrimage. Near the place the Monastery of the Holy Cross was built and the tallest peak of the mountain range was called Khachapayd.
MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
In Armenian Apostolic church faithful make the sign of the Cross by joining the thumb, index finger and middle finger of the right hand as the symbol of Holy Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit,and fold ring finger and pinkie together against the palm as a symbol of oneness of two natures of Jesus Christ.
They place the right hand, as described above, first on the forehead saying, "In the name of the Father", then a little below the chest saying, "and the Son", then on the left side of the chest saying, "and the Holy", then on the right side of the chest saying, "Spirit", and end with placing the opened palm in the center of the chest saying, "Amen"
ON SEPTEMBER 15th IS THE FEAST OF EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
ON THIS OCCASION THE FOLLOWING NAMES ARE CELEBRATED: KHACHIG, KHACHADOUR, KHACHER, KHACHO, KHECHO, REHAN
FOLLOWING THE DIVINE LITURGY INDIVIDUALS WHO CARRY THE NAMES LISTED BELOW ARE INVITED TO RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSING.
THE PRIEST'S BLESSING
During the service the Priest will blesses faithful and objects with the Sign of the Cross: The Priest's hand is held to form his fingers into the Christogram “ICXC” a traditional abbreviation of the Greek words for “Jesus Christ”. The IC XC are the first and last letter in the name “Jesus”, or IHCOYC in Greek, and the first and last letter in the name “Christ”, or XPICTOC in Greek.
ON THE OCCASION OF FEAST OF EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS THE BASILS WERE DONATED BY MR. & MRS. HOVIC AND NARINE BOYADJIAN IN LOVING MEMORY OF HAROUTYOUN BOYADJIAN & GARABED EMIRKHANIAN
List of Donations between September 6- 13, 2023
HTAC RENOVATION FUND
In Memory of the Late Madlen Aynaciyan
The Balian Family $500
Ms. Josyane Cohen $150
ALTAR FLOWERS
September 8, 2024- Mr. Peter Shalvardjian $100
ALTAR FLOWERS
September 15, 2024 - Ms Payloun Movsessian $150
LOUMA
Mr. & Mrs. Khatchig & Zvart Mirzoyan $100
Mr. Pedros Chinchinian $100
IN MEMORY OF
THE LATE MADLEN AYNACIYAN
Mr. & Mrs. Harutyun and Sona Tersakyan $400
Lena and Hourig Ishkanian $100
Ms. Mary Louise O'Hara $100
Xin Da Chen Lydia (Li Liu) $30
Mr. & Mrs. Vatche & Doris Kerametlian $100
Mrs. Gueran Hovassapian and son, Mr. Hagop Hovassapian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Alexan & Nora Baltayan $100
Mrs. Alice Maltepe $50
Mrs. Grace Eudemishlian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Melkon & Rita B. Kardjian $50
Mr. & Mrs. Aram & Tili Isnar $100
Mr. Levon Orfalian $100
Mrs. Agavni Arslanyan $50
Ms Ani Kerametlian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Garbis and Hermine Sabounjian-Ustel $50
Mr. & Mrs. Aris & Sibil Kurkjian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Pascal & Lorie Balakji $50
Dr. & Mrs. Harry & Christine Sakarya $100
Dr. & Mrs. Jack & Kathrin Sakarya $100
Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Lisa Hanimyan $100
Mr. & Mrs. John & Arda Tcherkezian $50
Dr. Vahe Sivaciyan $100
Mr. Nazar Bastajian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Hovsep & Salpi Baliozian $100
Mr. Vazken Kerametlian $100
Mr. Pius Kim $100
Mr. & Mrs. Hagop & Dalita Dokmecian $100
Hasessian and Jenkins Families $100
Mr. & Mrs. Yervant and Seta, and Ms Taleen Chouljian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Larry & Alyak P. LaJambe $100
Mrs. Sirvart Mikaelian $50
Ms Nora Der Bedrossian $150
Mr. & Mrs. Haig & Yeranouhi Kelledjian $50
Mr. & Mrs. Raffi & Joy Bedrosyan $100
Mr. & Mrs. Fred & Nora Wallenburg $50
Mr. & Mrs. Takvor & Lucy Hopyan $100
Dr. Oshin Vartanian $100
Mr. Stephen-Sarkis Tchilinguerian $50
Ms Sona Kababejian $100
Mrs. Hripsime Dwyer $50
Pre-Eng Contracting Ltd. $300
Mr. Aris B Babikian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Yervant & Nairy Shahinian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Rye & Christine Shahinian $50
Mrs. Keghouhi Bastajian $100
Dr. Isabelle, Ms Silva & Knar Basmajian $200
Mr. & Mrs. Armen & Silva Kurkjian $100
Dr. & Mrs. Cyril & Noushig Tahtadjian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Setrak & Julia Isnar $200
Dr. & Mrs. Masis and Elizabeth Asik $100
Mr. & Mrs. Harutiun & Seta Sahakian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Berge & Annie Shalvardjian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Hagop & Juliette Janbazian $100
Mr. & Dr. Levon & Ani Hasserjian $100
Mrs. Pirlanti Torikoglu $100
Ms. Sylvia Der Sahakian $300
Mr. & Mrs. Artin & Eliza Chitilian $100
Mr. & Mrs. Harout & Seta Kassabian $100
Ms Taline Baltayan $100
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew & Marina Portal $100
Ms. Hilda Kandaharian $100
Dr. & Mrs. Raffy & Sonya Chouljian $200
Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Silva Mermer $100
Mr. Jermaine Hao $200
Ms Karine Marwood $100
THE LATE KRIKOR ANDONIAN
Ms. Elaine L. Clark $50
Mr. & Mrs. Hrant P. & Aghavni Khatchadourian $400
Ms. Cecilia Yung $50
Mr. & Mrs. Nurhan & Margaret Arman $100
Mr. & Mrs. Kyork & Lilit Andonian $100
Mr. John Boden $200
THE LATE ZABEL KHANDZOGHIAN
Mrs. Sonia Artinian $100
Mr. Stephen-Sarkis Tchilinguerian $50
Mr. & Mrs. Vasken & Alice Deukmedjian $50
Mrs. Arpiné Altounian $100
Ms Hasmig Kurdian $75
THE LATE KARNEEK VARJABEDIAN
Ms Hersebma Manook $100
THE LATE SARKIS SINANIAN
Ms Seta Zokian $20
Mr. & Mrs. Sarkis & Silva Sarkissian $200
Sevan Zokian $40
THE LATE DAVID HARUTYUNYAN
Mr. & Mrs. Samvel & Susanna Harutyunyan $150
THE LATE HAMPO SHALVARDJIAN
Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Jennifer Shalvardjian $150
THE LATE HAROUTYOUN BOYADJIAN, GARABED EMIRKHANIAN
Mr. & Mrs. Hovig & Narine G. Boyadjian $170
THE LATE HERMINE BASMAJIAN
Mr. Arin Aharonian $50
THE LATE PIROUZA GAYAYAN
Mr. & Mrs. Levon & Silva Mermer $100
Altar Flowers are Sponsored by MS PAYLOUN MOVSESSIAN
Arrangements by Ann's Flowers
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:
REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD
Monday, September 16, 2024
Requiem Service at 10:30 am
At York Cemetery, Section 3 at the site of Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument 160 Beecroft Rd. Toronto M2N 5Z5
Followed by the blessing of individual graves.
To schedule the blessing of your loved ones’ graves, please contact the Church office at 416-431-3001
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