Sunday School students visit the Morgan Library and Museum to view Armenian Manuscript collection

January 22,  2017                                                                                                                                                  

SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT MORGAN LIBRARY TO VIEW ARMENIAN MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION

 
On Sunday January 22, Some of the Sunday School students of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and their teachers walked to the Piedmont Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan to view the collection of Armenian illuminated manuscripts. A special workshop was prepared for the group by experts in the field, Sylvie Merian and Roger Wieck. They showed students, among many things, how the books were bound in a unique Armenian way; how the parchment made from animal hide became page of the manuscripts; the way gold was embossed on certain pages; and how silver cover designs were made. The students got an up close view of the manuscripts that they have been studying as a theme in Sunday School this year. After the workshop, the group explored the library and reading room of Piedmont Morgan. They also browsed other current exhibits on display. Finally, they relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company over an ice cream treat before being picked up by their parents.
 
This special trip was sponsored by Ms. Lucy Hayrabedian.

Farewell to Deacon Kevork Hadjian

FAREWELL TO DEACON KEVORK HADJIAN

During the last four years, Deacon Kevork Hadjian has been invited to St. Illuminator’s Cathedral from Armenia by the Pastor and Board of Trustees to direct the choir on Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter.  This year Dn. Hadjian participated also at the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24 and the 100th Anniversary of the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral on Sunday, May 17.
Kevork Hadjian, a deacon of the Armenian Apostolic Church, born in Anjar, Lebanon, a graduate of the Zarehian Seminary and the Gomidas Conservatory in Yerevan, is an accomplished choirmaster and singer who has already released four CDs of Armenian sacred, traditional, and patriotic music.

On Sunday, May 24, 2015, following the Divine Liturgy, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian addressed Dn. Kevork, on behalf of the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral by saying, “Please allow me to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for directing the Cathedral’s choir these past two months.  Your enthusiasm and energy that parishioners witnessed were amazing. Once again thank you and may God bless you.”

Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Dn. Kevork Hadjian and Dn. Ryan Tellalian

Flag Blessing and Prayers for the Armenian Republic

FLAG BLESSING AND PRAYERS FOR THE ARMENIAN REPUBLIC

By order of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, Prelacy parishes offered prayers of Thanksgiving for the Republic of Armenia and blessed the Armenian tricolor flag on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of the first Armenian Republic (May 28, 1918), and the 24th anniversary of the current Republic of Armenia (September 21, 1991), on Sunday, May 31. Requiem services were offered for the souls of the fallen heroes of Sardarabad, Bashabaran, Gharakilise, and the fallen in the struggle for Artsakh.

Արիւնից ծորած երիզ մի կարմիր,
Երկնքից պոկուած կտոր մի կապոյտ,
Հասուն հասկերի շող նարնջագոյն,
Եւ վեց դարերի խաւարի վրայ
Դրօշ Եռագոյն
Անդրանիկ Ծառուկեան

COUNCILWOMAN AND HER STAFF VISIT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL

On Monday, April 6, 2015, St. Illuminator‘s Cathedral welcomed Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (District 2) and Mr. Burton Leon, portfolio manager for NYCHA, to review and provide support for Cathedral Hall’s Side Door Project (handicap access ramp to sidewalk).

They were accompanied by Ms. Vanessa Diaz-Lopez and Ms. Marcela Medina and given a tour of  the Cathedral by Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pro bono Counsel to the Cathedral, Mr. Christopher Parnagian, Esq., and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Yervant Kasparian.

Mr. Yervant Kasparian, Mr. Christopher Parnagian, Esq., Councilwoman  Rosie Mendez,
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Mr. Burton Leon and Ms. Vanessa Diaz-Lopez

PREPARATIONS FOR THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL

Father Mesrob, Board of Trustees members and the 100th Anniversary committee of the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral working together in preparation for the historic event to be held on Sunday, May 17, 2015:

Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral at 10:30am, celebrated by H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

The Pontifical banquet in honor of His Holiness and the Cathedral’s 100th Anniversary will be held at The New York Palace in Manhattan at 4:00pm.

For more information and reservation please contact Cathedral’s office: (212) 689-5880,office@stilluminators.org
IMG_0307

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian with the members of Cathedral’s 100th Anniversary committee Mrs. Rosemary Alashaian, Mr. Joseph Vartanian, Ms. Alice Movsesian, Mrs. Zaghig Callian, Mr. Avedis Alashaian, Ms. Neiri Amirian, Ms. Aghavni (Aggie) Ellian and Board of Trustees Mrs. Lalig Vartanian, Mr. Artur Martirosyan, PhD, Mr. Antranig (Tony) Vartanian, Mr. Yervant Kasparian, Mr. Alex Alahverdian, Mr. Michael Yetemian and Mr. Viken Najarian

COMBATING RURAL POVERTY IN ARMENIA: DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS

On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the John Pashalian Hall of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral the audience learned much during the lecture/multimedia presentation by OXFAM representatives Mr. Jonathan Puddifoot and Ms. Margarita Hakobyan.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian opened the event with his welcoming remarks and introduced Mr. Jonathan Puddifoot and Ms. Margarita Hakobyan.

OXFAM is an international confederation of 17 organizations working in approximately 90 countries worldwide to find solutions to poverty and injustice around the world.

“OXFAM has been working in Armenia since the early 1990s, fighting poverty and making sure that people’s voices are heard. We work with more than 140 countries across six regions of Armenia to develop projects that bring lasting change to people’s lives. We work with the government to ensure the rights of poor people are put first, and conduct extensive research to help advocate for changes. We are working to improve the health sector, to improve the outlook for smallholder farmers and to help communities respond to natural disasters. We are empowering women and young people to get involved in the decisions affect them most”, stated Ms. Hakobyan.

Mr. Puddifoot presented a photograph taken in one of the rural Armenian villages to the St. Illuminator's Cathedral
Mr. Puddifoot presented a photograph taken in one of the rural Armenian villages to the
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral
Mr. Jonathan Puddifoot, OXFAM Regional Programme Manager of Eastern Europe
Mr. Jonathan Puddifoot, OXFAM Regional Programme Manager of Eastern Europe
Ms. Margarita Hakobyan, Country Director of OXFAM in Armenia
Ms. Margarita Hakobyan, Country Director of OXFAM in Armenia

TENTH ANNIVERSARY REQUIEM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN

H. E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, will officiate the Divine Liturgy and H. G. Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian will deliver the Sermon this Sunday, December 8, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. Following the Liturgy His Eminence will officiate over the Solemn Requiem Service in remembrance of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the United States and Canada from 1978 to 1998. Archbishop Mesrob passed away ten years ago, on December 2, 2003, during a visit to the United States.
A Baptismal Font dedicated to the loving memory of the late Prelate will be blessed. The Font is a gift from the Ashjian, Seropian, Yessaian, and Papazian families.

«Մեր ազգին համար, մեր եկեղեցիին համար ամէն մէկ հայ անուն է, դիմագիծ է, կեանք է, ապագայ է, թանկագին է: Ամէն մէկը՝ անփոխարինելի արժէք է»:
Մեսրոպ Արքեպիսկոպոս Աշճեան
«Գրական Թերթ» – 2002

Our generation has been chosen to be part of one of the most difficult, but also most exciting, eras in Armenian history. More than ever we need the vision to recognize and act on the responsibilities that have been placed on our shoulders. If we recognize and act on our responsibilities, if we live our faith, then I believe that the future of the Armenian nation is bright.
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian
“A Message for the New Year” (1996)

Ashjian_Mesrob