Category: News & Events
FIRST DAY OF THE ST. ILLUMINATOR’S SATURDAY SCHOOL
The all new academic program for the Saturday school of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York, began last Saturday to a rousing welcome by students and parents. The school, which meets every Saturday from 9:45 am to 1 pm, will continue through May 18. Classes are held at the Armenian Center in Woodside, New York.
Armenian music, laughter, and balloons filled the halls and classrooms of the school as the organizing committee registered students and showed them the renovated classrooms. Parents and children filled the school’s main hall, to hear Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral and acting principal of the school, offer an opening prayer and words of welcome.
Following a reception for students and parents, the children were introduced to the teachers and then participated in special opening day activities that had been planned by the organizing committee.
The classrooms and hallways of the school were refurbished and the committee’s goal is to provide the students with a safe and happy place to learn and grow with their Armenian friends. Part of the opening day activities included the students leaving their handprints on the wall near the entrance. The children were given a choice of paint color in which they dipped their hands and with great joy left their imprint on the wall.
Students enjoyed first day activities in their classrooms and then the older students invited the younger students to watch their presentation of a short skit in Armenian about a little turtle that helps his friends when they need help.
Der Mesrob expressed thanks to the organizing committee and the parents for an inspiring opening day and the beginning of a successful academic year.
Registration is still open. Forms can be obtained at satarmenianschool@gmail.com or at www.stilluminators.org. Copies are also available at the Cathedral office.
CHRISTMAS AT THE NEW YORK ARMENIAN HOME
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian and Deacon Shant Kazanjian visited the residents of the New York Armenian Home, in Flushing, New York on January 10. After a beautiful Armenian Christmas service, Der Hayr and Dn. Shant sang some songs for the residents. Der Hayr presented each of the residents with beautiful scarves from Armenia. The residents were very glad to be remembered and gratefully accepted the gifts.
NEW YORK AREA YOUTH RAISE $2,000 FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF
Two thousand dollars was raised by five Armenian youth organizations during their 8th annual Thanksgiving party for the Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief. A check was presented to Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and a member of the Prelacy’s Religious Council, who accepted the check and expressed gratitude on behalf of Archbishop Oshagan.
The five organizations are: AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York; Armenian Network, Greater New York Region; New York Armenian Students Association; AYF-YOARF New Jersey Arsen Chapter; and AYF-YOARF, New York Hyortik Chapter.

CONSECRATION OF NEW PAINTING AND DOORS AT CATHEDRAL
The consecration of the new painting and new front doors for the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral by Archbishop Oshagan took place on Sunday, January 6, following Christmas services.
The impressive new doors were sponsored by Mr. Ardashes Bedrosian. The Cathedral has undergone a major renovation and transformation during the past few years. The new doors and the new painting are the most recent projects to be completed.
Painter: Rudik Petrosian



CHRISTMAS FESTIVIRIES AT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL
H. E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, celebrated the Christmas Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon, followed by Blessing of the Water ceremony. The Godfather of the Cross was Mr. Ardashes Bedrosian.



HOME BLESSING AND PRELATE’S CHRISTMAS RECEPTION
The Prelate’s annual Christmas reception took place on the evening of January 6 filling the Prelacy’s Vahakn and Hasmig Hovnanian reception hall with many well-wishers who were greeted by the Prelate Archbishop Oshagan and the Vicar Bishop Anoushavan.
The traditional Home Blessing was offered by Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, with the participation of area clergy including Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian, pastor emeritus of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
The Armenian tradition of Home Blessing is considered essential during the Christmas and Easter Holy days. During this ceremony, the priest blesses bread, water, and salt, all considered to be essential to life. It is customary to burn incense, echoing the words of the psalmist, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.” (Psalm 41)
“O Christ our God, guardian and hope of all your faithful, protect and keep in peace your people under the protection of your holy and venerable cross; and especially this family, their home, the bread, the salt, and the water. Save them O Lord from visible and invisible enemies and make them worthy to glorify you with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amen.
(Benediction from the Blessing of Homes service)

SAVING AN ARMENIAN MOTHER’S LIFE
Sevan Hajinian is a 52 year old mother of 15 and 17 year old daughters who needed a life-saving spine surgery at NYU Langone Medical Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Mrs. Hajinian and her brother are highly-dedicated members of the Canadian-Armenian community and active in the Canadian civil society. In addition to authoring an important resource book about “The Armenian Genocide Denied (A Response to Turkey’s Thirteen Propaganda Spins)”, she has been a volunteer youth leader, school board trustee, school parents committee member, and a social services, immigration and government relations adviser. Mrs. Hajinian had here surgery on Tuesday December 4. According to the doctors, the surgery went well. She was discharged from the hospital on December 15.
The initial estimated cost of the hospital and the doctors is US $146.000. The Hajinian family, the Canadian Armenian Community, and their friends from various faiths based and Canadian civil society organizations have raised CDN $120.000. The hospital agreed to schedule the surgery with what they have raised so far on the condition that the remaining balance will be paid after the surgery. Already the family transferred US $71,000 to the hospital. The doctors’ fees of US $48,500 have been paid in full. The family still has to pay the hospital’s remaining fees.
The above cost is based on 5 hours of surgery room operation time and 5 days of hospitalization. The surgery lasted around 7:30 hours. Mrs. Hajinina’s stayed in the hospital exceeded the 5 days. In total she stayed at the hospital almost two weeks.
Mrs. Hanjinian’s case is high profile case in Canada and the media covered her story on TV, radio, and print.
So far St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and community already raised $4,000.00.
If you would like to help in covering Mrs. Hajinian’s remaining hospital fees, please make a donation payable to the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016). Please indicate “Fund for Sevan Hajinian” in the memo area.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
We pray that with your help we will be able to give the family the best ever New Year and Christmas gift any one would wish—a good health. God Bless.
APPRECIATION LUNCHEON FOR VOLUNTEERS OF THE CATHEDRAL
On Sunday, December 23, all volunteers of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral were invited to gather at the John Pashalian Hall for Appreciation Luncheon. Rev. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor and Mr. Shant Chalian, Chairman of the Board of Trustees expressed their gratitude for the great service performed by volunteers.

