YEAR XI/ISSUE LXXXIII

غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ

APRIL-MAY-JUNE 2019

PUBLICATION OF ST. GARABED ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF THE DESERT

OUR CHURCH

DER (REV. FR.) KRIKOR ZAKARYAN, PARISH PRIEST

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 38-905 MONTEREY AVE • RANCHO MIRAGE • CA 92270 • PHONE (760) 773-2155 • FAX (760) 773-2755 • E-MAIL: AACOD@LIVE.COM • WWW.AACOD.ORG

Palm Sunday, April 14

Morning Service 10:30 a.m.

Divine Liturgy 11:00 a.m.

Opening of the Doors & Service of Antasdan following Badarak

Ladies Society Bake Sale following Badarak

Holy Thursday, April 18

Divine Liturgy—Memorial of the Last Supper 11:00 a.m.

Washing of the Feet 6:30 p.m.

Service of Betrayal and Passion of Our Lord 7:30 p.m.

Good Friday, April 19

Service of the Burial of our Lord 6:30 p.m.

Holy Saturday, April 20

Divine Liturgy 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 21

Morning Service 10:30 a.m.

Divine Liturgy 11:00 a.m.

Ladies Society Bake Sale following Badarak

New Sunday, Merelots, April 28

Morning Service 10:30 a.m.

Divine Liturgy 10:30 a.m.

Requiem Service — Following Badarak

Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!

Hokehankist will not be offered

Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday inclusive.

EASTER SCHEDULE Holy Week: A Prelude to Easter

The Armenian Church calls the final week of Christ’s life on earth Great Week or Holy Week (Avak

Shapat). During this time, we share in His teachings, His suffering, His death, and His resurrection.

Holy Monday is dedicated to the creation of Heaven and Earth, the foundation for Christ’s Second

Creation. Christ condemns the fig tree that did not bear fruit (as Israel failed to bring forth the

fruits of repentance) and teaches that faith can have the strength to move mountains, overcoming

despair and even death.

The parable of the Wise and Foolish Maidens (Matthew 25:1-13) is the focus of Holy Tuesday. Ten

maidens waited for their bridegroom (in the custom of that time and place, the bridegroom would

fetch the bride from her parents’ home to bring her to his own). Five of the women foolishly took

their lamps with no extra oil and when the bridegroom was delayed, could not go out and meet

him. The wise maidens went prepared and joined him in the marriage feast. Similarly, we must pray

and wait, in a state of perpetual preparation to receive Christ.

In the reading for Holy Wednesday (Matthew 26:6-13), a fallen woman anoints Christ with costly oil

and kisses his feet. The apostles chastise her for wasting oil that could have been sold to help the

poor, but Christ defends her action, perceiving her deed as one of devotion, and knowing that this

anointing anticipates His upcoming death and burial.

The morning liturgy service on Holy Thursday marks the institution of the New Covenant: Holy

Communion, which Christ established at the Last Supper. During a Passover meal, Christ broke and

distributed unleavened bread and shared the wine with His apostles, identifying these as elements

His Body and Blood. Through this sacrament, mankind participates in the Kingdom of God.

Another episode at the Last Supper is recalled during the evening service on Holy Thursday. “The

Washing of the Feet” ceremony commemorates how Christ washed the feet of His apostles, setting

an example of humility and love. The priest, in turn, washes the feet of twelve church members,

usually young men.

On Holy Thursday, an all-night vigil is kept in memory of the last sleepless night of our Lord on

earth. This service is called Khavaroom (Darkness). Before He was arrested, Jesus prayed in the

Garden of Gethsemane and endured in solitude the agony of His impending death. Six sets of la-

ments are chanted, each followed by a Gospel reading depicting Christ’s betrayal, imprisonment,

torture, trial, sentence, and crucifixion. Twelve lit candles, 11 white and 1 black (representing Ju-

das), are extinguished in pairs.

Holy Friday is the most solemn and sad day of the Christian calendar. The Crucifixion Service, usual-

ly held at midday, recalls the suffering, execution, and death of our Lord, memorialized amid read-

ings from the psalms. In the evening, a white tomb is placed in the chancel of the church for the

Entombment or Burial Service. The tomb is adorned with flowers and during the service is taken in

procession around the church. As the faithful leave the church they approach the tomb, kiss the

Gospel book, and take a flower in remembrance.

On Holy Saturday, also known as the Easter Vigil, the mystery of salvation in the Resurrection of

Christ is celebrated. The church is dark, its lights are dim. Then the great verses from Isaiah 60 are

read: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”-at which

point the lights are suddenly turned on. The dramatic, joyful candle-lighting ceremony is

called Jrakalouytz.

Finally, Easter Sunday celebrates the joy of the Resurrection and the promise of salvation for all

humanity. Armenian Christians around the world exchange the Easter greeting: Krisdos haryav ee

merelotz! Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee! Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the resurrec-

tion of Christ!

Easter Sunday is followed by a period of 40 days, during which time there are no saints ’ days or

fasting days. This period, dedicated to the glory of Christ’s Resurrection and to the 40 days He spent

on earth after His Resurrection, leads up to Ascension Day, commemorating our Lord’s entry into

heaven.

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SAINT GARABED NEWS

It is customary in the Armenian Church to provide Yughakin,

especially around the feasts of Christmas and Easter. This practice

dates as far back as the time of Moses in the Old Testament.

Yughakin in Armenian means "price of oil". Each local church

community would donate money specially earmarked towards the

purchase of oil, which in turn would keep the lanterns burning and

ultimately the doors of the Church open. At this season of Christ's

resurrection let us remember and continue the custom of Yughakin,

so we can keep our "oil-burning lanterns" always burning and our

doors always open at St. Garabed. Please be generous to the Church

in observing this ancient Armenian custom.

“Easter Yughakin”

Congratulations on the election of the 2019

St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church

of the Desert Parish Council:

Sonia Matossian

Armen Karimyan

Hrair Kaladjian

Dikran Torian

Dianne Marderosian

Gary Churukian

Tammy Kirkjan

We wish them a successful term!

God Bless!

UPCOMING

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WEEK 1:JULY 14 - JULY 20

Director: Regina Pryor

Chaplain: Fr. Yeghishe Ksachikyan

WEEK 2:JULY 21 - JULY 27

Director: Narek Hidirsah

Chaplain: Fr. Krikor Zakaryan

WEEK 3:JULY 28 - AUGUST 3

Director: Renee Missakian

Chaplain: Fr. Serovpe Alanjian

WEEK 4:AUGUST 4 - AUGUST 10

Director: Lauren Diramerian

Chaplain: Fr. Mesrop Ash

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SPONSORS PAGE

Page 5 غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ OUR CHURCH

ST. GARABED ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC

CHURCH OF THE DESERT

38-905 Monterey Avenue ~ Rancho Mirage CA 92270

(760) 773-2155 Phone - (760) 773-2755 Fax

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Please Renew or Become a Member of St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert.

As we all know, mortar and stone alone do not make a Church. The Membership is the foundation of our Armenian Church, and a necessary ingredient for the spiritual, social and cultural needs of our Armenian community here in the desert.

Our members are the backbone of the Church and their wisdom and guidance is extremely important throughout the year. Your membership is a valuable contribution to the growth of our parish and we look forward to your participation and presence in the future.

As we enter the second quarter of 2019, we look back on the many successes of our Church Parish this past year. Together, we can accomplish our goals and flourish. Please help us in our quest to flourish our Church and make it a pride of our desert Armenian community by renewing your membership, by joining, and by inviting others to also join.

Please fill out and return the Membership Application below, along with your dues of $100/per person. All new 2019 full year paid members will have the ability to vote or run for office at the annual Parish Assembly meeting held in the beginning of 2020.

Yours in Christ,

The Parish Priest & Parish Council

2019 MEMBERSHIP FORM

SAINT GARABED

ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF THE DESERT

38-900 VISTA DUNES ROAD

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 92270

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT No. 27

PALM DESERT, CA

The “غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ / OUR CHURCH” newsletter is a publication of

St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 38-905 MONTEREY AVENUE • RANCHO MIRAGE • CA 92270

MAILING ADDRESS: 38-900 VISTA DUNES RD • RANCHO MIRAGE • CA 92270

PHONE (760) 773-2155 • FAX (760) 773-2755 • E-MAIL: AACOD@LIVE.COM • WWW. AACOD.ORG

Editor Der (Rev. Fr.) Krikor Zakaryan

Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian

Parish Priest/President of all Parish Organizations Der (Rev. Fr.) Krikor Zakaryan

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OR CURRENT RESIDENT