Dear Armenian Community Faithful of Australia and New Zealand
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Today, the whole world is suffering from the effects of the Coronavirus. Thousands of people are dying and hundreds of thousands infected with this disease are suffering in the four corners of the world. The Armenian people are not free from this disease either. Until now, we’ve had deaths in Armenia, Iran, the United States, England, France, Italy and Lebanon. We hope that in Armenia and all countries, governments will be able to control the situation and that every conscious citizen will vigilantly follow the directives of the authorities.
Historical and difficult days will be a mark of this Easter season. Perhaps since the genocide, the Armenian people have not experienced a state in which we find ourselves deprived of the Holy Liturgy of the Church and Holy Communion. However, with the benefits of today’s technology, our liturgical services will be conducted with faith and devotion by our churches and broadcast live to follow in your homes. I hope that our merciful God, having compassion upon us, will free us from the clutch of this virus and the physical and mental difficulties it has created.
On the occasion of the Glorious Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, on behalf of the Diocesan Council and clergy, I wish you a Happy Easter and many healthy and productive years ahead. Take this opportunity as a family, to endure your difficulties with love and patience together, knowing that this is a temporary test. I pray that God will keep you from all sorts of dangers, until we can gather again together in our holy churches, united in our communion to glorify our death conquering, hope inspiring, Risen Lord.
Under these circumstances, how true and appropriate are these words of the Apostle St Paul, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ”- 2 Corinthians 4: 8-11
Christ is Risen from the Dead, Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ
With prayers,
Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian
Primate
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
Uncertainty, separation and worry, these are unprecedented times for our present generations. We search for hope and a cure to overcome this evil pandemic that has affected all our lives and placed the world on standstill.
But how do we find hope in all that is going on?
The key is in our Easter commemorations, as we celebrate the events over the coming days of the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like the faithful women who stood by Jesus in death and who were the first witnesses to the resurrection, we too recognise in these events the dawning of a new hope for the life of the world, a world torn apart by divisions and conflicts, a world God has chosen to love unconditionally (John 3:16). In the resurrection, the power of love overcomes all evil.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES
Great Thursday
Live broadcasts of services this weekend will commence this morning at 10.30 a.m. with the Divine Liturgy to commemorate the Lord’s Supper when our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion in remembrance of Him. Taking the bread and wine he declared “Take and eat; this is my body,” and “Drink from the cup, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
The Evening Vigil,Khavaroum (meaning darkness) will commence at 7.00 p.m. until late in the evening depicting The Passion, the sleepless torment of Christ’s final hours on earth.
As twelve lit candles representing the apostles are extinguished, six chants followed by the Gospel passages of the events leading to the Crucifixion will be read.
Great Friday
Two services will be held on Holy Friday commencing with the Order of the Crucifixion of Christ in the morning at 11.00 a.m.
The burial service or Order of the Entombment of the Lord (Taghoom) will be conducted in the afternoon at 4.30 p.m. followed by a Requiem Mass at 5.30 p.m.
Parishioners who wish to request requiems for their loved ones may call the church office or email details today or call on Friday between 4.00-5.00 p.m. Please see the instructions below on the Requiem flyer.
Whilst attendance is not possible at church, families can join the live broadcast to hear the prayers offered for their loved ones.
Great Saturday & Easter Sunday
The eve of Easter also known as the Easter Vigil, is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy followed by the joyful candle-lighting ceremony called Jrakalouyts to herald in the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation for all humanity.
The service will be held at 5.30 p.m. and preceded by Vespers (Jamerkoutyoun) at 4.30 p.m.
Holy Week will then culminate on Easter Sunday, which is the central holy day of the Christian calendar and commemorates the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb, the news of His glorious Resurrection and the promise of salvation for all humanity.
Armenian Christians around the world exchange the Easter greeting: Krisdos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh haroutyunun Krisdosee! Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!
LIVE-STREAMING OF CHURCH SERVICES
Keeping connected with one another has never been more pioneering than it is now whilst we are all isolated from our families, friends and of course the church.
We hope families will gather together over the coming days to connect with the church and through their faith understand this is our only source of true peace, comfort and hope now more than ever.
Light a candle or burn some incense to create a holistic church experience in your homes. Click on the links below to follow the text of the church services presented in Armenian, transliteration and English translation for Thursday's Evening Vigil (Khavaroum) and the Divine Liturgy (Badarak) on Saturday and Sunday.
At the Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday, the following Address of St Basil the Great of Caesarea is read before Holy Communion is offered, drawing attention to the profound significance and sanctity of the sacrament.
As always, the Church is here to help and support the well-being of our parishioners. Especially during these uncertain times, we are able to reach out with:
Spiritual and Emotional support – contact the church office on 94198056 to speak with the Parish Pastor
Social support for the elderly – contact the Welfare office on 94196394
Whilst the outlook of the Coronavirus pandemic in Australia is far more promising than the rest of the world thanks to the measures taken by our governments, there is no room for complacency, and with the estimated weeks or months of self-isolation ahead, we are all subject to feelings of discouragement in need of comfort and hope.
The Church is here to help we are just a phone call away.
REQUIEMS, OFFERINGS & DONATIONS
This week, we were encouraged when a parishioner approached the church office to make a donation since he and his wife would not be able to physically participate in the Easter services to pass on their offerings.
If parishioners, wish to make offerings or donations, we invite you to do so by:
Phone: Visa and Mastercard (1.5% surcharge applicable)
Bank transfer: BSB 032090 - Acct No. 120888 – Armenian Church Council of Aust. in NSW – Reference: #Donation
Requiem services will still be conducted over this period. The flyer below explains how to register the names of your loved ones.
We all are in need of support during these days of uncertainty when our lives have been drastically interrupted. Whether its moral, spiritual, physical or financial support our strength is in our unity to help one another.
With the closure of our church doors, we too are now faced with the challenge of meeting expenses without a regular income stream from our services.
As we are constantly being reminded on our television screens, "Together we will all get through this."
SCHEDULE OF CHURCH SERVICES
VIDEOS FROM OUR CHURCH
Let's Pray Together (I Confess With Faith) Աղօթենք Միասին․ Հավատով Խոստովանիմ Led by His Eminence Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian, Parish Councillors and
ACYA Team Members join the Parish Priests in St Nerses Shnorhali's prayer
Palm Sunday Divine Liturgy Sunday 5 April, 2020
Fr Avetis Hambardzumyan’s message to the Sunday School students and all the children in the community, followed by the reading of Psalm 23 by student Palig Geozikaraian
