Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan February, 2011Do Not Think I Have Come to Abolish the Law

Bible Readings

Feb. 6 Mt. 18:10-14Feb. 13 Jn. 6:15-21Feb. 20 Jn. 6:22-32Feb. 27 Jn. 7:37-52

Psalm of Praise

Praise the Lord!Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being. Psalm 146: 1-2

Dear Faithful,What is impossible with men is possible with God. All things are possi-

ble with God. (Matt. 19:26) Jesus calls us to go beyond the law to a true rela-tionship with God, where we enjoy and experience His love. The emphasis of the Pharisees righteousness is outward and the true righteousness Jesus speaks of is inward. ″Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Proph-ets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accom-plished.” (Matt. 5:17-18) It was important that Jesus established what he be-lieved about the written Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. The Pharisees claimed to hold closely and adamantly to the law. When Jesus went head to head with the Pharisees they might charge him with not having a very high re-gard for Holy Scriptures. However, that was totally false. In fact it was Jesus who had a high view of the scriptures, and it was the Pharisees who abolished the law. They would come up with secret hidden meanings in Scripture and use it to support their own traditions. Jesus violated their rules and their regulations. But that was something very different than violating Scripture. In another place they confronted Jesus about breaking one of their own man made rules: “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” (Matt. 15:2) But to their question Jesus replied: “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Jesus again demonstrated his high view of Scriptures in an account in the Gospel of St. Matthew 22:23-33. This time it was Sadducees, a group who did not believe in the resurrection. They tried to trap Jesus, asking what if a woman was widowed seven times, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? Jesus replied, “Don’t you know the Scripture or the power of God?” Jesus pointed out what God said, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” He is the God of the living. Jesus believed the Scripture and He said that He did not come to destroy the Law but came to fulfill the Law. Not the smallest letter will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Jesus upheld the Law and the Prophets. That was representative of the entire Old Testament as we know it in our Bible. Jesus did not devalue the Scripture in the least. He held the highest view of Scripture.

Today we do not sacrifice animals as in the Old Testament because these sacrifices pointed toward the coming Messiah. He came and He was the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Jesus fulfilled the Scripture and the Scriptures were pointing to the day that Jesus would come.

St. Vartan VoiceA Publication of St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church

Followers of Jesus are under an obligation to keep the teachings of the Old Testament. There are cere-monial and ritual laws that Jesus fulfilled, but there are also timeless moral laws that all believers of Jesus must follow. What happens when a follower of Jesus breaks these laws? Do you lose your salvation? Do you forfeit your opportunity to go to heaven? No, but you lose your position in God’s kingdom. Instead of being called great he will be called least. "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” It is of great importance to the follower of Jesus to obey God’s Word. Jesus Christ made the shocking statement: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

These Scribes and Pharisees were the meticulous keepers of the law. My dear ones, external good works will never be enough and a common question is; "Do you know for certain that you will go to heaven when you die?” Many people will answer, well I have been a good person. But our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees to enter heaven. The Old Testament spoke of the coming of New Covenant. It is in the shed blood of Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven. When we put our faith in Christ we take on the righteous-ness in Christ. Then by the power of the Holy Spirit we continue in that righteousness. We will never make it to heaven by self effort. We need Jesus Christ. We must take on the righteousness of Jesus Christ by putting our faith in Him. We must trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

When we trust Jesus Christ and his death on the cross to cover our sins, then we have taken on the righteousness of Jesus and then our righteousness does exceed that of the Pharisees. Jesus death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection are our righteousness when we put our faith in Him. Amen.

St. Vartan Church Parish Council gratefully acknowledges the following donations:In Honor of Deacon Vartan Berberian—Marie and Harout HagopianEducation Fund—Carol and Harry Dokouzian, Harry and Elizabeth WaltonIn Honor of Richard and Judy Sharafian and the important role the church plays in their lives—Steven and Lisa Sharafian, Brian Sharafian and Lesha Roth and their FamiliesThe Voice Newsletter—Marian MickaelsIn Honor of Clifford Melikian’s 90th birthday—Fr. Kevork and Sandra Arakelian

Christmas Yughakin

Suzanne & Razmik AbnousRouben and Sofia AmirbekianMary ArkelianLou AronianArchie & Nellie AzizianThomas BardakianKimberly BardakianPete & Pat BarsamianDorothy BellKegham & Araxi BoghossianYolande BolounyBarbara and Jack BousianLindy & Stella BrownSandra CadellJune & Satyabrata ChatterjeeSylvia, Charles, & Steven CherezianHasmig & Anto CingozAdrena and Leon ClemmerDavid & Nairy ColelloJune DemerdjianKathleen DemerdjianBrian & Cynthia Der MatoianBob & Sara DermatoianCarol & Harry DokouzianMargie DorianJack Dorian

Herb & Alice GardnerAylin GulbenkianLori and David HillVartan & Arlene HovsepianLouise JorjorianRichard & Carole JouroyanRon KallanHarvey & Janet KamianHarry & Joyce KamianAnthony KeelerCharles & Dorris KezerianAlice KoenigHagop and Sonia KoujakianLucine & Robert KroeckelMichael & Virginia MadajianIsabelle MagarianJames and Mihoko MalianLisa & Don ManoogianJeff & Julie MasoianVahe & Hilda MenerMarian MickaelsEd & Goldie MinasianFlora MirzaianBill and Beverly NalbandianAlbert OdabashianElizabeth & Ron Ojakian

Andy and Cheryl PapazianVirginia RatcliffBarry & Judy ToomajianZaven Kanneian & Janet YeghissianRichard & Judy SharafianMary Ann SieversKrikor & Caline SoghikianFrancis StevensIsabelle TajirianVazken & Margaret TashinianCharles & Mary TateosianAnnabelle TaylorMarlene TolegianEvelyn TregoningLucy TulanianSuzanne & Ed VasgerdsianHarry & Elizabeth WaltonArmen & Nayree PhelpsElisabeth & Michael WoodsNorma YaglijianElizabeth McClintockByron & Diana BrayMabel KakligianArsen & Alice GregorianCharlotte MasgalajianRosalie Gifford

ENDOWMENT FUND

In Memory† Albert H. Kalakian

Robert & Joetta Malkassian† Anita Chiljan

Norma Yaglijian, Al & Mae Kaljian, Charles & Dorris Kezerian

† Robert MazmanianNorma Yaglijian, Anne Barsamian, Harry

& Margaret Sherinian, Arsen & Alice Gregorian, Maybel Kakligian, Greg &

Laura Mazmanian† Gladys Tafjen

Ed & Suzanne Vasgerdsian† Masis Gozurian

Dr. Edward & Sylva Manougian, Kristen Allen, Garbis & Satenik Eldemir, Dr. Krikor & Caline Sohikian, Antranik &

Hasmig Cingoz, Harry & Margaret Sherinian, Diana Arsenian, Juan P. &

Armenuhi Arsenian, Leon & Marie Louise Yengoyan, Martin & Vilma Kapa, George

& Carol Rustigian, Florence Morjig, Hratch & Jill Avakian, Alice Sarafian & Family, Kirsti Tcherkoyan, Alan Yen-

goyan, Norma Yaglijian, Harold & Bonnie Koojoolian, Dn. Nurhan & Mary Donikian

& Family, Oskan & Nurise Mazlumian, Anne Barsamian, Annabelle Taylor, Richard & Satenig Demirjian, Diana

Toomajian, Ed & Suzanne Vasgerdsian, Jack & Lucille Dolab, Joseph & Anne Keshishian, Peter & Pat Barsamian,

Charles & Dorris Kezerian, Al & Mae Kaljian, Krikor Kocek, Rita Takvorian, Charles & Diane Paskerian, Gregory &

Seta Tcherkoyan, Haig & Marie Kilijian, George & Mary Atashkarian, Sinan & Seta Yazejian, Randy & Mirta Cali, Harvey &

Janet Kamian, Kegham & Roxanne Boghosian, Takvor & Mari Gamitian, John

& Anita Chorbajian

Christmas Yughakin ContinuedPotts Cahill Diana ToomajianVartan & Ayko Berberian Lynn B. RossEvelyn Boyd Alene RudySona & Suren Dakessian Ani & Jirair TashjianSeno & Dickie Garabedian Mary WileySylvia Gozurian Herb & Alice GardnerWartkes Hagopian Virginia RatcliffEmma Mazmanian Sophie BedrosianMichael & Martha Sanossian

In MemoryVarsen Berberian

Marie and Harout HagopianJ. Michael Hagopian

Joanne Hagopian and John Eknoian (Education Fund)Abigail Baronian

Patricia and Robert GardnerFr. Mesrob Sarafian

Elisabeth and Michael Woods (Yughakin)Gladys Tafjen

Virginia Ratcliff (Ladies Society), Ron Kallan, Elmer and Gloria Kaprielian (Education Fund)

Kevork ApelianRon Kallan

Arpi Petoyan Alice Sarafian (Rev. Archpriest Fr. Mesrob Sarafian

Scholarship Fund for Religious Education)Robert Mazmanian

Ralph and Lillian Kalibjian, Harvey and Nora Hanoian (Building Fund), Peter and Pat Barsamian, Michael and Virginia Madajian, Greg and Seta Tcherkoyan, Patti and

Jerry Jamgotchian and Family, Fernando and Dolores Mariscal, Daniel Mazmanian, Ara and Hasmig Gregor-

ian, Jim and Margie Kurkjian, Bryan LaloianAnita Chiljan

Rose Ketchoyan, Seno and Dickie Garabedian, Harry and Carol Dokouzian, Charles and Diane Paskerian, John and Nema Kurkjian, Harry and Joyce Kamian, Gay, Suzanne and Linda Diers, Richard Asadoorian, Virginia Avakian, Jerry Tusan, Drs. Shelley and Mi-

chael Nagel, Shavarsh Hazarabedian, Geraldine Tevrizian and Patricia Vanley and Families, George and Mary Atashkarian (Armenia Children’s Fund), Charlie

and Dorris Kezerian (Sunday School), Alister Anderson, Jr., Garo and Sonia Sedrakian

Masis GozurianRalph and Lillian Kalibjian, Harry and Joyce Kamian, Harvey and Nora Hanoian (Building Fund), Carol and

Harry Dokouzian (Education Fund), Michael and Virginia Madajian, Migirdic and Alis Sagatelyan, The Williams Family, Brian and Sue Barsamian (Education

Fund), Kevork Pilibosian, Vahe and Hilda Mener (Orphan Milk Fund), Ralph and Elise Kazanjian,

Shavarsh Hazarabedian, Zvart Shahbazian and Family, Barbara Morjig, Aylin Gulbenkian, Nadya and Arto

Yagjian (Orphan Milk Fund), Edward Godoshian, Lynn Ross, Aram and Hasma Serverian, Zephyr Kalunian,

Paul and Ani Bazigian, Seno and Dickie Garabedian, Don and Lisa Manoogian, Ron Kallan, Ed

and Goldie Minasian, Lesley and Charles Kissick,Vartan & Arlene Hovsepian (Voice), Isabelle Magarian,

Caroline & Stuart Arakelian

St. Vartan Sunday School Christmas Program Dec. 19, 2010

News From Our St. Vartan FamilyBaptism

On December 25, 2010 Fr. Hovel baptized brothers Mikhail and Ruben Dagstanyan at St. Vartan Church. The boys’ parents are Edward and Elizabeth Dagstanyan, and David Dagstanyan served as their God-father. Grandparents are Ruben and Alevtina Dagstanyan, Douglas Wells and Denise Ahrens.

Luliya Futur, daughter of Senai Futur and Metkel Yhannes, was baptized by Fr. Hovel at St. Vartan Church on Jan. 2, 2011. Huri Tecle served as Godfather and Layla Embaye as Godmother.

CondolencesOn December 29 Fr. Hovel conducted funeral services for long-time St. Vartan member Masis Gozu-

rian. We offer our most sincere sympathies to Masis’ family: wife, Sylvia Gozurian; daughters Linda and Lena; son-in-law, Michael; grandchildren, Meaghan, Eamon, Kiera and Brendan.

Funeral services were conducted by Fr. Hovel for Robert Mazmanian, son of Virginia Mazmanian, in El Cerrito on December 28, 2010. Our sincere condolences to Robert’s family and friends.

Thank youOn behalf of the Alameda County Community Food Bank and the people we serve, I extend a heartfelt

thank you to St. Vartan Armenian Church for your collection of 300 pounds of food. Through your Holiday 2010 Food Drive, you provided 231 meals to deserving children, adults and families in Alameda County….

Sincerely, Nicole Johnston, Food Drive Coordinator

The St. Vartan Voice newsletter is now available via email! Help save paper, copying and mailing costs by calling or e-mailing our office to have your newslet-ters sent to you electronically.

The Voice mailing list (including e-mail recipients) is kept separate from the general church mailing list. You will still receive all other church correspond-dence by postal service. Current and past newsletters can also be found on our church website: www.stvartanoakland.org.

If you wish to unsubscribe to our newsletter, please contact the church office. If you enjoy receiving our newsletter, donations towards the printing is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

St. Vartan Ladies Society

Rummage SaleFriday, March 25—Saturday, March 26, 2011

We will be accepting donations starting the last week of February.

Please start saving these items: We cannot accept:Furniture Baby furniture & equipmentKitchen appliances (excluding microwaves) Playpens, high chairs, car seats, cribsKitchen utensils Electronics (tvs, stereos, computers)Pots and pans Batteries, light bulbsDishes Waterbeds, hide-a-bedsHousehold decorative items Venetian blinds, shuttersLamps Gas powered yard toolsBooks Non-working electrical equipmentRecords Pianos and organsCDsToysWomen’s accessoriesBelts, purses, jewelry, watches

Special thanks to Alex Cadell, who served as God- father of the Cross for the Armenian Christmas service on Sunday, January 9. Alex is in fifth grade, and is the son of Sandra and Tim Cadell, of Boulder Creek, CA.

We would also like to congratulate Alex for being chosen to serve as a member of the People to People Student Ambassador Program in Canada this coming summer. This program promotes international under- standing while building leadership skills among America’s youth. Alex is currently seeking financial sponsorships to enable him to participate in this very prestigious program. If you are interested in helping Alex reach his goal, please contact him directly at (831) 359-4512.

The Armenian Apostolic Holy ChurchIn the first century, both external and internal conditions were favorable for preaching

Christianity in Armenia. Christianity also spread to the countries close to Armenia: Cappadocia, Osrohene, and Adiabene. Armenia’s commercial, political, and cultural relations with those countries made the advance of Christianity easier. Christianity was first introduced in Lesser Armenia and then expanded to Greater Armenia. A series of historical testimonies in Armenian, Syriac, Greek and Latin, confirm the fact that the Apostles Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew preached Christianity in Armenia, thus becoming the founders of the Armenian Church.

After the Ascension of Christ, St. Thaddeus arrived in Edessa in 44 A.D. and cured King Abgar of Osrohene from leprosy. After preaching throughout lesser Armenia, he ordained

Bishop Addeh to serve in his absence as locum tenens of the Church and left for Greater Armenia to preach the Word of God. St. Thaddeus continued his preaching in Greater Armenia, and converted many followers, in-cluding Princess Sandukht, the daughter of King Sanatruk of Shavarshan, in the province of Artaz. When the king learned of his daughter’s conversion, he used every means possible to convince her to return to paganism. Exhausting all efforts, the king finally offered his daughter a choice between Christianity and death or paganism and her crown. Remaining steadfast in her faith, she chose death, and became the first woman saint of the Armenian Church. In addition to her martyrdom, St. Sandukht is also remembered for her efforts in converting others. By the order of King Sanatruk St. Thaddeus, along with his converts, was martyred soon after the prin-cess in 66 A.D., for preaching Christianity. Before he was killed, St. Thaddeus secretly buried the remains of St. Sandukht. A monk named Giragos discovered the remains of St. Thaddeus and St. Sandukht near a field of Shavarshan, sometime in the fourth or early fifth century.

St. Bartholomew arrived in Armenia after preaching in Persia, during the twenty-ninth year of King Sanatruk’s reign. Here he converted the king’s sister, Voguhy, and many nobles. He also was martyred by King Sanatruk’s orders in 68 A.D., in the city of Arebanos, which was situated between the Lakes Van and Urmia.

Near the end of the first and the beginning of the second centuries, members of the Voskyan and Suki-asian families continued the preaching of St. Thaddeus. According to the historical account, before the martyr-dom of the Apostle St. Thaddeus, he converted and baptized five men, who were originally Armenian ambas-sadors to the Roman Empire representing King Sanatruk. After the martyrdom of St. Thaddeus, they escaped to a remote area near the mouth of the Euphrates river, in the ravines of Tsaghkehats, were they remained for roughly 40 years. They were led by Voski, whose name they bore, and they are referred to collectively as the Voskyan Priests. During the reign of King Artashes, they visited his palace and began preaching the Gospel to the Royal Court. Artashes, who was at war in the East, asked the preachers to visit him again after his return, in order to continue their conversation about Christ. In the king’s absence, they converted to Christianity some princes from the country of Alan, who had come to visit Queen Satenik. Among these noblemen were mem-bers of the Queen’s family, the Sukiasian. The Voskyan Priests were martyred by the king’s sons because of their new faith. The Alan Princes having become Christians, left the palace and settled on the slopes of Mount Jrabashkh, where they lived for 44 years. By the order of the Alan king, they were martyred along with their leaders who are collectively referred to as St. Sukiasiank.

Official AdoptionSt. Gregory the Illuminator is the Patron Saint of the Armenian Church. He is referred to as "St. Greg-

ory the Illuminator," or "Soorp Krikor Lousavorich" because he spread the light of Christ and converted the Armenian people to Christianity.

While Christianity was practiced in secret by a growing number of people in Armenia during the first and second centuries, it was St. Gregory (302-325) and King Trdat III (287-330) who in 301 A.D. officially proclaimed Christianity as the official religion of Armenia and thus made Armenia the first nation in world history to adopt Christianity as the state re-ligion.

The story according to the Holy Tradition is as follows: As part of a planned plot, the Persian King Ardashir I, sent a trusted friend, Anak, to Armenia, to kill King Khosrov. Dur-ing a hunting trip, Anak killed the King and ran away. The loyal men of the King pursued

Anak, who was subsequently killed. The dying King gave orders to exterminate Anak's family. Only one in-fant escaped this slaughter, and was rushed by his nurse to the city of Caesarea. This nurse happened to be a converted Christian. She brought up her charge in the Christian faith and gave him a Greek name, Gregory. St. Gregory became a devout Christian; married a Christian lady named Mariam, and had two children, Verthanes and Arsitakes.

When the Persian King heard that the King of Armenia was killed, he overran the country and estab-lished Persian rule in Armenia. Two of the children of King Khosrov were saved. The Princess Khosrovidought was taken to one of the inaccessible castles of the country, while Prince Trdat was taken to Rome. Trdat received a thorough Roman training. When he became a mature young man, able to rule a kingdom, he was sent by Rome to occupy Armenia, recover the throne of his father, and become a Roman ally. As Trdat was returning to Armenia, most of the loyal Arme-nian feudal lords, who were in hiding, accompanied Trdat. St. Gregory also decided to go along with him. Nobody had any knowledge of his background or of his religious convictions. Trdat found out that St. Gregory was a well-educated, dependable and conscientious young man. He appointed him as his secretary. After winning back Armenia, Trdat gave orders for a great and solemn celebration. During the festival, St. Gregory was ordered to lay wreaths before the statue of the goddess Mother Anahit, who was the most popular deity of the country. St. Gregory refused and confessed that he was a Christian. One of the king's ministers decided to reveal St. Gregory's secret. He told the King that St. Gregory was the son of Anak, the killer of his father King Khosrov. Trdat gave orders to torture St. Gregory. When St. Gregory stood fast, the King ordered him to be put to death by throwing him into a prison-pit (Khor Virab) in the town of Artashat to be starved to slow death.

Through divine intervention and with the assistance of someone in the Court, St. Gregory survived this terrible ordeal for thirteen years. It is thought the Princess Khosrovidought, the King's sister, had found a way to feed St. Gregory in the dungeon. During that very year the king issued two edicts: the first ordered to arrest all the Christians in Armenia confiscating their property, the second ordered to put to death those who hid Christians. These edicts show how dangerous was Christianity for the State and for heathen religion in the country.

This undertaking of persecution revealed the presence of a group of women, who were peacefully and secretly living in the capital city of Vagharshapat. The Holy Tradition claims that a group of Roman Christian virgins ran away to the East in order to escape the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletianus. After visiting Jerusalem and paying tribute to the holy places, the virgins came to Edessa, then crossed the frontiers of Armenia and settled down in vineyards not far from Vagharshapat. The leader of these pious women was Gayané. There was also among them a beautiful maiden called Hripsimé, who King Trdat wanted to have as his concubine. Hripsimé refused and resisted the King's advances and finally fled from the Palace. This was too much for King Trdat and he mercilessly ordered to have all the women killed. They were

32 in number. Gayane, the mentor of the virgins and two others living in the southern part of the town and a sick virgin were tormented in the vineyards. The execution of the Hripsimian virgins took place in 300/301. This slaughter of innocent women and his frustration at being rejected threw the King into melancholy and finally made him insane. He could not attend the affairs of the state. In the fifth century people called this "pig’s illness", which is why sculptors portray the king with a pig’s head. His sister, Khosrovidukht, did every-thing to bring her brother back to his senses. Then one day in a dream, she saw St. Gregory coming out of the dungeon and healing her brother. She told the people at the Court of her dream, and revealed that he was alive. They sent men to the dungeon to bring him out. As he emerged, out came a man with a long beard, dirty clothes and darkened face. But his face was shining with a strange and strong light. He immediately gathered and buried the remains of the virgin-martyrs and thereafter preached the Gospel for a period of time and healed the King. Trdat III proclaimed Christianity as the state religion of Armenia after which the entire royal court was baptized. King Trdat was cured and became a new man. He said to St. Gregory: "Your God is my God, your religion is my religion." From that moment until their death they re-mained faithful friends and worked together, each in his own way, for the establishment of the Kingdom of God in Armenia.

ACYO UpdateIn late December and early January St. Vartan

ACYO has been very active. We have participated in three events during this time. First on December 18 we held our annual Christmas Party at the Shartzer’s residence where we had a pot luck dinner, then later traded Christmas gifts. Next on January 9 we held our annual Christmas bake sale. It was a big success and we thank everyone for supporting the ACYO, and eve-ryone who was able to bring baked goods. Finally on

January 15 we had a bible study session at Far-ther Hovel’s house in Walnut Creek. We had a good turn out and hope for many more bible studies in the future. Some of our upcoming events are the Pargen-tan Ball on March 5. The theme this year is Masquerade Ball and we will be selling tickets after church in the upcoming weeks.

St. Vartan deacons and altar servers joined Fr. Hovel for a Christmas Dinner and rehearsal on December 17, 2010.

Save the Date

St. Vartan Church Annual Assembly Meeting and

Lamb Shank LuncheonFebruary 13, 2011

Church Hall · 1:30 pmIt is important that all pledged

members attend, so a quorum can be met. Please sign in for the meeting before lunch.

St. Vartan Sports CornerPoint guard Daron Boloyan scored a season high 11 points on his El Cerrito Junior High basketball

team against Richmond Junior Varsity Team. He made two three-pointers, a two-pointer, and three free throws for 11 points as El Cerrito won 82 to 22. We wish you continued success.

Richard Demirjian

St. Vartan Annual BanquetMark your calendars. St. Vartan Armenian Ap-

ostolic Church will celebrate its Anniversary Banquet on May 15, 2011. Join us in the Church Hall commemorating the years that St. Vartan has been serving the Armenian Community of Northern California.

Suggested DonationsSt. Vartan Church

Altar Flowers $35Hokehankist $40Funeral (members) $300Wedding (members) $300Baptism (members) $100Baptism (non-members) $200Wedding (non-members) $400Funeral (non-members) $500Organist $150Vocalist $150Deacon at funeral $100Deacon at wedding $75Custodian $60/hourMonetary gifts to the priest are discretionary

KIDS IN CHURCH Three-year-old Reese: “Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen.”

————————A little boy was overheard praying: “Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I’m having

a real good time like I am.” —————————

After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, “That preacher said he wanted us

brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.” ————————

One particular four-year-old prayed, “And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

—————————A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, “And why is it

necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Churchinvites you to join us in

Lenten Evening Vigilsas we continue our 40 days spiritual journey with

prayer, fasting and meditation.Vigils will take place

Wednesday, March 16, 23, 30 and April 6 at 7 pm.

Ladies Society Valentine’s Day Italian Luncheon

Thursday, February 10, 2011in the Church Hall at 12:00 noon

Menu includes: Lasagna, a hearty salad, garlic bread, coffee, tea, and a special dessert

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St. Vartan Church—February 2011

Morning Service9:30 am Divine Liturgy10 amSunday School 10:15 am ACYO meeting

Morning Service9:30 am Divine Liturgy10 amSunday School 10:15 am Annual Assembly

Morning Service9:30 am Divine Liturgy10 amSunday School 10:15 am

Morning Service9:30 am Divine Liturgy10 amSunday School 10:15 am

Ladies Society Luncheon noon

Parish Council Meeting 6:30 pm

Clergy and Parish Council Regional Meeting St. Andrew Church 10 am—2 pm

President’s Day

Valentine’s Day

The Voice Newsletter is published once a month by St. Vartan Armenian Church 650 Spruce Street, Oakland, CA. 94610, Phone (510)893-1671, Fax: (510) 893-2102 Email: stvartanoakland@aol.com

Website: www.stvartanoakland.org The deadline for all articles is the fifteenth of each month.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan Parish Council Chair: Harry Sherinian

Parish Council Treasurer: Anto Cingoz Parish Assembly Chair: Jack Papazian Jr. Choir Director: Beverly Nalbandian Organist: Virginia Madajian ACYO Chair: Arpi Nakashian Church School Superintendent: Marie Hagopian and Virginia Alexanian Ladies Society Co-chairs: Suzanne Abnous and Suzanne Vasgerdsian Athletic Committee Chair: Mike Boloyan

Cultural Society Chair: Liz Ojakian Club Hye Chair: Sako Soghomonian Hokejosh: Nora Hanoian and Pat Barsamian Sunshine: Dorris Kezerian Church Maintenance: Vartan Hovsepian Newsletter Editors: Arlene Hovsepian and Rachel Hargerian Wedding Coordinator: Carol Rustigian Visiting Committee: Virginia Ratcliff Church Secretary: Rachel Hargerian Altar Flowers: Diana Toomajian and Norma Yaglijian Church Custodian: Wartkes Hagopian