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 Priest and President of All Church Organizations

Parish Council Chair: Barry Toomajian Parish Assembly Chair: Harry Sherinian

Choir Director: Artin Der Minassians Organist: Ida Mazmanian, A. Rodriguez

ACYO Chair: Sevan Jindoian and Tanya Jindoian Sunday School Superintendent: Janet Yeghissian

Ladies Society Chair: Gail Kezerian and Caroline Arakelian Cultural Society Chair: Liz Ojakian

Hokejosh: Nora Hanoian Church Maintenance: Jim Taylor and Arto Yagjian

Newsletter Editors: Arlene Hovsepian and Rachel Harger Wedding Coordinator: Gail Kezerian and Stacey Shartzer

Church Secretary: Rachel Harger Altar Flowers: Carole Chang

Church Custodian: Wartkes Hagopian Divine Liturgy Service—Sundays 10:30 a.m.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will

also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not

forgive your sins.” (Matt. 6:14-15)

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in

the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not

right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.

He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had

that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frus-

tration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, know-

ing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one

he knew would always be there, and with tears in his eyes, he prayed: "Lord -

You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do

many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive.

I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is not fair Lord. I didn't

deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.

As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how

to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that

you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do—teach me to forgive."

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt some-

thing fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye,

he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because

where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He

raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through

them. He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hang-

ing on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and bat-

tered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and

pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing,

and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie, He asked?"

The man answered, "Yes, Lord."

"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"

The man answered, "Yes, Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.

"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours," Jesus

asked?

Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan November 2015

Teach Me to Forgive

Bible Readings

Nov. 1 Luke 8:17-21

Nov. 8 Luke 8:49-57

Nov. 15 Luke 9:44-50

Nov. 22 Luke 12:13-31

Nov. 29 Luke 13:1-9

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates

with thanksgiving and his

courts with praise; give

thanks to him and praise

his name.

And the man answered, "Yes, Lord."

"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?"

The man, crying now, answered, "Yes, Lord."

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he

could only answer, "Yes, Lord."

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the

other, and the man felt something fall on his other

shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of

Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of

Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never

seen or known before. Jesus said, "I didn't deserve

this either, but I forgive you." It may be hard to see how you're going to get

through something. But, when you look back in life,

you realize how true this statement is...

"If God brings you to it... He will bring you

through it."

—Author Unknown

My Dear Faithful,

Our 63rd Annual Bazaar, Armenian Food Festival is over. Once again I would like to bring the appreciation

and the gratitude of my heart to the members of the Bazaar Committee, chaired by Zaven Kanneian and Harout

Hagopian, all the members of our Ladies Society, Parish Council, Cultural Committee, ACYO, Sunday School,

countless individual volunteers, elders and youth for their humble and priceless service to God and to the blessed

family of our St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church.

Your great and hard work is the best evidence of your strong faith and your unlimited love to your Church

and Community. Through your humble service you are making the future of this Church and community stronger

and more active. May the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you forever!!!

Prayerfully, Fr. Hovel Ohanyan

News From Our St. Vartan Family Wedding

Paul Albert Kesinger and Tseday Akliku were joined in Holy Matrimony at St. Vartan Church by Rev.

Fr. Asoghig Jamgotchian on September 26, 2015. Steven Kesinger served as best man. Paul’s parents are

Thomas and Ellyn Kessinger. Aklilu Melaku Retta and Zuriash-Work Zewde are Tseday’s parents. The maid

of honor was Addis Alem Aklilu.

Baptism

Fr. Hovel baptized Erik Matthew Bahneman at St. Vartan Church on October 11, 2015. Erik’s parents

are Joseph and Lynn Bahneman. His godfather is Sevak Jamkochian.

On October 17, 2015 Alexandra Merrin Sparr was baptized at St. Vartan Church by Fr. Hovel. Alexan-

dra is the daughter of Brian and Nicole Sparr. Her grandparents are Mary and Gary Sparr and Sylvia and Rich-

ard Messian. Martin Gil served as Alexandra’s godfather.

Fall Back

On Sunday, November 1, 2015

Daylight Savings Time ends.

Don’t forget to set your clock

back one hour.

Upcoming Event November 11 Veterans Day

November 11 Parish Council Meeting 6:30 pm

November 12 Ladies Society Luncheon 12:00 noon

November 26 Thanksgiving

November 27-29 ACYO Convention

November 28 Convention by the Bay Gala 7:00 pm

December 12 Family Night 5:30 pm

Think About It

A good time to keep your mouth shut

is when you’re in deep water.

No one ever says, “It’s only a game,”

when their team is winning.

There are worse things than getting a

call for a wrong number at 4 am. It could

be the right number.

Holiday Food Drive As in previous years, St. Vartan Church is sponsoring a food drive for the Alameda County Communi-

ty Food Bank. The Holiday Food Drive will take place during the months of November and December 2015.

The food bank combats hunger locally, serving 1 in 6 county residents.

Please bring your non-perishable, healthy food donation to church and

place it in the red bin located in the Church Hall entryway. Let’s turn our grat-

itude for the blessings God has given us toward providing for those less fortunate.

Ladies Society

Fall Luncheon Thursday, November 12

at noon

Delicious Meal

Free raffle ticket for prizes for everyone

Thanksgiving Craft

Everyone is invited

$10 meal ticket

St. Vartan Church Parish Council gratefully acknowledges the following donations: Bazaar Donations

Bazaar Grandma’s Attic Support—Edward Hagopian

Bazaar Containers—Diana Toomajian

Leg of Lamb—Judith Peterson, Al and Becky Adams, Dickie and Seno Garabedian

General Bazaar Donation—Leon Yengoyan, Siranouche Apelian, Jack and Barbara Bousian

Beer—Charles and Dorris Kezerian, Jack and Barbara Bousian

In Honor and Celebration of Suzanne Abnous’ birthday—Nora and Harvey Hanoian (Voice Newsletter),

Pete and Pat Barsamian (Building Fund)

In Memory † Armine Ozan

Alice Gregorian (Orphan Fund)

† Kacheg Topalian Don and Lisa Manoogian,

Harry and Carol Dokouzian (The Voice Newsletter)

ENDOWMENT FUND

In Memory

† Kacheg Topalian Marlene Tolegian

VARTZKERNEET GADAR Hye Café would like to thank and express its gratitude to our dedicated volunteers, who worked dili-

gently during the preparation of the food, serving and, cashiering. With their tremendous help, we had another

successful year!

Big Thank You to: Elo Markarian, Sara Matossian, Elizabeth and Hagop Tatoian, Maral Kismetian,

Seta and Nazaret Jindoian, Larry Radcliff, Araxi Boghossian, Sue Barsamian, Nora and Harvey Hanoian, Ja-

net Kanneian, Hilda Mener, Steve Donikian, Sylvia Gozurian, Ara Kaprielian, Silva Jindoian, Tanya Jindoian

and Nairy and David Collelo.

We also would like to extend our special thanks to Sara Matossian for her generous donation of 200

homemade potato kufta and set of Armenian coffee pots.

Their love and service to our Church and Bazaar is very much appreciated!

Sincerely,

Cingoz families

A big thank you to all the dedicated volunteers for another successful Bazaar! On behalf of Der Hovel and the Parish Council, Zaven Kanneian and I want to express our most sincere

gratitude to all our volunteers for their hard work to make the St. Vartan Bazaar a success. We would like to

name each of you individually but unfortunately, we would monopolize the entire newsletter. So instead, we

will thank each sub-committee:

Money Counting Admission Booth Food Preparation

Food Line & Servers Khanoot & Take Out Hye Café

Dessert Booth Cafe and Bar Cashiers

Public Relations & Advertising Raffle Bazaar Book & Layout

Graphic Artwork Bar-B-Que Carnival Games

Prize Booth Table Bussing Entertainment

Lighting and Decorations Grandma’s Attic Set Up & Tear Down

Event Cleaning and Maintenance Program

Most importantly, we want to share how proud we are to be part of a community that supports one an-

other and works together with great humility to care for this annual tradition which has become a part of our

culture. It was a hectic weekend and all of the volunteers worked very hard to support each other, treat all of

our guests well, and also find time to have fun with friends and family. Good job, everyone!

—Harout Hagopian and Zaven Kanneian

St. Vartan Annual Food Festival & Bazaar October 2 & 3, 2015

2015 Bazaar Raffle Winners $5,000 Charity Raffle Paul Ohanesian, Walnut Creek

Apple iPad Air David Modersbach, Oakland

49’ers vs. Seattle tickets Gareen Avakian, Oakland

Wine Basket Gloria Kasparian, Sacramento

Pixar Swag Bag Joseph Bezdjian, San Mateo

Pixar Swag Bag Lucine Kroeckel, Hayward

Lake Merritt Experience Lucine Kroeckel, Hayward

The Estuary Experience Dickran Tashjian, Berkeley

Goin’ Downtown Oakland Jessica Schafer, Alameda

$100 Gift Certificate

Calavera Mexican Kitchen Talia Brady, Oakland

$100 Gift Certificate

District Bar & Restaurant Seth Hamalian, Lafayette

$100 Gift Certificate

Bourbon & Beef Restaurant Susan Moxley, Walnut Creek

DECEMBER 12, 2015

Blessing of the Holy Muron His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians blessed the Third Muron

of the 21st Century in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on September 27, the Feast of the Holy Cross of

Varak and called it “The Muron of Victory.”

From the time of the first Catholicos of All Armenians, St. Gregory the Illuminator, the right to bless

the Holy Chrism (or Muron) has been reserved solely for the consecrated head of the Church, the Catholicos of

All Armenians.

From the sacred bema of the holy site of the Descent of the Only Begotten, the Armenian Pontiff ap-

peals for the actions of God on the Chrism which is being blessed, so that the Holy Spirit will bring to life the

sweet scented oil, and transform it to the fountain from where the graces are granted from God. And beneath

the joyful ringing of bells symbolizing the descent of the Holy Spirit, the old Chrism is combined with the

new, as is the tradition of the continuous apostolic chain and foundation of our Church.

The Holy Chrism has been established

by God. When God spoke to Moses on Mt.

Sinai, he said: "Take the finest spices: of liq-

uid myrrh, five hundred shekels, and of sweet

-smelling cinnamon, half as much, that is, two

hundred and fifty, and of aromatic cane, two

hundred and fifty, and of cassia, five hundred,

according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and

of olive oil, a hin; and you shall make of these

a sacred anointing oil blended as by the per-

fumer; a holy anointing oil it shall be. And

you shall anoint with it the tent of meeting

and the ark of the testimony, and the table and

all its utensils, and the lampstand and its uten-

sils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of

burnt offering with all its utensils and the la-

ver and its base; you shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will become

holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. And

you shall say to the people of Israel, 'This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall

not be poured upon the bodies of ordinary men, and you shall make no other like it in composition; it is holy,

and it shall be holy to you." (Exodus 30:22-33)

The ingredients for the Holy Chrism symbolize the perfection of virtues whose fullness and sacramen-

tal unity is our Lord Jesus Christ.

The main element which makes up the foundation of the Holy Chrism is pure, virgin olive oil, to which

are combined balsam, and 40 kinds of fragrant incense, flowers, sweet aromatic plants, roots and floral ex-

tracts, as well as different oil and leaf extracts.

The ingredients for the Holy Chrism each have their designated and precise quantities and measure-

ments. The majority of which are brought to Armenia from countries in the East.

The chosen amounts are crushed, ground and mixed with the olive oil, white wine, rose water, and oth-

er floral essences by the members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, with their offerings of prayer and

incense. Before it is cooked, the Catholicos of All Armenians blesses all of the ingredients for the Holy

Chrism.

So as to protect the sweet scents of the combined ingredients, the lid of the cauldron is sealed with un-

cooked dough, and the entire assemblage is boiled in water in yet another larger cauldron. With prayers and

hymns, the cauldron containing the mixture is heated and steamed for three days and nights. This is all con-

ducted in an atmosphere of prayerful, humble and reverent participation of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmi-

adzin.

Forty days prior to the blessing of the Holy Chrism, the covered cauldron is placed on the Main Altar

of the Mother Cathedral, so it can receive the prayers, psalms and hymns of everyday life. Upon the day of the

blessing, the Bishops of the Church elevate to the Altar the Armenian Church’s traditional holy relics: the

Geghart - the lance that pierced the side of Christ, the relic from the life giving Cross of Christ, and the Holy

Right hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator, with which the newly blessed Chrism is sanctified, and with which

the gathered faithful masses are blessed. Hymns dedicated to the blessing of the Holy Chrism are sung.

The ranks of Bishops next read from the Holy Bible, the daily readings, and lections dedicated to God:

"Our Lord and our God - Hear the pleas of your servants and send your mercy to the fruit of the olive tree,

which you gave for our benefit and the salvation of your people. And grant that within us dwells the graces of

your Holy and beneficent Spirit, for the workings and fullness of your holy sacraments and rituals, which we

are conducting for your Glory. O God who loves mankind, send your Holy Spirit to your earthly Holy See and

to this oil which is before us, so it may be sanctified and used in Your name, and the name of Your Only Be-

gotten Son."

Upon completion of the readings, the caldron is un-

sealed, and the Catholicos of All Armenians adds the Holy

Chrism from the previous ceremony; old adding to the new,

continuing the unbroken chain of Holy Chrism from the time

of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The mixture is then blessed

and stirred with the traditional holy relics, with prayers, bless-

ings and hymns sung with each one in succession. Upon com-

pletion of the ceremony the faithful come forward to kiss and

to touch the cauldron with cloth.

The grace bestowing sweet-scented oil is received by

all the dioceses and churches from the Pontificate of All Ar-

menians. From ancient times, this has served to preserve the

authority of the Catholicosate of All Armenians, as an excep-

tional covenant with the Armenian faithful. The Holy Chrism

is used during the Sacrament of Baptism and Chrismation,

Ordination of Clergy, Consecration of Bishops, Final Rites of

Clergyman, Blessing of the Water Service, and Consecration

of new Churches.

Contact Information

Please keep St. Vartan Armenian Church updated

with your correct address and phone number.

Send any new information to stvartanoak-

land@aol.com or call the church office at

510-893-1671.

Christmas Greetings You can send a Christmas Greeting

in the December issue of the Voice

Newsletter to all your family and

friends at St. Vartan Church.

E-mail the church office at stvar-

tanoakland@aol.com or call 510-893-

1671 before November 15, 2014 to

place your greeting. This is a great

opportunity to send Christmas

well-wishes to all of your friends

at St. Vartan Church, while

supporting the Voice Newslet-

ter.

Suggested donation for

Christmas Greeting is

$25.

St. Vartan Voice On-Line

You can receive your St. Vartan Voice Newsletter

via email, rather than “snail mail”. If you would like to

be on our emailing list for the newsletter,

please contact the church office at stvar-

tanoakland@aol.com or call 510-893-

1671.

Bazaar Directories Available Pledged Members can pick up their 2015 Bazaar di-

rectory in the church entryway. Non-pledged members

can call the church to request a directory. The suggested

donation for non-pledged members is $5.