Dear Friends,

Krisdos haryav ee merelotz
Christ is risen from the dead!
Orhnyal eh harootyoonun Krisdosee
Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!

Recently, I have noticed that we have become a bit lax in the area of church etiquette. This may be the result of our worshipping in the Egavian Hall for the last few months and an understandable temptation to become less formal.

In any case, I am taking this opportunity to remind the faithful of a few important points according to the etiquette of the Armenian Apostolic Church. By the way, I do encourage the faithful to contact me at any time for clarification on these or any related questions.

• Although we are worshipping in the Egavian Hall, at least on Sunday mornings we need to enter and depart the sanctuary graciously without any unnecessary, particularly secular conversation. In worship our responsibility is to communicate with God and during the fellowship hour with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember that our Lord is truly present in the bread and wine on the altar.
  
  
• Please take special care not to converse during and after the administration of Holy Communion as this is a particularly solemn moment for the faithful to reflect on the great gift of our Lord’s precious Body and Blood and offer silent thanksgiving prayers.
  
  
• When approaching to receive Holy Communion, make the sign of the cross, say “Megha Asdoodzoh – I have sinned against God,“ slightly protrude your tongue so that the celebrant may place the precious species with ease, then cross yourself again and silently proceed to your place.
  
  
• Regarding Mahs or Holy Bread. This is meant to be our “part and portion” of the Holy Badarak. We are to take it home to share with those unable to attend the Badarak and to partake of during the week. While this is not equivalent to Holy Communion, it is to be handled with pious care and not to be discarded. (If you have old mahs or palms, you may bring them to church and we will incinerate them according to church custom).
  
  
• Finally, a reminder that the proper way to greet the clergy (Hayr Soorp) is “Asdavadz Oknagan – May God be your helper.” If greeting a bishop or archbishop say, “Asdvadz Oknagan, Srpazan Hayr – May God be your helper, your grace.” When greeting a married priest (Der Hayr), we say, “Ohrnetsek, Der Hayr – Bless me, father.”

This will be especially useful as we will be welcoming many clergy to our parish during the upcoming Diocesan Assembly.

May Jesus our resurrected Lord bless and inspire us to grow in our love for Him and its proper expression through the piety of the Holy Apostolic Church.

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Concerning Judging and Speaking Evil of Others

from the Desert Fathers

A brother at Scetis (monastery) committed a fault. A council was called to which Father Moses was invited, but he refused to go to it. Then the priests sent someone to say to him, “Come, for everyone is waiting for you.” So he got up and went. He took a leaking jug, filled it with water and carried it with him. The others came out to meet him and said to him, “What is this, Father?” The old man said to them, “My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and today I am coming to judge the errors of another.” When they heard that they said no more to the brother but forgave him.”

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With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
April 6, 2008