SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017

Barekendan of the Fast of St. James

A5au7t;an Vam;rg. 9:00 AM S1 Patarag 10:00 AM

Morning Service 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM

Readings from the Holy Scripture

Is 37:14-38

1 Thes 1:1-12

Gospel According to Luke 14:12-24

God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who

believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. Jn 3:16

Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian

T. TIRAN QFN|. P&FAY:AN

St. Leon Armenian Church

12-61 Saddle River Road Fair Lawn, NJ 07410

Phone (201) 791-2862 Fax (201) 791-1329

Church E-mail address: stleon@stleon.org

Fr. Diran’s E-mail address: dbohajian@stleon.org

St. Leon’s Website: http://www.stleon.org

ALTAR SERVERS

Sr. Dns, Dr. Berdj Feredjian. Hacik Sariminasyan, Dns., Diran Jebejian,

Hrach Kasaryan, Nubar Kasaryan,

Sebuh Oscherician, Sarkis Pilavdjian

Subdns. Paul Chamesian, Gregory Kazanjian, Vahe Kiljian

CHOIR MASTER PRINCIPAL ORGANIST George Paroonagian Sirvard Galstian “Krisdos ee méch me haydnetsav.” – “Orhnyal é haydnootyoonun Krisdosi.” “Christ is revealed among us.” - “Blessed is the revelation of Christ.”

Parish Council Members: Lorig Chorluyan, Alex Avedis,

Robert Sarajian, Virginia DiBianca, Vicken Jessourian,

Serda Belekdanian, Gregory Parseghian, Diran Jebejian,

Dennis Tarzian, Sarkis Pilavdjian and David Kasparian

HOKEHANKISD

Sargis & Rita Asoyan, Hripsik, Ari, Ara request

Hokehankisd for the soul of Hripsik Baghdasaryan, loving

mother and grandmother on the 1st year of her passing into eternal

rest. The Family has donated toward the Altar Flowers and request

the Altar Candles be lit in her memory.

Virginia Hachadourian & Family request Hokehankisd for

the soul of Nolan Hachadourian, loving husband, father and

grandfather on the 2nd year of his passing into eternal rest. The

Family has donated toward the Altar Flowers and request the Altar

Candles be lit in his memory.

Mary Proodian & Family request Hokehankisd for the soul

of Setrag Proodian on his 6th year of passing into eternal rest and

for the soul of Jack Proodian his beloved brother on his 4th year

of passing into eternal rest. The Family has donated toward the

Altar Flowers and request the Altar Candles be lit in their memory.

Virginia Clarke, Howard & Louise Clarke, Steven & Diane

Clarke and their Families request Hokehankisd for the soul of

Howard Yazijy Clarke, loving husband, father, grandfather, great

grandfather on the 10th year of his passing into eternal rest. The

Family has donated toward the Altar Flowers and request the Altar

Candles be lit in his memory.

Paul, Marilou, Michael, Stefanie & Mark Pinajian request

Hokehankisd for the soul of Howard Clarke, loving brother-in-

law and uncle on the 10th year of his passing into eternal rest. The

Family has donated toward the Altar Flowers and request the Altar

Candles be lit in his memory.

The Vezirian, Carmichael, Hovsepian and de los Reyes

Families request Hokehankisd for the soul of

Richard Mark Vezirian, beloved father, grandfather, brother,

uncle and great-uncle on the 15th year of his passing into eternal

rest. The Family has donated toward the Altar Flowers and request

the Altar Candles be lit in his memory.

Manal Kevorkian, Tanya, George, Louis, and Farrah Ibrahim

Lydia, Francis, Chloe, Frankie, and Laila Cornacchiulo

ElSayed Family request Hokehankisd for the soul of

Hovannes Kevorkian, loving husband, father, and grandfather on

the 16th year of passing into eternal rest. The Family has donated

toward the Altar Flowers and request the Altar Candles be lit his

memory.

The Parish Council requests Hokehankisd for the soul of the

Armenian people who lost their lives in the earthquake in 1988

(29 years ago). It is requested that the Altar Candles be lit in their

memory.

The Berenson Family requests Hokehankisd for the soul of

Adrienne Mamelian Berenson our beloved mother and

grandmother on the 17th year of her passing into eternal rest and

for the soul of our grandparents and great- grandparents,

Hrachuhi and Kegham Simonyan; Arakel Araz;

Ardemis and Nishan Demirdjian; Keghanoush and

Onnig Mamelian of their passing into eternal rest. The Family

has donated toward the Altar Flowers and request the Altar

Candles be lit in their memory.

John, Mimi & Sylva Demirdjian,

John Garo & Cristina Demirdjian request Hokehankisd for the soul

of their parents and grandparents Hagop & Sirvart Demirdjian,

Levon & Nazeli Chaboyan, brothers, uncles and aunts

Krikor Demirdjian, Garbis Chaboyan & Harutuion, Lucine,

Aghavni Babikian and Antranig Saatdjian of their passing into

eternal rest. The Family has donated toward the Altar Flowers and

request the Altar Candles be lit in their memory.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK; Remember in your prayers and

ask for the recovery of Marjan Minasian, Grace Pinajian,

Robert Foronjy, Ruth Bedevian, Lusi Ezgilioglu,

Aram & Mary Varteressian, Brandon Katz, Dan Patoyian

(Moynihan) Thomas Thomasian, Alice Manookian,

Juliette Haddad, James Azarian, Wendy Lathey,

Varoujan Harutunian, Marie Harutunian, Joseph Harutunian,

Joanna Jaworska, Mosses Bairamian, Lou Scipione,

Jared Tashjian, Ruben Grigoryants, Michael Sakolsky,

Lynne Ford, Frank Cornawchiulo, Rose Kardashian, Ryan Hallak,

John Hallak, Carmelina Mancini, Marie Tenguerian,

Hana Botier, Mary Ann Kral, Emily Ring, Clara Yeramian,

Jerry DiSanto, Julie Frattarola, Melanie Sarkisian,

Anthony Laudati and all those who are suffering.

We commit our sick and shut-ins to our Heavenly Father who

cares and watches over all His children.

“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”

CHURCH ETIQUETTE:

Father Diran and the Parish Council sincerely request that

parishioners respond to the following, so that our beloved Church

may function in a more orderly and respectful manner:

Altar Candles ~ Please note, according to Armenian Church

tradition, all Altar Candles must be lit before the beginning of

Badarak. Those desiring to light candles in memory of loved ones

or friends are requested to notify the Church Office in advance by

noon of Wednesday preceding the Sunday of remembrance.

Reverence Required ~ Please be advised that, according to the

tradition of the Armenian Church, members of the congregation are

strongly reminded to refrain from walking in and out of the

Sanctuary while services are in progress. You are especially

reminded not to do so during 1) the Chanting of the Gospel,

(pg. 17); 2) recitation of the Creed (Havadamk), (pg. 18); 3) the

Chalice Procession, (pg. 24-25); 4) Hayr Mer (pg 41); 5) the Hymn,

“Der Voghormya,” (pg. 45); and 6) distribution of the Holy

Communion, (p. 49). Also, please do not chew gum or cross legs during church services. Please observe the “arrows” in the new liturgy

books. They indicate when you should Stand, Sit, or Kneel.

BURNING CANDLES IN THE CHURCH One of the

devotional practices in the Armenian Church, as in all Orthodox

Churches, is the beautiful custom of burning candles in front of

sacred shrines, icons or relics. It is symbolic of the sacrifice of the

Christian soul in order to shine with divine graces, confident in the

example and intercession of the saints. So the candle burns itself

up to give out light. Light symbolizes Christ, “The Light of the

World.” When attending the Divine Liturgy on Sunday or any

Worship Service, the believer may obtain a candle(s) in the

Narthex which is accompanied by a donation. Then, he/she will

take their candle to one of the icons in our church. The faithful

will then light the candle, make the sign of the cross, say a prayer

and return to the pew. During the prayer he/she may ask the

intercession of the particular saint in his/her mind which may be

represented by the image or relic.

DRESS CODE FOR CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL As we worship in our beloved Armenian Church on Sundays and

attend Sunday School, let us be mindful that we are in God’s

House. Since we are in God’s House, it is important that we dress

appropriately. The attire (clothing) we wear on Sundays should be

in good taste; therefore, any transparent clothes, shorts and skirts

with length above the knees, halter and tank tops, spaghetti straps,

jeans, etc, should be avoided. Bare shoulders should be covered

with a shawl.

WOMEN’S GUILD Reservations are a must for the Women’s

Guild Christmas Party-Members only on December 12, 2017.

Donation $15.00. Please call Marilou Pinajian 201-791-0621.

PAVING THE WAY BRICK BY BRICK- The Youth Center

has signature paving bricks for you to purchase. It may be an

Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Graduation or just any occasion

to purchase a Brick in someone’s name. Take a walk to the Youth

Center and see the hundreds bricks with family names.

KHORENIAN DIVINE LITURGY St. Leon has Mastro

Khoren Mekanejian CD of the Divine Liturgy for sale at $23.00,

just in time for Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. It can be

purchased in the Parish Council Room. Please have exact change

or check to St. Leon Armenian Church.

ST. LEON CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE IN THE NARTHEX is designated this year to the Star of Hope for the children of

Paterson. They are requesting gloves, scarves, balls, games and

dolls. No glass or gifts that encourage violence. Purchase a gift of

$20.00 or less, please do not wrap the gift and place it under the

tree in the Narthex. Please bring your gifts by Sunday

December 17, 2017. Thanking you in advance for making a

child smile.

St. Leon Sunday School

Annual Christmas Pageant

Sunday,

December 10th

, 2017“

Celebration

of the Birth of Our Lord”

Donation:

Adults $10.00 Students $5.00

BIBLE STUDY

We have BS on the following dates December 14 and 21.

No Bible Study on Dec 28

Book of Esther

Chapter 4 “Mordecai Seeks Esther’s Aid”

Addition C

Chapter 13 “Mordecai’s Prayer”

Chapter 14 “Esther’s Prayer”

Prologue from Chapters 11 and 12 of the Apocryphal Book of

Esther: In the second year of the reign of Babylonian King

Artaxerxes, during the captivity of Israel, Mordecai has a dream of

impending conflict between two dragons. In this dream, a

righteous nation is troubled and threatened by evil, but the

people cry out to the Lord and are delivered. While Mordecai

seeks to understand his dream, resting in the courtyard, he

overhears two of the king's attendants plotting to kill the

king. Mordecai warns the king, and the two attendants confess to

their plot. They are executed, and Mordecai is invited by the king

to serve in his court. Haman, an official serving the king, becomes

envious and seeks to hurt Mordecai.

In Esther 1-2, Artaxerxes celebrates the wealth of his kingdom for

180 days and then gives a seven-day banquet for all his nobles

and officials. Queen Vashti also gives a banquet for the women in

the royal palace. On the seventh day, the king sends for Queen

Vashti because he wants to display her beauty to the people and

nobles, but Queen Vashti refuses to come. The king is furious and

and seeks counsel from Mumucan as to what must be done to

Queen Vashti for her defiance of the king's order. Memucan

responds that the king should issue an order to depose Queen

Vashti and appoint her successor. The king begins a search in his

realm for beautiful young women to be brought into his harem to

select the new queen. Mordecai brings his cousin Esther

(Hadassah is her Hebrew name) to the royal court. She surpasses

all of the others in her beauty, and the king places the crown on her

head. He gives a banquet in honor of his new Queen

Esther. While sitting at the king's gate, Mordecai overhears two

of the king's officers plotting to kill the king. Mordecai tells

Queen Esther, who then notifies the king of what Mordecai has

told her. When the king confirms the plot, he has the two officers

executed. Mordecai had instructed Queen Esther to keep her

family background secret, and she has not revealed her background

to the king or anyone else.

STAR OF HOPE

You can Help Us to Help A Child.

Star of Hope Ministries, Inc. a Christian non-profit organization in

Paterson, NJ will serve 5000 children this holiday season through

Christmas Joy Shoppe. This effort will be accomplished because

of Star of Hope’s partnership with many churches, businesses and

oganizations in Great Paterson and surrounding areas.

Simply purchase a toy that is $20.00 or less and place it under our

tree in the Narthex.

Balls, games, black and ethnic dolls, scarves, hats and gloves are

appreciated the most. Toys must be unwrapped. No guns or gifts

that encourage violence.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

We are again offering the opportunity of sending

greetings to your fellow Parishioners through a special

St. Leon Christmas Greeting Card. Please complete this form and return it to the Church Office.

(Please mail by Sunday, December 17, 2017). The card will appear in the

January Bulletin & January Lradoo.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS:

DONATION: _____________

PLEASE PRINT

Name ___________________________________________

Address _________________________________________

POINSETTIA’S FOR THE

HOLY ALTAR To The Poinsettias that decorate the Altar during the

Christmas season, please complete the form below and

return it with your check, to the Church Office.

(Please mail by Sunday, December 17, 2017)

The list will appear in the January Bulletin & January Lradoo.

POINSETTIA’S FOR THE ALTAR

DONATION: ______________ PLEASE PRINT Name _________________________________

Address ______________________________

Telephone ___________________________

In Memory of _______________________

In Honor of __________

HOLY WEEK & EASTER IN JERUSALEM

The Eastern Diocese announced a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for

the Spring of 2018. The pilgrimage is the culmination of the

Diocese’s “Save the Tomb” campaign in support of the restoration

of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The dates of the pilgrimage are April 3-14, 2018. Participants will

spend Holy Week and Easter in Jerusalem and its environs, and

will worship at the newly restored Tomb of Christ in the

Holy Sepulchre.

Information on the pilgrimage is now available. To download a

brochure in PDF format—detailing itinerary, costs and how to

reserve a place, go to the Diocese Website for all information on

the trip. Starting price $2868.00.

Our Pastor, Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian will also participate in the

pilgrimage

NO COFFEE HOSPITALITY Our Annual Sunday School Christmas Pageant.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Last Gospel Mark 4:26-34

Sun Dec 10 Morning Service Divine Liturgy Sunday School

Sunday School Christmas Pageant

Tues Dec 12 Women’s Guild – Christmas Party-members only

Wed Dec 13 Senior Center 11:00 -4:00 PM

Thurs Dec 14 Bible Study 7:30-8:30 PM

*No Bible Study on Dec 28

Fri Dec 15 Armenian School 6:00-8:30 PM

*No Armenian School on Dec. 22, Dec 29, Jan 5

Sun Dec 17 Morning Service Divine Liturgy Sunday School

Wed Dec 20 Senior Center-Christmas Luncheon-members only

Parish Council Meeting 7:30 PM

Sun Dec 24 Morning Service Divine Liturgy

*No Sunday School –Family Worship

Christmas Eve Service 7:30 PM

Mon Dec 25 Christmas Day – Merry Christmas

Wed Dec 27 Senior Center

Sun Dec 31 Morning Service Divine Liturgy

*No Sunday School – Family Worship

Mon January 1 Happy New Year 2018

Wed January 3 Senior Center, Parish Council Meeting 7:30 PM

Thurs January 4 Bible Study

Fri January 5 Divine Liturgy 8:00 PM

Sat January 6 Armenian Christmas - Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM