ARMENIAN ALL SAINTS APOSTOLIC CHURCH
SUNDAY BULLETIN
Sunday, February 5, 2012

REQUIEMS
Requiem service requests are not permitted on Christmas, Easter, Transfiguration, Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, and Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Armenian Church requires you to partake in communion on at least these 5 days.

BIBLE READING 
Bible readings for Sunday, February 5, Sunday of the Catechumens, are: Isaiah 63:7-18; 2 Timothy 3:1-12; John 6:22-38.

       The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
       But when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his deal.” Then they said to him, “what must we do to perform the works of God?” (John 6:22-28)

 TODAY'S SERMON
"The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of Lord turn away from wickedness." (2 Timothy 2:19)

THE PROPHET JONAH
       Today, Friday, February 3, the Armenian Church commemorates the Prophet Jonah (Hovnan), one of the twelve so-called Minor Prophets. The Minor Prophets are not considered less important than the ones designated Major Prophets, but their books in the Bible are shorter. All of the Minor Prophets were servants of God who proclaimed His will to people in need of repentance.
       The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the better-known stories in the Old Testament. Jonah’s feast falls on the last day of the Fast of the Catechumens. Just as the people of Nineveh fasted and repented from their wicked ways, so too do the people of God during this preliminary fast before Great Lent (Medz Bahk), the most penitential season of the year.

ST. SARKIS THE WARRIOR
       This Saturday, February 4, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Sarkis the Warrior, his son Mardiros, and 14 faithful soldiers. This is a moveable feast that can occur between January 11 and February 15. It follows the Fast of the Catechumens. Although the fast is not connected to the feast of St. Sarkis, it has come to be associated with this saint, even often incorrectly referred to as the fast of St. Sarkis.
       Sarkis lived during the fourth century and was from Cappadocia in Asia Minor. He rose through the military ranks because of his valiant campaign on behalf of the Emperor Constantine. With the accession of Emperor Julian, Sarkis took refuge in Armenia with his son. Later they went to Persia to join the Persian army in fighting Julian. Both fought with exceptional bravery. The Persian leader, Shapur II, tried to convince them to abandon their Christian faith and embrace Zoroastrianism. Both refused, and father and son were martyred. Fourteen loyal Christian soldiers who went to claim the bodies were also killed. Eventually, Christians secured the remains and sent them to Assyria, where they remained until the fifth century when Mesrob Mashdots had the remains transferred to the city of Karpi in the area of Vaspurakan in Armenia. A monastery was built over the site of the grave.

POON PAREGENTAN
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 7:00 pm
Shahnasarian Hall