Parish Priests and Deacons |
Priests currently at St. John Armenian Church
Pastor: Very Rev. Father Aren Jebejian
Assistant Pastor Reverend Father Armash Bagdasarian
Clergy residing within the St. John parish and Community: Rev. Father Garabed Kochakian , Rev. Father Abraham Ohanesian
Pastors of St. John Armenian Church 1913 - Present
Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian (2015 - Present)
Rev. Father Garabed Kochakian (1998 – 2015) Rev. Fr. Diran Papazian (Priest-in-Residence, 1998-2018) Very Rev. Fr. Baret Dz. Vartabed Yeretzian (1993-1997) Very Rev. Fr. Paren Dz. Vartabed Avedikian (1972-1992) Very Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Dz. Vartabed Gizirian (1965-1969) Rev. Fr. Diran Papazian (1958-1972) Rev. Fr. Arnak Kasparian (1951-1962) Very Rev. Fr. Isahag Vartabed Ghazarian (1948-1951) Rt. Rev. Bishop Sion Manoogian (Vicar General of the Midwest, 1945-1952) Rev. Fr. Nerses Odian (1941-1947) Rev. Fr. Vahan Jelalian (1937-1941) Very Rev. Fr. Vartan Vartabed Kasparian (1934-1937) Rev. Fr. Atig Dsotsigian (1930-1934) Very Rev. Fr. Vahram Vartabed Nazaretian (1924-1928) Rev. Fr. Bedros Mampreian (intermittently, 1922-1930) Rev. Fr. Khachig Kroozian (1922-1924) Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Vartabed Nazaretian (1913-1922)
Deacons serving St. John Armenian Church Rev. Deacon Mihran Hoplamazian, Ordained: December 10, 1995 Special Interest and Ministry: Dn. Mihran, our most senior deacon, serves as a mentor to the rest of our deacons and as an example of faith, wisdom and dedication to our entire parish. Dn. Mihran received the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal, from Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II, for his many years of faithful diaconal service to the Armenian Church. Rev. Deacon Richard Norsigian, Ordained: December 10, 1995 Special Interest and Ministry: Dn. Richard currently serves as a Diocesan Delegate. He has served our parish for many years as a Parish Council Member and parish acolyte instructor. Rev. Deacon Onnig Boyajian, Ordained: December 10, 1995 Special Interest and Ministry: Dn. Onnig fulfills the role of Proto-Deacon on a weekly basis. As such, he assists Fr. Garabed with the oversight and organization of all Liturgical Services at SJAC. Dn. Onnig often spends time visiting the sick and elderly in hospitals and currently leads a class of senior acolytes in poorvar (incensing) instruction. Rev. Deacon Rubik Mailian, Ordained: May 1998 Special Interest and Ministry: Director of Sacred Music and Pastoral Assistant at St. John Armenian Church. A graduate of St. Nersess and St. Vladimir Seminaries. Deacon Mailian has presented many articles and lectures on the subject of Armenian Music especially history, practice and the performance of early Armenian Church Music in the Eastern and Western Diocese of Armenian Church in the United States and in Europe. His article about Armenian Neumes (Xazer) was published in "The Center of Spirituality East-West" of Michael Lacko in Kosice, Slovakia, periodical in February 2005. Deacon Mailian is an active member of American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, Sacred Music Council, and the Diocesan Liturgical Committee for the publication of new books. Rev. Deacon Shahin Uzunjian, Ordained: September 10, 2006 Special Interest and Ministry: Ordained later in life, Dn. Shain is an inspiration to all that it is never too late to serve the Lord. Dn. Shahin travels monthly to Ann Arbor to offer the Mid-Day Hour Service for the Armenian mission parish there. Rev. Deacon Steven Mangigian, Ordained: September 10, 2006 Special Interest and Ministry: Dn. Steve has served as a parish acolyte instructor and has participated several times at St. Nersess Seminary as an instructor in the Deacon's Training Program. He also travels with the Diocesan Director of Mission Parishes to assist in their Divine Liturgies. Rev. Deacon Aram Gregory Sarkisian, Ordained: November 11, 2012 Special Interest and Ministry: Sdn. Aram is a 2008 graduate of the University of Michigan and lives in Ann Arbor. He has traveled to Armenia as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and has served as a counselor for the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary Summer Conferences. Rev. Deacon Dr. David Aprahamian, Ordained: November 11, 2012 Special Interest and Ministry: Sdn. David is the current parish acolyte instructor for beginners and has served in many ways including as a Parish Council Member.
Rev. Deacon George Boyagian, Ordained: April 2018 Served 10 years plus Gomitas Choir in the Baritone section and various positions as a board member. Traneled to Jerusalem with Dn. Rubik to participate in the celebration service of 1500 years of Christianity. Participated with Women's Guild and Gomitas Choir bringing Christmas joy to the residents at Manoogian Manor. Ordained a Subdeacon in May of 2014 and serves the holy alter for Badarak and other sacred services. Have chaired picnics and various Men's Society events and have served on Parish Council Member. It truly is a uplifting experience to serve our Lord with the congregation every Sunday at Badarak.
Sub-Deacon Harry Kezelian III Bio to follow
Sub-Deacon Garo Matossian Bio to follow
Our Younger Sub-Deacons away at college (or in transition): Sub-Deacon Nicholas Mangigian Sub-Deacon Jeffrey Movsesian Sub-Deacon Jordan Norsigian Sub-Deacon Stepan Terjimanian
Acolytes
Savag Ghazarian, Myles Najarian, Michael Boyajian, Armen Oknayan, Areg Mailian
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PARISH COUNCIL – 2018/2019
Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian, President fraren@sjachurch.org
Mr. Michael Kazarian, Chairman Mr. Michael Toomajian, Vice-Chairman Mr. Chistoper Korkoian, Treasurer Mr. Bob Simonian, Assistant Treasurer Mr. George Boyagian, Secretary
Mrs. Marilyn Mardigian Dadian, Asst. Secretary
Mr. Paul Andonian, Advisor
Mrs. Jackie ElChemmas, Advisor Mr. Jeffrey Axt, Advisor
Mrs. Marilyn Boladian, Advisor Mr. Peter Egigian, Advisor Mr. Kazar Terterian, 1st Alternate Mr. Gary Hachigian, 2nd Alternate
| Diocesan Delegates 2015-2019
Mrs. Roseann Attar
Mr. Howard Atesian, Jr.
Mrs. Jackie ElChemmas Mr. Edward H. Korkoian
Mr. Richard Norsigian
Mrs. Janet Mardigian
Mr. Gary Zamanigian, 1st Alternate Mrs. David Aprahamian, 2nd Alternate
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St. John Armenian Church Usher Corps
Each week on Sunday mornings we are blessed to have dedicated individuals, known as the Ushers Corps, to help guide our worshippers into church as they arrive. They help us keep the good order of our house of worship so that everyone who enters and exits is greeted and guided properly. The Corps is comprised of several teams who serve alternately on a designated Sunday, helping with the lines when Holy Communion is to be distributed, passing out veils to women who wish to wear them, guiding people back to their pews, greeting worshippers with a “good morning,” giving them a bulletin with a Sunday smile certainly helps make our Divine Liturgy even more ‘divine’ as God touches them through the good graces of the Ushers. The Ushers Corps is one of many auxiliary groups that help the pastor by giving guidance, inspiration, sharing good will and helping uplift the spirits of our faithful. Members of the Ushers Corps can be identified by the burgundy blazers they wear and special name tags.
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THE LECTORS CORPS
The Lectors Corps is comprised of parishioners who have offered to read the lections on designated Sundays. They arrive in church early on Sunday morning, vest with choir robes and come prepared to read the appropriate lections for the day in English. At the proper moment in the Divine Liturgy they come up to the lectern and read the Word of God. Lectors are encouraged to review their readings in advance and study an Orthodox commentary (like the Orthodox Study Bible) to properly understand them. In the chancel, at the lector’s podium, there is a Permanent Lectionary, which remains there for each Sunday’s reading. The Lectionary contains all of the readings for the entire year. The church office mails the text of the appropriate readings a few weeks prior to the reading date so lectors may be adequately prepared to read. It is an honor and privilege to be a lector and thus spread the Word of the Lord in English to our faithful gathered for the Divine Liturgy every Sunday.
Thank you for your dedicated service to our church.
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The Armenian Church accepts the first three ecumenical councils of the Church. They are the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), the Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.), and the Council of Ephesus (431 A.D.). Her doctrines are founded upon the creeds and the dogmas of these councils. The Nicean Creed is a major basis of the doctrine of the Armenian Church. According to the doctrine of the Armenian Church, Christ is at one and the same time perfect God and perfect man. CHRIST IS GOD BECOME MAN. Neither His Divine nature nor His human nature are separated. These natures are united so that they are indivisible. Hence, we speak of the ONE NATURE of Christ (according to the formula of St. Cyril of Alexandria), "en mia physis." The Armenian Church also believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone and does not teach the western doctrine of the "Filioque." The Armenian Church administers the seven sacraments and upholds the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. She also ordains Deacons, Priests, and Bishops. The Divine Liturgy is the central act of worship in the Armenian Church. She accepts both the Holy Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition as comprising the single Orthodox rule of faith.
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The Nicean-Athanasian Creed of the Armenian Orthodox Church:
We believe in One God [Deut 6:4, Mk 12:29, 1 Cor 8:6], the Father Almighty [Rev 16:7, Eph 4:6, Mt 6:9], maker of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible [Gen 1:1].
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ [Lk 2:11, 1 Cor 8:6, Jam 1:1], the Son of God [Mt 3:17, 17:5], begotten of God the Father [Psalm 2:7], only-begotten [Jn 1:18], that is of the substance of the Father [Jn 10:30, Heb 1:3]. God from God [Jn 11:42, 10:30], light from light [Jn 8:12], true God from true God [Jn 17:3, 10:30], begotten and not made [Ps 2:7] of the same nature of the Father [Jn 10:30, Heb 1:3], by whom all things came into being in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible [Col 1:16, Jn 1:1-3]. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven [Jn 6:38, Mt 1:21], was incarnate [Jn 1:14], was made man [Jn 10:33, 1 Cor 15:47], was born perfectly of the holy Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit [Lk 1:35]. By whom he took body, soul and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance [Lk 24:39, 1 Jn 1:1, Jn 11:38, Lk 23:46]. He suffered [Heb 2:18, 13:12] and was crucified [Mk 15:25] and was buried [Mk 15:46, 1 Cor 15:3-4] and rose again on the third day [Mt 20:19, 28:6], and ascended into heaven with the same body [Lk 24:51, Mk 16:19], and sat at the right hand of the Father [Mk 16:19, Acts 7:55, Eph 1:20]. He is to come with the same body [Acts 1:11] and with the glory of the Father [Mt 16:27] to judge the living and the dead [1 Pt 4:5, Mt 16:27]; of His Kingdom there is no end [Lk 1:33, Jn 18:36].
We believe also in the Holy Spirit [Mt 28:20, Jn 14:15-17, Heb 3:7, Heb 10:15, 1 Tim 4:1], the uncreate and the perfect [Jn 15:26]; who spoke through the Law and through the prophets and through the Gospels [Heb 1:1-2, Neh 9:30]; who came down upon the Jordan [Mt 3:16, Jn 1:32], preached through the apostles [Acts 2:4] and dwelled in the saints [1 Cor 3:16, Acts 4:31].
We believe also in only one catholic and apostolic holy Church [Mt 16:18, 1 Cor 3:11, Eph 1:22-23, 2:20, 5:23-27, Rom 12:5, Mt 28:19]; in one baptism with repentance [Acts 2:38] for the remission and forgiveness of sins [1 Jn 4:10, Mt 26:27-28]; in the resurrection of the dead [Jn 5:28-29], in the everlasting judgment of souls and bodies [1 Cor 15:51-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18]; in the Kingdom of Heaven [Luke 23:43] and in the life eternal [1 Jn 5:20]
-Adapted from the original text by Vartabed Vahan Hovhanessian
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