The Sunday before Easter, Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates Palm Sunday, the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. The altar that had been closed since Poon Paregentan, is once again opened. Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of lent and the beginning of Holy Week.

Thursday, April 17 at 8:30-9:00pm and on Saturday, April 19 at 3:30-4:00pm a half-hour program will be aired on Food and Spirituality on KQED in the Bay Area. 

Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014
Divine Liturgy………………………………………………10:30 a.m.
Opening of the Curtain (Turnpatzek)……............12:00 Noon
Followed by blessing of palm branches and solemn procession.
 
Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2014
Divine Liturgy            and Communion……………..10:30 a.m.
Washing of the Feet Service……………………………7:00 p.m.
Service of Betrayal and Passion……………………….8:15 p.m.
 
Good Friday, April 18, 2014
Service of the Burial of Our Lord…………………… 7:00 p.m.
Buffet dinner ……………………………………………...8:00 p.m.
 

Sunday, March 30, was truly a day filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit for St. John parishioners. It was a special day of many activities incluiding the Episcopal Divine Liturgy, ordination of Deron Kapeghian to the deaconate, Hokehankist requiem service for Sumgayit massacres, our Michink luncheon, and the workshop organized by the Christian Education Council with Northern California Sunday School Students and parents.

On Monday, March 31, 2014 St. John Armenian Church hosted a screening of the documentary film “Ordinary Genocide.” Present were the films producers Marina Grigoryan and Haykaram Nahapetyan.  The film, with cutting honesty, presented the horrible events endured by the Armenians of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabagh between 1988-1991. Upon the conclusion of the film screening there were discussions and a Q&A with the film makers.

The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen’s initiative. It is run under the motto “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action,” and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March. The movement aims to bring together women of various races, cultures and traditions in a yearly common Day of Prayer, as well as in closer fellowship, understanding and action throughout the year.

It has been a wonderful tradition to commemorate St. Vartan and his Companions jointly with all the Bay Area Armenian Churches. Each year's commemoration takes place in one of the Armenian Churches. This year, St. John Armenian Church hosted the feast day.  The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Asoghig Jamgochian, parish priest of St. James Armenian Church of Sacramento.

February 21-23 the Paul Family Hall was transformed in to a warm and intimate gallery decorated by the beautiful and unique artwork of renowned artist Lilit Soghomonyan. Lilit was invited by Saint John Armenian Church for her San Francisco debut solo exhibition.

More than 10 ladies along with Fr. Mesrop visited long time St. John Ladies Society member, Bea Bosghossian to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, February 5. It was an unforgettable and memorable day for our Bea.

They were able to pray, catch up with church news, laugh toghether, eat cake, exchange gifts and enjoy one another's company.

We are excited to announce that Parish Priest, Fr. Mesrop Ash, will be leading a pilrimage to Armenia from September 24 - October 10, 2014. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the faithful of the Bay Area to experiance the Hayrenik, our ancestral homeland.

This pilgrimage will travel to all the essential sites of Armenian heritage, including Holy Etchmiadzin, Khor Virab, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Artsakh, and more.