St. James Armenian Church

Men's Club Monthly Dinner and Fellowship
2022-05-02 18:15 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Monday, May 2 - Men's Club Monthly Dinner and Fellowship.
Guest Speaker is Boston Globe journalist, author, and sports commentator Dan Shaughnessy, speaking about his latest book, "Wish it Lasted Forever: Life with the Larry Bird Celtics."
$20 per person.
6:15 pm Social Hour
7 pm Losh Kebab and Kheyma Dinner
All are welcome.

Plaque Dedication Ceremony of the James Hagop Totovian Court
2022-03-27 12:30 - 14:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Join us on Sunday, March 27 in the Charles Mosesian Cultural & Youth Center's Keljik Hall for the unveiling and dedication of the James Hagop Totovian Court's new plaque. The ceremony will begin immediately following Church services. A special reception will follow, sponsored by the Totovian Family.
Throughout the years, thousands of people have come through the doors of our Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, and have spent countless hours on the Keljik Hall and Mirak Hall floors in fellowship – playing sports, attending dances, weddings, banquets, the Bazaar and many other activities.
Among them was lifelong parishioner James "Jimmy" Totovian, who passed away suddenly in 2019. Jimmy grew up at St. James, together with his brothers Vaughan and Mark. He was a dedicated ACYOA member, spending much of his time at St. James, forming friendships and impacting so many lives. As a lasting memorial to Jim, his family and friends came together to coordinate fundraising efforts for the renovation in 2020, to replace the floor in Jim’s memory. On February 23, 2020, the Keljik Hall floor was dedicated as the “James Hagop Totovian Court."

Harissa Dinner Fundraiser
2021-02-12 16:00 - 18:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
PLACE YOUR ORDERS TODAY
Pre-order only by Wednesday, February 10
**CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR ORDER.**
Online ordering is now available for our Harissa Dinner To-Go Fundraiser, taking place next Friday, February 12th from 4-6 pm. Dinners will be available for pre-order curbside pickup only. Meals will be prepared with limited volunteers, in accordance with current public health guidelines.
All meals must be pre-ordered and pre-paid by Wednesday, February 10. Please note that quantities are limited, and dinners may sell out before the order deadline.
Dinners are $15 each and include harissa, tourshi, pita bread, and a sweet treat for dessert.
Orders may be placed online (preferred) by clicking on the link above, or by calling the church office at 617.923.8860 to place your pre-paid order.
This fundraiser is generously sponsored and lovingly prepared by the Haroutiounian sisters and their families. We thank them for their efforts in preparing this traditional meal for us all.

Fall Kick-Off To Go!
2020-09-20 12:30 - 14:30 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
PLACE YOUR ORDERS TODAY
Pre-order only by Friday, September 18
**VIEW MENU AND ORDER ONLINE HERE.**
In lieu of in-person events in September, our Hye Cafe and Men's Club groups are joining forces for a to-go style event to kick-off the start of the fall season. Meals will be available for pre-order curbside pickup only, similar to our Festival To-Go events held earlier this summer. Meals will be prepared with limited volunteers, in accordance with current public health guidelines. No seating available on church grounds.
All meals must be pre-ordered and pre-paid by Friday, September 18. Please note that quantities are limited, and some items may sell out before the order deadline.
Orders may be placed online (preferred) by clicking on the link above, or by calling the church office at 617.923.8860 to place your pre-paid order.

6th Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
2020-08-20 - 2020-09-01 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Join us this summer in the Holy Land!
St. James 6th Pilgrimage to JERUSALEM
August 20 - September 1, 2020
12 Days of Biblical and Historic Discovery
Space is limited - reserve your spot today! Click below for full details.
https://stjameswatertown.org/holy-land-pilgrimage/

Armenian Festival To-Go!
2020-07-26 12:30 - 14:30 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
PLACE YOUR ORDERS TODAY!
New Menu Items! Pre-Order only by Friday, July 24
**CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MENU AND PLACE YOUR ORDER ONLINE**
We are pleased to offer a second installment of our Armenian Festival To-Go, taking place on Sunday, July 26. Similar in format to our event in June, meals will be available for pre-ordered, pre-paid curbside pick-up only. Meals will be prepared with limited volunteers, in accordance with current public health guidelines.
Orders may be placed online (preferred) by clicking on the button below, or by calling the church office at 617.923.8860 to place your pre-paid order. Orders must be placed and paid for by Friday, July 24. For everyone's safety, we will not be accepting walk-up orders or any payment on July 26. Please note, there will be no seating available on the St. James grounds.
Delivery options are available for seniors in immediately neighboring towns who are not able to pick-up. To place a delivery order, please call the church office at 617.923.8860

Where Do We Go From Here?
2020-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Join us for an opportunity for our parish to come together in Christian community and hear from our Black brothers and sisters in Christ, to listen to their voices and experience, and to reflect in humility and honesty on our own lives, as we work to move forward in Christian love and witness.
This is an online event.
Leading our conversation will be:
The Rt. Rev. Gayle Elizabeth Harris
Bishop Suffragan, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Past President of the Massachusetts Council of Churches
Rev. Carrington George Moore
Associate Pastor of discipleship & families at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Boston, MA
Director of the Lydia Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Council of Churches
**CLICK HERE TO RSVP**

Holy Easter Sunday - SERVICES CLOSED TO PUBLIC
2020-04-12 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
10 am | Divine Liturgy
LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STJAMESWATERTOWN
Easter Sunday celebrates the joy of the Resurrection and the promise of salvation for all humanity. Armenian Christians around the world exchange the Easter greeting: Krisdos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee! Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!
For each of us, Easter is a time of personal renewal, rebirth and enhancement of our covenant with God. We can feel this renewal in our hearts and souls, and we see it in the world around us, with the blossoming of flowers, trees and green grass symbolizing the beginning of a new cycle of life.

Great and Holy Friday - SERVICES CLOSED TO PUBLIC
2020-04-10 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
7 PM | Remembrance of the Crucifixion and Burial of Our Lord Jesus Christ
LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STJAMESWATERTOWN
Holy Friday is the most solemn and sad day of the Christian calendar. The "Crucifixion Service," usually held at midday, recalls the suffering, execution and death of our Lord, memorialized amid readings from the psalms. In the evening, a white tomb is placed in the chancel of the church for the "Entombment or Burial Service." The tomb is adorned with flowers and during the service is taken in procession around the church. As the faithful leave the church they approach the tomb, kiss the Gospel book, and take a flower in remembrance.

Great and Holy Thursday - SERVICES CLOSED TO PUBLIC
2020-04-09 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
8:30 PM | Remembrance of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Khavaroom)
LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STJAMESWATERTOWN
Another episode at the Last Supper is recalled during the evening service on Holy Thursday. "The Washing of the Feet" ceremony commemorates how Christ washed the feet of His apostles, setting an example of humility and love. The priest in turn washes the feet of twelve church members, usually young men.
On Holy Thursday, an all-night vigil is kept in memory of the last sleepless night of our Lord on earth. This service is called Khavaroom (darkness). Before He was arrested, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and endured in solitude the agony of His impending death. Six sets of laments are chanted, each followed by a Gospel reading depicting Christ's betrayal, imprisonment, torture, trial, sentence, and crucifixion. Twelve lit candles, 11 white and 1 black (representing Judas), are extinguished in pairs.

Palm Sunday - SERVICES CLOSED TO PUBLIC
2020-04-05 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Due to public health regulations related to mitigating the exposure to and spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the ACYOA Palm Sunday Luncheon is canceled.
Church services will take place, however they are NOT open to the public. Information regarding virtual or streaming services will be sent out closer to the date.

CANCELED - Lenten Vigil Service
2020-04-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2020-03-25 19:00 - 20:00, 2020-03-18 19:00 - 20:00, 2020-03-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2020-03-04 19:00 - 20:00, 2020-02-26 19:00 - 20:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Due to regulations related to COVID-19, Wednesday Lenten Vigil Services are canceled.

Hye Cafe (Lenten)
2020-03-06 18:15 - 20:30 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Join us for fellowship and delicious Armenian food
featuring a special Lenten menu:
Vosbov Kheyma, Baked Haddock, Imam Bayeldi, Eech, Falafel, and Pasta!
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
Reservations may be made for parties of 6 or more by calling the church office at
617-923-8860 no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
Volunteers appreciated and welcome on Thursday night, April 5.
for Hye Café preparations! For more information please contact
Linda Sahagian at 617-407-6600 or at hyelinda65@aol.com.
Hye Café began in September 2004, with the intention of bringing families and parishioners together monthly for a night of food, fellowship and fun. It has continued to grow and thrive, becoming a permanent and popular fixture in our parish life. The casual setting makes it easy to dine in and enjoy time with family and friends. Take-out is also available.

Men's Club Monthly Dinner Meeting
2020-03-02 18:15 - 21:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
ST. JAMES MEN’S CLUB
MONTHLY DINNER MEETING
Monday, March 2nd

Speaker: Stewart R. Goff
Our guest speaker will be Stewart R. Goff, RN, MS, who is the new C.E.O of the Armenian Women's Welfare Association and the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) in Jamaica Plain. He assumed his new role on May 8, 2019.
Stewart has worked in elder care for over 25 years. His wife Carolyn is Armenian, and it's interesting to note that her grandmother appears in the 1948 black & white photo of AWWA members standing on the front porch of the original nursing home in Jamaica Plain. Stewart's presentation is entitled "The ANRC, Is it Armenian Enough?".
Losh Kebab and Kheyma Dinner
Social Hour (mezza) 6:15 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m.
$17 per person
LADIES WELCOME

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
2020-03-01 12:30 - 15:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Open to 2019 Dues-paid members only. All 2019 members are encouraged to attend this annual meeting.

First Day of Great Lent
2020-02-24 | MA
Great Lent (Medz Bahk in Armenian) is the 40-day period of spiritual preparation that leads to Easter. It is "great" because it is the longest and most important of all the priods fo fasting and prayers that precede other church feasts. It recalls the 40 days jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness, away from family, friends, food, and all distractions.
Lent begins the Monday following the Sunday of "Poon Paregentan" and lasts forty days to the evening of the Friday before Palm Sunday. The lenten period, including Holy Week, is intended to be one of self-discipline. It is a time for self-examination and self-appraisal toward renewal of lifestyle and improvement of moral and spiritual values. The practice of absitenence may include control over food intake, giving up meat, fish and all other animal foods, such as dairy products and eggs. Lenten sacrifice may also include abstaining from certain pleasure, amusements and festivities, allowing more time for prayers, introspection and church services.
Each Sunday of Lent has a specific name characterizing a basic Christian truth to meditate about. The Sunday preceding Lent, for example, is called Poon Paregentan, which means "good" or "happy living." It is a carnival-like time of indulgence in feasting and merrymaking. Also, it is a reminder of the Christian teaching that man was originally created in happiness, but marred by sin.
Click here for more information about services at St. James during Great Lent.
Text source: 'Welcome to the Armenian Church', printed by the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern)

Grand Re-Opening & Dedication Ceremony
2020-02-23 12:30 - 14:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States

Blessing of Children Service
2020-02-16 10:00 - 13:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 - Each year, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple, or Dyarnuntarach, literally meaning "the bringing forward of the Lord." This feast always falls on February 14th, 40 days after the Feast of the Nativity (January 6). It is a beautiful story from the infancy of Jesus, in which he is confirmed as the Holy Messiah or Christ—the world’s long-awaited savior.
Click here to read more about the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
According to Biblical tradition, it was a custom in the Armenian Church for parents to bring their newly-born babies to the Temple of the Lord to present the child to God. In keeping of this tradition, we invite all parents who baptized a child at St. James in 2019, or anyone wishing to receive a blessing for their child, to present their son/daughter to the altar for a special blessing immediately following church services.
Click here to download a picture of the Presentation of the Lord for children to color.

Hye Cafe - Christmas Edition!
2020-01-10 18:15 - 20:30 | MA
Join us for fellowship and delicious Armenian food, including kebab, falafel, and more!
Live Musical Entertainment!
Reservations for parties of 6 or more may be made by calling the Church office at 617.923.8860 no later than 5pm on Thursday, January 9th.
Volunteers appreciated and welcome on Thursday night, January 9th
for Hye Café preparations! For more information please contact Linda Sahagian at 617-407-6600 or at hyelinda65@aol.com.

Women's Guild Christmas Giving Celebration
2019-12-18 18:00 - 21:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States

Christmas Family Movie Night!
2019-12-13 18:00 - 20:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Join us for our 3rd St. James Christmas Family Movie Night! Featuring "The Grinch" (2018 Animated Version). Pizza, Hot cocoa, popcorn, and other snacks will be served! Feel free to wear pajamas or bring sleeping bags and blankets. Complimentary admission.

Sunday School Christmas Nativity Pageant
2019-12-08 12:00 - 13:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
Save the date - Details to follow.

Men's Club Monthly Dinner Meeting
2019-12-02 18:15 - 21:00 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
St. James Men’s Club
Next Meeting: Monday, December 2, 2019
Our guest speaker will be Christopher F. Bator, US attorney from Cambridge, MA. Mr Bator's topic will be "Violent Crime in the Greater Boston Area". A question and answer session will follow.
A retired US attorney from Cambridge, Mr. Bator now serves on the faculty of the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Harvard Law School. He also currently serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bedford, MA.
Mr. Bator prosecuted violent drug, and organized crime cases as an Assistant US Attorney in Boston for more than 27 years. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1976, and his J.D. from Boston University Law School in 1985. He was an associate at Hale and Dorr (now Wilmer Hale) in Boston from 1986-1990.
Losh Kebab and Kheyma Dinner
Social Hour (mezza) 6:15 p.m.
Dinner 7:00 p.m.
$17 per person
Ladies invited
St. James Armenian Church
Charles Mosesian Cultural & Youth Center – Keljik Hall
465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown MA

Hallmark Christmas Movie Viewing & Potluck
2019-11-16 19:30 - 21:30 | St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA, 02472, United States
St. James Hallmarkies - we know you're out there!
Join us for a viewing of a Hallmark Christmas movie premiere, and bring a potluck appetizer/dinner/dessert to share! (You can also feel free to bring a small toy that we can add to our Christmas toy drive.)
For planning, RSVPs are required - please RSVP to info@sthagop.com.

Hye Cafe!
2019-11-08 18:15 - 20:30 | MA
Join us for fellowship and delicious Armenian food!

Live Music by Leon Janikian, Clarinet | Bob Raphalian, Oud | Joe Sarkisian, Drum and Vocals | Dave Ansbigian, Guitar and Vocals.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
Reservations may be made for parties of 6 or more by calling the church office at
617-923-8860 no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 7th.
Volunteers appreciated and welcome on Thursday night, November 7th.
for Hye Café preparations! For more information please contact
Linda Sahagian at 617-407-6600 or at hyelinda65@aol.com.
Hye Café began in September 2004, with the intention of bringing families and parishioners together monthly for a night of food, fellowship and fun. It has continued to grow and thrive, becoming a permanent and popular fixture in our parish life. The casual setting makes it easy to dine in and enjoy time with family and friends. Take-out is also available.
