Hayazartnoum Information
Hayartnoum Flyer (English & Armenian)
Hayazartnoum Information
On October 10, 1998, starting at 6:30 p.m., the Northern California Armenian Apostolic and Evangelical churches joined together at the Calvary Armenian Congregational Church for our first Hayzartnoum "Armenian Awakening". The purpose of Hayazartnoum was to help all the Armenian churches to be rejuvenated by God's presence and for a deeper Christian Commitment.
The highlight of the Hayazartnoum was Rev. Berdj Djambazian's inspiring sermon calling us to carry the Armenian paralytic (our Armenian community in need of physical and spiritual healing) on our shoulders with all of us working together and going in the same direction. As Rev. Djambazian stressed, if we desire to see "hayazartnoum" and "hokezartnoum" (spiritual awakening) in our community we must work together and act. The need is now and the time is now.
Rev. Djambazian shared with us how he was inspired by the prayer life of our spiritual forefathers up to the 18th century. He also shared about the price that was paid to bring and sustain Christianity in our Armenian nation, starting with St. Gregory the Illuminator and continuing with the martyrdom of many Armenian priests during the communist regime. These inspiring sacrifices should encourage us to question the depth of our own commitment to Christ and to our churches.
There was a rich program that preceded Rev. Djambazian's call to commitment and rejuvenated churches. We started with the Calvary Armenian Congregational Church String Quartet. After Pastor Stephen Muncherian's welcoming words, prayer was led by Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian, of the Saint James Armenian Apostolic Church of Sacramento. Then we sang together "Krisdos i Mech" led by Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan of the Saint John Armenian Apostolic Church of San Francisco. Then the Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School Jeboor Choir under the direction of Mr. Sarkis Panossian and pianist Ms. Nayiri Sarkis sang four sharagans and one patriotic song. It was inspiring to see the younger Armenian generation sing the sharagans composed by our faithful forefathers. The presence of the KZV Jeboor Choir was a joy and inspiration for all.
After the KZV choir, Rev. James Kizirian, of the Bethel Armenian Evangelical Church, read scripture passages both in English and Armenian. He was followed by a wonderful and inspiring solo by Ms. Ani Toroyan, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Armine Adrouny.
One of the blessings of Hayzartnoum was the participation of the Calvary Worship Team under the direction of Rev. Nerses Balabanian from Anjar, Lebanon. The highlight of their presentation was Rev. Haig Hovsepian's song "Havadkus Chem Morranah" (I Do Not Forget My Faith) which he composed shortly before his 1994 martyrdom in Iran. The chorus for this song is a powerful testimony:
Till the last drops of my blood I will be faithful to you, Lord, while my life withers my breath stops, dear Jesus I will not forget You. I do not forget my faith, I do not deny my Lord, bearing the cross I go to Jesus.
After Rev. Djambazian's message in Armenian and English, Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairagedian led the "Hayr Mer" and we closed with the benedictions of Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan and Pastor Stephen Muncherian.
What happened on October 10, 1998? Did we have "Armenian Awakening"? We know for sure that for the first time Armenian churches, Apostolic and Evangelical came together to organize and participate in an event which clearly targeted spiritual awakening in our Armenian communities. Many raised their hands when Rev. Djambazian made the call for commitment to trust Christ. After the service, many expressed how the evening had blessed them individually. All were encouraged to return to their churches and clergy rejuvenated and with a greater commitment to serve.
The seed has been planted and now needs to be nourished, prayed for and watered for it to blossom. May the Hayazartnoum continue. We need to pray for spiritual hunger in our people and to pray that such crusades will continue to be organized and sponsored by our Armenian Apostolic and Evangelical churches working hand in hand for God's Kingdom.
