FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTIA

March 15, 2012 by admin

     This Saturday, March 17, the Armenian Church commemorates the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia. Although the backgrounds and identities of the forty young soldiers are not certain, it is believed they came from Lesser Armenia and served in the Roman army. According to St. Basil of Caesarea, forty Christian soldiers refused to worship the Roman emperor while stationed in Sebastia in Armenia in 320. They remained faithful to their Christian faith. The soldiers were tried and condemned to death by stoning. Miraculously, when the sentence was being carried out, the stones would not reach the condemned soldiers, but would instead come back striking those throwing the stones. The soldiers were then thrown into a frozen lake and forced to stay there, unless they renounced their faith. Warm baths were prepared for anyone who would recant. Of the forty, only one gave up. When he did, another soldier, moved by the example of the suffering Christians, declared himself a Christian and took the apostate’s place. All forty died. 
       Some of our great Church Fathers like Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Ephraim the Assyrian, and Sisian of Sebastia, wrote panegyrics about the forty martyrs, who are remembered each year during Lent on the Saturday following the median day of Lent. The Armenians have built and named churches in memory of the Forty Martyrs in various parts of the world.

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SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE

March 15, 2012 by admin

 
We are not more than half-way through Great Lent (yesterday was Michink, the median day of Lent). This Sunday, March 18, is the “Sunday of the Judge” (Tadavori Giragi). The Gospel reading for this day is the UnjustJudgeparable told by Jesus about a widow and a judge (see Bible reading above). The judge in the parable is seen as hard-hearted and without principles, fear of God, or regard for people. A widow in the same town has been ill-treated and she has come to the judge for justice. Although her cause is just, the judge does not pay attention to her case. However, she is persistent and she makes the same appeal again and again until at last the judge decides to see that she receives justice. He does this not because he cares about justice, but because he wants to be rid of the widow.
The message of this parable is that we must persevere and pursue righteousness and justice relentlessly with the confidence that perseverance (especially in prayer) will be rewarded.

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FOUR CANDLES

March 10, 2012 by admin

By Author Unknown

The Four Candles burned slowly. Their ambiance was so soft you could hear them speak…

The first candle said, “I Am Peace but these days nobody wants to keep me lit.”

Then Peace’s flame slowly diminished and went out completely.

The second candle said, “I Am Faith but these days I am no longer indispensable.”

Then Faith’s flame slowly diminished and went out completely.

Sadly the third candle spoke, “I Am Love and I haven’t the strength to stay lit any longer. People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.”
And waiting no longer Love’s flame went out completely.

Suddenly a child entered the room and saw the three candles no longer burning.
The child began to cry, “Why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end.”

Then the Fourth Candle spoke gently to the little boy, “Don’t be afraid for I Am Hope and while I still burn, we can re-light the other candles.”

With Shining eyes the child took the Candle of Hope and lit the other three candles.
Never let the Flame of Hope go out of your life.

With Hope no matter how bad things look and are…Peace, Faith and Love can Shine Brightly in our lives.

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SAINTS HONORED THIS SATURDAY

March 9, 2012 by admin

       This Saturday, March 10, the Armenian Church celebrates the lives of the following four saints: 

       St. John, Patriarch of Jerusalem, succeeded St. Cyril as Patriarch of Jerusalem (386-417). He grew up with the monks at the monastery of Nitria (Egypt) where he learned about Christianity and the teachings of Origen. He was noted for his keen intellect and is said to have delivered inspiring and eloquent sermons. 

       Hovhan Odznetsi (St. John of Odzoon) was catholicos from 717 to 728, which was a period when Armenia was under Arab rule. He defended Armenians from forced conversion and was successful in securing the right of worship for Armenian Christians. He was also successful in securing tax-exempt status for the church. He was highly admired and respected. 

       Hovhan Vorodnetsi (St. John of Orodni) was born in 1315. Following his ordination he served at the monasteries of Klatzor and Datev. He dedicated most of his efforts toward the preservation of the orthodox faith, and against the attempt to merge the Armenian Church with the Latin Church. He wrote commentaries on the Gospel of John and the epistles of St. Paul. 

       Krikor Datevatsi (St. Gregory of Datev), born in 1346 in the province of Vayots Tsor, is perhaps the best known of the four. He was a student of John of Orodni and a great defender of the character of the Armenian Church. He was a brilliant scholar; he knew Latin fluently and had studied the Greek philosophers extensively. He is regarded to be the greatest teacher of the Armenian Church. His most famous work is the Book of Questions (Kirk Hartsmants), which examines questions of faith. He is also credited with setting a high standard for preaching. He is often referred to as “the second Gregory the Illuminator.” 

 

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SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD

March 9, 2012 by admin

       This Sunday, March 11, the fourth Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday of the Steward (Dendesi Giragi, Տնտեսի Կիրակի). The parable of The Unrighteous Steward is in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 16, verses 1 to 8. This parable is about a rich man and his steward. The steward was one who looked out for his own personal benefit and through his cunning arrangements he made deals with those who were in debt to his master. Jesus used this parable not to condone the behavior of the steward but rather as an illustration of qualities that have a necessary place in the life of true disciples. Since we are stewards of the world, we are accountable to our Lord for the talents we have and the things that have been entrusted to our care.

       Throughout his ministry, Jesus used parables as a teaching tool. His parables were common stories, usually short and always interesting. Generally, the stories were used to convey important moral and ethical messages. Some of the parables are simple and easy to comprehend. Others are complex and more challenging.

      By your power you created the world above of intelligent creatures and set up in it as stewards the leaders of the fiery spirits; we bless your might which word cannot express. You are the rich One by nature, you fashioned the new sensible world and in Paradise in Eden, you placed the first man as steward; we bless your might which word cannot express. With deep and mysterious thought you built your Church and appointed in it as stewards the proclaimers of the word of truth; we bless your power which word cannot express. Tabernacle of the uncontainable One, bearer of him who bears all that exists, you gave birth in the flesh to God begotten of the Father without flesh, intercede for us, Mary, Mother of God.

 From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Church for the fourth Sunday of Lent, Sunday of the Steward. 

 From Crossroads, Eastern Prelacy’s E-Newsletter

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ST. THEODORE THE WARRIOR

February 24, 2012 by admin

This Saturday, February 25, the Armenian Church commemorates the life ofimage Theodore the Warrior, a captain in the Roman army during the reign of emperor Licinius. Theodore was born into a Christian family and was educated in the teaching of Christianity. He was noted for his bravery, and was noted for killing a serpent that was terrorizing people and animals. Theodore armed himself with a sword, and with a prayer to the Lord vanquished the serpent and became a heroic figure. He was appointed commander of Heraclea where he combined his military duties with the preaching of the Gospel. Soon nearly all of Heraclea had accepted Christianity. Emperor Licinius began a campaign against the Christians. Theodore was a main target. He was arrested and given an opportunity to renounce his Christian religion, which he refused to do. He was martyred in 319 A.D. in Heraclea, Thrace.

Posted from Armenian Eastern Prelacy’s Crossroads E-Newsletter.

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Milwaukee’s Poon Paregentan Dance a Success

February 20, 2012 by admin

By David Luhrssen

 

One hundred and twenty people crowded the Culture Hall at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church for this year’s Milwaukee-area Poon Paregentan celebration. The featured attraction at the big party before the beginning of Great Lent was MidEast Beat, a band from Racine, WI. Although its members are all Armenian American, the group drew from a traditional repertoire common to Anatolia and the Eastern Mediterranean. “Sometimes the lines get blurred in this part of the world and you will find songs recorded in Greek, Armenian,

Arabic, and not know where the origin is,” explained guitarist and singer Kai Kazarian. “Think about an Armenian writing a song in English in this country. Is it Armenian? We have these questions all the time.”

The band, whose core members include Jim Hardy on clarinet, Vahan Kamalian on oud and Michael Kamalian on dumbeg, picked up the music by hearing it performed at Armenian picnics and by rummaging through old 78 rpm recordings at their grandparents’ homes. There was no sheet music and no study guides when MidEast Beat first organized in the early 1980s. Discovering and learning the old music was hard work that has paid off for the band, whose Feb. 18 performance at St. John’s Poon Paregentan event filled the dance floor and entertained an appreciative audience of listeners.

A catered buffet dinner was including in the event along with desserts prepared by the members of St. John’s.

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FEAST OF THE NAMING OF OUR LORD

January 15, 2012 by admin

On January 13, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Naming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Hebrew custom. The commemoration of this event (see Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-32; Luke 2:21) comes seven days after the Feast of Theophany, which is the eighth day of the octave of Theophany. This event of the naming and circumcision of our Lord resulted in the tradition for newborn children of Christians to be baptized eight days after birth—a tradition that is rarely followed in modern times.

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BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER

January 14, 2012 by admin

This Saturday, January 14, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Birth of St. John the Forerunner (also known as St. John the Baptist). John is an important figure in the New Testament and is mentioned prominently in all four Gospels, which indicates that he had an effective ministry baptizing those who repented their sins. He announced the coming of “one greater” than himself who is “to come baptizing not with water but with the Spirit.” (See Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16-17; John 1:26-27). According to the account in the Gospel of Luke, John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary. John is considered to be the last of the Old Testament prophets and then precursor of the Messiah. John is one of the two prime intercessors to Jesus Christ, the other being Mary, the mother of the Lord. 

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2012 Christmas massage of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenian

January 6, 2012 by admin

CatholicosLetterhead

THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II

SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY

OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, January 6, 2012

 

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does

not have the Son of God does not have life.”

1 John 5:12

 

Dear faithful sons and daughters in the Homeland and the Diaspora,

 

Today before our souls and minds is that life-giving “great and wondrous” mystery which shone out over the heavens and the earth, when the bright star stood still over the cave in Bethlehem and the angels proclaimed the glad tidings of the Holy Birth of the Savior Son of God, saying, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11.  The gospels tell us how the wise Magi who had travelled from afar and  shepherds nearby, hurried toward the manger and bowed down before the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and welcomed the arrival of the Savior to the world.

 

On the feast of the marvelous mystery of the Holy Nativity, we are all pilgrims to Bethlehem, either by visiting the Holy Land or by making our souls Bethlehem, to bow down before the infant Jesus with the wisdom and strength granted to us by faith, to recognize Him and accept Him as the Only Begotten Son of God and the way to eternal life. As the apostle writes, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  Today in the “Bethlehem of the Armenians” – this holy sanctuary where the Only Begotten Son of God descended – and in all of our churches established through its light, we, dear ones, and all children of our nation, joyfully praise the birth of the Savior who came to earth for us, and confess: You are our Lord.  You are our Savior.  You are the source of life and the path to eternity.  This confession has illuminated and continues to illuminate the path of humanity.  Through Christ, God’s love was revealed to mankind; the Son of God came into the world to eliminate sin, dissipate the darkness of death, and to lead humanity to its Creator – to accept everlasting life.  Through Christ, divine love is dispersed throughout the world entire – over man and nature – to always renew and fill it with life and joy.  However a way of life opposed to the divine will turns life into a focus of problems and challenges.  Let us look at the modern world.  It is burdened with manifold difficulties, deprivations, contradictions and conflicts.  The rejection of Christ and His commandments gives birth to wars and tragedies, harms our planet, becomes the cause of a weakening soul and spirituality, as well as the violent interruption of God-granted life – murder and suicide.  The universal crisis of our day, which is explained through political, economic and material causes, is also fundamentally a result of the alienation and straying from the luminous path that leads toward God, the rejection of the gifts of heavenly love by sinful ways.  Christ is life and in keeping his commandments, God’s love, truth, holiness, justice and mercy are implemented in this world, leading it towards the good and perfect, the full life that was our Lord’s earthly life, which was faith and love for the heavenly Father and blessing for mankind.

 

Dear and pious faithful, faith and love are those unshakeable foundations, through steadfast reliance upon which shall the life of our country and people become stronger and be filled with joy and delight.  The fruits of faith and love are the good works of honesty, righteousness, sympathy, support and assistance to one another, which shall always accompany us so long as our path does not divert from Christ’s luminous path.  In our days, as well as in our lives, alongside the works built by faith and many God-pleasing enterprises, unfortunately we see God-denying processes, behavior incompatible with the Christian character of our people, distortion of our cherished national values, as well as ignoring the spiritual in favor of overvaluing material possessions and money – such that they become the main objective rather than a means of organizing a good and fair life.  Truly, manifestations such as these empty life of the life-sustaining presence of Christ, denying it of that spiritual joy, empathy, philanthropy, noble and lofty emotions, and God-granted salvation.  Christ warns of that destructive path, saying, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36.  Dear ones, we shall renew our lives today through the true example of love shown by our Lord; our lives that are not yet free from needs and difficulties, from major external and internal issues that impede the progress and prosperity of our country and people.  The challenges and demands of our present lives cannot undermine our will to overcome the obstacles and barriers and, supporting one another, to serve the strengthening of our land, the progress of our nation and the building of a bright future.  The advancement of our life will open bright new horizons before us, if we unite our national efforts and commit ourselves to work to bring goodness to society, with the aspirations of serving the nation and the Homeland, combining the abiding of the law with love, justice with clemency, wealth with mercy, power with assistance, and ability with service, because we accept and profess the life-granting Son.  Today, with the example of the Magi and the shepherds, let us bow down before Christ, accept the Lord within the mangers of our hearts, be renewed by the grace of salvation granted to us, and always remember that the Lord’s “mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50.

 

On the soul-renewing occasion of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of our Lord, we greet the incumbents of the hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Holy Church with Christ-bequeathed love:  His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Eminence Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; President Serzh Sargsian of the Republic of Armenia and the First Lady, present here today for the Divine Liturgy; and the state officials of the Armenians.  We extend greetings to President Bako Sahakian of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh.  We convey our pontifical love and blessings to the oath-bound clergy of our Church and to all our people dispersed throughout the world.  With the glad tiding of the Holy Nativity, we greet the spiritual heads of our Sister Churches and the representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia.

 

On this day full of grace that brings glad tidings, dear pious faithful, let us pray and appeal to our Savior with these words, ‘Lord, may the graces of your Holy Birth illuminate the entire world, may the angelic tiding of peace resound in all corners of the earth, may goodwill and harmony accompany all nations and peoples, and may joy and happiness reign in all families.  Let hatred, enmity, despair, indifference, bitterness and sadness retreat before the light of your Holy Nativity, and may the whole world be enveloped with the love and hope you have gifted.  Keep our nation dispersed throughout the world united, Lord, in your loving care, and grant a prosperous and thriving life, welfare and strength to Armenia and Artsakh, and greater light and brilliance to our Holy Apostolic Church.  And we, true to your words, shall bear witness to our faith through our works, and always feel within our hearts the joy of your life-giving presence, and exuberantly proclaim the good news of your Holy Birth.’ Amen.

 

Christ is Born and Revealed.

Great tidings to us all.

 

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