Making Sense, not

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Armodoxy for Today: Not necessarily making sense or not necessary to make sense

The death of a child is one of the most difficult and tragic events with which we must come to terms. As priests we are called to minister to people in their hardest and most difficult hour. Naturally people look for answers because we appreciate and want to have order in our lives. Not only is there a physical and emotional loss for family members touched by this devastation, but the natural rhythms of life have gone topsy turvy because a child is expected to bury his or her parents and not the other way around.

It’s at these times that, if we are honest with ourselves, we realize and understand that certain events have no rhyme nor reason. Sure, we may wish to comfort one another with logic and well-meaning statements such as, “She is no longer suffering,” or “He’s enjoying those who came before him in the perfection of life.” The reality is that words are inadequate to console and, perhaps, unnecessary.

Sometimes we’re called to make sense out of the senseless, when actually, as the adjective implies, there are no words that can do so. You cannot explain away hatred that causes people to kill and commit the horrendous evil of Genocide. You cannot describe the terror felt by children and their parents who are in the middle of a war. And you can’t explain away disease that raises havoc for a family. Just as you cannot describe or comprehend the suffering of Christ on that hill, at the hands of his children who chanted “Crucify Him,” and then drove nails through the hands that only days before healed them.

Armodoxy asks that you look at the short burial service of the Armenian Church. It is one which was developed throughout the centuries for the people of Armenia, people who were innocent but given a death sentence they could not escape. The service is one of reconciliation and acceptance of Christ’s healing words, come to me all of you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

We pray, “Lord, my God, I am ready to grow in your love. While I don’t understand all that unfolds in life, open my heart so that I may react with compassion, care and love to the difficulties around me. Amen.”

Cover Photo: Light Undefined, 2019 Fr. Vazken

Two Ways of Seeing

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Roots of Armodoxy: Two Ways of Seeing

Two earthquakes, less than a year apart, with relative same intensity were recorded in the 1980’s. I was indirectly and directly at both of these. The first took place in a town called Spitak in Armenia. Close to 50,000 people perished. In a country of 3 million people, this means 1.7% of the population was wiped out in this single event. Along with Armenians throughout the world, I was involved in a massive fundraising effort to bring relief and humanitarian aid to the area.

To the second earthquake I had a front row seat.  It was during the World Series – a special series that pitted the two Bay Area teams, the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics, against one another. The ground rumbled, and we found ourselves in the Loma Prieta quake, registering 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale.  The differences in the loss of life was remarkable. There was extensive damage to infrastructure, and life was disrupted for a while, but in the end sixty-three people had perished (compared to 50,000 in Armenia the winter before),

On the first anniversary of the Spitak quake, orders came from the top, the Catholicos of All Armenians, that we would solemnly observe the anniversary with requiem services throughout the world. The day was somber indeed, with reruns of video clips and reprints of articles and photos to forever forge the images in our mind.

On the first anniversary of the Bay Area quake, the atmosphere was completely festive! The community got together to celebrate the life that was spared! There were street parties and festivals proclaiming the win over something so tragic, celebrating their re-birth as a community.

The difference in the commemorations explains outlook and understanding of a population, much like the way we describe the same glass as being either half full or half empty. In the case of Gyumri, the sadness continued for years, in fact, decades later the effects of the earthquake are still felt. The dome of the church which fell during the quake is still sitting on the floor as a reminder. It sits there so that it is unavoidable, that is, you have to confront and acknowledge the past as you enter and exit the city. In so doing, a license for victimization is given. There is confusion. Instead of understanding their predicament logically, people revert to fatalistic answers, such as, “It is God’s will that I suffer.”

What I’m describing here can be seen in as comparison between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In the Old Testament we read stories – memories – that pit people against one another. The concept of God playing favorites with one people over another is pronounced and remembered throughout its pages. Jesus came to end that. His message was to everyone. Remember the Transfiguration. The point of Moses and Elijah being there was that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” is how Jesus entered on the scene and the even greater news he had to give was that the Kingdom was accessible by everyone – young and old, regardless of race or nationality. With his proclamation he moved the model away from fatalism, back to self-determination. “To hear the word of God, and do it.” It’s about Faith being action, not a history lesson.

Baptism is the “Born Again” experience in the Armenian Church. It’s a fresh start, where the past is left behind. The “curse” of the memory is dropped. Memory serves to heal. Christianity is about celebrating the today. The past can be honored and revered but is not a place to live. The difference between a happy or festive expression and a sad expression is not merely an optimistic vs. pessimistic view of the world, it is an acknowledgement that God is with you, that the new day brings with it a new life.

We pray from the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church a morning prayer bringing in the new day, “We thank you O Lord our God, who granted us restful sleep in peace. Grant us to pass the remainder of the day in peace. Strengthen and guard us through the days of our lives, so that we live our lives with pure behavior and reach the peaceful haven in eternal life, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Memories to Honor and to Move Forward

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The manner in which a memory is articulated can honor the past, while at the same time bring healing, so as to ensure a forward movement from the event.

Outside the front doors of the Church of the Seven Wounds is a brass cross that looks like it was used for target practice at a firing range. Sadly, it was. In 1937, a group of clergymen of the Armenian Church were executed in an area called Haykadzor, a small section of Ani that is in Armenia proper, near the Armenian Turkish border. The Cross, with bullet holes and all, is displayed atop a brass sphere, which is also riddled with bullet holes. It casts its shadow on the names of a couple dozen clergymen, inscribed on large marble slabs below the cross.

An engraved marker proclaims, “The Cross of Haykadzor’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church fired on by Turk and Soviet atheists. The cross is moved here in memory the priests from the Diocese of Shirak who were shot.”

This monument, with the relocated cross and the inscription was placed in Gyumri in 2018.  The choice of words on the plaque was interesting to me, specifically identifying the culprits as “atheists.” With this word a very strong and meaningful sentence is imposed on the evil doers. It identifies the intention of the perpetrator and lays blame on them. There is no doubt, after reading the statement about what happened and for what reason.

Many times, our memories, especially memories of horrid events or traumatic episodes in our life, are areas that keep us stuck and living in the past, particularly in the case of unresolved conflicts. To label them for what they are, for instance with the phrase “by the atheists,” brings resolution to the trauma. The motive of the Turks and Soviets, in this case, is clearly defined with the phrase and we can understand that it was to eliminate the Christian clerics. The memory is identified, expressed and honored. This is a necessary step to live life in the moment and not to be hampered by the weights of yesteryears.

Jesus addresses a group of people (Luke 13:1-5) who were questioning a tragedy which befell some others when a tower fell over and killed them. “Do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?” Jesus asks. He answers his own question concisely, “I tell you, no; unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” The past is over and there is nothing that can be done to change it. What is important for Jesus, and for us as followers of Christ is that we manage ourselves and change those things that we have control over. In other words, live for today.

Let us pray, Lord our God, you have given us a chance to renew each and every day, each and every minute of the day. Keep my eyes focused on the moment. Help me to move on from the past in a spirit of repentance, knowing you have forgiven me for past wrongs and the moment of today is before me to grasp and live in peace and harmony, in accord with your commandment to love. Amen.

Olympic Size Scandals

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Armodoxy for Today: Olympic Size Scandals

When the best of the best get together for the Olympic games, you expect fierce competition and good sportsmanship.  That was and is the intent of the Olympics. Countries and their people, who otherwise would not cross paths, are brought together in a healthy attempt – to try to get along on the fields, pools and arenas.

Controversies and scandals are par for the course at sporting events. They usually stem around cheating, whether by artificially stimulating muscles through drugs, or bribing a judge, or doctoring scores. People are on the lookout for those kinds of scandals.

Then there are the scandals that hit while people are unprepared. For instance, the Olympics are about sports, but a scandal arises in the opening ceremonies. These types are even more accentuated when they take on a religious tone.  Interestingly, the rush to the aid of God is great and so goes the argument that God is all powerful if He needs His lowly creation to defend him!

I read and saw the buzz on social media that a live tableau at the opening ceremonies was found offensive by the religious community because it was deemed to mock Christ. And the shout out was, “Blasphemy!” As I heard that news item, I read about the killing of innocent children in camps filled with Palestinians facing starvation. I hear and rehear stories of thousands being killed  mercilessly in retaliatory efforts. I watch as rhetoric is thrown around to justify inhumane violence. I listen to the calls for peace, while we all know that killing breeds killing, and the killings of today have created new scars that will last generations to come.

It is easier to fight for God than to promote peace, which begins with understanding and is complimented with mercy. There is no greater scandal than the desecration of life. It is the ultimate blasphemy. Listen to the words of our Lord, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13)

From the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church, Peace and life, Lord and Savior, give us Your peace, so that having found it, we escape from all worldly commotions so we may become a temple and a habitation of Your grace. Amen.