Focused Vision: Celebration

Focused Vision: Celebration

The solemnity that is found inside the church environment is often a cause for misunderstanding about Christianity. Yes, in church, we are in the presence of God and we approach God with reverence. Armodoxy takes that reverence one step further and insists that we stand in reverence inside and outside of church, that is, everywhere. The presence of God is not something that is felt inside of a church alone, but in all of creation. That reverence inspires the awe that we experience whether looking at the night sky through a telescope, or the microscopic organism that wiggles and wobbles on the plate of a microscope. Life, is the greatest gift given to us by God. Approaching that gift in reverence motions us to express our thankfulness for such a wonder.

The Holy Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church, the Badarak, is a thanksgiving expression. It is an offering in joy and happiness that we extend to the Creator for the gift of Life. The word badarak literally means “sacrifice.” We recognize the eternal nature of our spirit and existence, and how through Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice this became apparent to humankind.

The Holy Divine Liturgy is a celebration that should be heralded from the highest peaks to all of humanity. That celebration is expressed with joy and great energy.

As part of our outreach to youth, we challenged young people to express themselves at the Holy Divine Liturgy. The challenge manifested itself into a youth choir that sang and shared the joy of the Christian witness with unbridled energy. On Palm Sunday 2002 the Youth Choir sang a portion of the Holy Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena. Under the direction of Dr. Nubar Sethian, they studied and developed a new sound. By the Grace of God a recording was realized. We named the album “Focused Vision”: By focusing our attention on the Holy Badarak, we lose ourself and can focus on the One who gives us peace, energy and the ability to love.

This week we released the album online at Epostle.net. The link can be found on today’s show notes along with the recording credits. I leave you today with a sample of that joy, enthusiasm energy that celebrates Life, with this excerpt from Focused Vision.

Listen Here:

Focused Vision
Songs & Prayers from the Holy Divine Liturgy (Badarak)
of the Armenian Church
Featuring the young voices of
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Pasadena
conducted by
Dr. Nubar Sethian, M.D.

Musicians
Hovig Artinian, Organ
Varoujan Movsesian, guitar
Sevan Movsesian, kushotz
Special Guest Performance by
Andrea Kirazian, flute

Narration & chanting
Fr. Vazken Movsesian

Sopranos
Elizabeth Aroyan
Ani Burr
Talar Gurunian
Ericka Janian
Rebecah Janian
Ani Nazarian
Anoush Nazarian

Altos
Osan Aroyan
Anush Movsesian Burr
Tatevik Garibjanyan
Nayiri Gharibian
Hourig Kalajian

Tenors
Hovig Karakoussayan
Aram Sethian

Bass
Hayk Garibjanyan
Tigran Garibjanyan
Raffi Kalinjian
Sevak Kalinjian
Ara Krikorian
Sevan Movsesian
Varoujan Movsesian

Contents
1. Meditation
2. Sourp Asdvadz
3. Call for Peace
4. Marmin Deroonagan
5. Krisdos ee Mech
6-7. Sourp Sourp
8. Miayn Sourp
9. Amen Hayr Sourp
10. Der Voghormya
11. Lord’s Prayer
12. Bonus Track: Meditation on the Sermon

In Praise of God
this recording is prepared & produced at the
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Pasadena, California
During the Primacy of His Eminence Archbishop Vatchè Hovsepian
& the Pastorate of Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Produced by Aram Krikorian
Recorded at Pacifique Studios, North Hollywood
Engineer by Vasken Derantreassian
Logistical Considerations: Setrak Kopoushian
Cover & notes: Ken T. Nalik

Divine Liturgy: Traditional Arrangements by Magar Yegmalian & Fr. Gomidas Vtb. Shoghomonian; New Testament – Based on New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible with Apocrypha ©1989; Armenian-Jerusalem Translation, 1981; Cover photo: Canyon Park, Monrovia – location of the Youth Choir Retreat.

Acknowledgement
Special thanks to Pacifique Studios in North Hollywood and the Derantreassian family for the countless hours of studio time and editing. Grateful acknowledgement and appreciation is extended to Setrak Kopoushian in arranging for production and publication. We are thankful to the St. Gregory Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO), parents and friends who made this production possible. A personal thanks to Yn. Susan Movsesian for support and encouragement.