April 24 Vigil Fr. Vazken’s Speech

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Fr. Vazken’s speech at the Genocide Commemoration VIGIL at UCLA sponsored by the ASA’s for USC & UCLA

Good evening. I would like to thank the ASAs of both USC and UCLA for this opportunity to offer my voice to this vigil this evening.

As the years move on, we are distanced from the link that ties us. When I would first come to these Genocide commemorations as a kid, the front rows would be occupied by survivors. My grandparents would sit in those chairs and were given chances to share their eyewitness accounts of the mayhem in Armenia circa 1915. The front rows became one row and then dwindled to a few chairs as the eyewitness generation passed away. They were replaced with the documentarians – those who had filmed, recorded or written the stories of the survivors.

This morning, at 9AM, I’m pleased and proud to tell you that the Epostle.net – electronic ministry of the Western Diocese, unveiled and launched the first ever immersive exhibition of its kind that is accessible from anywhere, 24/7/365 days a year, named the Spirit of Ararat. Here stand structures from khatchkars to monasteries, to songs of the heart, demonstrating the human spirit of creativity of the people of Ararat, preserved in Web 3.0, metaverse, 360, spatial audio and photogrammetry, items that can only be experienced and enjoyed and can no longer be damaged or the destroyed. Thank you technology and Epostle for exploiting the power of human creativity.

So now, thankfully, there are more and more volumes and documents that share the horrors of genocide. But sadly, the word Genocide is still being used to describe man’s ultimate intolerance for his fellow man,

But today we gather in vigil because the human heart is hurting. 1915 was the beginning of a wave of evil that continues through today. For us as Armenians we felt it because of the injustice we endured when we became the political pawn of governments. What happened in Artsakh last September is a continuation of the same evil, and the same silence of the world.

Graphic: SEE no evil, HEAR no evil, SPEAK no evil.

In 2006 I had a chance to visit Rwanda with a small group of educators from the University of Southern California. It was a decade after a genocide ravaged the country and claimed 800,000 people in the course of 100 days.

It was an important trip for me to take. I grew up hearing the stories of genocidal crimes told to me by my grandparents. The more I heard, the more I read, the more I wanted to know how such a violent and heinous crime could be committed so overtly, especially in the modern world, where understanding seemed to be common goal. I figured, by going to Rwanda, ten years after the Rwanda Genocide, might be like going to Armenia ten years after the Genocide I had heard so much about. What might have I found in 1925?

What I found was more than I could have asked for. Not only the answers to my questions but also I found an answer to the meaning of the Armenian Genocide for me as a person living 100 years after the event.

The stories of the Rwandans were remarkably similar to the stories that I heard from my grandparents. Police coming in the night, taking away and slaughtering the men, raping the women, killing of children, blatant exhibitions of cruelty and killing, without hints of remorse. Armenians referred to the Euphrates River as the Red Euphrates while Rwandans referred to Nile as the Red Nile because of the all the blood and bodies that were flowing through the rivers veins. Rwanda made me color blind, because the only difference between myself and my story and the Rwandan story was the color of our skins. And that is no difference. I realized that our pain, our suffering is our commonality and the common thread throughout human history. We are all children of the same God. Divisions we create, they are of our own doing.

In Rwanda, I found myself in a rather unique position of straddling, so to speak, the first and last genocides of the 20th Century. There, in the capital city of Kigali, is a museum dedicated to genocide. It houses a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, as well as to all genocides of 20th century.

The Armenian Genocide is the “granddaddy” of them all. The exhibition showed, sadly, and tragically, Genocides continued in Germany, Ethiopia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda and even into the 21st Century in Darfur.

The stories are all the same. And the Armenian story has a special place and meaning for the world, because it is the prototype for intolerance, hatred and ultimately Genocide. As a successor to the Armenian Genocide survivors the responsibility is mine. If I am going to refer to the Armenian Genocide as the first, then I – we – have a responsibility to be the first to call out, the point to, to actively protest and work for understanding that leads to peace. If the world is silent, let’s point the first finger at us – are we voicing our objection to what is happening to others?

Faith implies actions. You cannot mourn a genocide without actively fighting against one. But that fight has to be on new terms. You can’t fight fire with fire, you’ll only get more fire. Fight fire with a hose. With water. Put it out.

The time has come for us to toss out the victim mentality. We’re in the Easter season and we claim to be followers of the Resurrected Christ. We need to understand that the victory is ours. Not because politicians recognize Genocide or not. Don’t fool yourself, we don’t need any validation or the authentication of the fact of genocide, just as African Americans don’t need proof of slavery or Japanese American don’t need to prove their restraint in internment camps. The Armenian Genocide is a reality and always has been. We are victorious because we are here, not because of politics, but by the miracle that has made us arrive alive and creating our tomorrows. We side and will side wherever there is injustice or evil. Whether in Gaza, in the Congo, or in Armenia, we are here to proclaim these are humanitarian issues and we are always on the side of humanity!

April 24 is a date to renew a vow to work for peace, through understanding, vigilance and love toward all of humanity.

The Armenian Church’s prayer for the day is, Christ, who crowns the saints, willingly take those who are in awe of you and look with love and sweetness on your creation. With Your holiness hear us, by the intercession of the Holy Asdvadzadzin and the supplications of all your saints, especially the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide who completed their life for Faith and the homeland. Hear us and have mercy. Amen.

-Fr. Vazken Movsesian, 24 iv 2024

Commemoration

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Armodoxy for Today: Commemoration

As the years move on, we are distanced from the link that ties us Genocide. When I would first come to these Genocide commemorations as a kid, there would be a stage area where the program would take place, and below it was a few rows of chairs where the Genocide survivors would sit. My grandparents would sit in those chairs and were given chances to share their eyewitness accounts of the mayhem in Armenia circa 1915. The front rows became one row and then dwindled to a few chairs as the eyewitness generation passed away. They were replaced with the documentarians – those who had filmed, recorded or written the stories of the survivors.

This morning, at 9AM, I’m pleased and proud to tell you that the Epostle.net – electronic ministry of the Western Diocese, unveiled and launched the first ever immersive exhibition of its kind that is accessible from anywhere, 24/7/365 days a year, named the Spirit of Ararat. Here stand structures from khatchkars to monasteries, to songs of the heart, demonstrating the human spirit of creativity of the people of Ararat, preserved in Web 3.0, metaverse, 360, spatial audio and photogrammetry, items that can only be experienced and enjoyed and can no longer be damaged or the destroyed. Thank you technology and Epostle for exploiting the power of human creativity.

So now, thankfully, there are more and more volumes and documents that share the horrors of genocide. But sadly, the word Genocide is still being used to describe man’s ultimate intolerance for his fellow man.

The time has come for a change, or a shift, in the way we operate. Faith implies actions. You cannot mourn a genocide without actively fighting against one. But that fight has to be on new terms. You can’t fight fire with fire, you’ll only get more fire. Fight fire with a hose. With water. Put it out.

The unfailing words of Jesus are our meditation for today. They challenge us to find a better way to combat evil.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” (Matthew 5)

Before you say it’s impossible, is it not worth a try?

Genocide: Then there were two, three and four…

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Armodoxy for Today: And then there were two, three and four

In 2006 I had a chance to visit Rwanda with a small group of educators from the University of Southern California. It was a decade after a genocide ravaged the country and claimed 800,000 people in the course of 100 days.

It was an important trip for me to take. I grew up hearing the stories of genocidal crimes told to me by my grandparents. The more I heard, the more I read, the more I wanted to know how such a violent and heinous crime could be committed so overtly, especially in the modern world, where understanding seemed to be common goal of our world. I figured, by going to Rwanda, ten years after the Rwanda Genocide, might be like going to Armenia ten years after the Genocide I had heard so much about. Rwanda 2006 was my Armenia 1927.

What I found was more than I could have asked for. Not only the answers to my questions, but also I found an answer to the meaning of the Armenian Genocide for me as a person living 100 years after the event.

The stories of the Rwandans were remarkably similar to the stories that I heard from my grandparents. Police coming in the night, taking away and slaughtering the men, raping the women, killing of children, blatant exhibitions of cruelty and killing, without hints of remorse. Armenians referred to the Euphrates River as the Red Euphrates while Rwandans referred to Nile as the Red Nile because of the all the blood and bodies that were flowing through the rivers. Rwanda made me color blind, because the only difference between myself and my story and the Rwandan story was the color of our skins. And that is not a difference. In the stories you realize that our pain is our commonality. We are all children of the same God.

In Rwanda, I found myself in a rather unique position of straddling, so to speak, the first and last genocides of the 20th Century. There is a museum dedicated to genocide in the capital city. In it is a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, as there are exhibits to all the genocide of 20th century.

The Armenian Genocide is the “granddaddy” of them all. Sadly and tragically, Genocides continued in Germany, Ethiopia, Bosnia, Cambodia and even into the 21st Century in Darfur. The Armenian story has a special place and meaning for the world, and as a successor to the Armenian Genocide survivors the responsibility is mine. If I am going to refer to the Armenian Genocide as the first, then I have a responsibility to be the first to call out, the point to, to actively protest and work for understanding that leads to peace. In other words, just as the case is in Christianity, faith implies actions. You cannot mourn a genocide without actively fighting against one.

April 24 is a date to renew a vow to work for peace, through understanding, vigilance and love toward all of humanity.

The Armenian Church’s prayer for the day is, Christ, who crowns the saints, willingly take those who are in awe of you and look with love and sweetness on your creation. With Your holiness hear us, by the intercession of the Holy Asdvadzadzin and the supplications of all your saints, especially the holy martyrs of the Armenian Genocide who were martyred for Faith and the homeland. Hear us and have mercy. Amen.

Links to explore:

Action Plan: Leveraging Love

Rwandan/Armenia Blog

Eight Stages of Genocide

Genocide Watch

Armenian Genocide Museum

Cover Artwork: Gregory Beylerian, 2015

Remember Both

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Armodoxy for Today: Remember both

On April 24, Armenians throughout the world take a pause to remember the most heinous of all evil, Genocide. In 1915 a program of systematic annihilation began. The target was the Armenian people, and the perpetrator was the Ottoman Turkish government. One and a half million Armenians were slaughtered, in what is the first Genocide of the 20th Century. And about the same number of people were exiled from their homeland.

April 24 is the date of the Genocide remembrance because it was on that date in 1915 that the Armenian leadership was rounded up, killed or deported in Constantinople, what is referred to as Istanbul today.

One of the architects of the Genocide is noted for saying that when they finished, there would be one Armenian left in the world and that Armenian would be in a museum.

Over a century after the Genocide, Armenians are still around, living, creating and the celebrating life.

Days ago, we celebrated the victory of the life over death, with the Resurrection of Jesus. We read the words of the angels, (Luke 24) “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

A proper remembrance of the Armenian Genocide includes both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, whether of Jesus or of the Armenian Nation.

Armodoxy is here to attest to his complete lesson in victory.

We pray, Lord Jesus Christ, you overcame evil with the good, and resurrected from the crucifixion, allow me to remember the pain of genocide and work towards an end to this evil and remind me to keep focused on the resurrection, and note the life that is a testament to Faith. Amen.

 

Cover photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian

The Last Requiem

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Armodoxy for Today: The Last Requiem

On April 19, 2015 I conducted the last requiem service for the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. That year was the 100th anniversary of a program of systematic annihilation of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian Church announced that on April 24, 2015, it would canonize the martyrs of the Genocide as saints of the Church. The April 24 date has always been used as a marker for the Genocide remembrance for it was on that date in 1915 that the Armenian leadership was rounded up, killed or deported in Constantinople, what is referred to as Istanbul today.

Designating the martyrs as saints was long over due by the 100th anniversary. Martyrdom implied that their life was given for higher principles, in this case for Christ and nation. But even more, the shift to sainthood was a change in mind-set for the Armenian nation. As saints, the martyrs are classified as “victorious in Christ” and therefore, not victims.

“If anyone desires to come after Me,” says Jesus, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16)

Requiems, a tradition misleadingly referred to as hokehankist in the Armenian Church, are not conducted for saints. They have been crowned by Christ!

On that Sunday, in 2015, I had the distinct honor of celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the St. Leon Armenian Cathedral of the Western Diocese. It was the western most Armenian Church and the delayed timing of the day, had me reciting the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide in the requiem prayer for the very last time ever. Having grown up with Genocide survivors (my grandparents) this was a most sacred moment in history.

In the days that followed the conversation would shift in a manner that only Christ can change. Christ, the one who took the words of condemnation “Take and eat” in the Garden, and madse those same words “Take and eat” into words of salvation, was now leading the Armenian nation to victory. The mind-set had been altered.

Let us pray, Lord, our God, You are with us in every transition and change. Open our hearts to the great change from victim to victor, which You demonstrated with Your glorious Resurrection. Help me to accept the change and welcome the newness of that victory. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian

Same Rules for Religion

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Armodoxy for Today: The Same Rules

When I have an opportunity to teach or lecture at schools, particularly high schools and colleges, I’m rather annoyed that I’m treated as an anomaly. Well, perhaps, and I hope, it’s my topic rather than me. Students learn formulas, languages, history, but when it comes to religion, they put most everything they’ve learned to one side and look at the topic irrationally. Of course, the reasons for this push is because so often religion is taught as something that has to be accepted without question. Add to that the element of mystical incantations and unexplainable events, and yes, religion comes across as an anomaly amidst all the other disciplines.

Armodoxy is the study of the Armenian Orthodox Faith – Christianity in its essence, in its primitive form – a Faith that has been expounded by the Armenian Apostolic and Orthodox Church for the last 2000, and understanding it not as history, but as a living faith with applications for our life today. Just as Jesus intended His teachings to be applied to life of the common man in that day and age, so too, we must understand manifestation of Christian teaching not as bizarre and unusual, but as part of our nature today.

For instance, the Church has set aside “fasting” days and meatless days two millennia before the modern medicine steered us away from cholesterol producing meats and discovered the importance of intermittent fasting. Jesus stated the golden rule, “Whatever you want other to do to you, do also to them…” (Matthew 7:12) centuries before Newton set the laws of motion and thermodynamics – e.g., actions and reactions.  And of course, Jesus’ admonition to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44) was an answer to war to produce peace. And although it has yet to be tried, simple mathematics will demonstrate and prove that x+x = 2x and ≠ 0, that is war plus war, begets more war, not peace.

Armodoxy is ancient Christianity applied today. It makes sense with all of life. Every so often, it is important to reiterate what we’re all about. Let us pray.

Our Father in Heaven, may Your name be holy, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil. For your is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen.

 

Contrast

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Armodoxy for Today: Contrast

What is darkness? Very simply, it is the absence of light. Darkness is only definable in the presence of light.

What is evil? Very simply, it is the absence of good. Evil is defined in reference to the good.

Some take this one step further and define Hell as the place where there is the absence of God. With this simple definition it is possible to find Hell here on Earth now, not at some future time. Still, others will argue that by definition there cannot be a place where God does not exist.

Questions and ponderings such as these are more than mental gymnastics, they are brought to the forefront of our thoughts when light is threatened. It is part of our natural defense system because we are afraid of the dark. As humans, we want to stay in the light but sometimes the darkness can be so overwhelming that we succumb to its power.

The power of sunlight is so great, that its light enlightens our entire planet and heats it as well. Likewise, the power of Jesus, as Light of the World, is so great, that His Light overcomes the Darkness.

Jesus begins his ministry by referencing the prophet’s saying  –  “…The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

The Evangelist St. Matthew continues the narrative (chapter 4), “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

We pray, Christ, the true Light, make my soul worthy to encounter with joy the light of your divine glory, on the day I will be called by you; and to rest in good hope, in the mansions of the righteous, until the great day of your coming. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on me, a sinner. Amen. (St. Nersess Shnorhali, I confess with Faith)

Choked with Emotions

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Armodoxy for Today: Choked with Emotions

In 1985 Carl Segan and his wife Ann Druyan authored the book, “Contact.” The story was about the possibilities of contact between humans and extraterrestrial beings.  About a decade later the story was made into a motion picture starring Jodi Foster and Matthew Machaney. It was fascinating because the story was written from a science perspective, as would be expect Carl Segan who was an astronomer and planetary scientists, and very eloquently articulated scientific concepts for the average man. He was an advocate of skeptical scientific inquiry and the scientific method. Yet at the end of Contact he concedes that words and the expressions we possess are inadequate in explaining or expressing the events of the first human contact with the extraterrestrial world. In common parlance we can say he choked.

In birthing rooms, homes, and fields throughout the world, parents meeting their child for the first time are overwhelmed with tears and choke on finding the words to express that awesome moment of life. Our Lord Jesus refers to this moment, “When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.  So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (John 16)

The last few days we’ve been talking about celestial events on the scale of solar eclipses. During one such event, as the Moon covered the Sun and only the solar flares were dancing around the circular disk in the sky, I was moved to sing the Armenian Hymn, sharagan, “Aravod Looso” – a praise to the morning Sunrise and to the Light. Try as I may, words were not coming out of my mouth. I was choking in emotion. Overwhelmed by the event.

Events that are bigger than life – whether exploding in the cosmos or the first glance at new life, humble us. They choke our voice so we speak with our heart, and a tear in our eye. They are subtle reminders of the grandeur of God.

We pray from the Book of Sirach, Because of him each of his messengers succeeds, and by his word all things hold together. We could say more but could never say enough; let the final word be: “He is the all.” Where can we find the strength to praise him?  For he is greater than all his works. Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power. Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can, for he surpasses even that. Amen. (chapter 43)

Celestial Triggers

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Armodoxy for Today: Celestial Trigger

Triggers come in all shapes and sizes. On a gun it’s the devices that releases the mechanism to shoot. Flowers or furry animals may trigger allergies in people. And a good actor interpreting his or her parts may trigger emotions that will soften the hardest of hearts.

Celestial events, such as solar or lunar eclipses often trigger discussions of a religious variety. Because the movements of the players, that is the Moon and Sun, have their own rhythms and patterns, some people ascribe mystical explanations to the entire event. On closer look, the only mystical element of these movements is that they are unusually precise and perfect. Dare we say, they point to a designer, who is often noted as God.

At a solar eclipse a person who noted my interest in the event asked, if the eclipse is mentioned in the Bible? Now, if you’ve been a priest long enough you know where this is leading (or misleading) –somehow this is being a precursor to end times. I’ve read in the Bible about darkening-sky events, but in the case of eclipses which last only a few minutes, there is nothing apocalyptic about them. But look at it in another way, MRI’s and Xrays are not mentioned in the Bible either, but we use them to diagnose a wide variety illnesses. Jets aren’t mentioned in the Bible, but they sure help get you around.

Armodoxy challenges you to look at nature as an extension of God’s wonders. They are all around. Rather than allowing the unknown and the un-understood to trigger thoughts of end times, celebrate the majesty of God, and all the beauty of His Creation.

We end with this prayer from the Book of Sirach, “The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, a glittering array in the heights of the Lord. On the orders of the Holy One they stand in their appointed places; they never relax in their watches. Look at the rainbow and praise Him who made it; it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. It encircles the sky with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out. (chapter 43)

Celestial Time Table

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Armodoxy for Today: Celestial Timetable

I stood looking up at the heavens, waiting for the Moon to eclipse the Sun. We were in Texas to witness this unique phenomenon that takes place every year or two when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun, in such a manner to be referred to as a solar eclipse. What made this one special was that it was accessible to us giving us a chance to view it in real time and real life.

Slowly the Moon made its way in front of the Sun as we viewed through welder’s glasses. We watched as a small sliver was bitten out of the Sun and slowly that sliver became larger and larger, into a shape that resembled a PacMac.

It was 1:30PM when the Sun was totally covered. We took off our glasses and looked straight up. In the darkness, the Moon stood directly over us with solar flares, ninety-three million miles behind the Moon, framing it perfectly, and “perfectly” is the operative word of the celestial event.

Centuries ago, astronomers studying the skies and the motions of the Sun and Moon, pinpointed this eclipse precisely with a time and a location – for us, in the desert of Texas. Trains, planes and automobiles will be delayed, but not so with the movement of these giant worlds. The perfection of Creation is evident in the patterns and paths we observe and measure.

We pray a prayer of praise, from Scripture, from the Book of Sirach, “The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises what a marvelous instrument it is, Great is the Lord who made it; at His orders it hurries on its course.” (Chapter 43)

cover: public domain earth-in-sky