Jesus began his ministry in the town of Nazareth. St. Luke the Evangelists records (chapter 4): So Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Thus, Jesus proclaimed His mission.
When we describe the Armenian Church as “Apostolic” it means there is an unbroken chain from the time of Jesus to his apostles, through the centuries to us. The mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church is the same mission Jesus proclaimed that day in Nazareth. Is it any wonder that at every ordination service, whether priest, bishop or Catholicos, this passage is read as the Gospel reading – as the instruction from Holy Scripture for the new servant of the Church.
Today, in our hearing, Jesus has proclaimed His mission. It is our mission… to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, grant sight to the blind, set at liberty the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord.
A prayer from the Holy Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church: Deliver us now from all unclean deeds that are not proper for those in whom you dwell, and may the shining light of your gifts not be extinguished within the reflective eyes of our understanding, for we have learned that you do unite with us in prayer and in commendable lives that are offered as incense. Amen.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Thad-Bart.jpg673715Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-10-25 00:01:012024-10-24 21:02:56The Mission: Singular in Nature
Often, we have heard the sage advice that attitude is a major component of a healthy life. There are even popular statistical notations that tout that success in life is primarily a function of attitude as opposed to circumstances. No doubt, these quaint sayings are easy to understand but more difficult to implement especially because we look for some backing and proof.
Armodoxy is a history that supplies the proof for the miraculous. Armenians have faced a history of terror, butchery, and barbarous crimes, all contributing to a country and a people that have been void of peace for centuries. Yet the essence of Armenian spiritual prayers and hymns is thanksgiving. The Armenian Church prayer book, Jamakirk, is a collection of praise and worship. In the face of horror, Armenians have composed hymns and recited prayers that reflect thanksgiving and gratitude.
If anyone has a right to protest to God for the horrors inflicted on its people and land, it is the Armenians. Instead of protest, their prayers reach to the highest heavens with praise and worship. It is herein that the Armenians have survived and built life in the face of death, being a living witness to resurrection in the face of crucifixion.
Armodoxy is the witness that gratitude is more than an attitude.
We are reminded of our Lord Jesus’ words, “…I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16)
We pray, from the Book of Services of the Armenian Church, Lead us, ensuring that our steps keenly follow in Your path. Keep us focused on adhering to Your divine commandments. Embrace us throughout our lives, so that we may live lives of purity and chastity. We bless You, Father Almighty, the Living Holy Spirit with the graces of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/P1050087-scaled.jpg25601920Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-10-24 00:01:312024-10-23 21:44:16Gratitude: More than Attitude
Jesus instructs, “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). This is often called The Golden Rule. Social psychologists categorize this rule under the principle of reciprocity, that is, in different social situations we pay back what we receive from others. In other words, if someone does you a favor, you’re likely to do a favor in return. It’s common for organizations to send a gift – labels, calendars, cards, etc. – with an envelope expecting that the principle of reciprocity will kick in and you’ll send back a donation.
Just the opposite, in Armodoxy, our actions are not based on the actions of others. We are called to give and share our God given talents without expecting in return. The Golden Rule is a proactive rule for conduct, but in terms of repayment, Jesus points to a hirer rule when he says, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matthew 6:44).
The higher expectation is in fulfillment of Christ’s invitation and challenge to, “Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 6:48). To be mindful of this, you may plot it out in a matrix: to repay goodness with goodness or to pay evil with evil is only human. To repay goodness with evil, is diabolic. But to repay evil with goodness, is divine.
So much of our life is built as a reaction to the actions of others. The challenge is to live proactively, not waiting for repayment, but doing what is good and the way we would expect others to treat us.
Let us pray from the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church, “Receive, O God, these prayers and our service. Make Your light of righteousness and wisdom shine forth upon us and make us children of light and of day, so that in godliness we may lead our life and fulfil it without offence, for you are our helper and Savior and to you is befitting glory and honor. Amen.
Richard Dawson was a popular game show host during the 1970s. In one episode of the “Family Feud,” he came out to the cheers of the studio audience and in front of the millions who had tuned in to the weekly show. He took a long puff from a cigarette, exhaled, threw the butt on the floor, stamped it out, turned to camera and exclaimed, “That was my last cigarette!” The audience cheered even louder. And then, without missing a beat, he added, “… for the rest of the show.”
Often, we are overwhelmed with the size and magnitude of our dilemmas and problems. The war in Ukraine has been going on for a couple of years. Artsakh was taken over by the Azeris. The war between Hamas and Israel continues with a new campaign. Next to wars, our planet is threatened by weather changes, overbearing populations and food shortages. Add to these global issues our own private and personal challenges of health, finance and relationships and it’s easy to see why so many people are overwhelmed and diagnosis of depression is on the up. We have heard the Chinese proverb, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” but our gaze is usually stretched out so far ahead that we fear inevitable defeat. We succumb to those fears and abandon the run.
Armodoxy is discovered in the long run. It has been cultivated through a history of overwhelming odds for survival and has pulled through. Armodoxy came from a people who thanked God for the day and found themselves in continuous prayer for millennia. It is the small victories, the day-to-day accomplishments that add and make the entire story of life. The smoking habit is overcome by putting out that first cigarette. That long race is won by taking the first step. Peace is achieved by the small expressions of compassion and understanding.
Take a moment to enjoy the victory of a single minute, hour, day, year and you’ll find that the prize is a life filled with meaning and purpose.
Today we pray a prayer from the Armenian Church’s Book of Hours, Jamakirk, Lord our God, we give thanks to You, for You have granted us to pass this day in peace. Grant us, O Lord, to pass this evening and the night before us without sin and stumbling, and to stand firm and abide steadfastly in faith, in hope and in love and in the observance of Your commandments. Give peace to the world and stability to Your holy Church and salvation to our souls. For to You is befitting glory, dominion, and honor, now and forever and ever. Amen.
There is superficial beauty and there is intrinsic beauty. In a life lived in Faith, these two types intersect, and not necessarily at only one point. Outer beauty shines and is pleasant to look at, while inner beauty shines bright through the outer layers, radiating. In this pandemic era, more than ever, we are learning that outer beauty must never be so thick as to not let the inner shine through.
Jesus warns, “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.” (Matthew 7:6)
Armodoxy attests to the reality that the Armenian Church, small in outward size and yet rich in inner magnificence, has found that balance of beauty. Seek and find your inner beauty and witness the outer counterpart as part of the same equation that God has created in you.
Pray with the Psalmist (34), “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”
In the parable of the “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15), there is a point at which the wayward boy comes to his senses. He is heard saying, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father…’”
Life may be compared to a roller coaster ride, with ups and downs. Some ups are high enough to bring us down quickly. From the depths of our low spots the climb up might be slow, but steady. On the track there are switches that trigger the coaster car to journey up, or to naturally fall. There are, also, points of no-return, most notably when we first sit in the coaster-car and the attendant releases the break for our journey through the twists and turns.
One of the goals of religion is regain control over life, so that we can be more than a car gliding on a track. What triggers us to say “enough” of the down-spots? What triggers us to turn back to safety? to home? to God? We all have those triggers, what are yours?
We pray Shnorali’s 12th hour prayer, “Lord, who has willed all that is good, and who is the director of the will, allow me not to follow the inclinations of my heart; but lead me to always walk according to your good pleasure. Amen.
In the parable of the “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15), when the wayward boy is reconciled with his father, the servants of the house hear the voice of the father command, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.” In this action, the son would be reconciled completely with his father.
Returning back to physical and/or emotional health – whether following an attack by a virus or after a broken relationship – is a difficult proposition and often, a more difficult process. Along the way, both physical and emotional health may be compromised making full recovery next to impossible.
The recovery granted to us by God is complete and full. By looking inward, we discover our weaknesses and count our strengths. The delicate balance between the two is defined by our perception, attitude, and our ability to communicate with God.
Begin with prayer, “Christ, you are the growing fire, inflame my soul with the fire of your love, which you have shed on the earth, that it may consume the stains of my soul, clear my conscience, purify my body from sin, and kindle in my heart the light of your knowledge. Amen.” (Shnorhali #10)
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/a-recovery-from-something-which-is-complete-and-full.jpg10241024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-10-17 00:01:142024-10-16 21:35:41Complete and Full
The Evangelist St. Luke records a most remarkable parable of our Lord Jesus Christ, popularly known as “The Prodigal Son.” You may read the story in its entirety in the 15th chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke. At the end of the story, the father, in justifying his action to love, says, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31)
Part of the process of self-improvement and the process of introspection is to inventory our assets against our liabilities. Liabilities sometimes overwhelm us to the point that we fail to properly access the assets that we have. One of the greatest discoveries that we can make in our lives is the knowledge that we are always in God’s care and always live in God’s grace. Once this discovery is made, the knowledge of always must be assigned to the top position on the asset column of our life-inventory.
The Psalmist writes today’s prayer, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (27)
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/the-concept-of-Always-with-visuals-of-eternity.jpg10241024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-10-16 00:01:492024-10-27 20:32:13Always: God’s word
In the Spirit of the Holy Translators and on the weekend of their feast day we, at Epostle, unveiled a new space: the first virtual Sunday School classroom. This opening took place at St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles, in the presence of church members, parents and of course, the students at the school.
Yesterday I shared with you the experience of the opening (Translators in the Metaverse) and promised that today we’d look at the audience and their reaction.
When Epostle first entered the metaverse in 2023 we shared the experience with the members of our community. We invited focus groups to gauge their reaction. Their experience, from group to group, seemed almost the same with slight variation. The patterns seemed to follow this order: At first sight members of the groups were in awe and amazed at the technology that allows for these virtual world. After a few minutes – maybe ten or so minutes – they would nod with a smile that expressed an affirmative reaction to the entire idea. And then… well, not much. It was interesting to us on the developing end. Why wasn’t their amazement pushing them to curiosity and investigation? Why weren’t they spending more time in these worlds? One of the reasons could be that there was a learning curve and most people looked for instructions and cheat sheets to navigate around the metaverse. In other words, they were intrigued by the novelty of the metaverse, but it wasn’t a place they would engage with regularly. In common parlance, “A nice place to visit, but…”
However, we did notice something else in all the focus groups: the young kids. They didn’t need instruction. They sat at computers, phones or put on VR goggles and threw themselves into the environment! And so, we discovered our prime audience: Youth, under 16!
Our mission is to spread the Gospel, specifically with the tools of technology, hence, the name epostle as an electronic apostle. We moved forward with the creation of the virtual Sunday School classroom. And at the launch, it all payed off. While we were demonstrating the space to the parents, the students had already entered the space, jumping, running, exploring the virtual classroom which we have designated Lake Sevan – a learning center of ancient Armenian Christianity for the new generation.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that the little children came to Jesus but the Disciples rebuked them. Why would Jesus, this Holy Man, want to waste his time with children, they thought. It is Jesus who sets the record straight, “Let the little children come to Me,” He says, “and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19)
The children have an innate love for God. Just as playing on computers, tablets and phones is second nature for them, the Kingdom of Heaven already belongs to the pure in heart. Just as they jumped into the metaverse environments boldly and without inhibition, so too they jump into the Love of God. The question that we must struggle with – and this is essential – is, what is it that we are teaching them? The curriculum and the teaching of the Armenian Church is simply to express the Love of God as it has been passed along through the centuries, in times of crisis and disaster, as well as times of joy. And then, – equally essential – is for us to take time to listen to them, the children. Jesus instructs as much. The experience of the Virtual Sunday School is one of listening to these young voices, their thoughts, their expressions and of course, their dreams.
Today’s prayer is written by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, in the voice of the student: Lord, my God, my steps lead me to school. Protect me from all kinds of dangers and unkind thoughts, so that I may arrive at my destination safely and in peace. I pray to You tirelessly, for You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/children-learning-in-a-virtual-sunday-school-classroom.jpg10241024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-10-15 00:01:542024-10-14 22:32:51For Whom They Translated
In October the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Translators. This a group is unusual in that the members of the group are not contemporaries. They belong and are members of a group heralded, and responsible, for delivering the Armenian Church to the present day. The group is headed by Mesrop Mashdots, a fifth century saint who is credited for the invention of the Armenian alphabet and the translation of scriptures to the Armenian language. The group is closed off by St. Nersess Shnorhali of the 12th century, the author of countless prayers and hymns, and also led the Armenian Church as its chief bishop. In this elite group are philosophers and teachers, all of whom fall under the title of translator. They are regarded as such because they were gifted with the ability to take something that is complex and simplify it for others to grasp and hold. In its most simple expression, a person who translates one language to a second language does so, so that the message of the first language can be understood by people of the second language. Hence, St. Mesrop, took the message of Scripture, namely the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and made it accessible to Armenians via the Armenian Church.
Armodoxy maintains that the reason for these feasts and celebrations of saints is to inspire us to do the same. Opportunities are all around us, to simplify the complex and pass along the blessing of the Gospel to new generations.
This October, on the Feast of the Holy Translators, Epostle.net opened the first-ever virtual Sunday School in the metaverse. It follows in the spirit of the Holy Translators, to take the complex and simplify it for yet another audience.
At the St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles, Epostle fitted one of the Sunday School classrooms with computers to serve as the electronic hub for a pilot program that will allow students from anywhere in the world to learn about the Faith of the Armenian Church, follow a curriculum for growth in Christian living, and to exchange ideas with other students.
As we launched this next phase of the Epostle.net ministry, I felt the spirit of the Holy Translators electrifying the students as they engaged in this new medium. The Translator saints gave access to a completely new group of people – people who otherwise may have never known the joy and blessing of Jesus Christ in their lives. There was nothing coercive about their methods, they merely facilitated the hungry soul in its desire to seek and find fulfillment.
This is uncharted waters because the technology is so new. Our Epostle Team struggled with different models for presentation because there is no examples to follow in the virtual theater. And so, the model given to us by the Holy Translators was the guiding force behind our decisions. Much like Mesrop Mashtots or Nersess Shnorhali, we want to translate what has been handed down to us to a new audience. Tomorrow, we’ll look at the audience and their reaction. Today, we end with a prayer written by Gail Chalebian, Superintendent of the St. James Sunday School and recited at the opening of the room. I present it here, asking that you join in the wishes and requests made here.
Lord bless this classroom dedicated to the education of young people. Bless all our clergy, students, teachers, parents, and friends. May this school enable all children and Sunday Schools to flourish and be happy, and may it teach the Armenian Apostolic faith in all its richness and fullness for the salvation of souls. May the children enjoy their learning and find joy in their new discoveries. Bless us Father with your wisdom as we begin our new Epostle curriculum and inspire us by your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Continued tomorrow
From The Western Diocese Newsletter (October 11, 2024)
Epostle announces First Ever Virtual Sunday School
The first-ever virtual Sunday School is being launched this coming weekend at the St. James Armenian Church, Los Angeles. With the invitation of Fr. Haroutioun Tachejian, the Parish Priest at St. James, Epostle fitted one of the Sunday School classrooms to serve as the electronic hub of this pilot program for the Diocese and, eventually, the rest of the world.
With this installation, the teachings of the ancient Armenian Church can and will be accessed by Sunday School students anywhere on the planet.
According to Gail Chalebian, Sunday School Superintendent, “Our Sunday school is thrilled and honored to pilot and incorporate the first Epostle program into our curriculum. Epostle allows our students to navigate through the many sites of Armenia and experience Armenian culture and history in a way that has never been done before. And the opportunity to communicate directly with other Armenian students, teachers, and clergy all over the world, in real time, opens a whole new ‘metaverse’ to our community.”
Anyone with a phone, tablet, computer or VR headset can access the world created at Epostle.net. Gregory Beylerian, Creative Director at Epostle, has been working diligently with leading programmers and developers in the industry to put together the spaces. Epostle entered the metaverse in 2023 with the Cathia Hamparian Children’s Memorial. Since then there have been several “rooms” opened in the metaverse, including one where churches that were occupied and destroyed in Artsakh have their electronic footprint preserved here.
“This is a very exciting time for us at Epostle,” said Fr. Vazken Movsesian, founder of the electronic ministry. “This installation at St. James will be a pilot project. I am confident that once explored, other Sunday Schools will quickly adapt this model to their own circumstances. Soon a teacher in one part of the country will be sharing lesson plans with teachers and students in another part of the country or the world. We already have students signing up in Armenia, and plan to have an installation there by mid 2025.”
Epostle is the electronic ministry of the Western Diocese under the auspices of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate. Launched in 2022, its mission is apostolic evangelism for an electronic world. Daily messages, podcasts and videos in multiple languages are part of the archives that exist on the site. Epostle can be easily accessed from anywhere with an internet connection at Epostle.net
We acknowledge and thank the St. James Armenian Church priest, Fr. Haroutiun Tachejian, Parish Council and Sunday School for facilitating this project. Follow the progress and receive updates at https://epostle.net
The unveiling of the room will take place Sunday, October 13 following church services at St. James.
Caption to photo: Installation of the Epostle room at St. James – left to right: Paul Keuteliian, Maria Hamparian, Sousanna Pogosian, Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Gregory Beylerian.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1079-scaled.jpeg19202560Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-10-14 00:01:202024-10-14 20:32:21Translators in the Metaverse
