Translators in the Metaverse

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Translators in the Metaverse

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.

 

 

Amen – Letting Go

/0 Comments/in ,
Armodoxy for Today: Amen – Letting Go

Letting go, for many people, is perhaps one of the most difficult things to do. Letting go means an end has come to a relationship and continuing life with that relationship is no longer an option. We are emotional creatures and continuity, as the word relationship implies, gives us stability. Letting go threatens that stability and therefore is often mixed with painful feelings.

Interestingly enough, we end our prayers with a statement that proclaims we have let go. The word, “Amen” is our resignation to the fact that we have turned over our cares to God. Amen is an affirmation of our trust, our hope and our faith in God. We end each prayer saying, “So be it” or “Let it be so.” Amen. It is the ultimate statement of letting go. We relinquish control.

Letting go is essential, particularly in this age of information. Being bombarded day in and day out with news, it is easy to become distraught and lose hope. In fact, most of the news items we are given fill us with information and not much more. And so, it becomes exceedingly important, for us to admit that certain events and issues are beyond our immediate control. Turning to Armodoxy – you find that relinquishing access of those things you cannot control allows you to sort out your life and be more productive and spiritually alive. We end our prayers with the word “Amen” as an outward profession that we have turned over matters to God: Let it be.

Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr authored a short prayer that is often used in 12 step programs.  It allows us to place issues and events in context. It turns over to God what we cannot do and confesses “Amen” or “let it be.”

Therefore, join me in prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the thing I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Amen.

Debt Reduction (Listen with the Heart)

/0 Comments/in ,
Armodoxy for Today – Listening with the heart

In our Daily Message about prayer, we defined prayer as a conversation involving speaking as well as listening. The art of listening is not limited to a function of the ears. For instance, in the Lord’s prayer, the request to forgive our trespasses, or sins, is dependent on our ability to forgive others who trespass against us.

The act of listening, in this case, requires that we contemplate our pattern of forgiveness. To listen, means we reflect on all those who have hurt us, “trespassed” against us, and ask ourselves sincerely, if we have forgiven them. For the condition of forgiveness from God is dependent on our forgiveness of others. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Did we forgive them half of their debt? Then we can expect God to forgive half of our debt. In other words, by saying “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we are responsible for our own reward or condemnation. By our own mouth we write out a ticket of peace or a path of torment. In fact, so great is this condition, that Jesus reiterates it at the conclusion of the “Lord’s Prayer.” In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus adds these verses to the Lord’s Prayer, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Listening is the act of introspection. God talks to us on a multitude of levels – think of them as different frequencies and bandwidths. Don’t expect to hear the thunderous voice of God, if you first haven’t heard His soft whisper in your heart. It’s a voice that says look within, forgive and move forward. Converse with God and remember to listen, especially with your heart.

I share with you the prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali, from the 23rd hour: All merciful Lord, have mercy on all Your faithful, on those who are mine and on those who are strangers, on those whom I know and on those whom I know not, on the living and on the dead, and forgive all my enemies, and those who hate me, the trespasses that they have committed against me, turn them from the malice which they bear towards me, that they may be worthy of Your mercy.

Praying for Solutions

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Prayer

We hear it all the time: I’ll pray for you. You’re in my prayers. Keep me in your prayers. Pray for better days. Pray for good health. Pray for safety from enemies.

Before teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus took a moment to teach them how not to pray. He said, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Most of our ideas about prayer are compiled from different ideas we’ve heard throughout our lifetime, primarily along the lines that prayer is a conversation with God where we present Him with a list of our needs. In turn, we expect God to answer our prayers with a yes, no or maybe.

Clearly, Jesus tells us, that’s not what prayer is, since our “Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.”

If prayer is a conversation with God and not a monologue, nor a soliloquy, but a conversation, it is implied that talking and listening are involved. You see, God knows our needs, but perhaps we may not know our needs. Listening, as part of a conversation, allows to hear our request, to focus on them and find the solutions that are within our grasp.

For this reason, Jesus instructs us with a prayer that asks of God, and demands that we listen.

From Matthew chapter 6, Jesus says, Pray then like this, “Our Father who is in heaven, may Your Name be holy, may Your Kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen

Heavenly Thoughts

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: The Heavens

From the earliest of times, from the most ancient history of the human race and even before, people have looked up to the heavens only to stand in awe of its vastness and beauty. It has been the inspiration of poems, songs and prayers. For many, it has signaled the existence of the Creator, the Prime Mover, or simply, God.

Today we know that a dot in the night sky, what we may have called a star, may in fact be a vast galaxy, giant stars or even a black hole, in which great clusters of stars may have disappeared. A gaze up at the heavens, at the endless stars and movements of those celestial bodies causes us to wonder and ponder our existence. The fundamental questions of life come from our wonderment: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Where are we going?

One of the sacred texts in the Armenian Church is the Book of Ecclesiasticus or, the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirac. It reads as a testament to the wonders of the heavens and as a prayer. I offer this reading as the author describes the heavens

I will now call to mind the works of the Lord,
and will declare what I have seen.
By the word of the Lord his works are made;
and all his creatures do his will.
The sun looks down on everything with its light,
and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.

The pride of the higher realms is the clear vault of the sky,
as glorious to behold as the sight of the heavens.
 The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises
what a marvelous instrument it is, the work of the Most High.
At noon it parches the land,
and who can withstand its burning heat?

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.
 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.
When you exalt him, summon all your strength,
and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.
(Sirach 42-43 NRSV)

 

Peace: Metaphor change

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Fires and Peace

The journey to and through Armodoxy is paradoxical, it is rather simple to understand but difficult to implement, above all, it requires an open mind. Stories, clichés, phrases, and general conversations are filled with idioms that are seldom questioned or explored. Instead, we repeat them as part of an unbridled conversation. An open mind is necessary to dispel some of our skewed understandings of life, how we live and how we interact with the Divine. For instance, when we say, “They spilled the beans” we mean they gave away a secret and not that they were clumsy with pinto or fava varieties of beans. The expression, “Under the weather” has nothing to do with rain, sleet, or snow, rather it is a way of saying a person is feeling ill. There are thousands of these expressions that have made their way into daily conversations.

Some of these expressions have been repeated so often that they obstruct our reasoning capabilities so much so that we think of them as truths or axioms. For instance, the expression, “You fight fire with fire,” means to fight against an opponent by using the same methods or weapons that the opponent uses. However, if we think about it for a moment, we quickly understand that fighting fire with fire only makes the fire bigger! And so, if we use the same tactic an opponent uses on us, the “bigger fire” is the necessary kindling for war.

Armodoxy comes from Armenia, a land and people that have fought fire with water. Many times, the water supply hasn’t been adequate, but still, we understand the best way to fight fire is not with more fire, but with water. This model, for a land and people that have been attacked and killed by barbarians. They have witnessed the rape and pillage of their country and people, and yet, they have survived and dare to talk about peace… lasting peace.

When looking at the conditions of our world today, I realize that I have no other alternative but to talk about Armodoxy as a necessary way of life, especially today.

Jesus says,” You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.” (Matthew 5:38f)

This is a much tougher solution than fighting fire with fire, but as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation.”

The world is playing with fire and we’re only fanning and fueling the fire at an unprecedented rate. Armodoxy demands that we have an openness of mind, and a sense of reason to see the ends apart from the means. To understand that that the end is, and must be, peace.

Let us receive the blessing from our Lord Jesus Christ, by praying His words,

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5)

Celebrating with God

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Celebrating with God

Jesus’ words should never be confined to the Church audience nor should they be restricted to any limit imposed by the boundaries of space or time. In other words, Jesus’ words are relevant at all times and to everyone. This, in fact, is another testament to his divinity, but that is the topic for another day. Today we’ll focus in on the topic of celebration within the Church.

The Divine Liturgy – the Holy Pataraq – the central act of worship in the Armenian Church is a celebration. It is never performed, rather it is celebrated, with the officiant being referred to as the “celebrant.”

Tragically, life conditions in the Armenian world left very little to celebrate, especially during the last couple centuries. The Armenian experience has been filled with disasters and war which have led to heartbreak. Armenians sought and found refuge in their church. Church became a place where the poor, the maimed, the brokenhearted and the mourners found comfort. Understandably, the word “celebratory” was hardly the descriptor of the feelings they harbored.

Furthermore, the atmosphere in church is often filled with a sense of reverence and awe, as congregants gather to worship and reflect on their faith. This can be felt through the quiet moments of prayer and the solemnity of rituals. Unfortunately, reverence or sacredness is often interpreted as somber, a state void of positive emotion.

We refer to Jesus’ message as the Gospel – in Armenian Avetaran. It literally means “Good News” – in Armenia Avetis. The Good News should be greeted with joy and festivity – hence the expression of celebration for our community worship. The words of the Divine Liturgy – the hymns and prayers all point to celebration. The Good News is God’s love for each and every one of us, rich or poor, tall or short, black or white, male or female, old and young, and fill in all the blanks you want. They all apply. God’s love is expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Celebrate with song, dance and excitement.

We end with the celebration that our Lord describes when he says,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Amen. (Matthew 5)

Axioms to follow

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Axioms to follow (and shouldn’t be challenged)

In the simplicity of Jesus’ statements, there are truths that may not be self-evident until a bit of thought is applied to the cause and effects of the realities the describes.

An axiom is defined as a self-evident truth, in other words, a truth that does not need to be proven. In Euclid’s geometry, for instance, “Axiom 5” states “the whole is greater than the part.” It does not need to be proven. It is self-evident. And the example of the axiom is found all around us. The Book of Acts is a book of the Bible. Accordingly, the Bible is greater than the Book of Acts.

Jesus made several pronouncements which are axioms, but unrecognized as such because of our dull faculties. One such axiom is being played out on the world stage right now.  When Jesus was being arrested his disciples ran to his aid. Jesus asked them to put away their swords because, “All who take up the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26). This not a threat but a simple truth that violence begets violence. It is not even logical that violence can bring about anything but more violence, let alone, peace. But, people (read governments) are out to challenge it.

2023 October, the country of Israel was attacked by Hamas militants. In response Israel attacked Hamas installments and escalated the original number of casualties 40x, with human suffering that parallels the most atrocious situations in human history – including those in death camps, and the nations struck by genocide, with starvation and even cases of once-thought-eradicated polio! Caught in the crossfire, are the innocent, the weak and the voiceless. Meanwhile, nations and countries are picking sides and testing each other with bigger and bigger attacks. Billions of dollars are being sent to fight these battles, while possibilities to pipe water from flooded areas to draught stricken areas will never be realized, cancer research will suffer as will the thousands of other proposals to champion life.

He who picks up the sword will die by the sword…  of course! With escalating retaliatory actions, countries ensure that the next five generations (at least) will be attacking back in the forms of unannounced violence and actions that will bring terror and fear in the heart everyone.

This is what happens when Jesus’ message is confined to the church walls. His message is intended to and for the world. That’s how we know it is a Divine message. And as such, His pronouncements about our life are axioms, self-evident truths. Of course peace cannot be achieved by escalating violence because he who lives by the sword will die by it! Armodoxy attests to Christ’s Body, the Church, having an obligation and responsibility to proclaim Christ’s message to everyone.

We pray, Lord hear our prayer by helping us to hear Your prayer, the one which guides us to Your Law, the Law of Love which leads to Peace. Forgive us for ignoring Your words and following the direction of the world. Help us to make Thy Will on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.

The Move to Humanity

/0 Comments/in ,

Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, who had studied various and many societies throughout the world, taught and advocated for cultural relativism, as a means by which we as people can better understand one another. With all the differences marked by cultures and society, the main ingredient for humanity is a basic one.

The story is told that one of Margaret Mead’s students asked her what she considered to be the first sign of civilization. The student expected the anthropologist to point to clay pots, tools for hunting or various societal or religious artifacts. Instead, Mead pointed to a healed femur found in an archeological site, dating back 15,000 years. This was the first evidence of civilization, she claimed.

A femur is the longest bone in the body, linking hip to knee. Take away some of the benefits of modern medicine and it takes about six weeks of rest for a fractured femur to heal. This particular bone had been broken and had healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, you cannot drink or hunt for food. In fact, if you were wounded in this manner, you became food for other animals. If you were to stand still for your bone to heal, you’d definitely be the main course on some other animal’s dinner menu. Another animal… that’s right. The question being asked was what separates us – humanity – from other animals? Why was this healed bone the key to understanding when we moved from animal to caring people?

A broken femur that has healed, explained Mead, is evidence that another person took time to stay with the injured person, bound the wound, carried the person to safety and tended to them through recovery. A healed femur indicates that someone has helped a fellow human, rather than abandoning them to save their own life.

“Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts,” explained Margaret Mead.

Armodoxy has roots in untouched Christianity. Christ instructs us, “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  And you will be blessed.” You see, Christ’s invitation is an invitation to humanity.

Let us pray a prayer from St. Ephrem (4th Century)

I gaze upon You, Christ my Lord, and open my heart before You through fervent prayer, O Son of God, for humbling Yourself before Your creatures and taking on the role of a servant. You possess such love for humankind that we may attain divine wisdom. Have mercy on me, O benevolent God.

Simplicity

/0 Comments/in ,
Daily Message: Simplicity

Jesus Tweeted.  That’s not meant to be funny, neither is it meant to shock you, nor to make Jesus contemporary. God forbid. Jesus and his message are always contemporary and therefore, relevant to us. Rather, “Jesus tweeted,” is merely to use a contemporary term to describe a very effective means by which Jesus communicated with us. His messages were concise, simple and to the point.

“Unless a grain of wheat die, it remains a single seed,” is a Tweet. (John 12:24)

“My family are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Another Tweet. (Math 12:50)

“Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you,” and “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you,” are two more examples.  (Matt. 7:12, Matt. 5:44)

When Twitter first came out, users were limited to 140 characters to the articulate an idea, a thought or a message. Now the limit has doubled to 280 characters, but the challenge to simplify the message is put upon the user. We’re invited to do the same with our Faith, to find God’s voice in the simplest expression. The petal of a flower, the smile of a child or the touch of a friend in need, are starting points in Armodoxy.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me… for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14)

Let us pray the first and simplest prayer that a Christian must know: Lord, have mercy on me. Amen.’