Muiron Beyond the Grave

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Armodoxy for Today: Muiron beyond the Grave

Is there communication beyond the grave? We talk about an afterlife. Certainly, life after this one is part of the Christian Gospel message but seldom do we discuss it (especially in mixed company) for fear of being ridiculed, but even more because we think it not possible.

A few years back one of my clergy brothers passed away. Different from a lay person’s funeral, the priest’s body is anointed one last time in Church and then later the body is committed to the earth. This is the Sacrament of Unction in which the presiding bishop consecrates the lifeless body of the priest. I remember having objections to this service: Why would they place something as holy as Muiron on a dead body? It seemed like a waste of such a precious and sacred commodity. After all we believe that the soul lives on, why consecrate the body?

That day at the funeral, I served at the holy altar. The priest’s body was brought before the holy alter in his casket. During celebration of the Divine Liturgy, just before the Kiss of Peace was to be given, the archbishop offered the prayers and the gospel passage written for this service. He then knelt before the coffin and consecrated the priest’s body, putting the seal of Church – the Holy Muiron – on his forehead and next his hands.

In the solemnity of the moment, the archbishop chanted a beautiful hymn of the Armenian Church beginning with the words, Greetings, Holy Church,  greetings to you reverend clergy, I am journeying to my Creator. The words of the hymn were as if they were coming from the priest’s body. He continued, Greetings children of the church, brothers and sisters in Christ, people of the world, I am journeying to Christ, the Hope of all. I say farewell to the Holy Church, behold I leave my holy brothers and sisters to the calling of the Renewer, Christ.

At that moment, things became very clear to me and I’m sure to many others in the sanctuary. The priest’s body, which was the shell of his soul, had served its purpose. It had brought the community of believers together. It had accomplished its calling of helping people enter the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit had taken charge of the sanctuary and was talking via the Muiron, talking for this priest, telling us that there is hope beyond the grave. It was such a moving moment and many of us teared up as the Liturgy continued with the Kiss of Peace. The greeting of Christ’s Love was shared from beyond the grave with us all.

Following Christ’s Crucifixion and Burial the “Oil Bearing Women” as they are called in our Tradition, brought fragrant oils to anoint Christ’s body. Instead, they found the Empty Tomb. The Holy Muiron is life giving and keeps our attention on the Empty Tomb and the words of the angel, “He is not here. He has risen!”  (Matthew 28)

We pray, Hear me, Benevolent Lord, let me be worthy of the Upper Room to join in prayer those who adore You and speak unceasingly of Your Godliness on earth and in heaven. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian, 2023

Muiron Communications

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Armodoxy for Today: Muiron Communications

St. Gregory of Nareg begins his prayers, “From the depths of my heart, [here is] a conversation with God.” Ascetics, hermits, monks, are said to have a special relationship with the Divine to facilitate conversations, more specifically, dialogues. A conversation with God is always a dialogue, never a monologue. You pray. God answers. You answer. God answers.

The Holy Muiron is a means by which God communicates with us. Herein we begin to understand the Muiron as the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is talking with us always, but often, our receptors are dull or not tuned to the same frequency. The Holy Muiron aligns our receptors with the direction of the Holy Spirit.

The second of the seven Sacraments of the Church is Chrismation. This Sacrament immediately follows Baptism, which is the entry point for an individual into the Life of the Church – the community. With baptism a person is born anew. With chrismation, the individual is now anointed with the means to keep that newness, that freshness, throughout life, against the perils, temptations and challenges that face us.

Invoking the Holy Spirit, the priest chants a hymn, “You, being above the water (a reference to the Holy Spirit during Creation, as described in Genesis), now coming down into the waters of the Font (of Baptism), adorn and restore always Your new church so that her children shine with Your diverse gifts.”

The priest then anoints the person’s forehead with the words, Sweet ointment in the name of Jesus Christ is poured upon you as a seal of incorruptible heavenly gifts. He continues to all of the senses of the body. On the eyes to keep them enlightened. The ears, for the hearing of divine commandments. The nostrils, for a sweet smell to life everlasting. The mouth to speak the words of God. The hands for good works and virtuous deeds. On the heart for a pure and upright spirit. On the back as a shield of strength against evil. And on the feet to direct the journey through life.

The Chrism – the holy Muiron – is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life, talking and directing us always.

We pray, Lord, in Your Truth and in the light of Your Holy Spirit, may I become a temple and dwelling place for your Love and Grace, so I may walk in the paths of Righteousness. Amen.

The Chrism

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Armodoxy for Today: The Chrism

Chrism is a special oil used for anointing. The word Christ comes from the Chrism. Christ means “the anointed one.” Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is Jesus, the anointed one.

Chrism is sometimes referred to as myrrh (as in one of the gifts brought to Baby Jesus by the Wise Men) or in our case, in the Armenian Church, we call it Holy Muiron. It is used in the traditional churches, such as in the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches, to anoint, that is, to seal, much like the “Amen” that finishes our prayers. With it, faith is sealed. While the preparation of Holy Murion differs among the churches, the Armenian Church’s use of symbolism is as unique as is the fact that the Muiron from previous blessings, from the time of Christ, is added to the new batch, thus tying the present community to the eternal group of believers proclaiming a unifying message of love and peace for humankind. At Jesus’ birth, the angels proclaimed, “Peace on Earth and goodwill toward one another” and with each anointing we seal and say Amen to those words as our direction in Faith.

The make up of Muiron is olive oil, balsam and the essence of fragrant flowers, each of which has special meaning and purpose as we will learn.

Muiron is used to consecrate people, objects and sacred spaces. Each of these consecrations is the responsibility of different orders within the Church. For instance a priest may consecrate one who is baptized. A Bishop may consecrate priests for service within the Church and may consecrate buildings and objects for service within the Church. And the Chief Bishop, or Catholicos, has the authority to bless the Holy Muiron as well as consecrate bishops for service within the Church.

The Muiron is consecrated every seven years. Seven is a mystical number within Armodoxy. In the Armenian alphabet the seventh letter “eh” which is the present tense of the verb “to be.” It is the name of God, “He is” who exists in the eternal present. The Catholicos, on being elected and consecrated, may decide to bless Muiron on the first year of his pontificate after which the clock counts up, seven years to the next blessing.

God speaks to us through the Sacraments and especially through the Holy Muiron. He is speaking to you today, and He always has. It is up to us listen, hear, and make the choice to follow or act. The beginning of that action is with an affirmation – and Amen – an anointing.

Tomorrow, we’ll listen and hear how he speaks to us through the Muiron.

Let us pray, Lord our God, according to Your Good Will, fill my heart with Your peace. Cleanse me from all blemishes, guile and hypocrisy, malice and the remembrance of evil. Amen.

Groundwork for Muiron

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Muiron from Armenia to your home, a miniseries in celebration of the consecration of the Holy Muiron.

As we explore the meaning of muiron, its preparation and symbolism we begin with a scriptural passage to put our purpose for this series and ultimately the purpose of the muiron, in perspective. It is the first step in understanding this most mystical element that ties us to humanity and the Divine.

From the Gospel of St. Luke (7) we read, Then one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And a woman in the city who was a sinner, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

And Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you…. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Today, I ask that you meditate on this very revealing passage. More than the similar passage we read yesterday, this one points to the purpose of the act of anointing, and thus lays the groundwork for the Muiron blessing. There is a reason for the Muiron blessing that touches our daily life and our relations with one another. Forgiveness leads to harmony and peace with ourselves, our brothers and sisters and with the world.

By no means is it to be taken lightly, it is the necessary step before we begin to dive deep into the Muiron blessing tomorrow. And so, contemplate these thoughts.

Cover Photo: Ground before the Garden, 2017 Movsesian

The Spirit of Muiron

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Armodoxy for Today: The Spirit of Muiron

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” (Matthew 26)

This short episode which is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John displays a side of Jesus which is often not discussed. Jesus puts his concern for the poor “on hold” for this brief moment as a costly oil shared with him.

Every seven years the Armenian Church takes a break from all the difficulties it faces and the cares of world and focuses on the preparation of the Holy Muiron – the Holy Chrism. From the time of Christ, this holy oil comes to us and its preparation involves the collecting the essence of fragrant flowers, a 40 day processing with the prayers, and spiritual vibrations, a most spiritually profound and inspiring services presided by the Catholicos and attended by thousands of clergy and pilgrims from throughout the world and blessing it with the lance that pierced Jesus’ side on the Cross, and with the Holy Relic of St. Gregory. Every seven years the Muiron is renewed, adding the prayers and history of the centuries past to the present mix.

Join me during the next few weeks, as I give you a very special Armodox view of the Holy Muiron. Through these daily messages we will explore together the preparation process, the prayers, the hymns, the purpose of Muiron, the presence of the Holy Spirit in this ancient tradition, and why it is essential to take a break from the difficulties of the day to bring this holy anointing into our lives. This is Armodoxy for Today… The Holy Muiron from the time of Christ to Today.

O Christ, anoint my soul with your love, anoint my ears with your voice and anoint my eyes with your light as I prepare to learn and grow in the sacred tradition of Holy Muiron. Have mercy on me. Amen.

 

Perception in Flight

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Armodoxy for Today: Perception

Our first parish was in a town called Cupertino about 50 miles south of San Francisco, an area that was developing its identity as Silicon Valley as we were developing our identity as a family. A pastor’s family is always blessed with having so many aunts and uncles. The kind people of the parish and our family engaged in what I call reciprocal-adoption. It was a special time in our life, and very rich with “family” especially considering that both my wife’s family and mine lived well over 400 miles away in Southern California.

My brother found every opportunity he could to come and visit with us and his nephews. He’d take the one-hour airplane trip up the coast and we’d be on the receiving end to pick him up at San Jose Airport. Many times we’d get there a bit early and park our car at the end of the runway and watch the planes take off and land. And then, when that big Southwest airplane rumbled the air above us and landed down aways, I’d point to it and tell the kids, “There’s Uncle Haig! Let’s go pick him up.” We’d drive over to the terminal in time to watch him come off the plane.

After the weekend we’d take Uncle Haig to the airport. This time we’d walk him all the way to the gate (yes, this is a bit of pre-9/11 history), say our good-byes and watch the plane back out. San Jose Airport was perfect for plane watching. We’d get in the car and go to the end of the runway. As the plane took off from the tarmac to the sky we’d wave, “Bye Uncle Haig!”

Now when the kids were very young, when we’d get home, they’d be playing in the yard and their sharp senses would spot a plane high up in the sky. They would get so happy and excited as they pointed to the small object in the sky, “Look dad. Look mom. There’s Uncle Haig.” In response to their cuteness, we’d play along with an assuring, “There he goes… wave to him…”

At various times – perhaps days or even weeks later – between visits, our kids would spot a plane say with the same enthusiasm as moments after the flight took off, “There’s Uncle Haig.” And with their little hands they’d wave to the plane high up in the sky.

It was on one of his visits that my brother figured out that our children thought that he was in a perpetual state of flight! They would say goodbye to their uncle at the airport… He’d get on the plane… then the next time they’d see him he’d be coming off the plane. For all they knew, he was always in flight until the next time they’d see him, once again coming off the plane. Think of it in terms of a three or four year old. Without the knowledge that planes land elsewhere to deliver and pick up passengers, you would assume the flight has a circular route, beginning and ending with you. Why would you think otherwise? As we mature, our world view changes, and our understanding of the world develops as we connect the dots between events, places, people and feelings. And soon we have a new understanding. Uncle Haig got on a plane to come to see us… he lives somewhere else… he needs to return to that somewhere else… and we look forward to his next visit. *

Everyone has their own perception of life at different levels of maturity, especially when it comes to spirituality. Jesus met us where we were and where we are. His parables are about the essence of life and they are presented in a language that can be as simple or as complex as is necessary. He speaks the language of the heart and the appeal is universal.

Here is an ancient Armenian blessing, appealing to the Holy Cross. The Cross of Christ is torturous and victorious; it is a matter of perception. We pray, Keep us in peace, O Christ our God, under the protection of your holy and precious cross; save us from our enemies, visible and invisible, and count us worthy to glorify you with thanksgiving, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*Disclaimer: Space and time were not altered, skewed or changed as a result of this blog.

Photo: Cloud-Plane by Sona Smith (2014)

Deciding to Laugh

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Armodoxy for Today: Deciding to laugh

Like most people, you and I laugh at things that are truly funny. What may be funny to me may not be humorous to you and vice versa. And no matter how much we try to tell one another that there is humor in a joke or situation, at the end of the day, it’s our decision to laugh or not. Of course, spontaneous laughter rather than deciding to laugh is the genuine form of expressing joy.

In 1950, canned laughter was introduced to help the public feel more comfortable with the new medium of television. Actors would say their lines, and according to the judgement of someone in the production staff, laughter was added at the end of the line to prompt the audience to follow the cue of laughing. Later canned applause was added to the reaction options and this tradition continues to this day.

Pay attention to the audience – look closely at the audience of talk shows – late night or the daytime variety – and game shows and you will notice that there is no one yelling, screaming or shouting out cat calls as they introduce the host or show a prize. These sound effects are added by the producer of the show to let the audience – both those in studio as well as those watching – know that this is a moment that is worthy of applause or laughter, according to his or her standards.

After decades of this tradition, it is now a given practice to have a laugh or applause tracks added to our entertainment, so much so that we have forgotten that we are being prompted to express ourselves according to someone else’s standards of humor, of acceptance and of gratitude. It is played in the back ground and we follow the prompts to go along for the ride.

In many ways our Faith is prompted by the background cues that we receive. We go along with the flow to believe what is being preached to us is the only acceptable variant of Christianity. The laugh and applause track come in  the form of social pressure and the majority-rules philosophy. Most ideas of Christianity in the West are shaped by the loudest voices that become the prompt for us to follow along, to add our voice to the acceptance track.

Armodoxy is here to attest to the oldest form of Christianity, before applause tracks were added, so to speak. Jesus was not a separatist; he was not an elitist. He challenged us to rise from our humanity and touch the divine. It was not a popular way of life, but it was, and is, fulfilling for the individual practitioner. He advocated for a community, where we lived with, and for, each other. He eschewed materialism and preached a path of spiritual wealth through the practice of love, forgiveness and exercising compassion. Think about it. Jesus’ message was so pure and profound that we don’t need an applause or cheer track to tell us it is great. We know it because it speaks directly to our heart and our being, and those are places that cannot be fooled or swayed to believe. We exclaim that we believe with an Amen.

We pray a prayer from St. Nersess the Gracefilled, Guardian of All, Christ, let your right hand shelter me by day and by night, while at home and while away, while awake and while asleep so that I may never fall. Have mercy on me. Amen.

Unnecessary Detour to Noravank

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Armodoxy for Today: Unnecessary Detour

From our “consider the source” department I share with you a story from a friend of mine, Aram, who just returned from Armenia.

Aram likes to spend time in Armenia reconnecting to his roots. One of his favorite spots to visit is Noravank, a 13th century monastery, about 70 miles (112 km) outside of Yerevan. It is a favorite spot for tourists for a variety of reasons, among them being the aesthetic beauty it projects, with the sharp lines of the monastery building and its domes contrasted against the jagged peaks that surround it.

The road from Yerevan to Noravank is fairly easy and straight forward. Aram had driven the route many times but still, he punched the coordinates into his phone’s navigator and off they went. On the road Google maps directed him to pull off the main highway and take a route that would add another couple of hours to this trip. He ignored the navigator at first, but as he continued the directions were popping on the screen to pull off and detour. He pulled over and looked at the Google map. It was taking him to Noravank in a direction that went around the monastery and brought him to the other side. His intuition and better senses told him to stay on the road.

He arrived at the destination without any problem, but in the last few miles of the trip, Google maps had identified the area as belonging to Azerbaijan! He was being warned that he was entering another country and should detour. In other words, Google defined the borders of Armenia and turned over this land to Azeri hands under its own decision. An unexperienced driver would have gone around for fear of entering hostile territory. Think of all of the research and papers that are written with this faulty information. Think of how much power we have vested corporations such as Google that it has the audacity to define the borders of a country!

We learned of changes made to Saroyan’s writings after his death. Today we see changes made while the country is alive. How careful we must be when listening to words and directions from so-called experts in the field, especially from an info/data giant such as Google.

When someone says this is what Christianity is, or that is what Jesus said, consider the source. Who is giving you this information? What is their motive for telling you? The term “apostolic” by definition means the source of Christianity is the original source, that is, from the Apostles themselves, Jesus’ inner circle. And so the title, Armenian Apostolic Church, is given because Thaddeus and Bartholomew, from Jesus’ inner circle, came to Armenia in the 4th Decade A.D. to spread the Gospel.

We pray, Through the intercession of the Beloved Disciples, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, the first Enlighteners of Armenia, we pray that we be guided by the Spirit to seek truth and peace always. Amen.

Cover Photo: Noravank, 2023 Luna & Gregory Beylerian

Adding to Saroyan

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Armodoxy for Today: Adding to Saroyan

One of the great Armenian-American writers of the twentieth century was William Saroyan. He was a novelist, playwright and short story writer, winning a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award for Best Story for his novel, “The Human Comedy.”

Saroyan was a native of Fresno and his writings gave a colorful picture of life in the Western United States. Saroyan’s stories documented immigrant life in California’s Central Valley, writing about the early community that found haven in America following a genocide which had distributed survivors to the four corners of the globe, thereby defining the Armenian diaspora.

The characters in his story come alive with attributes such as stubbornness, tenacity and the persevering drive to survive.

In Armenian circles, especially in the Diaspora, there is a short paragraph attributed to Saroyan capturing the Armenian spirit that is quoted and recited ad nauseum. It begins, “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose history is ended, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, whose literature is unread, whose music is unheard, whose prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy this race…”

This quote has Saroyan concluding with a statement, “When two Armenians meet they create a new Armenia.” In 2020 the William Saroyan House Museum revealed that those words were never stated by Saroyan. Pointing to the actual quote, they further revealed that the words were the wishful thoughts and sentiments of someone who realized those thoughts would carry more weight if attributed to Saroyan. For example, Saroyan wrote, “… Whose prayers are no longer uttered” and not “no longer answered.” There is a difference.

While the gist of the remaining words is about the living-Armenian spirit, I share it today as a reminder to be careful of what is attributed to a person, especially when it comes to matters of Christianity. Just because someone says Jesus said something, that doesn’t make it so. Saroyan passed away in 1981. Imagine in the short time since his death how words are taken from the English language and changed in the English language. Consider, Jesus words were spoken in Aramaic, translated to the Greek, Hebrew, Armenian, and into English some 1300 years after Jesus.

For your consideration, not all that glitters is gold, and not all words attributed to Jesus are his. Read, ask, question and feel.

We pray, Lord, I hear with my ears, I read with my eyes and even my hands, but help me to receive with my heart, the message of Love and Peace that comes from You. Amen.

Read more from the Saroyan House Museum: https://saroyanhouse.com/single/news/39

Alabaster Box with the Umbilical Cord

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Armodoxy for Today: Alabaster Box

Now that the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother of God, Asdvadzadzin, has passed I share with you this fascinating story that connects all Christians who are baptized and confirmed in the Armenian Church.

When the Asdvadzadzin passed away, all of the Apostles except for the Apostle Bartholomew were in Jerusalem and attended her funeral service. When Bartholomew returned to Jerusalem and was informed of Mother Mary’s passing, he requested to see the Blessed remains one last time. When they opened her tomb to honor Bartholomew’s request, her body was not there. She was assumed into Heaven by her Son. Hence the word “Assumption” is used to describe Asdvadzadzin’s entrance into Heaven. It differs from the Resurrection, which was a singular event, where in Jesus, on His own power, resurrected. In the case of St. Mary, she was assumed into Heaven.

There is a short apocryphal story which follows. During Jesus’ infancy, scripture tells us many events took place and “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) When Jesus’ umbilical cord fell off, Mary placed it in an alabaster box and kept it with her through the years. When Bartholomew came to pay his respects to Holy Mother’s life, he was given the box, which he kept close to his heart.

In the fourth decade A.D., Bartholomew came to Armenia to preach the Gospel. He was martyred in Armenia for his faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ. Before he was executed, he was able pass along the small alabaster box to the members of the underground Church in Armenia. The box and its content, the umbilical cord of our Lord, were secretly kept by the Church until the Conversion of Armenia in the year 301 A.D. by St. Gregory the Illuminator. At that time the box was turned over to Gregory who had ascended to the Apostolic Throne as chief bishop. Gregory consecrated the first batch of Holy Miuron at that time and added the remains of the umbilical cord to the first miuron. This Holy Chrism, which is used for consecration of the faithful, priests, bishops and holy sites, is renewed every seven years. In each new batch, the previous batch is added, meaning there are molecules in the Holy Miuron from the time of Jesus Christ!

This is year there will be a blessing of the Holy Miuron. In the coming episodes we will share the mystery of the Holy Miuron with our listeners.

We pray today, Mary’s Song, referred to as the Magnificat, in Armenian, Medzastzudzeh.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. Amen.