Try this shoe on for size

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Armodoxy for Today: Empathy

On the last evening of a visit to Armenia, I sat staring out the window of my room at sunset. The room was high enough to give me a panoramic view of Yerevan, under the majestic shadow of Mt. Ararat. During my trip, I had met with people doing work on the cutting edge of technology. I spent time with people who were challenging the norms and excelling for the betterment of themselves, their families and their country. There was real hope in the air.

I remember looking out the window and praying for peace. It was simple wish: If this small but potent country could only have peace, miracles could happen. The miracles we would see would not be from any outside source, rather, they would come from within, if only there was peace. It was possible, it had been nearly 30 years that this country, which had known centuries of oppression, massacres and even genocide, was now living in peace. I looked out at the Yerevan skyscape and knew we would see the best of miracles, if only there was peace.

A friend called me from Armenia this morning. At the end of our conversation he said, “If only we have peace, we can do anything, we can aspire to the best and be the best. If only we have peace.” It was as if my prayer from a few years ago was recorded and being played back to me in the voice of my friend. His prayer was more current, though, and had a more urgent tone to it.

It is difficult to understand the pain and suffering of others from a distance. One of the core tenants of Armodoxy is a call to walk in the shoes of others. It is the expression of empathy, that is, to fully understand the pain and suffering of others, we must walk in their shoes. And small exercises can help us place our feet in the correct place.

Those of us living in the United States might not fully understand the prayer for peace in Armenia, but we might begin by imagining a world where we were constantly being attacked by our neighbors in Mexico and Canada, to the point that we live with the uncertainty of maintaining our independence, day-in and day-out. Perhaps the example is not fair considering the size, power and geography of the US. Those of you in Europe, in Africa, or in the Middle East, where countries are so much closer and intertwined with one another, can consider a country such as Switzerland, if its landlocking neighbors, France, Italy, Austria and Germany had only one intention, to annihilate and destroy that relatively small country.

And if still difficult to imagine, sit in your own home, in your house or apartment and picture all of your neighbors – every one of them, next door and across the street – wanting only one thing: to overpower, overcome and rid you from the neighborhood.

Walking in the shoes of others is a call to empathy. It is understanding that the only real and true miracle that we must pray and work for is peace. Walking in the shoes of others gives us the capacity to understand and once in the shoes, we must walk towards resolution.

Appropriately, today we pray the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Cover Photo: Lunabelle Beylerian, 2023

Part of the Mission

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Armodoxy for Today: Part of the Mission

In the Gospel according to St. Luke Jesus states his mission clearly. He is here to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, liberate captives and the oppressed and recover sight to the blind. (4:17-8)

It is tempting to consider these groups in the category of the other – people outside of ourselves. We may think of the blind as those missing sight receptacles in their eye sockets, when in fact we know many who walk around with eyeballs and yet are blind to the beauty around them. We think of the captives as those who are imprisoned or held in slavery against their will, yet there are those who living in freedom are enslaved to their money and their possessions.  When we categorize the hurting and frail as the other, we deny ourselves the opportunity for self-evaluation and thereby self-improvement.

We are all in need of healing, we all long for true freedom, and we all search for complete love, understanding and belonging in life.  Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2)

Let us pray the prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali, “Lord, who wills that which is good, and are the director of the will, let me not follow the inclinations of my heart, but lead me to live always according to Your good will. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a sinner.“

A Cross where Hearts are Presumed to be

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Armodoxy for Today: Form is Function in the Case of Love

The word for the Divine Liturgy in Armenian is Pataraq which literally means sacrifice. The Holy Cross, along with its witness as victory of good over evil, death over life and love over hatred, is the ideal symbol of sacrifice.

Over the past several days shared the story of the Apparition of the Holy Cross by looking at the Cross as a messenger witnessing the essence of Christianity to us.

On the Day of Resurrection two of Jesus’ disciples meet Jesus yet do not recognize him. In this story, relayed to us by St. Luke, in the 24th chapter of his Gospel, the disciples spend the entire day with Jesus without a clue to who he is. It is only in the evening, when they sit to eat that Jesus breaks the bread. It is only at that point, scripture tells us, that “their eyes were opened and they knew him.”

Now review the story of the Apparition of the Holy Cross. St. Cyril tells us that the Cross was visible throughout the city, that the populace ran to the church in praise of God. In the Holy Communion, we find that Sacrifice shining as great as the Cross. During the Pataraq the priest presents the Holy Communion to the congregation with the words, “This life, hope, resurrection, expiation and forgiveness of sins.”

Today we learn that the meaning of the Cross and the Holy Communion – specifically the Liturgy which prepares the Communion, the Holy Pataraq, is interchangeable with the Cross, and with Christ himself, ergo, the Holy Communion is, in fact, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. As we have taught in Armodoxy, the symbol of Love is Cross (vs. the Western tradition of using a heart as the love symbol.)  When the Holy Cross appears across the sky it is Love shining over the world. And that LOVE is the power that conquered death and is what shown in the sky that day in 351. That LOVE is the only thing that is brighter than the sun! Or in the words of the Evangelist St. John, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of humankind.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it…. The true Light gives light to every human being coming into the world.” (John 1)

We pray, O Christ, Light of the world, You shine where shadows cling, You rise where hearts have fallen, You kindle hope where fear has taken root. You are Light in our darkness, Love in our hands, Life in our midst— remain with us, now and always. Amen.

The Cross of Sacrifice

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Armodoxy for Today: The Cross of Sacrifice

The Cross is the main symbol of Christianity. We erect them atop holy shrines, churches, hospitals, and sacred spaces. We have tiny version of the cross around our neck, pinned to our lapel, and even decorate clothes. The Cross, a symbol of torture and death, was transformed by Christ, into a symbol of victory and life. Jesus conquered the Cross and the empty cross is a symbol of victory, and today we add, it is also a symbol of Sacrifice.

For the last few days, we’ve been diving into the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross and leading up to the glow, or what St. Cyril of Jerusalem described as brighter than the sun. With the theme of Sacrifice, we get closer to finding that brightness.

The central act of worship in the Armenian Church is in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. What other communities refer to as the Divine Liturgy, in Armenian is called Pataraq, literally meaning Sacrifice.

Sacrifice is how love is demonstrated. St. John the Evangelist tells us God is Love. (IJohn 4:8). God is demonstrated through Sacrifice. Take some time to think about this for a moment. Meditate on sacrifice. We have many human examples of sacrifice. Parents – a mother and/or father’s love is expressed through sacrifice of personal time and personal pleasure to tend to the needs of the growing child. Spouses express love to one another by sacrificing, especially through the act of forgiveness, which is a unique type of personal sacrifice. Think of those who put their life on the line for the sake of higher ideas, including community and country safety and welfare. Take some time to think of these examples of sacrifice and how they demonstrate love.

Continue your meditation on Sacrifice. God sacrificed his son as a gesture of His immense love for us. That is what is meant by the most sacred words, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son…” (John 3:16) In this meditation understand that Sacrifice is the verb. It’s in the giving – God gave his son. That action is love.

Now, understand that the word Sacrifice is a descriptor and the name for the Divine Liturgy. In the Armenian Church. It is the Pataraq and it is celebrated every Sunday. (Note: No lambs were slaughtered for this exhibition.)

Today we leave with a meditation from the Gospel of St. John. It is essential to understanding the Cross and the apparition of the Cross in this lesson. In this passage, Jesus defines Sacrifice with a simple metaphor, a metaphor which emphasizes an action: unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (John 12:24f)

The Transformed Cross

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Armodoxy for Today: The Transformed Cross

St. Cyril of Jerusalem witnessed to the Apparition of the Holy Cross, which lit the sky in the year 351 from the hill of Golgotha to the Mount of Olives. I shared that witness with you yesterday, which described the rays of light being brighter than the sun.

The cross was an instrument of torture and death. The act of crucifixion took place on a cross, where those who were sentenced to death would slowly die of asphyxiation and exhaustion over the course of several hours. The word “torture” finds its meaning in the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was whipped, beaten, physically abused, made to carry his cross up the hill to Golgotha where he was nailed to the cross and mocked as he died a slow death.

Christians celebrate the cross. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would celebrate an instrument of torture and death. Certainly not the rifle from a firing squad, nor an electric chair, gas pellets from the death chamber nor a hypodermic needle delivering deadly toxins to the central nervous system of a prisoner. No. It would be absurd to celebrate these instruments of torture, and certainly we would never hang a replica around our neck, nor adorn our houses and spires with them. However, when we Christian point to a cross with joy, wear it around our necks or lapels, or see it as an ornament, we’re doing exactly that – we are celebrating an instrument of torture, with one major difference! Jesus defeated the cross! He resurrected! He beat evil with good, overcame darkness with light and dismissed hatred with pure love. In other words he turned the Cross into a symbol of holiness and victory. It is there that we Christians find an expression of joy.

The Cross which appeared in the sky was brighter than the sun, of course. It could not be anything but brighter. The Cross symbolizes the ultimate victory of Life over death and Jesus is the one who demonstrated that. But I did promise a connection to a bright cross in our world and in our lives today. Tomorrow, we get closer to that reality as the Cross appears in our lives.

Today we pray, O Christ, Redeemer of the world, You took the wood of shame and made it the Tree of Life. Upon the beams meant for torment, You stretched mercy wide, and turned the nails of cruelty into the keys of salvation. May we lift our eyes to that holy sign, and remember that You have changed its meaning forever: from torture to triumph, from despair to deliverance, from death to the radiant victory of life. Amen.

When the Cross Appeared

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Armodoxy for Today: When the Cross Appeared

On the fifth Sunday of the Feast of Resurrection (28 days following Easter) the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross, remembering an event which took place in the fourth century (351) when a luminous cross appeared over Jerusalem, stretching from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem documents the event in a letter that has been kept by the Armenian Church and is read during the feast. He writes that during the Holy Easter Season, a large cross of light – “a vast luminous body” – appeared in the sky above Holy Golgotha and stretching to the Mount of Olives. It was revealed to everyone in the city of Jerusalem, unmistakably, he says, not just a few people. And very clearly, that is, it was not an optical illusion. It was visible for several hours. The light emitted, he insists, was brighter than the rays of the sun. Everyone in the city, ran to the holy church, with fear and joy at this vision from God. Christians, as well as foreigners sang hymns of praise to God’s Only Begotten Son.

St. Cyril says this event took place “On the nones of May.” The nones is the nineth day before the ides by inclusive reckoning, or in this case, the 7th day of May, placing it on the Feast of Pentecost of that year. The Apparition of the Holy Cross is one of four feasts dedicated to the Cross that the Armenian Church celebrates. The three others are the Elevation of the Cross, the Discovery of the Holy Cross and the Cross of Varak, which are all celebrated as Summer moves to Autumn.

I leave you with this historic account of a phenomenon, miracle, or demonstration, which ever you wish to call it, as the background to the excitement of discovering that the luminous Cross is still shining. Yes. Our receptors have weakened, even to the rays brighter than the sun, but it is necessary to take this break before I continue tomorrow so you will  not be overwhelmed by the incredible opportunity to view the Apparition of the Holy Cross now, seventeen centuries later. Yes! As we continue tomorrow with our next Armodoxy for Today.

We pray today, O Christ, whose glory once stretched across the sky, stretch now Your mercy across our souls, that we may reflect Your light in every word and deed. Amen.

Easter Dates: Arranging Deck Chairs

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Armodoxy for Today: The Deck Chairs

The date of Easter is calculated as being on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. March 21 is the date of the equinox, giving you an idea of the range in which Easter can fall. The calculation formula for the Eastern Orthodox Easter date includes the Jewish Passover feast date. The Armenian Church chose to see the Resurrection – the Easter feast – as something separate from the old covenant and opted for the Western date.

Every four or five years, the dates coincide, and the world celebrates Easter on the same date. On the other years, Easter is either one, three or five weeks apart.

There are those who contend that there should be a unity in celebrating Easter in the Christian world. There are others who argue the validity of one date over the other.

Armodoxy looks at the message of Easter – the power to Resurrection over Crucifixion – as the defining force of Easter. For Christians, every day must be celebrated as Easter as a Resurrection. Christos Anesti, Christos haryav, Christ has risen, is the greeting that is valid every day of our life as a Christian.

There is an expression that is worth remembering: “Arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” When the Titanic was sinking, it was futile to arrange the deck chairs. With wars, genocide, intolerance, hatred hitting us from all sides, it’s important to keep the message of the day in focus and prioritized.

We pray, Lord, you conquered death through Your Resurrection. Evil lost its hold and was destroyed in the presence of Good. Keep your Resurrection ever before my eyes as the power that overcomes hopelessness and is the generation of Life. Keep me focused on the Empty Tomb that is found every day that I choose to live, hope, and love. Amen.

Want More? Try this week’s Next Step “War Protest: Opportunity Eclipsed” 

One more temptation

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Armodoxy for Today: A Tempting Offer

Of the thousands of books written about Jesus, I often opt to read works that challenge me to view things from a different, perhaps new, perspective. One such book is a work of fiction by Nicholas Kazantzakis, called The Last Temptation of Christ. It was written in 1955, stirring up controversy and then in 1988 it was produced into a film stirring up objections from conservative and orthodox Christians.*

The story by Kazantzakis is well researched and thought out. He lays out the plot as follows: The crucified Messiah is given His “last temptation” on the cross. He is given the opportunity to see life beyond the cross, to know the joys of a family life, share memories with friends and live to a ripe old age. He is given the opportunity to have the same dreams as do all men and to be as all men. Yet he resists temptation. He says “no” to all the trappings of this world and opts to do His Father’s Will instead.

The gift of free-will, that is, to choose to do otherwise, is one of the greatest gifts given to us by God. In this novel, we are given a “what-if” scenario, and an opportunity to work-through the natural temptation to live without suffering, and to die a peaceful death. It gives us an opportunity to view the story from yet another perspective.

Jesus chose the Cross. In that choice we find how tightly Love and the Cross are tied together.

Today’s prayer is from the Gospel of John, chapter 12, the words of Jesus, which say, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Manageable Balance

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Armodoxy for Today: Heaviness Explored

On Holy Friday, you meditated on the cross, that is, suffering for a greater purpose. You looked at the crosses in your life along side the Cross of Christ. You heard Christ’s challenging invitation,  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

The Cross on Friday is quite different from the Cross on Sunday. For one thing, there is no body on the cross. He who was Crucified has come out victorious over the Cross. For another, the Cross has proven not to be an end in itself, but rather, a path to the greater good, and the Victory.

The invite we have received from Jesus has always been after the Resurrection. The only Cross we have known is the conquered Cross. Feel the weight of the crosses in your life today. If they feel lighter and manageable, you have found the balance of Armodoxy.

O Christ, protect and guard me under the shadow of your Holy Cross in peace. Deliver me from enemies visible and invisible. I will glorify you along with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian, 2023

It’s right here

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Armodoxy for Today: Negate the Negative

Immediately after the Resurrection of Christ, Scripture tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples “Over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 1)

The Kingdom of God is often thought of as something or some place that is accessible only after we pass from this life. Jesus refers to the Kingdom as something accessible in the here and now. “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” was a message John the Baptist heralded even before Christ’s baptism. It was enacted by Christ and the active Church today.

Access to the Kingdom is available for everyone. The condition is to live a life of love demonstrated by action. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom predicated on our actions of readiness and good deeds. Standards of goodness have no limits for Jesus, as is demonstrated in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10). Even more, non-action is grounds for expulsion from the Kingdom.

We read: Then the King will say to those on His left…, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed… for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’  Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ … He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

The world we live in is real. The problems that plague it are under our control. We are the agents of Christ. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, happens with our involvement. You can’t close yourself off from the suffering in the world.

We pray, St. Nersess Shnorhali’s 9th hour of prayer, All-provident Lord, place a guard before my eyes, so that I may not look lustfully, before my ears, not to delight in hearing evil discourses, before my mouth, not to speak falsehood,  before my heart, not to think of wickedness, before my hands, not to commit injustice, before my feet, not to walk on the paths of righteousness;  rather, guide my motives, that they may be according to all your commandments. Amen.

Cover: Once you see it, it’s impossible to not see it. (Quite literally too!)