Ararat virtualmente para siempre

Armodoxia para hoy: El sello Ararat

El término “virtual” ha adquirido un nuevo significado en las últimas décadas con la popularidad de internet. Se utiliza para describir algo que no existe físicamente, pero que es creado por software para parecer como si existiera. Eso describe la forma en que la mayoría de los armenios entienden al monte Ararat.

The mountain range is easily visible from the moment one arrives in Armenia at the Zvartnots Airport and shows itself especially nicely from the capital city of Yerevan. And if by chance the air is foggy or misty, and a cloud covering hides the mountain, Ararat is seen on logos of coffee shops, souvenirs and just about any type of clothing accessory one can imagine. Most homes have a picture of the twin-peaked mountain hanging somewhere in the house, even if they can see it from their window.

Ararat is the theme of songs, and poems. Even during the Soviet years (1920-1991) when nationalism was played down or discouraged with harsh punishment, Ararat was the theme of poem and prose. Armenia’s beloved poet, Yeghishé Charents wrote words that are recited and sung: “Travel the world and there is no white capped peak as beautiful as Ararat … it is the road to glory…

For Armenians, Mount Ararat is a national symbol. This feeling is strongly reinforced in the collective consciousness of the people that Armenians, me included, often forget that the mountain’s claim-to-fame on the international scene is thanks to a reference in the Book of Genesis chapter 8, as the resting place of Noah’s Ark.

A few years back, I was invited to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in Nashville, Tennessee. It is considered a “mission parish” meaning that there is no permanent priest to pastor the small flock. A dear friend picked us up from the airport and on our way to the services we drove past an exit sign on the freeway boldly marked, “Ararat Cemetery next right.” A big smile came on my face. The sign, and the cemetery it pointed to, were indicators that there were Armenians in Tennessee. Any congregation that was running a cemetery must be ready to have graduated from mission parish status, I thought. Of course, I was operating on the notion that Ararat implied Armenian.

Al acercarnos al cementerio, la señal decía: “Cementerio Bautista Ararat”. De hecho, estaba dirigido por la iglesia bautista local sin absolutamente ningún vínculo o matiz armenio. El nombre apuntaba a la montaña bíblica que es aceptada por toda la cristiandad.

Gran parte de lo que creemos, estamos condicionados a creerlo. He pasado toda mi vida asociando cosas etiquetadas como “Ararat” —desde el asilo de ancianos local, hasta el agua con gas, desde el restaurante hasta un tipo de pantuflas, pasando por el coñac— con la nación armenia. Si no hubiéramos dado un paso extra para observar más de cerca la señal, habría vivido con la ilusión de creer que Tennessee tenía un cementerio armenio. Los asuntos de fe son aún más importantes que descubrir qué hay debajo de una etiqueta. Ya sea un cementerio o un artículo de fe, tómate un momento para ir más allá de la etiqueta.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at the magic that comes with Mount Ararat.

Oramos desde el Libro de las Horas: “Rey celestial, mi alma está bajo Tu cuidado en todo momento y confío en Tu santa Cruz. Tengo a la multitud de santos como mis intercesores ante Ti. Tú eres paciente con todos, no desatiendas a quienes confían en Ti, sino protégelos con paz mediante Tu preciosa y Santa cruz. Amén.”