The first Wednesday of Lent in the Eastern Tradition is known as Sad or Sorrowful Wednesday. In the Western Tradition it is known as Ash Wednesday. There is no special designation to the first Wednesday of Lent in the Armenian Church tradition.
Each community of believers have unique sets of traditions and activities that help them focus on the essentials of their Faith. When entering an Armenian church, it is hard not to notice the candles that are lit by the faithful in different niches provided throughout the building. The candle, in itself, is a pointer to something greater. We call these symbols. They point to something that is unexplainable.
God said, “Let there be Light” on the first day of Creation according to the Genesis story. How do you understand light when according to the same story, the Sun and stars were not created until a few days later? Jesus says, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) In lighting a candle at church, we are invited to meditate and contemplate these ideas. The candle reminds us that as long as there is light at its tip, there is no darkness. So too, Christ brings Light – the eternal Light – to the darkest places in life.
Ashes are there as a pointer to one of the basic theme of Lent, namely, that this life is much more than the physical. As God tells Adam, “for dust you are and to dust you shall return,” the ashes remind us that our origin as humanity is from the earth and the inevitability of death.
Symbols are used by various traditions to help us focus on thoughts and concepts that are bigger than us.
Our prayer today is a simple one from Psalms, Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. (141:2)
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Weather-vane-that-points.jpg405375Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-02-19 00:01:562026-02-18 14:05:39Símbolos que señalan
In the post-Resurrection encounter between Jesus and his apostle Thomas, tactile affirmation is presented as the necessary proof for after-death existence. Thomas refuses to believe Jesus has resurrected, unless he can touch and feel his wounds. Following their encounter Jesus says, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This, then, becomes the challenge for all Christians from time zero to today: believing without seeing. A difficult task for anyone, especially us in a world that is defined by our interaction with it, through our senses.
For this reason alone, symbols are important. Symbols help us understand things and concepts that are difficult to explain. For instance, a flag symbolizes a country and can stir deep rooted feelings of patriotism. The main symbol of Christianity is the cross. Two planks, placed perpendicular to one another, joined together and the horizontal plank dissected in its center constituting a left and right arm. Two planks of wood can be cut, whittled, and used as kindling in a fire, or to build a staircase, but create them in the shape of a cross, they now have a deeper meaning.
The many stories about the Holy Cross of Jesus involve people interacting – tactile interaction – with either the Cross or pieces of it – finding them, gathering them, decorating them, and, even, fighting for them. People take on great personal challenges and difficulties to find and preserve those fragments. In return, they discover a Power that goes beyond understanding. They find protection and a haven in the shadow of the Cross,
The stories we tell are meant to serve as the witness to the Power that emanates from the saving Cross. Challenge yourself to tap into that power.
We continue tomorrow.
Cover: 2019 “Custodian for an Hour” – Artsakh
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/artsakh-cross.jpeg17622448Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2025-09-17 00:01:292025-09-16 14:23:32Objetos tangibles de fe
Walk into an Armenian Church and you’re sure to be overwhelmed all the symbols. God is a mystery. Jesus Christ gives us a glimpse into that mystery with his life and teaching. We can all agree that if God could be explained with words, He no longer is God, that is, by virtue of definition, God is greater than and beyond our thoughts and words.
The greatest symbol within the Armenian Church is that of the Cross. It is an instrument of torture and death, yet we exalt it. We bless people and objects by the “sign of the Cross.” We wear crosses ornamentally, on necklaces, rings, earrings, tattoos, and embossed on clothing. If you were to imagine someone wearing today’s devise of torture and murder, such as a hypodermic needle for the lethal injections, or an electric chair, we would then understand St. Paul’s words, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…´(I Corinthians 1:18) Yes, it would truly be humorous, it would be foolishness to praise a gas chamber.
And here is where the switch comes. Through the salvific act of Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus transformed the instrument of torture and death, the Cross, into a symbol of victory.
“In the world you will have tribulation;” says Jesus. Yes, you will have difficulties, suffering and yes, crosses to overcome. “But be of good cheer,” Jesus continues, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Indeed, the victory over the Cross transformed the symbol into one of triumph.
We pray today, a prayer from 8th century by Sahak Tzoroportsi, “May your Cross be our refuge with its blazing brilliance. That which is named the tree of life destroyed the enemy and dissolved our death sentence, for the salvation of the universe. Amen.”
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Artsakh-Cross-779-e1757391276822.jpg1060902Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2025-09-09 00:01:442025-09-09 16:17:23Cambio de cruz
Como seres humanos, buscamos un significado. Junto con la supervivencia y la reproducción, el animal humano tiene la necesidad de encontrar un sentido a la vida. La religión ayuda a facilitar esa búsqueda. En ella, tarde o temprano, llegamos a un punto en el que nuestras facultades no pueden comprender la inmensidad de la vida con todas sus complejidades.
En el Libro del Eclesiástico o Sirácida, el autor comienza con un prefacio a su búsqueda (1:1-8):
Toda sabiduría proviene del Señor y con él permanece para siempre. La arena del mar, las gotas de lluvia y los días de la eternidad, ¿quién puede contarlos? La altura del cielo, la anchura de la tierra, el abismo y la sabiduría, ¿quién puede escudriñarlos? La sabiduría fue creada antes que todas las cosas, y el entendimiento prudente desde la eternidad. La raíz de la sabiduría, ¿a quién le ha sido revelada? Sus sutilezas, ¿quién las conoce? Solo hay uno que es sabio, digno de gran temor, sentado en su trono: el Señor.
Después de 43 capítulos de intensas descripciones de las maravillas del Señor, de los cielos y de la tierra, llega a una conclusión muy sencilla:
Podríamos decir más, pero nunca sería suficiente; que la palabra final sea: 'Él es el todo'. ¿Dónde podemos encontrar la fuerza para alabarlo? Porque él es mayor que todas sus obras. (43:27-28)
Los símbolos nos ayudan a entender aquello que no puede expresarse con palabras. Los símbolos pueden presentarse ante nosotros de diversas maneras. Su significado es atribuido por la persona que se enfrenta a ellos.
Los hilos rojos, blancos y azules son simplemente fibras teñidas. Cosidos juntos en rayas y estrellas, adquieren un nuevo significado. Son el símbolo de un país y de todo lo que representa. Antes de que los hilos se cosan, pueden cortarse, rasgarse, destruirse o tirarse a la basura. Pero una vez que se unen para formar una bandera, esas fibras teñidas representan algo inmenso y grandioso. Destruir o profanar la bandera es una expresión de falta de respeto. El significado de un símbolo también cambia con los tiempos y las circunstancias de las personas. En los días posteriores al 11 de septiembre de 2001, la bandera que ondeaba sobre los escombros de las Torres Gemelas llegó a representar la unidad y la determinación de una nación contra el mal. El telón de fondo de las torres y la experiencia colectiva de los ciudadanos dieron un significado aún mayor a la bandera.
El símbolo principal del cristianismo es la cruz. Dos tablones, colocados perpendicularmente uno al otro, unidos, con una parte superior corta, un área inferior más larga y el tablón horizontal diseccionado en su centro, formando un brazo izquierdo y uno derecho. Dos tablones de madera pueden cortarse, tallarse y usarse como leña para el fuego, pero si los creas con la forma de una cruz, ahora tienen un significado más profundo.
Este domingo, la Iglesia Armenia celebra la quinta y última fiesta del año: la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz. Después de la crucifixión y resurrección de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, la cruz se convirtió en un objeto de veneración.
La historia de la Exaltación se encuentra en todas las tradiciones cristianas principales. La Iglesia Armenia celebra cuatro fiestas diferentes asociadas con la Santa Cruz de Jesús, siendo la principal la Exaltación (o elevación) de la Santa Cruz de este domingo. Las otras son el Descubrimiento (o hallazgo) de la Cruz, la Aparición de la Cruz y la Santa Cruz de Varak. Esta última, la Cruz de Varak, es exclusiva de la Iglesia Armenia y se celebra dos semanas después de la Exaltación.
La Cruz es un símbolo. Significa más que los dos tablones de madera que la componen. Es un símbolo de victoria sobre la derrota, de vida sobre la muerte y del poder del amor para vencer al odio. Es el símbolo del cristianismo porque en Jesucristo vemos y entendemos lo mismo, es decir, la victoria sobre la derrota, la vida sobre la muerte y el poder del amor para vencer al odio.
Oremos: Oh Cristo, protector del pueblo, protégeme y ampárame bajo la sombra de tu santa y preciosa Cruz en paz. Líbrame de los enemigos visibles e invisibles para que siempre pueda glorificarte junto al Padre y al Espíritu Santo. Amén.
