Halloween/Saints Day – “Key” Message
Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 30 October 2011
All Saints Day is celebrated in all ancient Christian traditions, including the Armenian Church. In Western traditions it is on a fixed date, November 1, and therefore the night before, October 31, is All Saints Eve, translated to “all hallow’s eve” and say it fast enough, it comes out as “Halloween.”
Today the celebration of Halloween is mixed with all kinds of traditions of fun, tricks or treats, candy, tooth decay, pumpkins turned jack-o-lanterns, scary costumes, movies and parties. It’s a time of celebration. It’s a time to put aside inhibitions and try the absurd. And why not?
Think of the saints. Their lives were exemplary. Why? Because they shared Christ’s victory. Our Lord says, “Courage, the victory is mine! I have overcome the world!” (John 16) The saints lived a life of courage. The path they took – choosing death over life at times – seemed absurd by human stan-dards, but in the end, that courage and willingness to spread the Love of God is what allowed them to participate in victory – the Victory of the Resurrection, the Victory of Christ.
Halloween is nothing to be ashamed of nor is it to be feared. Like anything else, once we educated ourselves we can better understand and participate in this celebration.
Use this opportunity – to celebrate the saints, to study the lives of the saints, to participate in the courage and the victory that comes with a life in Christ Jesus. Happy Hallows’ Eve/ Happy All Saints Day!
~ Fr. Vazken
This message is elaborated at www.youtube.com/armodoxy
*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16) At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…
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