Tag Archive for: angel

One Less Listener

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Armodoxy for Today: One Less Listener

The news came unexpectedly. No matter how much you prepare or how prepared you may be, the news of young death comes with an element of shock. So it was yesterday when we learned of our dear friend Chris’ death.

A week ago, to the day, we visited her in her hospital bed. The cancer diagnosis which she got a year earlier had now become the death sentence we all feared, but never wanted to admit. In the face of something as horrid as cancer, our defense mechanisms come into play. We refer to cancer in a variety of monikers, such as “The C word,” or “That Dreaded Disease,” to avoid using the word. But who are we fooling? Cancer is without conscience. Cancer doesn’t care whether you acknowledge it or not.  We find convenient places to hide, especially when the stakes are so great, primarily because we don’t want to give up hope.

In the hospital room, we prayed. We read Jesus’ words from the Gospel of John, and ended with His proclamation, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (9:5) We spoke and I administered the Holy Sacrament. Before leaving the room, I anointed her forehead and kissed it. I knew there was a power in that room – a power that would heal this beautiful lady.

Chris was a friend to so many. Never a cross word spoken, always with soft compliments in her mouth she would reflect her inner beauty. She was a cake decorator and executed her craft with elegance that captured her love for life. In our family we were fortunate to have sampled several of her creations on special occasions. She was a devout Christian, never boastful, never wearing it on her sleeve, but I know several people she helped without any expectation. Her assistance was based on the commandment her Lord had instilled in her heart. She believed in the mantra of walking in the shoes of others, she felt their pain, and became part of their lives, and a part of our ministry.

After we prayed in the hospital, we spoke briefly. I was sure I would see her out of the hospital, but I know even the best of plans are constrained by physical limits. In my forty plus years of ministry, I have seldom seen the type of genuine faith and trust in Christ that Chris displayed through her lifetime and especially that day, opposite her death sentence.

On this week following the feast of the Holy Angels, and in line with the critique that I gave yesterday, I will keep it real and not mention that heaven has a new angel, rather I will thank God for the angel that visited us here in her lifetime to share with us the message of love, life, hope and complete unconditional trust in God. We are one less listener of Armodoxy for Today. May God rest her soul.

We pray the requiem prayer of the Armenian Church, Christ our God, forbearing and compassionate, in Your love as our Creator, have mercy upon the souls of all Your creatures, especially on Your newly departed servant, Christine. Grant rest and mercy to her soul; and to us, sinners, grant forgiveness of our transgressions. Amen.

Stone Angels

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Roots of Armodoxy: Stone Angels

Messages come in different forms and in different formats. The text gets wrapped in SMS code, a letter in an envelope, lessons by books or lectures, and words from God are communicated by angels.

A quick scan of the Armenian landscape reveals messages in stone, known as khatchkars. The word literally means “cross-stones.” Some of these khatchkars represent the work of a lifetime. Monks of the past, would dedicate their life to preparing and presenting a khatchkar in intricate detail.  They are beautifully and delicately carved out of stone. The hard rock is unforgiving, leaving no room for mistake.

At the St. Leon Ghevondyants Armenian Cathedral in Burbank, khatchkars decorate the walkways and outer walls. I have watched the master carver work on these khatchkars and have wondered if they carve the image into the stone? Or is it possible that the stone already contains this spiritual gem inside, and the craft of the artist is to unveil it?

The khatchkars in Armenia are found surrounding monasteries and churches. Most are several hundred years old and some are from the early centuries of the Christian Church in Armenia. Most of the older ones tell a story and there is an art to reading the stones. From the top of the khatchkars we might see a glimpse of heaven in the decoration, followed by a large cross, connecting the bottom quarter of the stone with images earth. Hence, the stone reads as a message of human existence. The cross – the centerpiece of the khatchkar – is the bridge between heaven and earth.

Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily.” – Luke 9:23

The cross is the bridge between heaven and earth. It is the symbol of suffering and ultimate love. The centerpiece of the khatchkar is the eternal symbol of love, the cross and it unites heaven and earth.

The inanimate stone has spoken. To the early Christian community, these khatchkars were like books with encoded messages which were easily deciphered by the people. In as much as the khatchkars provided this means of message transfer, they are the stone angels of Armodoxy. The question, then, is, do and can stone fly? Angels are messengers. Angels have no physical form. They are spiritual beings, communicating love, hope and faith, from God to people. These stone-angels transmit the divine message to the world. And so, yes, these stone can and do fly!

Often, like the khatchkar, the messages are all around us, waiting to be discovered. Take time to listen, to read the writing, and see the glory of goodness that is communicating something very beautiful and unique to a hurting world. It is a call to sacrifice and to love.

From St. Nersess Shnorhali’s 14th hour we pray, Upholder of all creatures, protect by the sign of your cross, my soul and body, from the allure of sin, from the temptation of evil, from unjust people, and from all dangers physical and spiritual. Amen.

Suspended Angel

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It was 20 years ago: Untold stories from the Youth Ministry Center
Today’s Inspiration: Suspended Angel
Barouyr* was a troubled kid. He was a 10th grader at Hoover High School when I met him outside the Youth Ministry Center. It was during the day, and he was pacing the sidewalk outside our church. He had been suspended from school. The school would dispense punishment according to the misbehavior of a student in a manner that escaped by understanding. Minor offenses led to detention – an after-school time spent in a supervised room with others. Enough detentions led to suspension – a period of time-off from the school. Finally, too many suspensions led to expulsion from the school.
There was Barouyr outside the church, looking around as if lost, but once you spoke with him you realized he was very aware of his surroundings. I greeted him and found a very respectful young man. We talked and he gave me excuses for being suspended, blaming teachers and administrators and their degree of “incompetence.” He was a young “tough guy.” He was from the streets and let me know he wasn’t afraid of anyone, but God.
At the time, I could not understand how suspending a student from classes could possibly be helpful for the child. Of course, it was easy to understand how it benefitted the teaching staff maintain a calm atmosphere in the classroom. At some point the discipline problem becomes overwhelming and there aren’t enough staff members to handle all the trouble-giving youth.
We went into the church. We talked. He opened up. His father was an alcoholic who abused his mother. They lived in a two-bedroom apartment. He and his older sister shared a room. He told me he didn’t want to be in school, but that rejection was merely a cover up, the tough-guy persona coming through. He was a bright guy who knew he wanted more.
The Soviet Union had disassembled a little over 10 years before we opened. The atheistic state had been prevalent for over seven decades. Domestic violence and alcoholism often accompanied one another as a result of life in the Soviet Union.
Barouyr became one of the regulars at the Youth Ministry. He grew up under the shadow of the church. On Sunday’s he served at the holy altar and during the week he was a regular fixture. I can’t tell you what it was that tied him there, suffice it to say he was one of the miracles of the ministry. In turn he inspired others to come to the church. Barouyr was no angel to the school authorities, but for the kids he turned-onto the church and this unique ministry, they could not have wished for a more caring guide from heaven. He retained his tough-guy exterior. He continued to get in trouble, but he was loved by everyone at the Center.
He ended up graduating and went to on to become a teacher himself. He still keeps in touch.
As a result of Barouyr, we found a new place within the community. The Center was seen as place that could pick up the pieces that were floating around. We put in a formal request with the school administrators to count us as an alternative to detention. We quickly became a go-to-point for students after school. The three schools across the way, Keppel Elementary, Toll Middle and Hoover High, ended their classes around 3PM and they walked over. Parents understood this to be a safe zone, where their children could “hang” until pick-up time. It was important for me that there was an understanding by everyone who came through its doors that the building was a Church.
I did not understand how suspending this student from classes could possibly help him. Now I understand that had he not been suspended our paths may not have crossed, or if they did, we may not have had the introduction we did. Like so many things that happened at the Youth Ministry Center, they just did. They weren’t planned. This was new and charted territory for the Armenian Church and we were following the flow, trusting the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That trust, from the Church, was perhaps the biggest miracle.
Tomorrow we continue with more untold stories and miracles from 20 years ago today. I invite you to join us. If you missed earlier episodes, you can hear them on your favorite podcatcher or at Epostle.net under the “Armodoxy for Today” tab. Remember to leave a comment and/or write us at feedback@epostle.net.

*Fictitious name to keep him anonymous.