Tag Archive for: Church

Christianity Greater than One

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Armodoxy for Today: Greater than One

On the fortieth day following Easter, Scripture tells us, that Jesus ascended to heaven. On that day, he commissioned the Disciples to Go and make disciples of all nations. In sending them, the Disciples become Apostles. The title describes one who is sent. But these disciples lacked the tools to do the work.

Ten days later, on the fiftieth day after Easter, Scripture continues the Christian story with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the reception of the graces of the Holy Spirit, providing the necessary tools to do the work . The day, which is called Pentecost, to denote the 50th day, in Armenian Church tradition is called Hokegasust, which literally means, the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Both the Ascension and Pentecost point to the importance of Church – the Community – for Christ, in delivering the message. Though it’s romantical to speak of having a faith in Jesus, in reality, there is no such thing as one Christian. A Christian finds expression and meaning in community. This is the Church.

The Church is built on the foundation of a proclamation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus says, it is this foundation that “is on rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”  (Matthew 16)

This week we will be looking at that Church through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy. This will be a novel look including a forgotten palm-Sunday, what happens when Jesus time has come, love and hate of self and a special parable about light and the lantern.  A very special week, from Ascension to another Palm Sunday to the Pentecost.

Today, we pray, Lord Jesus, You are not a solitary light, but the flame that kindles many. You dwell not in one heart alone, but in the communion of all who love You and exercise that LOVE. In every tongue that prays, in every hand that serves, in every heart that forgives, You are made visible. Teach us to see Your face in the faces of those we do not yet understand. Let our differences become the colors of one living tapestry — woven by Your Spirit, held together by Your grace. May Your Church, in all its forms and voices, be the place where heaven touches earth, where the Word becomes flesh again in the fellowship of Your people. For in community, You are manifest; in love, You are revealed; in unity, You are glorified. Amen.

Transitioning to Church

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Armodoxy for Today: Transitioning to Church

During the weeks that follow the Feast of the Resurrection, that is, in the post-Easter season, the Scriptural readings point us to the Book of Acts. This book of the Bible, has as its official name a descriptor title. It is the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Herein is detailed the founding and formative steps of the early Christian communities, the first-century Church.

The Acts of the Apostles is written by Luke, the same author of the third Gospel. The first paragraph of the Book of Acts is the preface to this second-volume of Christianity, where the first volume chronicled Jesus’ ministry to the Resurrection, and now in this second volume, Luke presents the Church in the post-Resurrection era.

Luke starts the Book of Acts writing, The former account I made… of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  until the day in which, He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The reference to the 40 day period is the time between Resurrection and Jesus’ Ascension. At the Ascencion, Jesus instructs his disciple, his students, to “Go” into the world and Baptize all nations, and teach what he taught them. With that direction, the disciples became the Apostles. In Armenian, the word is Arakyal, from the verb Arakel, meaning one who is sent.

In the next few days we take an introductory look at the story leading up to the Ascension, to understand the importance the Jesus put on his Holy Church, as the vehicle by which his work and mission would continue.

Today we pray a prayer for understanding in preparation for the days ahead. “Heavenly Father, open my mind and my heart to your word. Allow me to put away my prejudices so I may come to know you in the spirit of the Disciples who greeted the Risen Lord. Amen.”

Don’t Step on the Brake

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Armodoxy for Today: Don’t Step on the Brake

Reading the Bible is important. You expect a statement such as this coming from a priest of the Church and, of course, from ministers of denominations that are Bible based and advocate for individual interpretation of the Bible.

It never ceases to amaze me how people would never, in a million years, consider having their car brakes repaired by someone who read a book about brakes, or watched a YouTube video explaining brake repair. You’d be a fool to trust your car’s braking system and your family’s safety to someone with that kind of “knowlege.” Or even worse, you can’t imagine someone suffering from heart disease or cancer, trusting their medical care to someone who read an article about staying healthy in AARP magazine. Yes, it would be akin to a person sitting in the pilot seat of a jet liner, because he or she grew up on Superman comic books. Yet, when it comes to spiritual care, the wellness of your immortal soul… many people are not only fine but will argue for the thoughts of someone who’s knowledge comes from an evening spent lost in TikTok and Instagram videos, or perhaps a casual read of a book, even if that book may be the Bible.

The Bible is the product of the Church. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, it was the one, universal, apostolic and holy Church that put together the different books that constitute the Bible. Think of the Church as the editor – the one who goes through the material and decides what stays in and what is left out. Each of the Evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the original editors of the life of Christ. In fact, St. John final words to his gospel are, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (21:25)

The Bible comes alive in the environment that produced it. The Church, the Body gifted to us by Jesus Christ, shares with us words of scripture and interprets their direction.

We pray, Lord, You who speak in silence and whisper truth beneath all noise — teach me to listen with my heart. So often my eyes rush to judge, to grasp at appearances, to cling to what is seen rather than what is true. Quiet that impulse in me. Open the inner ear of my soul. Let me hear Your voice in the spaces between words, in the intentions beneath actions, in the gentle movements of grace that the eyes cannot perceive. Amen.

 

Punctuation Marks that Mark

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Armodoxy for Today: Punctuation

One of the ways that knowledge is passed along from teacher to students, from generation to generation is through by the written word. The Bible evolved from an oral tradition to the written word, to the printed collection we carry today. It was written in Greek, Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic. The printing press was not invented until the 15th century. Up until then, it was transferred to new audiences by scribes who painstakingly copied words from one manuscript onto new parchment and arduously inspected the words, to avoid mistakes, and those words became the stories of the Faith.

Interestingly enough many of the texts, especially the Greek text in the New Testament were written in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS with no spaces and probably no punctuation.

Punctuation is necessary to give meaning to the words strung in a sentence. Take, for instance, the sentence, “Women without her man is nothing.” Now hold off, before you decide to stop following this post, I want you to realize that the sentence is void of punctuation. Again: Women without her man is nothing. Now, let’s add some punctuation: Woman, without her, man is nothing. The same words, with added punctuation, reveal a sentence that expresses a thought quite the opposite of the original one.

Imagine now, the tremendous task that was before the Church in deciphering the sentences and the sentence structures. When Jesus turns to the thief on with me the cross and says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” there is a certainly that life continues after death immediately. But if a comma were to move over by one word “Truly I tell you today, you will be in paradise” the immediacy of the moment is lost opening up speculation about the next step after death.

Fortunately, the Church was there from the beginning and knew the meaning of the words before they were written in a sentence.

Punctuation – a dot, a line, a squiggle – is more than a pause or an accent. It’s a way of passing along a message.

We pray today, “Lord, open my heart to your word. I hear with my ears and read with my eyes, but it is my heart that I commit to you. Amen.”

Catechumen: Church Bible Order

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Armodoxy for Today: Bible Origins

We are in a four-day period on the Armenian Church calendar called the Fast of the Catechumens. This fast is unique to the Armenian Church. To follow on our lesson from yesterday, regarding the lack of specific scriptural readings for these four days, today we will look at the structure and make-up of the Bible.

On Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, (Acts 2:1ff) the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the Church was born. The Apostles were the first Christian community, the first Christian Church.  They had no “Bible.” The Gospel or the “Good News” which they preached was that Christ had risen – resurrected! This was an earth-shaking experience in the lives of the Apostles, and their mission was to spread the Good News—Christ had risen, giving an opportunity for all humankind to share in this new life.  This was the first Gospel and it was transmitted orally.

The first Christians felt that Christ’s return would be imminent. In fact, throughout the first century, they were living with the expectation that the Second Coming of Christ was right around the corner. They lived their lives accordingly.  (See I Thessalonians 4:13-18.)

The Apostles spread the Gospel to various parts of the world. New Christian communities sprouted. As time went on, problems arose in the communities – daily problems – which were complicated by their expectation of an imminent end. The communities were faced with questions such as, “Should we obey the local authorities if Christ is due back any day?” Or “Is it proper for us to marry, if Christ will be returning soon?” Or, “What will happen to all those who die before Christ returns?”

To address these problems, the Apostles, now scattered throughout the known world, wrote responses to the communities, giving specific instructions on how to conduct their lives until Christ returned. Among the most popular letters were those of the apostle Paul. The books in the New Testament which follow the Gospels are the letters St Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, Corinth, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and so on. The first of these letters (I Thessalonians) was written in the 40’s.

The Church existed without a bible. The Church had its worship services, which included partaking of the Holy Eucharist, reading psalms or prophetic literature of the Old Testament, and prayer. The letters they received such as those from the apostle Paul, were read during the gathering of the faithful, and are regarded as epistles, that is general letters to the community.

As more time went on, and Christ had not yet returned, further problems developed. For one, all the eyewitnesses to Christ’s life on Earth were passing away.  Who would covey the stories of Christ’s life to future generations? Furthermore, the communities and churches were asking about the details of Christ’s life, for example, His birth, His upbringing, whether He was baptized, and so on.  For this reason, the Gospels were written to provide the details of Jesus’ life. Again, the point must be made that they were written for the sole use of the Christian Church.  The Church demanded it, and, therefore, they were produced.

Let us pray, a prayer for Catechumens, from the Roman Catholic Tradition, We thank you for these catechumens whom you have called. Strengthen them in faith, that they may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Keep them clean of heart and make them grow in virtue, that they may be worthy to receive baptism and enter into the holy mysteries. Amen

No Bible Today, Only More

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Armodoxy for Today: No Bible Today

Today begins the Fast of the Catechumens. This four day period is unique to the Armenian Church. It takes place a few weeks before Great Lent and offers an opportunity for purification, by restricting diet to bread and salt.

There are no Biblical passages assigned to the four days of the Fast of the Catechumens. The Lectionary is a list or book of portions of the Bible appointed to be read at church services. Every day of the year is assigned with Bible readings that pertain to that day. For instance, the lectionary for Easter includes a narrative of the Resurrection from the Gospel accounts. These four days of the Fast of the Catechumens are the only days with no lectionary assignment, which begs the question, how can you have a Church without a Bible? Actually, the more correct question is, how can you have a Bible without a Church?

We have been conditioned to believe that the Bible is a book that was handed down to us by God. With the Protestant reformation came the proclamation that the Bible alone is the final authority on all matters of belief and practice. And so, hearing that the Church is the seat of authority in Christianity seems against religious conventions for many outside Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.

The truth is that the Bible was not given to us by God. God gave us something much greater than the Bible. He gave is His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Even Christ, did not give us the Bible. He did not write anything that we know of, nor did he hand down a book to his disciples. More important, He gave us His Body, the Holy Church and he said with his words which cannot lie “The gates of Hell will not prevail against it!” (Matthew 16:18). It was in turn that the Church produced the Bible, and that Bible was meant as a tool for the Church to evangelize and teach the catechumens.  (A catechumen is a recent convert to Christianity who is under instruction before baptism.)

A quick look at history will lend more to the puzzle of which came first, the Bible or the Church? At the time of Jesus there was no Bible. At his Crucifixion, there was no Bible. At his Resurrection, there was no Bible. The Bible as we know it was finalized by the Church, with the different books in the 5th century. For five centuries, the Church existed and led the Christian community without a Bible.

The authority of the Church is singular: Jesus Christ. The ascription of “Apostolic” to the Holy Church means that it is in direct succession with the Holy Apostles who were commissioned by Jesus Christ himself. The Holy Bible has a unique place in the Armenian Church and referred to as the “Breath of God.”

These next few days, we will journey through the Fast of the Catechumens to learn closer the beauty of the Christ and the Christian faith.

We pray, a prayer of the Catechumens, “O Lord our God, who dwells in the heavens, and looks down upon all Your works, look down upon Your servants, the catechumens, and us, who have bowed our necks before You, and grant us a light yoke. Amen.”

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Children to Brighten our Advent

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Armodoxy for Today: Children to brighten up our Advent

The holiday season is a joyous season and a stressful one. For families who have suffered loss, the stress level is compounded with feelings of longing, sadness and depression.

In 1997, then President Clinton, established a national memorial day for children, to be commemorated annually two weeks before Christmas. At the time, I was serving as Parish Priest of the Armenian Church in Pasadena. A year earlier, a young girl in the church family and a student at the church school named Cathia Hamparian had died in a car accident. She was 13 years old. Her loss had devastated family and friends and had shaken up the community.

With Cathia’s family, we organized the first Children’s Memorial that year dedicated it in memory of her sweet soul. And we have continued with the tradition of remembering children, as an annual event during Advent. Sadly, through the years, the list of names has increased, with children of all ages, who have passed before their time.

It is a very special evening, because it offers an outlet to parents who try to make sense of the senseless. These children are the most innocent of God’s creation. They didn’t have a chance to live a full life. But on this one night they find a group of people who deal with the same questions and queries, they have. Together they support one another to stand once again.

The great power of the Church is in its ability to create community – a safe place for people to share without fear or worries. Jesus sets the ground rules for the church: judge not, lest you be judged, love and embrace the brokenhearted, shower one another with unbridled love and care. It’s actually the formula for a successful church. And why not? The Church is the Body of Christ, and that formula of no judgement, embracing the brokenhearted and loving others, describes Jesus Christ. He’s perfect and his Holy Church is set up to be perfect. It is in that environment that God, that is Love, is present and active.

The Children’s Memorial is part of our Advent journey, pointing to the importance and necessity of the Church in the life of the Christian. Even more, it points to the Resurrection because children continue to live in the hearts of their loved ones, and within our community their presence is never far away.

We pray this simple prayer today, from the Children’s Memorial, No heart breaks alone, for I know that You, my God, are always nearby. And when I whisper a prayer, hear me. When sorrow is overwhelming comfort me tenderly. I know You are always there to hear, for not a single tear will fall that You my God don’t see. I turn to You always. Amen.

Cover photo: At the end of the 2025 Cathia Hamparian Memorial Service, participants placed candles around an angel figurine. 

And then there were 72

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Armodoxy for Today: And then there were 72

This weekend the Armenian Church celebrates the “72 disciples of Jesus.” Before you accuse me of having my thumb on the scale, adding an extra 60 to the group of 12 we’re all familiar with, read the details in the Gospel of Luke (chapter 10), “The Lord appointed seventy-two others also, and sent them two by two before Him into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.‘”

Discipleship in the Gospel was a calling given to a group of Jesus’ students, with a clear mission. Jesus sent these 72 disciples with these words, “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves… But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.  Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

With these words, Jesus sets the tone for Christian missionary activity. It is focused. It is selfless service. It is to spread the Gospel which, as we hear in the passage, it centered on peace.  With this same invitation many people have followed the call of Jesus, some into the clergy, others, have embraced it as a way of life as their personal lay ministry.

It is from this passage that Christianity was delivered and spread. Everything we know of Jesus, His Love and His teachings was delivered to us because of the work of these faithful disciples of Jesus, working through this Holy Body, the Church.

Today’s focus on the 72 help us go beyond the stereotypical images and number of 12. In the passage we read, note that the 72 are referred without reference to gender. In the early Church discipleship was accessible by all.

At every moment of our lives, we are invited to be disciples of Christ. Never look further than yourself to find the necessary openness to the divine teaching of Jesus Christ.

Lord, open my heart to your voice and your invitation. Your Kingdom is full of love, help me to live it, and then to share it. I humbly ask in your name. Amen.

Cover photo: Disciple at Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, 2014 Fr. Vazken

Grace is not cheap

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Armodoxy for Today: Grace is not cheap

Deitrich Bonhoeffer was a Protestant theologian, living in the first part of the last century, until he was executed by the Nazis in 1945. Bonhoeffer’s writings remain today as a testament to a man of courage and deep faith. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship (1937) he writes about “Costly grace” in contrast to “Cheap grace.”

“Cheap grace,” Bonhoeffer says, “is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace… Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasure, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing.”

Bonhoeffer describes one of the menaces of Christianity, not only Protestant Church but all of Christianity. God so love the world, that he gave us His Son. Or, Jesus died for our sins. The debt has been paid, are catchy phrases that get thrown around without a second thought.

Armodoxy, unapologetically, says that Christianity points to action. That action is our response to God. He is not the Great Puppeteer in the sky guiding us on strings. He invites us to a life of reaction and interaction.

Dear God, my prayer begins with you. Open my ears to your words and move my hands and feet toward your invitation. Amen.

Connecting to Church and Culture

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Epostle: Connecting to Church and Culture

With over half a million Armenians living across the United States, the Armenian Church remains committed to serving all members of the community—no matter where they call home. While there are 40 parishes in the Western Diocese and 48 in the Eastern Diocese, these brick-and-mortar locations can’t reach every Armenian geographically.

This map illustrates the distribution of Armenian populations by county. Darker shades of green indicate higher concentrations, while pins represent existing parish locations. But what about those living far from a parish? How does the Church extend its mission and message?

Epostle is the answer. Through an internet connection, the richness of Armenian Church life and culture becomes accessible in real time—right from your computer, tablet, or wearable device. Epostle brings liturgy, learning, and community directly to you, wherever you are.

Importantly, Epostle is a supplement to, not a substitute for, local parish engagement. It expands the Church’s reach and supports its mission without replacing the depth of in-person community worship.
At Epostle, we believe that using technology creatively is a powerful way to fulfill the Great Commission—the divine call Jesus gave His disciples after His resurrection to share His message, make disciples, and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.