Tag Archive for: Lent

A 316 Sentence Meditation

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Armodoxy for Today: Meditation on a Sentence

John 3:16, which is has a unique notoriety among different generations and people of different backgrounds, is often referred to as the Gospel in brief. The marking, which colors t-shirts and baseball caps, and can be found on business cards, and fast food containers is shorthand, to inform people that a believer is close by. “For God so loved the world,” begins the verse that ends with the glorious explanation, “that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

To claim this passage as “The Gospel in brief,” says more about us, people, than it does about the words and expression. We are all too quick to find shortcuts around anything that might take an investment of time and resources. Why read the book if I can skim the outline? Why skim the outline, if I can watch the movie? Why watch the movie if I can read the review? And we finally come down to; can I consolidate it in a quick sentence?

Still, John 3:16 does have a certain popularity that is not avoidable. So, during Lent, when we are investing more time into our spiritual wellness, let’s see what it says.

John 3:16 is simple enough. God loves so much that He gives us His Son, Jesus Christ. The challenge comes from the second part, which involves believing in His Son. What does that mean? Is belief merely acknowledgement that Jesus existed, or even more, exists? Or is there something more demanded of us?

God so loved us, He came to us. The invitation is for us to return to Him, to Love Him so much, to give our lives to Him. Through prayer we connect with God, through actions our prayers are materialized and through commitment and sacrifice we find the way to not perish and have eternal life.

We pray, O Lord Jesus Christ, I believe in You. May those words come alive in me by the measure of my actions to love, care and assist my neighbor. Amen.

Symbols that Point

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Armodoxy for Today: Symbols that Point

Lent Day 4

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)

Necessary Steps: Lent

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Armodoxy for Today: Necessary Steps

I saw a performance by Paul McCartney this morning. It was in a sold-out stadium somewhere in the world, which is usual fare for him. The cameras were being switched between McCartney, his band, the audience and wide angles covering the large arena.

He was wearing a t-shirt with writing on it. The words “No more…” at the top of the shirt caught my eye. For a moment there I thought, how appropriate at the beginning of the Lenten season to be advocating for vegetarian diets. He’s known for being a passionate advocate for plant-based diets, promoting animal rights and environmental sustainability. Lent? Meatless diets? No, there was a greater message underneath the words.

NO MORE LANDMINES, yelled out the words on his shirt.

Landmines: they maim and injure people with lifelong scars, both physical and psychological. I remember a few years back, spending a few days at the Halo Trust in Artsakh and learning how they meticulously and methodically, one-by-one cleared the fields of these vicious weapons of war.

I wondered why McCartney hadn’t opted for the bigger issue of “No More War”? Why stop at landmines? And then I caught myself. It’s just a t-shirt with a message.  It’s the message he wanted to spread. It was a message I aligned with, but he was the one wearing the shirt, not me.

As we begin the Lenten season, we are called to use this period of the Lent, the 40 days to prepare ourselves for the bigger picture, namely life. Much in the same way that getting rid of a landmine is a process toward a bigger goal, the forty days of Lent are not an end in themselves. They prepare us for the 325 days that follow, that is, our lives. Lent is our m means to methodically evaluate our lives and selves to better function in this world in harmony and peace.

Pray today for strength and patience, as we take the small steps of fasting and introspection to deliver us to a more productive and blessed life. To borrow from the Taoist tradition, we keep in mind that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

God is with us

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Armodoxy for Today: For God is with us

Today’s message comes to us from Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Lent is a journey of transformation. It is a return to God, a healing of the soul, and a preparation to encounter the risen Christ. It invites the faithful to move from repentance to renewal, from struggle to resurrection, and from death to life. Lent begins with honest self‑examination, something each of us can practice in the quiet moments of our daily lives—at home, at work, and within our families. Through prayer, God grants us the courage and wisdom to cleanse our soul and mind, making our heart a worthy dwelling place for Him.

“For God is with us.”

Each morning, I repeat these words as the prayer of my heart. They remind me that God walks with us through every ordinary and extraordinary moment of life. I thank Him for guiding my thoughts and steps, helping me strive toward a pure and meaningful life.

In God alone we find true peace and purpose. When we live with the awareness of His presence, we are embraced by His loving care, and our hearts are filled with a joy that words cannot fully express.

“For God is with us.”

Choose one moment tomorrow—morning, midday, or evening—to quietly repeat “For God is with us” and let it center your thoughts, guiding you to live with peace and purpose throughout the day.

From Archbishop Hovnan Derderian’s 2026 Lenten Meditations. Archbishop Hovnan serves as the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

Lent is Here!

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Armodoxy for Today: Lent is Here

GREAT LENT – A Primer

Watch for Daily Messages – Armodoxy for Today – to guide you through this important period of time, or check out the many Lenten program from the vast Epostle library, including 40 days to healing, 40 days to the Divine Liturgy, and 40 days of the Lenten Journey

2026 Lenten Messages begin on Monday, February 16 at Epostle.net

Check out – 40 Recipes – Meatless Vegan Meals by Deacon Varoujan

What is Lent?

The period just before Holy Week is called Lent. It is a time for reflection and self-evaluation. The Church guides the individual believer through this period by offering means of self-discipline and instruction.

When?

Lent begins on the Monday following Poon Paregentan (Day of Great Living) and continues through the Friday before Palm Sunday. This year Great Lent 2026 begins on February 16 and ends on March 27, 2026 just before Holy Week.

The Purpose

During the 40-day period of Lent the believer is called to taper life down to the bare essentials. You should ask yourself what is really necessary to live? You’ll find that much of life is made up of excesses, which clutter our lives and our values. When tempted in the wilderness, our Lord Jesus reminds us that “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Dietary Restrictions

Part of the Lenten journey involves “giving up” certain foods. In the Armenian Church you are called to abstain from all foods that come from animals. This includes all animal products, including flesh meats, milk & dairy items, eggs, fowl, poultry, fish, etc. – anything that comes from an animal! Find Lenten Recipes! 40 of them

Diet is only one small part of the Lent. Jesus instructs us, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” (Matthew 15:11)   In this spirit, the individual believer is asked to inspect the content of his or her character and act in charity.

The Most Essential

Certainly, LOVE must be at the focus of your Lenten journey because it is the one ingredient of life that gives meaning and purpose to our existence. Love is the necessity of life that needs to be cultivated and nurtured during Lent so that it becomes the main purpose of existence after the Lenten period. While abstinence and restrictions are one part of Lent, the greater task for the believer is to be in love and harmony with his or her family, friends and nature.

Church Services

Even the physical church in the Armenian Church changes in outward appearance during Lent. The curtain is drawn across the altar to remind us that sin prevents us from truly enjoying God. The prayer “Havadov Khosdovanim” (= I Confess with Faith) is offered in particular. St. Nersess Shnorhali, the 12th century Catholicos, wrote this set of 24 prayers and they are considered among the most powerful prayers in the Armenian Church. By following the services, practices and prayer life of the Armenian Church, the believer comes to find the most essential of life’s joys. Peace through God is understood and Lent becomes a prelude to true Christian experience.

Lenten Sundays

Each Sunday of Lent has a unique name along with a unique message:

  • February 15 – Poon Paregentan – A day of good living, to remind us how God wanted us to enjoy life and His blessings. (Read Matt. 5-7)
  • February 22 –Expulsion Sunday reminds us of how sin enters into our lives and prevents us from experiencing the best of life and God’s fullness. (Genesis 1-3)
  • March 1 – Prodigal Sunday – The story of the Prodigal Son instructs us that no matter how much we stray from the good of life, there is always hope to be one with God. His love is unending and unconditional. (Luke 15:11…)
  • March 8 – Steward Sunday – God has given us a life full of responsibilities. How do we manage our lives, our families and ourselves? (Luke 16)
  • March 15 – Judge Sunday – Perseverance and the need to be in constant communion with God is revealed through an unjust and unrighteous judge who is the center of this day’s message. (Luke 18)
  • March 22 – Advent – Christ returns to Earth to judge the living and the dead. How can we be prepared? Listen to the message of his first coming! (Matthew 25)
  • March 29 – Palm Sunday – We enter Holy Week. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem by our Lord also signals the beginning of the holiest days of Christianity. (Matthew 26 & on)

Done and Go – Day 40 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: Done and Go – Day 40 of Lent

Congratulations! You made it to the end of the Lenten Journey. Forty days ago we began this trek and today it comes to an end and you transition. Your prize is waiting for you. It is life but with a new twist, you have found what is important, what is essential, in life. Not the bare minimum to survive, but the best of the pick of life, a life that is full of purpose and meaning, a life that is blessed by God and in harmony with the life around you, is now accessible to you.

At the end of his forty days in the wilderness Jesus gave three answers to the Tempter that I am sure resonate with you today. First, he said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word God.” Second, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” And finally, “You shall not test the Lord your God.” (Luke 4)

These words are no longer the punch line to a story, but, to the person who has accomplished the Lenten Journey and exercises, these words are the foundation to life moving forward. You have discovered that Lent is not about the bare necessities of life, but the bare essentials of life. The forty days are up and ahead of you are 325 days that are to built on these teachings.

I remember one of our psychology professors mentioned the goal of therapy is to eliminate you, the therapist, from the life of the patient. The same can be said about the Lenten Journey. Lent in itself is only there to help you, to guide you, but the main event is life itself. Lent is there to get you up and running for life, just like crutches, after leg surgery, are necessary to support and hold you up, and at some point you toss them and walk on your own.

Life is ahead of you. You are prepared. You have filled your life with increased acts of charity, stronger prayer life and fasting. Don’t stop because Lent ends. Tomorrow begins Holy Week, we transition to the most sacred period of time in the life of a Christian. You are ready to greet it and live it, with Christ’s passion, trial, sentencing, crucifixion and then, most importantly, the Resurrection. The Life of Christ will have new meaning for you as Lent has heightened your senses to now, walk with Christ on the road to the Cross and greet the Empty Tomb.

Celebrate tonight with the Day 40 recipe. jicama salad, and its recipe can be found at the link below. God bless you.

We pray from the Armenian Church’s Book of Hours, Receive, Great and Almighty God, these prayers and service. Make your light of righteousness and wisdom shine forth upon us and make us sons and daughters of light and of day, so that in godliness we may lead our life and fulfil it without offence, for You are our helper and Savior and to You is fitting glory and honor. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 40: Jicama Salad

Cover: Sunset over Western Armenia, 2014 Gregory Beylerian

All that Glitters is Not Gold – Day 36 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: All that glitters is not gold – Day 36 of Lent

We’re in the last days of Lent and the time has come for us to consolidate and summarize our learnings, so as to make the lessons a part of our life in the post-Lenten world. We can begin the summary process by looking at the Lenten characters and events for the last few weeks, namely the parables of the Prodigal Son, the Dishonest Manager, the Unjust Judge and yesterday, the Coming of Jesus Christ. In the cases of the characters, the Prodigal, the Manager and the Judge, these were people we would hardly consider to be models of character and ethics. Yet, Jesus selects them to the “heroes” of his stories. Only Jesus can take something of deception and negative imagery and transform them into examples for our lives and for living. In the case of the event, the Second Coming of Christ, only Jesus can change the conversation about the fear and doomsday catastrophes to a discussion of preparedness by living the events of Jesus’ first coming.

Very simply, over the past few weeks we have been challenged to look beyond our prejudices and understand that there is something to be learned from each encounter.

William Shakespear wrote, “All that glitters is not gold” (Merchant of Venice). We may twist this around to say that not all that is dull is tin. We have something to learn from each of our encounters, from the variety of people that we meet. Jesus invites us to interact with our world and understand that there is an opportunity to learn and grow from everyone, considering that everyone is a child of God.

With these ethically “ugly” people, Jesus share a bit of beauty about them to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven. With the Second Coming event, he gave us a fresh perspective of the true message of the event is.

Today’s act of charity is to review the encounters with the Prodigal, the Manager and the Judge. Read the stories in Luke 15, 16 and 18 respectively. Fast from thoughts that simplify these characters. What are the takeaways for you? Mutabbel is on the Lenten menu this evening. Check out the recipe at the link below.

Pray, Heavenly Father, as I come closer the end of Lent, look over me and direct my path to make the lessons of Lent the guiding direction for my life. Amen.  

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 36: Mutabbel

Farsighted Victory – Day 34 of Lent

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Armodoxy for Today: Farsighted Victory – Day 34 of Lent

On this final Saturday of the Lenten season, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Gregory the Illuminator’s admission into Khorvirab, or “the Deep Pit,” a place of exile and punishment. It is at the base of Mt. Ararat and is marked with a church atop the sacred space. St. Gregory was sentenced there for the capital offense of spreading the Christian Gospel through Armenia. For thirteen long years he remained in that subterranean dungeon, being nourished and cared for by the prayer and love of a faithful young lady who had converted to Christianity. He found the strength – the kind which comes from within – to challenge the system and to remain faithful to the principles and beliefs that are at the core of Christianity. Meanwhile, the Gospel of Christ had been planted and was now blossoming, in this young girl’s heart. Both St. Gregory and this young lady, Khosrovidughd, showed physical and inner strength, and we remember that strength today.

During this Lenten period we have looked within to find the basic necessities of life and we have discovered the strength that comes from various practices. We learned that ego must be put on hold or lost if we are to see the wonders of God. We challenged ourselves to discover where our inner strength lies. Now discovered, we use that strength to push ourselves forward, to make sure that the principles of our faith are not shaken.

The commemoration of St. Gregory’s entrance into the Pit should remind us of the many “pits” – prisons and dungeons in our lives. It is easy to blame others for those falls, but we should not discount our role in creating some of those prisons. Yes, even St. Gregory could have done otherwise but he did not, and therefore, he is responsible for being in Khorvirab. As noble as the reasons may be for our actions, we are part of an equation which has rewards or consequences on the other side of the equal sign.

As we mature in faith, we understand that there are serious consequences if not ramifications to every decision we make. Much like was the case for St. Gregory, if we stay firm to our principles, we may be challenged with pits in our lives.

Sitting here today, removed by 1700+ years from St. Gregory, we have a special vantage point. History may be translated into the advantage of farsightedness. We know that St. Gregory was punished in Khovirab –the Pit – but we also know the history that he was delivered and as a result, the conversion of Armenia took place, making it the first Christian nation on Earth. From the actions of St. Gregory’s death sentence, a people were given an opportunity to live.

This farsightedness is a gift from God. It is the ability to stand at one point in history and see another. To stand at Good Friday looking up at the Cross with farsightedness and see the Resurrection is our calling.  St. Gregory’s crucifixion the resurrection of a nation took place. Truly, farsightedness is a Christian gift because we see crucifixions through the lens that reveals resurrection. We see the empty tomb of Easter while standing at the cross of Calvary on Good Friday. Sometimes the pits of life are very, very deep, which is the meaning of the word Khorvirab. We struggle to overcome our difficulties. We search for a glimmer of light coming from above – a bit of light to keep us focused on hope to get out of the ditch. We appeal to farsightedness to see the beams of light coming our way.

This farsightedness kept St. Gregory alive. He was certain of resurrection following his crucifixion.

Your act of charity is to place your head up and view the resurrections from your challenges. Fast from the belief that crucifixion is the end game. On your Lenten table is a red bean appetizer to start. Its recipe is in the link below.

We pray a prayer given to us by the father and patron saint of the Armenian Church, St. Gregory the Illuminator:

Blessed is your love for human kind my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Save me from my enemies for like a lion they growl and roar seeking to swallow me up. Now my Lord, flash your light up and destroy their power. Exalted God the only sinless one grant me this sinner your abundant compassion. Save me this wicked one by the grace of your mercy receive me into paradise with the perfectly just. Receive the prayers of this your sinful servant by the intercession of the saints who are pleasing to you Jesus Christ our Lord. Glory to you with the Father and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 34: Red Bean Appetizer

Photo: The Church at Khorvirab, 2009KTN

The Conditions of Prayer – Day 30 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: The Conditions of Prayer – Day 30 of Lent

Much of your life has changed during this Lenten season and these past few days your prayer life has matured. Your prayers become calls to action, to realize the dreams that are set deep in your heart and not the desires based on the whims of today.

The model of the Lord’s Prayer, the “Our Father” is the quintessential prayer, because of its author and because of the make up of the prayer. It focuses on everything that is necessary for us. Including a condition statement.

We ask for God’s forgiveness to the extent that we forgive others. “Forgive us our trespasses” we say, “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” To receive forgiveness from our Father, we have to forgive others. If we partially forgive, we are then partially forgiven. If we forgive completely, we can expect the same forgiveness of our sins.

Forgiveness is such important part of prayer life that Jesus repeats this condition after giving us the Lord’s prayer. You’ll find in the verses that follow immediately Jesus explaining, “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

The effectiveness of the prayer is based on you being of clean heart. For this reason forgiveness is directly associated in the instruction to pray. Even more specifically, Jesus instructs us that, …Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:23-26)

Prayer is effective from a clean heart, one which has been wiped of sin. Herein we learn that the cleanliness of heart begins with us forgiving others.

The act of charity today is to forgive, plain and simple. Anyone who has hurt you, needs to be forgiven today, before you move forward. Fast from anger.

Treat yourself to Rice Dessert with Cherries, today’s recipe found below.

We pray, Lord, help me to forgive. I open myself up to you. You have forgiven me not only seven times, but seventy seven times seven times. Now, instill in me a heart that will move forward with forgiveness so that my prayers have meaning. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 30: Rice Desert with Cherries

Sorting our Prayers – Day 28 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today – Sorting our Prayers – Day 28 of Lent

Of the Lenten Sundays, three of them are named after parables which spotlight questionable characters. During the last two Sundays we met the Prodigal Son and the Dishonest Steward. Completing the trilogy of Parables-Sundays is the dedication for this 28th day of Lent to the Unrighteous Judge. All three parables come to us from our Lord and are found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16, 17 & 18, respectively.

The Unrighteous Judge is a man who, as Jesus explains, did not fear anyone – not even God, nor was he ashamed of any person. In the town where he served as judge a widow kept coming to him and pleading with him, begging that he hear her case. For some time he refused, but finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God, nor do I care about men, but because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so she won’t eventually wear me out!” Jesus concludes his parable with an interesting statement. He says, “Listen to what the unjust judge says and will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night. Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Indeed, this is an odd story at least on the surface. At first reading you might think that Jesus compares God to this unrighteous, unjust judge. Following that parallel you’re inclined to think that God can be worn out or worn down. It is as if we continue to pray repeatedly, God will eventually say yes to our needs and to our desires. So keep praying, keep being persistent. Persevere like the old lady! And in the end God will be tired of hearing you and will change His mind! Yes, it is odd, and perhaps it is for that reason why the evangelist St. Luke, writes a few words of explanation as a preface to the parable. He says, “Jesus told His disciples this parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” St. Luke’s narrative suggests that during his time, as is the case today, there is a misconception about the nature of prayer.

When Jesus teaches us the “Lord’s Prayer” he warns, “Do not heap up extra words. Your heavenly Father already knows what you need. Therefore when you pray, pray like this. Our Father, which art in heaven … ” Let’s think about that for a moment. If our Heavenly Father knows what we need, why then should we pray? This question betrays the fact that we have a misunderstanding about prayer.

Prayer is not merely a conversation with God. We pray because we need a conversation with ourselves. God already knows the desires of our heart. He knows our needs and as a loving father, wants the best for us. The real question is, do we know our needs? It may sound strange, but unless you have a true focus on your life, it is questionable whether or not you know what your needs are. Hence, we have the Lenten Season, annually, to realign ourselves with God and ourselves.

The act of charity today is to extend yourself to someone in obvious need, a patient in the hospital, a person on the street, a bereaved friend. Without being intrusive and without asking them, can you understand what their needs are?  Fast from shopping list types of prayers.

Try Broiled Lemon-garlic Mushroom for tonight’s Lenten meal with the recipe below.

We pray, Lord our God, you know our needs and our wants better than we do. Open my heart to Your Love so that I may trust that You are in charge. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 28: Broiled Lemon-garlic Mushrooms