Armodoxy for Today: Chocolates to Life

“I was beaten with clubs,” began the post atop an icon in the Eastern Orthodox style. It grabbed my attention, in a “sacred” contrast to most of the posts we’re accustomed to seeing on social media. “I was beaten with clubs, beheaded, buried under the cover of darkness, disinterred by my followers, and you commemorate my martyrdom by sending each other chocolates.”

Yes, indeed, it did grab my attention. The point was well made. It was an icon of St. Valentine. I had included a brief mention of him in my February 14 daily message and had already published my message for the following day on Saint Sarkis, when I read this post. The message was poignant and profound. In celebrating the lives of the saints, it is easy to forget about their sufferings, in these cases of their martyrdom, as they put it all on the line for the Faith that we enjoy today. I would liken this to the concept of “cheap grace” coined by the Protestant theologian, Deitrich Bonhoeffer. Briefly, it is the idea that salvation and forgiveness can be obtained without genuine repentance and a commitment to a life of discipleship. Or bluntly, what do the chocolates have to do with this man’s real-to-life struggle?

For the celebration of St. Valentine, chocolates, flowers and cards seem to be the fare. For St. Sarkis, I can at least speak for the Armenian community, it is congratulations and even parties celebrating the name, without a reflection on the life of the saint.

An easy antidote for this situation – to put the emphasis back into these saints as symbols of Christian endurance and ultimately victory, is to think of the action that took place and challenge yourself to do the same. No one is asking you deny your faith, let alone die for it, so take the route of living your faith. Saints – Valentine, Sarkis, or the hundreds of others – are people who lived the Christian faith. In their works and their example, we find strength to live the Christian life in the world today.

A prayer from St. Mesrob Mashdots, Mighty King, refuge of the thirsty, Savior of the troubled, who succumbed to suffering for us at the hands of rulers. Prohibit Evil from enslaving those whom You have saved. Forbid the Evil One from seeking refuge in the House of God. With Your diving love, have mercy upon your creatures. Amen.