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Peprone: Small but Great

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Armodoxy for Today: Small but Great St. Peprone

This week, the Armenian Church remembers a sisterhood of saints Peprone (or Febronia), Mariana, and Shoushan, the daughter of Vartan the Great. Separated by time and events, they are united in a sisterhood of faith. Each of these saints has a story in which they rose from their human condition and demonstrated an extra ordinary love for God and people.

Saints Peprone, Mariana and Shoushan were all from the early centuries of the church. They were women who saw evil, were given opportunities to comply, but opted to do otherwise. The operative word here is “opted,” that is, given the choice to live, they chose – they opted – to follow the path of non-conformity and remain loyal to path of their heart, for living against their beliefs and principles was not considered life, for them.
The remembrance of saints is an important and essential part of Armenian Church Tradition. Saints are not God or gods, far from it. They are people – flesh and blood, like you and me, with the freedom to exercise their will according to their conscience. They are the ones who opt for the difficult path of life with faith. We commemorate them because as humans, with all the frailties that come with being human, they demonstrated godly expressions of living. They demonstrate the possibility of living a God-pleasing life, as a human, thus they become inspirations and examples of living for us.

In commemorating these three women, Peprone, Mariana, and Shoushan, we find expressions of true power to effectuate change, not with physical might, but spiritual grace.

Simple scriptural passages were their guide and inspiration:

Driven by the words of our Lord:
Matthew 16:26 – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?

Understanding God’s will as expressed through Isaiah:
Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression…”

Trusting the Lord  who assures us
Matthew 6:19–21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

Peprone, Mariana, and Shoushan, three devote young women who inspire and teach us to follow the path of God as expressed through Jesus Christ. To learn God’s will and trust in the Lord.

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