Tag Archive for: Prayer

Spontaneously Speaking from the Heart

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Guest Editorial: Gail Cheleblian

“From the depths of my heart, this conversation with God…” starts St. Gregory of Narek’s (Narekatsi) prayers. A millennium has passed since the time of the great mystic and theologian. In this short reflection, Gail Cheleblian shares some observations that land her in a familiar place. She is the Superintendent of the St. James (Los Angeles) Sunday School and wrote this piece for their parish newsletter, “Oshagan” (September 14, 2025)

St. James Weekly Oshagan Newsletter

Lions and Tigers and Prayers, Oh My!

On September 7th, we kicked off the 2025-26 Sunday school year here at St. James. I’ve been serving as superintendent for a long time, and I have to say that it was truly one of the best first days ever! So many smiles, hugs, and excitement to be together again. Our theme this year is the Power of Prayer and mine were certainly answered last Sunday.

The importance of prayer goes without saying, and if you are reading this article then you likely feel the same way. Prayer to a Christian is like water to a fish – we can’t live without it! So we will spend our time in our classrooms devoted to discussing the who, what, where, when, how, and why of praying. So much to do and so little time, but we have already gotten straight to work.

During our morning assembly the students and I made a circle and each of us took turns sharing what we pray for . . . out loud. YES – out loud! Now, I have prayed my entire life, but I found this activity to be very unnatural for me. My prayers have always been private, kept to myself, unspoken, between me and God, so my uncomfortableness was a real, “a-ha” moment for me, and I designed the activity! There have been many occasions when I have listened to another person speak spontaneously and lead a prayer, but the only prayers I have said aloud are ones that I have memorized. Those feel “safe” to me, and maybe speaking from the heart would leave me too exposed. I’m really not sure, but I started to question my ability to pray.

Because of this, I knew I had to make prayer a focus with our Sunday school children. Like them, I grew up in the Armenian Church, attending Sunday school. But unlike me, these students will have this safe place to practice and share spontaneously prayer. There are many prayers that are meant to be recited from memory, Hayr Mer, for example. But I learned from a spiritual mentor that this type of spontaneous prayer actually has a name: “Eenk-na-pookh,” or simply speaking from the heart, out loud. Oftentimes the best rewards come from pushing through a bit of discomfort, so I am committed to be along the “eenk-na-pookh” journey with the children and I pray that with practice, we will all master the activity.

Once again, my faith was strengthened from a lesson being shared with the students – another prayer answered. St. James is a magical place where we are never too young or too old to strengthen our faith. There is always an opportunity to grow and learn, just like at home.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy learns that to find her way home, she only has to click her ruby red slippers together and say 3 times, “There’s no place like home.” As Christians, we should always remember that this church is God’s home, and all prayer is welcomed here! Feeling lost? Simply fold your hands, (crossing your right thumb over your left*), and say aloud, “There’s no place like St. James, there’s no place like St. James, there’s no place like St. James!”

Faithfully, Gail Chelebian Superintendent

*Crossing thumbs when praying, specifically with the right thumb over the left in a cross shape, is a traditional Christian gesture, symbolizing loyalty to God and the cross of Christ.

Post Script: During Epostle’s weekly Bible Study, individual/personal prayer by the members is encouraged. An archive of those prayers can be read at the “Prayers from Questions” blog. 

 

Back to School

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Armodoxy for Today: Back to School

As Summer winds down, school doors are opening to welcome new classes of students and hopefully, future graduates.

Today, a wide variety of learning takes place in the classroom. Along with the teacher, professor or nurse maid who stands at the head of the class, a large assortment of human and mechanical devices from monitors to cellphones, to AI chatbots are vying for the attention of students. Several schools are restricting use of cell phones during school hours, citing their presence is disruptive to the learning environment, not only because of the temptation to play games but also they are open invitations to interact with other students and people in different parts of the country or world. All this takes away from class time. And for those without the devices, there are several intimidating factors that begin to surface and hinder a rounded education.

There are also people on campuses who use unscrupulous means to appeal to the students, so that the traditional “Three-R’s” – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic – are supplemented much more.

As a priest, I am often asked what my thoughts are on prayer in school. It is a topic that comes up rather routinely in different discussions about education. For the record, I’m against organized prayer in school. Teach your children to pray at home. I certainly don’t want someone who has archaic or bizarre ideas about the nature of human existence, to be leading a prayer to a deity that represents values opposed to my own. Rather than placing the responsibility of religious education, have discussions, open ones, with students at home, take them to church, have them involved in communities and allow children to focus on the 3-R’s in the school.

Tomorrow, we will focus on a unique practice of learning that comes from the Armenian Church, that has been practiced and can serve as a model for us in a world of complexity.

Today, we pray, Lord our God, protect and nurture our children. Give them grace and peace of mind so they may focus learning the essentials to maneuver through life and give me – my children’s first teacher – the guidance to share Your Love, Your Light, and their gifts with others. Amen.

Shortest Prayer

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Armodoxy for Today: The Shortest Prayer

The simplest prayer is one offered by the Armenian Church. You cannot attend an Armenian Church service without hearing the phrase, Der Voghormia multiple times, which means, “Lord have mercy.” It is the first and foremost prayer for Christians and non Christians. It is a prayer offered humbly and in humility. In saying those words, “Lord have mercy,” there is a denial of self – of ego. Focusing on God’s mercy becomes a model for us to exercise mercy.

A few centuries, while Armenians were being attacked, and even slaughtered by their oppressor, the Armenian Church added a hymn to its sacred Liturgy, named Der Voghormya. Lord have mercy, simple words that lose the self and connect to the Higher Realm. There was a reason why they add this hymn, a reason we find when we repeat those words, Lord have mercy.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Butterflies and Mustard Seeds

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Armodoxy for Today: Butterflies and Mustard Seeds

While Christianity is a religion of action, sometimes it may seem impossible to make an impact, large or small, with our words, deeds and prayers. Disease, cancer and wars are overwhelmingly scary and a single person’s prayer or contribution seems insignificant in bringing relief to the chaos that they create.

Meteorologist Edward Lorenz coined the term, “Butterfly effect” which illustrates how a seemingly insignificant event – like a butterfly flapping its wings – could theoretically influence large scale phenomena, such as the formation of a tornado weeks later. The butterfly effect serves as a powerful reminder that a gentle, almost imperceptible gesture can alter the course of much larger events.

Never get discouraged by the size of the problem. Appreciate the hidden significance of words, choices and deeds. Nothing is ever truly inconsequential. Keep in mind Jesus’ challenge, “If you have faith as a mustard seed – [the smallest of all seeds] – you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Daily Bread – 6of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 6- Give us our Daily Bread

Since we began this series six days ago,  for the first time we hear, what we may refer to as a shopping list item. appears now: Give us this day our daily bread. It is the only tangible requested item in the entire prayer. Equally important as bread is the framework in which it is presented – it is for this this day, and it is a daily need.

In fact, this one statement draws our attention and focus to what is truly needed and necessary in our life, as Jesus teaches, Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?  … For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 32-33)

As the prayer moves forward, we understand that the entire cosmos is held together by the Will of God, and we have a unique and necessary place within that world.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Thy Will on Earth -5of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 5- Your Will in Heaven and on Earth

Prayer often takes the form of a shopping list. In our conversation with God we present Him with a list of items we want, such as good health and peaceful days. But, as we heard early, in presenting the “Lord’s Prayer” Jesus informs us that our Heavenly Father already knows our needs before we ask him.

When we ask, May Your Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, we are acknowledging and submitting to God’s will. We have our wants and desires, in a word, we have our will, but herein we are relinquishing our will in favor of God’s Will. We submit to the power of God, who makes His sun shine on the good and the bad. (Matthew 5:45) And in so doing, we leave our selfish desires to one side and focus making His Kingdom come.

This is the fifth of 10, one minute for Summertime.

Pushing Out – Day 32 of 40

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Pushing Out – Day 32 of Lent

This week – the week of the Unjust Judge – we are challenged to look at our prayer life in a new manner, that is, not only as a conversation with God but a conversation with the self. We turn inward to find the strength to push outward – to push that love and compassion out. We find the strength to do this because we trust in love. And now, we begin to understand what the Apostle meant when he said, “God is love.” We trust God because we trust love and vice versa.

During these final days of Lent our direction is outward. The forty days of fasting, praying and charity will push out of the Lenten form to be a part of our everyday life.

On this 32nd day of Lent we are noticing the change in our journey. What started as the road to faith is now turning into the path of action. You have it within you to act, to trust your actions because they are built on faith, they are built on love, that is, they are built on the trust that you have in God.

Today we have a simple act of charity: to love. It is the first step on the path to action. It is a true love, which may hurt, but we trust it. We are completely submitting ourselves to that love. Submitting to God is submitting to love. Push yourself today to freely explore submission to God. Substitute the love where you think of God. Substitute God where you think of love. Push yourself to love others – family, friends, or someone you do not know. Push yourself to engage in a random act of love. Then take the chance and really push yourself to love your enemy. It is there, in your action, that you see God manifested. There you see God born and revealed. There you see the chaos brought to order and fear dispelled. It is at that point that you truly understand, “Thy will be done.” It is His will that we love one another.

Today’s specialty is simply Olivada! You’ll find the recipe at the link below.

Let us pray:
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give me a sense of your presence, your strength and your love. Help me to trust your protecting love and your strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten me. For living close to you, we will see your plan, your purpose and your will in all things. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 32: Olivada

God’s choice – Day 31 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: God’s Choice

In the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark, we read a story of a leper (a person suffering of leprosy) approaching Jesus for a healing. Although most people have only heard of this bacterial disease in the context of the Biblical stories, there are over 200,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The symptoms of the disease can be disfiguring and mostly out of fear of its sight and the fear of spreading the disease, lepers were isolated in colonies during the time of Jesus.

St. Mark’s narrative is as follows, A leper came to Him [Jesus], imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. (40-42)

In this story, the first question we must as is, Why wouldn’t Jesus choose to do heal this man? Why wouldn’t he want you to be walking in the Grace of God?

This fifth week of Lent opens with the Parable of the Unjust Judge, Luke 18. After reading the story, we have to wonder if a better descriptor of this judicial arbitrator might be the merciless Judge, or the Heartless Judge. God is full of mercy, and in His compassion, He wants the best for His Creation. Once you know Jesus is on-board for the salvation of your soul, you merely have to listen for the words that follow, “Be made clean!” It’s His Choice and His choice for your wholeness.

We pray from St. Gregory of Narek (1): O God, Lord of souls and all flesh, in the words of one divinely graced, you are long-suffering and abounding in mercy … Show me, here at the threshold of these contrite prayers, the sweetness of your will. Strengthen me that I might not be unworthy of the light when the heavens open, so that I might not be consumed and snuffed out like a candle. Amen. (Translated by Thomas J. Samuelian)

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 31: Tomato and Bread Soup

Photo: Gregory and Luna Beylerian, 2023

 

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