Tag Archive for: Protest

Opportunity Lost

Armodoxy for Today: Opportunity Lost

Every Sunday, during the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church, the celebrant priest, descends from the altar area and processes around the inner circumference of the church.  As he walks by the congregants, he holds a cross in one hand and censes fragrant incense with the other.

There are a variety of reactions to his presence in the congregation. Some lower their head to ask for a blessing, while others kiss the cross in the priest’s hand out of reverence. Others smile and acknowledge his presence. Still, others watch as he goes by, not interested in engaging in any manner. And of course, for those who are not there at that moment, the opportunity to interact is lost because the priest processes through the church and ascends back to the altar area to continue the Liturgy.

This part of the Divine Liturgy, symbolizes Christ’s descent from the comfort of heaven to live, walk and be among us, after which he ascended back to heaven. During Jesus’ life, there were people who sought him for miracles and healings, while others engaged with him for a blessing and merely to touch his garment. And, of course, for many, the opportunity to be made whole was there and they let him pass by.

In life, there are moments that are singular and they demand our interplay at that moment, otherwise, they go by. Sometimes, events demand that we interact.

Today a genocide takes place. Ethnic cleansing is the plot. To stay quiet and/or to ignore the horror, is an opportunity lost.

We pray, Heavenly Father, I see pain and suffering in this world. I have walked that path in the past. I said, Never Again. Today, grant me the courage to speak out against evil everywhere, so that I may have the moral authority to voice myself whenever evil confronts me. Amen.

Want More? Try this week’s Next Step “War Protest: Opportunity Eclipsed” 

Cover Photo: Lunabelle Beylerian, 2023

War Protest: Opportunity Eclipsed

War Protest: Opportunity Eclipsed

Next Step #791 – May 5, 2024 – The War in Gaza, a nightmare echoing the words, Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing. Famine is fueled by hatred. The world stands still and even worse, so do those who have seen the same nightmare. Fr. Vazken takes about opportunities lost and the importance of articulating a statement of protest, for the sake of record and moral authority. Firsthand observation of the Eclipse from Uvalde and the Sign of the Cross. Overwhelmed reaction in the birthing room and at the eclipse – God’s perfection. Discussed: the eye for an eye maximum, college protests, a Maturity of Faith. Orthodox Easter, Cinco de Mayo and the Weakest Link.
Links:
Uvalde – Eclipse 2024
College Protests of the War
Eclipsed Relevance – April 6 Next Step
Tooth as the Maximum Next Step
Niebuhr’s Prayer (Serenity) 
49 Bye-Byes/America’s Song
CSNY – Four Way Street
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for http://Epostle.net
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Changing Center

Next Step #779 – July 28, 2023 – A call to believe in the power within… Artsakh blockade continues as do the pleas for help. Armenian clergy meet with the US State Department and the vicious circle of victimization continues. Protests take place everywhere except Baku and Ankara. Anthropocene affecting more than we bargained for. Leveraging Love is still the only viable choice – from Archimedes’ lever to Jesus’ mustard seed, the solution is with us.
Beatles Pub in Yerevan
Clergy/State Department Meeting re: Artsakh
Artsakh Blockade 7/28/23
Tankian Spins support
Fr. Vazken on Anthropocene 5yrs ago
Ian Anderson’s Divinities: Twelve Dances with God
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for http://Epostle.net
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Back Door to Genocide

Next Step #644: “In the Shadows” is arriving at a higher consciousness about responsibility in the face of evil. Overcoming the evil and with the The Blood of the Sacrament and the martyrs: A short meditation in front of the altar. Insult by Kurt Vonnegut: “They’re Turks” and seven-fold-turks. The road from light to darkness, the evil that takes place in the darkness and returning to the light: thoughts on how we got here and where we go. Identifying the point-of-no-return.
Raffi “One Light, One Sun”
Adana “Zartir Lao”
Ghazanchechots (Shushi) Church bombed
Ghazanchechots shelled
Harry Hagopian on Hagia Sophia
War in Artsakh Sermon by Fr. Vazken
101 Hollywood Freeway Protest
Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut
Deacon Hrayr at the Front Line in Artsakh
Blessed are you… are the light
WD168 for this week
Cover: Destruction at Ghazanchechots, 10/8/2020 newswire photo
Technical Director: Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Pentecost Close to Home

Next Step #470: Intolerance escalates; bullies back down from bigger bullies all in the name of comedy? Maher, Griffin and the rest (excuse us Professor & Mary Ann). Pentecost- the power of the Holy Spirit to transform. Protest a la capitalism = putting out the fire with water. Continuity and growth by finding the next generation of protesters. And more…
Adana by Zaruhi Babayan
Teachings of Fr. Mesrob Sarafian
Reflections from the Priest’s funeral (Next Step #31)
Five Differences between Orthodox & Evangelicals
Upcoming Decennial Forgiveness Day: http://inhisshoes.org/event/7×77/
From 2007 Forgiveness day: http://7×77.org
Photo: Portland Art
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Odds Against Authority

Next Step #442: Thanksgiving edition – looks at false-news and using the tester of Armodoxy to sift through it all: News and Religious Authority today. Passing the Bar: more than a license to practice law, but a pointer of the power of good over evil…. Vegas odd-makers could not cover this one! Against evil in the form of protesting hate-speech… another opportunity to walk in his shoes. Pope Francis at the UN and the closeness to Armodoxy. Archbishop Barkev Mardirosyan at St. Leon – blessings from Artsakh.
Isabel Bayrakdarian: Mother of Light
Pope on Abortion Absolution
Pope at UN
Protest against hate
Thanksgiving Armodoxy – Next Step #181
Fake News on Facebook
Armenia Fund
Photo: Calvert Sampo TV, Fr. Vazken
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Riff Swapping

Next Step #417: The challenges of the day met with relevancy: the power of music – and defining life. The Gor Passport debut; Different riffs – comments by Ian Anderson, from Beethoven to Deep Purple; AC101 video goes viral – it may not be for reasons of our liking. Evolutionary Music from hand holding to military protest. This and much more.
Gor Mkhitarian’s Passport
Passport Debut Photos
AC101 – www.youtube.com/armodoxy
AC101 on “Etchmiadzin”
SunSash Blog
Children of Light vs. the Children of this Age
Photo:  Artichoke Riffs by Fr. Vazken, 2016
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Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Inherit or Borrow: Obligation or Responsibility

Next Step #368:  Protests on the streets of Yerevan move this next step, as to spiritual/religious obligations and responsibilities to bring about change. Christ as the revolutionary, on the streets with humanity. ‪#‎ElectricYerevan‬
Photo – Water canons during Civil Rights protest (USA) and Yerevan Electric protest (Armenia)
Authentic Light Orchestra
Yerevan Electric Protest
1) http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-06-25/youth-protests-have-shaken-armenia-were-years-making
2) http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/24/armenia-yerevan-protests-electric-prices-russia
3) http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/world/europe/armenias-electric-yerevan-protesters-return-to-streets-despite-arrests-and-water-blasts.html?_r=0
Anush’s Journey
Syrian Relief Message
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Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Listen via Stitcher Radio on demand!