Christopher Columbus, explorer of the West, advises, “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
The ocean is vast, mysterious and seemingly unending. The shore is solid, familiar with no waves to push you up or pull you down. In other words, it’s a safe place. Frankly, it’s not a bad place to be, unless you wish to explore, to go beyond the familiar.
To grab opportunity, pushing off the shore is not only necessary but the rule of law. When exiled from their homes, either in 1915 or in 2023, Armenians made the sign of the cross, lost the shore, fought the waves and arrived at their destination.
Happy sailing. Today’s one minute for Summertime.
A prayer from Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic to the Asdvadzadzin
Waves of passion disturb my spirit, great sadness and anguish have overwhelmed my soul. Embalm my soul with Thy Son’s peace, O Most Holy One, and by His Grace drive away every doubt and despair. Calm the storm of my sins that, like a fiery worm, burn me, and quench its flame. Fill my heart with joy, O Most Pure One, and disperse the fog of my iniquities before me. Amen.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/the-bow-of-a-ship-with-the-horizon-in-the-distance.jpg10241024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-06-24 00:10:492026-06-22 10:22:01Exploring beyond the Horizon
Saints come in all shapes and sizes. That might sound like an odd way to bring attention to the elite class of the Church, but each saint has a unique story that helps us in our Christian journey through life.
Andrew was the first-called disciple of Christ, in Armenian he’s referred to as Nakhagoch which literally means, the first to accept the call [of Jesus]. Throughout Scripture we read that he invited others to follow, most notably is his older brother, Peter, who went on to be the Apostle to, and the first Bishop of Rome.
Being the first takes a special and deep courage which is connected to inner strength but also to a commitment and belief that what you are following is absolutely and positively the correct path.
Andrew had that commitment and that confidence within, which made him the great Apostle of Christ. Today’s one minute for Summertime.
Praying from the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church, With your Light, O Christ, we have all been enlightened, and in Your Holy Cross, O Savior, we take refuge. By the intercession of the Holy Apostle Andrew, hear us, O God our Savior, grant us peace, and show us Your mercy, Good Lord. Amen.
Cover photo: St. Andrew at Ghazanchetzotz Monastery, 2014 Fr. Vazken
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1min-Andrew-e1700191222856.jpg8301113Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-06-23 00:10:332026-06-22 10:20:12Courage at the Beginning
A chiasmus is a literary form as old as recorded civilization. It is defined as a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases. For instance, sayings such as, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say” or on the lighter side, “Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.”
St. Augustine appealed to the chiasmus form when he said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.”
Loving without measure is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. Love without limits allows us to understand all the other teachings of Jesus, such as charity, forgiveness or humility, as the challenge to be Christ-like.
The measure of love is to love without measure. Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/watermellon-723-e1750218587501.jpg1125754Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-06-22 00:08:062026-06-22 00:05:06Chiastic form in Christianity
In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the day with the most hours of sunlight. Daylight hours have increased since the Winter Solstice in December, the day which enjoys the sun the least.
In the Armenian Church, much has been written and said about the Winter Solstice because the date of Christmas was changed from January 6 to December 25 in the West, to bump the holidays surrounding the solstice celebrations, thus facilitating the spread of Christianity.
With no such conflicts of date or celebrations, the Summer Solstice gives us an opportunity to focus on light itself.
A few years back, I found myself in a village in Rwanda working with genocide survivors. We conducted informal interviews with them, became familiar with their daily activities and then, as the sun went down, people wound down, and soon, it was 7:00 PM. It was dark outside. People were in their homes, preparing for their night’s slumber. There was no sound throughout the village. I thought it odd that people would be preparing to sleep at this early hour. And then it occurred to me, that without electricity, without the artificial lighting that the electricity provides, for all intents and purposes the day was over with the sun set.
In a world without electricity, you can only imagine how welcomed the longer days are. It meant more time for families and community building, more time for productive living, for gatherings, therefore, more time to share and celebrate, that is, to express love.
Light is the facilitator of life. Light maximizes the potential for life. With this understanding, listen, then, to the words of Christ:
“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him… A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 11 & 12)
Some of the great treasures of our Faith are found in the simplest phenomena of nature.
We end with a prayer by the 13th century saint Nersess Shnorhali, I confess with faith and worship you, O Indivisible Light, unified Holy Trinity and one Godhead; creator of light and dispeller of darkness, dispel from my soul the darkness of sin and ignorance, and enlighten my mind at this moment, so that I may pray to you according to your will, and receive from you the fulfillment of my requests. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on me. Amen.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DALL·E-2024-06-19-19.04.34-digital-art-of-people-walking-toward-a-sunrise-over-Mount-Ararat.png10241024Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-06-19 00:10:442026-06-18 22:19:32Solstice of Light
Next Step #429: Archiving: whether via a photograph, a video, a digital page – these attempts at immortality stretch reality – from augmented to virtual, to distorted to alternate, a look at the eternal yearnings of the soul. Naming your kid “Resurrection”? Sounds crazy? As crazy as driving a Karmann Ghia? Here’s some end-of-summer thoughts on life, immortality and living for the day. Also, human life-forms without the soul, cf. buildings without communities.
“Forever Young” Joan Baez The Seven Husband Question
“11/22/63” by Stephen King Aldous Huxley Aldous Huxley (more)
Cover: VHS No More by Fr. Vazken
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org Subscribe to In His Shoes » Next Step with Fr. Vazken by Email Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com Listen via Stitcher Radio on demand!
