Every year, the Armenian Church reserves a day in its liturgical calendar to remember one of the more obscure figures of the Old Testament: the Prophet Zechariah. This year his saint day falls on June 26. Zechariah’s collection of prophecies …
He was a man of holiness and generosity; but also a man who could countenance the cruelest violence. His very name confessed his loyalty to God—but also prefigured the loneliness that can follow any man with such loyalties. He was …
Every autumn, the Armenian Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross—one of the five major feasts of the Church, and the most important of the four feasts of the Holy Cross. The Exaltation refers to the True Cross on …
Fr. Yeprem Kelegian sends out a brief, inspirational message every few days, and I’m grateful to be on his mailing list. Each message is just a few lines, suitable for prayerful reflection. His e-mail for the Tuesday of Holy Week …
A common image runs through the Gospel readings for the fifth Sunday of Great Lent: the Sunday of the Judge. Two stories show Jesus talking about the end of the world, the coming of God’s kingdom, and the judgment of …
Like many of its sister ancient churches of the East, the Armenian Apostolic Church lays special emphasis on the season of Great Lent as a “school” for personal spirituality. Adherents are guided on a kind of “pilgrimage of the soul,” …
Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States—a day off from work for many of our fellow citizens, but also a day for serious thought and reflection. Editorials on this day typically (and justifiably) focus on King’s …
This weekend the Armenian Church will remember the two people who first brought Christianity to Armenia: Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew. They were among the earliest Christian missionaries in history—but they were more than that. In fact, they were two of …
Thanksgiving is one of the most meaningful holidays of the year: a rare, uniquely American holiday, in which the whole country sets aside a day of each year to express thanks for the bounties of God. Of course, the idea …