Armenian Orthodoxy

Days we used to know; Now 29 years later.

2011-09-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ian & Me - 1994 in San Jose, CA

Whenever I get to feel this way,
try to find new words to say,
I think about the bad old days
we used to know.

Nights of winter turn me cold --
fears of dying, getting old.
We ran the race and the race was won
by running slowly.

Could be soon we'll cease to sound,
slowly upstairs, faster down.
Then to revisit stony grounds,
we used to know.

Remembering mornings, shillings spent,
made no sense to leave the bed.
The bad old days they came and went
giving way to fruitful years.

Saving up the birds in hand
while in the bush the others land.
Take what we can before the man
says it's time to go.

Each to his own way I'll go mine.
Best of luck with what you find.
But for your own sake remember times
we used to know.

-Ian Anderson

(Jethro Tull 1969)

Another day of reflection. Twenty nine years to the day Fr. Vazken was born. Days are lost, one in another. Filling up moments with mission and ministry. Each September 26 is a convenient opportunity for reflection, accounting and rededication. A few years ago, I remember I wrote the manifesto for the “Next Step” and it pushed me to take the next step in this ministry God has graced me with.

On the eve of ordination, by spiritual father, Abp. Vatché asked me, to vow to never to substitute the worldly work with that of spreading the Gospel of Christ. I took a vow to never tire and by the Grace of God, I’ve been given this awesome ministry that has had challenges, but keeps me ever vigilant in the work of spreading a message of love, hope and peace.

The years go by, the message is the same and the audience changes.

Well do you ever get the feeling that the stories too damn real and in the present tense? Or that everybody’s on the stage and you’re the only person, sitting in the audience?

And so the challenge – to stay relevant. The beauty of Christ’s message is that it is always relevant, because it is pure. It is based on love and peace. The foundation of the message IS love and peace. And the message produces love and peace.

I’m listening to Jethro Tull as I write these notes. Tull music has been my inspiration. They are playing a version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” at the moment. It is SO relevant. The beat is picked up and it flows. An ancient melody making me swing right now, pushing the keyboard strokes in rhythm.

So to my old headmaster and to anyone who cares, before I’m through I’d like to say my prayers. I don’t believe you. You have the whole damn thing all wrong. He’s not the kind of god you wind up on Sundays.

The Church was in my veins from early days. I was brought up in the Church. I’ve been told that my first words were spoken in the church: pointing to a light, I exclaimed “Looys” and so I can even claim mythical roots to this growth.

My growth through orthodoxy has been nurtured by many factors, perhaps non greater than the music that has filled my ears from childhood - church music, ethnic Armenian music, the beat on the streets and the incredibly large collection of music by Jethro Tull. In fact, I can safely say that the music of Jethro Tull pushed me to the priesthood. It has been a constant tune that has been playing in the background as I grew and developed. It has kept beat with me and by the Grace of God, it has been a constant in my life for the last 40+ years, consistently inspiring me, with genius lyrics coupled with complex tunes and a nasally voice that mimics the best of the Armenian deacons of the old world. (Only last year I found a group that had made the connection with me – Bambir and their album, “Armenian Scotch” connecting the dots between the Caucasus mountains of Armenia and the Highlands of the United Kingdom.)

Have you seen Jack-In-The-Green? With his long tail hanging down. He sits quietly under every tree, in the folds of his velvet gown…. Jack, do you never sleep, does the green still run deep in your heart? Or will these changing times, motorways, powerlines, keep us apart? Well, I don't think so, I saw some grass growing through the pavements today.

Ian Anderson is the genius behind the band. It is remarkable that he has kept Tull going for the last four decade - and though the music develops, say between a "Beggars Farm" (1968) and "Farm on the Freeway (1989) and the "Rupi's Dance" (21st century), there is a drone - the dahm - humming through it all. When I hear some of the tunes combined with the magical lyrics I don a smile, “from ear to hear” and my spirit fills with awe, with wonder. When I first heard "Thick as Brick" in 1972 and sat through five performances of "Passion Play" in 1973 - I was overwhelmed by the fact that such monumental pieces of music, each 45 minutes in length, could exist in the mind of one man. I began to understand what power God has given us to express the Love in our heart. It is in that expression that we find the Creative Energy that comes from without and resides within.

I’ve been walking this walk for over 29 years, considering I answered the Call when I came to terms with the idea the God is “not the kind you wind up on Sundays.” The beauty of God is not something that can be limited. We’ve done a great job of throwing Him inside “His golden cage” and thrown away the key. The Call has always been and continues to be to open that cage. Once opened, you find what the Apostle John explains, “God is Love.” That Love needs to be expressed. It is the basis of peace and peace comes where there is Love.

I was ordained at St. James, Los Angeles in 1982. Father Arshag Khatchadourian and Father Levon Apelian were my sponsors. Both were Dzayrakoyn Vartabeds of the Church. Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian ordained me, assisted by Bishop Aris Shirvanian, Fr. Dirayr Dervishian, Fr. Sipan Mekhsian, Fr. Samuel Aghoyan, Fr. Kevork Arakelian, Fr. Vartan Kasparian, Fr. Datev Tatoulian . I was blessed to have spent my days of seclusion there under the dome of the "empire" church.

Do we inhabit some micro-space and interface through wires. Dance on a printed circuit board throw the software to the fires. My memory is slim -- so volatile but I'm learning. Plug yourself in. Stay for awhile un-discerning. And on dusty terminals, finger me lightly do. And QWERTY is the name of love printed on the V.D.U. Cut yourself free. We're all alone communicating. User Friendly, that’s what I am to you!

From 1982 to 1996 I was assigned to the Pastorate at the Armenian Church of the Santa Clara Valley. During that time we built and consecrated an Armenian Church dedicated to the First-called Disciple of Jesus Christ, St. Andrew. It was there that we formed our new family. Susan would took classes and graduated San Jose State, the boys were born and raised in Cupertino. We learned the importance of community in the Life of the Christian – that our only hope was to extend ourselves to one another. We raised our children with the understanding that Love and Harmony were attainable with faith in your heart and the willingness to extend yourself beyond yourself.

It was there that we learned and explored social justice as the world was changing in our sight. Santa Clara Valley became Silicon Valley as technology exploded and shrunk our world. We learned of world tragedies in the time it took for electrons to travel from the remote corners of the earth to our electronic nerve center. I set up and established the first electronic information network dedicated to the Armenian nation, church and cause. With Hratch Tchilingirian we published “Window, View of the Armenian Church” during one of the most difficult and challenging times in the life of the Armenian nation. Communism collapsed, Armenia was free. The Armenian Church was ill-prepared to meet the needs of the people as the spirit was awakened in them. We fight the battle against materialism that consumed the post-Soviet generation until now.

So lean upon Him gently, and don’t call on Him to save you from your social graces and the sins you use to waive. …

In 1996 the Call moved us to Southern California to build the church in Pasadena. There we built up a community from a pitiful handful to thousands as the word of Love and Peace was spread once again. The St. Gregory Hovsepian Day school saw waiting lists, we went on Television and established our first Internet broadcast of the Divine Liturgy. Yes, we were building the Church, but the powers at the parish wanted to merely build a church (small-case ‘c’). They couldn’t see beyond their nose, the forest from the trees.

I listened to the command of our Lord, “Whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:11)

We left St. Gregory Pasadena, and have never looked back. God was leading us in new directions. We ended up at the Diocese, establishing a Youth Ministry – to oversee the ACYO, Camp and Education, each feeding the other. But, that same year we got a new bishop who did not see a value or benefit in having such a department. Subsequently, the Youth Ministries evolved into the St. Peter Armenian Church of Glendale.

Some rocky roads were in our path.

A mule falls into a pit. He is old. The owner does not want the mule to suffer and decides to put it out of its misery. He starts to pour dirt into the pit to bury the mule. As each shovel of dirt hits the mule on his back, the mule shakes it off and lets it fall to the ground. The dirt lifts him up ever so slightly. And so, the mule, shakes and steps up. Slowly he rises out of the pit. The same dirt that was to kill him, became his salvation.

That’s how I’ve felt these past several years. God is teaching me to shake it off and take a step up. I took one step out of the pit and it was “in the shoes” of my brother and my sister. The In His Shoes Movement was born. A trip to Rwanda allowed me to see the Armenian Church as a LIVING Church – one which has a mission beyond the Armenian people, with a message that needs to be heard throughout the world. We spoke the truth of Love and began a campaign of universal Peace as expressed in the expression 7x77. There is a Truth that is greater than the Church – it is God. Christ is the Incarnation of God, therefore the Incarnation of Love. In Christ we understand how it all comes together. And we express that Love as a United Means of Salvation – it is erotic, filial and agape all in one. That’s Christ.

Hello you straight laced lady, dressed in white, but your shoes aren’t clean. Painted them up with polish in the hope we can’t see where you’ve been. The smiling face that you’ve worn to greet me rising at morning. Sent me out to work for my score, please me and say what its for. … Give me the straight laced promise and not the pathetic lie…. Sossity: You’re a woman. Society: You’re a woman.

And so… we have evolved. We’re bringing it all together, the good and the bad from throughout the years. And we're calling it Armodoxy. It's a "hyebrid" of Armenian Orthodoxy made relevant, NOT by touching the message, but by speaking to the times. It is much like the Armenian Scotch - with all the power of moutains, the people - from back there and here, from ancient times and today. It is the mix of chant and Rock & Roll. It is walking in the Sandals of Christ and In the Shoes of the homeless, the cancer victim and the prisoner. Armodoxy has arrived. And the process is flowing forward.

We’re a church on the corner in Glendale with a worldwide mission. Today God has moved us to new heights. Epostle took form as “Apostolic Evangelism for an electronic world.” We are podcasting “Next Step” and just last week we launched “Compass.” We are streaming Bible studies and sermons. We’re a church that is growing in the right direction because our success is measured in people and not brick and mortar.

In days of peace, sweet smelling summer nights, of wine and song; dusty pavements burning feet. Why am I crying, I want to know. How can I smile and make it right? For sixty days and eighty nights and not give in and lose the fight. I'm going back to the ones that I know, with whom I can be what I want to be. Just one week for the feeling to go and with you there to help me, then it probably will.

Jesus asked me to follow Him. I’m blessed. I’m not alone. My family, is committed to the cause and is taking the giant steps with me. I’m further blessed because there are people all around me who understand the same and know that our only hope and salvation is through the spreading of Christ’s Love for a lasting peace.

When Christ called me, he said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11)

My body was assaulted this year, but God has brought me to this 29^th anniversary and I’m renewing my commitment to the same cause and the same mission that I vowed to 29 years ago: Love. Speak it, spread it and live it. Tonight I’m humming it. Thanks Ian. Thanks to everyone. Now let’s move forward…

So you ride yourselves over the fields

and you make all your animal deals

and your wise men don’t know how it feels

to be Thick as a Brick.

Prayer for 10th Anniversary of 9/11

2011-09-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

This morning at 6:58 - 10 years to the date and time of the 9/11 attack we gathered at the Glendale Fire Department for a commemorative service. The names of the fallen fire-fighters were remembered with a solemn reading. I was asked to offer the prayer. Please join me with yours.

Prayer at the 10^th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terror Attacks

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the beauty of this day and the opportunity to freely express ourselves and our faith as we gather this morning, here and throughout the world, in commemoration.

May we never forget the tragedy of that day - may the memory of all those lives-lost keep us vigilant in our resolve to seek peace and work for justice. Likewise, may we be inspired by the bravery of those who walked into tragedy while most were fleeing. May we celebrate the courage of those who stood and stand today helping others, as a testament to the power of love.

As we leave today, strengthen us as Americans to look beyond our prejudices and see YOUR presence in all the people we confront. Fill us - each of us - with faith, hope and love – to have faith in a brighter tomorrow, to hope for the goodness in everyone, and to do everything with love in our hearts.

Bless this great country of ours, the United States of America, land of the free and the home of the brave, the land where dreams come true. Bless the people in arms and the people who serve, the responders and the all those who sacrifice their time, energy and lives for the betterment of us all. Keep us focused on true justice, so that we remember Your unfailing words, that love always is and will be more powerful than hatred and that good will always conquer evil.

May we depart in peace and know that You are with us Always, to the End of the Ages. Amen.

The Man from Ick

2011-08-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

During the last few weeks we've been discussing the institution of the Church in our weekly podcast, The Next Step. (episodes #165. 166 & 167 - http://epostle.net). We've been referring to a story called "The Man from Ick" and its surprise ending. I've used this story throughout the years to start conversation about the church and her mission. Here is the story in its entirety. You can hear it read in "Ani's Bubble" as part of Next Step #166 http://www.epostle.net/archives.html

The Man from Ick

Once there was a town called Ick.

The people of Ick had a problem. They were icky.

For some reason, everyone who was born in Ick ended up icky. Scientists, doctors, experts from all over the world had tried to analyze the people of Ick; and although they all agreed that the people of Ick were icky, no one could agree on a cure. In fact, there was no cure.

The scientists, doctors, and experts agreed that the only thing they could do would be to give people suggestions on how to cope with their ickyness.

But experts or no experts, everyone learned to cope in his or her own way. Some pretended they weren't icky. Some tried to keep busy and forget their ickyness. Others decided that being icky was better than not being icky. . . and they got ickier

Some just didn't care.

Usually, if you were able to get a person from Ick to be honest, he or she really didn't like being icky.

Well, you can imagine how many people arrived in Ick with a "cure" for ickyness. And you can imagine how many people were always willing to try each new cure that came along. And strangely enough, some of the cures seemed to work. . . for a while. But eventually, the cure would stop working, and everyone would be icky again.

One day, something happened that would radically change the people of Ick. A long-time resident of Ick began to suggest publicly that he had a cure for ickyness.

It was very difficult for the people of Ick to believe that a person who lived in Ick himself could have a real cure for ickyness.

But then something strange happened. One of the ickiest people in all of Ick believed in this cure and was changed. He simply wasn't icky anymore. Everyone thought it was just temporary and waited. But it didn't go away; and before long, lots and lots of people started believing the man from Ick. . . and everyone who believed was cured.

It was incredible, and one would think that the people of Ick were overjoyed. But the people weren't overjoyed, and soon a town meeting was called.

The fact of the matter was, the business community of Ick had been built around the basic fact of people's ickyness. And with more and more people losing their ickyness, the economic future of Ick was threatened. After an extremely heated discussion, it was generally agreed that what appeared to be a cure for ickyness was probably like all the other so-called cures and would soon turn out to be a hoax. Since so many people were being misled and since it was possible that many more people could be misled and since a person who would perpetrate such a hoax could affect the stability of Ick, the "savior" was asked to leave.

He refused.

He continued to cure people, and each day those responsible for the stability of Ick became more and more concerned. One day, the savior of Ick disappeared. It caused quite a commotion, and no one to this day knows what happened. Some say he had been done away with. Others said they had actually seen him the day after he disappeared.

What was strange was that, even though the savior was gone, people who believed in him and his cure would suddenly find their ickyness gone. And even though the majority of the townspeople agreed that this savior was, in fact, a hoax, all those who had believed in him were still cured.

The people who had lost their ickyness thought everyone would jump at the chance to be cured. They were sadly disappointed. Very few were even interested. So the ex-icky people did what they could to convince the icky people that their cure was not a hoax, and every once in a while someone would believe.

Apparently, and this is only hearsay, a small group of ex-icky people began to worry that, if they or their children associated too much with icky people, they might be contaminated or become icky again.

It wasn't long before these people banded together and moved to the top of Ick Hill, an isolated spot on the edge of town. They would work, shop, and go to school in downtown Ick and then return to Ick Hill for their evenings and weekends. But it wasn't long before the people of Ick Hill became so fearful of contamination that they built their own school, market, gas station, and shopping center

A few more months went by. And one morning, the people of Ick woke up to see Ick Hill covered by a large glass bubble. Ick Hill was now a completely self-contained community with everything completely under control.

One particularly cold morning, an icky person in the city of Ick noticed that there was no visible activity inside the glass bubble of Ick Hill. A rescue party was sent to see if everything was all right.

After breaking through the glass bubble, they were shocked to find the entire population of Ick Hill dead. Autopsies were ordered, and the cause of death was the same for all: suffocation.

From:
Creative Learning Experiences
Edited by Wane Rice, John Roberto and Mike Yaconelli
St. Mary's Press, Christian Brothers Publications, Winona Minnesota
p. 53-55

"Praying Solves all of My Problems"

2011-06-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Just this morning I was in the doctor’s office as a two-week follow-up to my surgery. The nurse who took my vitals was wearing one of those stretchy-charm bracelets – the kind with the small pictures and icons on them.

On this particular bracelet there were a few icons of saints and one which appeared to be Coptic Pope Shenouda. I asked the nurse and she told me that it happened to be the pope before Shenouda. On her small desk there were a few other icons as well as a Coptic cross, enough items to spark a conversation between the two of us about faith. I explained that I was a priest of the Armenian Church, to demystify the puzzle of how I knew a bit about her church. I mentioned that I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness several years ago (see http://armodoxy.blogspot.com/2011/07/coptic-churcharmenian-miuron.html) and she, in turn, shared the story of meeting the pope pictured on her bracelet.

It was His Holiness Pope Kyrillos, of blessed memory, who had inspired an awe in her, not only with his presence but with a few words which she shared with me this morning. She embraced this message as if it were her personal mantra, never tiring to repeat it and complete sold on it power. In fact, when she shared these words of Pope Kyrillos, I found them to be so profound and deep that they gave me a chance to stop, mid-blood pressure check, take the pen from my pocket and write them down. The message was so simple that I feared I might get lost amidst the clutter of my physical testing this morning. The words of Pope were quite simple. “Praying solves all my problems,” he had proclaimed to her and the audience on that day four decades ago. Praying solves all of my problems! Did I mention it was a simple message? Did I say that it was profound?

This is the bottom line. We complicate matters too much. Praying solves all of my problems. These words hit me so unexpectedly. You wait for a pope to utter some deep answer to mystery or a major pronouncement of faith. And then you get something that is so profound that it gives you cause to stop and apply it to your life. Praying solves all of my problems.

As I have found in my life, our prayer life is so important. Praying does solve all of our problems – not some, but all. But, it has to do with our ability to make that prayer a real one. It has to do with our ability to connect into the prayer. Note: it is not the inanimate “prayer” that solves our problems, but the verb “praying” – our interaction with the prayer! Because prayer can become superficial if we recite it. But if we live it, we engage with the Divine. Praying gives mere words meaning and they turn into a prayer. Look at one of the simplest prayer that we learn from Jesus, up on the cross he prays, “Father, forgive them.” What a prayer! Think of it. Just three words and yet each of those words are loaded. “Father.” “Forgive.” “Them.” Each word invites a meditation. Each word invites us to engage with the divinity within us. Imagine if we could make these three words into a meaningful prayer in our life!

Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. These are the prayers that keep us alive when refuse to recite and instead take a moment to truly pray. These are the words that keep us human. They keep us moving forward.

And so, this morning, the pronouncement made by this pope, remembered by this nurse, shared with me two weeks after my surgery, while I’m thinking of physical mortality and spiritual immortality, now offered me a moment to understand my humanity and how I engage with the divine. It was a very profound moment of understanding and clarity for me. It’s what we discuss in this exercise we call Armodoxy. It’s about making Faith real in our life.

God, Jesus Christ, prayer, Holy Spirit, Etchmiadzin, it’s all about making these words real in our lives. Prayer is not a collection of words. They have meaning. They have function. Praying makes our life real. It makes it whole. It makes it complete. Praying solves all of my problems.

Prayer/praying. As we kick-off the fourth year of Next Step Podcasts, it’s an appropriate tie in to all that we do. We’re committed to this ministry which we dare call Armodoxy. It’s a living tradition that engages us with the Divine. We give thanks for this opportunity.

Entire message: http://www.epostle.net/archives_season7.html#159

Eve of Fathers' Day/Sunday of Holy Trinity

2011-06-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

Cheap Day Return
On Preston Platform
do your soft-shoe shuffle dance
Brush away the cigarette ash
that's falling down your pants
And then you sadly wonder
DOES THE NURSE TREAT YOUR OLD MAN
the way she should?
She made you tea,
asked for your autograph --
what a laugh.
- Ian Anderson (while leaving his father at the hospital on a cheap-day-return trip)

The days between the day of diagnosis and today have melded together. How do you refer to this mass? An ordeal? The cancer? It includes diagnosis, testing, verifying malignancy, consulting, expressing, surgery, hospitalization - pre-op and post-op, recovery, and the healing. The entirety is separated into small episodes - each one contributing to the next, directly, each episode offering its lessons for the day and the entire healing process.

I like that. The ordeal is "the healing."

I know I didn't experience the traditional stages in reacting to tragedy. Most noticeably lacking were anger and denial, but I did experience small episodes that came together and continue to come together to produce the whole story of diagnosis, confirmation, waiting, removing and recovery from the cancer. The Healing. And add to the episode the characters - the doctors, the family, the caretakers, the friends, the messages, the flowers, the concerned - each character involved in each of the episodes responds and reacts uniquely establishing the roots to a new story, all part of the whole.

Last Saturday night my son Varoujan came in from Phoenix and visited me at the hospital. He and his brothers would represent our family at my niece Ani's graduation from nursing school - a party that night and the pinning service the following afternoon. Ani became a RN whilst I was hospitalized - Susan and I enjoyed the pictures and stories, and the boys got their fill from the events. Each of us, with a unique view and vantage of this milestone.

Our sons view the healing from different perspectives - each from his own unique perspective, each reacting to the episodes and circumstances of the day, each of them crafting and creating their own personal reflection of dad's suffering, illness, hospitalization or recovery, recorded in the journal of their mind's memory, to affect circumstances and situations to come.

By Sunday, I had taken a small detour in the recovery process. The small intestines were not reacting. That night became one of the most violent ones in the hospitalization process.The boys stopped by the hospital that night on their way to the airport. Varoujan said goodbye along with his wishes for my recovery. He wished me an early "Happy Fathers' Day" with, "I probably won't be able to come next week." This will be the first Fathers' Day apart. This day was coming as it came in my life - the day when life and life's circumstances would separate me and my dad on Fathers' Day. Nevertheless, even today while it's been over 20 years since his death, I am still with my dad on Fathers' Day. I have that confidence that Varoujan is with me and I with him in his thoughts and life.

As Varoujan took off for the airport, in this small episode in the "healing" process, I remembered the line from the 1971 Tull song, Cheap Day Return. Ian Anderson stood on Preston Platform, leaving the hospital where his father lay thinking does the nurse treat his old man, the way she should? ... You're out there thinking... on a platform, a hospital bed or a air terminal. You're wondering quietly or aloud about all that you experience and that thought process is what connects these seeming islands of episodes into one story. For now, it fits into the story of my recovery. It turns into the story of life for our family and later as part of the human story of love. The episodes come together and forms the story of healing.

Video?

The Sunday of the Holy Trinity is celebrated on this Sunday following Pentecost. It reminds us of the Mystery - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each unique, each equal, each a part of the Whole which some may call God, others the Universe, others still, the Healing.

One Hundred Eleven - Anush Named Woman of the Year

2011-05-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

Anush Avejic: Recipient of the 2011 Woman of the Year Award

This is the text of the announcement I made at the Annual Woman of the Year Award ceremony at the St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries’ Center, Glendale, California

May 14, 2011

This is a very special award. It is given in recognition of a woman who exemplifies the vision and goals of the Armenian Church. I don’t like calling it an award because it can easily be given to many of you who dedicate yourselves to the Church. Although it’s by election that the recipient is determined, it is not awarded in a competitive spirit. That is, no one works for this award. In our church, we do it all for God and not for the sake of recognition. That’s what’s so special about this acknowledgment. You - the members of the Maidens Group - are recognizing a peer. You are acknowledging one of your own: one who is dedicated to the church, the Christian message of faith, hope and love and is selfless in her dedication.

By way of procedures – each St. Peter Maiden has one vote. The ballots are tallied in private by me. No one knows the outcome until today.

Last year, Anoush Dekmejian was the first recipient of Woman of the Year. She has dedicated her life to the Armenian Church for many years through work in different parishes and positions. We are very fortunate to have someone like her who selflessly works to better our church. She has been with us since the first day we opened our parish eight years ago.

Our recipient this year is also someone who has been with us since our first day of operations. She is, in fact, one of the godmothers of our church, responsible for one of the pillars that holds up the work of our church. She is a native of Los Angeles, being born to Diramayr Anna and the late Dr. Varougan Movsesian. She is my sister, Anush Avejic.

Anush grew up here in the Southern California area, attending local schools. She’s a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, where her daughter Ani will be graduating as well, next month. Anush has two beautiful children Nareg and Ani. Along with her husband Ned, she lives in Sunland.

To say Anush is involved in our church’s work is a major understatement. On one of the ballots we received, there was a list of “reasons” for Anush’s nomination. It said, and I quote, “In His Shoes Mission, Annual Cancer Walk, World Vision Orphan Program, Monthly Homeless Run, Piggy Bank Fund Raiser, Choir member, Translator, Church member, Parish Council Member, Outreach Program coordinator, Flyers, Food and ALWAYS ready to help!” Now that’s involvement.

Anush is an accomplished musician. Her singing in our choir is only a small outward expression of what we in the family have enjoyed for many years. Whether on flute, piano or guitar, she’s played the rhythms of life for us. Anush is a teacher. She taught at the Hovsepian School in Pasadena, instructing new generations to live out their dreams. She was one of the best loved teachers at that school. But even more, she continues to teach with her example of humility and constant dedication to the plight of the suffering.

Anush has been brought up in the Church with a deep and unpretentious faith in Christ. Her life is driven by a very basic philosophy, to help people who can’t help themselves. She’s there for the lonely, the shattered, the poor and hungry. She has a genuine compassion for humanity. It comes through in her faith, her prayers, her work and in the exemplary outreach.

On a personal level, some of our best memories from childhood come from walking to school together. The road to school was filled with many crazy things, places, adventures and stories. In a sense, we’ve walked that road together ever since, talking, sharing and learning. In a very real sense, she walks with us all and inspires us to seek the path of compassion.

In her latest bout with cancer she is teaching us a lesson in faith and strength. She’s taking on this evil with the greatest of weapons: God on her side and Love in her heart. From her bed, she makes arrangements for the next homeless feed, she takes care of orphans in Africa and Armenia, and organizes her walk, next September, for a Breast Cancer cure.

Anush has a line of jewelry at called Pomegranate and Eye. Please do check it out. The name is very descriptive of who Anush is to us. She is our pomegranate – filled with unending life. She’s our eye that wards off all evil with her powerful love.

It is my pleasure to announce the 2011 St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries’ Center Woman of the Year, Anush Avejic.

Are you tying water with that rope?

2011-05-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

One of our parishioners told me about a recent encounter she had with an Armenian priest. She was talking about the work that we did for Darfur, primarily with the Fast for Darfur. The priest expressed his disappointment that we were not channeling the money to Armenia.

The (il)logic is this: There are so many people in need in Armenia. We're an Armenian church in the Diaspora; therefore, we should be reaching out to Armenia instead of Darfur.

I've heard it before. In times past, I would argue the case of the universality of the Christian message and the need for Armenians to look beyond "our own" in offering help, realizing everyone is "our own." In a sense, this is what this kind parishioner argued with the priest.

But today, it clicked in my head. This is just another way of passing off responsibility. Fine - let's not even go in the direction of Darfur. Let's stick with Armenia. Have you helped someone in Armenia? Have you even offered hope to someone in Armenia? For everyone who criticizes our work in Darfur, they need to look at our track record, whether it's Mariam who gets treatment as a guest of In His Shoes, or the clothes and toys that we send to the villages of Vanadzor, or the sister churches and Sunday Schools we've adopted. So, let's bring it down to a simple question: what are YOU doing for the people of Armenia?

I find that most of these people who are critical of our work for Darfur and want us to redirect attention to Armenia, are not doing a thing for Armenia themselves. It's just a lazy persons argument, revealing their deep prejudice. If you don't want to do something, you'll find any excuse you want.

A story from Naseredin Hodja:
Hodja's neighbor asks him: May I borrow your rope?
Hodja: Sorry, I'm using it to tie up the water in the back yard.
Neighbor: What do you mean? You can't tie water with a rope.
Hodja: If I don't want to lend you my rope, I can use any excuse I want.

Easter Appeal for Darfur

2011-04-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4

Dear Friends,

It’s finally here. The day we have been waiting for – the day that brings it all together – Easter Sunday on April 24!

Easter Sunday is a day to WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION of Christ, AND THIS YEAR our witness comes by way of a Resurrected Armenian people. For the past several months we’ve organized events and programs with this day in mind. The “Darkest Day in Modern History” - the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, meets up with the Brightest Day in all of Eternity. And darkness doesn’t stand a chance.

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Part of our unique witness to the Light includes reaching out to the people of Darfur. If you haven’t had a chance to see our video, “Greetings of Hope” please take a look. It was shown in the refugee camps. As I looked at pictures and videos of Darfuri genocide refugees watching this video, I could only think, what if someone had cared about the Armenian people in 1915? The reality is that we can’t change the past, but we can do something about today.

I’m pleased to let you know, just a few hours ago a group of people in Glendale began the “Fast for Darfur.” It is organized by In His Shoes ministries and this year has participants in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, England, Syria and Armenia. The Fast is intended to bring attention to the Genocide in Darfur, to show our solidarity and to raise much needed funds for humanitarian needs in the refugee camps.

If you’re on our In His Shoes mailing list, I know you’ve received letters and information about our fast. This letter is my personal appeal to you at this Holy Easter Season – please be a witness to the resurrection, by donating to the Fast for Darfur. All donations will reach the refugees. We have partnered with Stop Genocide Now (founder Gabriel Stauring was named In His Shoes 2008 Man of the Year) and monitor the refugee camps on an on-going basis through videos and satellite feeds. The money gets there and it helps.

You can securely donate at our website InHisShoes.org or send in a donation to Armenian Church Youth Ministries, 632 W. Stocker St., Glendale, CA 91202. If you’re interested in doing a matching fund, please write me personally at Vazken@inhisshoes.org

Fasting is one of the key ways we heighten our awareness to the pain of others. We’re committed to this fast and ask that you help us by keeping steadfast in your prayers and remembering the people of Darfur with a donation today.

I take this opportunity to wish you all the blessings of the Empty Tomb! May God’s promise of life and love fill your lives today and always.

-Fr. Vazken Movsesian

P.S. Please join us in a victory celebration Sunday morning with a special Easter Sunrise Service – 8:00PDT at our church in Glendale and on the net at Epostle.net (Broadcast tab).

The Priesthood Today

2011-03-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

This year, on the Feast of St. Ghevontyantz, I was asked by our Diocesan Primate to answer a few questions regarding the priesthood, as a meditation for our annual clergy retreat. I present them here as a mediation "The Priesthood Today."

1) How do you understand the priesthood today?

The priesthood for me today and always has been to continue the ministry of the first Priest, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Following His baptism and seclusion in the desert, our Lord enters the church and proclaims His mission:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll... saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21)

See below for explanation

The priest today can only continue that same ministry: to proclaim the Good News. The only difference is that today we can broaden the definition of the object of the ministry. For instance, the poor are not merely those with no money, but have nothing – are broke – in their spirits. The prisoners are all of us who are enslaved to sin. The blind can't see the beauty of God's world even with their eyes wide open and the oppressed are those who seek justice. The priest today is "anointed" for this reason.

2) How do you understand the priest as intermediary between God and humanity?

This is a very dangerous concept to contemplate. My hesitation to dwell too deep is because as human beings we are all tempted by the power of the ego. The ego can bring us down by building up false illusions of power. Therefore, it is important to understand myself, as a priest, as a tool of God and leave the rest to God, to shape, direct, guide and move.

3) How do you understand the formula of the priest "for the people," that is, how do you understand the social mission of the church?

This is the only true way to understand the priesthood. Everything the priest does is for the people. Look for instance at the sacraments which the priest delivers. Every sacrament has people as its object. It is for the people that the priesthood exists and the social mission is a development of that definition.

Our Lord places it very plainly – love of God is expressed by our love for one another. St. John the Evangelist, reminds us in his First Letter, “We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.” (I John 4:19-21)

People are hurting throughout the world. They have always suffered immense pain and discomfort because of the will of others. Christ taught by his example - he reached outside of the comfort level and met, touched, hugged, cured, healed and raised people to life. The priest has to follow this example and raise people to understand Christ's words, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) And that abundance is expressed by the priest, when he blesses a home. Along with the water and bread, the priest also blesses salt. It is for life to be filled with flavor. Herein we find the abundance of life that Christ promises. The priest is there for the people. The social mission is at the core of the work of the church.

4) In your experience, as a priest, what have been the most serious calls to battle?

My greatest battle as a priest has been against materialism. It is powerful. It has convinced our people to believe that true wealth is in their pockets and not in their hearts. Along with materialism there is a whole myriad of other battles that equally damage lives, namely indifference, hypocrisy and self-absorption. Each of these keep us away from maximizing our potential as loving and caring individuals. Furthermore, these battles exist on the institutional level as well. We find our church is indifferent to world tragedies such as genocide. We see it hypocritical in preaching one message and practicing another. And it is self-absorbed to the point of not understanding itself in a larger community.

As a priest, one of the greatest battles we all have to fight is to remain contemporary in a quickly changing world. The priest has to speak to the times. The poet Vahan Tekeyan reminds us that the "Armenian Church" is the birthplace of my soul," but even our birthplaces change. The priest has to be there as a constant in a changing world and at the same time, he has to be able to function in the world today. (Luke 16)

5) As a priest, when you sit with the Lord Jesus Christ, how will you respond when he asks, "Give an accounting of your stewardship?"

There is only one thing I could say, "Lord have mercy." (Der Voghormia) What else can you possibly say to God? Can I say, "I built a church" when he has designed and created the majestic mountains and the beautiful seascapes? Can I say, "I got a degree from the university" to the one who established all the laws of nature and physics? Can I say, "I gave up my comfort" when God sacrificed His Son for our salvation? No, there really isn't much to say beyond "Lord have mercy" and truly believe that only through His mercy we live, function as priests and love to the extent we do.

The Next Step in Commemoration: Help Stop a Genocide Today

2011-02-03T00:34:00.000-08:00

The following is a transcript of commentary made during the “Next Step with Fr. Vazken” podcast, on February 3, 2011 (#139) Listen at - http://epostle.net/archives_season6.html#139

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to be at an event organized by Jewish World Watch as they honored one of their founding members, Janice Reznik. This gave me a chance to pause in our busy schedule and contemplate the work we’re doing at In His Shoes Ministries, especially in regard to the Genocide taking place in Darfur.

I know we have all been shaken by what is happening in Egypt this week as well as the turmoil throughout the world. Of course, we realize that this is the news and the message that the media decides to bring into our homes. In fact, we must make an effort to remember that. The other day they were talking about Charlie Sheen. Here’s a guy who’s abusing drugs, living life on the edge, wasting away in front of the world. And why is he important? I mean, why is this man’s life being thrown in front of our faces? Because, we are told, he is the most popular actor in TV sitcoms today. Because he is the top paid actor on TV today. That’s it. That’s the reason why his life is more important to the media than the guy on the street who’s shooting himself up with heroin or other street drugs. Charlie Sheen’s life is important to follow and report as news because he’s making millions of dollars. In fact, just this morning there was a news article that his parents were petitioning the court to take over his estate so that his money cannot be squandered on drugs and reckless living. Got it? They need to save the money. Again, why is he important? Why are we talking about it? Because the media has decided to report this news. The media has decided that this guy is more important than all the others. In fact, there are millions – let’s say thousands, or let’s say that there only two others – that will never get the attention. And it’s those little guys that I’m concerned about. They also need to be noticed.

Many times I sadly contemplate the loss of children in these terms too. For instance, every year we hold the Cathia Hamparian Children’s Memorial at our church. For the last 15 years as part of our In His Shoes programming we commemorate the loss of these young lives. We add the names of children on a list only wishing that its growth would one day end. We remember the names of children that we knew and along with them I always remember the forgotten children of war and genocide. Every day there are children being killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and in our streets, but they are remembered as statistics, not by name. These children are taken away from parents and we call that the “casualties of war,” or perhaps the “byproduct of war.”
You see, there are different rules for war. Somehow it’s alright for children to die in war. But when someone dies on the streets because of an accident or before their time because of illness, we mourn them greatly because these are “horrible” and “terrible” events. Yet, bombing villages and children dying in a war is considered as part of the rules. These children died just because there was a war. Try to explain that word “just” to a parent in the war zone. But we don’t need to, because those stories don’t come to us up front and person. The media decides what news, what information, comes into our lives and what information we will consume.

Right now we’re focusing on Egypt, the unrest, the upheaval and the call for the president to step down. This is the story that the media has decided we will hear and consume right now. Of course there is so much more happening in the world that the media does not report. That news, it is up to us to find and explore. In particular I’m talking about Darfur.

Just today there was more bombing taking place in Darfur. You won’t hear this on mainstream media, probably because one crisis in Africa is enough, it fills the quota. I remember a few years ago, when In His Shoes was recognizing Gabriel Stauring as its “Man of the Year” in an attempt to bring attention to Darfur, we called the LA Times for coverage. We were told in no uncertain terms that the editor had deemed it was enough that they had covered Gabriel’s work in Darfur nine months earlier. That’s it. There was no need to cover it any more. And believe it or not, today there are children dying in Darfur because of genocide and the media doesn’t feel a need to cover it because, well frankly, one story out of Africa is enough and too many might jeopardize advertising dollars.

Now, let’s back up. Darfur is this area that is undergoing genocide. Not suicide, where someone kills him or her self. Not homicide, where someone kills another person. It’s not even an act of war, where you can say “OK, there is some collateral damage - casualties on the side.” No, we’re talking about Genocide: A systematic program of annihilation of a group of people. This government sanctioned.

Between 1915 to 1922 there was a systematic annihilation of the Armenian people ordered by the Ottoman Turkish government. We saw this government-ordered and sanctioned systematic murder and destruction again in the Holocaust, later in Cambodia, in Bosnia and in Rwanda. An organized effort to do away with the gene-pool: Gen-o-cide. And it’s happening again. Right now. It’s happening in Darfur.

Sadly, Darfur is forgotten. Especial today, when the one-tragedy-in-Africa-is-enough mentality dictates assignments handed out for newsgathering. Who cares about the small places? When we have large Egypt who cares about small Darfur? Last night ABC correspondent Christiana Amanpour was reporting when someone threw a rock at her. That was all over the news – countless reports that crossed over the networks. Everyone was reporting it. Someone else threw a punch at CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper. It’s been all over the news. Yet, every single day there are people dying on the streets that will never be known to us. They are being killed in Darfur and no one is covering it.

Now why am I so hot about this issue? Well, because in 1915 the same thing happened to the Armenian people and no one seemed to care. The Armenian Genocide was hidden because the world’s attention was focused elsewhere. As the annihilation of the Armenian people was taking place, as the systematic slaughter of people was in progress, the world was focusing in on the bigger calamities. And in fact, World War I was unfolding. People were focusing on the large scale destructions all around them, while not noticing the “little” events such as the destruction of the Armenian nation in the act of Genocide. Who cares about the Armenians?

I can’t sit by and watch that same chain of events happen to another group of people, because it does not fit into my model of life. What good is it, if I’m going to “commemorate” a genocide from the past and turn my head to a genocide taking place today? Make no mistake about it people throughout the world will commemorate April 24 as the start of the Armenian Genocide and they will commemorate it with speeches, threats (to the Turks and their allies) and the throwing of rhetoric ad nauseam but not even throw a glance to the reality of genocide taking place in Darfur. How can you reconcile those two reactions with one another? How can anyone commemorate such a vulgar action as genocide from the past and miss the opportunity to act on that same horrendous act today? Push it further. We’re Christian, right? How do you reconcile the action of praising God while children are being slaughtered?

Interestingly enough, at the Jewish World Watch event Rabbi Schulweis, who is one of the founders of the organization, addressed the gathered audience. He began his comments with a simple explanation of why they started Jewish World Watch. He said, during the Holocaust we asked “Where is God?” Where was the clergy? Where was the Church? He continued by turning the question on himself. In years to come, he said, I don’t want my children and my grandchildren asking where were the rabbis when the Genocide in Darfur took place?

When I heard him say this I was relieved to hear someone else echoing the same sentiments we’ve been teaching through In His Shoes Ministries. Because it means nothing to say we were “The first Christian Nation.”* Really. It means absolutely nothing. No, you and I weren’t part of the first Christian nation. You and I were not the first people who accepted Christianity. That was 2000 years ago. Someone was brave enough to stand up and say he or she was going to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ no matter what the consequences. That’s not you or me. Rather, it was people who had courage and a lot of faith. Remember the story of the Jews in the Bible who took pride in their past while ignoring their present spiritual condition? They came up to Jesus and said, “We have Abraham as our father.” Big deal! Jesus told them, “Out of these stones God can raise up children of Abraham!” (Matthew 3:9) Essentially Jesus switched their focus. What’s the big deal about being a child of Abraham? So what? What’s the big deal about being part of the first Christian nation, if you are the first people to forget and deny your Christianity? What good is all your praise and talk if you’re the first person to not walk the walk of Christ?

Last century, for some reason that escapes me, we Armenians would give some self-importance to the fact that “we” were the victims of the First Genocide of the 20th Century. Who was? I was? You were? Bigger than that – today Darfur is the venue of the First Genocide of the 21st Century! The only way to view the 20th Century genocide means we have to do something about the genocide of the 21st Century. In other words, so what you were the first victims of 20th Century genocide, what are you doing about the first genocide of the 21st Century?

I am saddened, that the Church – Christ’s Sacred Body – and in particular the Armenian Church has closed its mind, it has closed its doors to what is happening out there. Instead of leading the people with the Victory taught and experienced by Christ, the Church t is following the same model of victimization that has been handed down through the years. The Church, yes that Body endowed with the power to create new realities is stuck in the same old holding-pattern: Commemorate genocide and close your eyes to what is going on around you. And I can’t do that. I can’t live with myself knowing that genocide is taking place, knowing that the same heinous crimes that were committed against my grandparents back in 1915 are being committed against these children of God. The world has closed its eyes, its ears and its mouth to it. Yes, see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of those three monkeys with their hands over their eyes, ears and mouth. The three monkeys! And I refuse to be a monkey. I refuse to de-evolve!
We must talk about evolution, about evolving as a species so that there cannot be genocide in future generations. Evolving means moving forward to a point where genocide doesn’t exist, where war is obsolete and we work together as human beings.

What are we striving for? What is the purpose of life? What is the purpose of religion? So that I can claim that my religion is better than yours? So I can claim that I’m going to heaven and you’re not? Woohoo! Unfortunately, this is what we’ve brought it down to. Do you ever wonder why religion is looked down upon? Because we have minimized it to this type of nonsense. It is sinful. It is the sin of arrogance and sadly the Armenian Church is guilty of that same sin. We say, hey look at us! We’ve got golden chandeliers and shiny crosses. We’ve got the towers that reach up to heaven. But you open the doors and there is nothing inside.
This morning I got a call from one of my parishioners. She was excited because one of the dioceses had issued an app for the iPhone. Imagine that, you can get the diocese on your iPhone now! Weeee!!! But when she went to use the app there was nothing there! The usual press releases are unavoidable - touting meetings with politicians, rich people being recognized and announcements about dinner dances. But, the Body of Christ in action? Press the app and there’s nothing there.

Today in a world where Egypt is unfolding, where the Middle East is exploding, where Darfur is crying genocide, where in our own backyardswe have issues of violence - people shooting at their senators, where we care more about actors and their drug addictions than the drugs being passed on to our kids in the street, where we care about Superbowl winnings rather than the disappearing Middle Class, where people are on the streets of America hungry and destitute, what direction is the Church providing? What content are they putting into those apps? Are they challenging you to step up to responsibility to spread love and bring peace, or are they telling you about the church that was built? Or which parish council was favored by the bishop? Or which politician sat at a mass? (Remember to mention that the politician – Armenian or not – held a candle with us and not mention that he didn’t understand a word of the ceremony.)

It’s over. This is why I teach Armodoxy. I’m not telling you about the Armenian Church. Rather I want us to look at the Faith of the Armenian Church? What was the Faith that kept people living? It wasn’t about buildings. It wasn’t about empty apps. It is about the fullness of Christ. When I speak of Armodoxy I’m looking at a Faith that was founded by Jesus Christ from the foundation of the Universe and has arrived to us 2000 years later. It is a Faith that has been witnessed to us by the Gospels. It is a Faith that has been witnessed to us by the teachings of the patriarchs and matriarchs through their writings and exemplary lives. It is a Faith that has been nourished and cultivated through the prayers of countless followers throughout the centuries. This Faith has arrived to us today because it has been witnessed to by the reality of life! That reality has one simple message: Despite all of our crucifixions there is a Resurrection. That Resurrection is the only thing that can combat the darkest darkness and evilest evil in the world. And so the dream is there – we will live in a world where one day Genocide is no more. It will be a thing of the past. We will live in a world where war is an obsolete method of resolving our problems because the power of peace, the power of love and the power of LIFE is more powerful than all the evil in this year.

Now this year we have a unique opportunity to be a witness to the power of Good. This year, April 24 – the darkest day in modern human history, the date on which the Armenian Genocide began – happens to coincide with the brightest day of the Universe. Yes, I’m talking about Easter – the Resurrection! It will take place on April 24. Think about it: the dark and the light. The sun and the snow. Death and life!

This year Easter Sunday is on April 24 and I cannot and will not sit there and say let’s commemorate the past when things are taking place today! We have no right to do that. And if it means we’re out of the church, then so be it. If so, then the Church isn’t living. We need to stand up as Armenian Christians. We must stand up as people of Faith, who have the Light of Jesus Christ as the Beacon that guides us, to say that the real Church is a church that cares. Its hands are extended to help because it is the Body of Christ! And the Body of Christ cannot just sit back, relax and watch as people die. The Body of Christ cannot kick-back and enjoy the sunshine, while people are being bombed and persecuted day-in and day-out.

In His Shoes is calling for a Rally for Darfur. It’s going to be on March 6 at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. It will be an opportunity for us to come together and heighten awareness for Darfur. I ask that you check with us daily on the In His Shoes website www.InHisShoes.org, Facebook or Twitter for updates during the next few day. The situation in Darfur is so grave and I’m truly disgusted when people in the Christian world close their ears to the cries of the people. These people are de-evolving and becoming one of the monkeys who sees no evil, hears no evil and speaks no evil. They’re looking for a comfort zone that is not part of the Christian expression of Faith. Remember, Christ said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” He doesn’t say pick up some daisy and look how pretty the pedals are. No, he talks about taking on the cross because the Christian is called to a life of sacrifice for others. In fact, Jesus goes further and says, “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 9:23 & 14:27) Pick up the cross. That cross is calling us.

March 6, we have a Rally for Darfur. It’s to heighten awareness for the Genocide taking place. We want you to join in. And we’re also kicking off a period building up to April 24, Easter Sunday. We in the church call this Great Lent. But for all practical purposes, it’s a period of time to change our emphasis from the past to the present. Because on April 24 we’re going to be looking at Resurrection. We don’t need the media or anyone else for that matter to tell us what to look at or what is important. We will focus on the greatest news story of all time. We will take a look at the power of good and the power of Love and how that power brings change and lasting peace. So please follow us on our website www.InHisShoes.org and on our broadcasts at www.ePostle.net to follow the call to action.

As I look at the pictures coming out of Darfur, I remember myself in Rwanda a few years back. I’m looking at the people there and seeing my grandparents. The stories that came out of the Rwandan Genocide paralleled the story of the Armenians remarkably. (See notes at http://dervaz.blogspot.com) And so, in looking at the Rwandans, I saw my grandparent – young, afraid but ready for the challenge of life before them. That time in Rwanda I truly became colorblind. I realized that all the divisions we have in life are of our own making. What are we doing in this world? We are all children of God. For God, every war is a civil-war, because there is only one planet and we all belong to Him.

For right now, make your prayer for Darfur. See how you can plug in. Ask how you can be an agent of change. Join us at the rally on March 6. Join us throughout the Lenten season for all of our programs. Join us for a Fast for Darfur on April 22 and 23. We want people throughout the world to participate in this Fast. We already have a commitment from students in Armenia and Syria, in London and in Canada. We’re asking for a commitment to care for others through the simple act of praying and fasting.

Pray and move to action. Join us.

Fr. Vazken Movsesian
In His Shoes
Armenian Church Youth Ministries Center
Glendale, California, USA

*This is in reference to the fact that in 301AD, Armenia became the first nation to accept Christianity as a state religion.

Declaration of Independence doesn’t apply

2011-01-11T14:50:00.001-08:00

It finally clicked in my head last night, why I'm on a different page when it comes to the Armenian Church. My son Christaphor was assigned to memorize a paragraph from the United States Declaration of Independence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. (http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/)

That's it. I hold this basic truth as SELF-EVIDENT. And so when such a holy government as that which runs the holy institution of the Church, becomes "destructive of these ends," then it is in our RIGHT to abolish and to institute a new order.

All these years I've been considering the Church as a Sacred Institution that stood for the principles of life, liberty, truth, pursuit of happiness, that is, Unity with God. Isn't that the prescription of self-determination written for each of us? Well, it turns out that this is my definition, flavored (though some may argue tainted) by the American dream.

Of course, this is why I can't get along with the clergy who maintain the status quo. This is why I don't accept the status quo. It is destructive. And the only cure is in an overhaul of the system. It's long overdue.

The Declaration of Independence was the beginning of the United States. I pray that we can find the strength and courage to declare our independence from the tyranny that has taken over our church.

Sentencing a Killer

2010-12-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

Sitting in the hallway at the Superior Court in Pasadena. Can't say I've been waiting here since 2008, but I know some members of our group have. The nervousness is measurable. I sat down on the bench because my pacing up and down the hallway was betraying a loss of control on my part. I couldn't lose it here. Too many others had more memories that were surfacing. They were looking for assurance at this shaky moment. You are representing stability. You're representing the Armenian Church.

Yvette Hakopian, my church neighbor, was found in a pool of blood on May 30, 2008. The killer was caught. Last year, to the date, we gathered at this same courtroom. The defendant was supposed to stand before the judge and enter a plea of no-contest. I flashed back to a year ago; my association with the Hakopian family was a year younger. The defendant came into the court and took another stab at the family. He 'changed his mind' and decided to enter a plea of innocence. We left the courtroom that day, double assaulted. Yvette was gone and now the killer seemed to escape justice.

Would today be a replay of last year? It was the in back of all of our minds, despite the call from the D.A. She insisted that he was going to enter a plea of no-contest today and the judge would sentence him.

Life flashes by at moments like this. Born in America. Graduate of USC. Serving immigrant communities. Trying to make sense out of the United States for these confused people. (Someone, quietly whispering, just instructed me, "If this was back in Iran, they would have already punished and killed this guy.") You're a priest. Remember? Yours is a spiritual mission. What are you doing with law, murder and physical inconvenience? John Lennon was shot 30 years ago this week. And? His killer sits a prison cell and the music he would have created, we'll never know. And my grandmother? My grandparents? Their lives SHATTERED by Genocide. Regroup/rebuild. Justice? And the Turks thumb their nose at the victims and the world.

Life flashes by in your head and then you catch yourself. You remember, you're here because good is more powerful than evil. You remember that hatred – even murder – cannot kill love. You remember the power of love.

They call us into the courtroom. It's our turn. The killer is brought into the courtroom shackled, hands cuffed in the back. He looks around the court but drops his head for the sentencing. The judge tells the court that he's pleaded no-contest. Relief. It's over. The family won't have to relive the nightmare brought to them by the pictures and testimonies.

Yvette's brother addressed the court. He expressed the rage and pain of the family. It was tear-jerker and a necessary statement to be made. Then they gave me a chance to address the court.

The judge sentenced the killer to 15 years to life. In the judge's tone, and later in a off-line conversation with the D.A., it was obvious that he would finish his life behind bars.

You think back on the life. Life has not come back. We call this justice.

My statement to the court:

Your Honor,

I thank you for this opportunity to address the court. I am Fr. Vazken Movsesian, the parish priest of the Armenian Church directly across the street from Yvette Hakopian's house. Yvette was a parishioner at my church – coming most every Sunday in the early hours to light a candle and offer a prayer. She was unsuspecting, kind to a fault and a spiritually awake young lady. She would never flaunt her faith but practiced it quietly and in humility.

The pictures of that fateful day of Yvette's murder will forever be etched in our minds. It was the day that tore out a large chunk of the Hakopian's life and has left a huge void in our neighborhood.

The months, and now years since her murder have passed by slowly. During this time I've had a chance to watch Yvette's father Sako, her mother Rpsik (who could not be here today because of the trauma she has experience), her brother Edwin try to make sense of the senselessness of this crime. I've met with them as they try to understand how such utter force and brutality could be shown to their little angel Yvette. Needless to say, they search for answers and find none.

I am here today merely to remind the court and all those listening, that the victims of these crimes are much-much more than the murdered innocent, much more than the family and friends who grieve and suffer the loss. There are neighborhoods and communities that are ravaged by these actions. There are communities of caring individuals that have been touched by this life cut short and now have to pick up the pieces and try to find order again.

Your honor, the people you see here, filling this courtroom, Yvette's family and extended family, all came to this great country, to the United States of America with the same dream everyone has: to seek a better life for themselves and their posterity. That dream is guaranteed us by the Constitution of these United States and I'm making this statement today to make sure that THIS DREAM does not end for these people, with this cold blooded killing. I am here also to testify to the power of the good. In the end, we will not let evil claim a victory. Our church community, with the help of God, has been working with the Hakopian family in this process of healing. Through prayers and programs, we will keep Yvette's memory alive and be there as a resource and haven for women who face violence and abuse. For instance, right now we are gathering toys for children who have escaped domestic violence and abuse and will wake up Christmas morning in LA County shelters. When these women and children are helped, we will be certain that from the tragedy of Yvette's murder, gestures of love and compassion will be keeping Yvette's memory alive and fresh in new generations.

Thank you,

Fr. Vazken Movsesian

10 December 2010

Photo Caption: Mr. & Mrs. Hakopian initiate the Yvette Hakopian Toy Drive for children of domestic violence, benefiting the Los Angeles County Shelters. An annual event at the St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Ministries' Center in Glendale

Thanksgiving Prayer

2010-11-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

A prayer of Thanksgiving offered at our Vesper service. I offer it here today as a guide for Thanksgiving. Hear more on our weekly podcast - episode #129 of the "Next Step" at http://epostle.net

Priest: Heavenly Father we thank you for the blessings of each day and especially this one. We thank you for all the wonders around us – both those we touch as well as those we feel, sometimes with our hands, sometimes with our hearts and sometimes with our soul.

We thank you for the food which gives us our physical strength, and even more for the living food which fills our souls and spirits. We thank you that you did not forget us, your creation, but in your love as our creator, you sent your only-begotten Son so that we may have life and have it abundantly.

We thank you for the material blessings, this great country and all of its workings. We thank you for our families and friends, for the fellowship that we share with one another here at church, for the love you have placed in our hearts and our willingness to reach out to other.

Look upon us in your mercy and keep the spirit of Thanksgiving in our lives every day, so that we may be inspired to reach out to those in need and share the wealth you have so abundantly blessed us with. May we reach out with the greatest of these gifts, your Love, to touch the hatred, the wars, the poverty and other evils and show the power of good over evil. Use us, O Lord, as the instruments that usher in Your Kingdom.

In all things, may our words and actions reflect the glory, praise and honor that are due you, Father Almighty, along with your Son, Jesus Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, now and always, Amen.

Tweets from the Consecration of St. Ghevont Armenian Cathedral

2010-09-21T14:27:00.001-07:00

Tweets from the Consecration of the St. Leon Armenian Cathedral September 11
These were sent via Twitter and archived here
• His Holiness accepts ecumenical guests at diocesan hq. Saturday, September 11, 2010 1:51:43 PM
• Vesting the clergy. A sea of red and purple. Saturday, September 11, 2010 2:09:46 PM
• Emotionally charged. Miuron on altar. HH Karegin blesses - first of many. Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:16:20 PM
• Washing altar w wine and water. Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:18:26 PM
• Vehapar dripping holy miuron on altar. Immaterial dove unexaminable. Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:23:36 PM
• Vehapar blesses the top of altar of 'mother church of Los Angeles.' 3:26 PM Sep 11th
• 1st four- the pillars which hold up the church - in the name of Evangelists Matthew Mark Luke and John. 3:45 PM Sep 11th
• Primates of East and West Abp. Khajag and Ab. Hovnan blessed the four dome pillars. 3:48 PM Sep 11th
• 12 more pillars named for apostles peter, andrew, phillip, mattias, thaddeus, james a, james z, simon bartholomew, paul, gregory illuminator 3:57 PM Sep 11th
• Miuron has transforming power. Stone structure becomes a living church. 4:04 PM Sep 11th
• HH Karekin II names the church St. Ghevontiantz (Leon) w blessing 4:07 PM Sep 11th
• Blessing now a cross stone in memory of 911 innocent victims. 4:22 PM Sep 11th
• Miuron is renewing. September 11 now a msg of love over evil. 4:25 PM Sep 11th
• H E Abp Hovnan offers prayer closing ceremony. Now offers msg. 4:27 PM Sep 11th
• Greek Primate offers congratulations on behalf of all ecumenical guests - Greek, Copt, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran among them. 4:41 PM Sep 11th
• Vehapar reflecting and giving message to faithful. Tying to Feast of Holy Cross. Christ's cross has been way of our salvation. 5:01 PM Sep 11th
• Asks that we not wear cross as ornament but accept it as st. Paul tells us- the power of God. 5:08 PM Sep 11th
• Picking up cross means taking on responsibility toward people. Cross is not heavy when its cross of Christ. 5:10 PM Sep 11th
• Remembring former Primates and commending Abp. Hovnan for completing. To Abp. Vatche for having vision. And to everyone ... 5:12 PM Sep 11th
• Vehapar brings and presents altar cross w wish for protection to Srpazan 5:17 PM Sep 11th
• Final blessing and recess 5:21 PM Sep 11th
• Doves released! 5:24 PM Sep 11th

Additional Tweets at various times that weekend
• So begins visit of HH Karekin II to our diocese. Friday, September 10, 2010 8:17:45 PM
• Looking great. Charism plus. Captures the wave. Friday, September 10, 2010 8:19:50 PM
• We're at welcoming dinner. Sitting w Abp. Khajag and Bp. Arakel - Gotayk diocese. Friday, September 10, 2010 8:20:59 PM
• Fr. Ktrij - coming off the holy mountain brings the energy across the globe. Friday, September 10, 2010 8:23:36 PM
• Iraqi primate speaking Arabic. Syrian primate singing Sayat Nova. Very musical and international evening. Friday, September 10, 2010 9:06:50 PM
• Vehapar talking. Reflecting how he came 2 yrs ago to bless foundation, now consecrating 2 yrs later. Credit to the primate and people wh ... Friday, September 10, 2010 10:09:26 PM
• Credits agbu which puts love toward church and clergy in the heart of the people. Friday, September 10, 2010 10:12:58 PM
• Catholicos dedicating Iranahye Center. Low level crowd. Saturday, September 11, 2010 10:35:25 AM
• Mixing it up now - politicians getting into the act. What's that word arajnort? Why don't they let it be? Freud knew it. Saturday, September 11, 2010 11:08:59 AM
• Come to hear a blessing, still getting fillers that don't count as extras. Did we need another reminder that Armenia was 1st Xian Nation? Saturday, September 11, 2010 11:25:18 AM
• Remembrance of 911 nicely tied in by H.E. Abp. Hovnan. Saturday, September 11, 2010 11:33:16 AM
• HH blesses this home by sign of cross, gospel and in the name of the Father Son and
• Holy Spirit. Saturday, September 11, 2010 11:48:44 AM
• Remembers the innocent victims of 911. Thankful for hospitality of USA. And glad Armenians are productive in this land ref: faith and love. Saturday, September 11, 2010 11:55:54 AM

KISS

2010-08-14T13:57:00.001-07:00

Isn't the whole message of Christianity based on the premise that God became man, to understand and feel the pain of His creation? In other words, to walk in his shoes! Or even more plainly, He simplified His status! Right? From Cosmic Creator, He became Jesus.

So why do we complicate things with religion? Why don't we just follow the model and keep it simple? Instead, I try to sit through sermons and Bible Studies that have no connection to reality. They tell me about myths, about ancient heroes, laws and rules, about forces that are vying for my attention and ultimately my soul. They then bring it down to a final play-off - a decision between Heaven and Hell.

What happened to the God that cared so much for His Creation that He gave His Only Son so that we may be saved? What happened to the Essential Message: Love God, Love One another?

It's really simple: Love. That's it. From there EVERYTHING else falls into place. From Love we get Peace, we find God, we respect one another, we understand why giving is more blessed than receiving, we have harmony of mind, body and soul, and therefore individual, community and world.

Dad's Tears on Veterans' Day

2009-11-11T10:39:00.002-08:00

Few things made my father cry, and Sarkis was one of those.

Sarkis is forever-20 in my head. He was killed in Viet Nam on a day that I cannot forget. That day was one of renewal for the Armenians living in Los Angeles. It was the Summer of 1970 and for the first time, a group of dancers and musicians had journeyed from Armenia to fill our hearts and souls with the ancient culture. We were at the Wilshire Ebell Theater (Los Angeles) and it was a crowd akin to a rock concert today, with their enthusiasm and joy. I think it was Levon Gasoyan dancing Zourni Dringi or perhaps the Shepherd’s dance, when he demonstrated his acrobatic coordination, set to an Armenian tune and beat. It was the same dance I had seen Sarkis perform many times before his deployment to the war. Sarkis danced in the Jora Markarian Ensemble with my parents at the time.

That afternoon in the Ebell theater Sarkis’ father loudly applauding and cheering the Armenian dancer, probably remembering his son as he watched this demonstration from the homeland. It was on that day, later, that we found out that Sarkis had died in a grenade attack.

The details didn’t matter to my dad. He’d never really talk about it to us, his kids. But we would see the pain in his eyes.

A couple of times a year, we would go to honor our family dead at the Inglewood Park Cemetery. Both my grandfathers’ graves are at this cemetery and later, my grandmothers would be buried there as well. There was a ritual we’d go through – purchasing flowers at the cemetery florist, driving to the grave, searching the park trying to find the tombstones. We’d find one grandpa, clean the grave, place the flowers in the metal cup, say a prayer and listen while grandma would remember her husband. Then packing everyone in the car, we’d head over to the other grandpa’s grave. Same gestures of grave-cleaning, placing flowers, offering prayers, while the other grandma would have her turn to reflect here.

Before 1970, that was the end of the ritual. But things changed after Sarkis’ death. My dad would stop the car at Sarkis’ grave just before we left the park. We didn’t understand it quite well – after all, this dead person didn’t belong to us, why clean the grave? Place flowers? Offer a prayer? But dad had the keys to the car and he made the decisions. So we made this stop. There we would offer the same formula-prayer, but no grandma to talk, instead we’d see my dad cry. It was a silent witness to the big injustice of war. He couldn’t reconcile the notion of a young life being gone for a war no one understood. He’d shake his head. One time, I vaguely remember him saying something like “the grandpas died when they were old. There was no reason for Sarkis to die.”

We didn’t realize that there was more to my dad’s tears than Sarkis’ loss until many years later. It was at a local parade, when a group of soldiers and veteran’s marched by that my sister told me dad was crying away. He’d swell up with emotions over the loss of life during war.

My turn came at my dad’s funeral. I remember making it fairly well through the speeches and services both in the church and at the gravesite. But at the end of the service, when they removed old glory from the top of my dad’s casket, folded it and handed it to our mom, I lost it. They presented it to her saying, “This is for your husband’s service to his country.” My dad served as a medic in the Army during the Korean War. He never talked about it. He just was proud to be an American, understood the sacrifice to stay American and hurt that some people never had a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor and sacrifice.

I know it was more than Sarkis that made him cry. It was the price of freedom. It was the nonsense of war. It was the injustice of the pick –the poor and naïve fought the wars brought about by the rich and educated.

This morning I heard that Obama was going to go through the Veteran’s Day ritual of placing a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The newscaster may or may not have taken a breath before reporting the next story that Obama would then meet with his “war council” to deliberate about the Afghanistan war and US options. Today is Veteran’s Day. We honor the Veterans of all wars. Formerly it was called “Armistice Day” marking the end of the First World War. Either way, it’s connected to something for which we need to find a solution for the sake of our tears, for the sake of our lives.

Tweeting from an Ordination (for the record)

2009-10-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

On October 12 & 13, the Western Diocese held its annual clergy conference in Rancho Mirage, California. At the conclusion of two days of meeting, Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate, accepted Deacon Martin into the priesthood and renamed him Father Krikor.

Below is a log of the tweets I sent from both the meetings and the ordination. Originally published on my Twitter account, I post them here merely as a matter of record. No more commentary than what you find in these small essays. These are in reverse chronological order. The time references are tagged with a clock at 10/14/09, at 11:30A.M. PDT

· We all are invited to receive kiss of peace from newly consecrated Fr. Krikor.about 18 hours ago

· Abp Hovnan gives blessing and now preachers from Prophet Ezekiel - to hear command of God.about 18 hours ago

· Fr. KRIKOR gives first blessing.about 18 hours ago

· Abp. Hovnan consecrates forehead of Fr. Krikor- newly named.about 18 hours ago

· Holy Miuron entering sanctuary.about 18 hours ago

· Fr. Arshag amazing voice.about 18 hours ago

· Hymn of vesting. Mystery deep, without beginning.about 18 hours ago

· Archbishop Hovnan now prays for 7 graces on Martin. Places vestments on him.about 18 hours ago

· United we recite the Creed.about 19 hours ago

· Luke 4:14 is read. This again is the mission- more tomorrow on Next Step podcast.about 19 hours ago

· Archbishop on behalf of the church calls Martin. Now in apostolic manner lays his hands on him.about 19 hours ago

· Turning away from worldly pursuits. We witness he is worthy.about 19 hours ago

· At St. Margarite Episcopal- Palm Desert.about 19 hours ago

· Martin approaches altar to receive order of priesthood.about 19 hours ago

· Discovered a Broadsword bootleg which added the flavor to this trip.about 20 hours ago

· Because none of us admit to belonging to this group.about 23 hours ago

· Little bit of knowledge is very dangerous thing. Frightening too.about 23 hours ago

· Chicken Little - The sky is falling.about 23 hours ago

· Eoff... (OK to try to pronounce it out loud. You'll know where i'm at.)about 23 hours ago from txt

· imagine Fr. McKenzie here. Wiping his hands... Anyone saved?about 24 hours ago

· MTday2- prayer is cool. Talk really is cheap.about 24 hours ago

· Satl'jan time.7:17 PM Oct 12th

· Ordination continues tomorrow.7:10 PM Oct 12th

· Remembers words of Karekin i, keeping image of God.7:05 PM Oct 12th

· Abp Hovnan reflecting on priesthood. Accenting mystery.7:03 PM Oct 12th

· Martin confesses the faith of the fathers.6:51 PM Oct 12th

· Martin renounces heretics.6:39 PM Oct 12th from txt

· Archbishop asking of his worthiness.6:38 PM Oct 12th

· Tiny clouds to the horizon. Gentle breeze.6:35 PM Oct 12th

· Open chr service in desert.6:33 PM Oct 12th

· Deacon Martin being called to the service of the Church.6:33 PM Oct 12th

· @suziesunshine - that's why i'm choosing to put these notes under the MT label. Btw. still going.5:26 PM Oct 12th

· Lively (no pun) discussion on creamation and suicide.5:17 PM Oct 12th

· The mind twist is this- make the square peg fit. There is no solution. It doesn't fit.3:53 PM Oct 12th

· Curvature of the spine- physically a sign of age? Otherwise defeat.3:14 PM Oct 12th

· @ahnoosh see early tweet re Mind Twister.3:02 PM Oct 12th

· Agree to call this the MT meeting? It's part of the 30% trade off to do the 70% work.2:58 PM Oct 12th

· @ahnoosh i was chopping down a palm tree when a friend came by and asked if ...he could help me swing the ax12:38 PM Oct 12th

· Starting a two day mind twist in the desert. Stand still on the 210 at Rialto.12:22 PM Oct 12th

Beyond the Ojakh (Ojax)

2009-10-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

9/9/9 - We did it!

We "turned the devil over"! Not sure how far, but at least we had some fun doing it.

Last night, with the Epostle.net people, we took another step toward a virtual Armenian Church with our first STREAMING Bible Study. We had quite a few viewers. From first indications it seems like they were from the U.S. - I guess because of the time zone issues. Chicago and San Francisco were two of the big cities that joined our group in Glendale. We had a FANTASTIC turn out locally - and everyone seemed very engaged in the discussion.

AFTER the show was over, we found a LONG list of comments and chats. We're new at this, but hopefully, by next time we'll be able to aswer some of these questions and comments in real time.

The 9/9/9 Bible Study has been archived on the epostle site - via the Ustream site. My sincere thanks to Suzie Shatarevyan who produced the show and essentially made it happen. It's been a stressed-filled few weeks just getting to this milestone, but well worth it. We have submitted plans for a permanent electronic ministry and this was a necessary next step (building on the NEXT STEP). And I can't let the moment go without thanking all the regular Bible Study members for their prayers and constant support of the steady stream of steps we've been taking.

I saw an image the other day, of the iconic 1950's family - huddled around the TV and watching media provided to them by the networks. It was all branded - regulated, measured and provided. Today, we create our own brands. It's NOT uncommon - think about it in your own home - to have a TV turned-on in the background, while each member of the family is engaged in his/her own world on a video screen on his/her lap.

In the Armenian language, one of the words we use for "family" is "Ojakh." The word means "stove" but its easy to extrapolate its other meaning - it was the central huddle-area for the family. It gave heat and an opportunity for the family to converse and discuss. Also, a distance from the town, a count of the smokestacks would be a mini-census for an surveyor. The television set was the ojakh of the last century and the TV antennae on each house were the tally devises.

Our ojakh-s are of a different sort these days. Time evolves and history continues to be written. These are exciting times. Its an opportunity to bring together, to grow and love.

Off to

Searching for the Veedon Fleece

2009-09-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

I’m not sure why this church affects me the way it does. It’s certainly not the type of church that I’d ordinarily associate with. It’s big. It seems impersonal. Still, it speaks to me like no other sanctuary in the Los Angeles area. My eyes swell up with tears and I find it hard to contain my emotions. It forces me to close my eyes and pray.

It’s getting to be a habit. I escape here on an annual pilgrimage of sorts. On the road to this sanctuary I listen to some haunting sounds from 1982 – Armenian chants and prayers that I’ve digitized from analog recordings. I get to hear my spiritual father and myself on this recording, exchanging words of ordination expressed in the finest of classical term. The words I hear mean so much more to me today and it makes me wonder. I think back to those days, and confess that at the time I didn’t fully understand the meaning of these words nor the thoughts behind them. In reciting them, I hear the attempts at a fluent reading and the quality of my voice, even from its analog sources, betrays a true naiveté.

Grabbing an extra breath in this huge church, I meditate on that naiveté: the dreams and intentions that were there. Happily, the dreams remain but the frustration of making them real are sometimes overwhelming. I think of the naiveté that young children are supposed to have; I think of my kids and know that life is moving at a difference pace today. Perhaps I can blame that uncontrollable momentum for my deafness to the sounds of naiveté in the youth today.

Maybe that’s why I come to this big cathedral on my ordination anniversary. It’s big. It’s spacious, yet it’s simple. It’s much like my life - unfolded now into a weave that's sometimes uncontrollably large, but the sight of a sunset or a child's smile brings me back to the simplest of pleasures. And, when in prayer, now with my eyes closed, I try to be in touch with that naiveté.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19)

Noon Mass – it is as grand and as simple as the Cathedral where it takes place: Procession in. A soloist sings the introit. The priest welcomes everyone to worship. The Holy Scripture is read and the priest speaks the sermon appropriate to the day. He then invites the congregants to prayer. He remembers the words of Institution and invokes the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine to the Sacred Body and Blood. The Peace of Christ is proclaimed throughout the church with real hugs and handshakes. The congregation participates in the Holy Eucharist. And now… without any further delay… some 30 minutes after the service began… are you ready? The congregation is dismissed! And the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.

It certainly was grand. It was overwhelming. It was simple. I imagine much like the Original Supper in the Upper Room. "Grand," "overwhelming" and "simple" would probably be terms used by the original twelve who ate with Jesus that evening.

We’ve complicated matters, haven’t we? We’ve lost our youth. We’ve lost our naiveté. But we don’t give up. This ministry began with Christ’s words from Luke 4* and it’s why we still fight for a dream that can come true: A day when God’s children can all unite on a common table of Love.
---

This coming Sunday is Varaka Khatch. It’s unique to the Armenian Church. It is a grand yet simple expression of the Cross. And yes, I'm listening to Van Morrison's "You don't pull no punches..." on the Veedon Fleece Album as I write this.

* Luke 4^{: 16}He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."^e]">

²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

A different sort of 9/11 prayer

2009-09-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

A different sort of 9/11 prayer.

The eighth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States came and went. We watched on TV as they listed the names at ground zero and we saw video clips and heard commentary.

Sunday – 9/13 – it was the Feast of the Holy Cross. During the Der Voghormia prayer when I usually ask for and receive prayer requests from the congregation, I wanted to remember the victims of 9/11 in my announcements but I was moved to say more:

Join me today with your prayers, especially on this anniversary of 9/11, and remember all of those who lost their lives that day and their families and friends who were left behind. And even more, remember the countless lives that were lost as a result of that day, in the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan. Remember all our soldiers and their families as they sacrifice for the ideals that we hold so dear to our heart, and especially remember two of our members Razmig (USNavy) and Leah (USAirforce) who valiantly serve to defend the freedoms we enjoy. But more than anything else let us pray for peace – the lasting peace that comes from God, so that we may see the day when wars will be obsolete and no one will ever again pick up a weapon in anger or hatred.

I haven’t been this moved in quite a while. As I turned back to the holy altar, with chalice in hand, I was picturing the faces of our children Razmig and Leah, and for a moment I could actually visualize peace. It was a strange sensation, but very real. We talk of peace as an ideal and attaining it sounds far-fetched, but for that moment it occurred to me that it is the only dream worth dreaming here in this lifetime.

---

Last night – got an email from Razmig:

"... but I know that without God or the Armenian church I would have never been able to survive these hardships. I tell my family and friends all time, to not pray for me but to pray for the politicians to stop creating war around the world for their personal greed. Pray for the drug lords to stop making a type of business that kills kids. Pray for the radical Muslims that terrorize innocent people all over the world, because they believe that they will go to paradise. Pray for all those evil people, for they know not what they do. Also, pray for the soldiers and sailors out in Iraq and Afghanistan... for they have it worse than us.
By the way, I know that you are thinking if you can read what I said above to the congregation, and I have no problem with that, actually it would be good if they hear this.”

You're right Razmig. I do want to share it and so here it is. A prayer request along with an extra prayer for peace.

Keyboard Prayer Hermeneutics

2009-08-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

Don't know where this originated. I've printed this on a small card and have kept it next to my computers for the last 25 years. So it goes back a while and probably had more meaning back then anyway (as you can tell by the technical terms).

Thought I'd present it here just to share something from the past, BUT even more to exemplify a theme we've kicked around many times, particularly in our Bible Study program, that all writing must be viewed in the context in which it was created, written and developed. I look at this prayer and remember a time when commands would echo on screen and printer, when it was necessary to understand algorithms in order to make sense of program structures and development, and I remember when all programming led to hours/days/weeks of debugging frustration and a prayer for smarts was always in order. Today, someone reading this prayer without an understanding of early computer-programming might offer a courteous smile or harshly condemn it as mocking Christianity. It certainly has a different meaning for the person who used a computer back in the late 70's as a opposed to someone who's first computer application was setting up an account on Facebook.

So here it is, from the early days of computing with this small prayer added from me - especially to those who would quote Holy Scripture in a literal manner - that this serve as a reminder that even the Bible was created in a time and place in history and not outside of it.

KEYBOARD PRAYER

Our Program, who art in Memory,
'Hello' be thy name.
Thy Operating System come,
Thy commands be done,
On the Printer
As they are on the Screen.
Give us this day our daily data,
And forgive us our I/O errors
As we forgive those whose
logic circuits are faulty.
And lead us not into frustration,
But deliver us from power surges.
For thine is the algorithm, the
application and the implementation
Looping for ever and ever.

RETURN.

Armenian Stepchildren

2009-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Verse of the Day for August 21, 2009:
James 2:1 My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

There is a conversation (if you can call it that) that I get caught in many times. It is triggered after I’ve spoken a few sentences in Armenian and the listener has been unable to detect an accent.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from here, Los Angeles.”

“No. Where were you born?”

“I was born here in America.”

“But you speak such good Armenian.” Now, mind you, this is being said to me from someone who is born in the Middle East, that is, not from Armenia.

So depending on the favor of my mood, I may retort with, “Well, so do you. So do you.”

“Yeah, but you’re from America.”

“And you’re from Beirut.”

“How about your parents? Where are your parents from?”

Now the fun begins. “They’re from America too.” Now, I notice that the inquirer is completely baffled and confounded. I may offer, “Are you asking about where our family is from, before the Genocide?” And as they nod, I’ll offer, “They’re from Kharpert.” Of course, this is the easy-answer, because the person’s inquiry is so superficial that I really don’t care to get into the details with them. The grandmother who was most influential in my life was from Sivri-Hisar, while my grandparents on the other side came from Palu.

Why the inquiry? I have a sneaky suspicion that it has to do with deep rooted anti-American prejudice. Yup! The American Armenian is the stepchild of the nation. S/he’s not real. And so, begin all the inquiries – to make sure that there’s a connection with something more solid. Ironic, isn’t it? Most people leave the Middle East looking for a solid foundation where to raise their family. They choose America for that stability – a place where they can prosper. But for some reason, America doesn’t hold much weight in the pre-hyphen descriptor to being Armenian.

Here’s to the Armenian-American: the stepchild of the Armenian nation. We’ll never be fully accepted until the next generation of children grow up to be identified as Armenian-Americans. They are the children of the inquirers.

Croatia, Safeway, St. James and a Moon that continues to inspire

2009-07-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

Croatia, Safeway, St. James and a Moon that continues to inspire: Happy 40th

They say that the hand-held GPS I use in my car is technologically more sophisticated than the Apollo 11 Lunar lander. Although I've never really used my GPS anywhere outside of the bounds of California, I guess I can accept such a statement. I remember when a stack of punch cards, the size of the Los Angeles Phone book were needed to program a computer for a simple tic-tac-toe simulation and today my kid runs graphically enhanced arcade style games on his hand held "toy." (And the price for this technology? Have you bought memory lately? They're literally throwing it away. 1 or 2 GB for the price of S&H!)

So we've come a long way in 40 years, but the memory I have of the day that "we" reached the moon is not ready for the bargain-bin of outdated memory modules.

July 20, 1969 was a Sunday. I was 13 years old, at a church picnic organized by the St. James Armenian Church in Los Angeles.

The St. James parish itself was going through difficult times. Bad feelings were lingering from the the sale of the church building on Adams Blvd. and a pending law suit, that the Catholicos himself was trying to step-in and mediate. This was causing division and disharmony in the community. There was talk about deceit, scandal and theft - yup, all the topics that are bulleted under the "church life" header. And with construction taking place on the new sanctuary on Slauson Ave., the annual picnic was relocated to Croatian Park, somewhere in the L.A. area.

Croatian Park was used by the Armenian community frequently for their summer gatherings. I thought the name had something to do with sewing, because my grandmother would "crochet" our sweaters. So I naturally thought Croatian Park was the hangout for old ladies, sitting around with their crochet needles, making their grand kids happy with their handiwork. Little did I realize that the Croats were in an independence struggle just as the Armenian. I'd like to believe this was the reason that we used the facility, though I tend to believe the rental price was probably discounted. Still, Croatian independence was declared the same year as the Armenian's in 1991, so there might have been a greater tie than a cheap place to hold a picnic.

America was in turmoil. We had lost faith in the institutions. The same young president who promised us the moon by the decade's end had been gunned down on our streets and there was much talk about a large scale conspiracy. The year before we had lost MLK and RFK to assassin's bullets. Even the new institutions were failing - there was rumbling that the Beatles were about to split.

So a summer picnic, with Armenian music, friends from the church was a nice little escape for everyone. But on moon landing day? I mean this was historic and if you wanted escape, can you think of any place farther away?

My dad was not really an observer. He would rather participate than watch - but I guess this playground was a bit too far. So that Sunday, July 20, in the midst of this church picnic, my dad told me we're going for a walk. I was excited - we were going to go someplace to watch the lunar landing! A few days earlier, I was up at the crack of dawn to watch Apollo 11 launch. "10-9-8, ignition sequence begins, 6-5...", I can never forget those words from Mission Control. And when they reached "0" it was lift-off, from our old B&W set to the ends of my imagination.

We found a Safeway store. This was one of the first supermarket chains in our area. During those years they had introduced the "Super S" as a branch of Safeway. In Super S you could find non-food items - such as TV's! Yes, we made it - we were going to watch the lunar landing at Safeway on the display sets. I remember there was a TV set on the glass counter. Not too many people, but some had stopped.

There we stood and watched Neil Armstrong place his foot on the lunar soil. It was the completion of one dream and the beginning of another. It was an unforgettable moment.
Hard to believe that 40 years have passed. It's a lifetime away.

The moon has inspired poets and romantics, mystics and philosophers since the beginning of time. It's intrigued scientists. Some say its the same size as the Pacific Ocean - that maybe it was thrown out of there during the early formation of the planetary system? In "Moonstruck" they said the moon was as big as Frank Bigalow's head! An early Jethro Tull song was an ode to Michael Collins, the one of three astronauts that piloted the mother ship and didn't make the decent to the lunar surface. How sad to go all that way and not touch it - but each view of the moon finds its own inspiration - whether on the weightless surface, in Croatia, on the counter at Safeway or from the mother-ship. Our moon is inspiring. And today, I can't resist a harvest moon, a blue moon, an eyelash moon or an eclipsed moon, just to take a break, call the kids outside and observe quietly and in wonder. We stepped on the moon 40 years ago and it still remains away and distant.

When I was a student at the Monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin in the mid-70's, I would walk in the courtyard and pass away my loneliness looking at the moon knowing that it is the same one we all see around the globe, the same moon that has been viewed by every single human being that has EVER inhabited this planet and every human being that will EVER take a moment to look up to the night sky. It's our moon. Happy Moon Day.

For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me
by Ian Anderson
Watery eyes of the last sighing seconds,
blue reflections mute and dim
beckon tearful child of wonder
to repentance of the sin.
And the blind and lusty lovers
of the great eternal lie
go on believing nothing
since something has to die.
And the ape's curiosity --
money power wins,
and the yellow soft mountains move under him.
I'm with you L.E.M.
though it's a shame that it had to be you.
The mother ship is just a blip
from your trip made for two.
I'm with you boys, so please employ just a little extra care.
It's on my mind I'm left behind
when I should have been there.
Walking with you.

And the limp face hungry viewers
fight to fasten with their eyes
like the man hung from the trapeze --
whose fall will satisfy.
And congratulate each other
on their rare and wondrous deed
That their begrudged money bought
to sow the monkey's seed.
And the yellow soft mountains
they grow very still
witness as intrusion the humanoid thrill.

Blind Man Running Through the Light of the Night

2009-07-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

When news of the Tehran-Yerevan airplane tragedy arrived, we were in the middle of taping this week's "Next Step" podcast. I was talking about the Light emanating from Christ - the feast of Transfiguration (celebrated this Sunday, 7/19/09). Now, the lights had got out for 168 people. There I was again, at the crash site, holding a flashlight up to the human suffering. It's a conflict that has followed this priest my entire life: Jesus talks about life, but it is confounded by a reality of death in some very big tragedies.

Ever since we've moved to our new studio we've had the luxury of an extra monitor which is constantly refreshing different windows with various news feeds. The news of the disaster was literally coming in as a stream of disassociated information - pictures of the crash, a comment from an eyewitness, and of course the useless statistical commentary: When the plane was built. Who built it. How many black boxes, etc. When the dust settled, 168 people were only the immediate casualties. They never give you the number of lives that are devastated, the number of families that will have to cope with the losses, the number of children that will have to grow up without parents, the number of jobs and dreams that ended.

The church came out with a statement. HH Karekin II,issues condolences. After a few hours, it was difficult to find new information. In fact, the event wasn't even reported on the TV news programs the following morning. (Sadly typical for news coming from Armenia.) So I appreciated the bloggers and the small tweets that followed. And then the screens went blank. It was over - no more news. Sure the American news media forgot it (or never knew it), but so did the rest of us.

But here's the catch - today is feast of Transfiguration. It is one of the five major FEASTS of the Armenian church. It is a celebration of an event which is recounted in the Gospel - where Jesus transforms to pure light. It is a completely supernatural event. He gives us a glimpse of eternity. Yes, that LIGHT that he radiates is the same one which was there at the beginning of time. It transcends any light source such as the sun, stars or electricity. And it is the light that is needed in the midst of such darkness as plane tragedies, war, and genocide. Its so brilliant, it can overtake all of darkness. It is the assurance of LIFE that cannot be confounded by DEATH even in some very big tragedies. It is HOPE to be shared with a suffering world.

The sad reality is that today, probably most of the victims of the crash are forgotten in our minds. Sad that today, on a major feast day, where requiem (hokehankist) should not be allowed, those who choose to remember will do so only by singing a song of grief and will mourn in hopelessness. Even sadder is that the church won't make the connection with the Transfigured Christ. And still sadder is that most of those attending churches will get the Wiki-version of a story called Vartavar.

So, I'd like to hold a flashlight at the crash site for those who are looking: today is the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Death, whether it comes naturally or super-tragically, is never the darkness that you believe it to be. The Christ LIGHT is over and beyond - it is supernatural - it is a chance to glimpse all eternity.

Download Today's Sermon (in Armenian)

Blind man running
through the light
of the night
With an answer in his hand,
Come on down
to the river of sight
And you can really understand,
Red lights flashing
through the window
in the rain,
Can you hear the sirens moan?
White cane lying
in a gutter in the lane,
If you're walking home alone.

Don't let it bring you down
It's only castles burning,
Just find someone who's turning
And you will come around.
-Neil Young

Statement on Sabbatical

2009-06-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

I didn't mean to be mysterious about this; it’s just that I've been going at this Youth Ministry Center for the last six years without a break. And those six years can't be categorized as "business as usual" because there was no concept of the "usual." We began the Youth Ministry Center as a satellite of the Diocesan Youth Ministries' Department and we've been developing it ever since. During the first few years, summer "vacations" meant organizing and running the camp programs for 500 to 600 campers and staff members. Later, the Youth Ministry was also given a parish to minister to the local immigrant community in one of the largest Armenian centers in the world. Simultaneously with the parish we’ve successfully continued quality programming geared at a new generation of believers in the Armenian orthodox message. And so - there's really never been a time to break and catch a breath since 2003.

In April of this year, immediately after Easter, I informed the parish council at the church that we needed to move forward in new directions that would be challenging as well as meaningful. By the Grace of God, it is apparent that we’ve outgrown the facilities. Later that same month, I expressed the same concerns to the archbishop. The church at the corner of Stocker & Kennilworth, will always have a life as a neighborhood parish, but so many of our projects are crying out for space and room beyond what we can find in the immediate area. Furthermore, our electronic ministry - www.epostle.net - has grown beyond our wildest expectations, and we are now ready for the "next step" for the "Next Step." We're in negotiation with an European media firm as well as with an Internet consortium about expansion into video casts on European television as a full blown-out Orthodox ministry on the world stage.

Because we never abandoned our original charter as a Youth Ministries Center, we developed and implemented many activities and events which were conducted under the “In His Shoes” banner. From inner city conferences on violence, to seminars on forgiveness; from art projects on canvas, to breathing-art across the desert; from motivational weekends on Martin Luther King Jr., to weekly broadcasts about Armenian Orthodoxy; from local outreaches to the homeless, to massive fundraisers for the hungry in Africa, we set a standard and a pace for ourselves and hopefully a model of function for others.

Bottom line: we experienced growth at a very fast rate. Many of our projects need further development and there just is not enough hours in a day to dedicate to the growth process. So I asked for and received a “sabbatical” – a period of time away from the daily grind of the parish to contemplate and build these projects that are so vital to the welfare and growth of the Armenian Church.

I’m half way through this self-imposed exile and so much has been going on. I’ve been sharing most of it with you on the Next Step and of course Sundays through my sermons at the Divine Liturgy. (Yes, I'm there on Sunday mornings - after all, I have to worship someplace.) Meanwhile, I have a great team that has been holding down the fort during the week, and some fantastic/energetic priests who’ve been covering for me with the sacraments and counseling issues. Our website InHisShoes.org has links to all the places where you can find us.

Looking ahead and looking up. I will write more frequently now that things are falling into place. I just wanted a place to point people to - to this statement - so that there's no confusion about the nature or purpose of this time away.

Armenian Orthodoxy

Days we used to know; Now 29 years later.

Prayer for 10th Anniversary of 9/11

The Man from Ick

"Praying Solves all of My Problems"

Eve of Fathers' Day/Sunday of Holy Trinity

One Hundred Eleven - Anush Named Woman of the Year

Are you tying water with that rope?

Easter Appeal for Darfur

The Priesthood Today

The Next Step in Commemoration: Help Stop a Genocide Today

Declaration of Independence doesn’t apply

Sentencing a Killer

Thanksgiving Prayer

Tweets from the Consecration of St. Ghevont Armenian Cathedral

K*I*S*S*

Dad's Tears on Veterans' Day

Tweeting from an Ordination (for the record)

Beyond the Ojakh (Ojax)

Searching for the Veedon Fleece

A different sort of 9/11 prayer

Keyboard Prayer Hermeneutics

KEYBOARD PRAYER

Armenian Stepchildren

Croatia, Safeway, St. James and a Moon that continues to inspire

Blind Man Running Through the Light of the Night

Statement on Sabbatical

KISS