Victim Remembrance - Armenian Genocide of 1915

07/07/2026

An old and common custom among Armenian Orthodox (clergy and faithful) after a week of fasting, we come to the feast of the Holy Transfiguration of Christ - July 12 (2026).

The story of this event is found in three of the four Gospels. For some reason, St. John did not know of it (??) or did not consider it significant (??). St. Peter, an eyewitness, mentions it in his second letter.

A most interesting and perplexing event in the life of Christ.... witnessed only by three of his disciples - Peter, James, and John.
What are we to make of this theophany (the visible manifestation of God to humankind)?

Why were only three disciples present? And why did Christ instruct them not to speak of the event until after his resurrection? What did Christ talk about with Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) who appeared with him on Mt. Tabor? Many other questions as well.

The Transfiguration points to a number of things, perhaps most importantly that this theophany revealed Christ as both the perfect human and perfect God. That Christ was God incarnate was a question then, and for some even today.

The miraculous event revealed the Glory of God as Christ is seen in a fantastic luminescence that more than merely startled the disciples.

Then was heard the affirming voice: ‘This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him’. Visually striking. Audibly affirming. Cowering on the ground in fear, the disciples also felt the Glory of God in another way as the Lord came and comforted them, saying, 'Get up and do not be afraid.'

Perhaps we too, when in times of trouble or fear, can place our faith in Christ and thereby 'get up and not be afraid'.

Think more about it....read more about it:
Matthew 17:1-8
Mark 9:11-7
Luke 9:29-36
Peter II 1:17-18

https://stsvartanantz.com

05/14/2026

Just taking a moment to ponder today's important Dominical Feast Day of the Ascension of our Lord. It sometimes does not get the attention it deserves.

Always occurring on the fortieth day after Holy Easter, and always on a Thursday, this midweek feast can get lost on the calendar.
It's always been interesting to me that the Gospels provide us with a rich amount of description and stories of the life of our Lord prior to Holy Week and the Crucifixion/Resurrection details, but is fairly scant on the forty days after. Seems like those 40 days with the Lord would produce a lot of material to think/talk/write about.

Maybe it's like professional sports......big build up during the season leading to the playoffs, then the final game, and then a few recap/interviews/commentary articles (maybe a parade in some places) and then that's it. (Must be a good analogy somewhere there.)

The various apocryphal gospel accounts provide some interesting reading, but they do not yet count.

04/22/2026

04/02/2026

Have you ever said, "Where are you?"

03/27/2026

Armenian Orthodox will find inspiration in the coming days as Great & Holy Week is observed.
Find the time.
Find a parish.
Find a Worship Service.
Inspire your faith as the week unfolds telling the story of our Lord and Savior during the final days of his earthly life.
If time, locale, schedules present big obstacles for you, take a few minutes to read the Scriptures concerning what Great & Holy Week is all about.
You just might find out it's about you.