Entries by stjohn

BIRTH OF PERCH PROSHIAN

Perch Proshian (Hovhannes Ter-Arakelian, 1837–1907) was a pioneering Eastern Armenian novelist. Born in Ashtarak, he studied at local parish and monastic schools, Tiflis’ Nersisian School, and briefly at a state gymnasium. He taught across the South Caucasus, helped found Armenian professional theater, and promoted girls’ education. Proshian translated the Gospel into Modern Armenian, earning the title Master of Theology. His works include *Sos and Varditer*, *Aghasi*, *Apple of Discord*, *The Beginning of Birth Pangs*, *The Bread Issue*, and *Moths*, alongside translations of Dickens and Tolstoy. His legacy is preserved at the Perch Proshian House-Museum in Ashtarak…

THE ILLUMINATOR’S DELIVERANCE FROM THE PIT

Saturday, June 6, is the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s deliverance from the pit Gregory is revered as the patron saint of the Armenian Church. He is recognized and memorialized in both eastern and western hierarchical churches. The Armenian liturgical calendar reserves three feast days in his honor: Entrance into the pit; deliverance from the pit, and discovery of relics.

LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS

Here’s a version condensed to about **686 characters**:

Recently, I began watching old Bob Ross videos again. His calm paintings remind me of a simple truth he often shared: “You need dark to show light, and light to show dark.” In art, light is meaningful because of shadow. The same is true in life and faith. Scripture says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). We see this most clearly in Christ, whose Resurrection shines through the darkness of the Cross. Sorrow deepens joy, struggle strengthens gratitude, and trials teach us to notice grace. In God’s hands, even the darkest shadows can serve to reveal the beauty of His light…

ՔԱՐՈԶՆԵՐԸ ՈՐ ՉԵՆՔ ՅԻՇԵՐ

Յիսուս ըսաւ․ «Մարդ միայն հացով չ’ապրիր, այլ բոլոր այն խօսքերով, որ Աստուած խօսած է» (Մատթէոս 4․4)։ Հացը մարմինը ողջ կը պահէ, իսկ Աստուծոյ Խօսքը՝ հոգին։ Կերակուրը մեր մարմնին մկանները կը զօրացնէ, իսկ Աստուծոյ Խօսքը՝ մեր հաւատքին։

Եկեղեցւոյ մէջ Աւետարանը կը լսենք ու քարոզի պատգամը կ’ստանանք։ Սուրբ Սեղանին շուրջ կը համախմբուինք Պատարագի, որպէսզի Քրիստոս Ինք մեզ սնուցանէ։ Ան կը կերակրէ մէզ Իր անապական սեղանէն, բաշխելով Իր մարմինն ուր արիւնը․․․ որ ի վեր է քան զամենայն միտս եւ զբանս։․․․

REMEMBRANCE OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH

On Sunday, May 31st, the Armenian Church remembers Elijah, one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament recorded in 1 and 2 Kings. He appeared along with Moses at the Transfiguration as the prophet of life and the new covenant. The Armenian Church (like all the Eastern churches) holds Elijah in the highest esteem.

THE FIRST PRINTED ARMENIAN BIBLE

At the Diocese, we preserve the first printed Armenian Bible, published in Amsterdam in 1666 by Bishop Voskan Yerevantsi. Before printing, Scripture was copied slowly by hand, making complete Bibles rare and precious. The printing press allowed God’s Word to spread farther, reaching more churches, homes, and hearts. Today the Bible is everywhere, yet we sometimes forget its value. Scripture was not given only to be printed on paper, but to be written on the heart. When we read it prayerfully, God renews our hope, guides our lives, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to Him each day…

ԿՐԱԿԸ ԵՐԲԵՔ ՉԷՐ ՄԱՐԱԾ

Երբ եկեղեցւոյ մէջ խունկ կը վառենք, կը տեսնենք թէ ինչպէս ածուխը նախ բոցավառ կերպով կը վառի, ապա հետզհետէ կը մեղմանայ ու բոցը կ’անհետանայ։ Բայց կրակը տակաւին կենդանի կը մնայ, եւ անոր ջերմութիւնը կը շարունակէ զգալի ըլլալ։ Սակայն որոշ ժամանակ մը ետք ածուխին մակերեսը կը մռայլի, եւ կրակը մարած կը թուի։

Բայց երբ մօտենանք ու մեղմօրէն փչենք անոր վրայ, ածուխը դարձեալ կեանքի կու գայ․ կը բոցավառի ու կը դառնայ աշխոյժ։ Որովհետեւ կրակը երբեք չէր մարած անոր մէջ։ Ան թաքնուած էր մակերեսին տակ՝ շունչի կամ հովի սպասելով։

THE FIRE WAS NEVER GONE

When incense charcoal burns, the flame first rises brightly, then grows quiet, though hidden fire remains beneath the surface. A gentle breath awakens the glowing coals again. This reflects the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Some seasons feel full of joy, prayer, and strong faith; others feel silent and heavy. Yet God’s Spirit never leaves us. In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is linked with breath and wind, bringing life, courage, and renewal. One prayer, one word of Scripture, or one movement of grace can reignite the hidden fire within us. Even when faith feels quiet, the Spirit is still alive, waiting to awaken our hearts again.

BIRTH OF VAHAKN DADRIAN

Vahakn Dadrian (1926–2019) was one of the foremost scholars of the Armenian Genocide. Born in Constantinople to a family devastated by the genocide, he studied mathematics, philosophy, international law, and sociology in Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, and Chicago. Fluent in several languages, including Ottoman Turkish, he researched archives internationally and taught sociology at SUNY Geneseo from 1970 to 1991. Dadrian authored influential books on genocide studies, received major Armenian and international honors, directed genocide research projects, and lectured worldwide before being buried in Yerevan after his death in New York.

LET IT COOL

Japanese tea cups have no handles, so you feel the heat directly. If the cup is too hot to hold, the tea is too hot to drink. That quiet wisdom mirrors life with God. We often rush for answers, healing, success, or change, expecting immediate results. But Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time for everything. Delays, silence, and uncertainty may be God slowing us down, preparing our hearts, and teaching patience. Rushed choices can wound us, while waiting can deepen us. Some blessings must arrive in God’s timing, not ours. Sometimes the waiting itself is part of the blessing.