Entries by stjohn

DEATH OF BEDROS TOURIAN

It has been said that Armenian literature had two great foes whose names started with the letter թ (t): tuberculosis (թոքախտ, tokakhd) and Turks (թուրքեր). Five famous poets were among the victims of the terrible illness, related to poverty and malnourishment. One of them was Bedros Tourian, the great name of Armenian romanticism.

Tourian was born in Scutari, a suburb of Constantinople, on May 20, 1851 (Julian calendar, equivalent to June 1 in the Gregorian calendar). His father, Abraham Zmbayan, was a struggling blacksmith in a poverty stricken family, named after his profession (Turkish zımba “chisel”), from which his son derived the Armenian translation Tourian (Armenian դուր[tour]“chisel”).

HOLY FATHERS STS. ATHANASIUS AND CYRIL

In January, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy Fathers Athanasius and Cyril. Athanasius is known as the “champion of orthodoxy” and “Father of Orthodoxy.” He served as bishop of Alexandria for 45 years . He attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. He is respected and revered in the Armenian Church. Cyril of Alexandria succeeded his uncle, Theophilus…

THE TRILOGY OF GRACE

Trilogies capture our imagination. Whether it’s “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Godfather,” or “Back to the Future,” there’s something special about a story that unfolds in parts. Each chapter pulls us deeper into the narrative, revealing more about the characters, their struggles, and their triumphs. By the end, we’re not just watching a story—we’re part of it.

Did you know Jesus gave us a trilogy of His own? It’s found in Luke 15, where He tells three parables: the story of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. It’s a masterpiece of storytelling, and each part adds another layer to the heart of God’s love. This isn’t just entertainment; it’s the very essence of who God is. He’s showing us how far He’ll go to bring us back when we’re lost.

BIRTH OF ARNO BABAJANIAN

Arno Babajanian was one of the most important composers of Soviet Armenia, but also was very well-known in the Soviet Union, especially as a brilliant pianist.

He was born in Yerevan on January 22, 1921. His childhood friend, composer Alexander Harutiunian, recalled that at the age of five or six, the future musician attempted to play the old piano of the kindergarten. Babajanian himself used to tell about his first meeting with Aram Khachatourian: “When I was a kindergartener, a man once visited us and asked us to sing to get to know who had music ear among us. I was singing and kicking the floor at the same time. Listening to me, that man said that I should be engaged in music. In the future, I would learn that he was Aram Khachatourian.”

BIRTH OF MANYA GHAZARYAN

Manya Ghazaryan, a prolific art historian, was born on January 20, 1924, in Tbilisi (Georgia). She graduated from the Institute of Art and Theater of Yerevan (now Academy of Fine Arts) in 1948. She worked at the National Gallery of Art of Armenia between 1953 and 1959, and afterwards became a researcher at the Institute of Art of the National Academy of Sciences. In 1983 she earned the title of Emeritus Worker of Art of Armenia, and in 1996 she defended her dissertation of Ph.D. in Art.

Manya Ghazaryan’s studies were devoted to plastic arts in the Middle Ages, and the modern and contemporary periods. She authored the following books in Armenian: Vardges Sureniants (1960), Armenian Plastic Arts…

THE RIM OF THE SUNRISE

There is a town in the far north of Norway where, every January 18, after months of darkness, the people gather on a hill. They stand together in the cold, straining their eyes toward the horizon. At first, all they see is a little rim of light, just a small sliver on the horizon. But as they look at that little glimmer of light, their hearts fill with joy. Why? Because they know that it’s only the beginning. In the days to come, the sun will rise higher and brighter, bathing their world in warmth and light once again.

Isn’t that a picture of how God works in our lives? Sometimes, all we see is the faintest glimmer of hope, a small rim of His promises beginning to break through the darkness. You’ve been praying for peace in your family, healing in your body, or a breakthrough in your career, and it feels like it’s been nighttime for so long. And it feels like nothing is changing.

THE CHRISTMAS DATE DILEMMA

For those who observe Christmas on January 6, particularly in the West, it can feel disheartening to see festive decorations, events, and celebrations leading up to December 25 while they patiently await their own celebration. By the time their Holy Nativity arrives, most decorations have already been taken down, and the holiday excitement has faded.

Additionally, many Armenians find themselves unsure whether to extend Christmas greetings and say “Merry Christmas” when, according to the Armenian calendar, Jesus has not yet been born. This seasonal dilemma can be quite confusing. Despite this, I know many Armenian Orthodox families who faithfully celebrate the Holy Nativity on January 6 but still gather with friends and loved ones on December 25 to partake in the broader holiday spirit.

THE STORY BEHIND PRAYING HANDS

Have you ever seen Albrecht Dürer’s Praying Hands? This iconic artwork is everywhere—adorning churches, homes, and postcards. We’ve admired its beauty, the delicate lines, the reverence it captures. But there’s a story behind those hands that will move your heart and inspire your faith.

Albrecht Dürer and his brother Albert shared a dream: to attend art school in Nuremberg. However, their family couldn’t afford to send both. So, the brothers came up with a plan. Albrecht would go first, while Albert labored in the mines to support him. Once Albrecht completed his studies, they would switch—Albert would pursue his dream, and Albrecht would work to fund it.

BIRTH OF HRATCH ZARTARIAN

Hrach Zartarian was one of the important yet lesser-known names of French Armenian literature in the past century.

He was born in Kharpert on January 15, 1897. He was the elder son of Rupen Zartarian (1874–1915), the talented writer and journalist who was among the first intellectual victims of the Armenian Genocide. He went from place to place in his childhood, following his father’s steps as teacher, activist, and editor, from Kharpert to Smyrna, Manisa, Plovdiv (Bulgaria), and Constantinople. He received his education at the famed Sanasarian School of Karin (Erzerum), where he was a boarding student for three years. After the school was moved to Sepastia (Sivas), Hrach Zartarian returned to Constantinople and studied at Getronagan School.

FEAST OF THE NAMING OF THE LORD

Every January 13, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Naming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Hebrew custom. The commemoration of this event (see Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-32; Luke 2:21) comes seven days after the Feast of Theophany, which is the eighth day of the octave of Theophany. This event of the naming and circumcision of our Lord resulted …