Entries by stjohn

GRAVITY OF HIS LOVE

Have you ever felt like life is spinning out of control? Like everything is pulling you in different directions, and you’re barely holding it together? Maybe it’s the pressures at work, challenges in your family, or the weight of an uncertain future. You think, “How can I keep going when it feels like everything is falling apart?”

Friends, you don’t have to hold it all together by yourself. Because the One who created this universe, the One who spoke life into being, is the same One who is holding you right now. Colossians 1:17 tells us, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” That means God, who set the world in motion, doesn’t step back and watch from a distance. He’s right here, holding you, guiding you, and keeping you steady.

RUN LIGHT, FINISH STRONG

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:2).

I love how this verse compares the Christian life to running a race. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. It’s not about how fast you start; it’s about how strong you finish. You’ve got to be focused, determined, and ready to endure. But here’s the key: to run your best race, you have to let go of the weight.

Think about a runner preparing for a marathon. They don’t show up wearing a backpack full of rocks. They don’t lace up heavy boots or layer on bulky clothes. No, they strip down to the essentials—lightweight shoes, breathable gear, everything designed for speed and endurance. Some even shave their heads to reduce resistance! Why? Because every ounce matters. The lighter they are, the faster and farther they can go.

DEATH OF MAGHAKIA [MALACHIAH] ORMANIAN

Archbishop Maghakia Ormanian was a remarkable figure of the Armenian Church in turbulent times at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century.

Boghos Ormanian was born on February 23, 1841 in Constantinople. After learning the first letters, in 1851 he was sent to Rome, where he pursued studies at the convent of St. Gregory, belonging to the Antonine Congregation, and then at the Vatican. He returned to Constantinople in 1866 and became secretary of the Antonine Congregation, while a year later he was designated principal of the Antonine School in Rome. In 1868 he obtained a master degree in philosophy, theology, and Church law, and became a member of the Theological Academy of Rome, as well as teacher of Armenian at the College of the Propaganda Fide.

SHARE GOD’S LOVE

On that great day of judgment, a man found himself standing before the Lord. As he waited in line, he started to feel uneasy. He overheard the Lord speaking to those in front of him: “Enter, for I was hungry, and you gave me food.” To another: “Come in, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” And to yet another: “You visited me when I was sick.” Our friend inched forward, growing more and more discouraged. He thought, “I haven’t done any of those things”. His heart sank as he realized his life didn’t seem to measure up to these high standards.

Finally, it was his turn. He looked up at the Lord, expecting disappointment, maybe even judgment. But the Lord’s face shone with kindness, and He looked at the man with a knowing smile and said, “Like you, I was once dejected and downcast, and you lifted my spirit. I was depressed, and you made me laugh.”…

CASTING INTO HOPE

Fishing is hope experienced. A fisherman casts his line into the water, not because he sees the fish, but because he believes they’re there. Even when the waters are calm and the bites are slow, the true fisherman doesn’t pack up and go home. He stays, expectant. If you ask him, “How can you fish all day without catching anything?” he’ll smile and say, “Hold on, I think I felt something.” And even if the line goes slack, his response is, “He’ll be back!” That’s hope. That’s faith in action.

And as Christians, hope isn’t just wishful thinking. It’s a confident expectation rooted in the promises of God. Paul said it like this in Romans 8:24-25: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

APOSTLES ANDREW AND PHILIP

St. Andrew the Apostle, one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples, is traditionally known as the first-called (“Protokletos”) among the apostles. Born in Bethsaida, a town by the Sea of Galilee, Andrew was initially a disciple of John the Baptist before he encountered Jesus and chose to follow Him. Andrew also introduced his brother,

KEEP THE TORCH BURNING

In ancient Greece, the runner who won the Olympic race was not the man who crossed the line in the shortest time, but the man who crossed it in the shortest time with his torch still burning. It was a test not only of speed but of endurance, strength, and focus. The race wasn’t about simply finishing; it was about carrying the flame with you, no matter what you faced along the way.

Friends, life is much like that race. We are moving toward our purpose, striving to cross the finish line. But God isn’t just looking for us to complete the race; He wants us to keep our flame burning. When we start our journey, that torch is lit with passion, faith, and joy. But sometimes, along the way, the winds of life start blowing hard. Maybe it’s the winds of disappointment, or maybe it’s the storm of struggles that seem unending. Sometimes, it’s the simple weariness of carrying that torch day after day.

ST. JOHN CELEBRATES 82 YEARS OF SERVING FAITH AND HERITAGE

“It’s good to be back home,” said Rev. Fr. Tadeos Abdalian, the celebrant and guest speaker for the 82nd anniversary celebration at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church, Greenfield. The November 10 event was a special occasion for Der Tateos and Milwaukee’s Armenian community. St. John was his first parish, the beginning of four decades of service in the Eastern Diocese. His years in Milwaukee were also a turning point for St. John, with Der Tateos taking the lead role in building the sanctuary that continues to be central to Armenian spiritual life in Milwaukee.

Der Tateos’ sermon was a reminder to parishioners who knew him in the ‘80s of his penetrating intelligence grounded in faith. He spoke of the power of silence, referencing the Book of Ecclesiastes 3:7, as a way to hear the voice of God in a world of noise and distraction. It’s a voice, he said,…

THE HOLY APOSTLES ANDREW AND PHILIP

The word apostle refers to the special inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, chosen by Jesus to accompany Him during His ministry, to learn from Him, follow His instructions and continue his work….

GOD’S UNFINISHED MAP

This map, displayed in Veharan at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, is known as Hamatarats Ashkharhatsuyts (World Map). Crafted by Thomas Vanandetsi in 1695 in Amsterdam, it’s the first map ever printed in the Armenian script. It was one of the first printed in Europe to include both geographic details and the stars above.

Crafted with care and incredible precision, it shows us just how skilled and visionary Thomas Vanandetsi was. But there’s something curious about this map—it’s unfinished. The western part of the United States and the eastern part of Australia are missing. Not because Thomas Vanandetsi made a mistake but because, in his time, those lands were still undiscovered! They hadn’t yet come into view.