Entries by stjohn

DEATH OF RAOUL ASLAN

Raoul Aslan was one of the most popular Austrian actors in the 1920-1950 period.

He was born Raoul Aslanian on October 16, 1886, in Salonica (Thessaloniki), then part of the Ottoman Empire (now in Greece). His father Charles Aslanian was a tobacco salesman from Edirne (Adrianopolis) of Armenian origin, and his mother came from an Italian family that had moved to Egypt. His younger brother was the actor Didier Aslan (1894-1978).

Aslan’s mother tongue was French, as was customary among the upper middle classes of the Ottoman Empire at the time. He was brought up by a Viennese governess and moved to Vienna with his mother in 1896 to attend school.

OPEN THE WINDOW

One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit in Scripture is the wind (Gen 1:2, Acts 2:2). The word “Spirit” in Hebrew means “breath” or “wind,” so that the Holy Spirit could literally be called the “Wind” or “Breath” of God.

On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were all in the upper room tarrying, just as Jesus had instructed them, when suddenly the room was filled with the sound of a mighty rushing wind. It was the sound of power, of force, and of the presence of the Holy Spirit in that upper room (Acts 2:2).

BOLD AND PATIENT

Did you know that the lions in front of the New York City Public Library have names? That’s right. Their names are Patience and Fortitude. During the Great Depression, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia gave them those names to remind New Yorkers of the qualities they needed to get through tough times.

In the middle of a city that never sleeps, where millions rush by every day, those two lions have stood tall for over a century. Rain, snow, protests, parades, pandemics—you name it, they’ve faced it. And still they stand, strong and majestic, right where they’ve always been.

BIRTH OF ARAM MERANGULIAN

Composer and musician Aram Merangulian hand an important role in Armenian folklore music with the creation of the orchestra of popular instruments of Armenia.

He was born on June 8, 1902, in the village of Tshegna of the district of Goghtn (Nakhichevan). He directed several amateur groups in 1922-1926. He studied the tarr (1926-1928) and composition (1937-1942) at the Yerevan Music Conservatory. In 1927 he founded the ensemble of popular instruments of the Radio and TV of Armenia and directed the group for the next forty years. The ensemble was called after him following his death. Famous singers like Hovhannes Badalian, Ruben Matevosian, Norayr Mnatsakanian, Ofelia Hambardzumian, Varduhi Khachatryan were among the soloists in the ensemble.

GOD KNOWS THE WAY

Texas is famous for its overpass bridges and highways. Roads going one way, lanes curving another direction, some rising high, others dropping low. It’s a maze of concrete and confusion, and yet somehow, it all works. Cars are moving, people are getting where they need to go, and even though it looks chaotic from the outside, there’s a design behind it.

That’s how God works in our lives. You may be in a season where things feel out of order. One moment you’re headed straight, then life curves left. You thought you’d be further along by now, but you hit a detour. You see someone else on an overpass flying by, and you wonder, “God, did You forget about me down here in this parking lot?”

WHEN THE DEEP CRIES OUT

Yesterday in Houston, I visited one of the most powerful sights I’ve ever seen—the Water Wall. Designed by famed architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, it stands 64 feet tall, with 11,000 gallons of water cascading down every minute. The sound of the water was deafening, the breeze refreshing, and the mist touched your face like a whisper from heaven.

It reminded me of what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 42: “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me. But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me” (Psalm 42:7-8).

WORTH THE WAIT

Living in a city like New York teaches you something about time. There’s a rhythm of speed and convenience—grab-and-go meals, fast deliveries, quick conversations. You can get a hot dog from a street cart in under a minute. It’s instant, it’s simple, and sometimes it hits the spot.

But if you want something more refined, a multi-course meal at a Michelin-star restaurant, you’ll need to wait. You might have to reserve weeks in advance. You’re going to wait for your table, and even after you’re seated, you’ll wait between courses. But when the food finally comes out? It’s an experience. It’s rich, it’s layered, it’s satisfying.

FEAST OF THE ASCENSION

Thursday, May 29, 2025, is the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Hampartsoum), which is celebrated forty days after Easter. The universal church has celebrated the Ascension since the fourth century. According to Biblical scripture the Ascension took place in the village of Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, in the presence of our Lord’s disciples.

MEMORIAL DAY

On Memorial Day, across the United States, we pause to honor those who have fallen in defense of our nation. We remember the men and women who gave their lives so that we might live in freedom.

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That verse captures the essence of what this day means. It is about selfless love. These heroes didn’t just talk about freedom. They believed in it. They stood for it. And ultimately, they gave their lives for it.

BIRTH OF ARKADY TER TADEVOSYAN

Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan [pronounced as Der-Tadevosian], also known by his nom-de-guerre Komandos, was a military leader of the Armenian forces in the first Artsakh war and best known for commanding the capture of the town of Shushi in 1992.

Ter-Tadevosyan was born Artush Tadevosyan in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, on May 22, 1939. After graduating from a high school in Tbilisi, he decided to become an officer. He attended military school in Baku and Leningrad (nowadays St. Petersburg). He served in Afghanistan and continued his military service in Leninakan (modern-day Gyumri), East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Belarus, and Yerevan. He was also a lecturer at the Armenian State Agrarian University.