Entries by stjohn

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS

The Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of All Saints, Old and New, Known and Unknown. This is the holiday that compensates for any sins of omission in the list of saints remembered by the Church. The western churches celebrate …

ARMENIAN WINES FOR TASTING AND SALE IN MILWAUKEE

On Sunday, Oct. 27, Victoria Aslanian from ArmAs Estate gave a presentation and a wine tasting at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church in suburban Milwaukee. ArmAs Estate has become a leader in Armenia’s “wine renaissance,” earning some 50 awards worldwide including gold and silver medals at the Mundus Vini wine festival in Germany, silver and bronze at London’s Decanter World Wine Awards and silver and bronze at the Vyno Dienos International Wine Competition in Lithuania. ArmAs has been favorably mentioned in publications ranging from Wine Enthusiast to Forbes and Foreign Affairs.

BIRTH OF HOVHANNES PARSEGHIAN

He was born on October 25, 1920, in the village of Mastara (Aragatsotn province). After graduating from the seven-year school in Mastara and the high school in Talin, he was admitted to the Linguistics and Literature Faculty of Yerevan State University in 1938.

He was drafted into the army in 1941 and participated in World War II until 1943, when he was seriously injured for the first time and demobilized. He graduated from the university in 1944 and completed his post–graduate studies in 1948. Barseghian defended his candidate (first Ph.D.) thesis in 1952 and his second Ph.D. thesis in 1981. He became an associate professor in 1981 and full professor in 1984.

FROM PAIN TO PEARL

In the silent depths of the ocean, the oyster rests peacefully until a tiny grain of sand slips inside its shell. This minuscule intruder causes irritation and pain. It doesn’t belong there; it’s not supposed to be there. But instead of pushing it away, the oyster begins to coat that sand with layers of nacre, turning it into a radiant, shimmering pearl.

This natural marvel mirrors our own experiences with life’s trials. There are moments when a problem slips into our world—something unexpected, something that throws us off balance. Maybe it’s a health issue, a financial struggle, or a broken relationship. We didn’t ask for it, and we certainly don’t want it. But if we allow God to work through those trials, he can take that grain of sand, that thing causing you pain, and I can turn it into something beautiful.

WALKING IN HIS STEPS

One chilly evening, a father decided to take a walk to a nearby church. A few moments later, he heard the sound of small footsteps. He turned around, and there was his little boy, following him. The father asked, “How did you find out where I was?” The boy, with a bright smile, answered, “I just followed your steps in the snow.”

Over 2,000 years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ walked on this earth, and His steps left a trail that has changed the world forever. He walked through deserts and hillsides, through crowded cities and quiet gardens, and every step He took was a step of love, compassion, and obedience to God’s will. He showed us how to love the unlovable, how to forgive the unforgivable, and how to reach out to those who are hurting and lost.

FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY CROSS

The Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Kude Khatchi), this Sunday, October 27, 2024. Empress Helena, mother of Constantine and a devout Christian, wanted to find the True Cross. She went to Golgotha (Calvary), which had become an obscure and neglected place…

GOD’S BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

Recently, I was going through some old files, and I stumbled upon my childhood album—full of pictures from years ago. There were snapshots of family gatherings, school events, special moments with friends, and even some baby photos of me and my brother. Each photo brought back memories, and I found myself smiling, thinking about how God had blessed me over the years. It warmed my heart all over again.

Isn’t it amazing how we hold onto those cherished moments? We capture them, put them in an album, and when we open it, it takes us back. It’s like time-traveling to a place where joy was overflowing, where life felt lighter, where love was all around. In a beautiful way, God also has His own way of treasuring memories.

AVEDIS – THE GOOD NEWS

We live in a world where the news is often dominated by negativity—stories of conflict, division, and despair. Day after day, we hear headlines that make us anxious, sad, or angry. And it’s so easy to get weighed down by it all, to forget about the good news that truly matters.

The Gospel is the best news you will ever hear. It’s a message of hope that can transform lives, heal brokenness, and renew hearts. The Gospel tells us that God loves us, forgives us, and has a plan for us. And no matter how dark things may seem, there is always a light that shines in the darkness, and that light is Jesus Christ.

DRIVEN BY LOVE

One night, a man was driving down a dark, lonely highway. It was late, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Suddenly, he heard a loud thud. Startled, he pulled over and saw a figure lying by the roadside. He realized he had accidentally struck a hitchhiker who had been standing too close to the road.

In that moment, fear gripped his heart. He wanted to jump into his car and drive away. But then, as he turned to get back into his car, he heard a faint, desperate voice. The injured man whispered, “For the love of God, help me.” The driver resisted his fearful temptation and returned to help.

DEATH OF LUTHER SIMJIAN

Լuther Simjian was born in Aintab (Cilicia) on January 28, 1905. He lost his mother when he was only a few months old; his father later remarried and had two daughters. The family fled to Aleppo during the Genocide and only returned to Aintab in 1920 during the brief French mandate over Cilicia. Simjian’s stepmother and half-sisters were killed in Marash. Eventually he escaped to Beirut and then came to the United States via France at the end of 1920. He first settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where he lived with an uncle and graduated from Booth Preparatory School.

Simjian began working as a technician at the photography lab of the Yale School of Medicine. In 1928 he founded and became the first director of the photography department, which he headed until 1934.