Entries by stjohn

3RD COOKING CLASS WITH JUSTIN

On Saturday, May 4, 2024, St. John’s Church enjoyed another culinary class with Justin Aprahamian, Owner of Sanford’s Restaurant in downtown Milwaukee and winner of the esteemed James Beard Award. Justin demonstrated the preparation of Aged Cheddar Cheese Beoreg and Apricot/Fennel Salad. His presentation was full of useful kitchen tips, entertaining humor, and the process of making the above two dishes which resulted in a delectable complexity of flavors. Many in the class had …

DEATH OF HRACHIA KOCHAR

Writer Hrachia Kochar, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, became one of the official voices of Stalinism, but at the end of his life, mounting on the wave of national rebirth in Soviet Armenian, produced the most durable works of his literary career.

He was born Hrachia Kaprielian in the village of Kumlubujakh, situated on the foot of Mount Nepat in the district of Bagrevand (Western Armenia), on February 1, 1910. His mother died on the road to exile in 1916, and he was able to cross into Eastern Armenia with the rest of the villagers, finding shelter in the village of Vagharshapat. His father Kochar (Kocho), who fought along General Antranig, died in 1918.

FEAST OF THE ASCENSION

Thursday, May 9, 2024, 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.

THE FEAST OF THE APPARITION OF THE CROSS

The “Feast of the Apparition of the Cross” on the Armenian Church’s liturgical calendar commemorates a historical event that took place in Jerusalem in 351 A.D. during the patriarchate of St. Cyril of Jerusalem.

In a letter to the Byzantine Emperor, St. Cyrill wrote: “The all-victorious Sign of the Cross, formed of light, appeared over the sky extending from Holy Golgotha to the Mount of Olives….

BIRTH OF KEVORK MESROB

Kevork Mesrob was a longtime teacher as well as prolific author and public servant both in the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

His real name was Kevork Der-Mesrobian and he was born on May 1, 1881, in Bardizag. He studied at the local Nerses-Shushanian and then at the local American high school. Then he was admitted at the Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which he finished in three years instead of the usual six (1899-1902).

THE HOLY MARTYRS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND US

Today, we stand united, hearts intertwined, as we remember the sacred memory of our Holy Martyrs, the brave souls of the Armenian Genocide. These were men, women, and children who, amidst the darkest hours, held onto their faith with unwavering love and dedication to our nation and homeland. They accepted the crown of martyrdom, and in doing so, they left us a legacy of indomitable spirit and courageous faith.

BLESSED, NOT LUCKY

Very often, we attribute our successes and good fortunes to mere luck. We say, “I was just lucky!” or “Wow, that was a lucky break!” But the scripture teaches us that our successes are not accidents of fate because “every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James1:17) The Apostle James calls out specific gifts in his letter in this very first chapter: wisdom (1:5), the crown of life given to those who …

BIRTH OF SEIRAN KHATLAMAJIAN

Seiran Khatlamajian is considered one of the founding fathers of the abstract art movement in Armenia.

He was born on April 20, 1937, in the village of Chaltyr near Rostov-on-Don. His parents were dispossessed landowners. Since childhood, Seiran was fascinated by drawing and at the age of 14 started his studies at the children’s art school in Rostov-on-Don. He entered the Mitrofan Grekov School of Art in 1953 and graduated in 1959 with honors.

EVENTS FOCUSED ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE THEN AND NOW

The last several years have seen peace and stability shattered across the world. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine occupied headlines, until pushed aside by Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s assault on Gaza. But there have been other bloody conflicts ignored by the American media and America’s politicians.

Last September in the Caucasus Mountains of the former Soviet Union, Azerbaijan attacked a self-governing enclave called Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh), forcing more than 100,000 Armenians to flee a land inhabited by their ancestors for centuries.

NEVER FORGOTTEN

The love of a mother is one of the strongest, most enduring loves we know in human experience. A mother’s love is instinctual, unconditional, and fierce. Yet, God says even if a mother could forget her nursing child, He will never forget us: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you,” says the Lord” (Isaiah 49:15). This is the unfailing love of God!