Entries by stjohn

DEATH OF ARIEL AGEMIAN

Ariel (Haroutiun) Agemian was born in Brusa, Turkey, in 1904. He was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, during which he witnessed the death of his father and was separated from his mother and brother. The Mekhitarist monks first took him to Rome and soon brought him to Venice where he studied at the Moorat Raphael College until 1922.

In 1926, he graduated from the Venice Academy of Fine Arts with a Gold Medal award from the Associazione Artistica. He worked and taught in Italy until 1931 and then in Paris until 1938.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

“I thank my God every time I remember you. Whenever I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy…” (Philippians 1:3-4).

What a powerful statement of gratitude! Paul’s heart overflowed with thanksgiving, not for things, but for people—the people God placed in his life. That same feeling is in my heart, my friends, during this beautiful season of Thanksgiving.

I, too, thank God for each one of you: for your faith, your dedication, your kindness. I thank Him for your prayers, your love, and the way you encourage one another and me. Each of you is a blessing, and it brings joy to my heart to think of you, because I know I’m blessed to walk this journey of faith with a wonderful clergy and faithful of the Eastern Diocese.

THE FRAGRANCE OF VICTORY

In ancient Rome, when a victorious commander returned from battle, the whole city would gather for a grand celebration called a “Triumph.” This wasn’t just any parade. It was a spectacle of victory. The streets were lined with cheering crowds, soldiers marched in their shining armor, and most importantly, incense was burned everywhere. The fragrance of that incense filled the city, proclaiming to everyone that victory had been won.

St. Paul uses this imagery to describe what it means to live in victory through Christ. He writes, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

BIRTH OF ROSY VARTE

Rosy Varte was a French actress of Armenian descent. She made more than 100 film and television appearances during her career.

She was born Nevarte Manouelian on November 22, 1923, in Constantinople. She was a few weeks old when her family moved to France following the establishment of the Kemalist regime in Turkey.

Her career reflected her appetite for life and formidable curiosity. She started working with noted theater director Jean Vilar at the Theatre National Populaire (National Popular Theater, TNP), a major theatrical institution. Her performance in the play “Ubu Roi,” staged at the TNP in 1958, is considered a classic.

HEAVEN IS CHEERING YOU ON

When I was a kid, I practiced judo for seven years. I loved everything about it—the techniques, the discipline, the competitions. There was something special about stepping onto that mat, facing an opponent, and giving it my all. But what made it even more extraordinary was looking over to the sidelines and seeing my mom, my dad, and my brother watching. Just knowing they were there gave me a boost. It didn’t matter how tired I was or how tough my opponent seemed—their presence gave me strength I didn’t even know I had.

In our spiritual life, we have a cheering section, too. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1, “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.” That means we’re not running this race alone. Heaven itself is watching over us, cheering us on, saying, “You can do it! Keep going! Don’t give up!”

LET GO OF WORRY

How many times do we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of “what ifs”? What if I don’t get that job? What if the doctor’s report isn’t good? What if my kids don’t turn out the way I hoped? The truth is, worry is like sitting in a rocking chair—it gives you something to do but takes you nowhere.

Lord Jesus said it plainly: “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Another translation says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (Luke 12:25). In other words, He’s telling us not to stress over things we can’t control. Our worry isn’t adding value to our life—it’s draining it.

ENGRAVING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

In the Old Testament, the walking stick—the staff—wasn’t just a tool for walking because they were nomadic people. They engraved the moments of God’s deliverance on their staff to remember what God had done. It was their way of saying, “This far, God has brought us.” It became a living story, a record of God’s faithfulness.

When Moses stood at the edge of the Red Sea, with the waters blocking the way and the Egyptians chasing behind, he didn’t just hold up a stick. He lifted up a reminder of God’s faithfulness. That staff carried the memory of God’s promises—the plagues in Egypt, the miracles, the wonders. Moses was saying, “God, You’ve done it before. You delivered us from Pharaoh’s hand, and I know You’ll do it again. Open the way!” And God, faithful as always, parted the sea.

BIRTH OF ONNIG AVEDISSIAN

Onnig Avedissian was born in Brusa (nowadays Bursa) on November 21, 1898. At the age of two, he moved to Constantinople with his family, where he acquired his primary and secondary education (1904–1915). During the summers of 1920-1921, he was tutored by painter Serovpé Kurkjian (1872-1924), who enhanced his inclination for art.

With the support of his parents, Avedissian decided to study art in Europe. In 1921 he was enrolled as a student in the School of Graphic Arts of Vienna, where he studied until his graduation as an expert in etching in 1925. He married in 1922 and had a son. He participated in the annual salon of the Viennese Association of Artists in 1923 for the first time. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome (1925-1927).

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.