Entries by stjohn

BIRTH OF MGRDICH SANASARIAN

Mgrdich Sanasarian was a benefactor of Armenian causes who played an important role in educational and cultural undertakings during the second half of the nineteenth century.

He was born on April 10, 1818, in Tiflis (Tbilisi), to a family originally from Van. He was an elder first cousin of Grigor Artzruni, the famous Eastern Armenian journalist.

Sanasarian studied in the Nersisian School of Tiflis, which had his maternal grandfather as one of its founders. He served in the Russian army (1835-1845) and was decorated with the medal of St. George. In 1849 he started working at the “Caucasus and Mercurius” shipping company, and became a member of its board of directors in 1864.

ANOINTED FOR PEACE

For years, I thought that verse from the famous psalm was just beautiful poetry—David’s way of saying God was keeping him healthy, maybe keeping his mind strong. But I didn’t realize just how powerful that imagery is—until I learned what David, the shepherd boy-turned-king, was really pointing to.

In the Middle East, shepherds would take special care of their sheep. Because out in those dry fields and rocky hills, the danger wasn’t always a wolf or a lion. Sometimes, the greatest torment came from the smallest enemies—flies.

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS

On Saturday before Palm Sunday the Armenian Orthodox Church commemorates the Raising of Lazarus as told in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11. Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were good friends of Jesus.

SECOND WIND

When I was a teenager, I practiced judo, and part of our training included running. There were times when I would run and run, and suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t take another step. My legs were heavy, my lungs were burning, and my body was shouting at me, “That’s it. You’re done.”

And yet, if I kept going just a little longer, something amazing would happen. I would catch my second wind. Suddenly, the exhaustion lifted, my strength returned, and I felt like I could run forever!

DEATH OF VAHAN BEDELIAN

In 1915, the population of Adana was deported and the Bedelian family reached Aleppo. One of Vahan Bedelian’s friends, who by then was a good violin teacher, arranged a job for him as music and violin teacher at the Aleppo School of Art. With this job, he managed, after considerable difficulties, to obtain a permit from the chief of police to stay in Aleppo with the eleven members of his family.
They stayed there until the end of World War I and returned to Adana when French forces were stationed in Cilicia. Bedelian gave his first concert in 1920. When the French evacuated Cilicia in 1921, he went to Cyprus, where he devoted himself to music and teaching. In 1932 he replaced famous composer and conductor Parsegh Ganachian

OVEN OVER MICROWAVE

We’ve all been there—waiting for a dream to come to pass, a prayer to be answered, a door to open. And if you’re like me, you probably don’t enjoy the waiting. We want things fast, quick, right now. But God doesn’t work on our timetable. He’s not rushed, not stressed. God is never in a hurry, and He’s never late. His timing is always right.

Think about baking a loaf of bread. There’s a process involved. First, you gather the ingredients, mix them together, knead the dough, and then—you wait. You put it in the oven and let the heat do its work. But here’s …

SOUL DETOX

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine recently discovered something fascinating. They found that when we sleep, our brains actually flush out toxins. While we’re resting, brain cells go to work, pumping fluid in and out, removing waste and debris. Isn’t that amazing? God designed your body to cleanse itself while you sleep.

Now, just like your brain needs that deep rest to flush out physical toxins, your soul needs deep spiritual rest to flush out emotional and spiritual toxins—fear, guilt, shame, bitterness, worry. And the way we find that rest is by getting into God’s presence, soaking in His promises, and meditating on His Word.

PLAYFUL PEACE

Did you know that the Armenian word for peace, Khaghaghoutiun [Խաղաղութիւն], which we hear so often during Badarak, comes from the root word khaghal [խաղալ] meaning “to play.” Isn’t that amazing? Peace, at its very core, is tied to this idea of pure, childlike playfulness.

Think about the way children play. They aren’t burdened by yesterday’s worries or tomorrow’s fears. They’re just enjoying the moment —laughing, running, and soaking in every bit of joy life has to offer. And that’s the heart of true peace. It’s a peace that renews your joy, refreshes your soul, and allows you to move through life with a light, playful spirit.

ST. GREGORY’S COMMITMENT TO THE PIT

On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Armenian Church celebrates one of the three days in its liturgical calendar devoted to St. Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of the Armenian Church. The three days are: Entrance into the Pit; Emergence from the Pit; and Discovery of his remains. ..