Entries by stjohn

DEATH OF BELLA (TARPINIAN) DARBINYAN

Between the 1960s and 1980s, Bella Darbinian was at her peak as one of the most well-known singers of Armenia, with her fame firmly established in the Diaspora.

Bella Darbinian was born on February 10, 1936, in Kirovakan (nowadays Vanadzor). Her actual last name was Kuznetsova (her father was Russian and her mother Armenian). When she started her musical career, she considered more appropriate to use an Armenian name and used the straightforward translation of her surname (Russian kuznets = Armenian darbin-tarpin “blacksmith”).

KEEP SWINGING

Sometimes in life, we feel like we’re up against impossible odds. We’ve given it our all, but the breakthrough seems far off. We’re like a baseball player who keeps swinging but can’t seem to hit that home run. It’s in those moments that we need to dig deep, trust in God’s plan, and remember that victory might be just one swing away.

Last Saturday, with the parishioners of Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Armenian Church we had a day out at the ballpark to watch the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals are a team that knows something about perseverance…

JOURNEY OF FAITH

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been constantly on the move—traveling from New York to Chicago and Racine, then to Canada and Armenia. As I was flying back from Armenia, I found myself with ample time—16 hours, to be exact—to reflect on the journey of life. Isn’t life itself a journey? We’re constantly moving, going from one stage to the next, often unsure of what lies ahead. Yet, we trust that every step is part of a greater purpose.

Today’s Gospel reading gives us a beautiful example of someone also on a journey—Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

BIRTH OF MANOUG PARIKIAN

Manoug Parikian was an accomplished British Armenian violinist and violin teacher of international fame.

Parikian was born on September 15, 1920, in Mersin (Cilicia), to parents from Adana. He lived in Cyprus, where he took his first violin lessons from his paternal uncle Vahan Bedelian, a well-known musician and teacher. He moved to London in 1936, where he studied with Louis Pecsaki at the Trinity College of Music (1936-1939).

He made his debut as a concerto soloist in 1947 in Liverpool and in 1949 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He was concert master of several orchestras: the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (1947-1948), London Philharmonia Orchestra (1949-1957), The English Opera Group Orchestra (1949-1951),

ARARAT’S TESTIMONY

This morning, as I was flying back to New York from Armenia, I looked out of the airplane window and saw the magnificent Mount Ararat. What a sight! This mountain stands as a living reminder of God’s unwavering promises and the incredible resilience of His people. It was on these very slopes that Noah’s Ark came to rest after the great flood, a story that speaks volumes about God’s faithfulness and the strength of those who trust in Him (Genesis 6:11–9:19).

Mount Ararat is more than just a mountain. It’s a beacon of hope, a symbol that no matter how turbulent life’s waters might be, God’s promises…

RESTORATION AND RENEWAL

Today, with Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, we visited the Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral, and our hearts were filled with awe and gratitude. The cathedral, which has been the spiritual heart of the Armenian Church for centuries, is now almost ready to reopen its doors after extensive renovation. The ancient stones, which have witnessed the prayers, hopes, and tears of countless generations, now shine with renewed brilliance.

As we prepare for the grand opening in September, I can’t help but reflect on what this moment means for each of us.

CHOOSING GRATITUDE

As the Olympics have just come to a close, there’s something interesting that I want to share with you. Did you notice that a bronze medalist is generally more joyful than a silver medalist at the end of a game? You’d think it would be the other way around, right? But it’s a fact, backed by research, that bronze medalists usually experience more happiness than those who win the silver.

Now, logically, you might assume that a silver medalist should be happier—they came so close to the top spot! But the human mind doesn’t operate on logic alone…

HONOR THE LORD

A hundred years ago, the Olympics were held in Paris, just like they are this year, and a Scottish athlete named Eric Liddell found himself facing a tough decision. Eric was a devout Christian, and his preferred race, the 100 meters, was scheduled on a Sunday. To Eric, honoring the Lord’s Day was non-negotiable. Despite the pressure and the world’s expectations, Eric refused to run. Instead, he chose to honor God by keeping the Lord’s Day holy.

On the morning of the race, one of his teammates handed him a piece of paper with the Bible verse 1 Samuel 2:30 written on it: “I will honor those who honor Me.”

DEATH OF CYRUS HAMLIN

Cyrus Hamlin was a prominent American Congregational missionary and co-founder of Robert College in Constantinople.

Hamlin was born in Waterford, Maine, on January 8, 1811. He belonged to a prominent nineteenth-century family in the state. At sixteen, he entered an apprenticeship as a silversmith and jeweler in Portland, Maine, before deciding to enter the ministry. He first attended Bridgton Academy before heading to college. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1834 and from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1837.

Hamlin married Henrietta Jackson in 1838 and they left the United States in the same year for the Ottoman Empire as a missionary under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He helped found Bebek Seminary in 1840 as part of his outreach to Armenians and directed it until 1860.

EMBRACE THE GIFT OF TODAY

We often mark our calendars with days we think are the most significant: our birthdays, New Year’s Day, the first day of school, graduation day, the day we get engaged, our wedding, or the birth of our first child. Maybe for you, it’s the day you win a tournament or make a groundbreaking discovery.

God has orchestrated these monumental days with His providence, especially for us. But let me tell you, every day given by God is a blessing, even the most challenging ones. The psalmist reminds us, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).