Entries by stjohn

DEATH OF CARDINAL GREGORIO AGAGIANIAN

Cardinal Gregorio Agagianian was the foremost Armenian figure of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century, and rose to world fame when in the papal elections of 1958 and 1963 he was about to become the first non-Italian head of the Church in almost 450 years.

Ghazaros Agagianian was born in Akhaltsikhe, in the historical region of Javakhk (now in Georgia), on September 18, 1895. His family was part of the local Armenian Catholic community. After studying at the seminary of Tiflis, he went to Rome, where he studied at the Urban College of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (now Pontifical Urbaniana University) and was ordained a priest in 1917 with the name of Gregorio (Krikor).

“WHO MAY CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD?”

When we think about a mountain, we often picture a vast, intimidating structure stretching towards the sky, its peak shrouded in clouds, majestic and unreachable. This image isn’t just a physical challenge but a spiritual metaphor for our journey towards God. How often have we looked at the challenges that tower over us like mountains and wondered, “How can I ever overcome this? How can I reach the top?”
The idea of ascending to the holiness of God can seem daunting. How can we, with our imperfections and daily struggles, ever hope to reach o such spiritual heights?

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!

Blessed Mother’s Day to all mothers! This is a day of joy, gratitude, and profound recognition for all the mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures whose love and sacrifices have shaped our lives.

Mothers, your journey is a testament to strength and resilience. From the moment you embraced the role of motherhood, you took on the world in a profound act of love. You’ve shown us the purest form of sacrifice…

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

Today, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. This sacred day marks forty days since the miracle of the Resurrection when Jesus, in His glorified body, rose above this earth to sit at the right hand of the Father.

In the gospel of Saint Matthew, we find Jesus’ comforting words to His disciples before His Ascension. He said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

BIRTH OF HOVSEP PUSHMAN

Hovsep Pushman was a well noted painter in the New York in the 1930s, when his contemplative still lifes and sensitive portrait of women reached very high prices.

Pushman was born on May 9, 1877, in Diyarbekir, where his family was in the carpet business. He showed early artistic ability. At eleven, he was the youngest student ever admitted to the Imperial School of Fine Arts in Constantinople.

In 1896, the Pushman family emigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago, where Hovsep studied Chinese culture, immersing himself in Asian art, and began to teach…

RESILIENCE THROUGH FAITH

Faith is a powerful force. Faith is not just believing in God when the sun is shining; faith is trusting God when the storm is raging. It’s not about escaping every problem; it’s about enduring through them with a strength that surpasses our own. God doesn’t always take you out of the problem. Sometimes, He takes you through the problem. Why? Because He is stretching your faith, making you more resilient.

DEATH OF SETRAK BARKHUDARIAN

Sedrak Barkhudarian was born on March 21, 1898, in Haftvan (Iran). He studied at the Nersessian Lyceum of Tiflis (Tbilisi) and graduated from the Faculty of History and Literature of Yerevan State University in 1928. He led archaeological campaigns in 1932-1937 as a researcher at the State Museum of History of Armenia. His discovery of Urartian inscriptions in the Lake Sevan area (Gegharkunik) became the basis for the valuable monograph The Country of Velikuhi (1933). Two years later, he published the book The Classes of Antiquities in Soviet Armenia and the Importance of the Their Conservation, a first of its kind.
The prolific historian, who was also the author of important articles about Armenian medieval history, passed away on May 8, 1970, in Yerevan.

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.

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….