Entries by stjohn

SAINTS HONORED ON SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2025

SAINTS HONORED ON SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2025: St. John, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Hovhan Odznetsi (St. John of Odzoon), Hovhan Vorodnetsi (St. John of Orodni), Krikor Datevatsi (St. Gregory of Datev).

SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD

The fourth Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday of the Steward. The parable of The Unrighteous Steward is in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 16, verses 1 to 8. This parable is about a rich man and his steward. The steward was one who looked out for his own personal benefit and through his cunning arrangements he made deals with those who were in debt to his master…

HAD JESUS TOLD IT DIFFERENTLY

When Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son, He was painting a picture of God’s limitless, extravagant love! But imagine if the story had gone differently if the father had been like so many in the world today:

The son, broken, worn out, and desperate, finally makes his way home. He’s standing at the door, knocking, waiting, hoping for mercy. But instead of running to embrace him, his father cracks open a window and looks down with suspicion.

“Oh, it’s you,” he says. “Spent everything, I suppose? Look at you! What a mess. What do you want now? A handout? You had your share. And now, when you’re in need, suddenly you remember where home is.”

MANTI AN ARMENIAN DELICACY

On Saturday March 15, 2025, St. John Armenian Church again welcomed Justin Aprahamian, owner of Sanford Restaurant, as he conducted another wonderful cooking demonstration to a class of 35 guests. The entrée of the day’s session was Manti, an Armenian delicacy that is quite labor intensive but a favorite of all. Many remember their grandmothers preparing this dish decades ago. Justin demonstrated the preparation of the dough, the lamb filling, the broth, the yogurt, and the parsley garnish, and how to put it all together in an artistic presentation.
Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive.

BIRTH OF GEORGE AVAKIAN

Record producer and artist manager George Avakian was best known for his work in major American recording companies (Decca, Columbia, Warner, RCA) from 1939 to the early 1960 and as a major force in the expansion of development of U.S. recording industry. Names like Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Bob Newhart, John Cage, Alan Hovhaness, Ravi Shankar, and many others were among the luminaries that worked with him.
George Mesrop Avakian was born on March 15, 1919, in Armavir, in the Northern Caucasus (Russia);

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

These two photographs, placed side by side, tell a story far beyond what the eye can see. One, nearly a century old, captures my grandfather, Jirayr Parsamyan (third from the left), standing with his friends—survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Though they had lost so much, they never lost their faith. The other photograph? It shows me standing in the very same place where I was ordained first as a priest, and later as a bishop. Together, these images witness God’s unwavering hand, faithfully guiding our family through the generations.

My grandfather was forced to flee his homeland, Western Armenia, because of the first genocide of the 20th century perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey from 1915 to 1923. He walked through suffering, through hardship…

TREATY OF MOSCOW

The Treaty of Moscow was signed between Soviet Russia and Kemalist Turkey on March 16, 1921. The Russian side yielded to most Turkish demands, and signed a document that was utterly damaging to Armenia for the sake of Russian-Turkish “friendship and brotherhood.”

The treaty was the outcome of the second Russian-Turkish conference, held in Moscow from February 26-March 16, 1921, with the participation of two Russian (Georgi Chicherin, the Commissar of Foreign Affairs, and Jelal Korkmasov) and three Turkish representatives (Yusuf Kemal bey, Riza Nur bey, and Ali Fuad pasha). Stalin, the Commissar of Nationalities, lobbied against any claim from Turkey that could put the Russian-Turkish alliance in risk. In a letter to Lenin on February 12, 1921, he had written: “I just learned yesterday that Chicherin really sent a stupid (and provocative) demand to the Turks to clean Van, Mush, and Bitlis (Turkish provinces with enormous Turkish supremacy) to the benefit of Armenians.

OUR FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS

Yesterday, I had the joy and privilege of spending time with the bright and dedicated students of Gevorgyan and Vazgenyan Seminaries who are preparing to serve Christ and His Armenian Church. Walking through the halls of this sacred institution, I was reminded of my own seminary days—the long hours of study, the deep theological discussions, and the fervent prayers that shaped my journey.

Meeting these young seminarians, I saw the next generation of leaders, young men who have answered God’s call, and who have stepped into their divine assignment. They could be anywhere, doing anything, but they have chosen to dedicate their lives to something greater than themselves. They are preparing to bring hope, healing, and truth to a world that desperately needs it!

ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM

On the second Saturday in Great Lent (Poon Paregentan) the Armenian Church commemorates St. Cyril (315-386) of Jerusalem, a doctor of the church. St. Cyril had a pleasant and conciliatory disposition, but he lived at a time when bishops were embroiled in bitter controversies and were quick to condemn any attempts at compromises, even calling such attempts as treason…

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

I was just fourteen years old when I first stood on the altar of St. Sarkis Church in Yerevan, wearing a robe that felt too big for my shoulders but a heart that burned with a calling I didn’t yet fully understand. I remember the scent of the incense, the flickering candlelight, and the way my voice trembled as I joined in the hymns. In those moments, I had no idea where God would take me.

Years have passed since that day. Life has taken me across continents, through trials and triumphs, through moments of doubt and seasons of great faith. And now, I find myself back in that same sacred space—not as the young altar boy, but as a bishop—I kneel once more before the same altar and worship the same faithful God.