Entries by stjohn

YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH

In ancient times, following sunset, the sole source of illumination came from a torch. This torch consisted of a clay base about the size of a palm, filled with oil, which would burn through the wick.
In this Psalm, the word of God is likened to a torch (or a lamp, as we might say in English). Just as light is indispensable for a nighttime journey, keeping us safe from harm, so too is the word of God an essential beacon in this dark and sinful world, illuminating our path toward salvation.

October is Armenian Cultural Month

To Armenians in the United States, “Armenian Cultural Month” has been a feature of community life for as long as they can remember.

WHY?

“Why?” is a reflection of our human nature. We all pose this question, particularly during times of pain and suffering, seeking an explanation from God. Many of us have the misconception that understanding the cause of our pain will either alleviate it or at least make it more bearable. Scriptures tell us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). All we know about God is thanks to His revelation.

BIRTH OF MGRDICH BESHIGTASHLIAN

Mgrdich Beshigtashlian, along with Bedros Tourian, was one of the most remarkable names of Armenian poetry in the period of the cultural Zartonk (awakening) of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. He was born in Constantinople on August 18, 1828, in a Catholic family , He lost his parents at an early age due to tuberculosis. He received his education at the Mekhitarist schools of Constantinople and Padua (Italy).

BIRTH OF ERNEST DERVISHIAN

Dervishian was born in Richmond, Virginia, on August 10, 1916. He was the son of two Armenian immigrants who operated a candy store. He attended public schools and the University of Richmond, where he took premedical courses before deciding to study law. After passing the bar in December 1937 and receiving his degree from the university’s T. C. Williams School of Law in June 1938, he practiced law with his brother.

KRIKOR ODIAN

Krikor Odian was born in Scutari. His father was the secretary of palace architect Krikor Balian. After his early schooling with his father, Krikor continued his studies with brothers Kapriel and Khachadur Bardizbanian. Later, he attended the private school of Gabriel Utujian, who would soon become the founding editor of the influential newspaper Masis. He also took private lessons of Ottoman Turkish and French. In the 1850s, Odian moved in the circles of the Armenian reformist intellectuals and political figures like Nahabed Rusinian, Mgrdich Beshigtashlian, Krikor Aghaton and others.

DEATH OF ROBERTO GULBENKIAN

A scion of the Gulbenkian family, Roberto Gulbenkian was not only a remarkable name in the history of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, based in Portugal, but also a well-regarded scholar of Armenian Studies. Gulbenkian was born on April 7, 1923, in Algiers (capital of Algeria). He was the third son of Vahan Gulbenkian (brother of Calouste, the famous Mr. Five Per Cent) and Francoise Trillat-Gulbenkian.

SAINT CYPRIAN THE BISHOP AND 45 MARTYRS

Cyprian was an important early Christian writer and a major theologian of the early African church. Many of his works in Latin have survived. One of his best-known works is “On the Unity of the Church.” Many of his epistles, treatises, and pastoral letters are extant. He urged Christians to recite the Lord’s Prayer every day, meditating on each phrase. He wrote a commentary on the Lord’s Prayer showing how it is the model for prayer.

YE-GE-GHE-TSEE – CHURCH

This Simple Church term is used interchangeably with others such as: organic church, essential church, primitive church, relational church, and micro-church. All have in common a rejection of larger churches organized along denominational lines, formal leadership, church buildings, or formal worship services. Emphasis in simple churches is on building relationships within the small group and missionary outreach. I call these “clubs.”

MILWAUKEE ARMENIAN FEST BREAKS RECORDS

Attendance and attention grew steadily over the years with many returning customers (many wanting to reconnect with their roots) and always new faces as Milwaukee Armenian Fest found new marketing tools through social media as well as legacy media. Food was always and remains central to the festival, with an affordable menu of shish kebob dinners, lahmajouns, boregs, hummus, paklava, kadiyif and more. But in the ‘90s the role of the festival as a one-day embassy of all things Armenian became important. The number of people gathered at this year’s Milwaukee Armenian Fest (July 16) had already grown large at the advertised opening time. By 11 a.m., festivalgoers were already lined up from inside the church hall and out the door, waiting deep ..