Entries by stjohn

KEEP YOUR FORK!

Week after week, I have the privilege of visiting our parishes, celebrating Badarak with our beloved communities. After Badarak, we gather together for fellowship where we share a meal. When the dishes from the main course are being cleared away, someone will inevitably lean over and say, “Srpazan, keep your fork.”

Now, whenever I hear those words, I know something good is coming. That means the best part of the meal isn’t over. That means dessert is on its way—maybe a rich, velvety chocolate cake, or a warm kadaif or kunefeh, fresh out of the oven. Keep your fork is a sign that something even sweeter is ahead!

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Today, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, the moment when the forty-day-old baby Jesus was brought to the temple by His mother, Mary, and Joseph. They came to fulfill the law, to offer a sacrifice, to do what was expected. But what seemed like an ordinary ritual became an extraordinary revelation!

Because in that temple, there were two people who had been waiting, watching, believing. Simeon, a devout man, and Anna, a prophetess—two people who refused to give up, who held onto hope when it seemed like nothing was changing. And on that day, their faith was rewarded!

BIRTH OF DAVIT HOVHANNESS

Davit Hovhannes (Hovhannisian) was born on February 17, 1945, in Yerevan. He was the son of poet Hrachia Hovhannisian. He graduated from the Krupskaya high school in 1962 and then from the Faculty of Philology at Yerevan State University. He worked in Armenia’s periodical press and “ArmenFilm” studio and also lectured on history of ancient and foreign literature at several universities of Armenia. He was a member of the Writers’ Union of Armenia since 1975. In 1980-1990 he conducted the monthly literary program “Nork” at the first channel of Armenian TV, and the weekly program “Half Hour with Davit Hovhannes” in 2006-2008. He was the chair of the board of “Arevik” Publishing House. He translated works of Russian, Ukrainian, and American classical poets.

The author of around 25 poetry collections, including children’s literature, Hovhannes published his first poem in 1965 and his first collection, Crown of Songs, in 1974.

THE POWER OF FOCUS IN YOUR LIFE

When I was a kid, I loved playing with a magnifying glass. I’d use it to focus sunlight on a piece of paper. At first, the light didn’t seem to do much. But when I held that magnifying glass just right, the light became so focused that it could start a fire! I didn’t fully understand it back then, but it taught me a powerful truth: light, when focused, has incredible power.

Think about it. Diffused light can brighten a room, and that’s good. But focused light? It can start fires. Concentrate it even more, and it becomes a laser that can cut through steel, heal disease, and reach the stars. The same is true about our lives. When we scatter our energy, we may accomplish a little here and there, but we’ll never see the extraordinary. But when we focus, when we fix our attention on what truly matters, there’s no limit to what God can do through us.

FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE

One of the most beautiful promises in the Scriptures is in Psalm 92:12: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.” Palm trees are strong and resilient, standing tall no matter what comes their way. The palm tree has a unique ability: it can bend, but it doesn’t break. When the storms come, the winds may howl, and the palm may sway, but when the storm passes, that tree stands back up, tall and strong, as if nothing ever happened.

There are times in life when the winds blow hard against us—winds of disappointment, winds of struggle, winds of change. And we feel like we’re bending under the pressure. We feel the weight of what we’re going through, and it’s pulling us down. But if we’re rooted in God, if our trust is in Him, we’re not going to break, were going to bounce back to stand tall again.

PRESENTATION OF THE LORD TO THE TEMPLE

In the temple, a righteous and devout man named Simeon to whom it had been revealed that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord, took Jesus in his arms, blessed God and said, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for…

MASTERPIECE IN MASTER’S HANDS

Yesterday, a Stradivarius violin was sold at Sotheby’s for a staggering $11.25 million. Can you imagine? A single instrument, but so rare, so valuable, that people were willing to pay millions just to own it. But that reminded me of a powerful story about a different Stradivarius violin.

In the early 20th century, the renowned violinist Fritz Kreisler shocked an audience during a concert. Standing before them, he raised his violin high and, to their horror, smashed it over a chair! Gasps filled the room. The audience could hardly believe what they had witnessed. A Stradivarius—one of the finest violins in the world—destroyed in an instant!

DEATH OF GRIGOR KHALATIANTS

Grigor Khalatiants, historian and philologist, was an important name in Armenian Studies in the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th, even though some of his works have been rejected for their maximalist positions, while others have maintained their value until our days.

He was born on September 15, 1858, in Alexandropol (nowadays Gyumri). He studied at the Lazarian College of Moscow in 1868-1877 and, upon graduation, he entered medical school at the University of Moscow, but after three years, he made a complete shift to the School of History and Linguistics, graduating in 1884.

THE CLOSER YOU GET

When I was 14 years old, I visited Sevan Monastery for the first time with the youth group of the Araratian Diocese. We were driving toward the Peninsula, and as we got closer, the view became more and more beautiful. The sparkling lake, the green hills, the dramatic cliffs, and finally, the magnificent Monastery—it all seemed to unfold in breathtaking glory the closer we got.

That’s exactly what happens when you get closer to God. The closer you get to Him, the more of His goodness and beauty you will see. The more you look to Him, the more you seek Him, the more His light will illuminate your life.

The Bible says in James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” That’s His promise to us. When you make the decision to pursue God, to seek Him in prayer, worship, and obedience, life takes on a whole new beauty….

THE WHISPER OF THE DOVE

Have you ever tried to watch a dove in its natural setting? They’re not like loud birds that demand attention. Doves are quiet, almost shy. If you want to see their beauty, you’ve got to slow down, quiet yourself, and watch without disturbing them.

The Bible often uses the dove as an image for the Spirit of God. Because the dove teaches us something profound about how we need to approach God. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16). God was showing us something about His Spirit—that His presence is gentle yet powerful. It’s inviting but not forceful.

And just like observing a dove, connecting with the Holy Spirit requires something special from us. If you want to experience His presence, you’ve got to pause, be still, and remain attentive.