ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED AT ST. JOHN

St. John the Baptist Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord (“Armenian Christmas”) on January 7, in keeping with the community’s longstanding custom of observing the holiday on the Sunday closest to January 6. In his Nativity homily, St. John’s parish priest, Rev. Fr. Guregh Hambardzumyan, spoke of the mystery of the Incarnation: Why did God become human? One answer is that through his birth in Bethlehem, Jesus, the Son of God, lowered Himself to …

Read more

HOLY NATIVITY 2024 MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II

Today, on the feast of Holy Nativity and Epiphany, our Armenian nation, although grieving and heartbroken, but with unshaken faith, unbreakable in will and full of hope, bows down before Christ the child, who from the cave of Bethlehem shines as light and salvation to the entire world. With beautiful words of praise, the soul-stirring canticle conveys to us the wonder of the Holy Nativity. “O Birth-giver of God, tabernacle of light, you became the dawn of the Sun of righteousness and gave light to those of us who sit in darkness.”

Read more

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF BISHOP MESROP PARSAMYAN

Peace is one of the great themes of Christmas: the beautiful idea that flows through the story of Christ’s Nativity, and warms our hearts at this time of year. It was the message that the angels announced over the fields outside of Bethlehem, more than two thousand years ago: “Glory to God in the highest Heaven; and on Earth, Peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Lk 2:14). eace, of course, is something we all long for. We pray for peace among nations—for an end to hatred and conflict, and to the human waste of war. Likewise, we pray for inner peace: for

Read more

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

I don’t need to tell anyone that Christmas is on display in all major outlets and markets as if the celebration were only a week or so away. Whatever you need, it’s there waiting for you: trees, lights, ornaments, toys, stockings, . . . The only thing missing is for some enterprising young “preacher” to set up a booth to “sell” you the Spirit of Christmas, all neatly packaged in brightly colored wrapping.

Read more