On Sunday, Nov. 13, St. John the Baptist Armenian Church of Milwaukee observed its 80th anniversary with Bishop Vahan Hovhannesian, former primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of France, celebrating the Divine Liturgy. ..
Today, we celebrate the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother-of-God. The story of Mary’s birth is an amazing example of how God can work through impossible situations to bring about His divine plan. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness in our own lives and the importance of trusting Him, even when the odds seem stacked against us.
The parents of Mary, Joachim, and Anna were devout and faithful, but they had a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome—they were childless and had grown old. For years, they had prayed for a child, believing, trusting, holding onto faith—even when it seemed impossible. Year after year, seeing no sign of hope. But they never stopped believing and praying.
In 1995, I was just a teenager with a dream, a deep calling to serve the Lord. That calling led me to consider studying at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary. But my qualifications were less than impressive. My grades weren’t great. My teachers didn’t hold back—they laughed and said, “You? Seminary? You’re not cut out for this.” Even family members gently suggested it might not be the right path for me.
While others doubted me, my parents believed in me. My church community encouraged me. They saw a spark of faith and a willingness to serve where others saw shortcomings. Above all, God believed in me, planting the seed of hope that would guide me forward.
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);
