REMEMBERING 9/11
Psalm 23:4
On this day, September 11, my thoughts naturally drift back to where I was years ago—within the walls of Sevan Seminary in Armenia. It was a place where I was surrounded by the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and a deeper understanding of God. Yet, as news broke of the horrifying events, a silence that was unlike any other fell over us. The contrast between our peaceful environment and the chaos unfolding in the world was jarring.
At the time, the seminary was a sanctuary of theological thought and deep reflection. But the events of that day suddenly brought our lofty discussions about good and evil, love and justice, crashing down into urgent reality. The abstract concepts we had been studying were no longer abstract; they became questions we were asking about real-world suffering and terror.
In a place where we were meant to be closer to God, the divine felt intensely near and unfathomably far away. We asked, how could a loving God allow such a tragedy? The questions were complicated, and there were no easy answers, but asking them felt necessary and inevitable.
Even now, years later, the events of September 11 continue to pose difficult questions for any spiritual or theological narrative. But it also remains a testament to the resilience of faith and the human capacity to seek light in the darkest circumstances.
As we remember those lost and those forever changed by the events of September 11, let us also reflect on the enduring questions and challenges it poses to our faith. Let it be a reminder that our journey in understanding God and humanity is far from complete, but every step we take brings us closer to the divine wisdom we seek.
Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
