St. James (Hagop) of Nisibis (Mdzbin) participated in the first ecumenical council in Nicaea (325), where he earned great respect from the Emperor Constantine and the other attendees. He Was born and died in the city of Nisibis (Nusbyien) located in what is now southeastern Turkey, an important early Christian center in Asia Minor and a…
The Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary is one of the eight feast days devoted to the Holy Virgin in the Armenian Church’s liturgical calendar. This feast is always celebrated on December 9 and is part of the Church’s preparation for Christmas. The faithful rejoice in the event that celebrates Mary’s conception in …
This Saturday, December 2, the Armenian Church commemorates Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its apostolic identity and earning them the title, “First Enlighteners of Armenia.” …
The Armenian Church remembers St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, a fourth century Bishop of Myra, Lycia in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Nicholos was a defender of orthodoxy and because of many miracles attributed to his intercession he is called “the Wonderworker.” He was a secret and generous giver of gifts, and some believe …
On Tuesday, November 21, the Armenian Church commemorates the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God to the Temple (Undzayoum Sourp Asdvadzadzni), one of the eight feast days devoted to Mary in the Armenian liturgical calendar. The doctrine of …
The word apostle refers to the special inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, chosen by Jesus to accompany Him during His ministry, to learn from Him, follow His instructions and continue his work….
Archangel is a title given to an angel of high rank in the celestial hierarchy. Michael, which means “who is like God,” is one of the principal angels. Gabriel, which means “strength of God,” is one of God’s chief messengers…
In the cathedral, a nine-year-old girl was mesmerized by the vibrant stained-glass windows. Curiously, she pointed to each one, turning to her aunt to ask, “Who’s that?” The questions followed one after another, identifying Saint John, Saint Peter, Saint Sahag, and Saint Mary until a moment of clarity dawned on her. With a triumphant expression, she exclaimed, “Now I know what a saint is! A saint is a person the light shines through!”
The Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of All Saints, Old and New, Known and Unknown. This is the holiday that compensates for any sins of omission in the list of saints remembered by the Church. The western churches celebrate …
The Armenian Church commemorates and remembers St. John Chrysostom (Hovhan Vosgeperan), a notable Christian bishop and preacher in Syria and Constantinople. He is famous for his eloquence—Chrysostom means “golden mouth.” The Orthodox Church …
