Tag Archive for: Great Lent

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS

On Saturday before Palm Sunday the Armenian Orthodox Church commemorates the Raising of Lazarus as told in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11. Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were good friends of Jesus.

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SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD

The fourth Sunday of Lent, is the Sunday of the Steward. The parable of The Unrighteous Steward is in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 16, verses 1 to 8. This parable is about a rich man and his steward. The steward was one who looked out for his own personal benefit and through his cunning arrangements he made deals with those who were in debt to his master…

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HAD JESUS TOLD IT DIFFERENTLY

When Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son, He was painting a picture of God’s limitless, extravagant love! But imagine if the story had gone differently if the father had been like so many in the world today:

The son, broken, worn out, and desperate, finally makes his way home. He’s standing at the door, knocking, waiting, hoping for mercy. But instead of running to embrace him, his father cracks open a window and looks down with suspicion.

“Oh, it’s you,” he says. “Spent everything, I suppose? Look at you! What a mess. What do you want now? A handout? You had your share. And now, when you’re in need, suddenly you remember where home is.”

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ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM

On the second Saturday in Great Lent (Poon Paregentan) the Armenian Church commemorates St. Cyril (315-386) of Jerusalem, a doctor of the church. St. Cyril had a pleasant and conciliatory disposition, but he lived at a time when bishops were embroiled in bitter controversies and were quick to condemn any attempts at compromises, even calling such attempts as treason…

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BISHOP MESROP’S LENTEN MESSAGE 2025

We have entered the Season of Lent, and I want you to know that I will be praying for each and every one of you as you take this journey of reflection and preparation for the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ at Easter.
Great Lent is a time of many rich traditions in our Armenian Apostolic Church. It’s a time to engage in prayer, fasting, and giving—practices that open the door to God’s grace. I encourage you to take part in them and to be enriched in your spiritual life. Open yourself to the great love that God has for you. Listen for His voice and where it calls you.

Lent also reminds us of our need for repentance and the honest recognition that we are sinners who fall short of God’s glory. To many in the modern world, the very concept of sin seems old-fashioned. Yet, sin is part of our human nature; brokenness is our human condition.

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GREAT LENT – DAY 35: SUNDAY OF THE ADVENT

For thousands of years, believers have looked up at the sky, waiting for God’s revelation. As the prophet Isaiah exclaimed, “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down” (Isaiah 64:1). This expectation and longing were first fulfilled with the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The heavens opened, and God’s Only Begotten Son took on human flesh, born in a manger in Bethlehem. We are told in the Gospels that people joined the angels above, singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!” (Luke 2:14). The One who split open the heavens and came down to earth on that silent night in Bethlehem also promised that in the last days, He will come again to judge the living and the dead (Matthew 24:36-44).

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SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sixth and final Sunday of Great Lent, known as Sunday of Advent (Kalstyan Giragi). Sunday of Advent is in preparation of the following Sunday, Palm Sunday, which is the celebration of the glorious entry of our Lord into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week.

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GREAT LENT – Day 28: SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE

In his Gospel, St. Luke introduces the parable of the “Unjust Judge” by first telling us the meaning and context of the parable: we must always pray and not lose heart. The circumstances around which Jesus tells this parable and how St. Luke records it for his audience show that the parable is directly connected to their reality, where the audience had concerns regarding prayer. Our Lord Jesus Christ encourages His disciples to be steadfast in their prayer life and not to lose heart since perseverant and steadfast prayer is not an easy task.

Perhaps for some, it is easy to pray, but the difficulty arises when they do not receive the answers to their prayers within their desired timeframe. When we pray for the healing of a loved one and no positive results are observable, we experience frustration. When we plead to God to deliver us from hardships and then find ourselves in difficult circumstances, it may feel as though water is poured on the flames of our prayers, extinguishing that fire.

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GREAT LENT – Day 21: Sunday of the Steward

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager, as with other parables found in the Gospels, is about the Kingdom of God. Through the observable realities in the parable, Jesus reveals the invisible truths. Many have wondered as to why our Lord Jesus describes the dishonest manager as an example to emulate. It is important to note that our Lord Jesus does not praise the dishonesty but the shrewdness of the manager and his resourcefulness and approach to money. “And his master commended the dishonest manager because he …

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SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

Our journey through Great Lent continues. This Sunday, March 16, is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. The parable of the prodigal son shows God’s fatherly love and eagerness to forgive those who repent.

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