The Armenian Church reminds us today that this birth is neither sentimental nor symbolic. Trees, gifts nativities, these are just trifles, things. Christmas is the turning point of history-Asdvadzahaytnutyun-Theophany, when God pours himself into his broken creation, filling and fulfilling what was lost. Before Bethlehem, humanity waited. After Bethlehem, humanity is invited.
We all hear something different when we hear the word Christmas and all we hear are small parts of the soundscape of Christmas. But with so many voices and a fair amount of noise flooding the air in the Christmas season, we must be careful to hear what was originally said-the Avedis-the good news of…
Don’t stop with being just children of God, for we have great work to do as we grow up! I think that’s the special message which the Armenian Church and other Orthodox churches have preserved in celebrating Jesus’ baptism, as we are today, as one piece with his Christmas birth. Jesus was born, yes, this…
Today’s reading describes the Wedding at Cana; the first of Jesus’ seven miracles in the Gospel of John, where Jesus turns water into wine. We correctly use the term miracle, but it is one of those words that has been clouded by many false associations. I prefer the old Armenian word, Nshank, which simply means…
This Christmas special follows the Magi on their spiritual journey to meet Jesus.
… He inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him; “for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. For from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people…
In this inaugural episode of a new educational video series, St. Nersess Seminary graduate Kathryn Ashbahian explains the symbolism of the “Water Blessing” service performed in the Armenian Church on January 6, the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord.