<![CDATA[St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Douglaston, NY

<![CDATA[St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Douglaston, NY - Blog]]>Thu, 16 May 2024 12:37:33 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[The Pastor’s Update-Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ -What’s New]]>Sat, 11 May 2024 18:35:04 GMThttp://stsarkischurch.net/blog/the-pastors-update-inch-ga-chga-whats-new8548864Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ
What’s New

The Pastor’s Update:#5

The Unnamed Feeling

As an Armenian, I have been closely following the recent dramatic events in Armenia. For the first time since the battle of Sardarabad in 1918, a senior clergy member of the Armenian Apostolic Church is leading a movement to end the one-sided concessions that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia has been making since November 2020.

I have been keeping up with the latest developments in Armenia by browsing through various news websites and social media platforms. Among the content that caught my attention were videos featuring interviews and presentations by Armenian clergymen. As a clergyman myself, I am aware that my judgment may be biased, but as a human being, I felt spiritually uplifted listening to the passionate responses of Archbishop Galstanyan and Archbishop Achabahyan. Their deep thinking is influenced by Christian spirituality and the theology of our church. Additionally, I found Fr. Mesrop Aramian’s discussion on the etymology of the word 'fatherland' or 'Hayrenik' particularly interesting. It originates from the biblical concept of the resting place of our ancestors. Therefore, the soil of the fatherland is considered sacred ground. I recently picked up a book called The Pastor, a Memoir by Eugene Peterson, which I had read almost ten years ago. As I read through it again, Peterson's thoughts on his "homeland" struck a chord with me, especially considering the significant losses that we as Armenians have experienced since the Armenian Genocide. Peterson writes about his home as a place that gathers stories, relationships, and memories. “This two acres of sacred landscape in the mountains of Montana has provided the material conditions for preserving a continuity of story in the course of living in eighteen residences located variously in five states and two countries. It has provided a stable location in space and time to give prayerful, meditative, discerning attention to the ways in which my life is being written into the comprehensive salvation story. It is the holy ground from which choke-cherry blossoms scent the spring air and giant ponderosa pines keep sentinel watch in the forest. It opens out on an immense glacier-cut horizon against which the invisibilities of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit form a believing imagination where the “inside is larger than the outside.” ― Eugene H. Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir.

Paterson's words would make perfect sense to me if I compare his experience with my own connection to my ancestral home in Kessab. However, I cannot help but wonder why I feel such a strong connection with Armenia. After all, it is not the place where I was born or raised, and I have only visited it a few times. Yet, I couldn't sleep last night, as I kept thinking about what was happening in Armenia. This is what I call my "Unnamed Feeling" (borrowing the idea from Metallica), which I experience when the struggles and achievements of our homeland have a powerful effect on me mentally and emotionally. After all, perhaps Love is the name of that feeling - the love for my nation (Azkasiroutyoun) and the love for my motherland (Hayrenasiroutyoun). However, it's important that I remind myself that love also makes us susceptible to pain and suffering, something that I've emphasized repeatedly in my sermons over the years.

AYF Anniversary Celebration
Last Saturday I joined the NY Armenian community in celebrating the centennial anniversary of the NY AYF Hyortik chapter - a momentous event exalting the achievements of a youth organization that has positively impacted the life of our Armenian community in the past 100 years. In my congratulatory message printed in the celebration booklet, I shared the following thoughts: “As the pastor of St. Sarkis Church, I am delighted to report that our partnership with the members of the AYF "Hyortik" Chapter has always been fruitful. The mutual respect and spirit of collaboration that exist between our church and the AYF have been beneficial to both parties, and it brings me great joy that St. Sarkis Church has become the new home to host various programs that the AYF "Hyortik" Chapter has organized over the years. These programs include sleepovers, dinner dances, educational events, and fundraisers. On a personal note, I am also proud that my children are a part of this great organization”.

The most enjoyable moment of the evening occurred when the 400-plus guests in attendance witnessed the debut performance of the New-Yeraz group. I felt an expansion in my chest as I watched the children of our community, who are now young adults. Through the dance experience, they have not only learned the steps of traditional Armenian dances but have also found a deeper connection with their culture and with each other.

Mother’s Day
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. The Lebanese American Poet KAHLIL GIBRAN reflects on motherhood in the following poem:

The most beautiful word on the lips of mankind is the word “Mother,”
and the most beautiful call is the call of “My mother.”
It is a word full of hope and love,
a sweet and kind word coming from the depths of the heart.

Our relationship with our parents can be challenging at times. I found a brief essay by psychotherapist Esther Perel that I'd like to share.

“For those grieving their mothers, wishing to be mothers or, like me, have complicated relationships with their mothers, Mother's Day can bring up a lot of mixed feelings. You may wonder how to celebrate a mother towards whom you have ambivalent feelings.
I've spent countless hours addressing this very dilemma in my therapy office.
And I, myself, can relate. My own mother believed that it was my friends and my neighbors who would build me up and tell me all the good things about me. It was her job to do the rest — to tell me what the others wouldn’t. And as a result, she rarely had a positive thing to say to me my entire life.
Yet she is also the person who taught me to sing and dance. She had an amazing sense of humor. And it was when I was able to embrace the duality of my feelings for her that our tumultuous relationship shifted.
I learned to hold both the part of me that loved her and the part that was angry at her. After years of training in family therapy, I applied some useful disengagement techniques: I learned not to explode when her criticism began. Instead, I’d kiss her on the cheek and thank her for trying to make me a better person. That shift changed everything for us in her later years.
After my mother died, I began writing my first book, Mating in Captivity. It was the first time I did something I wasn't sure I could do. I had always had to have enough confidence for two—for me and for her anxiety, even while her criticisms echoed in my head fueling my self-doubt. Teaching myself to hold the duality of my ambivalent feelings for her while she was alive helped me tremendously after she died. I allowed myself to grieve the mother I loved and I allowed myself to let go of her view of me.
In her absence, I opened myself up to others who showed me that motherly care doesn't just come from a mother. Sometimes it comes from the friend who says “come stay at my place and I’ll take care of you.” Or, “Let me talk to your child.”
To me, today is a day to celebrate not just our mothers, but all those who have been motherly. Friends, siblings, family members — who has been there for you? And how will you be there for others?

The Word of God
One of the scripture readings for this Sunday is from the first Epistle of St. John (I John 5:13-21). John writes: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him”. According to the Grace and Truth Study Bible, “John unequivocally states his purpose for writing: believers can know they have eternal life. God offers eternal life to all who receive the testimony about his Son, and in the face of false teaching about Jesus, John wants to assure his readers that they can know they possess it. Believers also have confidence before God. We can come to him and make requests because of our relationship with the Father through the Son. John connects our confidence to prayer. The Father delights in hearing and answering prayer. Children of God can trust his goodness and his wisdom”.

This Sunday is known as the 2nd Palm Sunday in the Armenian Church. Come to St. Sarkis Church and invite Jesus to enter your hearts with His love & Grace.

Prayerfully,

]]><![CDATA[The Pastor’s Update-Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ -What’s New]]>Fri, 03 May 2024 16:16:49 GMThttp://stsarkischurch.net/blog/the-pastors-update-inch-ga-chga-whats-new1686890Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ
What’s New

The Pastor’s Update:#4

An Agnostic Discovers the Value of Religion

Derek Thompson, a staff writer at The Atlantic who identifies as agnostic recently wrote an article titled "The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust." In the article, he suggests that it took decades for Americans to lose their religious beliefs, and it might take decades to fully understand the impact of this loss. Initially, he thought about the decline of faith in America in positive terms, but recently, he came to look at religion as a retaining wall against “the destabilizing pressure of American hyper-individualism.” In the past 25 years, there has been a sudden surge in the ranks of non-believers, which not only affects the relationship with the divine but also shifts the understanding of a historical narrative of identity - a set of rituals to organize the week and the year, and the community of families. Thompson sees a correlation between the decline in church attendance and the decline in meaningful social and civic engagements, a decline in marriages, and an increase in social isolation. In his article, Thompson also discusses the findings of Jonathan Haidt and his latest book The Anxious Generation, which I wrote about a few weeks ago on this platform. As American churches depopulated, Americans developed a new relationship with technology and digital life, which is disembodied, asynchronous, shallow, and solitary- the exact opposite of the religious experience, which is embodied, synchronous, deep, and collective. Thompson concludes his article by wondering if by forgoing organized religion we are discarding proven ways of finding meaning.

I agree with most of Thompson's points in his article. As a priest in the Armenian church for the past twenty years, I have also personally witnessed the decline in church attendance and the general apathy of our congregants. In my pastoral relationships, I have rarely encountered people who have decided to stop attending church due to ideological reasons. The fact that our church buildings feel too small to accommodate the large number of congregants who attend on major holidays is a testament to the strong connection that exists between the church and the faithful.

I also understand that people live very stressful lives and sometimes the stress can be overwhelming. As a result, many people think that staying at home on Sundays is a better option than attending church. However, we fail to see that attending church is a proven method of spiritual and emotional regeneration. Through the rituals and in the midst of the community, we can connect with the divine and find a sense of peace that can help us deal with the stresses of daily life.

The Armenian Church serves as a protector of our valuable Armenian cultural heritage. Our ancestors went through so many atrocities and Genocides but always protected their heritage. The Armenian Church plays a vital role in providing opportunities for nurturing our Armenian national identity through cultural events and programs. This aspect of our church is particularly crucial in light of the existential challenges currently facing the Republic of Armenia.

Most importantly, the Church preaches the Word of God, which is our moral compass, the source of hope and redemption, and the way to eternal life. We live in a world that is broken and in need of healing. Jesus's earthly ministry was focused on healing the sick. In my younger days, I saw Jesus's healing miracles as a demonstration of how perfect eternal life would be, but now I understand that Christ can heal our brokenness. The process of healing may not always be straightforward, but it is a journey that helps us discover and embrace our true identity as children of God, who are so loved that we have been redeemed through the precious blood of Christ.

Let’s embark on that journey together in the Armenian Church. Let us become disciples of Christ here at St. Sarkis Church.

The Word of God
The Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the Gospel of John (9:39-10:10). This Sunday, we will hear Jesus say, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.”(John 9:39). According to the Orthodox Study Bible, “Our Lord's coming brought judgment to the world, not because He came to judge (12:47, 48), but because of man's accountability to Him. Those who see and hear Him but do not believe are judged by their own faithlessness. (Orthodox Study Bible Copyright © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology).

And Finally,

I will be seeing most of you on Saturday evening at the 100th Anniversary celebration of AYF Hyortik Chapter. However, attending this event alone does not fulfill your duty of feeling connected to your Armenian identity. Therefore, I highly encourage you to join me on Sunday at St. Sarkis Church.

Prayerfully,

]]><![CDATA[The Pastor’s Update-Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ -What’s New]]>Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:32:36 GMThttp://stsarkischurch.net/blog/the-pastors-update-inch-ga-chga-whats-newInch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ
What’s New

The Pastor’s Update:#3

Of Protests and Protests

Public gatherings and demonstrations, such as protests, candlelight vigils, and marches, have become a symbol of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration in both the Republic of Armenia and Armenian communities in the Diaspora. Many people may question the importance of such events, as the media often does not provide enough coverage, politicians do not do much beyond giving lip service, and the perpetrators of the Genocide do not accept responsibility. However, these public events, from the streets of Yerevan to Times Square and beyond, send a strong message that we have not forgotten what happened to us 109 years ago, and we demand justice and accountability for the Genocide committed against our people.

Internally, organizing and participating in these events is equally important because it strengthens our communal identity. Every young person who takes the podium to speak has done their homework and has learned about the history of what happened to their ancestors, which has now become their own history. In this age of virtual reality, AI, and social media, where young people can easily find a counterfeit sense of identity behind locked doors of their bedrooms, it is crucial to forge our communal identity through events like these, which connect us to our real world, real people and real issues.

However, there are different types of protests that are happening in different parts of Armenia. We are continuing to watch disturbing scenes of police subduing protestors in the Republic of Armenia. The protestors are demonstrating against the decision of Armenia's Prime Minister, Mr. Pashinyan, to give away four villages in the Tavoush region to Azerbaijan. This situation is both alarming and disturbing on multiple levels. First, the freedom of speech and expression of the protesters is brutally suppressed. Second, the democratically elected prime minister is going against the will of his own people and is serving the interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey. According to The Guardian, Mr. Pashinyan urged Armenians to recognize that the way this issue (i.e. surrendering four villages) is handled will determine the viability of the future peace process with Azerbaijan. And lastly, the lack of real and credible opposition in the government of the Republic of Armenia is a matter of concern.

As a clergyman, it is not my place to be heavily involved in politics but as a concerned Armenian, it is extremely difficult to watch the degradation of Armenian nationalsim under the pretext of securing peace in the region.

In an article titled "Why Isn't Anyone Talking About the Exodus of Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh?" published in America Magazine on April 25, 2024, Kevin Clarke summarized Azeri politics by quoting President Aliev's statement that "Azerbaijan would not stand by while Armenia restores its defensive capacity... Now the Armenians appear willing to accept the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, but maybe in five years' time, when they are supplied with deadly weapons, they will say again, 'Karabakh is Armenia,' and what should we do? We cannot wait."

Aliev's sentiments suggest two things: firstly, no concession from the Armenian side will be enough to establish peace in the region, and secondly, Aliev is well aware that the Artsakh case is not closed.

The attempts made by the Armenian Government to suppress the protestors are futile and will never succeed. As diasporan Armenians, we must continue to strengthen our Armenian National Identity, which constitutes our shared identity. It is imperative that everyone understands that no part of our homeland should be used as a bargaining tool. The Armenian Genocide is a documented historical fact, and those responsible must take full responsibility. Our collective identity as Armenians is not an outdated notion or a liability; rather, it is our moral compass, built on the values of the Armenian Church and the communal consciousness of our forefathers.

I believe that this year's Armenian Genocide commemoration carries a clear message. The feelings of despair and hopelessness that we have all experienced since the Artsakh War of 2020 and the mass exodus of Armenians from Artsakh in 2023 need to be replaced with a renewed commitment to pursuing justice and safeguarding Armenia.

The input of every Armenian is extremely important in this matter.

Remembering My Teacher
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of His Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian. He was a renowned theologian, biblical scholar, church musician, and linguist. I consider myself fortunate that I was one of his many students at the Armenian Theological Seminary. His love and passion for our church and theology influenced me greatly. Witnessing his final months of life as he fought cancer in various hospitals in New York taught me a precious lesson on how a life of faith could be lived in the midst of pain and suffering. He went home eagerly not to meet Jesus but to see Jesus.

The Word of God
The Gospel reading for this Sunday is from John 7:14-23. This Sunday we will hear to words of Jesus who says: “Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own” (John 7:17). According to the Orthodox Study Bible, “The simple desire to know and follow God's will is the key to understanding it. Spiritual blindness comes from unwillingness to know God or to recognize His authority.” (Orthodox Study Bible Copyright © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology).

Come join us this Sunday at St. Sarkis Church to refresh your soul and reconnect with your identity. Our church offers something that the diner, the mall, or the sports field cannot provide.

Prayerfully,

]]><![CDATA[The Pastor's Update - April 19, 2024]]>Fri, 19 Apr 2024 22:08:10 GMThttp://stsarkischurch.net/blog/the-pastors-update-april-19-2024Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ
What’s New

The Pastor’s Update:#2

Of Hate and Forgiveness
Imagine you are on the altar, addressing your congregation in a sermon. You don’t have a written script; you are focusing on the flow and cohesiveness of your thoughts, and you see a young person approaching you and then he attacks you and stabs you with a knife. Mari Emmanuel, Bishop of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, New South Wales, Australia was delivering a sermon to his congregation when a young person approached him and attacked him with a knife. The Bishop, who comes from the Assyrian (Nestorian) tradition and runs an independent church, often teaches controversial and provocative messages. However, no one should be attacked for exercising their freedom of speech. Despite the attack, Bishop Emmanuel showed compassion and forgiveness towards his attacker by telling him: "You’re my son, and you'll always be in my prayers." This is an inspiring example of practicing what one preaches.

St. Sarkis Won’t Be The Same Without Digin Mary
Today, the St. Sarkis Community mourns the loss of a dear member, Mrs. Mary Arslanian. She passed away last Tuesday night and will be deeply missed. Mrs. Arslanian had been a lifelong devoted member of our church and had a significant impact on the lives of the young parishioners who were fortunate enough to be her students at our Saturday School. Her kindness, generosity, simplicity, and hospitality will always be remembered.

BOT Executive Positions
The Board of Trustees of our church, who were elected in March and recently approved by the Prelate and the Executive Council, had their first meeting yesterday. They elected Dr. Annita Nerses as the chairwoman, Mr. Simon Bardizbanian as the vice chairman, Mrs. Diane Boyadjian as the secretary, and Mrs. Alina Kochoumian as the treasurer. During the meeting, the Board discussed their plans to uphold St. Sarkis church as a beacon of faith and service for our community.

The Anxious Generation
This week, I started reading "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness" by Jonathan Haidt. He is a New York Times bestselling author and a social psychologist at NYU. I had previously enjoyed his book "The Happiness Hypothesis". In his latest book, Haidt uses research data to show that phone-based childhood, a term he coined to refer to children and teenagers growing up after 2010 when social media became part of smartphones, is causing an epidemic of mental illness, including severe anxiety, depression, and addictions in teenagers and young adults. I have listened to over half of the book on Audible and believe that it's a valuable read for both parents and young adults.

Freud's Last Session
Annie and I watched "Freud's Last Session" (2023, PG-13, 1h 48m) and enjoyed almost two hours of psychology, philosophy, and existentialism. The movie is set on the eve of World War II and portrays a debate between Sigmund Freud (played by Anthony Hopkins) and the iconic Christian author C.S. Lewis (played by Matthew Goode) on the existence of God. While there is no evidence that this debate actually took place, I found it fascinating to see the contrasting ideas and sometimes similar experiences of these two important figures from the last century.

The Word of God
The Gospel reading for this Sunday is from John 5:19-30. This Sunday we hear Jesus proclaim: “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). According to New International Bible Commentary, “The construction here shows that both hearing and believing are to be taken together. Hearing is not a passive activity only”.

Come to St. Sarkis Church this Sunday and join the worship service.

Prayerfully,

]]><![CDATA[The Pastor's Update - April 12, 2024]]>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:23:08 GMThttp://stsarkischurch.net/blog/the-pastors-update-april-12-2024

Երկինք պատմեն զփառս Աստուծոյ, եւ զարարածս ձեռաց նորա պատմէ հաստատութիւն:

Inch Ga Chga-Ի՞նչ Կայ Չկայ #1

The Pastor’s Update:

What a week it has been! We experienced an earthquake last Friday. Though it wasn't violent, it made me think about the devastating earthquakes that hit the Middle East last winter and how our brothers and sisters in that region must have felt. I also remembered the tragic earthquake in northern Armenia in 1988, which claimed the lives of twenty-five thousand Armenians.

We also experienced a solar eclipse last Monday. I was fortunate to witness this rare natural phenomenon in 1999 in Beirut, Lebanon. However, this time, I was occupied with patients in my clinic and couldn't see the eclipse. Nevertheless, my good friend Victoria Mesrobian Yekhpairian sent me the photo below. The best caption for this photo would be Psalm 19:1, 'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.'

Last Friday, I attended an interesting event in Manhattan. It was a comedy show by an emerging Armenian comedian named Jack Jr. A few members of our parish were also present. My wife, our two older children, and I were interested in attending because Tonee Marino, a young artist from our community who also serves on the Altar of St. Sarkis Church, was going to perform.

I had heard some of Mr. Jack's jokes on social media and knew he sometimes uses crude material in his sets. However, during his performance, he spoke about his experience at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School in Los Angeles and how the staff and teachers would often speak to him in Armenian, not realizing that he didn't speak the language. Mr. Jack said that he kept making jokes about this on social media, and subsequently, the school has a program for non-Armenian-speaking students.

Mr. Jack also described his most horrible experience at Alex Pilibos, which was attending church services on special occasions, as a foreign and almost gibberish experience. The audience laughed hard when he imitated the church music and priests' gestures during Badarak. At that moment, I began to think that while Badarak is a life-giving experience for those who have immersed themselves in the mystical experience of it, it could be a completely unintelligible and almost gibberish experience for someone like Mr. Jack Jr. On the one hand, I understand that the mystical experience is not for everyone. I know that we are asking a lot of our people by telling them they need to understand classical Armenian (Krapar) to get anything from our Badarak (although the modern Armenian and English translations are provided on the pews). I know that in some of our churches, the celebration of Badarak has become very mechanical and dry, and congregants get no spiritual nourishment. I am well aware that reform in our church is way overdue, but on the other hand, there is a general apathy towards the church in our communities. Unfortunately, fixing this problem is not as easy as creating a program for non-Armenian-speaking students at Alex Pilibos. Our Church must evolve, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide our church leaders in this important task.

I left the show before Mr. Jack finished his set because he started picking on the audience and asking them to get on stage - a practice I detest in comedy shows. Was he running out of material? I don’t know, but I know that my friend Tonee Marino's performance was amazing, and I enjoyed it very much.

Speaking of comedy shows, I am excited to inform you that we are organizing a comedy event for Father’s Day in mid-June. Antic will be the day's comedian, and the event's main highlight will be honoring Mr. Louie Zakarian, a nine time primetime Emmy Award and ten time Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award winner, and the head make-up artist for NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Mr. Zakarian is a member of the St. Sarkis Community. This is an event you surely wouldn't want to miss!

I just want to remind you about the upcoming events commemorating the Armenian Genocide on April 24. We have a Badarak (divine liturgy) at St. Illuminator's Cathedral in the afternoon of April 24, followed by a march organized by the AYF. Anoushavan Serpazan has asked me to celebrate Badarak on that day. I consider it a great honor to celebrate Badarak on the Altar at the Cathedral which contains sand from the Der-Zor desert and the relics (bones and skulls) of the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. Also, there will be a lecture in the main hall of our church on Sunday, April 28th. There will also be a gathering at Times Square on April 21.

In today's bulletin, we are releasing the application forms for the St. Sarkis Church Karnig Alajajian Scholarship. I encourage college students to apply as soon as possible. Additionally, we are providing a comprehensive list of Easter Donations. Last week, the Facebook donations were accidentally omitted, and I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

I'm checking in with you about the video of last week's sermon I shared yesterday. I hope you had a chance to listen to it. This Sunday is known as Green Sunday in our church, and we will continue exploring the theme of spiritual renewal brought about by Christ's resurrection. During the liturgy, we will read about Jesus teaching Nicodemus, who came to him at night. As you may remember from the dichotomy of light and darkness discussed in the last sermon, this conversation is significant. It is during this conversation that Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again" (John 3:3). According to the Orthodox Study Bible, “The word again can also be translated “from above” and clearly refers to the heavenly birth from God through faith in Christ (John 1:12, 13). This heavenly birth is baptism (John 3:5) and our adoption by God as our Father (Gal 4:4–7). This new birth is but the beginning of our spiritual life, with its goal being entrance into the kingdom of God”. (Orthodox Study Bible Copyright © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology).

And finally, my youngest son, Avedis asked me to take him shopping at the newly opened Target store in Lakeville, NY. As I was deep in my negotiations with little Avedis that he could only buy one toy for himself at Target, a young parishioner of St. Sarkis church said hi to me. She used to be my student when I taught Saturday School as a deacon two decades ago. We made small talk, and then she told me that she, her mother, and her grandmother watch the live stream of Badarak every Sunday. I said that is really nice, but I would like to see her at church on Sundays.

I would like to say the same thing to you. Please do not abandon the church that your parents and grandparents worked so hard to build. Do not forsake the church that your forefathers shed their blood to safeguard. I encourage you to attend church on Sundays and be part of the community.

See you Sunday,

Der Nareg

PS. I am planning to provide you with weekly updates in our newsletter. They may not always be exciting, but they will be my genuine way of communicating with you. Thank you for reading.

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