By the end of June, schools are winding down, summer is gearing up, and many parishioners settle into a more “relaxed” habit of church participation. But in the Armenian Church calendar, the summer months have never been uneventful.
Nearly every day in June, July, and August has a saint or group of saints associated with it. Some are obscure, others well known. But all have stories to tell, and are waiting to be discovered by our faithful.
Click onto the following links to find posts here on the Diocesan website focusing on saints Helena and Constantine (remembered on July 1), the holy relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator (July 5), and the Prophet Daniel and his companions (July 8).
The stories of these and other saints have at least one thing in common: all tell how relatively ordinary people rose to extraordinary challenges on the basis of faith and conviction. With that faith as a foundation, they found the courage to address the needs and face the fears of their own day. Often in the forge of crisis, they were tangibly aware of the presence of the Lord Jesus beside them.
Our saintly exemplars have lessons to teach about how to face the trials of our own time. Take this time to learn from them, on the Eastern Diocese’s various online platforms.
Throughout the summer, visit our sister Diocesan site VEMKAR for multimedia resources to inspire, educate, and uplift faithful of all ages. VEMKAR is also the place to find informative posts and videos on Armenian Church spirituality, practice, and tradition.
Even in this extraordinary time, the Armenian “Saints of Summer” are still standing with us—and are just a click away!