Who would have imagined, just two months ago, how Armenian Church life would have to change so abruptly? A longtime deacon of the church offers a reflection.
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Ճաշակեցէքեւտեսէք`զիքաղցրէՏէր.
Taste and see that the Lord is sweet.
(Psalm 33/34:8)
Who imagined, even two months ago, how so much in our church life—in our professional, personal, and global lives, too—would be changed, almost at the snap of a finger?
We didn’t know it at the time, but a tsunami was in the distance, and approaching. None of us knew exactly what was about to happen.
The Church itself felt unsure; on unfamiliar terrain despite its age-old experience. Our leaders needed to first understand, and then quickly adjust to, the Coronavirus threat.
Our discussions at the time on the status of the Diocesan Assembly—whether it and other things should be cancelled or just postponed—seem very small, in retrospect.
As we would soon discover, the more pressing need was for the entire Armenian Church—and in particular our own Eastern Diocese, led by Srpazan Hayr—to abruptly halt life as previously known. And almost simultaneously, it had to reformat itself into something approachable, appealing, and assuring to our people. Something that would be appreciated by them in this time of crisis.
The church’s traditional practices of outreach—personal contact, face-to-face association, even the sacramental use of hands—was suddenly denied to us. Our familiar old tools were no longer at our disposal. So clergy took up the tools at hand—mainly in the “remote” technologies of our day. They learned to “beam” our holy services—for Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and even Easter Badarak—to the faithful.
We discovered that these efforts were welcomed beyond the local parish, among wider audiences. In some way, it presented a chance to Build Up the Body of Christ in ways we might not have imagined.
For me personally, as a deacon, this national lockdown marked the first time since 1985 that I could not enter through the doors of my church to serve on the holy altar.
But I did get the chance to experience services with pastors I had never heard preach or sing before. In fact, hundreds and even thousands of us watched and worshipped with Karekin Vehapar, Aram Vehapar, Daniel Srpazan, Nareg Srpazan, Der Krikor, Der Vasken, Der Armash and Hayr Aren, Der Stepanos, Hayr Norayr, Der Diran, Der Daniel, Hayr Papken, Der Hratch, Der Arakel, Der Hakob, Der Abraham, Der Hovhan, Der Mesrob, Der Voskan, Der Ghevond—and so many others.
Different World, Different Approach
Over the course of the past five weeks, life has been altered in other ways, too.
In this time, there is no drive down a familiar road to church. No finding a seat in your favorite pew. No palms on Palm Sunday. No Holy Communion. The actions we’ve all done too many times to count are not being done now. Instead, we practice putting on a mask and gloves when we leave home.
In this time, each of us has had to say goodbye to friends and loved ones. Sadder still, our clergy now represent us at funerals we cannot attend, especially for those lost from the dreaded disease. Against our feelings of loss, we’re denied the consolation of kissing, hugging, and showing our true expression as a feeling people.
But also in this time, we have had to reach deep down into our souls, to retrieve an inner strength that only our Resurrected Lord can give. It’s a strength our Hye ancestors knew well, and drew on—relied on—countless times in their lifetimes.
It is a strength we, in this time, may have forgotten; a strength we not have known was available to us. But it is the spiritual strength that has allowed us to rise to the present occasion—and will sustain us until that unknown day when we are able to receive Holy Communion in person, together, once again.
Until then, we will continue to Build Up the Body of Christ, but with different tools; a slightly different approach. And whatever the obstacles of the moment, we will project Faith, Hope, and Love to our faithful people, and beyond. “Taste—eat, relish, experience—and see that the Lord is gentle and sweet.”
Deacon Levon Altiparmakian offered this devotional meditation to open the April 15, 2020 meeting of the Diocesan Council, of which he is a member. Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan initiated the practice of each council member in turn offering a short devotion to begin each meeting.