What do you think when you hear the name “Etchmiadzin”? It’s more than just a place, insists Bishop Daniel Findikyan: it’s a way of living; a vision of God’s love for humanity; a call to action for us all.
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When we think of “Etchmiadzin” what often comes to mind is a place: a town in Armenia where the Catholicos has his residence.
We think of an ancient cathedral. We think of the Holy See of the Armenian Church: a growing hub, bustling with bishops, vartabeds, pilgrims, and tourists.
We might think of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who founded it all some 1700 years ago.
But all of these are only secondary associations. “Etchmiadzin” means so much more.
The name “Etchmiadzin” is a composite word that means, “The Only-begotten descended.” Those words (actually a single word in Armenian) are the inner, irreducible nucleus of the Gospel and the Christian faith. The “Only-begotten”–that is, the only child of God, Jesus the Christ–descended from God’s realm and entered this world as a human being.
For Christians, God is not a distant, all-powerful force that passively observes the happenings of humanity on Earth. God extends himself into the space, daily life, and even DNA of all humanity. There is no reason for the Creator to do this except his unbridled love for his creatures.
In a word, “Etchmiadzin” means God loves us. God gives himself to us in an act of self-sacrifice: the defining characteristic of genuine love. God cares for his creatures.
A Hard Time, But a Privilege to Help
These past months have been a hard time for all of us. We have become all-too-painfully aware that this world is a place of sickness, injustice, racism, betrayal, and death. That is the inescapable reality of this Earth, as true today as it was for our most remote ancestors.
God sent his Son into THAT world.
The Only-begotten, the Son of God, Jesus Christ “descended” into that world–not to observe it in a detached way, as one who is immune to its horrors. No, he entered the world as a fully human being; exposed himself willingly and completely to the world’s inner darkness. The Son of God and Son of Man subjected himself to the world’s mockery, deceit, betrayal, rejection, excruciating pain, grief, and death.
Christ lived among humanity from within. But by that very reason, he also healed humanity from within. By his resurrection, he conquered sin and death, bringing healing to the fallen world. And through that resurrection, he gave hope to the rest of us.
The meaning of “Etchmiadzin” is the message of the “Only-begotten” to his creatures: “Open your hearts wide; collaborate with your Lord in his ongoing work of mercy, compassion, and love.”
That message has a special resonance in these days of crisis. The pandemic danger that we have all been living under has become especially acute in Armenia. The COVID-19 virus continues to ravage the country. Armenia’s hospitals lack the equipment and medicine to combat the virus. Armenia’s families have become impoverished due to the massive loss of livelihoods, and that has terrible repercussions for their ability to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
Now, we have been given the opportunity and privilege to open our hearts wide–in the spirit of word “Etchmiadzin”–to our brothers and sisters in Armenia. The Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, has been directing all the energies of the Mother See to helping our countrymen during these days: ministering to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the people. He has appealed to all of the world’s Armenian Church dioceses to contribute to this effort. Our own Eastern Diocese has already been doing amazing work through the Fund for Armenian Relief to aid Armenia’s citizens–especially the neediest among them.
But as a Diocese, I know we can do more. During the week of June 14 through 21, we will be holding a fundraising initiative to respond to the appeal of His Holiness and give aid and comfort to Armenia in its time of need.
Fittingly, the campaign will go forward between the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Feast of St. Nersess the Great: Armenia’s “saint of compassion” who sponsored hospitals and charitable concerns throughout our land.
Our people across the Eastern Diocese will be receiving e-mail messages about the campaign in the days to come. Please consider opening your heart to offer a generous online contribution. I ask our faithful to do whatever you can to help advance this important effort for our homeland. May our Lord bless you and keep you safe, and may he continue to strengthen the spirit of “Etchmiadzin” in our hearts.
With my prayers,
Bishop DANIEL
Primate
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Above: Detail of the St. Gregory Gate, the entryway to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, constructed by the order of His Holiness Karekin II. The impressive relief depicts King Drtad and St. Gregory the Illuminator, the principal figures in Etchmiadzin’s foundation.