Today, with hearts made heavy by the horrifying murder of twenty-six of our fellow Christians—cruelly gunned down in a sanctuary of holiness, as they worshiped the Prince of Peace—we offer this prayer for our Lord’s love and vindication, from the Armenian Church requiem service:
This week the world passed a milestone in the history of Christian spirituality: the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation—traditionally pegged to October 31, 1517. On that date, Martin Luther is said to have posted his “Ninety-Five Theses” on the door of a Wittenberg cathedral, criticizing the Roman Catholic clergy for the practice of selling indulgences.
To Armenians in the United States, “Armenian Cultural Month” has been a feature of community life for as long as they can remember. It arrives each October—and with it a flurry of lectures, readings, exhibits, sacred celebrations, and events intended to remind Armenians of the richness of their cultural heritage.
ACYOA Juniors gathered over Columbus Day weekend at St. Leon Armenian Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, for their annual Sports Weekend. The parish hosted 285 participants from 17 parishes across the Diocese. With the theme of “Rise Hye, Live, Thrive” echoing throughout the weekend, participants treasured their time together through worship, sports, and fellowship.
Once again, our country has awakened to a horrifying spectacle of death. We are told that this latest massacre, in Las Vegas, NV, is the worst mass shooting in modern American history—surpassing the previous outrage of 15 months ago, in Orlando, FL.
