Six years ago, on the evening of March 18, 2020, the worldwide Armenian Church joined together in a Day of Prayer, at the urging of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
It was during the opening days of the global pandemic lockdown; and recalling that time after six years, one can feel its pervasive sense of urgency, uncertainty, and genuine fear.
But the prayer we offered together at the start of it all, as the united faithful of the Armenian Church, addressed those fears—and still speaks to the heart today.
“Give us your peace,” we prayed, “and strengthen our faith in you, Lord Jesus Christ, so that we can overcome our fears and doubts, when anxiety becomes the order of the day. Bless all those who have put themselves in harm’s way in service to us. Hold in your loving embrace those who have perished, and grant peace to their loved ones.”
“In the midst of this uncertainty we echo in faith the words of King David: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging (Psalm 46:1-3). With trust in your infinite love and compassion, we exalt and praise your holy Name, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
No one knew it at the time, but there would be many more days of prayer, for the world and especially for our people, in the months to come. Time and again, we would be called to remember the words Jesus spoke to his followers, to reassure them in moments of doubt: “I am the Light of the world”; “Be not afraid.”
In the uncertain months that followed March 2020, many of us would endure extended periods of separation from friends and family, from the life of the church. We would all be diminished by the loss of loved ones, fellow citizens and countrymen. Untold numbers of people throughout the world would be lost to sickness. Armenians would bear the added grief of our losses incurred in a disastrous 2020 explosion in Beirut and—most painful of all—the casualties suffered in defense of our precious homeland of Armenia and Artsakh during 44 bitter days of war, leading to the subsequent ethnic cleansing and loss of Artsakh itself.
The world is only beginning to assess this period, and it is still too early to foresee its future effects. Indeed, we will be trying to understand it for a very long time to come. But as we grieve, and mourn, and seek healing from wounds to body and spirit, we must also raise our eyes to our risen Lord in hope—as we did during those first, dark days of the pandemic.
Christ is the Light of the world—yesterday, today, and always. His light shines in every dark place, and the darkness has never overcome it. Be not afraid.
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By Christopher H. Zakian