Commemoration DAY of

the Sons and Grandsons of

St. Gregory the Illuminator:

Aristakes, Vrtanes, Husik,

Grigoris, and Daniel

St. Aristakes the Catholicos (264–333)

Aristakes was the younger son of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, born in Caesarea in 264 AD. According to his biographer, Agathangelos, "from childhood he was brought up according to the service of God," meaning that he was raised from an early age for a life of devotion and ministry.

While still a young man, he embraced the ascetic life. As Agathangelos writes, he "adopted the rule of the solitary mountain dwellers," living among hermits under the spiritual guidance of an ascetic named Nicomachus. There he willingly subjected himself to hunger, thirst, hardship, and a simple life sustained by vegetables, clothed in coarse garments.

When he reached maturity and had attained great spiritual perfection, Aristakes gathered disciples of his own. He instructed them both in the disciplines of the spiritual life and in "serving the Gospel," indicating that he was also actively engaged in preaching. Enduring every trial and self-denial with willing courage, he attained a state of spiritual illumination and became "known to God and pleasing to all people." Thus, according to Agathangelos' restrained yet admiring account, Aristakes had already become an exemplary ascetic and spiritual leader before entering ecclesiastical office. This period of his life unfolded outside Armenia, in the region of Caesarea, while living as a hermit and preaching the Gospel.

Called Back to Armenia

Saint Gregory the Illuminator often spent long periods away from the patriarchal residence, traveling to preach the Gospel in distant regions or withdrawing into solitude.

King Tiridates III, recognizing Gregory's frequent absences and learning more about his sons, eventually sent messengers to bring them to Armenia. According to Agathangelos, they found Aristakes living in his secluded monastery in the wilderness. At first he refused the king's invitation, reluctant to leave his solitude, until "the multitude of Christians" persuaded him, saying:

"It is better to labor in cultivating God's vineyard than to remain alone in the desert."

Aristakes and his elder brother Vrtanes therefore accompanied the royal envoys to Armenia. Together with King Tiridates, they sought out their father and found him in his hermitage known as Manyay Ayr, in the district of Daranaghik.

The king requested that Saint Gregory consecrate both of his sons as bishops. As the Armenian historian Malachia Ormanian observes:

"By the common desire of all, Aristakes, being the more spiritual man, was called to the episcopate before his elder brother and was appointed assistant to his father in the patriarchal office."

Agathangelos likewise praises Aristakes, stating that after his consecration he undertook extensive pastoral and missionary work and that "his teaching surpassed even that of his father," meaning that he excelled as a teacher of the faith.

The Council of Nicaea

Few specific episodes of Aristakes' ministry are recorded. He spent much of his life traveling throughout Armenia, preaching from province to province and district to district.

His most notable achievement was representing the Armenian Church at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, attending in place of his father. On the journey he was accompanied by prominent Eastern bishops, including John of Tizbon, Jacob of Nisibis, Euthalius of Edessa, and Leontius of Caesarea.

A well-known tradition from the Council tells that some Arians mocked Aristakes because his years of asceticism had left him thin and frail. They remarked that the Armenian bishop looked more like a peasant than a patriarch and sarcastically challenged him to take a plow and plow the sea.

Aristakes calmly accepted the challenge and, as though plowing solid ground, miraculously plowed the sea. Turning to his mockers, he said:

"If you too possess the true faith, go now and sow seed in the furrows I have made."

Ashamed, they were silenced, and their respect for him increased.

Second Catholicos of the Armenian Church

After Aristakes had been consecrated bishop and appointed his father's deputy, Saint Gregory was able to devote himself more fully to his life of solitude, confident that the patriarchal office was in capable hands.

When Saint Gregory disappeared from public life after receiving the Nicene Creed, and no one could discover his whereabouts, Aristakes naturally assumed full leadership of the Armenian Church. Having already governed effectively during his father's absences, he became the second Catholicos of the Armenian Church in 326 AD, at about sixty years of age.

His patriarchate lasted seven years.

Martyrdom

The Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi calls Aristakes the "Spiritual Sword," explaining that he was "an enemy of every abomination and injustice."

One of those whom he openly rebuked was Arkeghelaos, the powerful prince of Tsopk, whose immoral and unjust conduct had drawn the Catholicos' condemnation, and perhaps even excommunication. Harboring resentment, the prince waited for an opportunity to take revenge.

While Aristakes was making one of his pastoral visits through the province of Fourth Armenia, he encountered Arkeghelaos on the road through Tsopk. There the prince killed him with his sword, and Aristakes received the crown of martyrdom.

His disciples carried his body to Til, his ancestral estate, where he was buried. Until the early twentieth century, his tomb was venerated at the Monastery of the Twin Patriarchs (Jukhtak Hayrapet) near Erzincan.

Hymn of the Armenian Church

The Armenian Sharakan (Book of Hymns) contains a special canon entitled "The Sons and Grandsons of Saint Gregory the Illuminator." In the hymn known as "Mankunk", each saint is commemorated individually. The first stanza is dedicated to Saint Aristakes, who is also known in some manuscripts as Rstakes.

Referring to his role in bringing the Nicene Creed to Armenia, the hymn proclaims:

Through you, O Holy Rstakes,
the divine confession of faith of the Holy Fathers
shone like a light upon all the Armenian people.
Unceasingly intercede for our souls.

St. Vrtanes the Catholicos (262–341)

Vrtanes was the elder son of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, born in Caesarea in 262 AD. Unlike his younger brother Aristakes, he first entered secular life, married, and had twin sons, Grigoris and Husik. Around 310 AD, he came to Armenia with his sons and his younger brother, Aristakes.

His Marriage and Family

The fact that Saint Gregory the Illuminator, his sons, and his grandsons had families has sometimes been cited to argue that bishops and catholicoi in the early Church were married while serving in office. However, two important points should be clarified.

First, these patriarchs married before entering the clergy, while they were still living as laymen. There is no historical evidence that their wives continued to live with them after they were ordained. More likely, either the spouses separated by mutual agreement, with the wives entering religious communities, or the wives had died before their husbands entered ecclesiastical service.

A later Armenian example is Catholicos Khrimian Hayrik, who was married as a layman but entered the priesthood only after his wife's death, eventually becoming Patriarch and later Catholicos.

The same was true of Bishop Vramshapuh of Barij, who first served as a married priest and, after the death of his wife, received the ranks of vardapet and bishop. His children were still living.

Likewise, when Vrtanes came to Armenia, his wife was no longer with him; only his twin sons accompanied him. They were about ten or twelve years old, and King Tiridates received them into the royal court to be educated alongside the other noble youths. Vrtanes himself, being a highly educated and spiritually mature man, probably assumed responsibilities within the royal court.

Bishop and Successor to Aristakes

Like his brother, Vrtanes was ordained priest and bishop by his father, Saint Gregory the Illuminator. This likely took place after Aristakes departed for the Council of Nicaea. During his brother's absence, Vrtanes administered the affairs of the patriarchate.

Even after Aristakes returned, Vrtanes continued overseeing much of the Church's administration, while Aristakes devoted himself primarily to missionary preaching throughout Armenia.

When news of Aristakes' martyrdom reached Vagharshapat in 333 AD, Vrtanes naturally succeeded him as the third Catholicos of the Armenian Church, at the venerable age of seventy.

The first years of his patriarchate were peaceful and prosperous. As the historian Faustus of Byzantium writes:

"Saint Vrtanes, like his father and brother, enlightened and guided the people, and righteousness and justice flourished in those days."

The Miracle at Ashtishat

Soon after Vrtanes became Catholicos, however, paganism again began to revive, even threatening his life.

Faustus of Byzantium records a remarkable incident.

Vrtanes had gone to Ashtishat, in the province of Taron, where stood the principal church of Armenia—the first and mother church—built on the site where Saint Gregory had overthrown the pagan temples. There he celebrated the Divine Liturgy commemorating Christ's saving Passion. Armenian kings, nobles, clergy, and multitudes of pilgrims customarily gathered there, especially seven times each year, to honor the holy places and particularly the shrine of Saint John the Baptist.

While Vrtanes was celebrating the liturgy with only a small company, about two thousand people who secretly continued practicing paganism assembled with the intention of murdering him. Their plot was encouraged in part by the queen herself, whom Vrtanes had rebuked for adultery and immoral conduct.

The mob surrounded the church courtyard, intending to seize the Catholicos. But as they attempted to advance, a miracle occurred: their arms were suddenly twisted behind their backs, and though no one had bound them, they became completely immobilized, falling helplessly to the ground.

When the liturgy concluded, Vrtanes approached them and asked:

"Who are you? Where have you come from? Whom do you seek, and why have you come?"

They openly confessed:

"We came to destroy this place and to kill you. We received permission and encouragement from the Queen of Armenia. But the Lord God has revealed His power to us and shown us that He alone is God. Now we know and believe that He alone is God. We remain here unable even to move."

Vrtanes then spent considerable time teaching them the Gospel and strengthening them in faith in Jesus Christ. After praying for them, he healed them and released them from their invisible bonds.

Freed, they all fell before him asking for repentance. He assigned them a period of penance, instructed them in the faith of the Holy Trinity, and baptized them. About two thousand people, not counting their wives and children, entered the Christian faith and were added to the Church.

Counselor of Kings

During Vrtanes' patriarchate, King Tiridates III died and was succeeded by his son Khosrov Kotak ("the Short"), who lacked both his father's physical stature and political abilities.

Vrtanes became not only the kingdom's spiritual leader but also one of its principal advisors in matters of government, diplomacy, and war. Encouraged by him, the Armenian army won major victories against renewed Persian invasions.

During one of these campaigns, however, the Armenian commander Vache Mamikonian was killed.

Faustus writes:

"Great mourning spread throughout Armenia, for many times the Lord had delivered the nation through his hand. But Bishop Vrtanes comforted everyone, including King Khosrov and the entire army, who had fallen into deep sorrow."

Vrtanes' consoling address begins with the words "Be comforted in Christ." It beautifully combines patriotism with Christian faith—qualities that would become hallmarks of Armenia's greatest church leaders throughout the centuries.

Among other things, he declared:

"Those who fell in battle died to preserve their homeland, the Church, and the law of God... so that Armenia would not be enslaved and the holy churches profaned... They gave their lives for the truth of the Lord, for the churches, the martyrs, the Law, the Holy Covenant, the rule of faith, the priesthood, and the countless faithful baptized into Christ. Those who do not spare their lives for such causes share the honor of Christ's martyrs. Therefore, let us not mourn them but honor them with the truth. Let us forever regard them as martyrs. Let everyone continually commemorate their courage as we do that of Christ's martyrs. Let us celebrate with joy, for through them we shall find favor with God, who will afterward grant us peace."

Faustus continues:

"The great High Priest Vrtanes established by law that their memory should be commemorated every year. He further decreed that all those who, in future generations, should die for the salvation of their homeland should likewise be remembered. He ordered that, during the Divine Liturgy, after the names of the saints were read, the names of these defenders should also be commemorated at the Holy Altar."

Thus, Vrtanes established an enduring Armenian tradition of honoring those who gave their lives in defense of both faith and homeland.

Correspondence with the Patriarch of Jerusalem

Vrtanes also consulted Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem (314–334) regarding various liturgical and ecclesiastical matters. In response, Macarius composed a carefully organized document consisting of nine articles. This work, known as The Canons of Macarius, was later incorporated into the Armenian Book of Canons.

Final Years

Vrtanes served as Catholicos for eight years, courageously overcoming numerous difficulties and earning a lasting reputation as an experienced, energetic, and holy shepherd of the Armenian Church.

After the death of King Tiridates, Armenia entered a period of political instability. Nevertheless, Vrtanes successfully guided both Church and kingdom through these challenges. On at least two occasions, through his influential intervention, he secured Western military assistance and helped restore two Armenian kings to their throne. Throughout his life he remained their counselor, supporter, and spiritual guide, although, despite his efforts, they increasingly departed from the path of piety.

Death and Burial

Unlike his brother Aristakes, Vrtanes died a natural death at about eighty years of age.

He was buried in Thordan, in the district of Daranaghik, where his father, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and King Tiridates III were also laid to rest.

In later centuries, the Monastery of the Holy Savior of the Nine Saints stood at this site, preserving and honoring the tombs of these great saints and national leaders.

Feast Day

Saint Vrtanes is commemorated together with the Sons and Grandsons of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

The word dedicated to him in the Armenian hymn Mankunk reads:

You were chosen as the brave shepherd
of Christ's rational flock.
From your father, the Light, you blossomed forth as a noble ray,
O Lord Vrtanes.
Unceasingly intercede for our souls.

St. Husik the Catholicos (295–347)

Husik was the younger of the twin sons of Catholicos Vrtanes. While still very young, he was virtually compelled to marry the sister—or, according to some accounts, the daughter—of King Tiridates.

According to the historian Faustus of Byzantium, on the first night of his marriage Husik had a dream revealing that, although he would have twin sons, "they would not be pleasing to God" and would not enter the service of the Church. This revelation filled him with remorse for having married.

He "wept and prayed to God, repenting with great sorrow." Thereafter he refrained from marital relations and, like his father and his brother Grigoris, devoted himself entirely to the spiritual life. Before long his wife died, freeing him from this difficult situation.

Nevertheless, he continued to grieve that his own sons would not continue the family's ecclesiastical ministry. By that time the office of Catholicos had, to some extent, become hereditary within Saint Gregory the Illuminator's family, much like the Aaronic high priesthood of the Old Testament.

God, however, comforted Husik through a second vision, revealing that from one of his sons would be born a righteous descendant, and from him another, who would lay the foundations for a new spiritual renewal. They would become:

"the fountains of spiritual wisdom for the land of Armenia... pillars of the Church and ministers of the Living Word."

This prophecy referred to the future Catholicoi Saint Nerses the Great and Saint Sahak (Isaac) Partev. Therefore, "Husik gave great thanks to God for having been granted such a revelation and answer" (Faustus of Byzantium).

Election as Catholicos

Because Husik had married while still very young, he had not yet received holy orders. Consequently, when his father died in 341 AD and the patriarchal office naturally fell to him, he first had to be ordained.

At that time he was about forty to forty-five years old. King Tiran, who was also Husik's relative by marriage, sent him with a magnificent delegation of Armenian nobles and royal chariots to Caesarea for episcopal consecration. Faustus even records the names and family lineages of thirteen of the nobles who accompanied him.

After his ordination,

"they seated Husik upon the Apostolic Throne of Thaddeus and upon the throne of his grandfather, the great Gregory."

King Tiran himself traveled as far as Artashat to welcome the newly consecrated Catholicos upon his return.

His Character

Faustus of Byzantium gives the following description of Husik's inner life:

"After his father Vrtanes, Husik succeeded to the Apostolic Throne. He was truly his father's worthy son. In every respect he embraced an angelic way of life and acted always according to God's gifts and grace. Shepherding Christ's rational flock, he instructed everyone through the teachings of the Gospel. Though still young, he was vigorous and tall, handsome and noble in appearance, so that no one on earth equaled him. His soul was holy and radiant. He never occupied himself with earthly affairs. Like a brave soldier armed by Christ, he opposed the invisible enemy and overcame him. He never sought to please people or showed favoritism. Instead, he wielded the word of the Holy Spirit like a sword. The Giver of grace filled him with knowledge, which flowed like a spring into the ears and hearts of those who heard him."

His Bold Rebukes

Despite Husik's holiness, King Tiran, the nobles, and much of the nation lived contrary to God's commandments. Murder, injustice, bloodshed, and many other sins had become commonplace.

Against all these evils Husik continually spoke with "gentle and measured words and Christian exhortations," warning, rebuking, and reminding everyone of the unquenchable fire and eternal judgment.

He feared God so deeply that neither royal favor nor royal displeasure influenced him. Filled with knowledge of Scripture, he openly denounced the king and the nobles and even forbade them to enter the church.

Faustus writes that:

"He imposed severe ecclesiastical penalties upon them and, by priestly authority, rebuked them for their lawlessness, immorality, adultery, bloodshed, oppression, robbery, hatred of the poor, and many other similar sins."

Martyrdom

These rebukes earned Husik the hatred of King Tiran and his court.

One day the king and his nobles attempted to enter a church while Husik was celebrating the Divine Liturgy. The Catholicos courageously confronted them and said directly to the king:

"You are not worthy. Why are you entering? Do not come in."

Tiran immediately flew into a rage and ordered his attendants to attack him.

Inside the church they stoned the holy bishop, beating him so severely that he was left half dead.

This occurred at the fortress of Bnabel in the province of Tsopk.

Church officials carried the mortally wounded Catholicos to Thordan, his ancestral estate, where, after serving as Catholicos for only about six years, he died from his injuries. He was buried beside his father Vrtanes and his grandfather Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

A Historical Clarification

Although Husik died after being beaten for boldly confronting the king, the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi preserves another tradition claiming that Husik was stoned for smashing an image of Emperor Julian the Apostate.

However, this account does not fit the chronology, since Julian ruled from 360 to 363 AD, whereas Husik is generally believed to have died before 350 AD.

Liturgical Commemoration

Husik is commemorated together with the Sons and Grandsons of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

The word dedicated to him in the Armenian hymn Mankunk alludes to the tradition recorded by Khorenatsi:

Praised among the martyrs, and worthy son of your father,
with courage you shattered the image of the lawless,
O Lord Saint Husik.
Unceasingly intercede for our souls.

St. Grigoris, Catholicos of Aghvank (295–337)

Grigoris was the first of the twin sons of Catholicos Vrtanes, born in Caesarea in 295 AD. He came to Armenia in 310 AD together with his father and his twin brother Husik.

Although he was raised and educated at the Armenian royal court, Grigoris longed for a life of celibacy. He entered the service of the Church under the guidance of his uncle, Saint Aristakes, who ordained him to the celibate clergy while he was still young because of

"the fruits of his Spirit-filled virtues, his spiritual character and maturity, and his possession of the knowledge of God" (Faustus of Byzantium).

Though still very young in age, his outstanding character, ability, and spiritual maturity led to his consecration as bishop for Aghvank (Caucasian Albania) and Iberia (Georgia), that is, for the lands bordering the Maskuts (Massagetae).

Missionary to the Caucasus

Saint Gregory the Illuminator had already preached among these Caucasian peoples, but the seeds of the Gospel had not yet taken deep root.

Furthermore, a delegation from the more receptive inhabitants of those northern regions had come to King Tiridates requesting that one of Gregory's descendants be sent to strengthen Christianity there.

Thus, around 320 AD, when Grigoris was only about twenty-five years old, he was consecrated bishop and sent to the Caucasus. Handsome in appearance and noble in bearing, he quickly won the respect of the people.

His mission at first prospered greatly.

According to Faustus:

"He went and renewed the churches there with wise and orderly leadership, following the example of his grandfather, the first Gregory."

He extended his missionary activity even into the frontier regions of Atropatene.

"He became a preacher of the true faith of Christ and made a marvelous and wonderful impression upon everyone."

Meanwhile, he never relaxed the rigor of his own spiritual discipline:

"Through the most difficult and countless acts of self-denial, through fasting, holiness, sleepless vigils, untiring prayers, and fervor, he continually prayed to God for everyone. By God's grace he faithfully advanced the work of the Gospel and the oversight of the holy Church. With zeal and diligence he encouraged all people to embrace a virtuous life, and by his prayers day and night he inspired both those near and those far away with spiritual fervor."

His Martyrdom

After strengthening the churches in the central and southern regions, Grigoris traveled northward and entered the camp of the King of the Maskuts, whose army consisted of many Caucasian tribes.

There he began preaching Christ and proclaiming the Gospel.

At first they listened willingly and accepted his teaching about the one true God.

But when Grigoris began explaining the moral demands of the Gospel, they learned that before the true God

robbery, plunder, murder, greed, oppression, theft, and coveting the possessions of others were hateful sins.

Hearing this, they became angry and said:

"If we no longer plunder, raid, or seize what belongs to others, how shall we support so great an army?"

Although Grigoris patiently tried to persuade them, using "many gracious words" to encourage them to earn their livelihood peacefully, they refused to listen any further.

They said among themselves:

"By these teachings this man wishes to rob us of our bravery. If we listen to him and become Christians, how shall we live? We shall not even be able to ride our horses according to our ancient customs."

They concluded that Grigoris had been sent by the Armenian king to prevent their customary raids into Armenia by means of his preaching.

Therefore they resolved to kill him.

They brought a fierce horse, tied Grigoris by ropes to its tail, and released it across the plain called Vatnyats, near the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Thus the faithful preacher of Christ received the crown of martyrdom.

Burial

His companions recovered his holy relics and carried them to the village of Amaras, where they buried him in a church.

Faustus concludes:

"Every year the people of that region gather on his feast day and commemorate his courageous witness."

Thus, in 337 AD, Saint Grigoris was cruelly martyred when he was scarcely forty years old.

His tomb has survived to the present day in the Monastery of Amaras in the village of Amaras in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), within the church that bears his name.

The Armenian Church commemorates Saint Grigoris twice each year:

1. On the Feast of the Sons and Grandsons of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

2. On the Feast of the Discovery of His Relics, celebrated on the fifth Monday after the Feast of the Holy Cross, together with the Twelve Armenian Hermits.

The word dedicated to Saint Grigoris in the Mankunk hymn of the Armenian Church reads:

By your pure virginity you were numbered among the bodiless angels,
a true high priest and witness of Christ, O Saint Grigoris.
Unceasingly intercede for our souls.

St. Daniel the Syrian, Chorepiscopus (†374)

Saint Daniel was a Syrian who became thoroughly Armenian in spirit and ministry. He is regarded as the spiritual son of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and was martyred by order of the Armenian king for defending the Armenian Church and the authority of the Armenian Catholicosate.

The historian Faustus of Byzantium devotes an entire chapter (Book IV, Chapter 14) to his life.

Disciple of Saint Gregory

Daniel was a disciple of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, who ordained him chorepiscopus—a rural bishop serving under the authority of another bishop.

Faustus calls him "a marvelous man" and states that he was appointed supervisor of the churches of the province of Taron. He also attributes to Daniel responsibility for "the administration of the great judicial affairs."

The historian Movses Khorenatsi refers to him as a hyouperetēs ("assistant" or "administrator"), which the Armenian scholar Malachia Ormanian interprets as the superintendent of the estates belonging to the family of Saint Gregory or to the Patriarchal See, whose principal center was Ashtishat in Taron, the main base of Daniel's ministry.

Faustus, however, describes his office even more broadly, calling him:

"the overseer, commander, inspector, and guardian of all the great churches of Armenia."

Missionary and Evangelist

Daniel was also renowned as an apostolic missionary.

According to Faustus:

"He preached in the foreign lands of Persia and converted countless people from error to the worship of the true God."

He was faithful not only in carrying out his office but also

"to the authority of the Patriarchal Throne and to the preservation of the faith of the Universal Armenian Church."

Wonderworker

Alongside his preaching, Daniel was celebrated for extraordinary miracles.

Faustus writes:

"He was a marvelous man who performed miracles and mighty works in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Neither heat nor cold, distance nor hardship hindered him.

It was said that:

• during winter, the snow melted before him as he traveled;

• on his journeys, he sped like lightning and arrived at his destination like a bird in flight;

• he raised the dead, healed the sick, and performed so many miracles that, according to the historian, "it is impossible to record them all one by one."

Ascetic Life

Although Daniel lived the life of a hermit in deserted places, he never neglected the needs of others.

His clothing was simple, and he did not even carry a staff. His food consisted only of the roots of wild plants.

Faustus says of him:

"His word was powerful before God. Whatever he asked, he received; whatever he spoke came to pass."

His Disciples

Daniel trained several distinguished ascetics, to each of whom Faustus devotes a short account:

• Shaghitan, who was said to be accompanied by more than twenty lions and healed many sick people.

• Epiphan, who converted many pagans to Christianity and was called "the light of the land of Tsopk."

• Artith, Bishop of Basean, a man filled with holiness and the Holy Spirit, who traveled widely performing great miracles.

• Gind of Taron, a man of exceptional virtue who became the foremost of the Armenian hermits and the spiritual teacher of the monasteries of Armenia.

Refusal of the Catholicosate

After the death of Catholicos Husik, the Armenian Church needed a new Catholicos.

Since Husik's sons had chosen military and secular careers and had no desire to enter the clergy, the attention of the nation naturally turned to Daniel, who was admired for his holiness, learning, and his close spiritual relationship with Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

Messengers found him in the town of Til and brought him before King Tiran.

Already an elderly man, Daniel knew why he had been summoned. Before the king could speak, he himself began addressing the king and those assembled, delivering a stern prophetic rebuke.

Faustus preserves this discourse at great length.

Daniel declared:

"Have you forgotten your Creator God, His mercy toward you, and the wonders He has worked for you? You have returned to the idolatry and errors of your forefathers and have surrendered yourselves to hatred, greed, oppression of the poor, immorality, deceit, robbery, and murder."

He compared the Armenians to ancient Israel:

"You have become like the Jewish nation, who not only refused to listen to the apostles and prophets sent to them but even killed them. You have done the same."

Then he uttered a solemn prophecy:

"The Lord will take away your kingdom and your priesthood. Like Israel, you shall be divided and scattered throughout the world. You shall remain like sheep without a shepherd—abandoned and without care."

Finally, the righteous old man concluded:

"You have called me to be your head and leader. But how can I lead those who refuse to turn to the Lord? How can I become the head of a nation that the Lord has forsaken? How can I lift up my hands in prayer for those whose hands are stained with the blood of His holy servants?"

Martyrdom

At first the king stood silent in astonishment.

Then, overcome with anger, King Tiran ordered Daniel to be strangled to death.

His disciples recovered the body of the blessed martyr and buried him in a place called Hatsyats Drakht ("Paradise of Hats"), where Daniel had spent much of his ascetic life.

Until recent centuries, the Monastery of Saint Daniel stood there, preserving his tomb.

The final tome of the Mankunk hymn dedicated to this feast honors him with these words:

Through your ascetic life you became a companion of the heavenly hosts while still on earth.
Rebuking the king, you were martyred for the name of the Lord, O Saint Daniel.
Unceasingly intercede for our souls.

Feast Day

The Armenian Church commemorates Aristakes together with the Sons and Grandsons of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

The feast is ordinarily observed on the third Saturday after the Feast of the Nativity, depending on the Armenian liturgical calendar. When the period between the Nativity and Great Lent is unusually short, the feast is transferred to the third Saturday after the Feast of the Transfiguration (Vardavar).

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Jeremiah 17:7-8 ~

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

~ Isaiah 61:3-7 ~

They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

~ 2 Timothy 1:6-14 ~

For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 11:29-32 ~

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:10 ~

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons— not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you."

When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels—to say nothing of ordinary matters? If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer —and before unbelievers at that? In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and believers at that. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 18:23-35 ~

"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, "Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Commemoration DAY of

Holy Forefathers: Adam, Abel, Seth,

Enosh, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek,

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,

Moses, Aaron, Eleazar, Joshua, Samuel,

Samson, Jephthah, Barak, Gideon,

and the Other Holy Forefather

The Patriarchs are those figures of the Old Testament for whom the Greek Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses the word "patriarch" (patriarchēs), a title that was applied to both religious and civil leaders. The Armenian term "nahapet" (patriarch or forefather) is its equivalent.

The Book of Genesis presents two genealogies of the patriarchs. The first (Genesis 4:17–18) begins with Cain and continues to Methushael and Lamech. The second (Genesis 5:3–31) begins with Seth and likewise ends with Lamech.

The Christian Church also numbers Adam, the forefather of humanity, among the saints. In doing so, it affirms the truth that Christ's saving blood was shed for all the children of Adam, beginning with their first father. Through Adam's redemption, the curse brought by Adam is removed from all who repent, believe, are baptized, and become members of Christ's Church.

The patriarchs were entrusted with a profoundly important role. Many of them lived for hundreds of years because they continually sought to draw near to God and to live lives pleasing to Him. Experiencing and enjoying God's presence, they instructed, warned, and guided the people, keeping them from straying onto sinful paths. Through their holy lives, they became examples of righteousness for others.

The highest purpose of the patriarchs' way of life was to fulfill the almighty will of God. As intercessors before the Most High, they made the relationship between God and humanity even more immediate—a relationship that has always been essential.

Above all, for those living today, the patriarchs remain a valuable and enduring example through their holy desire to seek, pursue, and attain righteousness.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Genesis 4:1-8, 5:3-11, 5:23-24, 5:32, 9:28-29, 14:14-20, 25:7-11, 35:27-29, 49:32-50:13, 50:24-26 ~

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the Lord." Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years; and he died. When Seth had lived one hundred five years, he became the father of Enosh. Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years; and he died. When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years; and he died.

Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.

After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

After the flood Noah lived three hundred fifty years. All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years; and he died.

When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people. After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.

This is the length of Abraham's life, one hundred seventy-five years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah. After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had resided as aliens. Now the days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. And Isaac breathed his last; he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

When Jacob ended his charge to his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

Then Joseph threw himself on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded the physicians in his service to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel; they spent forty days in doing this, for that is the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph addressed the household of Pharaoh, "If now I have found favor with you, please speak to Pharaoh as follows: My father made me swear an oath; he said, "I am about to die. In the tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.' Now therefore let me go up, so that I may bury my father; then I will return." Pharaoh answered, "Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear to do." So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. Both chariots and charioteers went up with him. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they held there a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed a time of mourning for his father seven days. When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning on the part of the Egyptians." Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had instructed them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, the field near Mamre, which Abraham bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, "When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here." And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

~ Numbers 20:23-29 ~

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, "Let Aaron be gathered to his people. For he shall not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up Mount Hor; strip Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar. But Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there." Moses did as the Lord had commanded; they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.

~ Deuteronomy 34:5-12 ~

Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord's command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended. Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord had commanded Moses. Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

~ Joshua 24:29-33 ~

After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred ten years old. They buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel. The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the portion of ground that Jacob had bought from the children of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money; it became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. Eleazar son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of his son Phinehas, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

~ Samuel 15:34-16:13 ~

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. 

he Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, "I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

~ Hebrews 11:1-31 ~

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, "bowing in worship over the top of his staff." By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial. By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 20:34-40 ~

Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ 1 Corinthians 2:12-3:10 ~

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 18:15-22 ~

"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

Commemoration DAY of

St. Athenogenes the Bishop,

His Ten Disciples,

and the Five Martyrs

St. Athenogenes the Bishop

The Greek form of his name is Athenogenes. He was born to Christian parents who lived in Sebastia during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.

Athenogenes was married and had children. Later he was ordained a priest and subsequently became the chorepiscopus (rural bishop) of his native city.

His sister, Mary (Mariam), was married to Saint Gregory the Illuminator before Gregory entered the service of King Tiridates, during his youth.

According to tradition, Athenogenes, through his prayers and with his pastoral staff, slew a terrifying dragon that had spread fear throughout the region. In gratitude for this miracle, the Metropolitan of Sebastia consecrated him as Bishop of the city of Pitakos.

Later, the governor of the region summoned Athenogenes and his ten disciples before the court. When they refused to offer sacrifices to idols, they were all condemned to death and beheaded for their faith.

Saint Gregory the Illuminator later brought Athenogenes' relics to Armenia together with the relics of Saint John the Baptist, and they were enshrined in the Monastery of Glak in the district of Taron.

The Armenian Church commemorates Saint Athenogenes twice each year:

1. On the Thursday following the First Sunday after Easter, together with Saint John the Baptist, commemorating the translation of their relics to Armenia.

2. On the Tuesday following the second Sunday after the Feast of the Transfiguration (Vardavar), together with his ten disciples, a feast corresponding to July 16.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Proverbs 8:1-4 ~

Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.

~ Malachi 2:5-7 ~

My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

~ 1 Peter 5:1-7 ~

Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it —not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

~ Holy Gospel of St. John 16:33-17:8 ~

“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" 

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Commemoration DAY of

ST. Cyprian the Bishop

and the Forty-Five Martyrs,

the Holy Virgins Justina,

Euphemia, and Christina

Saint Cyprian the Bishop

In the history of the Church, two renowned saints named Cyprian are known. One—the more historically prominent—is the African bishop from the West, while the other, whose story is more legendary, belongs to the East.

The first, one of the greatest Fathers of the Western Church, lived in the first half of the third century (c. 200–258 AD). Converted from paganism at the age of forty-five, he quickly became Bishop of Carthage, one of the most important cities of Roman North Africa (in present-day Tunisia) and a major center of Christianity.

The second, an Eastern popular saint, lived during the latter half of the third century and served as a bishop in Syria, though it is uncertain whether he ministered in Antioch or another city. In Armenian tradition, these two Cyprians have often been confused.

The Latin Church commemorates the African and Antiochian Cyprians on separate feast days, while the Armenian and Greek Churches observe only one feast without explicitly distinguishing between them. Since the Armenian and Greek calendars commemorate the Virgin Justina together with Cyprian, it is clear that the Cyprian being honored is the Eastern Cyprian of Antioch, whose life is inseparably connected with that of Saint Justina. The Greek Church celebrates them together on October 2, corresponding to the Armenian Haysmavurk. The Armenian Church commemorates them on the Monday following the second Sunday after the Feast of the Transfiguration (Vardavar). The African Cyprian is commemorated only in the Latin tradition, on September 16.

The Life of Saint Cyprian

According to the Armenian Haysmavurk, Cyprian was a nobleman of Antioch from a distinguished and wealthy family. He was highly educated, versed in philosophy, and renowned for his mastery of magic.

In the same city lived Justina, the daughter of a pagan priest. After becoming a Christian, she converted her parents as well. A pagan nobleman wished to marry her, but she refused, declaring that she was already betrothed to Christ.

Desperate, the nobleman sought the help of the magician Cyprian, offering him a great sum of money to use his magical arts to win Justina's love. Instead, events took an unexpected turn: Cyprian himself was overwhelmed by the divine power manifested through Justina. Recognizing that her faith possessed a power greater than his magic, he abandoned sorcery, accepted baptism, and became a Christian.

Within a short time, he advanced through all the ranks of the clergy and was consecrated bishop. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to preaching the Gospel. His activities eventually attracted the attention of the imperial authorities, who arrested him and subjected him to severe tortures. Through God's power, he survived them all. Finally, he was sent to Nicomedia (modern İzmit), where, by order of Emperor Diocletian, he was beheaded.

Among Armenians, Saint Cyprian is especially famous because of the popular prayer book attributed to him, one of the most widely distributed devotional books sold by the Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate. It begins by listing more than four hundred names of God, concluding with the prayer:

"By the power of Your holy and awesome names, be the protector of Your servant."

The prayer book also contains a chapter entitled The Conversion of Patriarch Cyprian, in which the saint recounts his own conversion in the highly embellished style characteristic of Eastern hagiography.

The Forty-Five Martyrs

These martyrs served in the imperial regiment known as the "Armenian Legion," stationed in the city of Nicopolis in Lesser Armenia during the reign of Emperor Licinius.

During the persecution of Christians, forty-three soldiers of the legion boldly confessed that they were Christians and intended to remain faithful to Christ.

When asked where they were from, their spokesman, Levond, replied:

"Some are from this city, and others from the surrounding districts, but our true homeland is heaven, where our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ dwell. He taught us not to worship idols."

The judge answered:

"Your Christ was crucified long ago and is dead."

Levond replied:

"You have heard only of His death. Now learn that He rose again and lives forever in heaven."

The judge asked:

"How can someone who died three hundred years ago still be alive?"

Levond answered:

"Indeed, He accepted death for our sake, to free us from sin and idolatry. But He rose again and lives forever. He also taught us to die for His sake, so that we too may rise again and live eternally."

A lengthy discussion followed in which Levond exposed the futility of idolatry and proclaimed the greatness of Christianity.

The soldiers were imprisoned and subjected to severe tortures while continuing in constant prayer. An Armenian woman secretly brought them water, but eventually she was forbidden to do so. Levond called to her in Armenian, instructing her to pass the water through a nearby window so that his companions would not weaken and lose the crown of martyrdom.

Two prison guards, witnessing both the prisoners' courage and the miraculous light shining in the prison, rushed inside and declared:

"We too are Christians and wish to become soldiers of Christ."

Their number thus increased to forty-five.

Eventually, the judge sentenced them to death by fire. Their legs were first broken to prevent them from escaping the flames. As they were thrown into the fire, one soldier who had accidentally been left behind cried out:

"I am here! I am here!"

He too was seized and cast into the fire, where all forty-five glorified God together and surrendered their souls in the year 317 AD.

Their bones were thrown into a river, but through God's providence they were recovered by Christians and buried with honor.

Saint Justina the Virgin

As already noted, the life of Saint Justina is closely connected with that of Saint Cyprian, and they are commemorated together. Her Greek name is Justina.

Raised in pagan Antioch, she embraced Christianity, converted her parents, and devoted herself to a life of exceptional holiness. A young man fell in love with her, but she firmly rejected him. He sought the help of the magician Cyprian, who repeatedly attempted through demonic powers to influence her, but all his enchantments failed.

Recognizing that Justina possessed a divine power far greater than his own magical arts, Cyprian repented, accepted baptism, and became a Christian. Together they devoted themselves to preaching the Gospel. After enduring many tortures, from which they were miraculously delivered, they were finally sent to Nicomedia, where Emperor Diocletian ordered them to be beheaded around the year 300 AD.

Saint Euphemia the Virgin

Euphemia was the daughter of a wealthy Christian family in Chalcedon and was raised in every virtue. Desiring to dedicate herself entirely to God, she vowed perpetual virginity.

During a pagan festival honoring one of the city's gods, her absence was noticed. Soldiers found her in hiding with forty-nine other Christians, all engaged in prayer.

They were ordered to participate in the pagan celebration, but all openly confessed that they were Christians and had completely rejected idolatry.

The forty-nine Christians were immediately executed. Euphemia, however, was subjected to prolonged and terrible tortures, yet miraculously survived each one.

Finally, she was thrown to wild beasts. The animals merely licked her hands and feet instead of attacking her. Euphemia prayed that she would rather die by the teeth of beasts than through human cruelty. At last, a bear bit her, and she peacefully surrendered her soul to God.

The beasts did not mutilate her holy body. Christians secretly recovered it and buried her with honor around 303 or 307 AD.

Saint Christina the Virgin

Saint Christina was from Tyre, which Eastern Christian tradition identifies with the famous city of Tyre in Phoenicia (modern Lebanon), placing her life in the early second century. Western tradition, however, associates her with a small town in Italy and dates her life to the late fourth century.

In both traditions, her father was the governor of the city. When Christina was only ten or twelve years old, he built a tower, filled it with gold and silver idols, and dedicated both the tower and his daughter to the pagan gods. Surrounded by twelve attendants, Christina was appointed a priestess.

Enlightened by divine grace, Christina gradually came to understand the emptiness of idolatry. The teachings she had heard about Christ in her childhood became increasingly clear to her, leading her to embrace Christianity.

She smashed the idols, sold their gold and silver, and distributed the proceeds to the poor.

Her father flew into a rage, subjected her to unspeakable tortures, and imprisoned her, warning that if she did not renounce Christianity by the following day, she would be put to death. That very night, however, he died suddenly.

The next governor subjected the young girl to even harsher tortures. Seeing that she remained steadfast in her faith, he finally ordered her execution by the sword.

According to Western tradition, her relics were later transferred to Palermo in Sicily, where a magnificent church was built over her tomb, and devotion to Saint Christina spread widely.

The Armenian Church commemorates them on the Monday following the second Sunday after Vardavar.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Isaiah 46:12-13 ~

Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from deliverance: I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off, and my salvation will not tarry; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.

~ Galatians 3:13-22 ~

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person's will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many; but it says, "And to your offspring," that is, to one person, who is Christ. My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one. Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 15:1-10 ~

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Isaiah 3:16-4:1 ~

The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet; the Lord will afflict with scabs the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils. Instead of perfume there will be a stench; and instead of a sash, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a binding of sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. Your men shall fall by the sword and your warriors in battle. And her gates shall lament and mourn; ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground.

~ 1 Corinthians 1:25-30 ~

For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 18:10-14 ~

"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Commemoration Day of

St. THADDEUS the APOSTLE

AND

ST. Sandukht THE VIRGIN

The Holy Apostle Thaddeus

The first Enlightener of Armenia and its most renowned Apostle.

In the Gospel of Luke (6:16) and the Acts of the Apostles (1:13), he is identified as Judas, the son of James. In the Gospel of John (14:22), he is mentioned as "Judas (not Iscariot)," the disciple who interrupted Christ during the Last Supper by asking:

"Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself to us, and not to the world?"

Jesus replied indirectly that He would reveal Himself to those who love Him, while remaining unseen by those who do not love Him.

The Apostle Matthew calls him "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus" (Matthew 10:3), while Mark simply refers to him as Thaddeus (Mark 3:18). The Roman Catholic Church identifies him with Jude, the Brother of the Lord, to whom the Epistle of Jude is attributed, the final of the Catholic Epistles. The Eastern Churches, however, do not accept this identification.

According to Armenian tradition, the Apostle Thaddeus first came to Edessa, where, in fulfillment of Christ's promise, he healed King Abgar and converted him to Christianity. Indeed, Edessa is regarded as one of the earliest centers of Christianity.

Thaddeus then continued preaching northward into the kingdom of the Armenian King Sanatruk. There he preached the Gospel and converted many Armenians, who became the first fruits and foundation of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

He also entered the royal court and converted the king's daughter, Sandukht, who would later be martyred by her own father.

After performing many miracles and bringing thousands to the Christian faith, the Apostle Thaddeus was finally martyred by the sword in the province of Artaz, in what is now western Iranian Azerbaijan. His tomb has been preserved there to this day, and a magnificent church was built over it.

Saint Sandukht

Saint Sandukht is the pride of the Armenian Church and its Protomartyr. Just as Saint Stephen is the first martyr of the universal Christian Church, so Saint Sandukht is the first martyr of the Armenian Church.

According to tradition, she was the daughter of King Sanatruk, who ruled Armenia from AD 38 to 68. She embraced Christianity through the preaching of the Apostle Thaddeus.

When her father learned of her conversion, he first attempted to persuade her to abandon Christianity. When Sandukht remained steadfast, he ordered her imprisoned together with the other newly converted Christians.

The Apostle Thaddeus secretly visited the prison, comforting and strengthening them. Through his prayers, their chains miraculously fell away. Seeing this miracle, the prison guards and thirty-three other prisoners embraced Christianity, according to the Book of Martyrs.

The king made one final attempt to persuade his daughter to return to the ancestral pagan religion and summoned her before him.

The royal messenger who went to the prison witnessed the prisoners' chains lying broken while they joyfully listened to the Apostle Thaddeus preaching. Astonished by what he saw, he himself became a Christian.

Enraged, the king ordered the execution of all the new converts, sparing only Thaddeus and his daughter for the moment.

When Saint Sandukht appeared before her father, the king reproached her:

"You have rejected me, your father, and joined yourself to that deceiver,"

referring to Thaddeus.

Sandukht answered:

"The one whom you call a deceiver has enlightened my soul."

The king then declared:

"My final word to you is this: you must return to the religion of your ancestors; otherwise, you shall suffer a cruel death."

He ordered her to be bound and tortured.

Throughout her sufferings, Sandukht continually prayed:

"Christ, my Savior, help me."

At that moment, the Book of Martyrs relates, a brilliant light descended from heaven, the earth shook, and Sandukht's bonds were miraculously broken. Those present were filled with awe and amazement.

Many converted to Christianity as a result of this miracle, including Princess Zarmandukht, one of the king's close relatives. She too was martyred by the king's command. A heavenly light likewise descended upon her, leading many more to believe in Christ.

Eventually, Sandukht was returned to prison.

That night she received a vision in which a glorious heavenly figure clothed her in a radiant robe and placed a splendid crown upon her head. She understood that her martyrdom was near.

The following day the executioner came and led her to the place of execution.

Before her death, the saint first prayed for the land of Armenia.

Then she bowed her head before the executioner.

Rather than beheading her, he thrust his sword into her heart, and the soil of Armenia was watered with the precious blood flowing from her pure and innocent heart.

For many years the location of Saint Sandukht's tomb remained unknown. Eventually, through a divine vision, it was revealed to a hermit named Kirakos.

According to the historian Malachia Ormanian, until about sixty or sixty-five years before his own time, the site of her tomb was traditionally identified with Narek Monastery, which had originally been the Monastery of Saint Sandukht (Azk). Ormanian also notes that in the ancient Armenian calendars, Sandukht's feast was originally celebrated independently and was only later joined with that of the Apostle Thaddeus.

The Armenian Synaxaria differ regarding both the date of her death and her feast. The Synaxarion of Marzvantsi commemorates her on December 23, while Peshtimaljian's places her feast on December 15.

Today, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Saint Sandukht together with Saint Thaddeus the Apostle on the Saturday following the Feast of the Transfiguration (Vardavar).

Hymn to Saint Sandukht

The Armenian Hymnal preserves the following hymn dedicated to Saint Sandukht:

Today the Holy Church rejoices in you,
O witness of Christ, Saint Sandukht.
You abandoned the worship of your fathers
And shed your holy blood for Christ.

You became the disciple of the Apostle Thaddeus
And remained steadfast in the true faith.
You were not corrupted by pagan worship,
But were found worthy to ascend to the Father.

You renounced the glory of noble birth
And were adorned with divine glory.
Today you stand among the hosts of heaven's angels;
Intercede for us before the Lord.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-7 ~

Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth; think of the Lord in goodness and seek him with sincerity of heart, because he is found by those who do not put him to the test and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him. For perverse thoughts separate people from God, and when his power is tested, it exposes the foolish, because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul or dwell in a body enslaved to sin. For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit and will leave foolish thoughts behind and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness. For wisdom is a kindly spirit, but it will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words, because God is witness of their inmost feelings and a true observer of their hearts and a hearer of their tongues. Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world and that which holds all things together knows what is said.

~ Jeremiah 16:16-21 ~

I am now sending for many fishermen, says the Lord, and they shall catch them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. For my eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from my presence, nor is their iniquity concealed from my sight. And I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations. O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: Our ancestors have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. Can mortals make for themselves gods? Such are no gods! "Therefore I am surely going to teach them, this time I am going to teach them my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord."

~ 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:10 ~

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 9:1-6 ~

Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 ~

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 18:1-9 ~

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes! "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Commemoration Day of

St. isaiah the Prophet

St. Isaiah the Prophet

The Prophet Isaiah prophesied in the middle of the 8th century BC, about half a century before Christ. He was born in Jerusalem and spent nearly his entire life there. He was married and had children. His prophetic calling is described in his own book as follows:

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, and the temple was filled with His glory. Around Him stood the seraphim, each with six wings... They continually called to one another, saying:

'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.'

At the sound of their voices, the doors of the Temple shook, and the house was filled with smoke, symbolizing the presence of God. Then I cried:

'Woe is me! I am ruined,
For I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell among a people of unclean lips;
Yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.'

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. Touching my lips with it, he said:

'Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your guilt is taken away,
And your sin is atoned for.'

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for this people?' And I answered, 'Here am I; send me.' Then the Lord said:

'Go and say to this people:
You will indeed hear but never understand;
You will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull;
Their ears are heavy,
And their eyes are closed.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
Turn back, and I would heal them.'"

This message is relevant to every age, especially our own. In the Armenian Church, because of this vision, Isaiah has been given the title "the Prophet of Lightning-Pure Holiness."

Isaiah served as counselor and spiritual guide to four kings of Judah, most notably the righteous King Hezekiah. During Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrian king Sennacherib conquered nearly half of Judah and threatened Jerusalem. In distress, Hezekiah sent envoys to Isaiah seeking counsel. Isaiah declared:

"The king of Assyria shall not enter this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return; he shall not enter this city."

Indeed, a plague destroyed Sennacherib's army, and after barely returning home, he was assassinated by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer, who then fled to the land of Ararat (Isaiah 37:33–38).

Isaiah is the prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah—Christ—more extensively than any other Old Testament prophet. For this reason, he has been called the "Proto-Evangelist" or the "Evangelical Prophet." It is Isaiah who proclaims:

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Immanuel."

Referring to the region where Christ would begin His ministry, he writes:

"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations—the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." (Isaiah 9:1)

When Jesus read Isaiah 61:1–3 in the synagogue at Nazareth, He declared that this prophecy had been fulfilled in Himself. Throughout Isaiah's book, Christ's mission, ministry, and sufferings are described with remarkable clarity.

Isaiah was, in every sense, a noble prophet. He spoke with majesty and powerful authority, worthy of an ambassador of the Most High. He possessed a refined and profound intellect and is regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of the Bible. He addressed both religious and political matters with equal wisdom and has often been described as a "diplomat" or "statesman" among the prophets. He took great interest in the national and international affairs of his day, expressing God's will concerning them. Closely associated with the royal court, he was likely an honored member of Jerusalem's royal council, which advised the kingdom on foreign relations.

The 66 chapters of the Book of Isaiah form an ocean of prophetic teaching on God, righteousness, sin, religion, and many social and moral issues. Some of its passages rank among the finest in the entire Old Testament, both in literary beauty and universal spiritual significance. Isaiah's book serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments.

According to ancient tradition, Isaiah was martyred by being sawn in two at the command of the wicked King Manasseh.

In the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Feast of the Prophet Isaiah is celebrated separately on the Thursday following the Feast of the Transfiguration (Vardavar).

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Isaiah 6:1-10 ~

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!" And he said, "Go and say to this people: "Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.' Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed."

~ Hebrews 11:32-40 ~

And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 4:25-30 ~

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 ~

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 17:21-18:4 ~

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised." And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes, he does." And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?" When Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me."

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Exodus 19:9-13 ~

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder. When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

~ 1 Kings 19:11-16 ~

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

~ Hebrews 12:18-27 ~

You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear.") But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 9:27-36 ~

But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Exodus 19:9-13~

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after." When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses: "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, "Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain."

~ 2 Kings 2:9-12 ~

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

~ 1 John 5:9-12 ~

If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

~ Holy Gospel of St. John 1:1-17 ~

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Feast of

the Transfiguration

of Our Lord Jesus Christ

(Vardavar)

Vardavar is the Feast of the Transfiguration (or Glorious Transformation) of Christ. It is the third of the five major feast days of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and is celebrated on the Sunday that falls seven weeks after Pentecost. As a movable feast, it occurs between June 28 and August 1.

The account of Christ's Transfiguration is found in the Holy Gospels of Matthew (17:1–9), Mark (9:2–9), and Luke (9:28–36).

Jesus took with Him the Apostles Peter, James, and John and ascended Mount Tabor. There, before them, He was transfigured: His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light. At that moment, Moses and the Prophet Elijah appeared beside Him, enveloped in heavenly glory, and spoke with the Lord about His approaching suffering and death by crucifixion.

Moses, the prophet and lawgiver of the Jewish people who had lived approximately fifteen hundred years before Christ's birth, and Elijah, who about a thousand years before Christ had been taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot with horses of fire, appeared to bear witness that Christ is the true Messiah foretold by the prophets from ancient times—the Savior of the world.

Jesus brought Moses from the realm of the dead and Elijah from among the living, for, as recorded in the Fourth Book of Kings (2 Kings), Elijah was taken bodily into heaven in a heavenly chariot and remains alive there. Thus, according to the Fathers of the Church, within the mystery of the Transfiguration Elijah and Moses represent heaven and earth, the living and the dead. Standing beside Jesus, they testify that He is the Lord "of the living and the dead," the God "of heaven and earth," the Creator of new life, and the One who unites and sanctifies both the visible and invisible worlds.

Moses symbolizes the Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets. Christ brought them forth to reveal that He Himself is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets.

Overwhelmed and filled with wonder at this marvelous vision, the Apostle Peter exclaimed:

"Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Then a radiant cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud came the voice of God the Father, just as at Christ's baptism:

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him."

Hearing this voice, the disciples were filled with fear and fell facedown to the ground. Jesus approached them and said:

"Rise, and do not be afraid."

When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone.

As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them to tell no one about what they had seen until after His Resurrection from the dead.

In ancient times, the Armenian Church celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration for only one day. Later, the celebration was extended to three days and was preceded by a week of fasting and a pre-festal observance. In later centuries, the beautiful and spiritually uplifting hymn in honor of Vardavar was composed by St. Nerses Shnorhali.

Although Christ's Transfiguration took place before His Resurrection and Ascension, the Church celebrates Vardavar after those feasts because Christ Himself instructed His disciples not to speak of what they had witnessed until after He had risen from the dead.

The feast is called Vardavar because the Lord is compared to a rose. Just as a rose remains hidden within its bud until it blossoms and reveals its beauty to all, so Christ concealed the glory of His divinity until His Transfiguration, when He revealed His divine nature. Likewise, just as a rose grows among thorns, Christ appeared among the Jewish people, who ultimately crucified Him.

By revealing His glory on Mount Tabor before His Passion, Christ showed His disciples His divine power and majesty so that they would understand that He was not crucified because of weakness, but willingly, in order to save the world.

As with Vardavar and the other four major feast days of the Armenian Church, the day following the feast is Merelots (Commemoration of the Departed). On this day, the Divine Liturgy is offered for the souls of the faithful departed, and memorial prayers (Hokehankist) are celebrated on their behalf.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Wisdom of Solomon 7:25-8:4 ~

For she is a breath of the power of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God and prophets, for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom. She is more beautiful than the sun and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be more radiant, for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.

She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well. I loved her and sought her from my youth; I desired to take her for my bride and became enamored of her beauty. She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her. For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God and an associate in his works.

~ Zechariah 14:16-21 ~

Then all who survive of the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the festival of booths. If any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain upon them. And if the family of Egypt do not go up and present themselves, then on them shall come the plague that the Lord inflicts on the nations that do not go up to keep the festival of booths. Such shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to keep the festival of booths. On that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, "Holy to the Lord." And the cooking pots in the house of the Lord shall be as holy as the bowls in front of the altar; and every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be sacred to the Lord of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and use them to boil the flesh of the sacrifice. And there shall no longer be traders in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day.

~ 1 John 1:1-7 ~

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

~ Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 16:13-17:13 ~

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." And the disciples asked him, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He replied, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Commemoration of

the Ark of the Old Covenant

and the Feast of the New Holy Church

Fifty days after Pentecost, on the Saturday preceding the Sunday of Vardavar, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church commemorates the Feast of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is regarded as the foreshadowing of the Ark of the New Covenant—the Holy Church of Christ.

In the Old Testament, the Ark was the most revered and beloved sacred object of the Israelites. It was a holy chest that contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's blossoming rod, and the golden jar filled with manna. The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, where God was invisibly present. The Holy of Holies, with the Ark of the Covenant, symbolized heaven itself, into which the Great High Priest, Christ, entered with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption for us.

The Bible describes the construction of the Ark as follows:

"Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood. It was two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. He cast four gold rings for its four feet—two rings on one side and two on the other. He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the Ark to carry it. He made the atonement cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the two ends of the cover, one at each end. The cherubim spread their wings upward, overshadowing the cover with their wings, and faced one another, looking toward the atonement cover." (Exodus 37:1–9)

As the visible sign of God's presence, the Ark of the Covenant was carried by the Levite priests before the people during Israel's journey through the wilderness. Numerous miracles are associated with the Ark, including the parting of the Jordan River so that Israel could cross, and the collapse of the walls of Jericho after the Ark was carried around the city seven times. During one battle, the Ark was captured by the Philistines, but after they suffered divine afflictions, they quickly returned it.

The Ark disappeared during the Babylonian Exile, most likely having been hidden by faithful Jews.

Because the Ark signifies the establishment of both the Old and the New Covenants, this feast commemorates the institution of both covenants.

The Symbolism of the Ark

The Ark symbolizes:

• The incorruptible Body of Christ.

• The patriarchs, prophets, and apostles.

The Ark is also compared to the angels, who are incorruptible and immortal by nature.

Its length symbolizes the immortality of the angels, while its width represents their continual growth in wisdom.

The gold covering the Ark inside and out signifies that the angels are radiant with divine purity. They are pure inwardly by nature, and outwardly because their heavenly wisdom continually increases.

The Ark's four rings and two carrying poles signify that the angels care for the four corners of the created world through God's twofold power: His creative power and His royal authority. They both bestow blessings and execute judgment.

The stone tablets kept within the Ark signify that the angels bear witness to those who keep God's commandments.

The Ark as a Symbol of the Holy Mother of God

The Ark also symbolizes the Holy Mother of God.

Its incorruptible wood represents the Virgin Mary's perpetual virginity, while the gold within and without signifies the purity of both her soul and body.

The two tablets inside the Ark symbolize the union of soul and body through the Word.

The manna preserved within the Ark signifies the incorruptible Body of Christ.

Aaron's rod symbolizes the shoot that sprang from the root of Jesse.

The golden censer represents the fragrant fire of divine grace.

The Ark as a Symbol of Christ

The Ark also symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ.

Its incorruptible wood represents His incorruptible Body.

The gold signifies His divinity, while the wood signifies His humanity—a body that death could not corrupt.

Just as the Ark was fashioned from both gold and wood into one complete whole, so too the eternal Word and His spotless Body are one Christ, one Lord.

The mercy seat upon the Ark proclaims that Christ became the atoning sacrifice for us.

The Ark as a Symbol of the Cross

The Ark's square form and incorruptibility symbolize the life-giving Cross, which has four arms and remains incorruptible. Through the Cross our atonement was accomplished.

The Ark as a Symbol of the Holy Church

The Ark also represents the Holy Church, which does not decay through the corruption of sin but remains adorned with the two Testaments and an incorruptible way of life.

The cherubim signify the ministry of the heavenly hosts within the Church.

The four sides of the Ark symbolize the spread of Christ's faith to the four corners of the earth.

The two poles represent the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Law and the Prophets.

The four priests who carried the Ark symbolize the four Evangelists, who proclaimed the mystery of Christ's Incarnation.

The gold covering the poles signifies the pure confession of faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, together with faithful observance of all God's commandments.

The mercy seat upon the Ark symbolizes the Cross, through which Christ accomplished the perfect atonement.

The two cherubim represent God's two powers—His creative power and His royal authority—and their facing one another signifies both God's blessing and His judgment upon the world.

The golden jar filled with manna symbolizes the Virgin Mary, who, while remaining a virgin, bore the Bread of Life who came down from heaven.

Aaron's blossoming rod represents Christ's eternal priesthood.

The two tablets symbolize the human soul and body, upon which God's commandments are written by the Holy Spirit—not with ink, but by grace upon the heart. The first five commandments correspond to the body's five senses, while the remaining five correspond to the powers of the soul.

The golden censer also symbolizes the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was filled with the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.

Just as incense spreads its sweet fragrance, so the Ark signifies the coming of Christ in the flesh and the manifestation of the glory of His Church.

The Honor Given to the Ark

The Ark was greatly honored by God and inspired profound reverence among the people.

The cloud that sheltered Israel by day and the pillar of fire that guided them by night eventually rested upon the Ark, which stood within the Holy of Holies.

Finally, the Ark and everything contained within it prefigured the First Coming of Christ, while the rock that became a fountain of water—a symbol of eternal life—prefigures the Second Coming of the Lord.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Exodus 25:10-14 ~

They shall make an ark of acacia wood; it shall be two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make a molding of gold upon it all around. You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side. You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry the ark.

~ Joshua 3:14-4:18 ~

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua: "Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, and command them, "Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.' " Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, "What do those stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever." The Israelites did as Joshua commanded. They took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord told Joshua, carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there. (Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.) The priests who bore the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people crossed over in haste. As soon as all the people had finished crossing over, the ark of the Lord, and the priests, crossed over in front of the people. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the Israelites, as Moses had ordered them. About forty thousand armed for war crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for battle. On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life. The Lord said to Joshua, "Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, to come up out of the Jordan." Joshua therefore commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan." When the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet touched dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

~ 1 Samuel 6:19-7:2 ~

The descendants of Jeconiah did not rejoice with the people of Beth-shemesh when they greeted the ark of the Lord; and he killed seventy men of them. The people mourned because the Lord had made a great slaughter among the people. Then the people of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? To whom shall he go so that we may be rid of him?" So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you." 

And the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord, and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of the Lord. From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

~ 2 Samuel 6:12-19 ~

So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord.

~ Hebrews 9:1-10 ~

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent is still standing. This is a symbol of the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time comes to set things right.

~ Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 5:17-20 ~

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 16:17-27 ~

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 15:39-16:12 ~

After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, "It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, "Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They said to one another, "It is because we have brought no bread." And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 15:30-16:16 ~

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen. 

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 15:29-38 ~

After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 15:14-29 ~

I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand." This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things. So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 15:21-28 ~

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 15:1-13 ~

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 15:1-20 ~

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat." He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, "Honor your father and your mother,' and, "Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.' But you say that whoever tells father or mother, "Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,' then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' " Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 11:25-36 ~

So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, "Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob." "And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins." As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 14:22-36 ~

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Isaiah 3:1-11 ~

For now the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and staff— all support of bread, and all support of water— warrior and soldier, judge and prophet, diviner and elder, captain of fifty and dignitary, counselor and skillful magician and expert enchanter. And I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them. The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and everyone by a neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base to the honorable. Someone will even seize a relative, a member of the clan, saying, "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule." But the other will cry out on that day, saying, "I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people." For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. The look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves. Tell the innocent how fortunate they are, for they shall eat the fruit of their labors. Woe to the guilty! How unfortunate they are, for what their hands have done shall be done to them.

~ Romans 11:13-24 ~

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 14:13-21 ~

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Commemoration Day of

Christ's Twelve Apostles

and the Thirteenth Apostle, St. Paul

The Twelve Apostles, chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ, were His closest disciples, the first proclaimers of the Gospel, and faithful witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of the Incarnate Christ.

As recorded in the Holy Gospel:

"Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."
— Matthew 10:1

The twelve Apostles were Simon (Peter), Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus (Jude), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed the Lord. Following Judas' death, Matthias was chosen to take his place among the Eleven, restoring the number of the Apostles to twelve.

Faithful to Christ's final command, the Apostles went out into the world to proclaim the Good News to all nations. They preached the Gospel, taught the commandments of Christ, baptized believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and established Christian communities throughout the world. Through their ministry, they became the founders of the Holy Church.

Among the greatest heralds of the Christian faith is St. Paul, who, although not one of the original Twelve, was personally called by the risen Christ to proclaim the Gospel. Because of his extraordinary missionary work and unwavering witness, the Church honors him as the Thirteenth Apostle.

The ministry and missionary journeys of the Apostles are recorded in the biblical book The Acts of the Apostles. St. Paul's life, teachings, and pastoral care are further preserved in his fourteen epistles, written to the churches he founded and to individual believers. These letters remain a cornerstone of Christian doctrine and spiritual guidance.

The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the Twelve Holy Apostles together with St. Paul, the Thirteenth Apostle, on the Saturday of the fasting week preceding the Feast of the Holy Transfiguration. This joint commemoration honors their faithful witness, sacrificial service, and enduring contribution to the spread of Christ's Gospel. In addition, the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church includes separate feast days dedicated to individual Apostles throughout the year.

As we commemorate the Holy Apostles, we give thanks for their unwavering faith, courage, and devotion to Christ. May their example inspire us to remain steadfast in our own faith and to joyfully bear witness to the Gospel in our daily lives.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Wisdom of Solomon 9:9-10:2~

With you is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments. Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labor at my side and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory. Then my works will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. For who can learn the counsel of God? Or who can discern what the Lord wills? For the reasoning of mortals is worthless, and our designs are likely to fail, for a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind. We can hardly guess at what is on earth, and what is at hand we find with labor, but who has traced out what is in the heavens? Who has learned your counsel unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you and were saved by wisdom.” 

Wisdom protected the first-formed father of the world, when he alone had been created; she delivered him from his transgression and gave him strength to rule all things.

~ Exodus 15:23-27 ~

When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" He cried out to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test. He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you." Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.

~ 1 Thessalonians 2:9-16 ~

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 9:36-10:7 ~

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near.'

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 11:1-12 ~

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." But what is the divine reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, I as it is written, "God gave them a sluggish spirit, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; misunderstandinglet their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs forever bent." So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 13:43-52 ~

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen! "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Commemoration Day of

St. Elisha the Prophet

St. Elisha the Prophet

In the life of the Prophet Elijah, we see how Elisha became his disciple and successor. Elisha is one of the most remarkable figures of the Old Testament. After Moses, more miracles are attributed to him than to any other biblical prophet. Elijah is credited with seven miracles, while Elisha is associated with thirteen. Indeed, before Elijah was taken up into heaven, Elisha asked to receive a double portion of his master's spirit.

Among his many miracles, the healing of Naaman the Syrian is perhaps the most famous. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Damascus and suffered from leprosy. Having heard of Elisha's miraculous works, he came to the prophet with horses, chariots, and a great entourage.

Without even leaving his house, Elisha sent a messenger instructing Naaman to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman had expected special treatment from the prophet, perhaps that Elisha would come out personally, lay hands upon him, and pray. When this did not happen, he became angry and prepared to leave, saying, “If washing in a river could heal me, we have rivers in my country far greater and more beautiful than the Jordan.”

His servants, however, calmed his anger and reasoned with him: “If the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it?” Naaman listened, went to the Jordan, washed seven times, and was completely healed.

Returning in gratitude, he declared:

“Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel.”

He then urged Elisha to accept gifts from him, but the prophet firmly refused. Finally Naaman requested permission to take two mule-loads of soil from Israel, saying that from that day forward he would worship no god but the Lord. Elisha blessed him and sent him away in peace.

Yet temptation entered the heart of Elisha's servant, Gehazi. Wondering why his master had refused such wealth, he secretly pursued Naaman and falsely claimed that unexpected guests had arrived and that Elisha now needed money and garments. Naaman gladly gave more than was requested.

When Gehazi returned, Elisha confronted him and said:

“Since you accepted Naaman's gifts, his leprosy shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.”

When Gehazi departed from Elisha's presence, he was already afflicted with leprosy (2 Kings 5).

Although Elisha was Elijah's disciple and successor, the two prophets differed greatly in character and ministry. Elijah lived as a solitary prophet, enduring constant struggles, discouragements, and even moments when he prayed for death. Elisha, by contrast, lived among people and enjoyed a ministry marked by victories, restoration, and success. He loved music and often sought its aid before prophesying (2 Kings 3:15).

Rather than spending his life in continual confrontation, Elisha devoted much of his ministry to guiding, organizing, and strengthening the nation. One account tells how the Syrians surrounded the city where Elisha lived. Rising early, the prophet went out to them and convinced them that they had come to the wrong city. He offered to lead them to the place they sought, and they followed him unsuspectingly.

Elisha led them directly into Samaria, the capital of Israel. Realizing they had fallen into enemy hands, the king of Israel asked whether he should put them to death. Elisha replied:

“No. Feed them, show them hospitality, and send them home in peace.”

The biblical account concludes that after this event, Syrian raiding parties no longer entered the land of Israel (2 Kings 6).

While foreign enemies could be dealt with through mercy, internal corruption posed an even greater threat. Therefore, Elisha instructed that Jehu be anointed king. Jehu destroyed the idolatrous house of Ahab and brought judgment upon Jezebel, who was thrown from a palace window at his command. As the people celebrated victory, dogs consumed the remains of the wicked queen, fulfilling the prophetic word.

Just as Elisha's life was marked by miracles and divine favor, so too were his final days and even his death. On his deathbed, when the king of Israel came to visit him, the prophet encouraged him and gave instructions concerning future victories over Israel's enemies.

After Elisha died and was buried, another man was later being buried nearby. When the dead man's body touched Elisha's bones, he immediately came back to life (2 Kings 13:14–21).

Thus it was no small thing that this gentle yet courageous prophet had asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit.

Elisha lived and ministered during the latter half of the ninth century before Christ.

The Armenian Church commemorates the Prophet Elisha on the Thursday following the fifth Sunday after Pentecost.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ 2 Kings 13:14-21 ~

Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, King Joash of Israel went down to him, and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows"; so he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Draw the bow"; and he drew it. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. Then he said, "Open the window eastward"; and he opened it. Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. Then he said, "The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! For you shall fight the Arameans in Aphek until you have made an end of them." He continued, "Take the arrows"; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them"; he struck three times, and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Aram until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Aram only three times." So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. As a man was being buried, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha; as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came to life and stood on his feet.

~ 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ~

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 4:25-30 ~

But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Romans 10:5-17 ~

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down) "or "Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 13:31-42 ~

He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world." Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Commemoration Day of

St. Zechariah the Prophet

ST. Zechariah THE Prophet

The Prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of the Prophet Haggai. This is confirmed both by the dates mentioned in their respective books and by the testimony of the Book of Ezra:

“Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them” (Ezra 5:1–2).

Like Haggai, Zechariah witnessed the religious indifference of his people and sought to awaken them through words of encouragement and exhortation. His ministry greatly contributed to the rebuilding of the Temple.

Of the two prophets, Haggai was the elder, while Zechariah was younger (Zechariah 2:4). It is likely that Zechariah was born in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem with one of the groups of exiles. His prophetic ministry lasted approximately two years, from 519 to 517 B.C.

The Book of Zechariah consists of fourteen chapters and is the longest among the books of the Minor Prophets. Following an introductory call to repentance (1:1–6), the first six chapters present eight symbolic visions, each accompanied by an explanation of its meaning.

Chapters 7 and 8 contain Zechariah’s response to delegates who came from Bethel seeking guidance concerning fasting. The prophet replied:

“When you fasted, was it really for Me that you fasted? ... Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Render true judgments, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger, or the poor. Let none of you devise evil in your heart against another” (Zechariah 7:5, 9–10).

Yet Zechariah’s prophetic vision extends far beyond the concerns of his own generation. Looking through the veil of the future, he foresaw the coming of the Messiah and the dawn of a brighter age. Accordingly, chapters 9–14 contain a series of prophetic messages whose central theme is the ultimate establishment of God’s Kingdom.

These chapters include many remarkable prophecies concerning Christ, including His triumphant entry into Jerusalem:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; righteous and victorious is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey... He shall proclaim peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:9–10).

Zechariah also foretold Christ’s crucifixion and the piercing of His side (12:10), His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (11:12), and the scattering of His disciples (13:7).

The prophet further reveals the secret of success in all spiritual endeavors:

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

According to the testimony of the Gospel, Zechariah was slain in the Temple (Matthew 23:35).

The Armenian Church commemorates the Prophet Zechariah as one of the righteous servants of God who faithfully proclaimed His word and foretold the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Zechariah 3:7-4:9 ~

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Now listen, Joshua, high priest, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For they are an omen of things to come: I am going to bring my servant the Branch. For on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day. On that day, says the Lord of hosts, you shall invite each other to come under your vine and fig tree." 

The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." He said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of "Grace, grace to it!' " Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

~ 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:3 ~

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 23:34-39 ~

Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

Commemoration Day of

Saint Callistratus,

the Forty-Nine Martyrs,

and Priest Lucian (Ghunkianos)

Saint Callistratus and the Forty-Nine Martyrs

Saint Callistratus was of Chaldean origin and served in Rome. As a Christian, he was arrested and subjected to unbearable tortures. Eventually, he was placed in a sack and thrown into the sea, but by God's miraculous power he survived unharmed. Witnessing this miracle, fifty of his companions converted to Christianity. In the year 304, Callistratus and forty-nine of these companions were martyred together for their faith.

Priest Lucian (Ghunkianos)

There are two commemorations of priests named Lucian in the Armenian liturgical calendar, one of whom is referred to as Ghunkianos. One is commemorated on the fifth Monday after Pentecost, while the other is remembered on the first Tuesday of the Fast of Advent (Hisnag).

However, the Armenian Synaxarion (Haysmavurk) mentions only one Priest Lucian, and Patriarch Torgom, in his book Saints and Feasts, also refers to only one Lucian. Likewise, the Greek calendar commemorates only one Priest Lucian. Although the Latin tradition recognizes two priests named Lucian, one of them is relatively obscure and was martyred in Galatia, making it unlikely that he is included in the Armenian calendar, just as he is not included in the Greek tradition. Therefore, we recognize only one Priest Lucian and believe that his commemoration should not appear twice in our calendar.

The well-known Priest Lucian was born in Samosata. He lived and worked during the late third and early fourth centuries. He became the head of the theological school of Antioch, where Arius and Eusebius of Nicomedia (also an Arian) were among his students. Consequently, whether rightly or mistakenly, Lucian is often regarded as the precursor of certain theological ideas that later appeared among the Arians.

Despite these views attributed to him—which were condemned together with Arius at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea—Lucian was known as a virtuous and holy clergyman. The Haysmavurk states: “He was nourished and trained in ascetic practices and a God-pleasing way of life. After losing his parents, he distributed all his possessions to the poor and became a great student of Holy Scripture.”

Although he held only the rank of priest, “by the command of his bishop he became a perfect teacher.” During the persecutions initiated by Emperor Maximinus Daia, Lucian was arrested and taken to Nicomedia. There he remained imprisoned for nine years, enduring many sufferings. After delivering a remarkable defense of his faith, he was beheaded in the year 312.

Lucian is also remembered for his commitment to the literal and historical interpretation of Holy Scripture, rather than the allegorical approach favored by the Alexandrian school of his time. Because of this, he emphasized the textual accuracy of Scripture. He undertook a revision of the Septuagint by comparing it with the original Hebrew text, and this revised version became widely used during the fourth century.

He also made minor grammatical revisions to the New Testament, clarifying ambiguities and refining the language. It is believed that the commonly used text of the New Testament today is based on his recension. Saint Jerome highly praised this revision, and Saint John Chrysostom commended Lucian both for his virtue and his scholarly achievements.

Their feast is celebrated on the fifth Monday following Pentecost.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Proverbs 1:2-9 ~

For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity; noto teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young— let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my child, your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teaching; for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

~ Isaiah 41:1-3 ~

Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment. Who has roused a victor from the east, summoned him to his service? He delivers up nations to him, and tramples kings under foot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. He pursues them and passes on safely, scarcely touching the path with his feet.

~ Hebrews 12:1-7 ~

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, as welllooking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children— "My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts." Endure trials for the sake of discipline.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Mark 13:9-13 ~

"As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The Women’s Guild of St. Mary Armenian Church in Livingston, New Jersey, will celebrate the Annual Women’s Guild Day on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

This year’s celebration will include a special Initiation Ceremony for all current Guild members.

Since this service has not been held in several years, many members were never formally initiated upon joining the Guild. In recognition of their dedication and service, all current members will now have the opportunity to participate in this meaningful ceremony.

At the end of Soorp Badarak, Der Voskan will lead a brief service in the church during which the women will pledge themselves to continue the mission and ministry of the Guild.

A fellowship gathering will follow the service, and all parishioners and guests are warmly invited to attend and congratulate the women for their generous service and support to the church.

The Women's Guild of St. Mary Armenian Church

Feast of the Discovery of

the Box of the Holy Mother of God

The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church commemorates the Feast of the Discovery of the Box of the Holy Mother of God on the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.

This feast in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established on the basis of a pious tradition concerning one of her sacred garments.

According to tradition, the Holy Virgin gave one of her garments to a Jewish woman who lived with her. The garment was preserved in a box and handed down as a family heirloom from generation to generation.

It is said that two noble Greek brothers from Constantinople, Galbius and Candidus, set out on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the holy places of Palestine. While staying in Nazareth, where the Annunciation had taken place, they noticed a large crowd of sick and blind people gathered before a small house. Curious, they approached and learned that inside the house was a box containing a garment of the Mother of God. The relic had been inherited through the generations by the woman of the house, and through its power many miracles and healings were said to occur.

Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the brothers commissioned a box identical to the original. Returning to Nazareth, they secretly exchanged the original box for the replica and took the sacred relic with them to Constantinople.

Soon after the relic arrived in the capital, miracles began to occur in the noblemen's home. When they informed the emperor of these events, Leo I the Great (457–474) ordered that the holy relic be solemnly transferred by the bishop of Constantinople to a church dedicated to the Holy Mother of God.

In memory of this event, the feast known as the “Discovery of the Box of the Holy Mother of God” was established.

The Armenian Church began celebrating this feast in the eighteenth century. In 1774, Simeon Yerevantsi officially included it in the Armenian liturgical calendar.

The feast commemorates the discovery and translation of this cherished Marian relic and expresses the Armenian Church's deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and intercessor for all believers.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Isaiah 2:5-11 ~

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! For you have forsaken the ways of your people, O house of Jacob. Indeed they are full of diviners from the east and of soothsayers like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. And so people are humbled, and everyone is brought low— do not forgive them! Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty. The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.

~ Romans 9:30-10:4 ~

What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, "See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 13:24-30 ~

He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, "Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' He answered, "An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, "Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he replied, "No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.' "

Commemoration Day of

King Tiridates,

Queen Ashkhen,

and the Virgin Khosrovidukht

Saint King Tiridates (Trdat III)

King Tiridates III is the true and historical first Christian king. While there may have been individual rulers or nobles who secretly accepted Christianity before him, the undeniable honor belongs to Tiridates as the first monarch openly to profess Christ and to proclaim Christianity as the official religion of a nation.

Tiridates was the son of King Khosrov II of Armenia. In 240 AD, his father was assassinated through a plot orchestrated by the Persian king and carried out by the Parthian prince Anak. Following the assassination, Persia invaded Armenia. Tiridates' sister, Khosrovidukht, was hidden in the fortress of Ani (modern Kemah), while the young prince Tiridates was smuggled to the Roman Empire by loyal Armenian nobles.

Tiridates spent his youth in the Roman army, receiving military training and earning great renown for his bravery. Among his celebrated feats was defeating the king of the Goths in single combat and bringing him captive to Rome. In recognition of his valor, the Roman emperor granted him a crown and an army to reclaim his ancestral throne. He finally secured the Armenian kingdom in 287 AD.

The historian Agathangelos describes him as: “Strong and mighty, with powerful bones, a large stature, broad shoulders, and great prowess in battle.”

Tiridates married Ashkhen, daughter of the king of the Alans.

Persecutor of Christians

Before his conversion, Tiridates was a fierce persecutor of Christianity. He imprisoned his secretary and advisor, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, in the dungeon of Khor Virap and issued decrees ordering the persecution of Christians throughout Armenia.

During this period, a group of Christian virgins known as the Holy Hripsimian Martyrs arrived in Armenia. Tiridates became infatuated with their leader, Saint Hripsime, but she steadfastly rejected him. Enraged by her refusal and by their refusal to renounce Christ, he ordered their brutal torture and execution.

According to Armenian tradition, these crimes were followed by divine punishment. Tiridates was driven into a state of madness and bestial behavior. Agathangelos compares him to a wild boar and describes how he abandoned all human dignity, roaming like a beast and losing his reason. Several of his courtiers who had participated in the persecution suffered a similar fate.

Gregory's Return and Tiridates' Conversion

During this dark period, Tiridates' sister Khosrovidukht received a vision. A radiant figure appeared to her and declared: “No one can heal the afflicted except Gregory.”

At first, no one believed her. Everyone assumed Gregory had died long ago in the pit of Khor Virap. But after the vision repeated itself five times, Khosrovidukht persuaded the court to investigate.

To everyone's amazement, Gregory was found alive after years of imprisonment and brought to Vagharshapat. Through his prayers, Tiridates and the afflicted courtiers were restored to their senses.

For sixty-six days Gregory instructed them in the Gospel. Clothed in sackcloth and sitting in ashes, the king and his nobles listened attentively, repented of their sins, and accepted the Christian faith.

At the end of this period Gregory prayed for them, and they were completely healed. Filled with gratitude, they accepted Christ as their Savior and experienced profound spiritual renewal.

The Destruction of Paganism

Following his conversion, Tiridates worked closely with Gregory to eradicate pagan worship throughout Armenia.

Gregory urged the king to destroy the temples and idols that had led the people astray. Tiridates willingly agreed.

Accompanied by his army, he traveled throughout the country demolishing pagan shrines and replacing them with crosses. Treasures taken from the temples were distributed to the poor, while temple lands were dedicated to the Church.

The king publicly confessed his former errors and shared his personal testimony, recounting God's mercy and healing in his life.

His goal was not merely to change the people's religion but to transform their way of life and lead them into the light of the Gospel.

Baptism of the Armenian Nation

Tiridates then proposed that Gregory be consecrated as the spiritual shepherd of Armenia. At the king's initiative, Gregory was sent to Caesarea, where he was ordained bishop.

Upon Gregory's return, preparations were made for the baptism of the nation.

After a month of preaching and repentance, Tiridates, Queen Ashkhen, Princess Khosrovidukht, the royal court, and multitudes of Armenians were baptized in the waters of the Aratsani River near Bagavan on January 6, 303 AD, the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Christ.

According to tradition, Tiridates received the Christian name John, in honor of Saint John the Baptist.

Agathangelos records that approximately 150,000 people were baptized on that occasion, while later traditions speak of hundreds of thousands receiving baptism through Saint Gregory's ministry.

Following these events, Tiridates formally proclaimed Christianity as the religion of the Armenian kingdom, making Armenia the first nation officially to adopt Christianity as its state religion.

Builder of Churches and Defender of the Faith

Tiridates actively participated in constructing the shrines of the Holy Hripsimian Martyrs and the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin.

Tradition recounts that he personally carried enormous stones from Mount Ararat for the construction of churches.

He also defended Armenia against the anti-Christian emperor Maximinus Daia, whose invasion failed when Armenian forces drove his armies from the country.

As his faith matured, Tiridates adopted an increasingly humble and devout life. Agathangelos portrays him as a ruler who embraced fasting, prayer, repentance, and service to God. He became a powerful supporter of the Gospel and worked tirelessly to strengthen Christianity throughout Armenia.

The historian Malachia Ormanian observes: “Whatever credit belongs to Gregory for Armenia's conversion must also be given to Tiridates, for he truly became Gregory's partner in enlightening the nation.”

Tiridates lived approximately ninety years and reigned for about fifty-six years, making him one of the longest-lived and longest-reigning kings of Armenia. According to Armenian tradition, he died in 330 AD, possibly poisoned by rebellious nobles, and was buried at Thordan near Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

The Armenian Church commemorates him together with Queen Ashkhen and Princess Khosrovidukht on the Saturday before the fifth Sunday after Pentecost.

Saint Queen Ashkhen and the Virgin Khosrovidukht

Queen Ashkhen and Princess Khosrovidukht are inseparable from the story of Armenia's conversion to Christianity. One was Tiridates' queen, the other his devoted sister, and both played important roles in the spiritual transformation of the Armenian nation.

Saint Queen Ashkhen

Ashkhen was the daughter of Ashkhadar, king of the Caucasian Alans.

To obtain her hand in marriage, Tiridates sent the Armenian noble Smbat Bagratuni as an ambassador to the Alan court. Ashkhen was renowned for her beauty and noble bearing, well matched to the imposing stature of Tiridates himself.

After formally investing her as an Arsacid princess, Tiridates married her and proclaimed her Queen of Armenia. The royal couple had one son.

Although historical records preserve relatively little about her personal life, Ashkhen appears throughout the accounts of Armenia's conversion as a faithful supporter of Gregory's mission and of her husband's transformation.

Saint Khosrovidukht

Khosrovidukht was the daughter of King Khosrov II and the sister of Tiridates.

After her father's assassination and the Persian conquest of Armenia, she was placed under the protection of the Armenian noble Ota Amatuni and hidden in the fortress of Ani until Tiridates regained the throne.

Later she joined the royal court in Vagharshapat, where she remained unmarried and devoted herself to a life of chastity and prayer.

Khosrovidukht played a decisive role in the liberation of Saint Gregory from Khor Virap. Having witnessed some of Gregory's sufferings and heard of his steadfast faith, she had developed a deep respect for him and for Christianity.

When Tiridates fell into madness, she became the instrument through which God revealed the path to healing. Her repeated visions led to Gregory's release and ultimately to the conversion of the king and the nation.

Their Role in Armenia's Conversion

After Gregory instructed the royal family to honor the martyred virgins by building memorial shrines, Tiridates undertook the hard labor of digging their burial places as an act of repentance.

Remarkably, Queen Ashkhen and Khosrovidukht joined him. Dressed in their royal garments, they willingly carried away the excavated earth, performing work usually reserved for servants.

Their names also appear alongside Tiridates in correspondence sent to the Archbishop of Caesarea concerning Gregory's consecration.

When Gregory returned from Caesarea, both women accompanied Tiridates to Bagavan, where they received baptism together with the king and the Armenian people.

Agathangelos describes the newly baptized multitude returning clothed in white garments, carrying candles and singing psalms, rejoicing as newly adopted children of God and partakers of the Holy Mysteries.

Final Years and Legacy

After Armenia's baptism, historical sources say little more about Ashkhen and Khosrovidukht.

Tradition holds that both spent their later years in prayer, charity, and quiet devotion. They likely withdrew from courtly life and lived in relative seclusion at the fortress of Garni.

The Armenian Synaxarion describes Queen Ashkhen as abandoning worldly pleasures and embracing an ascetic life until her death. Likewise, Khosrovidukht, the royal virgin, lived in holiness and purity until she departed to be with Christ.

Just as they had been inseparable from Tiridates during their earthly lives, they remain united with him in the memory of the Armenian Church.

Today, the Armenian Church commemorates Saint King Tiridates, Saint Queen Ashkhen, and Saint Khosrovidukht together on the Saturday before the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, honoring them as the royal saints who helped lead Armenia into the light of Christianity.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

~ Wisdom of Solomon 6:1-10 ~

Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you who rule over multitudes and boast of many nations. For your dominion was given you from the Lord and your sovereignty from the Most High; he will search out your works and inquire into your plans. Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly or keep the law or walk according to the purpose of God, he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places. For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested. For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of anyone or show deference to greatness, because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike. But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty. To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, so that you may learn wisdom and not transgress. For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense.

~ Isaiah 45:1-3 ~

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

~ 1 Timothy 2:1-7 ~

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all —this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 11:14-23 ~

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.