A Scoop of Spirit

Sundaes take on a new form with a scoop of Armodoxy. Whether it’s Ben and Jerry’s, 31 Flavors or Thrifty’s, tasty treats await as our faith guides us to the ice cream shop and finding our expression in that faith becomes the cherry on top. Which flavor charges your taste buds and your spirit? Find out as you take a spin with Linda Zadoian and Fr. Vazken Movsesian.

The Story of Days We Used to Know; Now 29 Years Later

A very special episode shapes through the Compass as a narration of written work by Fr. Vazken Movsesian travels through space and time. Mixing the Highlands with the Caucasus, the ongoing mission of love, hope and peace is expressed through the telling of this story finding it’s beat and rhythm in Armodoxy.

More on Jethro Tull: www.jethrotull.com

Armodoxy Blog: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com/2011/09/days-we-used-to-know-now-29-years-later.html

Losing Ego through the Divine Liturgy

A celebration took place on episode #6 of Compass. We really are infused with Armodoxy in these parts – the polished ancient faith. Each week we’ve been looking at the way we apply that faith in our everyday lives to bring us greater meaning.

Last week after we delved into the way the Divine Liturgy reflected our lives, I started to peek in a little deeper on what WORSHIP is. Merriam-Webster defines the verb (we’re action people over here so I’m going for the verb)

WORSHIP.
1 - to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power
2 - to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

When we’re trying to take very large concepts and break them down into actions that make sense getting on our knees and praying doesn’t seem like the end all be all answer because – well – maybe we’re limited in our understanding of what worship really is. There is this emotional trouble spot with the idea of what worship may or even may not mean.

These are some of the questions I’m asking:

How do we worship?

Does it only occur in the Liturgy?

As the Church it is our responsibility to bridge Man and God - Flesh and Spirit. Are we allowing our faith to strengthen enough to withstand life’s daily challenges we are faced with? It is in our worship that we humble ourselves to give thanks. It is in our worship, in our humbling, in our decision to stay open and vulnerable to God when we are strengthened most.

Illustrating the Divine Liturgy in Our Lives

I took a shot at looking at the Divine Liturgy on episode #5 of Compass. What we call the Badarak in the Armenian Church – and how our Badarak translates to our everyday lives.

This is our time to connect with God - our private and collective time to fuel up our spiritual life.

As I've been trying to find a greater understanding of the way our spiritual lives translate to our practical lives – I found myself inspired by artist/illustrator Anush Avejic – Anush was commissioned to illustrate a children’s book to be used in various Armenian Churches. We have had the opportunity to recently view the beautiful illustrations she brought together for this project.

Let me briefly describe what has captured me. Anush has taken many of the actions and motions that we go through during the Liturgy and created images of what they are.

Some examples:

Lighting a candle.
Kneeling.
Receiving the kiss of peace.
Singing.
Taking Holy Communion.

With each illustration, intended for young hearts and minds, it occurred to me that our worship is the foundation for who we are and what we DO, in very practical terms, as Christians. I hear it time and time again that our Liturgy cannot be understood. It is in classical Armenian and connecting to it is too difficult.

But check this out...
Take LIGHTING A CANDLE – It’s a very simple act in our worship and for many it is the very start and end of their time to spiritually connect in Church.
Now, this can easily be translated into a practical application - such as - say organizing and attending candlelight vigils for those who have suffered and realizing that God’s light is in our lives daily. The Church that I know through the model of In His Shoes has stayed aware of honoring victims of domestic violence or innocent children who have lost their lives.

Some other actions that take place during the Badarak that came through Anush’s illustrations…

I receive Holy Communion – We receive the body of Christ and with that we feed the hungry, clothe the poor, comfort the sick.

I kneel – We humble ourselves and work for the needs of local and global communities.

I sing – We use our voice to defend our rights and the rights of others.

I smell the incense - We observe the world around us and remind ourselves of the beauty and the gift of our senses.

I receive the kiss of peace – We create and embrace our community, promote tolerance and understanding of differences.

AND THE LIST GOES ON.

I’m very excited about this book and seeing it fill our pews for not only our children but also for us. Our most simple lessons are our most vital. Understanding and taking the first steps to accept our traditional form of worship starts making a lot more sense when we can use it to achieve very big things. Now, some of us may have to get out of our comfort zones to implement some of these practical applications but I think once we are aware that our actions are quite simply our expression of our love towards God and each other everything seems to naturally fall into place.

So I am inspired by the gifts Anush Avejic is giving us – plus I can’t wait to have her as a guest on Compass. She is an incredible woman who has touched so many lives and she deserves mega hankamank. What an example of living out your faith!

I’m very encouraged by our use of Armodoxy in the form of accessibility, practicality, movement and ACTION and adding that physical element to our faith.

Our Right to Free Speech

Talk about tapping into the Armenian Church. Take the Next Step with your Compass in hand. There’s no name etching on a brick over here – just some pure, straight, Armodoxy.

First off – when was it? Sunday, the memorial dedication of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? Now call it coincidence, but this weekend the civil rights movement bridged with the world’s largest rally against corporate power and unjust practices. You all know what I'm talking about?. Occupy Wall Street. It was awesome!

The world stood up and said NO MORE! The impact to the people has become so severe that they are no longer willing to accept this excessively unbalanced system. It became a global cause and people banded together to make their statements. People reacted to the monsters - GREED - UNCHECKED POWER – THIS CLASS WARFARE THAT HAS THREATENED SO MANY PEOPLE.

Now…before the guards come and take me away, I have to admit that while all this was happening I couldn’t help but direct my own focus, sparked by these current issues to the state of the Armenian Church. It’s all relevant and I think it’s the perfect opportunity to ask the bigger questions. The aroma of protest has filled the air and we are asking questions about establishment and this institution and what it represents - what her mission really is.

Now, let me step back around as say this – as human beings we SHOULD have basic human rights and freedoms right – this is regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, language, or other status. As the church we should be the ones who defend these rights and freedoms.

Look at Jesus. What was he doing? He was challenging his own society? Him and his crew were picketing away…he was right there with the marginalized - the women, the poor, the sick. He was challenging the institution – the unjust world and he was PROMOTING DIGNITY – which really is our most basic human right!

Over the last 4 weeks the media has been analyzing and reporting what the 99% are doing in the Occupy Wall Street protests. Let’s sum this up – in these protest rights are being defended – truth is being demanded and the greedy are being called out. A voice that needs to be heard has taken the streets and is calling for change. Whether up against the big banks and corporations, who may be disregarding all of this as a temporary nuisance or winning the hearts and minds of the world – injustices are being recognized and that is a beautiful thing. That is the spirit of people rising above and beyond their little world and expanding towards a better world.

It was the great Civil Rights movement that changed so much for so many. We have all been touched by the work upheld by all the leaders of the movement. It was a few voices that turned into many and the shift towards the most basic of human rights became the ongoing mission.

So as the Armenian Church not only do we look at our Church fathers and our Saints – but we should also be looking at the Dr. Kings, the Rosa Parks, the Sojourner Truths - whose strength and courage rocked the world - who had such an impact on mankind. Let’s rip out of our bubble and expand – let’s kick up that enthusiasm and become the Church that rallies – that strengthens the world – that stands together in the face of adversity. That is the Church that honors the good work that is being done - that supports that work – that builds for that work.

I thought I would be expressing strictly about the family within the Church today but we can see so clearly that the family is bigger than we think. Our gender roles are very important topics that we need to look at but our human roles are even more important.

On the Mission of the Church

We're going to take a spin through faith and spirituality and the application of the modern day taboo: RELEGION. So join me – let’s push the envelope and explore the why’s and how’s of Armenian Orthodoxy in our everyday lives.

For those who know me, I’m a jump right into it kind of gal. I’ve been marinating for the past few days. Let’s get real. We are a Church. The Armenian Church dunked and soaked in Armenian Orthodoxy. So as a church – As the living body of Christ….WHERE ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING? AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?

I recently read an article by an Armenian priest Rev. Arnak Kasparian – How can we suvive in America? It’s a good piece – he makes some great points about the church’s position in making it inclusive and embraced by all Armenians and non-Armenians. But people – let’s face it – are we failing? As a church have we accepted the status quo? Have we left this beautiful church – full of treasures, meaning and most importantly the magic LOVE juice and left her withering?

MY ANSWER: No. But we’re close.

As the church – as that living body of Christ – we’ve got to make some serious moves. We build churches, we hold banquets and picnics and debutant balls. We throw our energy into raising funds for concrete. Here is the shift. It’s a very simple one. Act on the injustices all around us and we’re in business.
As the church we need to open our eyes and ears and mouths and stand up against: OPPRESSION – INEQUALITY – POVERTY – TORTURE – GENOCIDE – WAR – HUNGER
Why else are we here? If not to bring peace? That is when we work together as the true church. That is when we do our work. We take this beautiful faith – this yes, hold on for your life here – this RELEGION and make it work for all mankind. When we use it as our sword and armor. When we stand up for the people who cannot stand up for themselves.

I urge you all to stay passionate. Stay open. Stay alive and connected because then and only then will you have the strength to do the real work. The work that no government, no wall street, no military can do.