a few words from der tateos . . . Ref l e c t i ons on Great Lent We enjoy celebrating Palm Sunday. We wave the palm branches and celebrate. We all love Easter Sunday! It is a happy time, with flowers, new clothes, and the expectation of Spring in the air. But it is too easy and promotes too cheap a grace to focus only on the joys of Palm Sunday and Easter without walking with Jesus through the 40 days of Great Lent. Great Lent is a time to place ourselves humbled before God, bringing in our hands no price whereby we can ourselves purchase our salvation. It is a way to confess our total inadequacy before God, to strip ourselves bare of all pretense to righteousness, to come before God in dust and ashes. It is a way to empty ourselves of our false pride, of our rationalizations that prevent us from seeing ourselves as needy creatures, of our "perfectionist" tendencies that blind us to the beam in our own eyes. Through prayer that has one giving up self, we seek to open ourselves up before God, and to hear anew the call "Come unto me!" We seek to recognize and respond once again to God’s presence in our lives and in our world. We seek to place our needs, our fears, our failures, our hopes, our very lives in God’s hands, again. And we seek by abandoning ourselves in Jesus’ death to recognize again who God is, to allow His transforming grace to work in us once more, and to come to worship Him on Easter Sunday with a fresh victory and hope that goes beyond the new clothes, the Spring flowers, the colored eggs or chocolate bunnies. Great Lent is a spiritual pilgrimage that I am convinced we all must make, one way or the other, for genuine spiritual renewal to come. In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, there is on the eve of Great Lent, a Vesper Service termed, Forgiveness Vespers. It is a service in which the community gathers to ask forgiveness of each other in preparation for their commencing with Great Lent. During the service a prayer is offered that has be termed the lenten prayer. Tradition ascribes it to one of the great teachers of spiritual life - St. Ephrem the Syrian. Here is its text:

e-Tsayn e-Voice is a publication of

The Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate Department of Mission Parishes Rev. Fr. Tateos R. Abdalian, Director www.armenianchurch.net Diocesan Office: 212.686.0710 Email: dertateos@armeniandiocese.org

O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O lord and King!

Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother; For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

A careful reading of the passage will reveal that the prayer is not an intercessory prayer for others; it is a penitential prayer for the faith community, for us. It is not a call for others to repent; it is a call for us, God’s people, to repent. It is our wicked and sinful ways from which we need to turn away from. We are the ones who need to see clearly our sinfulness before we can see God’s face. Perhaps during the Lenten season we as individuals should not stop praying for others, but to look at ourselves as the unrighteous one in need of healing, that is, if we are virtuous enough to do so. Perhaps we can take off our righteous robes just long enough during these 40 days to put ashes on our own heads, to come before God with a new humility that is willing to confess, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Maybe we should be willing to prostrate ourselves before God and plead, "Have mercy upon all your creatures and upon me a manifold sinner." That might put us in a position to hear God in ways that we have not heard Him in a long time. And it may be the beginning of a healing for which we have so longed. O Lord, begin with me. Here. Now. The two celebrations of February 14 Yes, Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th and it is the day of cupid shooting his arrows, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, roses and other flowers all given to those whom we love as well as the cards that make the people at Hallmark very happy. What follows is called, A DISCOURSE ON LOVE BY HOVHANNES VARTABED CALLED BLOOZ. This discouse is read during the service of the Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday evening. I would imagine that our Church Fathers wanted us to understand what transpired during the Last Supper when Christ washed the feet of his disciples, that is, an understanding of the great love he had for them and how he wanted for them to understand and to teach others this same lesson. While regrettably few of our faithful attend the services of Holy Thursday, especially this beautiful service of the Washing of Feet, perhaps as you turn to that special person to whom you say, "I love you" this Sunday, you may feel a bit different after reading what the Vartabed has written on the true meaning of love. It may even entice you to attend Holy Week services this year with that person whom you love dearly.

A DISCOURSE ON LOVE BY HOVHANNES VARTABED CALLED BLOOZ "God is Love," says John, the son of Thunder and beloved disciple of Christ, and he who abides in love abides in God. And now, my brothers, listen - and remember the discourse on love: Whoever loves God, also loves his brother, as the love of God becomes manifest only in fraternal love.

If a man loves not his brother whom he sees, how will he love God whom he does not see: We will realize our love of God not in the physical love of our brother, but with our spiritual love - one thing, and physical love another - as we will explain. Whoever loves - that is, has love - is recognized by God and in turn, himself recognized God. And he who-loves not his brother and is contemptuous of him, he is a stranger to God and cannot receive the Lord's graces. Whosoever truly loves his brother makes of himself the abode of God -that is, God lives within him. Because the Lord, himself, loves us, He has sent us the Spirit of Truth to dwell in us, as our comprehensive spirit is united with God's incomprehensible Spirit with and through love only. And as He loves us, the Lord wishes us to love one another in like manner. To realize the daringness love has in God's presence, thereby renders man God-like, because the Lord resembles man in His love and confirmable to that, has shown that man will resemble Him when they love-as "God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to save the world." And if we love one another as much as God has loved us, then no evil can obstruct our love. He who loves - that is has love - is manifest to men and daringly open in the presence of God, because he does not fear death and, moreover, armed with God's love, remains deathless when faced with dreadful dangers. When there is love, there is no fear, as attested by St. John. In love there is no fear. Perfect love openly rejects fear, because fear is born of misery, while love grows with boldness. It is love that persecutes fear. Where there is no love, the judgment of fear takes root - and creates the fear of the dreadful last judgment. Love makes man free from all torments. When I say love, I understand it to be totally unmixed with doubt, since doubt and love can not live together. It should also be known that love not only gives the fruit of peace in eternal life, but it also "persecutes" jealously and hate, spite and evil, slander and blasphemy, complaint and gossip, pride and boasting and particularly the mother of all evils - Mammon and avarice. He who loves or has love stays clear of all these evils and aspires toward the peace and tranquility of heaven. What can be more conducive of peace than love that liberates its seeker from all troubles and makes possible that which is pleasant in the sight of God? Love is the key to the kingdom of God, and the road to eternal life. Love makes men the sons of God, and the inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Love washes our corrupted nature into purity and makes immortals out of mortals. Love makes things earthly into heavenly, and raises the dust-born into being of fiery essence. Who can tell of love's immeasurable strength? - since it is beyond description. Like the mysterious nature of Godliness, the nature of love is beyond examination. It lives among the meek and the humble, and among those who tremble at His word. Love is also near to those who desire it, and it comes to dwell among those who seek it. Because love loves its advocates or lovers, and hates those who hate, it approaches men like God who seek it - since God is love and desires love from those who are pure in their heart, and sincere in their faith.

The fortieth day after His birth, the All-Holy Virgin brought her Divine Son into the Temple of Jerusalem, in accordance with the Law, to dedicate Him to God and to purify herself. "Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites both of man and beast, for it belongs to me" (Exodus 13:2). "Tell the Israelites: when a woman has conceived and gives birth to a boy, she shall be unclean for seven days, with the same uncleanness as at her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy's foreskin shall be circumcised, and then she shall spend thirty-three days more in becoming purified of her blood; she shall not touch anything sacred nor enter the sanctuary till the days of her purification are fulfilled. If she gives birth to a girl, for fourteen days she shall be as unclean as at her menstruation, after which she shall spend sixty-six days in becoming purified of her blood. When the days of her purification for a son or for a daughter are fulfilled, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the meeting tent a yearling lamb for a holocaust and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. The priest shall offer them up before the Lord to make atonement for her, and thus she will be clean again after her flow of blood. Such is the law for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl child" (Leviticus 12:2-7). Even though neither the one nor the other was necessary, nevertheless the God did not, in anyway, want to transgress His own Law whom He had given through Moses, His servant and prophet. At that time, the high-priest Zacharias, the father of John the Forerunner [Precursor], was on duty in the Temple "serving as a priest before God in the order of his division" (St. Luke 1:8). Zacharias placed the Virgin, not in the temple area reserved for women but rather in the area reserved for virgins. On this occasion, two unusual persons appeared in the Temple: the Elder Simeon and Anna, the daughter of Phanuel. The righteous Simeon took the Messiah in his arms and said: "Now, Master, You may let Your servant go in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation" (St. Luke 2: 29-30). Simeon also spoke the following words about the Christ-child: "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel" (St. Luke 2:34). Then Anna, who from her youth served God in the Temple by fasting and prayers, recognized the Messiah and glorified God and proclaimed to the inhabitants of Jerusalem about the coming of the long-awaited One. The Pharisees present in the Temple, who having seen and heard all, became angry with Zacharias because he placed the Virgin Mary in the area reserved for virgins and reported this to King Herod. Convinced that this is the new king about whom the Magi from the east spoke, Herod immediately sent his soldiers to kill Jesus. In the meantime the Holy Family had already left the city and set out for Egypt under the guidance of an angel of God. The Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple was celebrated from earliest times but the solemn celebration of this day was established in the year 544 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Justinian.

Sts. Vartanantz and The Battle of Avarayr, 451 AD Last week’s e-Tsayn had a fairly detailed account of the commemorations of Sts. Ghevontyantz and Sts Vartanyantz. For another account about the Battle of Avarayr and the story of St. Vartan you can go to: http://www.hayastan.com/armenia/religion/history/index3.php You will find a very good description of the events leading to the battle and the world situation at the time,writtenbyProf.JamesR.Russell,ColumbiaUniversity.1981.

FROM THE ACYOA CENTRAL COUNCIL

Armenia Service Program (ASP)

The Armenia Service Program provides young adults an opportunity to travel to their homeland not only to tour, but also to give back to their brothers and sisters in Armenia. This trip is truly a pilgrimage, an experience through which hundreds of ACYOA members have felt a connection to their Armenian Christian heritage that continues to inspire them throughout their lives. When this trip began in the 1970's, it was called the Armenia Studies Program, where ACYOA members would travel to Armenia for educational purposes. Several years ago, as need for aid in Armenia grew, the course of the trip changed from Studies to Service. For many years, the service portion of the trip included acting as counselors and teachers at Camp Siranoosh in Yeghegnadzor, a camp for underprivileged children from the villages of Armenia. The ASP recently joined Habitat for Humanity, which has been making a considerable impact in Armenia, to build homes for a better, stronger homeland. For 2010 we will be working in collaboration with the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) to serve children in Gyumri through two vital projects: the Ounjian School and FAR Soup Kitchen. The ASP trip is open to young adults ages 18-28. For more information, contact Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian at acyoa@armeniandiocese.org. DEADLINE NOW MARCH 20, 2010.

June 29 – July 20, 2010

A R M E N I A

S E R V I C E

P R O G R A M

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Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, Archbishop Khajag Barsmaian, Primate

And this year, for the first time, help Armenia’s youngest and oldest generations—as ACYOA partners with the

Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) to serve children and seniors in the city of Gyumri

through two vital projects: the Ounjian School and the

FAR Soup Kitchen.

Join peers from throughout the Eastern Diocese on a tour of our ancient homeland. See its greatest religious and cultural sites; experience life in Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan; reflect on the shores of Lake Sevan; worship at Holy Etchmiadzin!

Sponsored by ACYOA Central Council

STOP DREAMINGApplication deadline:

March 20, 2010

For young adults ages 18 to 28

COST: $2,700includes roundtrip airfare

(via Air France) from New York, ground transportation

and transfers in Armenia, all tours, bilingual tour guide, lodging and two meals per day.

For information and to download an application, visit acyoa.org OR contact ACYOA executive secretary Nancy Basmajian: acyoa@armeniandiocese.org, or (212) 293–1248

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Serving the Generations

It was also just announced that the Primate has appointed Fr. Tateos to once again be the Group Leader for ASP 2010. Also . . .

HYE CAMPfor campers ages 9 to 15Housed at Camp HickoryIngleside, IL

Staff Training: August 4 - 7Camp Session: August 7 - 14Download applications startingMarch 15 atwww.armenianchurch.net/hyecamp

DIOCESAN

SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS2010

ST. VARTAN CAMPfor campers ages 8 to 15Housed at the Ararat CenterGreenville, NY

Staff Training: June 23 - 26Session A: June 27 - July 10Session B: July 11 - 24Session C: July 25 - August 7Registration begins February 15 atwww.armenianchurch.net/stvartancamp

For more information contact:Jennifer E. MorrisYouth Outreach Coordinatorjenniferm@armeniandiocese.org212-686-0710 ext. 118

DAILY CLASSES IN

Counselor-in-Training program for ages 16 & 17Staff positions for those 18 and older ascounselors, lifeguards & instructors

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Armenian Language

ReligionHeritage & Culture

Arts & Crafts

Sports & Swimming

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Special activities include dances, talent shows,camp Olympics, campfires, and more!

Books for the Children of Artsakh

During a recent visit of January 24 to the Nashville Mission Parish I met an interesting gentleman by the name of Nick Wagner. Nick is an English teacher at Mesrob Mashtots University in Stepanakert, Artsakh. He has begun working on a project to provide books (either new or used) for the children of Artsakh - books suitable for children up to the age of 10.

The books would be provided to the following settings:

• The two “boarding schools” in Stepanakert and Berdashen • The Toumanyan Children’s Library in Stepanakert • The Artsakh Ministry of Education for the schools of the country • The Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center for the pre-school class for children with special needs and those of

the staff

If our Mission Parishes or individual parishioners would like to take part in this project, please inform Der Tateos (dertateos@armeniandiocese.org). If there has been a large volume of books collected, he will give instruction as to how and where they should be sent. If an individual would like to send a book or two, you may send those to the Diocese: Attn Der Tateos. This project is being done in cooperation with Aram Avetissyan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh in Washington, D.C. and the United Armenian Fund.

Do you really know your theology? Who was the 3rd man in history to walk on water? The 1st one was Jesus. The 2nd was the apostle, Peter.

Then there was this guy, Ralph...