A READING FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL CORINTHIANS (1.25-30)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

  

Աստուծոյ տնօրինութիւնը, որ յոյներ յիմարութիւն կ՚որակեն, իմաստնագոյն է քան մարդկային ոեւէ իմաստութիւն. եւ Աստուծոյ խաչը, որ հրեաներ տկարութիւն կը համարեն, աւելի զօրեղ է քան մարդկային ամէն զօրութիւն:

Եղբայրներ, դուք ձեզմէ դատեցէք. ինչ էիք երբ Աստուած ձեզ կանչեց: Ձեզմէ քանի՞ն իմաստուն, հզօր կամ ազնուատոհմ էին մարդկային չափանիշներով: Բայց Աստուած դիտմամբ ընտրեց այն ինչ որ այս աշխարհը յիմար եւ անիմաստ կը գտնէ, անով իմաստունները ամօթով ձգելու համար. ընտրեց այն ինչ որ այս աշխարհը տկար կը համարէ, անով հզօրները ամչցնելու համար. եւ ընտրեց այն ինչ որ այս աշխարհը անարժէք, արհամարհելի եւ ոչնչութիւն կը նկատէ, անով ոչնչացնելու համար այս աշխարհի մեծութիւնները: Եւ ասիկա՝ որպէսզի ոեւէ մարդ չպարծենայ Աստուծոյ առջեւ, որովհետեւ Աստուած ինքն է որ ձեզ բերաւ Քրիստոսի միացուց, եւ մենք Քրիստոսով ճանչցանք Աստուծոյ իմաստութիւնը եւ գտանք մեր արդարութիւնը, սրբութիւնը եւ փրկութիւնը:

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 

Զգոյշ, մի՛ արհամարհէք այս փոքրիկներէն ոեւէ մէկը. գիտցէք որ անոնց հրեշտակները երկինքի մէջ միշտ կը տեսնեն իմ երկնաւոր Հայրս: Որովհետեւ մարդու Որդին եկաւ կորսուածը փրկելու համար:

Ի՞նչ կը կարծէք. եթէ մարդ մը իր հարիւր ոչխարներէն մէկը կորսնցնէ, չի՞ ձգեր իննսունինը ոչխարները լերան վրայ եւ չե՞րթար փնտռելու կորսուած ոչխարը: Այո, կ՚երթայ: Եւ եթէ պատահի որ գտնէ, վստահ եղէք որ աւելի կ՚ուրախանայ այդ ոչխարին համար, քան թէ իննսունինը ոչխարներուն համար որոնք կորսուած չեն: Նմանապէս ալ Հայրս, որ երկինքի մէջ է, չÿուզեր որ այս փոքրիկներէն մէկը կորսուի:

- Mr. & Mrs. Varujan and Luiza Kalustian and children Alina and Michael request requiem service for the soul of their beloved father and grandfather  AVEDIS KURKJIAN (40th year memorial service). Also for the souls of beloved grandparents ANDON & EGHSAPETH KURKJIAN.

- Mr. & Mrs. Vartan and Heghine Harutiunyan and daughter Zoey Lara, Mrs. Larisa Barkhutaryan, Asaturyan and Harutiunyan families request requiem service for the soul of their beloved father and grandfather VILEN HARUTIUNYAN (7th day memorial service).

- Mrs. Siran Balian Kasparyan and family, Mr. Hagop Balian, Mr. Garbis Balian, great grandchildren: Daniel & Emillia Kasparyan, Ashley, Anto & Raquelle Balian request requiem service for the soul of their beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother NOEMI BALIAN (5th year memorial service).

ST. ISAIAH THE PROPHET

On Thursday, July 23, the Armenian Church commemorated the prophet Isaiah, who is best known for the longest prophetic book in the Old Testament (66 chapters) that bears his name. Isaiah foretells the birth of the Messiah by a virgin and describes the suffering of the Messiah's church. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus refer to the book of Isaiah. Because of his clear foretelling about Christ the Savior, Isaiah is also recognized as an Old Testament evangelist. Although it is not recorded in the Bible, it is believed that Isaiah died a martyr's death by order of the Hebrew king, Manasseh. Relics of the prophet are preserved at Mt. Athos in the Greek Orthodox Khilendaria Monastery in Greece.

SAINTS THADDEUS AND SANDUKHT

This Saturday, July 25, the Armenian Church commemorates Saint Thaddeus, one of two apostles who preached in Armenia, and Saint Sandukht, daughter of King Sanadrouk, and the first saint of the Armenian Church. It is not an exaggeration to say that these two-Thaddeus and Sandukht-were pioneer in bringing Christianity to Armenia in the first century.

Princess Sandukht was converted to Christianity by Thaddeus, and she in turn converted many others. Her father tried to have her renounce her conversion and finally gave her a choice of the crown or the sword. She chose the sword and became the first witness for Christianity in Armenia and the first saint of the Armenian Church. Shortly after her martyrdom, Thaddeus was martyred at Artaz (in present day northern Iran). The Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus is built on the apostle's tomb. During the early 20 th century the monastery was an important crossroads for travelers and pilgrims. A popular annual pilgrimage by Armenians from around the world takes place in July to coincide with this Feast day. During the four-day festival, thousands gather in tents pitched on the vast monastery grounds.

SAINT CYPRIAN THE BISHOP AND 45 MARTYRS

On Monday, July 27, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Cyprian (Gibrianos), bishop of Carthage, and 45 martyrs. Cyprian was an important early Christian writer and a major theologian of the early African church. Many of his works in Latin have survived. One of his best-known works is "On the Unity of the Church." Many of his epistles, treatises, and pastoral letters are extant. He urged Christians to recite the Lord's Prayer every day, meditating on each phrase. He wrote a commentary on the Lord's Prayer showing how it is the model for prayer.

 

Born in 200, he was the son of wealthy parents and became a teacher of rhetoric and literature. He converted to Christianity in his middle years and ordained a priest. He elected to serve as bishop of Carthage. He was subject to persecution after his conversion and in the year 258 was beheaded along with forty-five martyrs.

 

When we pray, we should ensure that we understand the words we use. We should be humble, aware of our own weaknesses, and be eager to receive God's grace. Our bodily posture and our tone of voice should reflect the fact that through prayer we enter God's presence. To speak too loudly to God would be impudent; thus a quiet and modest manner is appropriate. The Lord has instructed us that we should usually pray in private, even in our own bedrooms. This reminds us that God is everywhere, that he hears and sees everything, and that he penetrates the deepest secrets of our hearts.

(From commentary "On the Lord's Prayer," by Cyprian of Carthage)

 

Also remembered this week:

Tuesday, July 28: Saint Athenogenes the Bishop, ten disciples, and five witnesses.

LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE