Have you ever been in a familiar room—your living room, your study—filled with books, photographs, keepsakes, things you know by heart? But then the power goes out. Suddenly, what was clear becomes shadowy. Shapes blur. You stumble as you try to make your way. You know the things are still there, but in the darkness, you can’t see them. Then, in a moment, the lights come back on. Instantly, everything is clear again. You see the pictures on the wall, the books neatly lined up

Since my seminary years, I’ve always loved singing in the choir. Even when I studied in Strasbourg, where there was no Armenian church nearby, I joined the local university choir. And every time I have the chance, I still sing. Last summer at camp, I jumped right in with our campers and sang along. There’s something mystical, something beautiful about singing in a choir. Think about it, in a choir, some voices are strong and soaring, some soft and gentle, some perfectly on pi

We don’t have to look far to see that we’re living in challenging times. The headlines are filled with conflict and uncertainty. People are anxious, weary, and burdened by the pressures of life. Divisions run deeper, patience grows thinner, and hope can feel distant. Yet even in the middle of it all, there is a joy available to us—a joy this world didn’t give, and this world cannot take away. In the third century, when persecution raged against Christians and faith was put to

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Translators. When we hear the word "translator," we might think of someone who takes words from...

Have you ever reached for your phone because you were certain it vibrated—only to find your pocket empty? Doctors have a name for this:...

Yesterday, I visited the ancient Haghartsin Monastery in the Tavush region of Armenia — a holy place where monks once prayed and sang,...

There is a story told about a master craftsman who created a pencil and spoke to it before sending it out into the world. “There are five...

This morning I woke up at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — the beating heart of our Armenian Church. (I’m visiting Armenia this week...

Each weekend, I travel to different parishes to celebrate Badarak, ordinations, and milestones. But ministry is never confined to the...

When I last visited St. Nersess Seminary, Der Mardiros Chevian proudly showed me the little garden behind his residence. You could see...

Recently, I read something fascinating about the lodgepole pine tree growing in the forests of the American West. Its cones are sealed...

Today we celebrate the Independence Day of Armenia. I think of the independence of Armenia as a testimony, as a declaration that no...

The other day, I wrote about my years in the Divanatun—the chancellery of the Holy See—as God’s training ground. There I learned many...

In 2007, after graduating from the University of Strasbourg, I returned to Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness appointed me as Deputy...

We often wonder if our words matter, if our small efforts of kindness, encouragement, or truth-telling make any real difference in this...

When I was a teenager serving on the altar at St. Sarkis Church, one of my favorite moments in the Badarak was just before communion,...

Today is September 11, a day that brings back memories for so many of us. And my thoughts drift back to where I was all those years...

One of the very first words I picked up when I moved to New York City back in 2017 was the word “commuter.” If you’ve lived in or around...

Have you ever noticed how the first part of a workout feels easy, almost effortless? For me, it’s like that with push-ups. At the...

In the Bible, the word for sin is Hamartia, an ancient Greek term borrowed from archery. It means “missing the mark.” Imagine an archer...