With our pilgrims, we gathered in the Armenian Church in Iskenderun to pray for all those whose lives were lost on September 11, and for the families who still carry the pain of that day.

September 11 is a date that awakens memories for so many of us. We remember where we were, what we were doing, and the disbelief with which we watched the events unfold.

My own thoughts drift back to where I was all those years ago—in Sevan, Armenia, at the Vazgenyan Theological Seminary. It was a peaceful place, set apart from the noise and chaos of the world, a place where every day was about drawing closer to God, learning His Word, and finding His presence.

But on that day, on September 11, 2001, the peace of our sanctuary was shattered by news that seemed unimaginable. We gathered around the TV in shock. Planes crashing into buildings, innocent lives lost, families torn apart.

I remember the silence that fell over us when the news broke. It wasn’t just the shock or disbelief. It was a deeper silence—the kind that comes when your soul is trying to comprehend something too big, too tragic.

In a place where we were meant to be closer to God, the divine felt intensely near and unfathomably far away - as St. Gregory of Narek says in his prayerbook. We asked, How could a loving God allow such a tragedy? Maybe you’ve felt that too—wondering, “Where is God in all of this?” But even in our darkest moments, when everything shakes, God is closer than you think.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Even when you feel like you’re in the darkest place, even when your heart is broken by the things you can’t understand, God is near. He is right there holding you up, giving you strength, even in the midst of your pain.

As we remember those who were lost on that tragic day, as we honor the lives that were forever changed, let us also hold onto the truth that God has not forgotten us. He has not abandoned us. And let us remember that no matter how dark the world may seem, the light of God’s love still shines.