Courage for the Ages

Today, as we remember St. Leon (Ghevont) the priest and his companions, we recall their great faith and sacrifice, which shaped our history and kept the Armenian spirit alive through the centuries.

On the eve of the Battle of Avarayr, St. Ghevont showed what true spiritual leadership looks like. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy, gave Holy Communion, and baptized those who had not yet been received into the Church. Then he gathered the people and delivered a powerful sermon.

He reminded them who they were and to whom they belonged. He told them that they belonged to Christ forever, and that nothing, not fear, not death could separate them from Him. His words filled their hearts with courage and prepared them to give their lives for their faith and their homeland.

St. Ghevont understood something powerful: when the heart is anchored in God, courage rises naturally. When the soul is filled with grace, fear loses its grip. When people know who they belong to, they discover strength they didn’t know they had.

As we honor St. Ghevont and his companions, we also honor our clergy today. Like St. Ghevont, our clergy stand with God’s people in moments of joy and moments of pain. They pray with families in times of sorrow. They offer Badarak week after week, nourishing souls in ways that cannot always be measured or seen.

Often, their ministry is done quietly, and their sacrifices go unnoticed. Yet heaven sees, and God sees. The fruit of their faithfulness continues to shape lives, strengthen families, and sustain our Armenian Christian identity.

So today, we say thank you. We honor you, my brother clergy. We bless you for your dedication. We celebrate your courage and your calling. May God strengthen you with the same resolve He gave to St. Ghevont. May He fill you with peace, joy, and holy confidence. And may your ministry continue to be a beacon of hope for our people.

And for all of us, may the memory of St. Ghevont and his companions inspire us to live boldly in faith and to trust that God is always at work, even in the most challenging moments of our lives.