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PRIMATE'S MEDITATION
One Extraodinary Act
We greet the Third Millennium of the advent of Jesus Christ. What better way to express our joy than with the words that have inspired mankind for two thousand years: "Krisdos dzunav yev haydnetzav! Christ is born and revealed!"
Who could have predicted that history would turn out this way? Yet here we are today, two thousand years after that blessed birth, still meeting together in love and fellowship in the institution, which Christ Himself established. The legions of Christ -- churches, clergymen, faithful men and women around the world -- are still on the march, still hard at work, still continuing our Lord's mission.
All of this came about because of Christ's life and teaching. All because of God's extraordinary act!
Inspired by that act throughout these two millennia, ordinary people have found the strength to use God's gifts in extraordinary ways. Our own ancestors were drawn into the movement, and performed amazing deeds on our native soil. In Armenia, God's extraordinary action forged an entire culture, inspired our people to great heights of creativity, and consoled us in our hours of darkness.
Human power can be used for good as well as evil. We must choose, with our free will, to direct that power onto the right track. And in order to make that choice, we need to return to that extraordinary action God took two thousand years ago, in Bethlehem.
The empty canvas of the 21st now stands before us. We can choose to paint it in any way we like. Let us choose to begin painting with bold strokes. Let us resolve to illustrate the next century with extraordinary actions. Let us promise that we will not sit on the sidelines and leave the work to others, but that we will turn our own hands to the challenges and opportunities of this new era. This, indeed, will be the greatest contribution we can make to our Church, our community, our nation, and indeed to the world.
And so I ask each of you: How will you take advantage of this unique moment in history? Will you be satisfied with business-as-usual? Or will you take the risk of bold, creative action? We were set on this path two thousand years ago, by one extraordinary act of God. He asks us to respond in kind. May He always guide and strengthen us, as we labor to perform His will.
? Archbishop Khajag Barsamian