Prayer and the Primate's Message

As they arrived at the Assembly on Friday, delegates submitted their votes for the various open positions before heading into the meeting room for a prayer service lead by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, with the help of Dn. Mitchell Mouradjian, of the Church of the Holy Resurrection of New Britain, CT; Fr. Mikael Devejian of the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX; and Fr. Hovakim Manukian, one of the visiting priests from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The other visiting priest, Fr. Yessai Artenian, then read a message from His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in Armenian as English translations were distributed.

CARRYING THE FLAME

Addressing the delegates, the Primate first spoke in Armenian before switching to English to share his thoughts and vision.

"Each one of you here at this Assembly constitutes the leadership of our Diocese," the Primate said. "I hope and I pray our work these next few days and this year will prove very fruitful."

He discussed the intent of the Diocese -- that the Armenian Church is significant in the lives of all Armenians – and outlined the five areas the Diocese has been focusing on: stewardship, leadership, communications, worship, and youth. This year the Assembly begins the "Year of the Youth: Carrying the Flame," which is dedicated to programs aimed at bringing the youth into the life of the church.

"We are charging our youth to carry the flame. What is this flame? What does it mean to both us and the youth? We chose the flame not by accident," the Primate said in his address. "The flame, or fire if you will, provides warmth and life. These are basic to human survival. But we chose it because it symbolically reaches beyond our basic instinct to survival. The flame symbolizes something invisible and something eternal to us Christians. The flame represents the living Christ."

The Primate said the idea of the flame represents not just Christianity but the Armenian national identity.

"The flame is a symbol of our unity -- of our Christianity and our Armenian culture -- and all this implies," he said. "Our faith is bound to our history and culture. At their best, our faith and culture inform each other. They cannot sand alone. Without that identity we are forced to lead unfulfilled lives of wondering generalities."

Reflecting on his time with Pope John Paul II and seeing so many young people descend upon Rome after the pope's death, the Primate said the pope was greater than his office.

"That was not why he was so greatly loved and respected. I think what so many people loved with him originated outside the powers and prestige of his office. Behind the formal powers of the papacy stood a simple Polish man, who was distinctly himself. He was humble, approachable, and down to earth. He was authentic," the Primate said. "He knew who he was and because he knew who he was he could walk confidently and boldly, yet humbly. That confidence allowed him to be open to the entire world, to engage in it, and act in it."

The Primate said he thought the lesson of Pope John Paul II and how he maintained his Polish identity can serve as a role model to the Armenians.

"There is a lesson in how we too can hold to our identity and heritage. We, too, can be confident about being Armenian, about carrying our special unique flame. That confidence, if it is genuine and rooted in a knowledge of our history and heritage, frees us to be open without fear to the rest of the world."

Today's young people can be proud of their ancient heritage, the Primate said. However, the elders of the church must make an effort.

"It is vitally important that we meet our youth where they are, on their own terms," he said. "That is where we start. Our youth may appear to be tuned out to what the church has to offer, but I know that in their hearts they want to connect."

"We sometimes do not give our youth enough credit. Most of our youth are searching for meaning , for something real. They will look back to the teachings they know to be true to find meaning in their lives and to take possession of their identity. What will they behold in us when the time comes for them to ask 'Who am I?'"

The Primate asked the delegates to think about the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son, specifically that his father maintained a home his son could return to and welcomed him back with open arms and clothing him in the best robes.

"Are we earnestly maintaining our Armenian homes for that moment when our children come home?" the Primate asked. "I ask each one of us to open our arms for our youth, understand their needs, and clothe them in the fine robe of the Armenian Christian identity and our traditions. Naturally those needs change over time that is why we need to make an effort to find things in our church that speak directly to the new generation, that make the church relevant to each present moment."

Today's elders owe the very existence of the Armenian Church to the survivors of the Genocide who carried their faith through that tragedy, the Primate said. Equipping young leaders with the skills and faith needed to lead the church in the future is a way of honoring the memory of the survivors.

"The survivors had every reason to give up and assimilate into the larger world, but they chose otherwise and we are better because of that. Now, five generations later, we are proof they succeeded in keeping the flame alive," the Primate said.

"Carrying the flame means doing anything and everything that keeps our Armenian Christian heritage going and going strong. We are very fortunate that there seems to be no shortage of people willing to accept this responsibility. Everyone in this room still finds fulfillment and excitement in the idea of keeping our flame alive. That is the first and most important step in passing the flame. For if we ourselves are not excited by the flame we have been given, then how can we inspire a new generation to carry on after us."

The privilege of carrying the flame includes the duty to pass it on, the Primate told the delegates.

"Our youth need to receive the flame. They need to take ownership and assume responsibility for the precious treasures of our heritage., And as leaders in the church we need to show we have faith in our youth by passing the flame onto them. Since we are the current leaders of our church, it must begin with us. We should not look around and point the finger to the other person, we should start looking to each one of us to help pass the flame."

"In passing on the flame we will be fulfilling the highest duty of leadership: ensuring that the flame is carried in good hands into the future."

Reflecting on his various meetings with youth from throughout the Diocese, the Primate said they are ready to accept larger roles of responsibility.

"It will be our task throughout this year of the youth, and even later, to seek out, encourage, and prepare these leaders of tomorrow," the Primate said.

Posted by Jake at April 29, 2005 09:55 AM