a few words from der tateos . . . Pick up a reputable newspaper worth reading, have a conversation with friends or family, listen to a broadcast on the nightly newscasts, and each seems to be speaking about employment statistics and forecasts. The days of 40 years of service and a gold watch stopped a long time ago. We live in a day when job change is a way of life, chosen or forced. Even in sports, we find players and owners interested in simply the individual or corporation's bottom line. The notion of job loyalty or team loyalty – see ya' later! It was one of those nights in a hotel room flipping through the stations when I found myself watching the third installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King. If you haven't seen the series, I recommend you do so. At one point, on the last part of the journey, Frodo states how badly he wishes he did not have to be the one to carry the Ring. Being the Ring-Bearer was a difficult and dangerous role. But, he took it up voluntarily; he knew it was a worthy task; he understood in some muted way that he was suited for it - even his weakness was part of his gifting, and yet the cost of it wore him down. Very clearly what Frodo was speaking of was "vocation." Scholars sometimes speak of a distinctness that Christianity added to the idea of a vocation. The Greeks gloried in achievement; heroism was much to be aspired to. However, it was generally understood as a way to express the strength and greatness of the hero. The hero chose what army to lead and what battle to fight. In ancient Greece, heroism was a chosen path. In the Jesus story, it became a calling greater than oneself; both a glorious quest to be achieved, but also a spending of oneself for something, or more precise, some one larger. In the story of the Jesus movement, accomplishment was a more complex journey. From the history of Israel came the notion of a life not so much planned for glory as interrupted by God: "And the word of the Lord came to …" Having the word of the Lord come to one is a

e-Tsayn e-Voice is a publication of

The Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate Department of Mission Parishes Rev. Fr. Tateos R. Abdalian, Director www.armenianchurch.net Diocesan Office: 212.686.0710 Email: dertateos@armeniandiocese.org  

little like bearing the Ring - you may know it's a glorious and powerful thing, but the task can wear on you after a while. Read what it did to Jeremiah or Isaiah or Elijah. "But you have been chosen," Gandalf says to Frodo. He tells him that he must therefore use such strength and hearts and wits as he has. You have been chosen.

I don't know if you (or I) am in exactly the perfect fitting job. But that's not the issue. With the priesthood, there is something sacred about being called by God, to care for his people, to be entrusted with God's people while they are living on earth. And this sense of calling needs desperately to be guarded. You have been chosen. And this sense of having been called - the worthiness of it, the glorious goodness of a life lived beyond an individual's agenda - is a precious thing indeed. Although it can be sometimes subverted into grandiosity, it is perhaps more often lost in the ministry of the mundane. But it needs to be guarded. Sometimes, along the journey, we can find that the quest is united and strong, the plans are glorious, hope is fierce,

and hearts beat fast. But you don't get to spend every day there. Ministry also involves slogging through the lower regions of "Mordor." Sometimes it consists of opposition. Talk to pastors and they will probably speak of a sense of at times being "beaten up" in their church ministries. St. Paul would occasionally use boxing metaphors. He said he "beat his body" - but he didn't ask anyone else to take a few shots at his torso. Sometimes there is unwarranted general criticism simply for the sake of criticism. ("If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself") Sometimes it is self-doubt - is what I'm doing really making a difference? ("Father if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.") Even if there is visible gain - will that really further the cause of an invisible kingdom? The world needs to understand, vocation matters; not because a successful career will make one happy. Vocation matters because the Caller matters. A strong sense of call does not finally rest on being obsessed about what "I" am doing. In fact, what "I" am doing is - in a sense - a very small bit in a much larger picture. People with the strongest and healthiest sense of calling are not obsessed with their calling. Rather they are preoccupied with the Caller. With a clear vision of a good and competent and loving God before them, the significance of their own tiny part in his world is safely and manageably held.

I love inspiration. To have my mind racing and my heart beating fast over glorious possibilities is very close to the summit of life experience for me. Those who answer the call were made to live by inspiration. Callings can only be maintained if they are inspired. But inspiration can degenerate into merely human attempts at manipulating motivation. Visions can deteriorate into scenarios of our own success and recognition when we become very impressed with ourselves, and our accomplishments. Me? I need to be inspired. I need an inspiration that is grounded in reality while thoroughly transcendent. The only true and lasting inspiration for life – my life - is genuine love for God, and a submitted gratitude that I get to be a part of the redemptive quest.

The Saints we Commemorate

Theodore the Warrior

In the city of Amasea, in the province of Pontus, during the Emperor Maximian's (286≠305) persecution, the soldier Theodore, together with other Christians, was required to renounce Christ and to offer sacrifice to idols. When he refused to do this, Theodore was subjected to cruel tortures and was confined in a dungeon. Here, during prayer, he was consoled by a miraculous appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. After a certain time, the martyr was brought out of the dungeon, and by various tortures they again tried to compel him to renounce Christ. Finally, seeing the inflexibility of the martyr, the ruler sentenced him to burning. Saint Theodore himself entered the fire dauntlessly, and here, with prayer and doxology he gave up his soul about the year 305. His body was buried in the city of Euchaita (in Asia Minor). Later, his relics were translated to Constantinople, to the church named after him; his head is located in Gaeta, Italy.

Some fifty years after the death of Saint Theodore, the Emperor Julian the Apostate (361≠363), desiring to defile the Christian Great Lent, ordered the city governor of Constantinople to sprinkle secretly the provisions sold in the markets with blood from sacrifices to idols each day throughout the first week of the Fast. Saint Theodore appeared in a night vision to Eudoxius, the Archbishop of Constantinople, and ordered him to announce to the Christians that they should not buy the defiled provisions in the markets, but should use kolivo (kutia), that is, boiled wheat with honey, as food. In commemoration of this event, the Orthodox Church to this day celebrates the memory of the martyr Theodore annually on the first Saturday of Great Lent. In the Eastern Orthodox Churches, on the eve, on Friday (or on Saturday), after the Prayer Behind the Ambo, a Moleben is served to Saint Theodore the Tyro (his epithet "tyro" means "recruit" in Latin) and kutia is blessed.

Got 2 Feet? Walk for St. Nersess on April 3

The third annual St. Nersess Walk for Faith will take place on Sunday, April 3, 2011. As in past years, friends of all ages, will gather at the Seminary for a 3-kilometer walk around New Rochelle to raise funds to support the many ministries of St. Nersess. Last year, over $10,000 was raised by walkers all over the country, who solicited pledges from family, friends and neighbors. Our goal this year is to do even better, in celebration of the Seminary's 50th Anniversary. "This event is unique among all of our fund-raising programs," said Fr. Daniel Findikyan. "A good portion of the donations we receive from the 3K Walk pledges comes from non-Armenian friends, neighbors, classmates and workmates of our walkers all over the country." "Our success in the Walk comes not from a few large gifts, but from a great number of $10 and $20 donations," added Deacon Levon Altiparmakian, the Seminary administrator, who will be lacing his Nikes for the walk. How You Can Help Start soliciting sponsors today! You'll be surprised who will pledge $20 to support the good work of St. Nersess. Download the form here. You can also make a donation to the Walk for Faith online. Fr. Stepanos will be In the House! If you are in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, come to St. Nersess on April 3 at 10:00AM for Divine Liturgy and brunch. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, beloved "Emeritus" Director of the Summer Conferences, will celebrate the Badarak and preach the sermon. Then hit the pavement with your St. Nersess friends. If you live far from the Seminary, organize your own 3K walk with friends. Or, if you're not up to it, gather sponsors to support our walkers at St. Nersess. DOWNLOAD A FLYER and spread the word. Sponsor checks should be made out to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and are fully tax deductible.

Calling All Campers . . .  

2011 SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM Mark your calendar for a summer filled with friendship, fellowship, and fun at St. Vartan Camp and Hye Camp. Check out the Camp Video on the home page of the website of the Diocese – www.armenianchurch.net St. Vartan Camp 2011, housed at the Ararat Center in Greenville, NY Staff Training: Wednesday, June 22 – Saturday, June 25 Session A: Sunday, June 26 – Saturday, July 9 Session B: Sunday, July 10 – Saturday, July 23 Session C: Sunday, July 24 – Saturday, August 6 Hye Camp 2011, housed at Camp Hickory in Ingleside, IL Staff Training: Thursday, July 27 – Saturday, July 30 Camp Session: Saturday, July 30 – Saturday, August 6 For more details on the camp programs, including past photos and daily blogs, or to be added to the St. Vartan Camp or Hye Camp mailing list, contact Jennifer Morris, Youth Outreach coordinator, at (212) 686-0710, ext. 118, or jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org.  

STOP THINKING about coming to Armenia this summer and just do it!

We're on the last days of registration. Sign up today – do not wait any longer!

To download a copy of the Registration form, go to www.SIMATours.com

or call Shake at 610-359-7521

 Save your seat today for the Mission Parish Pilgrimage to Armenia and Artsakh.

The deadline for the upcoming pilgrimage is fast approaching.

The cost of $2,790 includes round-trip airfare from New York JFK Airport, first-class hotel accommodations, breakfast and lunch/dinner daily, tour guides, and much more.