The newly created Deacons' Council of the Western Diocese, continues expanding the role and function of the deacon in the apostolic mission of the church by providing opportunities to deacons beyond their Sunday morning liturgical function. While service at the Holy Divine Liturgy is the cornerstone of the deacon's ministry, there are many other areas in which the deacon can bring his service. The "Deacon's Chant" newsletter of the Council shares some of those opportunities, the latest issue is available https://app.mlsend.com/s4y6f7/
On the occasion of Armenian Genocide Commemoration, council member Deacon David Madey shares his personal testimony and story.
When We Lay Our Flowers…
I believe the more you know about your past and where you come from, the more you know about yourself. I’m half-Armenian. I learned that even if you have just one drop of Armenian blood in your veins, you are a part of a larger family—a larger story. Part of that story involves a genocide, but also journey. We are all here because someone in our family survived. We are proof. Eventually, someone in our family left to come to America. If my great grandfather never came to this country, I wouldn’t be here. But what am I here for?
I knew I could answer that question in my community. Church is community. So, I went… When people ask, “What’s Armenian?” I tell them this: our culture and our Christian faith are one-in-the-same: the first Christian nation. That’s what makes us unique. Just as William Saroyan says that when any two Armenians meet, they create a new Armenia; so is it when any two people pray—the Lord is with us (Matthew 18:20).
God has always been with us—even when it doesn’t feel like it. He’s right here, right now. He gave us this home. He gave us this Church, and we’ve always been a part of it even before we were born, and even after we die.
1.5 million people died during the Armenian Genocide over 100 years ago. So, why is remembering this day so important? Just look at what happened this past year: we were bullied and killed again, over 100 years later. In 1918, it was the beginning of a pandemic and a World War, and the world fell silent. This past year, another pandemic and an information war lead to more hate and slaughter. History repeated. Our struggle continued. Though we are not living in that part of the world, that’s part of our story. We can honor that by making a difference in our community—our country, our city, our family, our Church. When we do that, that’s how we discover who we are…
During this time, we often lay flowers around the Khatchkar to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, each of us adding our rose—the making of our story—at the foot of the Cross… Let’s not see ourselves as separate flowers put together, but one thing—one flower, one garden, one legacy.
April 24, 2021
