Message of Fr. Vazken Movsesian, parish priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church, Cupertino, from the Nakhagoch Newsletter. Electronic version archived on: SAIN-- St. Andrew Information Network -------------------------------------- c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- PASTOR'S MESSAGE On May 1, 1988 we celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the last time in our old church building. It was the day we signaled the official start of building construction for our new facilities. The building committee along with the parish council are moving in high gear. The support we have received for the building project has been tremendous. As the cover story indicates, we received the full support, moral and financial of the Diocese. And now, while we are without a permenant home, it is a truly beautiful testement to the Christian Faith to see the support we are receiving from our Orthodox brothers and sisters. The community at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church has been more than receptive to us. We began services in their hall on May 22. They have been warm and friendly, making all their facilities open to us without charge. The two Greek Orthodox Churches in San Jose have been receptive to us as well, allowing us to celebrate the sacraments, weddings and baptisms, in their Churches. Their doors have been opened to us as if they were our own homes. And why not, they are! We use the title "Armenian Apostolic Church". Perhaps many do not know it, but we are also Orthodox. The adjective "Apostolic" was added to our name when our origins were in question. The Roman Church, had at one time labled us as Gregorian (or "Lusavorchagan"). Trying to discount our Apostolic roots, the Roman Church insisted that we are the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator. In fact the throne of Etchmiadzin (our Church's Mother See) is the throne of the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, hence, we appropriately use the name "Apostolic Church." However, we are also Orthodox. "Othodoxia" means first of all a "correct belief." The word "orthon" in Greek means correct, straight, or right. Doxa means belief. The Orthodox Christian Church holds that it has maintained the original, true and correct understanding of the teachings of Christ and the Apostles for the past twenty centuries. "Doxa" also means praise or worship. Our Church sees itself as the "true worshipping Church." This is why we emphasize the Divine Liturgy, it is a worshipping services. Another dimension of the Orthodox Church is "Orthopraxia," or the "correct action." The Orthodox Faith is not just the affirmation of belief, nor is it only participation in the worship of the Church. It means living the Faith in our lives. "It applies first of all to us as individuals as we seek to cultivate the inner life: prayer, self-discipline, fasting, patience, purity, etc. Its second application is in our interpersonal relations; the chief dimension of the Orthodox Christian orthopraxia is agape-love." (Harakas) Concerning ourselves and acting for the well-being of our neighbors, without selfish motives is what it is all about. We share this conviction with other Orthodox communities, be they Serbian, Greek, Russian, Ethiopians, etc. The language in which the the faith is acted upon is the major difference. The Serbs, the Greeks have opened their doors to us. We are seeing orthopraxia in action. It is only natural, that when our building is complete we will likewise open our doors to other communities who are in need. And the cycle will continue. --Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------