Social Doctrine on the Shoe

Next Step #279: Moving forward from the Bishop Synod, a look at matters of social doctrine. A review of "In His Shoes" as a philosophy and a natural solution/alternative to victim-based strategies of life. Holy Etchmiadzin's Department looking at Social Doctrine. Killing in 2013 - for baseball teams?
Song by Norayr Kartashyan "Tzarastan"
Bishop Bagrat Galusdanian
Loyola Abortion Link 
Condoleezza Rice & Adam Schiff
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Disappointment to Purpose

Next Step #278: The historic Bishop's Synod of the Armenian Church, took place behind closed doors as is the perogative of the overseers of the Church. Here's a follow-up to last weeks' look at the Synod, filled with frustrations for us looking-in, but also a wonderful opportunity to look at the Sacred Mission entrusted to us. "Yelp" and the opportunity to use technology to go beyond those closed-doors. The 140 characters and the concise nature of the Gospels. Prayer request for Abp. Mesrob Mutafyan, Patriarch of Constantinople. And much more - as Fr. Vazken takes a next step...
Vardan Ovsepian "Hymn" from Aragast album
Etchmiadzin on the Bishop's Synod
SunSash - http://www.sunsash.blogspot.com/
Yelp - http://www.yelp.com
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Business as Usual? Or Just the Plan?

Next Step #277: A first look at the Bishop's Synod in Etchmiadzin, along with background info on the catholicoi at the dias. A special treat for listeners with a uncovered gift to celebrate Fr. Vazken's anniversary. The evolution and synthesis of Armenian and Orthodoxy toward Armodoxy, in this edition. To be continued...
Song: "Life's a Long Song" by Jethro Tull 
Compass #7-SE (to claim "gift" press on the "Special Edition" tag)
Bishop's Synod - Message of Catholicos Karekin II and Catholicos Aram I
Pictures from Bishop's Synod
Pope Francis Interview, "America" Magazine
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Buildings and Building Faith

Next Step #276: Developing on a sermon he gave about mythology and Light, Fr. Vazken separates the power of Christ from Old Testament mythology. He sets up an antenna to catch the sounds that transcend time and space. He challenges listeners to find Christ outside the normal bounds of the norm. Salvation is not tied into ethnicity. In this episode: The Holy Cross, Voyager outside the Solar System,and the Building of the Moscow Cathedral - the sins of Gregory, Dirtad and us.
Holy Cross Sermon 
Moscow Cathedral Pictures 
Song: Payloun Arousyag - Minstrels of Armenia
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Dreaming Beyond a Speech and into Syria

Next Step #273: 50 years after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr's "I have a Dream Speech," Fr. Vazken shares some thoughts and offers a challenge to dream of peace - bringing about peace without the use of violence. With the imminent threat of war in Syria, a candid look at our faith - do we really believe that we can overcome evil with love? Do we believe there are non-violent alternatives to threats of death and annihilation? Also a discussion of chickens and headless existence (in the context of the Armenian Church and Armodoxy)
Song: "Dream Song" by Joan Baez
The Speech
Transcript: http://www.inhisshoes.org/documents/MLK_dream.pdf
Harry Hagopian Podcast MENA: http://www.premier.org.uk/mena
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Apostolic Tweets: Armenian & Latin

Next Step #247: Pope Benedict XVI's Twitter account puts up a vacancy sign "Sede Vacant" minutes after his last Tweet. Dynamic/Alive -It's all about moving forward. A healthy understanding to the Roman Catholic Church, for the Orthodox Christian - an Armodoxy view. Peter the Rock and the Confessional Rock: Christ the Center. Sunrise "Arevakal" Confession - "The Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ"
Anush's Pomegranate Seeds: "Loving Divorce"
Song: Armenian Public Radio "Retrograde" 
Apostolic Succession in the Armenian Church 
Pope Benedict's Tweets Archived 
Lenten Journey: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com
Sun Sash: http://sunsash.blogspot.com
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Goal Oriented Imperfection

Next Step #245: Using symbols and myths to explain the mysteries in life gets a bit confusing when Armenian churches light some bonfires in the back yard. Mid Winter. Purification, Presentation, Valentine's and Adam & Eve all come together for today's show. The Pope's resignation begs the question of running the Perfect Body of Christ with imperfect people. Stripping away the imperfections and finding the bulls-eye in the middle of our faith. "There's something beautiful in the Armenian Church but..." was the general consensus last week, and this week there's more. The Curtain in the Armenian Church - and how we have become the curtain -the reason for separation from paradise. In New Mexico - figuring out the Catholic Church and in Paradise figuring out Adam & Eve's identity. It's about time the Armenian alphabet adds a "th" and "w" sound. All in this week's edition.
Anush's Pomegranate Seed: "Amazing Love"
Song: Schubert - Grammy Award Winning artist Kim Kashkashian
Kim Kashkashian Grammy Award
More on  Life, Love & Sayat Nova - Next Step #35
10 Worst Popes of All Time
Lenten Journey - www.armodoxy.blogspot.com
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No Knocks for Structure

Next Step #243: A new Patriarch in Jerusalem, Chris Brown at the Glendale Armenian Church, and two ladies want a baptism without a godfather - It's time for some structure! It's easy to find dirt under the grass, but Fr. Vazken discusses the greenness of the grass this new day. Why the Church and how it helps to get the message of eternity out to the people.
Anush's Pomegranate - "Church & State"
Song: "Nor Yerk" by Mariam Matossian
Jerusalem Patriarch Elected - coverage and commentary by Dr. Harry Hagopian
A new Armenian Patriarch in Jerusalem: what does it mean?
The Haghpat Monastary in Armenia
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Activism during a Weekend for Society

Next Step #241: Datev Outreach Coordinator, Anna Gasparian, is in studio for a briefing on a Christ-centered ministry to combat domestic violence through the Armenian Church. This all during a weekend which calls for societal change from the memory of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to President Barack Obama's second inaugural.  Working to bring sanctity to the family in a holistic manner. 
Datev Outreach: http://datevoutreach.org
Anush's Pomegrante Seeds - "Activism" - I'm not buying apathy!
Song: "White, Brown, Black" by Brownie McGhee
Aaron Schwartz passes away - RSS Feed Codeveloper.
The First time Barack Obama was sworn into office
Kindred Spirits - MLK & John the Baptist
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Fr. Vazken and Anna Gasparian in studio

Obnoxious Voices from the Ridge

Next Step #230: Nietzche's formula for cheer applied to the Armenian Church via Armodoxy. Fr. Vazken's "Protest Manual" is revealed talking about effective protest and ill-fated varieties against the establishment. Bringing about change from within and not without. The imperfect-perfect Body of Christ. Challenges to the disenfranchised members of the Armenian Church community. Unveiling of the Datev Outreach program. Celebrating Halloween the Armodoxy way.
Get Sun Sash FREE - www.SunSash.blogspot.com
Unveiling: http://DatevOutreach.org
Window article: http://acrag.wordpress.com/1991/06/
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Endings: Death and Defrockery

Next Step #228: Patriarch Torkom Manoogian passes; Guest Commentary by Dr. Harry Hagopian. Politics in the Church? Never more pronounced - While a priest who brings people to the Armenian Church is defrocked, another clergyman who preaches non-Orthodox theology is granted a churchman's award. Make sense? The balance has tipped, more people checking off "None." Can Love be Irrelevant? Or are we not presenting it properly? Follow up to Ani Bubles' wedding.
Song: "Armenian Medley" by Hosharian Bros. Band; "Electric Kef"
Reflections on Patriarch Abp. Torkom Manoogian "Brandy & Honey with Our Tea" by Dr. Harry Hagopian
Domestic Violence Walk: http://DatevOutreach.org
Pew findings regarding "None" Religion
Sun Sash
Fr. Vazken's Blog
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A Question of Morality

Next Step #226: Where does morality - our sense of right and wrong - come from? Is it possible to have a morality apart from God? Armodoxy and the In His Shoes models hold some clues to the answer. The Road to In His Shoes and to Armodoxy is just as important as arriving there. The parable of the "Good Turk" can be heard by Jesus in the Armenian Church. Ayn Rand: "Morality has to be a rational science."
Archbishop Baliozian enters Eternal Rest
Ani's Bubbles: Two Frog http://bacheegsandlove.blogspot.com/
Song: Calendar Express by The Dirty Diamond
Sun Sash
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Start Sweating: It's NOT all small Stuff

Next Step 220: In this Next Step, Fr. Vazken challenges the notion that "it's all small stuff" by pointing to the disastrous consequence of such thinking: a church that has lost relevance. Abp. Shnork's example of the bridge that is too beautiful to cross is used as a metaphor for many traditional (read Orthodox) churches that have become breeding grounds quality picnics, dinners and Bingo, while losing the sense of Mission, the Gospel of Hope and the Path to Resurrection.
Compass with Linda Zadoian #29
Song: "Me and My Country" by Gor Mkhitarian
Ani’s Bubbles: Sand and Stone
Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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The God Particle We Knew About

Next Step #213: Looking beyond the known universe and finding pre-Big Bang evidence. The discovery of the Higgs boson God particle - St. Gregory anticipated it. Additions to the Creed - Pontius Pilate is absent but St. Gregory's Proclamation is in place in the Armenian tradition. Excerpts from the dinner conversation with Arman Satchyan, winner of the auction item.
Earlier than Universe from Yerevan
Higgs Boson - Discovery May Help Tell Universe's Secrets
Higgs Boson cartoon
Madame Kubah on Facebook
Compass interview with Arman Satchyan
Song: "Birth of a Star" by Torkom Saraydarian
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Business in and for the Church?

Next Step #204: The infrastructure of the Church - necessity or hindrance to its mission? More than an exploration, Fr. Vazken begins a needed discussion about the workings (and trappings) of the Church. Business is a means of actualizing the goal and in the case of the Church, profits are measured differently. The case of Fr. Barthev, brings an interesting sideline discussion about the "Mission" of the Armenian Church. Looking beyond "normalcy."
Ani's Bubbles: The Dinner Letter
Song: "Haneluk Es" by Shiraz
NPR story on Fr. Barthev: http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/05/01/32244/popular-armenian-priest-leaves-us-and-young-parish/
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Transforming the Heresy Card beyond P-C-O

Next Step #195: The day after Leap Day, we're syncing with the universe. The transforming power of Christ during the Lenten Season. A chance to reflect on the power of Abp. Vatche's Interview. Are Armenians Orthodox - on the heresy card, played by Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants. An inward look at the sin of the Church in reference to homosexuality. Digitizing LP's, Davey Jones' (Monkees) passing.
Song: Kapama by the Armenian Song & Dance Ensemble
Ani's Bubbles: "Great Love"
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian Interview on Compass #20
Links from Harry Hagopian - Human Beings & Ultimate Origins
Panorthodoxy in America: http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/ecumenical
Freedom: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2367/archbishop-on-bonhoeffer-what-it-means-to-be-free
Lenten Resources: http://armenianorthodoxy.org/lent/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Twinkies in Paradise

Next Step #194: Quick! Word problem time - subtract the number of days of Lent from the total number of days in a year. Grab your calculator and press the RESET button on life. Find what is necessary in life and who's responsible for the challenges all around you. Adam and Eve have nothing on the Twinkie defense on this Expulsion Sunday. Vartan's battle continues with a Vatche, Zaven and Karekin in this new chapter of an old story. On the problems of crying and strength.
Song: Lilit Danielyan "I saw my love in the street" (Nahapet Kuchak)
Ani's Bubbles: Mother Teresa's Life
Links: Twinkie Defense
Lenten Page: http://armenianorthodoxy.org/lent/
Videos: www.youtube.com/armodoxy
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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First Step for Technology & Armodoxy

Next Step #174: Steve Jobs' Passing. Fr. Vazken reflects on Jobs, the visionary and the pioneer, bringing together some personal reflections from the early days of Silicon Valley and implications of those reflections for Armodoxy. "We are HERE because of him," says Fr. Vazken. Each step matters - first steps lead to the next steps. Politics in the Armenian Church: Why are members of the Armenian Church feeling disenfranchised? Catholicos Aram I visits the Southland - the office and the person, the custom of "achahampouyr." The Armenian Church at the abortion clinic - priorities for the Armenian church - don't throw out the baby with the Bathwater! A poem by Lory Bedikian - "Self Portrait with Crane" from The Book of Lamenting - brings together this episode about church - state - diaspora realities. A must hear!
Music: Switched on Bach by Wendy Carlos on Moog Synthesizer
Ani's Bubbles: Abbey & Meridith.
Pomegranate & I blog: A Song, A Dance, and a Blessing
In His Shoes Mission in an Armenian Village - A miracle with music by Gor Mkhitarian: http://youtu.be/IuNb4xSLPtI
Silicon Valley blog by Fr. Vazken
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This Episode is Sponsored by Nicholas & Janine Economides

Vacation & Recreation Plans for the Rest of Us

Next Step #162: Making a vacation a true opportunity for recreation is a Christian calling during summer and year-round. Here’s a chance to enjoy the best of God’s world without leaving home. Dizzy Gillespie hit the jazz note and you got a buzz, now try some “Armenian Blues” for that extra walk through Palu and now America. Islam in America – how far? Mormons and the Christian Church - beginning a conversation on the Next Step. Tweeting your way through college.
Song (dedicated to Uncle Gill): “Ghurgeet” by Richard Hagopian
Ani’s Bubble: The Secret of Happiness
New video channel: www.youtube.com/armodoxy
The Other Wiseman: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19608
Tweeting through College
“Carmaggedon?”
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Moving Mountains before the End of Time

Next Step #154: The “healing” Gospel of the Armenian Church: Mark 11 is explored in the context of the rites of the Armenian Orthodox Church. (Explained: Mashdotz/Mayr & Hayr Mashdotz) Jesus gives a lesson of mind over matter and the ability to shift off of the physical plane. Mother Teresa is there to follow: “I know God will not give me anything I cannot handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me this much.” End of World predictions for this Saturday, May 21, are you (getting) prepared? Jehovah’s Witness beat Armenian Priest: http://hetq.am/eng/news/1252/
Letter from Eh Wear: www.ehwear.org
Music by John Bilezikjian "Medax Tashginag" 
Ani's Bubble – Positive Attitude.
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