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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Speaking Words of Wisdom

Next Step #271: Fr. Vazken starts this episode by an attempt at myth-busting grape-blessing with the help of old-Iraqis and the folks down-under. Where this podcast ends up is a true reflection of Armodoxy - taking the essence of the Holy Mother of God, St. Mary, and finding a verse of pop culture that focuses on the importance of Saints in our everyday life. Is this a redirection or dismissal of her virginity? You decide. But before you do, listen to the list of names ascribed to St. Mary, from "Antaram" to "Makrouhi" to "Yerjanik" and find a message that talks to you. Also, a look at the Grape Blessing service; the Armenians were sanctifying food before Kosher became a standard. Don't miss this special edition of the Next Step.
Song of the Week: "Birth of a Star" by Torkom Saraydarian 
Source for Torkom Saraydarian's Creative Works 
What's missing from the Nicene Creed? Next Step #270
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Missing from the Nicene Creed

Next Step #270: Discovering a missing element from the Nicene Creed. Is there more than the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the Church? Listen in as Fr. Vazken finds the missing piece to the puzzle of Orthodoxy and Armodoxy. Balancing the roller-coasters of life - the cries and laughs - with a hug-proposal - how about a week long hug-fest? Beginning the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Genocide with some sanity. Also: In what language do you think? A look from the ghetto.
Song: Khatchadour Avetissian "Djermag Aghavnie" - White Dove
100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Monument Groundbreaking speech by Fr. Vazken
In His Shoes "Leveraging Love": http://inhisshoes.org
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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A Kiss for You: Laughs to Cries and Back Again

Next Step #269: A lost kiss finds its way to where it belongs. Join Fr. Vazken as mood swings and different life puzzles play into this podcast. A blast from Armenia and a stop at the orphanage for special need children. Armodoxy is the message of Armenian Orthodoxy and there's no better place to hear it. Pope Francis borrows a page from Armodoxy too.
Song: John Bilezikjian "Art of the Oud" 
Fr. Vazken on Same Sex Marriage (Act #10x) 
Pope Francis and the Armodox position
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No Chosen Lands Either

Next Step #267: Back from the Holy Land, Fr. Vazken explains the Armodox understanding of chosenness and holiness, along with an explanation of evolutionary reality. No brain-checking in this one. The healing process is furthered and expanded and at the end there is peace.
Song: Nina Nay Nay by Hosharian Brothers 
Sun Sash - www.Sunsash.blogspot.com
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Accenting vs. Breaking Christian Stereotypes

Next Step #253: Returning from a lively conversation with Stepan Partamian at GCC, Fr. Vazken reflects on Christianity today, as applied in society. Ethnic identity via the church? Breaking the stereotypes of the Church and Christianity. More topics: The cornerstone of Armodoxy is to look beyond Biblical mythology. Talking about birth control to a people who have experienced Genocide? Case in point: Rwanda. Non violent resistance and disciplining the masses. Case in point: Armenia. The different perspectives of religion; the Holistic approach to God via Armodoxy. Much more...

Stepan Partamian: http://www.partam.com/
Anush's Pomegranate Seeds:  "Thoughts on Fasting"
Song: "Orhynyal eh Asdvadz" by Winds of Passion
Flyer for event: http://tinyurl.com/gcc-dv-part-13
New video series: www.youtube.com/armodoxy
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White Smoke Tweets

Next Step #249: From the white smoke a tweet signals the election of Pope Francis and opening the doors of the fourth estate. Fr. Vazken refects on this election, the Pope, Orthodoxy and the Catholicism. Issues of social justice and the times ahead will be challenging. Spinning the Pope - News alert on the Pope and Armenian victimization. Toward the end of the Lenten season and the End of times - where to focus your attention. Final thoughts on living in the eternal present. The God question in cosmology. Why Armodoxy is necessary at this point. Pi Day, though its just an approximation, it'll get better in 2 years. Sharing a book list.
Song: Our Father "Hayr Mer" by Duduk Quartet
Anush's Pomegranate Seed: Walking by Heart with God
Coming up this Sunday - Gala Danilova will be talking about the landmine clearing in Artzakh - streamed at http://epostle.net
Women are grumpier than men in the morning
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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
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Arriving Totally: Theophany to New Media Expo

Next Step #240: Celebrate with Fr. Vazken as he experiments with his new T-Pain Microphone. "Theophany in overdrive" - a review of the holidays beyond the 140 character count. The total & holistic approach of Armodoxy and how the Spirit moves us and moves within the Church. Loving through Understanding=the In His Shoes philosophy. Returning from New Media Expo, a review of show, technology and Suzie's voice from the back seat of the Mustang! The evolution of the computer - toasters, an appliance and the Church.
Anush's "Pomegranate Seeds" - An Ordinary Armenian Christmas
Song - Amen Shapat gam Giragi by the Seminarians of the Vazkenian Seminary at Lake Sevan.
Links
Theophany Sermon
In His Shoes - www.inhisshoes.org
T-Pain & Obama
Datev Outreach - www.DatevOutreach.org
Robert Tercek, New Media Expo
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Fr. Vazken Blessing the Water

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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Enough, Eli...

Next Step #223: Jesus' last words on the Cross - "Eli, Eli Lama Sabactani" are the preface to the Feast of the Holy Cross. An Armodoxy explanation via St. Nersess Shnorhali.  Fanning the flames of hatred with religious intolerance throughout the world. In defense of the indefensible?
Song: Anahit Nersisian: 10 Piano Pieces by Armenian Composers
"The Cross" Blind Boys of Alabama
Harry Hagopian: www.epektasis.net
Elevation of the Holy Cross
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Threatening Justice in Big Ways

Next Step #222: Hungary releases a killer/Azerbaijan rewards a killer and Justice is threatened everywhere. Fr. Vazken pushes the story outside of politics with a reminder of Dr. King's warning, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everyone." Catholicos Karekin II calls for action. Moving the clock from 24 hours to 140 characters and moving the Christian outside his/her comfort level. A "Baku style wedding" leaves everyone moved to tears as a King and Queen take their child to the altar of God - a true story from Fr. Vazken's journal of Deviations from Orthodox practices in favor of Armodoxy. Final thoughts on Neil Armstrong, not forgetting Michael Collins.
Hungary Azeri Hate Crime against Armenians: http://armenianchurchyouthministries.org/flyers/Hungary-Azeri-Hatecrime.pdf
Ani's Bubbles: What does it Matter. http://bacheegsandlove.blogspot.com/
Song: "Ervoom Em" (Listen to My Heart) by Datevik
"Two Short Planks" by Ian Anderson
More at: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com
Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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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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Finding the Jesus Tax Code

Next Step 219: Why isn't juggling in the Olympics? H2O-Polo Coach Adam Krikorian on the world stage with honesty and integrity. Taking the "Next Step" beyond the words of the Bible and allowing the Gospel to live. Affecting a World with the Power of Armodoxy. Syria - a directive to help. Grapeblessing challenge. Debating Jesus' Tax Plan. Making Jesus work for your argument - it's an exercise in spinning statistics - so exercise caution!
Is Paul Ryan's Budget UnChristian?
Song: "Last Dance" by Armen Chakmakian
Ani's Bubbles: Golden House
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Olympic Size Divorce

Next Step #217: Olympic size problems are in the 100th of seconds. Winners and losers are defined by milliseconds. We're not as tolerant when it comes to divorce - "hard-heartedness" prevents us from opting for faith, hope and love. Following up on the "Divorce Comma" from last week's lectionary reading - Matthew 19. Armodoxy answering the questions we ask. Armodoxy as a logical approach to daily dilemmas.
Sermon: The Divorce Comma
Song: Ov Siroon Siroon, Adiss & Vatche
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Phenomenon: Believing in the Faith

Next Step #212: Returning from a trip to Wisconsin, Fr. Vazken explores some of the challenges of a Virtual Church. The Importance of touch, action and empathy in the Christian equation. Interview with Fr. Nareg Keutelian, pastor of St. John the Baptist Armenian Church, on technology, the church and the phenomenon of non-ethnic Armenian Church members. Is this where Armodoxy is headed?
In Milwaukee: http://milwaukeearmenians.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/one-sunday-three-priests-a-family-celebration-at-st-john/
Song: "Antza Gnatzi" by Andranik Mouradian, Ethnic Sketches
Window: http://acrag.wordpress.com/
Fr. Vazken's Sermons: http://armenianorthodoxy.blogspot.com/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Bumblebee Pentecost

Next Step #210: 4th Anniversary Edition/Celebration. Australian Coffee - nothing down-under about it. Prove you're alive with this simple breathing experiment. The transcendence of time/space through the Church. The power of the Pentecost was the ability to transcend the temporal limitations. No need to check-in your brain to follow Armodoxy. "Etchmiadzin in Mission," said HH Karekin I, (1995-1999) - how to apply "etchmiadzin" to our daily and community life.
Song: "Good morning, defeat" by Gor Mkhitarian from United Fantasies
Ani's Bubbles: "Loving Kindness"
Hayk Foundation: http://haykfoundation.org/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Chapter Books to the Rescue

Next Step #205: Obama evolves on homosexual marriages while others evolve on the genocide recognition. Gay and Lesbian Marriages and the Armodoxy Response; "Chapter" books have the answer. More on Mary Madelyn's status update from the Holy Sepulcher. Armodoxy surfaces.
Song: "Sevani Tzugnors Baru" - 1970 Personal Recording
Ani's Bubbles: Touchstone
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The Traveling Genocide

Next Step #203: Stories from a week of commemorations. The UCSB Commemoration and the lonely Turk. Santayana and Hitler - an axiom delivered 15 years later. In a Rwandan museum and the Question "Which Genocide?" as humanity running backwards.The Misunderstood Jesus and the power of Armodoxy: Overcoming with the power of love. European education and community issues. A priests log of commemoration events - bringing it all together with solid answers for victory.
Links from today's show:
In His Shoes: http://InHisShoes.org
Rwandan Genocide Blog: http://dervaz.blogspot.com/
Adam Schiff & Condoleezza Rice: http://youtu.be/OhF-y6k3AI8
April 24 in Etchmiadzin, Armenia: http://youtu.be/d1rJP2fbc38
Song: "Jesus" by Cat Stevens
Ani's Bubbles: He needed me.
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Hayoo Acher

Remember 'Current Events'? Did the Church forget?

Next Step #199: Revisiting the disenfranchised community (and we're NOT talking about those who don't attend church.) Targeting Armodoxy to the "three groups." The Church and its relevancy to the multitalented/multidimensional individual. HH Vazken I of Blessed Memory (1955-1994), guiding the Armenian Church from Cold War to Independence: the Working of the Holy Spirit; Remembering the "Thief on the Cross" and then remembering ourselves. The "Opportunity Clause" used by Christians to rationalize a loving and damning God. The Basis of the Second Coming of Christ - looking at the Bottom Line of the Christian Message. A quick look at newspapers and a prelude to the "Virtual Armenia."
Song: "Nayatz Sirov" by the Seminarians of the Vazkenian Seminary, Lake Sevan, Armenia 
Daily messages for Holy Week: http://epostle.net/easter/
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Fr. Vazken at the statue of HH Vazken I at the Seminary in his name, Lake Sevan, Armenia