Cross of Gold

Next Step #198: EXCLUSIVE: Reflections on the Passing of HH Pope Shenouda III, connecting with the Middle East and Armenians by Harry Hagopian. On the positive side of Lent - the power of Prayer, as expressed in physics and singularity. Black Hole Events to Killing Cancer. A first look at Holy Week with more to come...
Ani's Bubbles: Animal Crackers
Song: Cross of Gold by Darrell Grant on "Truth & Reconciliation"
Links:
Pope Shenouda's passing: http://youtu.be/b5CyiwnvW9A
Pope Shenouda Tribute: http://youtu.be/-apFmn18Sug
Harry Hagopian on the Pope: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16410
Armenian Miuron/Coptic church: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com/2011/07/coptic-churcharmenian-miuron.html
More from Harry Hagopian http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/HarryHagopian
More from the Armenian Orthodoxy Blog: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com/
Holy Week Podcasts: http://epostle.net/easter/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Extremism from Dr. King, The Forerunner & El Gordo

Next Step #188: A discovery 2 Quadrillion times the size of the Sun "El Gordo" & 7 Billion Light years away, brings the discussion of Mystery close to home.  A look at Sirach and Einstein's take on mystery, it is the cornerstone of life and sight, says the world renown physicist. St. John the Forerunner prepares the way of the Lord with a call to repentance. Jesus' command to love your enemies comes alive in the teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with emphasis on his REV, he's a minster of the Gospel. It's all connected and Fr. Vazken connects the dots again. The simple prayer - "Lord, if you open my mouth, I will sing your praise" leads to the Epostle.net experience.
Song: You Must be Born Again by Dorothy Love-Coates: http://www.amazon.com/You-Must-Be-Born-Again/dp/B0015P2F3E
Ani's Bubble - Extremist for Life - quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.
El Gordo: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/11/145043195/el-gordo-galaxy-with-mass-2-quadrillion-times-the-suns-discovered
Sirach 43: http://www.newadvent.org/bible/sir043.htm
Returning Home Sermon: http://armenianorthodoxy.blogspot.com/2012/01/returning-home.html
More on Dr. King & John the Baptist: http://epostle.net/archives_season2.html#31
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Justice with Just Us and A Prayer

Next Step #180 : When a catholicos marginalizes prayer, its power stays unleashed and love is not explored. Another catholicos is ready to put it all in perspective - from his vantage point and with the maharajahs who missed the Armenians. After a brief visit to Armenian land, Fr. Vazken returns without jet lag but with some extra baggage. Continuing on Politics and Religion: finding mission in everything we do. Regis & Jerry: do we need to know everything? News from epostle.net too - Armodoxy has arrived.
Armenian Consulate's page
Song: "Dream of Life" by Haig Yazjian
Ani's Bubbles: "Lessons from the Porcupine"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Resonating to Turn Condemnation to Salvation

Next Step #159: The power that resides in each of us, is also part and fabric of the universe, it resides outside of us. Belief and faith means going beyond the ordinary and the expected. Armodoxy is the path that challenges us to find harmony within ourselves and without – seeking the impossible and resonating with the harmonics that otherwise don’t exist. Tapping into the Jesus principle of Resurrection. “Praying Solves all of my Problems.” – Pope Kirollos.  The “loaded” prayer of Christ. Only Christ can change the ugliness of condemnation and death to the beauty of salvation and life.  Using examples from his recent experiences with health issues, Fr. Vazken talks about the power to overcome evil, cancer, and darkness in the Armodox tradition. Armodoxy’s raison d'etre and Etchmiadzin as mission.
Music: Bazzini's "La Ronde des Lutins'; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vengerov-Virtuosi-Antonio-Bazzini/dp/B00005K3Q0
Opening: Arax “Vaspouragan” http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/arax2
Lucine Zakarian “Xorhurt Xorin”
Ani's Bubbles: Keep Hope Alive (Believing in Magic)
Support 18 year old Gegham: https://www.facebook.com/gennext
Theme Song by Varoujan Movsesian
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Focusing Vision on Thanksgiving

Next Step #129: Focusing on the theme of Thanksgiving allows us to transcend the self and understand ourselves in the bigger picture of “giving” rather than receiving. Celebrate the shift from victim to victor as Fr. Vazken explains the Focused Vision that allows for walking “In His Shoes.” Sorry Tea Party – the first pilgrims may have had socialist ideas, but Thanksgiving is about something HIGHER than our selves. The good Senator TOO offers us some Turkeys! Get ready for Christmas – it’s about Christ!
Prayer of Thanksgiving: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-prayer.html
Song: “Holy, Holy, Holy” by St. Gregory Youth Choir
Ani’s Bubbles: Corn
Telethon: http://www.armeniafund.org/telethon/telethon-2010/webcast.php
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

More Than Language

Next Step #60: The disenfranchised members of the Church – is language just a convenient scapegoat? (In His Steps? The Next Shoes? – definitely not about language!) Fr. Vazken gives instructions here on not just reading a prayer – but experiencing it! A look at the prayer/hymn Aravod Looso with an Armodoxy approach = don’t just read it, live it! Drop the camera, remove your eye from the viewfinder and you’ll see a beautiful life all around you. Today’s Next Step offers an exercise to holistic praying – by following the flow of the prayer and melody of St. Nersess Shnorhali. A preview of the “In Her Mittens” project by In His Shoes.
Music: Aram Khatchadourian’s “Dance of the Youths” from Gayane Ballet
Bubbles by Ani: Global proportions

Spiritual Warfare against Genocide

Next Step #46: Rape is discussed as one of the absolutes – there’s no justification or rationalization whether we destroy the planet, human life or the gene pool. The topic is a big one and Fr. Vazken takes the route of spiritual warfare – using themes of fasting and prayer – he calls on a generation to opt for love in battling the great menace of Genocide. Is it possible? Listen as even a spiritual bubble gives clues to making our efforts matter.

Spiritual Bubble by Ani: Does it Really Matter?

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian: Armenians in Turkey Today, another part of the story.

Prayer Beyond the Wish List

Praying for a Mercedes with Janis or an end to the war in Iraq all involve something deeper than a mere conversation. Fr. Vazken discusses a very misunderstood topic: Prayer. Whether you want to hang out at the pool of Bethesda or lament your losses in the stock market, you’ll want to listen in on this Lenten journey brought to you after this year’s Vernal Equinox.

Darfur update – following Gabriel and the StopGenocideNow team

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingiran discusses the spiritual dimensions to the global economy and the G20 Summit taking place in London.

Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr continues Nerses Shnorholi's Havadov Khosdovanimk (17-20)

Armenia to Bedrock - A Lenten Journey

Back from Armenia, Fr. Vazken reflects on the sacredness of the first Christian nation as we take a next step into the Lenten journey. Preparing for Easter requires a regimen of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving. Armenian Orthodoxy writes the prescription for healthy living, including body, mind, and soul. Now, find out if Adam was Fred Flintstone and Eve, Wilma? And what about Adam and Steve as Fr. Vazken bashes religious gay bashers as well as most stereotypes. A great way to start off lent.

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian looks at the Christian communities spread throughout the Middle East and their mass exodus from this region due to a host of dire internal and external issues.

Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr - Part 1 of 6 from St. Nerses Shnorhali's Havadov Khosdovanim (I Confess With Faith)

Musical selection: "Etchmiadzin ee Hore" from the album, Orhnial eh Asdvadz, sung by the seminarians at the Vazkenian Theological Academy of Lake Sevan.