The sacred or unique significance of numbers in philosophical and religious systems. The idea of the absolute and indivisible union. Simple or perfect numbers (1, 3, 7) and their multiples in Christian perception. The principle of the triune monotheism. Symbolism of the numbers 40 and 50. Relationship of time and numerical calculation. Spiritual and materialistic perceptions of numbers.

• Speaker: Fr. David Gishyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Christ’s strict judgment of the sin of anger, and its interpretation in St. Paul’s epistles. Anger as a blurring of sound reasoning. The cause of anger: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?” (Jam. 4:1). “A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1). “In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Eph. 4:26).

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

What alienates individuals and peoples from the Lord? The consequences of the alienation from God in the example of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Peter’s denial of Jesus and his restoration in apostolic ministry. “The Lord  will never leave you nor forsake you, do not fear” (Deut. 31:8). Steps taken toward God. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (Jam. 4:8). Nothing is able to separate us from God’s love (Rom. 8:38-39).

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The Old and New Testaments as the Lord’s arks of covenant. The partners making the covenant and the God-human relationship. The covenants made with the Jews and their patriarchs in the Old Testament. The unfaithfulness of the people of Israel to their vows to God: “Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God” (Ps. 75:12). Christ’s new covenant with humanity, and the mystery of the Holy Mass. The Lord’s covenant with the Armenian people.

• Speaker: Fr. David Gishyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Etchmiadzin in the minds of the Armenian people. The Altar of Descent in the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, and the vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Pan-Armenian pilgrimages to Holy Etchmiadzin. The Mother See’s relocations throughout centuries and reestablishment in Vagharshapat. “Let’s build the holy altar of light.” The reconsecration of the Etchmiadzin Cathedral as an occasion for renewal of the Armenian people’s covenant with God.

• Speaker: Armen Hareyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The Apostle John’s pastoral message to the seven church communities in Asia Minor. The teaching of Chiliasm or Millenialism in the early Church, and the modern-day anticipation of the Lord’s coming. Warning against apostasy and heresies. “You have abandoned your first love” (Rev. 2:4). Spiritual lukewarmness is hated by the Lord. The commandment to persevere in the faith, hope, and love of God. The spiritual death as a “second death” (Rev. 2:11).

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Types of psychological trauma and their common features. The process of healing of a psychological trauma and the consecutive steps in it. The national trauma in the consciousness of Jews and Armenians and the attempts to overcome it. A description of the traumatic state of a human that has lost everything, and of the overcoming of that state, in the example of Job. Analysis of the traumatic consequences of sexual violence: Amnon and Tamar, Dinah, Shushanik.

• Speaker: Marianna Apresyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Biblical and early Christian origins of Myron. The Myron theology of St. Dionysius the Areopagite. The Holy Myron as a symbol of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. The Blessing of the Holy Myron in the Armenian Church and the sacred objects validating the blessing. The Holy Myron and the Church sacraments. The Blessing of the Holy Myron; Seal of Identity.

• Speaker: Fr. David Gishyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The Book of Psalms and its place in the biblical canon. The character of the king David. Reading the psalms and psalmody. Human emotions expressed in the psalms. The educational meaning of the psalms. The state of prayer and reading the psalms.

• Speaker: Fr. David Gishyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Sloth as a mortal sin. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Gen. 2:15). The instructions of the biblical Books of Wisdom and people's wisdom for the lazy. John Chrysostom: "Is it worth arriving at Hell because of laziness?" "Make the most of your time" (Eph. 5:16). The Parable of the Ten Pounds.

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The return of the Lord's Cross from captivity to Jerusalem. A Christian's victory through the Cross. Glorification of the Lord's Cross during ritual processions and andastans. Feasts of the Holy Cross as feasts of revelation of the Cross. Personal relations of a Christian with the Crucified One and with the redeeming Cross. True cross-bearing; the necessity of bearing the Cross in one's soul.

• Speaker: Fr. Nshan Alaverdyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The Church and the enlightenment. Repetitive instructions in the biblical Books of Wisdom. School, reader, and literature. The shattered respect toward teachers and vardapets in modern times. "Learn from Me" (Mt. 11:29). Teaching through parables. "All evil things enter human mind because of lack of education." The motto of the Holy Translators.

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

“Cain, where is your brother Abel?” (Gen. 4:9). Envy as a mortal sin and a root of other sins. Means to overcome the emerging envy: “Sin desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Gen. 4:7). Envy as a fight and protest against God’s will. The image of the jealous God and the true zeal. The power that annihilates envy: “Love does not envy” (1 Cor. 13:4).

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The practical application and professional prospects of theological education in Armenia. The attractiveness of theology for university applicants, and its relation to philosophy, psychology and art history. The relationship of Christian faith and theology. The Church as the driving force of theology and as its natural environment.

• Speakers: Alyona Anakhasyan, Asya Ghazaryan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Suicide: a sin against oneself, natural order, and God. Perception of suicide as sin and combination of despair and homicide in the teaching of the Church. Cases of unconsciously committed suicide. Pastoral care for the souls of suicides and their relatives. Specific cases of euthanasia. Spiritual mechanisms of suicide prevention: brotherly support and spiritual consultation.

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The genius of St. Gregory of Narek’s “The Book of Lamentations” (Narek). Traditions of the classical bibliotherapy and the therapy by Narek. Psychological suggestion or spiritual healing effect? Phonotherapy: the effect of prayer recitation. Who is eligible to speak about therapy by Narek and to use it as a method?

• Speaker: Hayk Baghdyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's” (Mt. 22:21). Solidification of the teaching of being obedient subjects in apostolic epistles and in the apologetic period: “Obey your leaders and submit to them” (Heb. 13:17). The dual citizenship of the world and heavenly kingdom. Evangelical proverbs about the heavenly kingdom. The administrative mission of the Church in the period of lack of statehood.

• Speaker: Fr. Husik Dokholyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Ps. 19:1). The human aspiration to know the universe: is it a search for knowledge or for the Creator? Reconciliation of the scientific and Christian ideas about the creation of the universe. The Creator as an establisher of order and beauty. The symbolic center of the universe and of the Earth.

• Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Commonalities and differences of the reading of the Bible and of fiction. The Bible as food for soul and mind. Individual approaches to the systematic reading of the Bible. Biblical commentary through one’s own efforts and by the help of ecclesiastical sources. The inexhaustible attraction of the Biblical text.

• Speakers: Armine Aleksanyan, Naira Melikyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Song and music as means for expression of our identity. Sources and traditions of Armenian music school. Performance of folk and spiritual music. Church environment as a school of spiritual music art. Choral and solo music arts in Armenian reality. Music pedagogy for children. Use of musical instruments in Armenian ecclesiastical music.

• Speaker: Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan