Spiritual Discussions (archive)
An investigation into central fundamental issues such as the meaning of life, our calling, the search for truth, the choice of the spiritual way. Additionally, we investigate other themes, such as dogmatic purity and the recognition of one’s own tradition. All these and more are discussed by the participants of Spiritual Discussions.
What are the Church’s responses to these challenging questions? What is the relationship between the spiritual and material aspects of life? Is it possible to reach perfection in this life? How does one carry out the commandments of Christianity? What should be our attitude towards various sects? How should we protect our children and ourselves from “spiritual deformations”? Thorough responses and discussions to these questions and other important issues will be heard in Spiritual Discussions.
Temptation to Sin
What is temptation to sin? By intentionally tempting others to sin, a person voluntarily becomes an instrument of evil. It is with spiritual alertness that we should make judgments and decisions.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Humility
The Christian path is insurmountable without humility. Ways of expression of humility. How one deviates from the path of humility.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Soul and Body After Death
The existence of an afterlife is an integral part of the Christian faith. Death is the temporary separation of body and soul. What is agony? The basic powers of the soul persist after a person's death. Righteous and sinful souls. Incorruptible body.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Transfiguration-Vardavar
Vardavar is one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church. The mystery and meaning of Vardavar. God is the perfect and uncreated eternal Light․ One of the greatest revelations of the Holy Trinity occurs during the transfiguration of Jesus.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Power
How did power originate as a phenomenon? The perils of seeking secular power. The inseparable bond of power and humility.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
On Moving Away from God and Approaching God
How does a person sin? The evil one creates invisible snares to lead people down the path of sin. To remain in sin for a long time can be irreversible for a person.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Lying
What is a lie, a dishonesty? What is truth, what role does it play in a human’s life? Humans are God-seeking beings. The main reasons for lying. Confession of sins is an opportunity for people to let go of falsehood.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Love
The tri-unity of hope, faith, and love. The love expressed toward the Lord God and neighbor. The path to true love is full of temptations.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Knowledge of God
The variety and at the same time the limitation of the Divine names. Knowledge of God is a gradual phenomenon, and closeness to God depends on the level of spiritual awareness. Degrees of knowledge according to Dionysius the Areopagite.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Alterations of Faith
Faith is the basis of spiritual life. Delusions of evil aim to alter and weaken the foundations of human's faith. Superstition.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Spiritual Life
What initiates spiritual life? What does spiritual awareness give people? A Christian must experience great inner spiritual changes. False humility is a more complex type of pride that should be avoided at all costs. What is the role of the Church in the development of a human’s spiritual life?
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Spiritual Resurrection
The period of Hinunk (Eastertide). How do Christians enter into the mystery of resurrection? Divine grace comes from God, not from us and our actions. Humans should try to become worthy of the divine grace by their works and efforts.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are You When Men Revile You and Persecute You and Utter All Kinds of Calumn…
Patience is one of the main qualities through which a human is able to overcome persecution in the right way. Persecution takes many forms of expression. The unity of the Nine Beatitudes: their summary.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted for the Sake of Righteousness (Part I)
How do the Fathers of the Church interpret the phenomenon of persecution for righteousness? A true lover of virtue is not one who diligently practices virtues, but one who is ready to bear with patience the trials that follow those virtues. The path to deliverance from sin is full of difficulties and trials.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
Who are considered as peacemakers? What does it mean to be called a son of God? The totality of spiritual goods is fundamentally different from worldly goods. The ritual meaning of the transmission of peace during the Divine Liturgy.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
What is holiness of heart, and who can be considered holy in heart? Degrees of holiness. Seeing God is possible only by the grace of God. Seeing God in the writings of the Church Fathers. Differences in Old and New Testament episodes where God is seen.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are the Merciful
Mercy is one of the main expressions of love. Forms of expression of mercy. The seven physical and seven spiritual types of mercy according to St. Grigor Tatevatsi. The extent and limit of mercy.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Justice is a phenomenon that must be attributed to the divine nature and to every good given by God. The four human virtues. The divine virtues are faith, hope and love.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Manuk Hergnyan
Blessed Are the Meek
What is meekness? Meekness includes all those virtues that suppress natural vices. By saying “earth” the Lord means the kingdom of the Church established on this Earth. Meekness is the true patience.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
Spiritual interpretation of the terms “mourner” and "consolation." Joyful mourning leads a person on the path of spiritual liberation. The teaching of Anania Narekatsi about repentance.
- Speaker: Fr. Mesrop Aramian
- Host: Deacon Ara Nalchajyan