Compassion as a spiritual virtue. God’s never-ending compassion and mercy for humanity. The highest expression of Lord’s love and compassion: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Rom. 12:15). The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

• Speaker: Fr. Arnak Harutyunyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Parish as a basic unit of the Universal Church. The tradition of the church parish in dioceses of the Armenian Church in Armenia and Diaspora. Involving lay persons in the church administration. Requirements for productive functioning of parish organizations.

• Speaker: Fr. Diradur Sardaryan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

St. Basil’s homily on the words “Give heed to yourself.” The necessity of introspection and spiritual vision in our lives. “Be attentive to yourself, that is, neither to what is yours nor to what is around you, but be attentive only to yourself.” “Examine what sort of being you are. Know your own nature, that your body is mortal, yet your soul is immortal.” “Be attentive to yourself that you may be attentive to God.”

• Speaker: Fr. Mikayel Gevorgyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The perception of New Year’s Day in the Christian world. The meaning of the feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra. Advice to not perceive Christmas as just a beautiful fairy tale. New Year’s rush and the Nativity fast. The mystery of the Eve of the Holy Nativity. Feast for the soul.  

• Speaker: Fr. Mikayel Gevorgyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Human strive for the union with God through dedicating oneself to prayer and solitude. The birth of the eremitism in Christian world. The formation of monastic orders. Examples of modern monasticism and eremitism. The elimination of monasticism in Soviet period and the ways of its restoration in Armenia.

• Speaker: Marianna Apresyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

What is the difference between spiritual discussions and ordinary conversations? The ability of spiritual discussions to revolutionize lives. What does a clergyman transmit during a discussion? The difference between a sermon and a discussion. Citing Church Fathers, their lives, teachings, and theology in the course of a spiritual discussion. The instruction and conclusion of the spiritual discussion.

• Speaker: Fr. Mikayel Gevorgyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The law of exact retaliation in various religions and cultures. The new interpretation of the Old Testament law in the Sermon on the Mount. Love and forgiveness instead of antagonism. „Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you“ (Mt. 5:44).

• Speaker: Fr. Arnak Harutyunyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

What is the cause of human existence? The godlikeness of human as a source for trust and hope. Does human existence have a purpose or there is no purpose at all? “I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14). The immortality of the soul. The necessity of constant remembrance of the final goal of our earthly existence.

• Speaker: Fr. Arnak Harutyunyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Education in the church. The syllabus and study materials of Sunday schools. The role distribution among clergymen and lay teachers. The necessary pedagogical and spiritual knowledge and qualities for Sunday teaching. The involvement of children and their families in the Church’s life.

• Speaker: Kristine Ghazaryan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The Christian understanding of sacred relics. Should we respect relics or worship them? The position of the Armenian Church. Miraculous power of relics and their authority: facts and fabrications. Canonization and the rite of interment of relics. The types of relics and their liturgical importance. The contemporary attitude towards holy relics.

• Speaker: Marianna Apresyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Parents as a gift of the heavenly Father. Biblical commandments about obedience to parents. The obedience of Christ to the will of God the Father and to His earthly parents. Parents and Godfather as responsible persons for the moral and spiritual education. Respecting the freedom of youth.

• Speaker: Fr. Grigor Hovhannisyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

“Confess your sins to each other” (James 5:16). The power of the priest to absolve from sins. General and personal confession. The difficulty of confessing a sin and the fear of condemnation. The problem of choosing a father confessor. The assigned penance and spiritual instructions.

• Speaker: Fr. Grigor Hovhannisyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

What we believe in and how we confess our Christian faith. The pillars of the profession of faith of the Armenian Church. The Creed. The difference of the profession of faith from religious fanaticism and dogmatism. Teaching the profession of faith inside the Church. Primitive faith and theological knowledge.

• Speaker: Fr. Arnak Harutyunyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The heavenly inspiration of the Holy Scripture and the human factor. Genre variety and literary peculiarities of the Bible. Systematic and continuous reading of the Bible. The Bible as a guide for life. Non-diminishing importance of the Old Testament. Questions arising while reading the Bible. Bible commentary.

• Speaker: Fr. Arnak Harutyunyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Lk. 11:9). What do we often ask from God, and what could be His response? Requests in prayer. Climbing out of every hard situation through faith. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Mt. 6:33).

• Speaker: Fr. Grigor Hovhannisyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

The place of the Holy Translators in the calendar of Armenian Church. The selection list of the Holy Translators and Teachers of the Church. Translation as a gift of the Holy Spirit. “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding” (Prov. 1:2). The heritage of the Holy Translators as a symbol of national identity and values.

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

Material, spiritual and psychological support. The role of the church in establishing of social service and equality. “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble” (Ps. 41:1). “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27): the Parable of the Good Samaritan, healing the physical and spiritual pain, caring for the sick.

• Speaker: Fr. Grigor Hovhannisyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

What does it mean to be a God’s chosen people? God’s infinite love towards His people and fidelity to His covenant. The periodic apostasy of people and their return to the Creator. The presence of God with His people in times of need. The path of the cross of God’s people and the question of theodicy.

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

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16): forbidding lying and its forms. How the lie entered the world: sweet lie, white lie, plausible lie. “The truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body” (Jas. 3:2). “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mt. 12:37).

• Speaker: Fr. Grigor Hovhannisyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan

Pride as a deadly sin and its derivative sins. The reasons why pride is coming out. Is there a safe portion of pride? “He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed” (Prov. 3:34). Love as a remedy for pride. “Learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Mt. 11:29).

• Speaker: Fr. Grigor Hovhannisyan
• Host: Deacon Vardan Aslanyan