St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • History of the Seminary
    • Prayer for the Seminary
    • Board of Directors
    • Fast Facts
    • Alumni/Recent Ordinations
    • Water Quality Report
  • Academics/Admissions
    • Global Classroom >
      • Seminary Lectures (audio)
      • Seminary Lectures (video)
      • St. Nersess Theological Review >
        • SNTR Volume 1-1
        • SNTR Volume 1-2
        • SNTR Volume 2
        • SNTR Volume 3
        • SNTR Volume 4
        • SNTR Volume 5 & 6
        • SNTR Volume 7
        • SNTR Volume 8
        • SNTR Volume 9
        • SNTR Volume 10
        • SNTR Volume 11
        • SNTR Volume 12
        • SNTR Volume 13
      • St. Nersess Armenian Spirituality Series
      • AVANT
    • Programs of Study
    • Is God Calling You?
    • Faculty & Staff >
      • Dr. Roberta Ervine
      • Bishop Daniel Findikyan
    • Course Offerings >
      • Classical Armenian
      • Church History
      • Armenian Patristics
      • Liturgy
      • Liturgical Music
      • Practicum
      • Biblical Studies
      • Church & Society
      • General Studies
    • Admissions & Application
    • St. Nersess Library
  • Liturgical
    • Sacred Music Lab >
      • Daily Services >
        • Night Hour >
          • Hymns of the Night Hour
          • Deacon's Chants of the Night Hour
          • Ganonaklookh/Head of the Canon
          • Requiem Hymn (Hangstyan Sharagan)
          • Avak Orhnutyun
          • Orhnootyoon Sharagan (Penitential)
          • Orhnootyoon Hymns (Martyrs)
          • Takavor Haveedyan (Penitential)
          • Takavor Haveedyan (Martyrs)
          • Alleluia (Resurrection)
          • Alleluia (Nativity)
          • Alleluia (Cross)
        • Morning Hour >
          • Hymns of the Morning Hour
          • Deacon's Chants of the Morning Hour
          • Service of the Oil-Bearing Women
        • Sunrise Hour
        • Evening Hour >
          • Hymns of the Evening Service
          • Deacons' Chants
          • Martyrs Hymns of Psalm 120
          • Penitential Hymns of Psalm 120 (Tones 1-8)
          • Resurrection Hymns of Psalm 120
        • Peace Hour
      • Divine Liturgy >
        • Midday Hymns (Jashoo Sharagans)
        • Gospel Alleluia
        • Processional Hymns
        • Introit (Zhamamood)
        • Deacon's Chants
      • Sacraments >
        • Baptism
        • Marriage
        • Ordinations
        • Funeral
      • Holy Week >
        • Lazarus Saturday
        • Palm Sunday >
          • Palm Sunday - Night/Morning Services
          • Palm Sunday - Ceremony of Opening the Doors
        • Holy Monday
        • Holy Tuesday
        • Holy Wednesday
        • Holy Thursday >
          • Holy Thursday: Night Service
          • Holy Thursday: Morning Service
          • Holy Thursday: Absolution of the Penitents
          • Holy Thursday: Washing of the Feet
          • Holy Thursday: Divine Liturgy
          • Holy Thursday: Great Vigil (Khavaroom)
        • Holy Friday >
          • Holy Friday: Morning Service
          • Holy Friday: Service of the Crucifixion
          • Holy Friday: Service of Burial
        • Holy Saturday >
          • Holy Saturday: Night/Morning Services
          • Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil (Jrakalooyts) & Divine Liturgy
        • Easter Sunday
      • Festal Hymns >
        • Saints' Hymns (Սրբոց Շարականնե)
        • Theophany (Ծնունդ)
        • Mother of God (Ս. Աստուածածին)
        • Presentation of the Lord to the Temple (Տեառնդառաջ)
        • Great Carnival (Բուն Բարեկենդան)
        • New Sunday (Նոր Կիրակի)
        • Ascension (Համբարձում)
        • Holy Cross (Խաչի)
        • Holy Church (Եկեղեցւոյ)
      • Other Services >
        • Blessing of Water
    • Armenian Hymnal
    • Liturgical Services >
      • Services of Blessing
      • Special Services
      • Holy Week
      • Divine Liturgy
  • Conferences/Lectures
    • Deacons' Training Program
    • High School Summer Conference
    • Young Adult Winter Conference
    • Adult Conferences & Retreats
    • Online Lectures
  • News
    • Churches of Artsakh
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Consecration Photos
    • Construction Photos, Armonk, NY
  • SUPPORT
    • Donate Now
    • Leadership Giving Circle
    • The Path Forward
    • Planned Giving Society
    • Legacy Donors, New Campus
    • Parish Patrons
  • St. Nersess Theological Review
  • SNTR Volume 7

Feast of the Presentation of the Mother-of-God Mary to the Temple

11/26/2013

0 Comments

 
by Eric Vozzy, Seminarian, presented in the St. Nersess Seminary chapel

Within the past several years, there has been a significant increase in environmental awareness. In general, we are much more conscious about tending the earth and being good stewards of it. Why is that? The simplest answer is that we claim the earth as the space in which we live, and we value it for ourselves as well as future generations. On a smaller scale, there is residential space. Whether one rents or owns, we take care of the space in which we live. We have rules such as, “take your shoes off at the door”. We clean, design to our taste, and take extra care when a guest comes over. Why do we do these things? Again, it’s the space where we live, and we view our living space as sacred.

Speaking of sacred space, what about the Church building, or “Temple”, and in a moment we’ll see why the word “Temple” is appropriate. The Khoran, the area where the altar sits, where the priest and deacons serve, is treated with what we sometimes think of as mere protocol, but in actuality is holy reverence. Serving at the altar I take notice of the attention to detail; how liturgical vessels are cleaned, carried, put in their proper place, and how all of this space is treated with such care, as if it has been touched by glory. And indeed it has been; by God’s glory. Once again, this is sacred living space, where the presence of God resides, and it is treated as such.

Today, and every November 21st marks the Feast Day of ԸնձայումնԱստուածածնի; The Presentation of Mary to the Temple. According to this rite, children were typically presented forty days after they were born, but according to Holy Tradition, Mary was presented at the age of three, remained in the temple to serve for twelve years, and emerged at the age of fifteen. And of course, soon after this she would be visited by the Archangel Gabriel who would tell her she would become Աստուածածին, the Bearer of God; the vessel or temple to carry the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 

But there is something interesting to notice about the Temple at this time in history. It was “ark-less”. That is, the Ark of the Covenant, the vessel that contained the glory of God, was lost. The Temple at this time was a replacement of the Temple which once held the Ark, but was destroyed by the Babylonians. We read in 1 Esdras 1:54, “And all the holy vessels of the Lord, great and small, and the treasure chests of the Lord, and the royal stores, they took and carried away to Babylon.” As glorious as the architecture of the Temple might’ve been, the Temple itself was empty of the glory of God. 

And Mary enters this Temple to be presented and accepted by God. The one who will become the True Ark; the one who will bear God in her womb; the True Bearer of the glory of God. So Mary is being presented to the Temple; to God. Mary is the Temple of God. And in the epistle reading for today, St. Paul tells us that we are the Temple of the living God. 2 Cor. 6:16 reads, “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  

Like a good steward of the earth, like a good resident or homeowner, or like a good altar server, do we take the time and effort to closely examine our own space, our own temples, and the temple of the community in order to remove what doesn’t belong? The glory is there, in our space. We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit when we were baptized into a community; into the Body of Christ; the Church. At the Incaration, when Jesus took on the form of flesh and redeemed us, and restored creation, and the image of God within us. And of what does St. Paul remind us? Idols are not welcome!  

Nothing is more damaging, tempting, and incompatible with the Temple of God than idolatry. Idols are anything that distracts us from placing God first in our life. This is the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Therefore, we have to constantly keep the Temple clean, individually, as well as communally. Unceasing upkeep and maintenance is required, such as addressing pain and suffering, forgiveness of one another, confession, repentance, and regular participation in the sacramental life of the Church. 

Just like we quickly react to a piece of litter on the ground, or dirt, or stains anywhere in our sacred space, we should react the same way to what prevents us from properly presenting ourselves to God. If we let it go, the stain will set in, the dirt will build becoming encrusted, and more difficult to remove. And idols will make themselves at home to the point of not being noticed anymore, similar to becoming accustomed to piece of funiture or decor in our home that just becomes part of the lansdcape, no longer noticeable as we walk past it everyday.  

Again, listen to what St. Paul says. We are the Temple of God. God lives in and among us. We have been touched by His glory. And like Mary, the Bearer of God, we are the bearer of His good news; His message of love. Let us pray that we always remember that every moment of our life counts, and is therefore a presentation or dedication to God. Which is why humility is such a significant virtue. Again, anything that causes distraction or tempts us away from the Lord is an idol, and very often our own pride. The gospel reading for today, Mary’s song of Praise to God after she received news about her being chosen as the God-Bearer, is all about humility, and magnifying God despite our pride.  

So today, as we remember Mary, as the God-Bearer; or the Ark, and her presentation to the Temple, let’s take a moment, maybe even during the remainder of Badarak, or before we commune, to present and dedicate ourselves to God in humility, and think about what idols we have set up, or allowed into our Temple, the sacred place where God lives, and rightly treat it as a space presented to and bearing God’s glory.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    May 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    November 2006
    October 2006
    September 2006
    August 2006
    July 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    February 2005
    January 2005
    December 2004
    November 2004
    October 2004
    September 2004
    August 2004
    July 2004
    June 2004
    May 2004
    April 2004
    March 2004
    February 2004
    December 2003
    November 2003
    October 2003
    September 2003
    March 2003
    November 2002
    March 2002
    February 2002
    January 2002
    December 1999
    November 1999
    October 1999
    September 1999
    January 1999
    July 1998
    June 1998

    Categories

    All
    Acculturation Program
    Adult Conference
    Alumni
    Annual Appeal
    Board Of Directors
    Christmas Conference
    Clergy
    Clergy Support
    Deacons' Training
    Distance Learning
    Divine Liturgy
    Donations
    Etchmiadzin
    Fundraising
    Graduation
    History
    Leadership
    Lectures
    Library
    Liturgical Music
    Music
    New Armonk Campus
    Ordination
    Pandemic
    PhD Students
    Picnic
    Prayers & Blessings
    Retreat
    Seminarians
    Seminary
    Seminary Events
    Seminary Faculty
    Sermons
    Studying In Armenia
    St. Vladimir's
    Summer Conferences
    Young Adult Winter Conference
    Youth Programs

    RSS Feed

Picture
Preparing leaders for service in the
Armenian Church since 1961
.

Directions to the Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
​486 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504

​(**PLEASE** input "St. Nersess Armenian Seminary" into Google Maps for correct location!)

Subscribe to the eNewsletter
Instagram

Contact Us

Phone: (914) 273-0200
Email: info@stnersess.edu

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:30am-5:30pm


  • Website by Filament Designs