Արմէն խորհուրդ

I went into the cathedral to become a soldier. I wasn’t allowed to speak to a priest, only a deacon. I shared my page and he loved it. We spoke about St. Athanasius and the Creed, the monks that defended him and Christianity from early on. Then, I asked to speak with a bishop, but he was busy, and I wasn’t told so.

As St. Ignatius of Antioch who was eaten and devoured by lions unto death for the the name of Jesus Christ once said, “Now the more any one sees the bishop keeping silence, the more ought he to revere him. For we ought to receive every one whom the Master of the house sends to be over His household, as we would do Him that sent him. It is manifest, therefore, that we should look upon the bishop even as we would upon the Lord Himself.”

I asked to speak to him for only 1 min. if not two. It is a virtue to do so many times as we are called to ask, seek, and knock on the doors of eternal life as our Lord Jesus Christ says. Rather, I was screamed at by a priest when I spoke to him inside the cathedral. He pushed me out of church physically, and after I left and had lunch, I was told by the front desk lady’s witness that no one touched me and she saw. Maybe we need surveillance to find out. Two cops showed up later to help me back into church. When they noticed how bad these people were, they left and said we have no crime to report.

This is crime. A soldier deserved respect, and it was not given so. You just pushed me and hurt my soul, because I just wanted to be a soldier, so I can defend my holy country. So I’ll continue my little post and defend that way while you go fight the big bad wolf Azerbaijan. It’ll be hard, you may be the only one there if you keep up the act. Best wishes and good luck.  

Armen Leo Artashesian