Talk with Fr. Barouyr

This week, Fr. Barouyr is joined by Deacon Garo Balian. Dn. Garo attended seminary in Bikfaya and is currently the administrator, choir director, and full-time Deacon at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Dearborn, Michigan. They talk about some of then differences between church in the Middle East and the US, including how much easier it is for the faithful to attend churches in the Middle E...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about renewal in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Fr. Barouyr highlights the importance of connecting the church with the youth, and the challenges it faces in doing so. He exhorts us to push for change at our parishes, including new approaches to connect with the younger generation. He cautions us that without connecting with more of the faithful, the ch...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for his sermon from St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church in Hollywood, California. He discusses not just the miraculous feeding, but the symbolism. The 5 loaves symbolizes the Law. The 2 fish symbolize the prophecy of the Old Testament. Moses was given two pillars upon which the Jewish people were saved in the desert: God’s word and sacrifice. Jesus turned this on its...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr from St. Gregory the Illuminator in San Francisco. He discusses the parable of the wheat and the weeds, starting by asking the question, why does God allow weeds to be planted in our lives? He talks about what the weeds signify individually in our lives, and what they signify more broadly. He highlights that God, like the farmer, allows us all a lifetime to come to Him,...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a sermon from Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno, California. Fr. Barouyr discusses the event in Matthew when Jesus and His Apostles are picking and eating grain from a field on the Sabbath. Fr. Barouyr explains that the Bible doesn’t exist to judge us, but to save us. Further, this event reminds us that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbarh, as described i...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about gratitude. Gratitude extends beyond giving thanks, and moves us into action. True gratitude isn’t just a feeling, it’s action directed at others. Fr. Barouyr encourages us to be grateful and show our gratitude with our actions.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer, which is recounted to us in John 17. Fr. Barouyr discusses the background - that this prayer comes during the Last Supper, the culmination of Jesus’s earthly teachings. He breaks the prayer down into three parts: prayer centered around Jesus, prayer centered around the Disciples, and prayer centered around all believe...

This week, by listener request, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about the Desert Fathers. Fr. Barouyr sets the stage by recounting the modern day history behind the founding of St. Anthony’s Monastery, in the Arizona desert, and the miraculous discover of water running beneath it. He delves into the history behind the Desert Fathers, as well as their spiritual motivations behind withdrawing to t...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about Jesus’s trip to the Temple with Peter, told in Matthew 17:24-27. Fr. Barouyr explains the context of the time, when the Temple Tax signified duty, belonging, and obedience. Fr. Barouyr then explains further the meaning behind the fish paying His Temple Tax: 1) Jesus stayed obedient to the law and paid his Temple tax, not from his pocket, but from...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about the priestly calling. He talks about how the paths for the priesthood in the Armenian Church, how to discern the calling, and to understand how those who feel the calling fit in. Fr. Barouyr talks about some of the differences between celibate and married priesthood, and that those who feel the calling should search their souls deeply.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about finding God in a world full of anxiety. The causes and stressors resulting in anxiety vary from person to person. Many build their lives on foundations that are uncertain, but prayer can help bring Christ to the center of our lives and alleviate some of our anxieties. Prayer has four phases: praying what we’ve been taught, personal prayer from our...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a book review about The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis. He discusses the unique insights that this book gives us, as it is written from the perspective of demons attempting to tempt humans. He highlights the duality of human nature, both temporary and eternal, and the importance for us to stay vigilant to temptation, even in good times. Finally, Fr. Barouyr emphas...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a practical discussion about how to read the Holy Bible. He first guides us on why it is important to read the Bible, before giving us 5 practical tips to guide us into forming a Bible reading practice. Fr. Barouyr breaks this up into 5 steps: start with a plan, choose the right translation, “read short reflect deep,” write it down, and create a daily rhythm.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a spiritual reflection about the Armenian Genocide. He discusses the painful contrast between Easter and the start of the Armenian Genocide, only 4 days this year. He describes how Antoura was used for the erasure of the Armenian people, language, and religion, as witnessed by Karnig Panian, a mere child at the time. Fr. Barouyr reminds us that the Armenians are not...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for an episode about Christ’s glorious Resurrection. In this episode, he talks to us about how we should prepare ourselves for Easter, like the women who went to His tomb on the third day. He compares our standing at the doors to the church to the women standing at the rock at His tomb, which has been moved to the side. Fr. Barouyr reminds us that Christ freed us from s...

Join Fr. Barouyr for a Bible Study about Christ’s final 24 hours. Starting with the Last Supper, Fr. Barouyr walks us through each of the events of that final day, culminating with His death on the cross. Fr. Barouyr explains the process, the people, and how they would have made Our Lord feel in that final day.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a special reflection about Holy Week. As we prepare to join Jesus as he enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Fr. Barouyr reflects on the swiftness with which Jesus was arrested, judged, condemned, and crucified. Fr. Barouyr reminds us not to put ritual before God’s truth, and the symbolic connection between Christ’s 6 hours on the cross and the 6 days of creation.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about the Parable of the Unjust Judge. Fr. Barouyr talks about what this parable teaches us about both of the main characters in this parable: the judge and the widow. It teaches us how the judge reflects some of our worst characteristics, while the widow reflects some of our worst fears. We are reminded that we can only find righteousness in Christ, wh...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about justice. Through a parable about a thief and a judge, Fr. Barouyr reminds us that Christ is our advocate until the end of our lives, but becomes our judge as our lives come to an end. He reminds us to be agents of God’s mercy, not judges of the people in our lives.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about the Book of Lamentations. Fr. Barouyr explores what it has to teach us about loss and grief; and our relationship with God. In addition, Fr. Barouyr talks about how the promise of resurrection can be found in the Book of Lamentations.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for his sermon on the first Sunday of Lent, Sunday of the Expulsion. Based on Adam and Eve’s Expulsion from Eden, this commemoration teaches us 3 important spiritual lessons: to value the blessings that God has placed in our lives, the freedom in Living in God’s word, and the importance of confessing our sins.

This week, Fr. Barouyr is joined by the Honorable Deacon Berj Apkarian, Honorary Consul for the Republic of Armenia to the United States. They discuss a broad range of topics, from the meaning of diaconal service to the role of Sunday service in spiritual life. Deacon Berj discusses the impact of the chants of the Divine Liturgy, both on Sunday and also on his life.

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a lecture about the prophet Jonah. Fr. Barouyr talks about how different Jonah and his story are from other prophets in the Old Testament. Most people know that Jonah was swallowed by a whale while trying to escape his call to witness God. But Jonah’s witness is also about stubbornness, about God’s mercy, about forgiveness, and the meaning of repentance.

Join Fr. Barouyr this week for his 100th episode! On this week of St. Valentine’s Day, Fr. Barouyr talks to us about love. Not an earthly love, or a love tied to “happiness,” but the love that is the center of our faith. He reminds us to put Christ first, and that the purpose of love is not to find happiness, but the act of love. Finally, Fr. Barouyr emphasizes that giving our lives and our love t...

This week, join Fr. Barouyr for a discussion about the Christian Virtues. Values may change over time, but Christ’s teachings guide us to embrace timeliness and universal virtues. Fr. Barouyr discusses the virtues of humility, brotherly love, meekness, hard work, mercy, moderation, and chastity. He exhorts us to show these virtues in our actions, and reminds us that our example, put together, is m...