Eastern Prelacy’s Linked-In Weekend for Young Adults Explores Relationships—Divine and Human

       The weekend of October 8-10, once again saw the convening of the Eastern Prelacy’s annual Youth Gathering, “Linked-In,” for young adults ages 18-35.  As in past years, the gathering was directed by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, and took place at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a picturesque retreat and meditation center in Charlton, Massachusetts, owned by the Coptic Orthodox Church and operated by the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Parish of Natick, Massachusetts.

       The Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, expressed his deep thanks to the leaders and the lecturers for their dedicated service. “Each year this annual gathering for young adults grows in size and scope. The participants depart with a deeper understanding of their Faith and themselves,” His Eminence said.
        This year, forty-three participants – some from as far as Washington, D.C. and Granite City, Illinois – took retreat amongst their peers, in order to learn, pray, be enriched and enjoy fellowship.  The theme for this year’s Linked-In was The Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Relationships, and as such the topics of all the lectures and discussions were focused accordingly.
        The retreaters were privileged to enjoy five dynamic and engaging speakers throughout the course of the weekend. 
        Archpriest Antranig Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen’s Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, gave a lecture on the relationship with God and relationships with friends, using illustrations from sacred scripture and Church tradition.

       Yeretsgin Joanna Baghsarian of Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, Rhode Island, gave a delightful and heartfelt talk on “Women in the Bible, Armenian History and  Contemporary Life.”  This was to coincide with the current “Year of the Armenian Woman,” as declared by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia.  Yeretsgin drew on examples from her own life as well as heartwarming anecdotes to describe not only the powerful relationships women of faith can have in their lives, but also the strength that all women receive from a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.

       Father Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York,  focused his lecture on “Marriage: the Art of Perfect Harmony and Union.”  His remarks centered on marriage and family life, drawing both from the practical and theological aspects of marriage, as understood by our faith and Armenian culture.  His lecture was of particular interest to many of the young participants contemplating their future candidacy for the sacrament of holy matrimony and the blessings and hardships of family life in the years to come.

       His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy, spoke about the relational aspects of the Holy Badarak, how we as participants engage our Lord and each other in the context of this most pivotal of all Christian rites.

       After conducting group feedback and evaluation, Nayiri Baljian Bell, of St. Stephen’s Parish in Watertown, in a lecture entitled “Everyday Miracles,” centered her remarks on several episodes in the Gospels where the willingness to share what God had given with others facilitated a great miracle.
        The participants also had a chance to take part in a group discussion centered on the theme of “Life Enhancing Relationships,” co-moderated by Fr. Stephan Baljian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Granite City, Illinois, and noted psychiatrist, Dr. Vahan Kouyoumjian, who also serves as a deacon at Sts. Vartanantz Parish in New Jersey.  This discussion was a chance for young people to reflect upon the power of relationships – godly or ungodly – to enhance or detract from an individual’s life.
        On Saturday evening, Ms. Jeanette Nazarian of St. Gregory the Illuminator Parish in Philadelphia conducted a Bible study, which focused on the relationships that many characters of the Old Testament, including Noah, Abraham and Moses, had with God.

       The group also spent some time learning spiritual songs in Armenian and English, taught by Mrs. Denise Borekjian of New Jersey and Dr. Vahan Kouyoumjian.
       One of the most enjoyable parts of the Linked-In experience, as it is for the St. Gregory of Datev Institute for teens, is the communal worship of the participants.  There is a certain something about worshiping the Creator in the presence of fellow believers that creates a powerful and uplifting atmosphere.  This atmosphere is enhanced by the various chapels and meditation areas the Vineyard has to offer.  For its purposes, the group made use of the main Chapel of Our Lady St. Mary, which is beautifully decorated with holy icons for the enhancement of worship as a reminder that they are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.”  Aside from Sunday morning’s Divine Liturgy, the retreaters performed no less than three of the Armenian Church’s time honored, faith filled, daily worship services (or zhamerkootiun).  Service books and some quick orientation made it possible for all to actively participate in the recitation of prayers, reading of Psalms, and singing of hymns.  During each service, a different senior member of the group offered a short meditation, once again reflecting on the varying aspects of life’s relationships.

       Perhaps one of the highlights of this year’s Linked-In was the opportunity participants had to take part in an authentically performed sacrament of penitence Saturday evening, in preparation for Sunday’s Divine Liturgy. Their father-confessor explained that too often in the parishes, spiritual preparation for receiving Holy Communion by “examining one’s conscience” has been relegated to the very last minute, because of the lack of purposeful participation by the people.  He then explained that in the Church of centuries past, faithful Armenian Christians vigilantly anticipated the arrival of Christ every Sunday with psalms, hymns, prayers and preparation of hearts.  Each believer would have confessed his or her sins and received absolution from a priest – a separate sacrament known as Abashkharootyoon or Penitence – well before the Divine Liturgy began, so as to participate fully with the joy of knowing their sins were forgiven.
        At the conclusion of the Compline service, the father-confessor knelt with the group before God, and prayed that He would hear their confession and their cry for forgiveness, that each individual would receive the conviction to confess his or her sins, the courage to forgive others and the strength to sin no more.  After this, every single participant joined in the reading of the general formula for confession, to which the priest, in the name of the Holy Church, pronounced their sins forgiven.
        On Sunday morning, all participated joyfully and actively in the Divine Liturgy, singing with great hope and thanksgiving the age-old chants of praise.  In his sermon, the celebrant made mention of the Feast of the Holy Translators, which had been celebrated that weekend.  He explained that the “translation” that is spoken of is not merely that of some words from one language into another, but of the meaning of the mysteries of God from Divine into human terms.  Thus, what the Holy Translators did was to use the newly formulated Armenian alphabet and language for the building up of the Holy Church and the salvation of its faithful people.  As it is, Christianity is faith in the living embodiment of the Divine, Jesus Christ, who can be seen as the “translation” of all the grace and love of God into humanity.  From this, we take our own cue as to how we are to understand our relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ, with our church family and with each other.
       It was in this spirit that the participants departed to their own homes, uplifted and enhanced by this exceptional experience.