Comments Pertaining to the Book

Menk: We Armenians

Rev. Dr. Stépanos Dingilian who received his Ph.D. in Theology and Personality Development, and Masters degrees in Divinity and Pastoral Counseling, focuses all the talents that he has been blessed by to spiritually strengthen the Armenian Church and people. Having been trained as a chaplain, he traveled to Armenia after the 1988 destructive earthquake and provided comfort for the devastated families.

Since 1995, Fr. Stépanos has been publishing a periodical in English and Armenian entitled “Hope for the Family.” In that periodical he writes about the challenges that the Armenian family faces, and suggests helpful ways of dealing with those challenges.

In this educational book, he analyzes a number of issues that are of paramount importance for the Armenian people. Some of these issues affect all families around the globe and they have no geographic boundaries. And since as Armenians we have been dispersed throughout the world, it becomes even more difficult to nurture and maintain our strong family life, especially where young people are involved.

The Rev. Father reflects upon the 1915 Genocide and writes a short commentary where he states: “The 1915 Genocide and lessons from that event have helped unite us to form a single victorious identity throughout the globe. No one could truly understand being an Armenian or remain as a contributing member of the community unless he or she fully appreciates this event.”

According to the author, “the concept of “family” within the Armenian community has a number of interpretations.” He refers to the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Vazkén I of blessed memory, who stated that “personal honesty and integrity are spiritual matters, and they are first and foremost established within the family.” The Christian Spiritual Life is indispensable within the family life, since “valuing the importance of the family nurtures the Christian Faith, and simultaneously belief in the Christian Faith raises the importance of the family to an unprecedented height.” The author emphasizes the importance of language and cultural life: “From this inclusive understanding of “culture,” upholding culture gives us purpose and direction in life.” and the “cultivation and preservation of a language becomes a movement towards enlightenment, progress, and more meaningful existence of a people.” It is apparent that in order to uphold and strengthen the family life, there is a need for dedicated and creative work. It is truly God’s Providence that our people are blessed with the sense of creative hard work that we demonstrate wherever we may live, and regardless of what circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Discipline and education also form part of our people’s personality. The Rev. Father writes: “Education is a luxury for many people. But for Armenians, education is a necessity, a means of survival and progress … and the appreciation of Divine gifts!”

The development and advancement of the Armenian Family has contributed to the development of the entire culture, and among these is most apparent our people’s love of creative work: “Without progress the future does not exist, and without the past, the future is empty and meaningless. Finding the proper balance between these two, the past and the future, is the struggle for each Armenian person, family, community, and generation.”

Fr. Stépanos also speaks of the importance of peace within the family and community, and the significance of upholding family traditions. “Everyday the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia and around the globe prays for peace for the entire world and for all Armenians.” Upholding the true everlasting cultural values requires constant vigilance and steadfastness: “It becomes apparent, especially in the case of the parent-child relationship, of how difficult it is to pass on the spiritual values to a future generation.”

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