| My Spiritual Autobiography |
| "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in Thy truth. Let my heart rejoice that it may fear Thy name." -Psalm 85:11 (LXX) |
| Armenian Icon of the Raising of Lazarus |
| "Awake O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." -Ephesians 5:14 |
Like most, my spiritual background is multifaceted and somewhat complex. My
Armenian great-grandparents, Ghevont (Levont) Peringian and Asanet
Der-Ghazarian, left their home, Dikranagerd (now called "Diyarbekir" by Turks), in
Eastern Anatolia (historic Armenia), in order to escape the Armenian Genocide
being inflicted upon our people by the Ottoman Turkish Government (circa. A.D.
1915).
Eventually settling in Detroit, Michigan, they had their third of five children: my
grandmother, Florence Valentine Peringian. Although born into an Orthodox
Christian family, she was taught very little of her faith. She went on to marry an
American Southerner of Hebrew descent, Forrest Wolfe; himself a Fundamentalist
Christian. My grandmother then accepted the faith of her in-laws and this was, in
turn, the faith in which I was raised.
Armenian great-grandparents, Ghevont (Levont) Peringian and Asanet
Der-Ghazarian, left their home, Dikranagerd (now called "Diyarbekir" by Turks), in
Eastern Anatolia (historic Armenia), in order to escape the Armenian Genocide
being inflicted upon our people by the Ottoman Turkish Government (circa. A.D.
1915).
Eventually settling in Detroit, Michigan, they had their third of five children: my
grandmother, Florence Valentine Peringian. Although born into an Orthodox
Christian family, she was taught very little of her faith. She went on to marry an
American Southerner of Hebrew descent, Forrest Wolfe; himself a Fundamentalist
Christian. My grandmother then accepted the faith of her in-laws and this was, in
turn, the faith in which I was raised.
My grandmother Florence -like her mother, Asanet, before her- was
a woman filled with faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am
very thankful to God for them both because they shared their vibrant
faith with me from early childhood. They also taught me about our
great heritage as Armenians and the great struggles our people have
had to endure primarily for the sake of our faith in Christ. These
stories embedded a deep desire in my heart to learn more about this
great heritage.
a woman filled with faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am
very thankful to God for them both because they shared their vibrant
faith with me from early childhood. They also taught me about our
great heritage as Armenians and the great struggles our people have
had to endure primarily for the sake of our faith in Christ. These
stories embedded a deep desire in my heart to learn more about this
great heritage.
As a young man disillusioned by Christian disunity and seeking
knowledge of the truth, after being challenged by Catholic speaker, I
began to study the faith of the early Church. He argued that in order
to understand the Scriptures, we must see what those who were
taught by the Apostles themselves believed about the Bible. After all,
"who would understand the Bible better," he argued, "we, living 2,000
years later, with a totally different culture and language, or those who
received the Scriptures from the very hands of the Apostles
themselves, as well as their Apostolic instruction?" So I began reading
the works of the Apostolic and early Church Fathers: e.g., St.
Ignatius of Antioch, St. Justin the Martyr, St. Ireneaus of Lyons, St.
John Chrysostom, St. Jerome, St. Basil, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine
as well as other early Church documents.
knowledge of the truth, after being challenged by Catholic speaker, I
began to study the faith of the early Church. He argued that in order
to understand the Scriptures, we must see what those who were
taught by the Apostles themselves believed about the Bible. After all,
"who would understand the Bible better," he argued, "we, living 2,000
years later, with a totally different culture and language, or those who
received the Scriptures from the very hands of the Apostles
themselves, as well as their Apostolic instruction?" So I began reading
the works of the Apostolic and early Church Fathers: e.g., St.
Ignatius of Antioch, St. Justin the Martyr, St. Ireneaus of Lyons, St.
John Chrysostom, St. Jerome, St. Basil, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine
as well as other early Church documents.
The results of these studies, for me, were staggering. I was astounded by all I found which contradicted what
I was taught to believe as a "Bible-believing Christian" (for more on this read: My Conversion Story). I still
believed in God's truth contained in the Bible, yet I found that many of the Biblical interpretations I was taught,
were directly contradicted by the faith of the early Church. After much heart-rending study and reflection, I
began to see the truth of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
During this time I married my lovely wife, Valerie, a Catholic of Italian descent. As we have grown together in
our faith, enduring the many ups and downs of the Christian spiritual life, we have been blessed now with eight
children. In our efforts to teach them the Apostolic Faith, I realized that I, as a descendant of Armenians, had
a unique heritage that I myself hardly knew. So I began to study the theology, liturgy and history of the
Armenian Church. I'll never forget the Sunday when I first visited an Armenian Divine Liturgy. It is with no
exaggeration when I say that, at that first Soorp Badarak, when I went to receive the precious and life-giving
Body and Blood of Christ, as the Church was filled with the joyful sound of the choir singing ancient Armenian
hymns, my eyes swelled with tears and my heart was bursting with joy. The search for my Armenian
ecclesiastical heritage was truly begun with the reception of that Divine Bread and Sacred Cup. I spent the
next decade studying and worshipping with Roman Catholics (at Assumption Grotto Parish), Byzantine
Orthodox (at St. Mark Parish) and Armenian Catholics (at St. Vartan Parish).
I was taught to believe as a "Bible-believing Christian" (for more on this read: My Conversion Story). I still
believed in God's truth contained in the Bible, yet I found that many of the Biblical interpretations I was taught,
were directly contradicted by the faith of the early Church. After much heart-rending study and reflection, I
began to see the truth of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
During this time I married my lovely wife, Valerie, a Catholic of Italian descent. As we have grown together in
our faith, enduring the many ups and downs of the Christian spiritual life, we have been blessed now with eight
children. In our efforts to teach them the Apostolic Faith, I realized that I, as a descendant of Armenians, had
a unique heritage that I myself hardly knew. So I began to study the theology, liturgy and history of the
Armenian Church. I'll never forget the Sunday when I first visited an Armenian Divine Liturgy. It is with no
exaggeration when I say that, at that first Soorp Badarak, when I went to receive the precious and life-giving
Body and Blood of Christ, as the Church was filled with the joyful sound of the choir singing ancient Armenian
hymns, my eyes swelled with tears and my heart was bursting with joy. The search for my Armenian
ecclesiastical heritage was truly begun with the reception of that Divine Bread and Sacred Cup. I spent the
next decade studying and worshipping with Roman Catholics (at Assumption Grotto Parish), Byzantine
Orthodox (at St. Mark Parish) and Armenian Catholics (at St. Vartan Parish).
Providentially, there was also an Armenian Orthodox community in my area (St. John the Baptist Parish)
from which I gathered many books and much information over the years. This was the parish of my
relatives when they came from Dikranagerd to Detroit. Over the years, I developed a friendship with the
pastor, Rev. Fr. Garabed Kochakian. After experiencing the Divine Liturgy of St. Athanasius at St.
John's, in all its profoundity and beauty, I understood what St. Vladimir's emissaries reported about their
first experience of an Orthodox Divine Liturgy: "We did not know whether we were in heaven or on
earth." This same heavenly worship is a hallmark to this day of all Orthodox Churches.
from which I gathered many books and much information over the years. This was the parish of my
relatives when they came from Dikranagerd to Detroit. Over the years, I developed a friendship with the
pastor, Rev. Fr. Garabed Kochakian. After experiencing the Divine Liturgy of St. Athanasius at St.
John's, in all its profoundity and beauty, I understood what St. Vladimir's emissaries reported about their
first experience of an Orthodox Divine Liturgy: "We did not know whether we were in heaven or on
earth." This same heavenly worship is a hallmark to this day of all Orthodox Churches.
For years I wore an Armenian gold Cross with the word "Echmiadzeen" engraved on the back of it. I kept
this Holy Sign close to my heart out of deep reverence for this historic Holy See and because of my profound
reverence for the Orthodox Faith. Because of this I felt called to request admission into the Holy Apostolic
Church of Armenia. Fr. Garabed's welcome was very positive and embracing. I went on to become a Reader
and then I received the ecclesiastical tonsure and the Four Minor Orders. My eldest daughter, Veronica, joined
the choir & three of my sons, Hovhannes, Kreekor & Andon have become ordained Acolytes. In 2006 I was
ordained a Sub-Deacon with my Armenian middle name "Ghazaros" (Lazarus). But after seven years of
Orthodox inquiry and intense liturgical training I increasingly felt called to return to the Catholic Church. After
much prayer and reflection I made my Profession of Catholic Faith to Fr. Andon Atamian of St. Vartan Armenian
Catholic Church and was received back in 2011. My diaconal rank was recognized according to the Eastern
Code of Canons. Because so much of our glorious Armenian Liturgy has become neglected and fallen into
disuse, I also felt called to establish a small Armenian Secular Brotherhood dedicated to living the Armenian
Liturgy in our daily lives. I consider the calling to serve the Holy Church of Armenia a true gift of God of which I
am not worthy. I thank the Lord for guiding me all along the way (see Psalm verse above).
Trusting in Christ's Inextinguishable Light:
Rev. Sb. Dn. Lazarus W. Der-Ghazarian
this Holy Sign close to my heart out of deep reverence for this historic Holy See and because of my profound
reverence for the Orthodox Faith. Because of this I felt called to request admission into the Holy Apostolic
Church of Armenia. Fr. Garabed's welcome was very positive and embracing. I went on to become a Reader
and then I received the ecclesiastical tonsure and the Four Minor Orders. My eldest daughter, Veronica, joined
the choir & three of my sons, Hovhannes, Kreekor & Andon have become ordained Acolytes. In 2006 I was
ordained a Sub-Deacon with my Armenian middle name "Ghazaros" (Lazarus). But after seven years of
Orthodox inquiry and intense liturgical training I increasingly felt called to return to the Catholic Church. After
much prayer and reflection I made my Profession of Catholic Faith to Fr. Andon Atamian of St. Vartan Armenian
Catholic Church and was received back in 2011. My diaconal rank was recognized according to the Eastern
Code of Canons. Because so much of our glorious Armenian Liturgy has become neglected and fallen into
disuse, I also felt called to establish a small Armenian Secular Brotherhood dedicated to living the Armenian
Liturgy in our daily lives. I consider the calling to serve the Holy Church of Armenia a true gift of God of which I
am not worthy. I thank the Lord for guiding me all along the way (see Psalm verse above).
Trusting in Christ's Inextinguishable Light:
Rev. Sb. Dn. Lazarus W. Der-Ghazarian
If interested see also: Bibliography of my Journey to Eastern Christianity For more family info: The Der-Ghazarian Family Return to Home Page: Looys Kreesdosee |
| The Twin Peaks of the Holy Mountain Ararat |
| "Then the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat." -Gen. 8:4 |
| On the name: Der-Ghazarian The surname Der-Ghazarian, is Armenian for Lord = Der (which connotes Reverend), Lazarus = Ghazar and son of = ian. So literally it connotes Son of the Reverend Lazarus. This was my great-grandmother's maiden name. Any Armenian name beginning with Der indicates a priestly family. In that family's heritage there was a priest or a line of priests. This is possible because the Armenian Church, like all Eastern Churches, preserves the ancient practice of allowing married men to be ordained priests. I am thankful to have it as my name not only out of my honor for St. Lazarus (see St. Jn. 11:1-44) and for the priest(s) in my family's history, but also out of love for my Medz Maireeg (grandmother) Asanet (whose name comes from Genesis 41:45). In bearing this name, I honor her for her faith in Christ, the love she shared, and her humble -yet profound- dedication to her Armenian Christian heritage. |