A Sacred Orientation: Rediscovering the Armenian Apostolic Church

In the past few years, I’ve rediscovered the Christianity of my roots in the Armenian Apostolic Church and its rich liturgical tradition. I was inspired to reconsider the Church of my birthright after learning that one of the major characteristics of the Eastern Church, of which the Armenian Church is a part, is its embrace of mystery, transcendence, and theosis. Before my return to Christianity, I had been immersed in the spiritual traditions of East Asia and India, attracted to their emphasis on experience over belief. But when I discovered Christian mysticism through modern contemplative teachers, I was struck by its similarities to the traditions I already knew. As I studied the history of mysticism, I realized there was a wealth of insight waiting to reveal itself in a Church that was so familiar to me but that I had yet to truly encounter.

In this essay, which appears in the January 2026 issue of Commonweal Magazine, I discuss my return to the Armenian Apostolic Church with a focus on liturgical time, and how the Church's calendar orders life around the eternal. Drawing on Armenian history and illuminated liturgical manuscripts, I consider how this sacred rhythm has sustained faith, culture, and belonging across centuries of upheaval, and how inhabiting it today grounds my own Christian life.

Armenian Lectionary from Charekavank Monastery

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