A CONVERSATION DURING THE CRUISE

Last week, I enjoyed the week-long Armenian Heritage Cruise with more than 700 Armenians from around the world. We sailed aboard the gigantic MSC World America ship carrying 6,500 tourists and 2,500 crew members, at times spending more than 38 hours at sea before calling at ports in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. 

The cruise was well organized by the Armenian Cultural Association of America with a variety of programs: morning prayer service, recreation, games, recitals, and Armenian movies, among other activities. 

I would like to share an anecdote, which led me later to contemplate the impact that a spontaneous and simple gesture may have. After a short tour in the San Juan harbor area of Puerto Rico, I returned to our ship and went to its 18th-floor cafeteria, a pleasant place to sit and continue my routine office work. A young lady approached me with a gentle smile while mopping the floor. Seeing my collar, she asked me if I was a priest and that’s how our conversation began. Her name was Priscilla. I told her how beautiful her name was and that I knew it from the Bible, as it is mentioned in Acts and other letters of St. Paul for her significant role in the early Church. 

While continuing our conversation, I told her that no matter how modest her job might seem, it was a noble endeavor. She was keeping the ship clean.  “In all humility, you are imitating the infinite goodness of God,” I told her. “When you clean the floors that others—consciously or not—have soiled, you are echoing God cleansing our sins in spite of our indifference.” Then I thanked her and wished that as she pursues and fulfills her dreams, she would remain pure of heart. 

As she walked away, I noticed tears filling her eyes, reflecting her inner joy like a rainbow. 

Yes, my dear fellow brothers and sisters, Christianity is not about a religion, but it’s about a relationship under the providential care of a loving Heavenly Father, and a lifetime journey of imitating Him who revealed Himself in His Only Begotten Son and works through His Holy Spirit. 

ARCHBISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
Prelate