In the depths of winter, as we gather to celebrate the Theophany of our Lord on January 6th, we are not merely marking a date on the calendar – we are participating in a profound testament to standing firm in truth. The Armenian Church’s commitment to celebrating Christ’s birth and baptism on this original date, despite centuries of pressure to conform to December 25th, offers us a powerful lesson about the nature of truth and our relationship to it.
Consider for a moment what it means to be the minority voice. When the majority of the Christian world shifted to December 25th, it would have been easier – politically, socially, and practically – for the Armenian Church to simply adjust. The pressures were real, the isolation palpable, and the temptation to conform must have been significant. Yet, our forebears chose to maintain this date not out of mere stubbornness, but out of conviction in its historical and theological authenticity.
This steadfastness mirrors the very essence of Christ’s teachings about truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” Jesus told his disciples. But what does this freedom look like in practice? Sometimes it looks like being out of step with the mainstream. Sometimes it means celebrating while others are returning to their regular routines. Sometimes it means explaining, yet again, why we do what we do.
In our daily lives, we face similar choices, though perhaps less dramatic. When do we go along with what everyone else is doing, even when we know it isn’t right? When do we adjust our values to fit in? When do we silence our conscience for the sake of convenience? The Armenian experience with January 6th teaches us that standing firm in truth isn’t about being difficult or different for its own sake – it’s about maintaining what we know to be authentic, even when it costs us something.
Think about the workplace, where you might be pressured to cut ethical corners for profit. Consider social situations where speaking the truth might make others uncomfortable. Remember those moments when staying silent would be easier than standing up for what’s right. Our celebration of Theophany on January 6th becomes a reminder that truth isn’t determined by majority vote or social convenience.
But there’s something else remarkable about the Armenian preservation of January 6th – it has transformed from an act of resistance into a gift to the entire Christian world. By maintaining this ancient date, the Armenian Church has preserved a living link to early Christian practice. What might have seemed like stubborn inflexibility has become a witness to historical truth and a reminder that the earliest Christians saw Christ’s birth and baptism as intimately connected revelations of God’s presence among us.
As we celebrate today, let us remember that we’re not just commemorating Christ’s birth and baptism – we’re participating in a centuries-long tradition of choosing truth over convenience, authenticity over accommodation, and faithful witness over easy compromise. May this ancient choice inspire us to stand firm in our own moments of truth, knowing that faithfulness to truth, though sometimes costly, bears fruit in ways we might not expect.