March 17

Judgment by Man and God

A common thread runs through the Lenten Gospel reading for Sunday, March 19-the Sunday of the Judge.

In one parable, our Lord tells the story of a widow who would not cease calling on a judge for justice-and we are meant to think about our own prayers to heaven. In a second parable, a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple, displaying very different attitudes towards God.

In both stories, Jesus teaches about the coming of God's kingdom and the judgment of all mankind. Christ leads us to see that as human beings, we stand before God every day. Indeed one day, at the coming of His kingdom, we will stand before Him as our judge.

So we must ask ourselves: How should we stand before God? How should we prepare to show ourselves to Him?  Click here for some thoughtful answers.

Join us in person or on our YouTube channel for our 2023 Lenten Series Spiritual Journey Toward Easter on Lenten Wednesday at 7:00 pm. 



To see the 2023 Lenten Series flyer Click Here.

March 19, 2023

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

Mr. Garbis Chubukian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mr. Robert George

Choir

Mrs.Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings: 

Isaiah 65.8-25

Philippians 3.1-4.9

Luke 17.20-18.14

For the Soul of:

Armen Kharazyan ( 40 Days)

Requested by:

Osig Kharazyan and family. Arshag Sarkissian and family 

For the Soul of:

 Samvel Baloyan

Requested by:

Aram Baloyan, Arpi Petrosyan and children

For the Souls of:

Juliette Martirosyan and Ruben Martirosyan

Requested by:

 Nelli Martirosyan (daughter)

For the Souls of:

Varouzhan Yenokyan (9th anniversary) & Seryozha Yenokyan( 40 Days)

Requested by:

Karine Yenokyan, Artak Azizyan & Grandsons;Davit & Tigran

Hospitality Table is Hosted by:

Sarkissian, Baloyan and Martirosyan Families

To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service 

Please contact the Church Office

by 12:00 Noon on Thursday

202-363-1923

or Click here to see the form

Prayer of the Week

O Lord, send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Then I will go to the altar of God, and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

    Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, and protect the holy soil of Artsakh and Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord. Console all those who grieve, and remember those who sacrificed their very lives in your Name. Deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind.

Holy Week and Easter Schedule



Sunday, April 2 - PALM SUNDAY - The entrance of our Lord to Jerusalem

• Morning Service 10:00 AM
• Holy Badarak 10:30 AM
• Opening of Doors Service 12:00 AM
• ACYOA Lunch-Program 1:00 PM

Thursday, April 6 - GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY: The day’s services memorialize the Last Supper, Jesus’ vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane, His arrest and trial. 

• Holy Badarak 6:00 PM
• Washing of the Feet 7:16 PM
• Betrayal and Passion of our Lord 8:00 PM

Friday, April 7 - GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY: The Crucifixion and Burial of Christ will be marked with two services:

• The Order of the Crucifixion of Christ 12:30 PM 
• Order of the Entombment of the Lord 7:00 PM

Saturday, April 8 - GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY: The Evening Service and Scripture-reading will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by the Jrakalouyts (“Lamp-Lighting”) service at 7:00 PM

Sunday, April 9 - EASTER SUNDAY: The central holy day of the Christian calendar, commemorating the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb and the news of His Resurrection. 

• Morning Service 9:30 AM
• Holy Badarak 10:30 AM
• Antasdan Service 12:00 Noon

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD 

BLESSED IS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

We thank you for your continued support by making an Easter Youghakin Donation to St. Mary. The link below is for your convenience to "keep the lamps of our Church buring brightly".

There is a wonderful opportunities for our children to participate in Armenian camps and conferences this summer. St. Vartan Camp and St. Nersess Summer Conferences and trainnigs are now oper for registration. If your child is interested please contact the the church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com and provide your name, contact information (phone and email) and your student’s name/age. Put "St Vartan Camp," or "St. Nersess" in the subject line.  An interest meeting will be arranged, where parents/students can ask questions and arrange carpools.

This year, through generous donations made to a number of memorial funds, St. Mary will be able to offer a discount for each camper.   

Lenten Period Continues 

According to the liturgical calendar of the Armenian Church, the Lenten season has begun on Monday, February 19. This year, at St. Mary, Lenten Services and Discussions will occur every Wednesday. The year's theme is "The Holy Sacraments of the Church and their meaning." We will learn about the Holy Sacraments of the Church and their very real implications on our daily lives. A sacrament is a rite that not only signifies some specific grace but also produces that grace in the soul of the person to whom it is administered. Although everything within the Church is sacramental, there are seven formal sacraments of the Armenian Church which correspond to the different states and situations of a person's life.

The fourth of the six-week series took place on Wednesday, March 15. Dn. Sevan Topjian presented an insightful talk on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. He stressed the sanctity of this important sacrament in the lives of Christian couples. The influence of the secular culture and distortion of the holiness of marriage in our society today demands the ever-growing need for the Word of God in our surrounding and families.

During the fellowship hour, parishioners and friends enjoyed an interesting presentation by Avo Markarian, who arrived from Amman, Jordan. Avo spoke about the Armenian community in Jordan, their everyday life, and their challenges. 

The day's dinner was hosted by St. Mary Shnorhali School. 

A Visit by Fr. Harutyun Damadyan

Last week we had the pleasure of having Fr. Harutyun Damadyan, a Vartabed from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, among us. Hayr Soorp Celebrated Badarak at St. Mary on Sunday, March 12, and was welcomed by our community members during the Mitchink celebration hosted by the Women's Guild.

Hayr Harutyun is originally from Bolis, was ordained in 2015, and was appointed to the Surp Takavor Armenian Church of Kadikoy and the Armenian Church of the Princes' Islands while also serving a role for the Patriarchate. He is the author of three books and has penned numerous sermons and articles on religious topics.

For the past six months, Hayr Soorp resided at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in an effort to advance his knowledge of the Armenian American community. We thank Onnik and Hripsime Sivaslian for hosting Hayr Harutyun during his stay in DC.

Our best wishes to Hayr Harutyun in his ministry to the Lord and His people.

Support the Shnorhali School Lenten Good Deeds

Have you seen the new bulletin board outside the church office? It was constructed by the school children in support of their first Lenten good deed, collecting old blankets and towels for the Montgomery County animal shelter. We ask you to go through your linen closet to see if there are any towels or blankets that you might be able to part with (maybe they aren't being used or have seen a lot of use!). The donation receptacle will be underneath the bulletin board during Lent.

The second Lenten Good Deed is for our older students (4th grade through high school). We will be asking for donations of sandwich materials that the students will assemble into sandwiches to be donated to the homeless through an organization in DC called Martha's Table. If you would like to donate sandwich materials, please use the following Signup Genius   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094eafaf2da64-lenten#/      We would like to have all sandwich materials brought to school on Sunday, March 19.

Special Gift for St. Mary Gift Shop

St. Mary gift shop is offering limited numbers of imported bottles of medieval Armenian health elixirs formulated from ancient manuscripts deciphered at the Matendaran Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. These elixirs are made in Armenia by Armen Sahakyan, a pharmacologist and botanical scholar who has been working at the Matenadaran Museum for the last several decades. A trained medical doctor ordained a deacon in 1997, Sahakyan has dedicated his life to the maintenance of Armenia’s sacred botanical traditions.

The three different batches available at our gift shop (Royal Elixir, Arates Elixir and Arates Tonic) are made from a codified recipe of medieval Armenian medicine, using a special distillation process. They contain medicinal and aromatic plants, known for their healing properties. Through the distillation and aging process alcohol is created, so think of them as perhaps Armenia’s first (healthy) cognac! 

The supplies are limited and each bottle is numbered, including the batch and year of production. All of the bottles were donated to St Mary Church, so 100% of the proceeds will go to the St Mary Endowment Fund, with a portion also going to support Armenian clergy serving in Artsakh.

"Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

This year we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church with the launch of the new "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund to help ensure our church has the resources needed to continue serving our beloved community.  

Just as you plan for your future and that of your family, please join us in planning for the future of St. Mary Church. 

We are asking for your support so that St. Mary will be able to continue to fulfill her mission for future generations.  

The link below lists various opportunities for you to make a meaningful gift of lasting significance that will help support our church's long-term security, visibility, and vitality. Please consider making either a one-time gift or pledge, which would allow you to make payments over a five-year period.

Join St. Mary's Prayer Group

We are initiating a new form of ministry at St. Mary Armenian Church. For parishioners who would like to make an electronic prayer request, they can do so by Clicking Here.

A group of volunteers will receive the request and pray at their earliest convenience. Additionally, a new physical prayer request box will be placed at the entrance of St. Mary Armenian Church with blank forms that anyone can fill out and drop in the box. These requests will be retrieved weekly and delivered to the members of the volunteer prayer group. If you would like to become one of the volunteers of the Prayer Group please email us. 

Please click on the link below to present your request. 

Armenian Speaking Caregivers Available

For information please contact the church office at 202-363-1923 or  stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

Part-time help needed

Rockville Town Center (a few minutes walk from the Rockville Metro stop on the Red Line), for details, contact Lilit at "Saints Valley" Boutique:   https://www.instagram.com/saintsvalley/?hl=en

Buy a Brick and Leave Your Legacy at

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Bricks can be ordered and purchased by clicking below and

filling out a simple online order form.

You can choose to have a 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 20 characters per line of text.

Or you can choose to have the

Armenian Cross artwork on the 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 15 characters per line of text.

Order Today While Quantities Last!

Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.

Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.

Architect of Our Newest Armenian Church Visits Diocesan Center

On Wednesday, March 15, Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan welcomed architect David Hotson to the St. Vartan Cathedral complex in New York. Mr. Hotson is the architect of St. Sarkis Church in Carrollton, TX (pictured above)—which was named 2022’s “American Building of the Year,” by the editors of the influential web platform, World-Architects.

“David is the brilliant architect behind the stunning St. Sarkis Church,” said Fr. Mesrop. “His unique blend of traditional Armenian architectural elements with modern design is truly breathtaking. Our conversation about Armenian history and architecture was fascinating, and I was struck by David’s passion for creating spaces that inspire and uplift.”

The Primate added: “St. Sarkis Armenian Church is a testament to his vision, and I feel privileged to have experienced it firsthand.”

St. Sarkis Church will be the site of the upcoming Diocesan Assembly, where David Hotson will be presented with this year’s “Friend of the Armenians” award, during the banquet on Friday, May 5. At the same event, Mr. and Mrs. Elie and Ela Akilian will be honored as the year’s “Armenian Church Members of the Year.” See the item below for details on the Diocesan Assembly, and information on how to participate.

With the Spirit of Khor Virab to Guide Them…

“One day this winter, I found myself staring into a deep, dark, menacing hole. I mean that literally: I was visiting Khor Virab, an Armenian monastery in the foothills of Mount Ararat and the site of a miracle we could all use just about now. Feeling depressed about the fate of Western civilization? Just think of St. Gregory the Illuminator.”

Those are the provocative opening words to an article by journalist Liel Leibovitz in the pages of First Things magazine, America’s most influential journal of religion and public life. Mr. Leibovitz—an editor for The Tablet and co-host of its “Unorthodox” podcast—was recently visiting Armenia to ask how its citizens are dealing with the unrelenting hostility and frequent attacks from Azerbaijan.

What he discovered surprised him. Beneath the burdens of history, they carry, and the sober consciousness of their present reality, the people Leibovitz met in Yerevan and the countryside were driven, and sustained, by something deeper.

That realization crystallized when he visited Khor Virab (seen above)—the shrine built over the dark pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator spent 13 years in captivity. There, the writer learned the story of Armenia’s patron saint, and the role it plays in the Armenian soul. In his article titled “Out of the Abyss,” Liel Leibovitz writes:

“Armenians have the spirit of Khor Virab to guide them. They realize that faith, especially in the deepest of abysses, isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity, a spirit as essential as the breath of life itself. And they know instinctively that Christian isn’t something you can simply be; it’s something that you must choose to do. See the world this way and every little thing, no matter how banal—sharing a meal with a friend, volunteering at your kid’s school, putting a down payment on a new apartment—becomes an act of faith, a declaration that, all evidence observable by humans to the contrary, God will guide us to a future of freedom, peace, and plenty.”

His perceptive and uplifting article appears in the April 2023 print edition of First Things. But it can also be read online now, as a free article available to non-subscribers. Click here to read “Out of the Abyss.”

An Aspiring Journalist Pursues Her Dream, on a FAR Scholarship

Ani Tamrazyan believes she has found her dream profession in journalism, through which she wants to focus on human rights and law. “The Fund for Armenian Relief has played a big role in this,” she said.

As a child, Ani wanted to become a doctor. But in high school, she had a change of heart. “I liked how journalism deals with human lives and values,” said Ani, now 22, who noted that one of her first journalistic projects touched on environmental problems of her native village in Haghartsin, Armenia.

After receiving her Bachelor’s degree at Yerevan State University, Ani initially started working, putting her dream of earning a Master’s degree on hold—until she learned about FAR’s “Ester Ajemian Scholarship” program. She applied immediately. “My parents could not afford more tuition, and I hadn’t earned a penny back then. I decided that I would go for a Master’s degree if I got a scholarship. And I did,” she said with pride.

Now, Ani is studying again at Yerevan State and is deeply immersed in several reporting projects. She also works part-time at a local independent media station called Factor TV, where she tackles challenging subjects in her stories, such as the rights of Artsakh’s displaced.

The “Esther Ajemian Scholarship” is one of many scholarships offered through FAR. Empowering Armenia’s youth of today, and enabling them to accomplish their dreams through education, is an ongoing part of FAR’s mission.

Read more on FAR’s blog.

March 22 & 29 Lenten Service, discussion & dinner @7pm

March 18 Women's Guild General meeting @ 10 am

March 23 Armenian Christian Art and Culture Lecture at Catholic University of America @ 5 pm

March 29 A Presentation about AYO by Sarah Stites

April 2 Palm Sunday, ACYOA Day & W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

April 9 Easter Sunday, W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

April 24 Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

May 18 Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 19, 20,21 Spring Food Festival

May 28 W.G.Hampartzoom program and lunch

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Application for WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2023-2024 academic year is

May 31, 2023.

Click here to access the scholarship application. If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

20 Երբ փարիսեցիների կողմից հարց տրուեց, թէ երբ պիտի գայ Աստծոյ արքայութիւնը, նա պատասխանեց եւ ասաց. «Աստծոյ արքայութիւնը դրսից տեսանելի կերպով չի գալիս, 21 եւ չեն ասի, թէ ահաւասիկ, այստեղ է կամ այնտեղ, որովհետեւ ահա Աստծոյ արքայութիւնը ներսում՝ ձեր մէջ է»: 22 Իսկ իր աշակերտներին ասաց. «Կգան օրեր, երբ դուք կուզենաք մարդու Որդու օրերից մէկը տեսնել եւ չէք տեսնի: 23 Եւ եթէ ձեզ ասեն, թէ՝ “Ահաւասիկ այստեղ է կամ այնտեղ”, մի՛ շտապէք գնալ, 24 որովհետեւ ինչպէս որ փայլակը երկնքի ներքեւից փայլատակելով՝ երկնքի երեսը լուսաւորում է, այնպէս էլ կլինի մարդու Որդին իր օրում: 25 Բայց նախ նա պէտք է շատ չարչարուի եւ մերժուի այս սերնդից: 26 Եւ ինչպէս եղաւ Նոյի օրով, այնպէս կլինի եւ մարդու Որդու օրով: 27 Ուտում էին, խմում, կին էին առնում եւ մարդի էին գնում՝ մինչեւ այն օրը, երբ Նոյը տապան մտաւ, եւ ջրհեղեղը եկաւ ու բոլորին կորստեան մատնեց: 28 Նոյնպէս՝ ինչպէս Ղովտի օրով էլ եղաւ. ուտում էին, խմում, առնում էին ու վաճառում, տնկում էին, շինում: 29 Եւ այն օրը, երբ Ղովտը Սոդոմից դուրս ելաւ, երկնքից կրակ ու ծծումբ տեղաց եւ բոլորին կորստեան մատնեց: 30 Նոյն ձեւով է լինելու այն օրն էլ, երբ մարդու Որդին է յայտնուելու: 31 Այն օրը ով որ տանիքում է, եւ իր կարասին՝ տանը, թող չիջնի առնելու այն. եւ ով որ հանդում է, նոյնպէս թող յետ չդառնայ: 32 Յիշեցէ՛ք Ղովտի կնոջը: 33 Ով որ ուզի իր անձը փրկել, պիտի կորցնի այն, իսկ ով որ կորցնի իր անձը, պիտի փրկի այն: 34 Ասում եմ ձեզ. այն գիշերը, եթէ երկու հոգի լինեն մի մահճի մէջ, մէկը պիտի վերցուի, իսկ միւսը՝ թողնուի: 35 Եւ եթէ երկու կին միասին աղալիս լինեն, մէկը պիտի վերցուի, իսկ միւսը՝ թողնուի: Եւ եթէ հանդում երկու հոգի լինեն, մէկը պիտի վերցուի, իսկ միւսը՝ թողնուի»: 36 Պատասխան տուեցին եւ ասացին նրան. «Որտե՞ղ, Տէ՛ր»: 37 Եւ նա ասաց նրանց. «Ուր որ մարմինն է, այնտեղ էլ կհաւաքուեն արծիւները»:

18 1 Մի առակ էլ ասաց նրանց այն մասին, որ նրանք ամէն ժամ պէտք է աղօթեն ու չձանձրանան: 2 Ասաց. «Մի քաղաքում մի դատաւոր կար. Աստծուց չէր վախենում եւ մարդկանցից չէր ամաչում: 3 Եւ նոյն քաղաքում մի այրի կար, որ գալիս էր նրա մօտ եւ ասում. “Իմ ոսոխի դէմ իմ դատը տե՛ս”: 4 Եւ դատաւորը երկար ժամանակ չէր ուզում. դրանից յետոյ իր մտքում ասաց. “Թէեւ Աստծուց չեմ վախենում եւ մարդկանցից չեմ ամաչում, 5 բայց այն բանի համար, որ այրի կինը ինձ յոգնեցնում է, նրա դատը տեսնեմ, որպէսզի անընդհատ չգայ եւ ինձ չանհանգստացնի”»: 6 Եւ Տէրն ասաց. «Լսեցէ՛ք, թէ ինչ էր ասում անիրաւ դատաւորը: 7 Իսկ Աստուած արդարութիւն չի՞ անի իր այն ծառաներին, որոնք գիշեր եւ ցերեկ աղաղակում են. եւ նրանց հանդէպ միայն համբերատա՞ր կլինի: 8 Այո՛, ասում եմ ձեզ. նրանց իսկոյն արդարութիւն կանի. իսկ երբ մարդու Որդին գայ, արդեօք երկրի վրայ հաւատ կգտնի՞»: 9 Այս առակն էլ ասաց ոմանց, ովքեր իրենց ներսում պարծենում էին, թէ արդար են, եւ արհամարհում էին ուրիշ շատերին: 10 «Երկու մարդ տաճար ելաւ աղօթքի կանգնելու. մէկը՝ փարիսեցի, միւսը՝ մաքսաւոր: 11 Փարիսեցին կանգնած էր մեկուսի եւ ինքն իրեն այս աղօթքն էր ասում. “Աստուա՛ծ իմ, շնորհակալ եմ քեզնից, որ ես նման չեմ ուրիշ մարդկանց, ինչպէս յափշտակողները, անիրաւներն ու շնացողները եւ կամ ինչպէս այս մաքսաւորը. 12 այլ շաբաթը երկու անգամ ծոմ եմ պահում եւ տասանորդ եմ տալիս իմ ամբողջ եկամտից”: 13 Իսկ մաքսաւորը կանգնած էր մեկուսի եւ չէր իսկ կամենում իր աչքերը երկինք բարձրացնել, այլ ծեծում էր կուրծքը եւ ասում. “Աստուա՛ծ, ների՛ր ինձ՝ մեղաւորիս”: 14 Ասում եմ ձեզ. սա՛ իջաւ իր տունը արդարացած, ոչ թէ՝ միւսը. ով որ բարձրացնում է իր անձը, կխոնարհուի, եւ ով որ խոնարհեցնում է իր անձը, կբարձրացուի»:

Ղուկասի 17:20-18.14

20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”22 Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.[c] 25 But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise, anyone in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.” 37 Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

18 Then Jesus[e] told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 17:20-18.14