My name is Matthew Vessoyan. I am a former ARS student and acolyte who has grown up within the Armenian community, attending church services, Sunday school, and cultural events since childhood. I have taken part in Badarak, learned hymns, and listened to the stories of our saints and history. These experiences have given me a deep love for the Armenian Apostolic Church. As time passes, I have also become more aware of a tool that is quietly entering our lives: artificial intelligence. I have begun to consider the possibility that it might help more people, especially young people and those in the diaspora, feel closer to our Church.
Artificial intelligence is simply a set of tools that can understand language, answer questions, translate texts, and create learning materials. It does not replace prayer, the priest, or the living community. Yet, it can remove some of the barriers that keep people at a distance. Someone who lives far from an Armenian church can still hear the Divine Liturgy explained in clear language. A young person who feels shy about asking questions can quietly explore the lives of the saints, the meaning of the feasts, or the history of our ancient monasteries without fear of judgment. A parent who wants to teach their child the Lord’s Prayer in Armenian can find accurate, patient help at any hour.
We can use these tools to appreciate and learn from the richness of our tradition without losing what makes it sacred. AI can translate classical Armenian texts into modern languages so that the words of our Church Fathers become accessible again. It can help someone follow the Badarak more closely by explaining the symbols and prayers as they unfold. It can create simple lessons that teach the stories of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Holy Translators, and the martyrs of our faith in a way that speaks to today’s generation. There is nothing wrong with wanting a clearer understanding or easier access to our traditions. The danger appears only if we begin to treat technology as a substitute for real human presence: standing together in church, receiving Holy Communion, or sitting with a priest who knows our name.
I believe that another person’s or another generation’s closeness to the Church should never make us feel less valuable. Each of us walks a different path toward God. Some of us grew up surrounded by the Armenian language and the scent of incense; others are discovering our traditions later in life. Just because someone already knows the hymns by heart does not mean the rest of us cannot learn them. Rather than feeling distant or left behind, we can use new tools as motivation to take one more step toward the altar. We should also remember that behind every digital answer stand centuries of prayer, sacrifice, and living faith that no machine can fully contain.
Ultimately, technology is only as good as the heart that guides it. If we use artificial intelligence with humility, to open doors rather than replace them, it can help more people hear the ancient voice of the Armenian Apostolic Church in a language they understand, at a moment when they are ready to listen. And that, I believe, is one quiet way the Church can continue to reach every generation.
Matthew Vessoyan