Messages Written by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

BEAUTY BEYOND THE BREAK

Growing up, many of us have those sweet memories of Easter Sunday, lining up with our red eggs, tapping them against each other’s, seeing whose would stay strong the longest. Back then, I didn’t know that the eggs were dyed red to remind us of the blood of Christ, poured out in love for the world. And the cracking of the egg symbolized the breaking open of the tomb, the moment when death gave way to life.

Last Friday, I had the great joy of spending time with my good friend, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. We met at the St. Nicholas National Shrine, with other Orthodox hierarchs right there at Ground Zero, a place that once stood for sorrow but now stands tall as a witness to hope.

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HONORING THE LEGACY OF THE HOLY MARTYRS

Today, we commemorate the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. As we lift our hearts in prayer and remembrance, we declare to the world that faith is stronger than fear, that love outlasts hate, and that God’s light still shines through the darkest chapters of our history.

The Apostle Paul asked a bold question in the book of Romans: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” He was declaring a truth that generations have held on to in the darkest of times. And no one has held onto it quite like the Armenian people.

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NO STONE TOO HEAVY FOR THE RISEN LORD

Before the sun had even risen… before the city had awakened… before the world knew what was about to happen, something miraculous was already underway. The Gospels tell us that on the first Easter morning, a few faithful women who cared for Jesus made their way to His tomb. It was a tomb cut into a solid rock, sealed with a massive stone.

Their hearts on that morning were heavy with grief. The tears of Good Friday were still fresh on their cheeks. They were still carrying the pain of loss, the sting of disappointment, the crushing weight of despair. It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on their hearts like a heavy stone blocking out all hope.

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WORSHIP THAT HEAVEN REMEMBERS

Today is Great, and Holy Wednesday and the Church gives us a powerful contrast to reflect on. On one side, we see Judas, one of the twelve, handpicked by Jesus. He had seen miracles, walked alongside the Messiah, heard the greatest sermons ever preached. But instead of offering his heart, he offered betrayal—for thirty pieces of silver.

And on the other side…there’s a woman. Her name isn’t even mentioned. She’s not famous. She doesn’t have a title. But what she does is unforgettable. She brings an alabaster jar of expensive oil. And without hesitation, she broke it open and poured it out on the head of Jesus and in that one bold act of worship, she honors the Savior of the world.

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OPEN THE DOOR

Today, we celebrate Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. We’ve walked through the 40 days of Lent praying, fasting, and reflecting, and now we stand at the gateway to Holy Week.

In the Armenian Church, we mark this day with a deeply symbolic service called “The Opening of the Doors.” At the end of Badarak, the priest knocks on the church door, and people sing together: “Open to us, O Lord, the door of Your mercy, and make us worthy to enter the dwellings of Your light.”

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DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

Today is Lazarus Saturday, a powerful day in our church calendar that reminds us of one of the greatest miracles in Scripture. A day when Jesus didn’t just speak about life, but He proved He had the power to bring it. He called Lazarus who had been dead four days out of a tomb, and that man walked out fully alive.

But before that miracle ever happened, something else had to take place. Jesus looked at Martha, Lazarus’ sister, and said these words: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” Then He asked her a question: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:25).

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ANOINTED FOR PEACE

For years, I thought that verse from the famous psalm was just beautiful poetry—David’s way of saying God was keeping him healthy, maybe keeping his mind strong. But I didn’t realize just how powerful that imagery is—until I learned what David, the shepherd boy-turned-king, was really pointing to.

In the Middle East, shepherds would take special care of their sheep. Because out in those dry fields and rocky hills, the danger wasn’t always a wolf or a lion. Sometimes, the greatest torment came from the smallest enemies—flies.

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SECOND WIND

When I was a teenager, I practiced judo, and part of our training included running. There were times when I would run and run, and suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t take another step. My legs were heavy, my lungs were burning, and my body was shouting at me, “That’s it. You’re done.”

And yet, if I kept going just a little longer, something amazing would happen. I would catch my second wind. Suddenly, the exhaustion lifted, my strength returned, and I felt like I could run forever!

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OVEN OVER MICROWAVE

We’ve all been there—waiting for a dream to come to pass, a prayer to be answered, a door to open. And if you’re like me, you probably don’t enjoy the waiting. We want things fast, quick, right now. But God doesn’t work on our timetable. He’s not rushed, not stressed. God is never in a hurry, and He’s never late. His timing is always right.

Think about baking a loaf of bread. There’s a process involved. First, you gather the ingredients, mix them together, knead the dough, and then—you wait. You put it in the oven and let the heat do its work. But here’s …

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SOUL DETOX

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine recently discovered something fascinating. They found that when we sleep, our brains actually flush out toxins. While we’re resting, brain cells go to work, pumping fluid in and out, removing waste and debris. Isn’t that amazing? God designed your body to cleanse itself while you sleep.

Now, just like your brain needs that deep rest to flush out physical toxins, your soul needs deep spiritual rest to flush out emotional and spiritual toxins—fear, guilt, shame, bitterness, worry. And the way we find that rest is by getting into God’s presence, soaking in His promises, and meditating on His Word.

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