BISHOP MESROP PARSAMYAN, DIOCESAN PRIMATE

Messages Written by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan is the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, one of the main branches of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United States. Born in Yerevan, Armenia, he studied at the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin and later pursued advanced theological education in Europe. Ordained as a celibate priest in 2003, he served Armenian communities in Armenia, France, Switzerland, and eventually the United States, where he became known for his pastoral leadership, teaching, and outreach work.

As Primate, Bishop Mesrop oversees Armenian churches and clergy across the eastern United States, guiding religious, cultural, and educational programs for Armenian Americans. Since his election in 2022, he has focused on engaging younger generations, strengthening Armenian Christian identity in the diaspora, and expanding the Church’s presence through media and community outreach. He also represents the Armenian Church in interfaith and public settings, helping preserve Armenian spiritual and cultural traditions in American society.

A MERRY HEART STRENGTHENS THE BONES

We often separate body and soul, caring for the body with food, exercise, rest, and medicine, and for the soul with prayer, worship, and peace. Yet God made us whole, and a heavy heart can affect the body. Depression can lower bone density, but struggling spiritually doesn’t mean failure. Our pain deserves care, prayer, and help. Scripture says a merry heart is like medicine, a broken spirit dries bones. Prayer, worship, and God’s presence lift the spirit, bringing hope, healing, and joy even amid suffering…

LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS

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Recently, I began watching old Bob Ross videos again. His calm paintings remind me of a simple truth he often shared: “You need dark to show light, and light to show dark.” In art, light is meaningful because of shadow. The same is true in life and faith. Scripture says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). We see this most clearly in Christ, whose Resurrection shines through the darkness of the Cross. Sorrow deepens joy, struggle strengthens gratitude, and trials teach us to notice grace. In God’s hands, even the darkest shadows can serve to reveal the beauty of His light…

THE FIRST PRINTED ARMENIAN BIBLE

At the Diocese, we preserve the first printed Armenian Bible, published in Amsterdam in 1666 by Bishop Voskan Yerevantsi. Before printing, Scripture was copied slowly by hand, making complete Bibles rare and precious. The printing press allowed God’s Word to spread farther, reaching more churches, homes, and hearts. Today the Bible is everywhere, yet we sometimes forget its value. Scripture was not given only to be printed on paper, but to be written on the heart. When we read it prayerfully, God renews our hope, guides our lives, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to Him each day…

THE FIRE WAS NEVER GONE

When incense charcoal burns, the flame first rises brightly, then grows quiet, though hidden fire remains beneath the surface. A gentle breath awakens the glowing coals again. This reflects the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Some seasons feel full of joy, prayer, and strong faith; others feel silent and heavy. Yet God’s Spirit never leaves us. In Scripture, the Holy Spirit is linked with breath and wind, bringing life, courage, and renewal. One prayer, one word of Scripture, or one movement of grace can reignite the hidden fire within us. Even when faith feels quiet, the Spirit is still alive, waiting to awaken our hearts again.

LET IT COOL

Japanese tea cups have no handles, so you feel the heat directly. If the cup is too hot to hold, the tea is too hot to drink. That quiet wisdom mirrors life with God. We often rush for answers, healing, success, or change, expecting immediate results. But Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time for everything. Delays, silence, and uncertainty may be God slowing us down, preparing our hearts, and teaching patience. Rushed choices can wound us, while waiting can deepen us. Some blessings must arrive in God’s timing, not ours. Sometimes the waiting itself is part of the blessing.

THE SERMONS WE DON’T REMEMBER

A man wrote that after 30 years of church and 3,000 sermons, he remembered almost none, questioning their value. Another reader replied, recalling 30 years of meals his wife prepared—he remembered none, yet they nourished him. Likewise, the Word of God strengthens the soul even if we forget details. Just as food sustains the body, Scripture, prayer, and Holy Communion nourish faith. Regular spiritual “meals” shape us, strengthen our hearts, and help us live a spiritually healthy life, even without full memory of each one.

CHOOSE FAITH OVER FEAR

Fear and faith both ask us to believe in the unseen, but they focus on different outcomes. Fear magnifies obstacles, predicting failure, while faith trusts in God’s promises. In Numbers 13, ten spies saw giants and felt helpless, but Joshua and Caleb saw the same and believed victory was possible. Fear whispers, “You are alone,” “This is the end,” or “There’s no way,” while faith counters, “God is with me,” “He is my strength,” and “He makes a way.” Choose faith, pray instead of worrying, and trust that God is already at work, turning challenges into triumphs.

WITH YOU ALWAYS

The Ascension of Jesus does not mean He is distant from us. Though Christ rose to the Father forty days after His Resurrection, He promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The Lord who reigns in heaven also walks beside us on earth, strengthening us in weakness, hearing our prayers, and bringing peace in uncertain times. When life feels heavy with grief, fear, or unanswered questions, the Ascension reminds us we are never alone. Christ remains near in every struggle, and because He is with us, hope is never lost. The Ascended Lord is with us today, tomorrow, and always.

WHERE IS YOUR MIND?

Phone apps can track where our bodies are, but a more important question is: where is our mind? Long before our actions go astray, our thoughts often lead the way. Philippians 4:8 reminds us to dwell on what is true, pure, honorable, and lovely, because peace and strength are built thought by thought. The mind is like a garden: what we plant there will grow. Fear and resentment shape unrest, while truth, gratitude, and God’s promises cultivate peace. God seeks not just outward change, but inner transformation through the renewing of our minds. Today, ask yourself: where is my mind resting?

A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS

Back in 2015, while I was serving at Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Armenian Church in Belleville, Illinois, we had a beautiful Christmas tradition that I will never forget. Every December, our parish community would visit retirement homes and assisted-living centers to sing Christmas carols.

Many of those seniors lived with loneliness. Some were facing serious physical pain. Some could barely speak. Yet the moment the music began, faces softened, eyes filled with light, tears appeared. Those carols reached places words could not. They reminded them that heaven is real and that God has not forgotten them…