Messages Written by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

THE IMPERFECT HEROES OF SCRIPTURE

One of the reasons we find the Bible so believable and so relatable is because it refuses to gloss over its heroes. It doesn’t present them as flawless, unattainable icons of virtue. Instead, it shows us their humanity, their struggles, their mistakes. And in that, we find hope for our own lives.

Think about Moses, for example. Here was a man chosen by God to lead His people out of slavery. But Moses was also a murderer. He made a terrible decision that haunted him.

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LISTENING WITH THE HEART

There’s an Armenian proverb that says, “We have three ears: one on the left side of the head, the other on the right, and the third in the heart.” We often forget about listening with the heart, while this kind of listening can make all the difference in our relationship with God.

We all go to church, sit side by side, and participate in the same Badarak, but some of us leave feeling the presence of God deeply in our hearts, while others feel nothing. Why is that? It’s because some hear with the heart, and others only with the ears.

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SOARING ON GOD’S WINGS

An eagle is a majestic and powerful bird soaring high in the sky. It returns to its nest, where its young ones are nestled. The eagle begins to stir up the nest, encouraging its young to take flight. At first, they might be afraid and unsure of their own abilities. But the eagle knows something they don’t—within them lies the power to soar.

In the same way, our almighty God is like that eagle. He stirs up our nests and our comfort zones and leads us to the edge of new challenges and opportunities. Sometimes, it feels like we’re being pushed off a cliff into nothing but air.

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HOPE FOR TOMORROW, STRENGTH FOR TODAY

Iguazu Falls, located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders. It consists of 275 separate waterfalls that span over 1.67 miles along the Iguazu River. The name “Iguazu” comes from the Guarani or Tupi words “y” (water) and “ûasú” (big), meaning “big water.”

Carved into a wall on the Brazilian side of the falls is a verse from the Bible, “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” (Psalm 93:4).

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TRUSTING GOD’S STORY

When we are learning to read as children, we quickly discover that the opening chapters of a novel are often a little confusing. New characters would pop up, strange events would unfold, and nothing seemed to make much sense. But we learned something important: to keep reading. Because we knew, deep down, that a good author would eventually weave all those scattered pieces into a beautiful, coherent story.

Our lives of faith are much the same. Sometimes, we encounter people and …

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BUILDING THE ALTAR OF LIGHT

Over seventeen centuries ago, in the heart of Armenia, a vision changed the course of our faith. St. Gregory saw a brilliant light descending from heaven, marking the very spot where the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin would be built. This was no ordinary light; it was the light of Christ Himself, illuminating the path for a nation and its people.

St. Gregory called out to the Armenian people with a message that resonates with us today: “Come, let us build the Altar of Light, for it is here that the Light has dawned upon us.” …

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RISING FROM THE PIT

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Deliverance from the Pit. Over 1,700 years ago, King Trdat threw St. Gregory into a dark pit near Mount Ararat. It was a prison, a place of suffering, meant to break his spirit. St. Gregory endured unimaginable hardship for thirteen long years, but he never lost his faith. He trusted that God had a plan, even in his darkest moments.

This is a powerful story that resonates with each of us because, at some point in our lives, we’ve all found…

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THE LONGING FOR A PERFECT HOME

Years ago, John Lennon of the Beatles wrote a very popular song entitled “Imagine.” This song encourages us to envision a world where there is neither heaven nor hell, no countries, and nothing to kill or die for—a world where all people live together as one, without selfishness.

Now, I can understand why this song resonates with so many. The idea of a world united in peace and harmony is truly beautiful. But, my friends, as attractive as this idea is, it overlooks a fundamental truth about human nature. The reality is, no matter how much we imagine, …

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MEMORIAL DAY

Today is a special day—a day of remembrance, a day of gratitude, a day when we pause to honor the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation and for our Homeland. Today is Memorial Day, a day when we reflect on the courage, dedication, and selflessness of those who laid down their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we hold dear.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s …

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WALKING BY FAITH

Did you know that the average pair of healthy human feet takes about 8,000 steps a day, 2.5 million steps a year, and walks about 115,000 miles over the course of a lifetime? Think about that for a moment. That’s a lot of steps! You thought you were tired, didn’t you? But here’s the thing—each of those steps represents a moment, an opportunity, a decision.

Scripture often refers to our lives as a walk, a journey that requires dedication, courage, and persistence. It’s not always easy, but it’s …

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