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.

FROM PAIN TO PEARL

In the silent depths of the ocean, the oyster rests peacefully until a tiny grain of sand slips inside its shell. This minuscule intruder causes irritation and pain. It doesn’t belong there; it’s not supposed to be there. But instead of pushing it away, the oyster begins to coat that sand with layers of nacre, turning it into a radiant, shimmering pearl.

This natural marvel mirrors our own experiences with life’s trials. There are moments when a problem slips into our world—something unexpected, something that throws us off balance. Maybe it’s a health issue, a financial struggle, or a broken relationship. We didn’t ask for it, and we certainly don’t want it. But if we allow God to work through those trials, he can take that grain of sand, that thing causing you pain, and I can turn it into something beautiful.

WALKING IN HIS STEPS

One chilly evening, a father decided to take a walk to a nearby church. A few moments later, he heard the sound of small footsteps. He turned around, and there was his little boy, following him. The father asked, “How did you find out where I was?” The boy, with a bright smile, answered, “I just followed your steps in the snow.”

Over 2,000 years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ walked on this earth, and His steps left a trail that has changed the world forever. He walked through deserts and hillsides, through crowded cities and quiet gardens, and every step He took was a step of love, compassion, and obedience to God’s will. He showed us how to love the unlovable, how to forgive the unforgivable, and how to reach out to those who are hurting and lost.

GOD’S BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

Recently, I was going through some old files, and I stumbled upon my childhood album—full of pictures from years ago. There were snapshots of family gatherings, school events, special moments with friends, and even some baby photos of me and my brother. Each photo brought back memories, and I found myself smiling, thinking about how God had blessed me over the years. It warmed my heart all over again.

Isn’t it amazing how we hold onto those cherished moments? We capture them, put them in an album, and when we open it, it takes us back. It’s like time-traveling to a place where joy was overflowing, where life felt lighter, where love was all around. In a beautiful way, God also has His own way of treasuring memories.

AVEDIS – THE GOOD NEWS

We live in a world where the news is often dominated by negativity—stories of conflict, division, and despair. Day after day, we hear headlines that make us anxious, sad, or angry. And it’s so easy to get weighed down by it all, to forget about the good news that truly matters.

The Gospel is the best news you will ever hear. It’s a message of hope that can transform lives, heal brokenness, and renew hearts. The Gospel tells us that God loves us, forgives us, and has a plan for us. And no matter how dark things may seem, there is always a light that shines in the darkness, and that light is Jesus Christ.

DRIVEN BY LOVE

One night, a man was driving down a dark, lonely highway. It was late, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Suddenly, he heard a loud thud. Startled, he pulled over and saw a figure lying by the roadside. He realized he had accidentally struck a hitchhiker who had been standing too close to the road.

In that moment, fear gripped his heart. He wanted to jump into his car and drive away. But then, as he turned to get back into his car, he heard a faint, desperate voice. The injured man whispered, “For the love of God, help me.” The driver resisted his fearful temptation and returned to help.

STOP GOING IN CIRCLES

A man who was on a diet decided to pray for guidance. He said, “Lord, if You don’t want me to get donuts this morning, let there be no parking spots in front of the donut shop.” But he had to give in to the donuts because, sure enough, after his 20th time around the block, there was a parking spot right in front of the door.

Isn’t that how we can be sometimes? We pray for direction, for God to help us make the right decisions, but if we’re honest, sometimes we already have our minds made up. We circle the same situations, looking for a way to justify doing what we want, rather than what’s best for us.

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Translators. When we hear the word “translator,” we might think of someone who takes words from one language and turns them into another, making sure the message is clear. But the work of our Holy Translators goes much deeper than that. It’s not just about words on a page—it’s about taking the living, breathing Word of God and making it come alive, making it real and relevant in the hearts and lives of people.

We remember and honor giants like Sts. Sahag, Mesrop Mashdots, Yeghishé, Movses the Grammarian, and David the Invincible, these heroes from the 5th century who gave us the Armenian alphabet.

DON’T MISS THE MELODY OF HOPE

Back in 2007, right in the heart of Washington, D.C., a busy subway station buzzed with life. It was a chilly January morning, and commuters rushed by, eager to get on with their day. There, against a wall, stood a man with a violin. For 45 minutes, he played six beautiful, intricate classical pieces. Over 1,000 people passed by him, but only a handful stopped to listen. At the end of his performance, this man had collected just $32 in his violin case.

What those commuters didn’t know is that this wasn’t just any violinist. This was Joshua Bell, a world-renowned classical violinist. He was playing a violin worth $3.5 million, and the pieces he performed are considered some of the most challenging and beautiful ever composed.

THE HEAVEN ON EARTH

Every Sunday, when we come to the Lord’s Table and receive the Holy Communion, we step into something that goes beyond this world. God invites us to step out of our daily routines, out of our worries and concerns, and into something that transcends everything else. We step into a divine mystery where heaven meets earth.

In our Badarak, we hear these incredible words: “Having come down from heaven, He is distributed among us.” What a beautiful reminder! We are receiving heaven itself right here on earth. The bread we take isn’t just bread—it’s the very body of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the wine? It’s His precious blood. It’s not just a reminder of something that happened 2,000 years ago. It is the living presence of Jesus Christ with us.

RIBBONS OF LOVE

I read this story about a traveler who found himself sitting next to a man on a train. The man looked burdened, weighed down by something heavy—something no one should carry alone. After sitting in silence for a while, the man finally opened up. He had just been released from prison and, in that moment of vulnerability, also admitted that his imprisonment had brought shame on his family and that they had neither visited him nor written much.

He tried to convince himself that maybe they were just too poor to make the trip or too uneducated to write. And before his release, he wrote one last letter to his family suggesting that if his family had forgiven him, they should put up a white ribbon in the big apple tree near the tracks as a signal. If they didn’t want him back, they were to do nothing; he would understand, stay on the train, and head West.