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.

THE BOY AND THE BOAT!

I love the story of the little boy who built a toy sailboat. He put his heart and soul into making that boat just right. He crafted it with care and eagerly anticipated the day he could sail it. When that day finally came, he set his little boat in the water and watched with pride as it floated out. But in a moment, the wind picked up and swept the boat downstream, out of sight. The boy chased after it, searching, but it was gone.

Weeks later, as he walked by a pawnshop, something caught his eye. There in the window was his very own boat! Excitedly, he rushed inside and asked the shopkeeper for his boat. But the shopkeeper said, “Sorry, son, I bought that boat. If you want it back, you’ll have to pay the price.”

THE LIVING STONES

“You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5).

What a beautiful image St. Peter gives us of our lives, our faith, and our purpose! He calls us “living stones”, being built up into something incredible—a spiritual house for the Lord. When St. Peter wrote these words, he must have been thinking about the magnificent Temple from the Old Testament, a place where God’s presence dwelled.

When King Solomon built the Temple, there was something remarkable about the process. The Bible tells us that he arranged the construction in such a way that there was only peace and quiet on the construction site: “In building the temple, only blocks dressed at

THE BALM OF HEALING

During the Blessing of the Holy Muron Service, I had the immense honor of holding a special container carrying the precious Balm oil. As I handed it to His Holiness Karekin II, I watched as it was mixed with olive oil and other sacred ingredients. And in that moment, something stirred within me. I couldn’t help but reflect on the deeper significance of what was happening.

This balm is one of the main ingredients of the Holy Muron and represents the healing. In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 8, verse 22, the prophet cries out, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why, then, is there no healing for the wound of my people?” Jeremiah was lamenting the spiritual brokenness of God’s people. He was asking, “Why are we still suffering if healing is available?”

Isn’t that a question we all face at some point in our lives? After my car accident two years ago, I grappled with these very questions. For a time, I wondered if I would ever fully recover—if the healing I desperately prayed for would ever come.

THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY MURON

Today is a day like no other—a day filled with God’s presence, His anointing, His grace, and His Holy Spirit! We have gathered here, at the very heart of our faith, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, for a sacred moment—the Blessing of the Holy Muron by the hand of His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians.

Throughout Scripture and history of the Christian Chruch, the oil has been used for anointing. Kings and prophets were anointed with oil, patriarch and priests were anointed with oil, children at their baptism and even the sick were healed by anointing with oil. The oil represents the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, moving in our lives, empowering us, and marking us as God’s chosen people. And today, this Holy Muron, this sacred oil, is a sign that God’s Spirit is alive and working in His church and in each of us.

THE RECONSECRATION OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN CATHEDRAL

Today is a day of new beginnings. We stand here at the heart of our faith, in a place where heaven touched earth. Holy Etchmiadzin, the very first Christian cathedral built in the world, has been renewed, restored, and reconsecrated. After centuries of standing as a beacon of hope, a symbol of God’s presence among His people, it has emerged once again, shining brighter than ever before.

As we stand in awe of its beauty, we’re reminded of something powerful: God is always at work restoring, renewing, and rebuilding our lives. We, the people of God, have been through our own season of wear and tear, like the stones of this holy church that weathered countless storms. But God promises, “I will restore the ruins and rebuild them as they were in the days of old” (Isaiah 58:12). When things seem broken when the weight of life’s challenges feels too heavy to bear, we can trust that God’s plan is to restore us, to make us stronger and more radiant than before.

THE SEAL OF IDENTITY

We all have something in our lives that reminds us of where we come from. It could be a family heirloom, a tradition passed down through generations, or even a place that holds deep meaning in our hearts. For us, as Armenians, one of the most powerful connections to our history, to our faith, and to our identity is Muron, the blessed oil of the Armenian Church.

Throughout the history of our Church, Muron has symbolized an indelible mark, the seal of the Holy Spirit upon the faithful. Whether at baptism, ordination, or the consecration of churches and paintings, it serves as a reminder of who we are in Christ. It speaks of our belonging to something far greater than ourselves—the Armenian Apostolic Church, the body of believers who share in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“The Light of the World” is the title of a famous picture painted by Holman Hunt in 1853. In this painting, we see Jesus, crowned with thorns, holding a lantern, standing at a closed-door overgrown with grass and vines. It hasn’t been opened in a long time. That door represents the human heart, and the image is inspired by Revelation 3:20, where Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me.”

It is said that the artist, having completed the picture, showed it to some friends who praised its merit. One of them pointed out what he thought was a mistake. He said, “You forgot something! There’s no handle on the door.” To which Hunt replied immediately, “You forget—we must open to the light; the handle is on the inside.”

REMEMBERING 9/11

Today is September 11, a day that brings back memories for so many of us. And my thoughts drift back to where I was all those years ago—at Vazgenyan Theological Seminary in Sevan, Armenia. The seminary was a place where we were constantly engaged in the pursuit of spiritual knowledge, constantly seeking a deeper understanding of God. It was a peaceful place, set apart from the noise and chaos of the world.

But on that day, on September 11, 2001, the peace of our sanctuary was shattered by news that seemed unimaginable. We gathered around the TV in shock. Planes crashing into buildings, innocent lives lost, families torn apart. I remember the silence that fell over us when …

NATIVITY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY

Today, we celebrate the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother-of-God. The story of Mary’s birth is an amazing example of how God can work through impossible situations to bring about His divine plan. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness in our own lives and the importance of trusting Him, even when the odds seem stacked against us.

The parents of Mary, Joachim, and Anna were devout and faithful, but they had a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome—they were childless and had grown old. For years, they had prayed for a child, believing, trusting, holding onto faith—even when it seemed impossible. Year after year, seeing no sign of hope. But they never stopped believing and praying.

UNPLUG TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE

I recently saw a news story about schools banning smartphones, and it got me thinking. These schools recognized that something as small as a phone, which gives us constant access to the world, can also be a huge distraction. It pulls the students away from what really matters—learning, focusing, and connecting with the people right in front of them.

That’s a powerful lesson for all of us in our daily lives. Just like those students, we can easily get distracted by the constant noise around us. We have our phones buzzing, emails coming in, social media pulling us in different directions. It’s easy to get so caught up in the noise that we forget to listen to what truly matters—the still, small voice of God.