Messages Written by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

STITCHED BY THE MASTER’S HAND

Woburn, Massachusetts, where we held our 123rd Annual Diocesan Assembly last week, was once renowned for its shoemaking industry. We stayed at the Hilton in Woburn, and my hotel room was decorated throughout with reminders of that legacy, as you can see in the photo. Shelves filled with sewing machines, wooden shoe forms, and spools of thick thread. All the tools of the trade.

That room took me back to a cold winter in Armenia, back in the early 90s. Times were tough. We didn’t always have electricity. We didn’t have heat. We had to burn wood in old-fashioned stoves just to stay warm. And sometimes, when wood was hard to find, we’d burn books—volumes of Lenin, to be exact. But secretly, I would save the covers, made out of leather.

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EVERY STEP WITH GOD

After my accident, once I was back on my feet, I felt a fire in my spirit. A strong desire. A calling from the Lord to get out there—to be with the people, to walk beside our communities, to hear their stories and share in their journey.

And I made a commitment: to visit every corner of this Diocese, every church, every mission parish, every emerging community. And by God’s grace, I can now say that this very weekend, I reached that goal, visiting every outpost of our Diocese at least once as Diocesan Primate. 60 parishes. 60 beautiful, vibrant communities of faith.

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LOVE IN A LUNCH BAG

Last Thursday, during our Annual Diocesan Assembly with the clergy, delegates, and faithful members of our Diocese, we packed 750 lunches for local shelters and food pantries. The theme of our Assembly this year was: “Love One Another.” And we didn’t just speak it, we lived it. We put love into action, one sandwich at a time.

The Eagle-Tribune snapped our photos, and I’m grateful they did. But even the sharpest camera can’t capture the invisible: the compassion woven into every bag, the quiet prayer spoken over each meal, the light dancing in a volunteer’s eyes because they knew what they were doing mattered.

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DESIGNED TO SOAR

I read an interesting thing about the early days of golf balls. When manufacturers first made golf balls, they had smooth, flawless outer covers, kind of like a giant ping-pong ball. They were called feathery! But something strange happened out on the course. After the ball had been roughed up a little, knocked around, maybe even dented here and there, they noticed it started traveling farther. It flew straighter.

So, what did the manufacturers do? They started making golf balls with dimples already built in. That’s right, the imperfections were no accident. They were part of the design!

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THE SCENT OF GOD’S PRESENCE

Recently, I visited the new Commodity Fragrances store in the SoHo neighborhood in New York City, opened by our dear friends Vicken and Rosette Arslanian. What a beautiful place it is! The design is modern, almost like an art gallery. As you walk in, you can feel the atmosphere shift. Every scent, every detail is designed to lift your senses and make you pause, reflect, and breathe in something refreshing.

As I walked through that boutique, sampling the different fragrances, a saying from one of the Desert Fathers came to mind. He said, “Whoever enters a perfume shop, even if they buy nothing, still leaves with the sweet fragrance.” What a powerful truth! …

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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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