FROM PIT TO PURPOSE

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.

After thirteen years, God sent a vision to King Trdat, leading to Gregory’s miraculous rescue. Not only was Gregory freed, but he also went on to transform Armenia, leading the nation to embrace Christianity. What was meant for his harm, God used for his good and the good of an entire nation.

We all have moments in life when we feel stuck in a pit—a place of darkness, despair, or difficulty. It might be a pit of financial hardship, a health crisis, a broken relationship, or a deep sense of hopelessness. But just because you’re in the pit doesn’t mean God has forgotten you. In fact, the pit might just be the place where God is preparing you for your greatest purpose.

Think about that: the very pit that held Gregory became the place where God prepared him for his mission. Sometimes God allows us to walk through challenges so that we’ll be ready for the greater things He’s preparing for us. When you feel stuck or forgotten, remember, God is always near. He sees your pain, hears your prayers, and in His perfect timing, He will raise you up.

Psalm 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” This is God’s promise to you. No matter how deep your pit seems, God’s hand is strong enough to lift you out and set you on a path of hope and purpose.

So, how do we endure the pit? We do what St. Gregory did: we hold on to our faith, we pray without ceasing, and we trust in God’s timing. Even when we can’t see a way out, we believe that God is working behind the scenes, preparing our deliverance.

The pit is not your final destination. It’s just a step on your journey to something greater.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
June 21, 2025