HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

While in Armenia for the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting, I had the blessing of ordaining seven new priests at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan today. Each of these seven young men who knelt before the altar embodied a unique calling, a divine purpose that God had planted in their hearts.

Father’s Day is a celebration of fatherhood, and this year, it took on a new meaning for me: I became their spiritual father, consecrating them and dedicating them to the Lord. As I laid my hands on each candidate, I felt a profound sense of responsibility and joy.

This Father’s Day, I am reminded of the ultimate Father, our Heavenly Father, who loves us unconditionally and calls us to follow Him. He is our guide, our protector, and our source of strength. As we honor our earthly fathers today, let us also give thanks to God for His boundless love and grace.

I am grateful to the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, for the opportunity to serve in this sacred role and to witness the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of these newly ordained priests.

May they be blessed in their ministry, and may they always feel the presence of God guiding their steps. As they embark on this journey, let us keep them in our prayers, asking the Lord to fill them with His wisdom and love, so they may faithfully shepherd their flocks.

On this special day, I encourage all of us to reflect on the fathers and father figures in our lives, both earthly and spiritual. Let us honor them with our love and gratitude, and let us strive to be beacons of Christ’s light in our own lives, following the example of those who have guided us in faith.

May the Lord bless all fathers and spiritual fathers today and always.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan,
June 16, 2024