THE EASTER MESSAGE OF BISHOP MESROP PARSAMYAN
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
Who Will Remove the Stone?
The Bible tells us that on the first Easter morning, the women who cared for Jesus made their way to His tomb: a tomb cut into rock, with a great stone sealing its entrance. Their hearts on that morning were heavy with grief. The tears they had shed on Good Friday were not yet dried. The pain of loss, the ache of disappointment, the crushing weight of despair: it all weighed on them like a great stone, pressing down on their hearts.
And as they walked, they asked a question that many of us have asked in our own lives: Who will remove the stone?
That stone represented finality. It marked the end of Jesus’ story—or so it seemed. He who had healed the sick, who had opened blind eyes, who had spoken words of Life—He was gone. The One who had lifted burdens was now sealed behind a burden too heavy to move.
Who would remove the stone?
We ask that question ourselves, don’t we? In our world today, it’s easy to feel the weight of our struggles pressing down like heavy stones. We carry burdens of worry, fear, disappointment, and regret. Life has a way of piling these stones at the entrance to our hearts, sealing away the light, joy, and peace we so desperately seek.
But the message of Easter is clear: The power of Christ’s Resurrection will roll away every stone that weighs down your soul. No matter how impossible our circumstances may seem, God will roll away our stones—if we go towards Him. He brings Life where there is death; Hope where there is despair; Light where there is darkness.
On the first Easter Sunday morning, when Mary Magdalene and her companions reached the tomb, they discovered that all of their anxiety had been for nothing. For the stone had already been rolled away! And for those women, it was more than just a physical barrier that had been removed. It symbolized the breaking of chains, the shattering of barriers that keep us from living fully in the light of God’s love and mercy. The Resurrection of Jesus was for them—and is for us—a declaration by God that no force on earth, no magnitude of sin, no depth of despair can obstruct the power of His love.
Christ’s Resurrection is not just an event that happened 2,000 years ago. Indeed, we encounter its power throughout the history of the Armenian people. How many times have the forces of evil tried to place us in a tomb—in ancient times, during the Genocide, in our own day—with a heavy stone blocking the entrance? But God rolled every stone away—as our continuing presence in the world proves.
That same reality can and will transform our lives today. So lift your eyes to the Risen Lord. Let the power of His Resurrection flow into your life. Let it roll away the stones that block the entrance to your heart—preventing you from experiencing the joy and peace He offers.
The tomb is empty! Jesus is alive! And because He lives, we can face tomorrow with hope, courage, and unshakable confidence. We may still ask: “Who will remove this stone?” But Christ answers with authority: “I did. I will.”
May the power of the Risen Lord enter your soul this Easter, fill your heart with joy, and transform your life today and always.
Krisdos haryav ee merelots! Orhnyal eh haroutiunun Krisdosi!
Christ is raised from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!
Prayerfully,
Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan Primate
Easter 2025
