THE ENTHRONEMENT SERVICE OF THE 13TH PRIMATE OF THE EASTERN DIOCESE
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Diocesan Primate
Fr. Mesrop’s Message to the Faithful
In a joyous, dignified service at New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan reflected on the Apostolic character of the Armenian Church as a call “to go forth” among its people, and into the world.
He delivered the remarks as part of a “Service of Enthronement” on the evening of June 9, 2022, during which he ceremonially took his place as the 13th Primate of the Eastern Diocese. In a symbolic representation of the transition of office, Fr. Parsamyan accepted the Primate’s staff (called the assa in Armenian) from the outgoing Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan.
Read Fr. Mesrop’s address below. Click the following links to view photos and watch a recording of the entire Enthronement Service.
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A Call to Go Forth
The Very Reverend Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
In life, there are moments when your calling comes into focus; when you feel the Hand of God in your life—and the debt you owe to your fellow human beings. This is one of those moments for me, as I accept the responsibility of leading this great, historic Diocese, of the Armenian Church in America.
I am humbled by this honor bestowed upon me; and blessed by the opportunities that lie ahead. But as I reflect on the journey that has led me to this point, I am deeply aware that the Lord has been beside me, every step of the way—“in green pastures, and beside still waters; even through the valley of the shadow of death,” in the words of the Bible’s immortal prayer [Psalm 23]. From the depths of my heart, I offer praise and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Tonight, I convey my respect and love to His Holiness Karekin the Second, the Catholicos of All Armenians: a spiritual father to me, and to all of our church, for more than twenty years now. I would like to express my gratitude and love to my parents in Armenia, and my family, and the many people who have taught, inspired, and accompanied me on this journey.
I want, tonight, to also pay tribute to my dear brother, Bishop Daniel. Srpazan led our Diocese through the painful days of these past years, always lifting high the bright Hope that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. That has been the signature of his calling from the very beginning, and he will continue to lift up our church through his God-inspired ministry.
Tonight, I find great meaning in one of the words we use to describe the Armenian Church: Arakelagan—“Apostolic.” Of course, we are “Apostolic” because our ancestors received the Gospel from people who actually lived with Christ: Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew.
“Apostolic” also means that our church upholds the true teachings of the Apostles of Jesus: clear and pure; ancient, yet always new; unchanged, yet sensitive to present conditions, so that each generation can receive our Lord’s teaching.
But “Apostolic” means one thing more—which for me, tonight, strikes at the heart of the matter. It is a call “to go forth.”
To go forth among the people. To go forth throughout our communities, our great country of America, and our precious homeland of Armenia and Artsakh. To go forth among our families; our children; our youth.
To go forth, carrying the Light of our Lord Jesus—and the deep wisdom of our ancient, holy church—to our people, and to the world.
That active, outgoing, Apostolic mission is as urgent today as it was in the First Century. In the last few years—in the last few weeks—we have witnessed and experienced the troubled state of a world that separates itself from God.
But my friends, the Apostolic mission of the Armenian Church is to draw the people closer to God. Our Lord has better plans for the children He loves: “plans to bring us help and not harm; plans that give us hope, and a future,” as the prophet of Scripture promised [Jeremiah 29:11].
Under the Lord’s greater plans, we see great opportunities ahead of us. But we have great decisions to make, too. Parq Asdoodzo, thanks to the work of our forebears, we have a strong foundation—embodied in this magnificent cathedral in New York, and our beautiful churches from Massachusetts to Texas; from Minnesota to Florida.
Upon that foundation, and by God’s will, we will grow in faith together.
Thinking of it that way makes me feel very humble. But it also makes me feel confident—especially as I look on your faces here tonight—and imagine the faces watching from home. It makes me feel confident that, together, we have the tools to move forward.
The knowledge, life experience, and dedication to the church, represented by the people who make up our community is very impressive. It would be the envy of any institution that seeks to do good in the world—and I thank God we have such people to drawn upon in our church.
I’m not shy about saying to all of our people: The church needs you.
But even more important than that: We all need the church. We all need Christ at the center of our lives. That, more than anything else, is what motivates us. It’s why we serve, why we give, why we pray; so that we can remind this broken world, that “Christ appeared among us”—Krisdos ee mech mer haydnetsav, as the great Armenian sharagan puts it.
I truly believe that this was the spirit that sustained the Apostles when they went forth to bring Christ’s Light into the world. And in that spirit, with all humility—as I begin this new chapter of my ministry—I pledge to serve the needs of the Eastern Diocese and its people, to the very best of my ability.
My friends, we will go forward in this work together: hand in hand, united in spirit and devotion to our church and our people. And most of all, we will work with our eyes and hearts constantly focused on our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Posted from www.armenianchurch.us
