THE FIRST PRINTED ARMENIAN BIBLE
By Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
At the Diocese, we have the first printed Armenian Bible. In 1666, in Amsterdam, Bishop Voskan Yerevantsi printed the first complete Armenian Bible. Many people know about the Gutenberg Bible. For us, Armenian Christians, the Voskan Bible has that special place.
For centuries before that, the Word of God was copied by hand, slowly and prayerfully. Because of this, complete Bibles were very rare. Many churches and families had only portions of Scripture: a Gospel book, a Psalter, or a few sacred readings. To hold the entire Bible in one collection was a blessing most people could only dream of.
Then came the printing press. One invention changed the world. What once had to be copied slowly by hand could now be printed and shared with many people. The Word of God could travel farther and faster. It could reach more homes, more churches, more hearts.
Today, the Bible is everywhere. It is in our churches, on our bookshelves, in hotel rooms, and on our phones. We can open it in a second. We can search any verse. We can carry the entire Bible in our pocket.
And perhaps because it is so available, we sometimes forget how precious it is. What our ancestors dreamed of and treasured as a rare gift, we sometimes leave unopened.
But the Bible was never given to be printed on paper. It was given to be written on the heart. This is God’s promise through the prophet Jeremiah: “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33).
That is the real miracle of God’s Word. It moves from the page into the soul. It speaks to us when we are weary. It corrects us when we lose our way. It strengthens us when fear rises. It reminds us who we are and whose we are.
The Bible is the living voice of God calling us closer. Every time we open it with prayer, God opens something within us. He opens our eyes. He softens our hearts. He renews our hope.
So open the Word of God daily. Read it slowly and meditate on it. Let one verse stay with you through the day. Because when the heart receives that Word, life begins to change.
Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
May 28, 2026
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