“The Privilege to Walk With This Armenian Family of Faith”: Fr. Parsamyan’s Message of Thanks
Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Diocesan Primate
Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan expressed humble gratitude, appreciation for his predecessors, and optimism for the road ahead in his first message to the people, following his election as the 13th Primate of the Eastern Diocese.
The delegates of the 120th Diocesan Assembly, meeting in New York City and online, cast their votes on Friday, May 6, 2022. In accordance with the Diocesan bylaws, pending confirmation by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, Fr. Mesrop will assume the office of Primate for a term of four years.
“I pledge to serve the needs of the Eastern Diocese to the very best of my ability,” he told the delegates, adding that he looked forward to visiting all of the parishes of the Diocese, and spending time among its faithful.
He directed special words of appreciation to current Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan. “Thank you, Srpazan, for the many ways you have shepherded this Diocese,” he said. “I look forward to our continued interactions, mutual fraternal support, and prayer for one another. I pray God’s blessings upon you, Srpazan, as you move to a new chapter in your ministry.”
He concluded with a call for mutual prayer, as all the clergy and faithful work to advance the mission of the church. “My dear friends, I ask you all … to constantly and continually pray for me as I do for you, and together with your understanding and cooperation, our Diocese may continue to grow spiritually and physically.”
Read his entire message below. Click the link to watch a video extract of Fr. Mesrop’s remarks, which includes Bishop Daniel’s gracious congratulatory words.
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Your Graces, My Brother Priests, Dear Delegates and Chairmen, Christ’s Faithful:
The possibility of a day like this was far beyond my comprehension. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that something like this would happen; but as we know of our God, He does things His way, and we His children can only obey and glorify Him.
Փառք քեզ Աստված, փառք Քեզ, յաղագս աﬔնայնի Տէր փառք Քեզ։ [Park kez Asdvadz, park kez, haghakus amenainee Der park kez: “Glory to you, God; glory to you; Lord of the world glory to You.”]
I am greatly humbled and yet highly honored to be elected as the Primate of this historic Diocese.
Allow me to express my great gratitude to the clergy and faithful delegates of this diocese, who elected me today the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. I’m both humbled and excited by this new chapter of my life, and I pledge to serve the needs of the Eastern Diocese to the very best of my ability.
I want to sincerely thank Bishop Daniel Findikyan who has served the needs of this Diocese these last four years. Thank you, Srpazan, for the many ways you have shepherded this Diocese. I have greatly appreciated our camaraderie while working with you at the Diocesan Center and at St. Vartan Cathedral, and I look forward to our continued interactions, mutual fraternal support, and prayer for one another. I pray God’s blessings upon you, Srpazan, as you move to a new chapter in your ministry.
With the same heartfelt sincerity, I want to greet Vicken Srpazan, who is here with us. Thank you Srpazan for your support and blessings. I want to thank my brother clergy. Please know that I’m deeply grateful to each and every one of you for all that you do and I look forward to ministering with you as we take care of this portion of the Lord’s kingdom entrusted to us together.
I offer that same heartfelt warmth and sincerity and the greeting to the delegates, Parish Council chairmen, and all the faithful of the Eastern Diocese.
My brothers and sisters, I anticipate visiting all of our parishes in our Diocese. I look forward to getting to know you through our interactions and most importantly by listening to your hearts. I also look forward to you getting to know me as I am here to serve you, to journey with you in faith and to celebrate all that God is doing in our lives.
I am deeply grateful for your faith and your dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the privilege to walk with this Armenian family of faith on this road to salvation.
My dear friends, at this point in the history of this wonderful diocese let us renew our trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, and again pledge to serve him by serving one another. In God and God alone we place our hope and our trust, and we are confident and we know that God will never leave us to endure anything alone.
Believing in the continuous guidance, presence and assistance of the Holy Spirit as the prophet Zechariah aptly puts it: “not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of host” (Zechariah 4:6).
My dear friends, I ask you–all the clergy and lay faithful of the Eastern Diocese–to constantly and continually pray for me as I do for you; and together with your understanding and cooperation, our Diocese may continue to grow spiritually and physically.
May God bless all our efforts. And may the peace of God be with us. Amen.
