Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) 

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016 

Contact: Chris Zakian 

Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558 

E-mail: chrisz@armeniandiocese.org 

Website: www.armenianchurch.us 

April 5, 2023

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ATTENTION EDITOR: This message contains both English and Armenian versions of Fr. Parsamyan’s Easter message. Scroll down for the Armenian. PHOTO attached, with caption immediately below.

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PHOTO CAPTION:

Primate of the Eastern Diocese Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, in St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, NYC.

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HEADLINE:

EASTER MESSAGE OF THE VERY REVEREND FR. MESROP PARSAMYAN

Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America

Restored by the Grace of God

Place your worries on God—for He cares about you…. Stand firm in your faith, for you know that the whole family of believers throughout the world suffers along with you. But after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace—who in Christ called you to His eternal glory—will restore you, all by Himself: make you strong, firm, and steadfast. For His is the power and glory, forever. (1 Peter 5:6-11)

 

With these words, the Apostle Peter reassured his Christian brothers and sisters in Asia Minor, as they lived through a time of crisis. In those days, the Church was very young; the early Christians had so much to lose—and they had no experience of history to calm their spirits. So Peter wrote to strengthen their hearts, with the wisdom he had gained from his years of service alongside Jesus Christ.

 

The pain of your loss is real, he told them; but you are not alone in your suffering. God always cares for you; and when the time comes, He will restore you.

 

What made Peter so confident that God would restore His people, no matter what befell them? The answer is: he had witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, on the first Easter Sunday. And he knew the world would never be the same.

 

Just think of what it means for a dead man to come back to life! It goes against the fundamental rules of the universe—where all things decay, all living creatures move towards death. Peter knew that Christ, too, had died—died a painful and horrible death. And yet three days later, he had seen Christ restored to life. And more: he heard the promise, from Christ’s own lips, that God would restore every person who placed his or her faith in the Resurrection of the Lord.

 

On this evidence, Peter knew that Christ conquered death to restore human beings to what they were meantto be: to make us new again.

 

In Jesus Christ, God took upon Himself the broken human condition—and restored it to what it was meant to be: made it new again. He brought nourishment to the hungry; healing to the sick; consolation to the grieving. To the confused, he offered an example of upright, godly behavior. To the sinful, he offered forgiveness. Finally, to the dead—the dead in body as well as the dead in spirit—Christ offered Life.

 

But these blessings came at great cost. Christ struggled, and endured great suffering, on our behalf. His final battle was waged on the cross—and for a time, it looked like death had won. But on Easter Sunday, “Christ was raised from the dead.” And through his victory, we were saved.

 

My friends, we live in a time of many trials. The world is exhausted from years of illness and isolation. Our precious homeland of Armenia and Artsakh is dealing with the perilous aftermath of war. This great country in which we live is plagued by deep moral confusion, doubt and anxiety.

 

We long to be restored to the way we were meant to be: to be made new again.

 

But there is only one power great enough to realize this hope: the power of God, in Jesus Christ. His Resurrection is the sign that God loves us, and cares for us. It is the promise that, even when we must endure trials and suffering, God has not forgotten us—and He will, in time, restore us.

 

That was the meaning of the first Easter Sunday. It is the reality we must embrace in our hearts today. And it is the Truth we must proclaim to the world, with conviction and love, in the beautiful words of the Armenian Church:

 

Krisdos haryave ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh haroutiunun Krisdosi!

Christ is raised from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!

 

With prayers,

 

Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan

Primate

 

Easter 2023

 

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Claim:. Church America Eastern Diocese Առաջնորդ՝

INSPIRATIONAL T:. MESROP TEACHER: PARSAMEANI S:. EASTER THE RESULT

yours every the soul to him on stretch, over because she to you for does take care… Constantstand up to faith in, knowing that your the brothers al of the world in the samesufferings does will carry And all blessings God, that us her eternalto glory called out Christ to Jesus through, little a the time distress wear the back, himself to youlet perfect do it, confirm, strengthen and establish Him kudos and: strength foreverforever. (A: PETER: 5:7-11)

 

This in words, Peter: messenger again you trusted Small Asia her Christian the brothersand the sisters, when those alarming of the region a in they would live. That days, The church stillnew was and: early of the region Christians a lot thing had to lose and historicalthe experience they didn’t have to calm down souls. Anor for Peter: wrote to strengthento them hearts it with wisdom, that we hand brought was serving of Christ next to it.

 

yours the pain of loss real is, said to them, but separately you are not your to torment in Godalways does take care to you and: when the time come on, An does restore to you

 

What? was that Peter’s so much confident did, that God shall save her the people, what?difficulties in al that those to be The answer: this is. he witness been was Jesusof Christ Resurrection first Easter On Sunday. An knew, that the world when? the same shallwas not.

 

Time: a think about it whether what? does means dead of a person a again of life coming of spacemain to the law opposite being thing one is where every what? does be destroyed, all livingbeings to death They will go. Peter: knew, that Christ too dead was – sad and:terrible death a But three days after, he seen was of Christ of life to be called More!, he heard the promise of Christ from the lips, that God shall save each one person, that herfaith does put of Christ Resurrection on

 

Peter: knew, that Christ won death to save for man the creature and: to do itwhy? for, that those created were, us again new persons to make

 

Jesus in Christ, God her on took weak and guilty human condition – and:restored to him that created was to be – again new An fed the homeless, healedpatients, consoled the mourners. To those who are confused, he show gave right? and God’s gracelifestyle. To sinners, he forgiveness granted. And finally to the dead – bephysically whether mentally – life gave

 

But this all the blessings big with wine a they came Christ struggled, endured bigof torture us for Her last the fight place had to the cross on – and: moment aso except whether death was that won. But Easter Sunday in the morning «Christ Resurrectiontook from the dead» and: her with victory, we we were saved.

 

Beloveds, we will live with trials full period a in The world tired isfor years from illness and: separation. Our expensive Armenia and Artsakhdangerous of war the consequences are that does pull This powerful the country where we we will live, crashed is deep moral confusion, doubt and of concern plague inWe does wish to reconfirm to him, to whom for created we were – later newpersons to become

 

But only one power a there is, that strong is this the hope to implement – of God the power Jesusof Christ in Her Resurrection sign one is, that God us does love, mind will do us forThe promise is, that even when we trials and: of torture let’s endure, God usforgotten not and: of time in the process An shall restore us

 

That was the meaning first Easter On Sunday. This reality is, to whom with weshould is welcome our with hearts. And this the truth is, that we should is let’s announceto the world, with conviction and: with love, nice with words Armenian: Church.

 

Christ Yareav in: dead body. Blessed is The Resurrection of Christ.

 

Աղօթարար՝

 

Mesrop Rev. Parsamean
Leader

 

S:. Easter 2023

 

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