PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

Tel: (212) 686-0710

E-mail: chrisz@armeniandiocese.org

Website: www.armenianchurch.us

 

December 20, 2023

___________________

 

ATTN. EDITOR: An Armenian text of the Primate’s message follows below. Also attached is a PDF file containing both English and Armenian versions, and a photo of Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan.

 

 

HEADLINE:

 

Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America

 

 

Prince of Peace

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and authority will rest upon his shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (ISAIAH 9:6)

 

Peace is one of the great themes of Christmas: the beautiful idea that flows through the story of Christ’s Nativity, and warms our hearts at this time of year.  It was the message that the angels announced over the fields outside of Bethlehem, more than two thousand years ago: “Glory to God in the highest Heaven; and on Earth, Peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Lk 2:14).

 

Peace, of course, is something we all long for.  We pray for peace among nations—for an end to hatred and conflict, and to the human waste of war.  Likewise, we pray for inner peace: for the tranquil spirit that will allow us to meet the trials of life with calm and grace.

 

But my friends, the Peace of the Gospel—the Peace of Christ’s birth—goes even deeper than this.  Because it means, first and foremost, being at peace with God.  It means devoting your soul to the Lord, and loving Him with your entire heart.  It means having trust in God’s plans for you—even when you cannot understand them.  It means being obedient to God’s call: to say with complete sincerity, “Thy will be done, O Lord.”

 

The angels sang, and God rejoiced, in the establishment of that deep and wonderful Peace, through the birth of our Savior, the Son of God: Jesus Christ.

 

And what about those other kinds of Peace?  What about peace between nations?  The inner peace of the spirit?  These, too, are treasures that our Heavenly Father truly wants us to have.  But we cannot have them without firstentering into peace with God.

 

To do that, we must admit, and accept, that as broken human beings we need His salvation.  And we must recognize, and rejoice, that God’s love for us is so great, that He took upon Himself our human limitations, our pain and sorrow—the He submitted to Death itself—in order to draw us closer, and grant us Eternal Life.

 

God’s incarnation as Jesus Christ—His birth as that fragile child in Bethlehem—is our one and only pathway to this great gift.  Christ came into the world to establish peace.  But we cannot have peace unless we first embrace Him as our Lord and Savior.

 

So I implore you, my friends: Make this Christmas a time to renew your relationship with Jesus Christ.  Throughout the Advent season, read the Scriptures; meditate in prayer; join the church in its holy practices of fasting and worship.  Spend the precious holiday time with your loved ones—and reach out to those in need.

 

And on the great day of Christmas, uniquely celebrated by our church on January 6, join your fellow faithful in worship to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s birth, and receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.  In these unsettling times for so many people, let us open our hearts to the Prince of Peace.

 

Christ is born and revealed—blessed is His revelation.

Krisdos dzunav yev haydnetsav.  Ohrnyal eh haydnoutiunun Krisdosi.

 

Prayerfully,

 

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

Primate

 

January 2024

 

* * *

 

ARMENIAN VERSION:

 

Claim:. Church America Eastern Diocese Leader

T:. MESROP BISHOP PARSAMEANI S:. BIRTHDAY THE RESULT

 

 

Peace Prince

 

Wasn’t it? urine baby a was born, urine son a was given, and: the power to him on the shoulder on shall to beAn shall called Wonderful Consultant, Strong God, Eternity Father:, PeacePrince. (Yes T:. 6)

 

The peace important of topics to me is S:. Birthday on holiday. Beautiful the idea that does flowof Christ Birthday of history in between, does to warm our hearts of the year this to the district.The message from angels was, that was announced Bethlehem from the fields out, more than twoa thousand years ahead. «Kudos Աստուծոյն՝ heights in, and: peace country on of peoplein strong he loved» (Door. B::14)։

 

The peace of course, thing one is, to whom all of us does we tried. We let’s pray of nations betweenof peace for and: of hatred and of conflicts suspension and: warshuman losses. Likewise we let’s pray of people internal of peace for and:of souls of calmness, which ones shall lead us to resist of life to trialspeacefully and: thankfully.

 

But darling my friends, of the Gospel Խաղաղութիւնը՝ of Christ Birthday The peace, moredeep is than this. That, first and: ahead, peace to have is of God with. That does means, that youyour soul does noires of the Lord, loving the weapon you all with your heart That does means confidence to haveof God to the program, that made is you for, even when you you don’t could to understand that all of them.That does means obey of God to the invitation and: whole sincerely say. «you your will letbe, who sir»։

 

The angels they sang and: God was delighted confirmatory that deep and: wonderful Peace, ourSavior birthday through, of God Որդիին՝ Jesus of Christ.

 

And what? say different kind of of peace about. What? say national average of peace about.of the soul internal of peace about. They too treasures are, which ones our Heavenly the father truthfullywants to that we let’s have But we we are not could to have those, without first of peace into enter of God with.

 

That to do for, we should is let’s accept, that as human weak creatures, need we haveHer salvation. And we should is realize and: joy, that of God the love  our to so much a lot is,that An Her on took our human limitations, our pain and grief and: Himselfobeyed Death, so that urine eat come closer and: thank you Eternal Let’s live.

 

of God humanity as Jesus Քրիստոս՝ Her that the birth as humble the baby Bethlehemin, our the only one and: specially the way is that big the gift. Christ this the world came, so thatpeace for sure. But we we are not could peace to have, if first let’s not heal Herwith, as our Lord and The savior.

 

Here this with thoughts darling my friends, I will beg you to you, this Birth occasion a let be, Jesusof Christ with your in relation to of repair. Of course alive period read itHoly Literary readings, meditate with prayer, join in of the church holy fasting and:of worship of habits. This Birthday on holiday your expensive the time pass yourto loved ones with and: don’t forget it to them, which ones your help the need have.

 

Birthday it big the day, when our the church incomparably  January 6-in does celebrates, join in S:.At the liturgy, your believers with յայտարարելու՝ Avetis of Christ Birthday and:God’s revelation and to receive Holy Communion.

 

To many for this unstable days, come on onion our hearts Peace Prince.

 

Christ He gave birth and: It appeared.

Blessed is The revelation of Christ.

 

Prayer and: օրհնութեամբ՝

 

Mesrop Bishop Parsamean

Leader

 

January 2024

 

# # #