Following President Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan sent a letter of congratulations to the 45th and now 47th President.
Writing in his capacity as the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Bishop Mesrop wrote to President Trump on behalf of “the many Armenian Americans I lead, work with, and counsel pastorally on a daily basis.”
“Your recent message on Twitter to the faithful of our dear sister church, the Coptic Christian community, was warmly received by Armenian Christians as well, and seen as an encouraging sign at a time when our homeland of Armenia has been facing tremendous stresses,” the Primate wrote.
He went on: “As you know, in the depths of the pandemic crisis in 2020, Armenia was subjected to a surprise attack and endured a catastrophic 45-day war. In the past year, we saw our historic Armenian land of Nagorno-Karabagh subjected to ethnic cleansing, with 120,000 refugees forced to flee and resettle in the Republic of Armenia.”
“Those events have naturally had grave repercussions for Armenian Americans, as well. It has been a deeply demoralizing time for us. But Armenians are a resilient people, who have endured evil days in the past, and overcome them. Against every setback, every obstacle, we have persisted, and found ways to move forward.”
He likened this characteristic spirit of the Armenian American community—“our defiance against the odds, our enduring presence in the world, and our pride to be a visible inspiration in this great city and country”—to Mr. Trump’s response to the attempt against his life during the campaign rally in Butler, PA, “when the country witnessed [him] raise his fist in a defiant chant of ‘Fight, fight, fight.’”
Bishop Mesrop concluded by praying that the coming days will vindicate the hopes voters have placed in President Trump’s leadership, adding: “may Almighty God strengthen you in your coming term; grant you the wisdom of His counsel; and bless your loved ones and colleagues. Above all, may He bless our nation and the world with peace, justice, and dignity for all.”