Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan was among the distinguished church leaders from throughout New York City, who gathered for the city’s annual “Prayer Service for Christian Unity.”
The service went forward on Sunday evening, January 19, amid the soaring, Gothic vaults of the city’s Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This year’s gathering—part of the international “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”—marked the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and laid special emphasis on the Nicene Creed.
As the evening’s host, Episcopal Bishop of New York Matthew Heyd warmly welcomed the clergy and worshippers from Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions, noting the unifying role of the Creed among the various Christian denominations. “The Creed joins us together,” he said, “and always makes us new.”
The Creed also served as the liturgical centerpiece of the evening, rendered by the St. John the Divine Choir in a new musical setting. While composer Daniel Ficarri based his work on an English text of the Creed, specific clauses were sung in Armenian, Syriac, and Latin. (Click here to listen to the beautiful result.)
Bishop Mesrop was one of several church leaders who offered formal prayers for Christian unity during the service. He spoke on behalf of the Armenian Church and all its sister Oriental Orthodox churches.
“Increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love, Lord, that we may walk in harmony as one body, living according to your will and shining as lights in the world,” he said. “Give us the strength to shine your light into the dark places of our world, where our brothers and sisters endure persecution, injustice, and war. Bless them, Lord; inspire their hearts with hope, their spirits with resolve. For their sake, help us to bear witness to the Good News of Christ, in our words, in our actions, and in the spirit of our lives.”
Also offering special prayers were Bishop James Massa (of the Roman Catholic Church), Bishop Paul Egensteiner (Evangelical Lutheran Church, on behalf of the Protestant churches), Fr. Chrysostomos Gilbert (Greek Orthodox Church, on behalf of the Eastern Orthodox churches), and Bishop Daniel Allotey (Anglican Church, on behalf of the Anglican Communion).
Delivering the homily was Rev. Adriene Thorne, senior pastor of the city’s Riverside Church. Fr. Patrick Malloy, dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, directed the service.
Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian accompanied the Primate during the service, joining brother and sister clergy from the broad range of Christian traditions in the metropolitan area.
Last year’s “Prayer Service for Christian Unity” in New York was hosted by St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, and honored the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Church’s Diocese of America.
For 2025, the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity drew its theme from a verse in St. John’s Gospel: “Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:26). It occurs in the dramatic exchange between Jesus and his follower Martha, before the tomb of her dead brother Lazarus. Jesus says: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Do you believe this?” And Martha responds: “I do believe, Lord.”
As a profound personal statement of faith in Jesus Christ, that Gospel passage resonates deeply with the meaning of the Creed, and its opening words “We believe,” or “Havadamk” in Armenian.
Click the following links to:
- WATCH Bishop Mesrop’s prayer during the service.
- WATCH a recording of the entire “Prayer for Christian Unity” service.
- VIEW a gallery of photos.