The ninth day of the Armenian Lacrosse and Daily Bible Readings journey brought Coach Johnny Mouradian to Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan, one of the largest Armenian Apostolic cathedrals in the world and a tribute to the saint whose faith changed the course of Armenia’s history.
Completed in 2001 to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of Armenia’s adoption of Christianity as its state religion, the cathedral stands as a modern symbol of a faith that has endured for more than seventeen centuries. Named after Saint Gregory the Illuminator, whose imprisonment at Khor Virap preceded the conversion of King Tiridates III, the cathedral reflects the enduring place of Christianity at the heart of Armenian identity.
Standing before the cathedral, Coach Mouradian reflected on Luke 1:35-38, the moment the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One to be born of you will be called the Son of God.”
The angel continues:
“And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son. This is the sixth month for her who was called barren. Because nothing is impossible for God.”
Mary responds with remarkable humility:
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:35-38)
The passage marks one of the most significant moments in the New Testament.
Mary is presented with a calling she could not have anticipated and a future she could not fully understand. She is not given every answer. She is simply invited to trust God.
Her response is one of complete surrender.
“Let it be to me according to your word.”
It is a declaration of faith rooted not in certainty about the future, but in confidence in the One who holds it.
The angel’s assurance that “nothing is impossible for God” has encouraged Christians for generations. It speaks to every circumstance that appears beyond human ability, reminding believers that God’s plans are not limited by human expectations, weakness, or impossibility.
That promise carries particular meaning in Armenia.
Few nations have faced as many moments that appeared insurmountable.
Through centuries of invasion, persecution, genocide, displacement, and hardship, Armenians have continued to preserve their faith, language, and identity. Their story is not one of an uninterrupted path, but of perseverance through adversity, trusting that hope can endure even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral stands as a visible expression of that hope.
Although recently built by Armenian standards, it honors a faith that stretches back to the fourth century. Its presence in the heart of Yerevan connects Armenia’s earliest Christian foundations with the life of the nation today, reminding visitors that the Gospel continues to shape both its history and its future.
Mary’s example also offers a personal challenge.
Faith often begins with a willingness to say “yes” before every detail is known. Whether the calling is large or small, public or private, God invites His people to trust Him one step at a time. Like Mary, believers are called to respond with obedience, even when the road ahead is uncertain.
As the Armenian Lacrosse and Daily Bible Readings journey continues, today’s stop reminds us that Christianity has always been sustained by ordinary people who chose faith over fear. Their willingness to trust God’s promises became part of a much larger story.
Coach Mouradian concluded the day’s reflection with the invitation that has accompanied the journey across Armenia:
“Bring a friend to church. Bring a family member to church this Sunday.”
Tomorrow, the road trip continues to Mount Hatis, where the Bible reading will take place at the Monument of Jesus Christ, offering another opportunity to reflect on Scripture against one of Armenia’s most striking landscapes.
