Recently, when I was at the newly renovated Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral, my eyes caught sight of three simple crosses carved into the eastern wall. These weren’t carved by famous artists or important people but by ordinary pilgrims who made their way here many centuries ago.
These crosses, along with several others found throughout the cathedral, are known as Pilgrim’s Crosses. They don’t carry the intricate designs or beauty we might see on our traditional khachkars, those ornate cross-stones. These crosses weren’t about impressing anyone; they were about expression—an outpouring of love, a prayer etched in stone, a hope left in the walls of God’s house.
I like to picture these three crosses as a family—a mother, a father, and that smallest cross, like a child, the beloved little one in their arms. Together, they tell a story of generations who came to this place to connect with the God who carried them through life’s trials and challenges. They came to lay down their burdens, to lift up their hopes, and to leave a mark of faith, so that all who come after might know of the love and dedication that brought them here.
You see, carrying our cross isn’t just about enduring hardships; it’s about what we build with those hardships, the legacy we create by trusting God through every season of our lives. It’s about leaving a piece of our faith for those who will come after us. Those pilgrims carved their crosses in stone to say, “We were here. We loved, we believed, we overcame.”
Maybe today, you feel like you’re carrying a heavy burden, a cross that seems too hard to bear. Perhaps it’s a health challenge, a strained relationship, a financial struggle, or even a silent heartache that you keep between you and God. But don’t see your cross as a curse; see it as an opportunity to leave your mark. Each time you lean on God, each prayer you lift up, each small act of kindness you offer—you’re carving your own Pilgrim’s Cross, leaving a legacy that tells the world, “I trusted God. I was here. My faith was real.”
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