02.12.2023
A Special Order of Prayer was Held in Support of Artsakh and Artsakh Armenians
Dear people, in the face of ontological threats, our national unity and cohesion is imperative, because in unity is our power, in unity is the way to prevent the coming disaster. Now, let's live and act with love, with a high awareness of turning the pain of our losses into achievements, let's turn our will and spirit into a real awakening of national life and a united force for the protection of the rights of the Motherland and the people, let us testify with our lives the true dedication to the Motherland, the nation and our independent statehood cherished for centuries. Beloved ones, in the current difficult conditions, we, as a people, have become, according to the words of the Apostle, "oppressed on all sides, but not depressed, longed for, but not desperate, persecuted, but not forsaken, afflicted, but not dead" (2 Cor. 4:8) : Indeed, our faith, hope, patriotism and devotion to the nation can never be killed. That is why the Nationwide Prayer for Artsakh is not a prayer of hopelessness, not a prayer of sorrow, not a prayer of sorrow, but a prayer of hope and consolation, revival and resurrection. Let this Nationwide Prayer gird us, and unite us as God's own people, with one and the same vision of strengthening the nation and the countrymen. This moment is also an opportunity for us to reflect on the course of our lives, to remove anti-patriotic phenomena from us, to correct mistakes and shortcomings, in order to strengthen ourselves as a nation, state and Church. The priceless symbol of our country, the world of Artsakh, is ours and is in our hearts, and the consciousness of Artsakh being Armenian will never weaken in generations. Our dear pious children, let us pray together for our people of Artsakh and be kind and supportive to our exiled brothers and sisters, consoling them in their pain and troubles and showing the necessary care for their existence and needs. Beloved children of Artsakh, be strong and resilient with your special brave spirit, remain steadfast in your faith and hope, continue to live and create, not succumbing to difficulties, and keep your love for Artsakh and your native heritage alive forever. All our people and the Church are with you and in these painful days with ready commitments to support you. On this day of Nationwide Prayer, in support of our children of Artsakh, sacred relics are placed in a number of churches in Armenia for worship and fervent prayer of the faithful. For the pilgrims coming to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Christ-bearing Holy Lance of Geghard was taken out as a sign of the terrible sufferings and victorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
