Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On June 04, concluding His Pontifical visit to the Diocese of Syunik, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians left on a three-day visit for Artsakh. On the occasion of the visit, the Armenian Patriarch took the relics of the St. Gregory the Illuminator being kept in the Mother See, as a source of Blessings and consolation for the pious people of Artsakh.

The Delegation presided by the Armenian Patriarch and the AGBU President Mr. Berge Setrakian was welcomed on the borders by His Grace Bishop Vertanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, together with the clergy of the Diocese and Chaplain Boris Grishin, of the Russian peacekeeping troops.

Then, His Holiness left for Stepanakert, where He visited the Fraternal Cemetery. In front of the monument, the Catholicos of All Armenians was welcomed by Mr. Arayik Harutyunyan, President of Artsakh, and the government members. After laying a wreath in front of the eternal fire and paying tribute; His Holiness, together with the Clergy, prayed to God for the peace of the souls of the Armenian heroes martyred in the Second War of Artsakh. Accompanied by the authorities of the country, the Armenian Patriarch visited the graves of the fallen soldiers.

On the same day, the Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the Honored President of the Republic of Artsakh Mr. Bako Sahakyan and the Clergy, visited the Amaras Monastery, where His Holiness was greeted by the Armenian sons and servicemen been united from nearby communities on this occasion.

Following the “Hrashapar” service offered in the St. Grigoris Church of Amaras, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, a Requiem service was offered for the peace of the souls of the heroes martyred for the defense of the Fatherland. A joint prayer was raised to the Merciful God to keep Artsakh in peace and security, and the Armenians of Artsakh and All Armenians under His boundless mercy and the protection of His Holy Right Hand.

At the conclusion, His Holiness conveyed his Blessings and message to the attendees.

 “Dear ones, with warm feelings of paternal love, we have come to you – the faithful sons of our Holy Church, to strengthen one another after the troubled days, to be stronger with the Word of Lord, Who promises, saying: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation…”. This promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which calls us to patience and faithfulness, will help us to move forward, to overcome the hardships and tribulations, pain and sorrow. The hardships we have gone through and the problems we face, cannot make us desperate, on the contrary, those should make us more united, stronger and wiser to learn from our mistakes, to soberly assess situations. In particular, during the trial and tribulation, we need to be united, faithful to the faith of our ancestors, to our Lord Jesus Christ, to our Fatherland sanctified with the blood and sweat of our people throughout the centuries, with the firm faith that the Lord is with us in the hour of our temptation, and gives us the power to rise.

Brave sons of Artsakh, today, you are stand firm and with courageous spirit on the native land, every inch of which is the witness to our history, our Christian identity, pur creative life and our honest aspirations for peace and justice. Artsakh, that is the cherished part of our homeland, is also the cradle of Christianity”,  stated the Pontiff of All Armenians, noting, that St. Dadi and St. Eghisha, disciples of St. Thaddeus the Apostle, preached in Artsakh; St. Grigoris Patriarch, grandson of St. Gregory the Illuminator, spread the light of Christianity in Artsakh; St. Mesrop Mashtots established one of the first schools in Artsakh; the relics of thousands of our sacred martyrs, and the monasteries and churches constructed on them, are in Artsakh.

 “Today, your presence on this sacred land, dear ones, your commitment and zeal to overcome difficulties, inspire our people around the world. Yes, Artsakh continues to be a symbol of the faith and patriotism of our people, and continues to unite our people around the national aspirations. The readiness of our people to continue their support to Artsakh and contribute to the protection of the rights, is undiminished”, emphasized His Holiness, highlighting the importance of the need of uniting the efforts of the nation in the restoration of houses, schools, hospitals destroyed during the War of Artsakh, as well as the protection of sanctuaries.

The Catholicos of all Armenians urged the people of Artsakh and  All Armenians, that each one, relying on God, with hope and optimism in his or her place, to contribute to the revival of Artsakh and the lives of our people, and the protection of their rights to live freely and independently in their native land. His Holiness noted, that due to enduring the hardships together; making sacrifices; with unconditional devotion and commitments; we must be worthy of our brave children, who dedicated their lives to the homeland, defending our Fatherland Artsakh and Armenia.

His Holiness wished the Graces, Blessings and protection of God to the people of Artsakh, asking for the intercession of St. Gregoris Patriarch, in the sacred sanctuary of Amaras; and prayed, that God will keep the souls of the Armenian sons martyred in the battles for the defense of the homeland in His love and mercy; heal the wounded; urgent return to the captives and missing; consolation to the families who have lost relatives.

His Holiness asked God to bless the efforts of our people for the homeland and the implementation of our national aspirations.

Conveying His Blessings to the people, the Pontiff of All Armenians paid tribute to the tomb of St. Grigoris Patriarch, following which, He got acquainted with the reconstruction works of Amaras Monastery.

Then, the Pontifical Delegation headed to the Matchkalashen Community, where the Patriarch of All Armenians met with the families of the fallen Armenian sons, conveying his consolation and Blessings.