Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On 21 September, the 26th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia, a Prayer for the Republic was offered in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians; and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. 

Also present at the service were members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia; RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, state officials, benefactors of the Mother See, delegates to the 6th Armenia-Diaspora Conference, and public figures.

During the prayer, the spiritual leaders and the faithful unanimously prayed for the safety and welfare of the Republic of Armenia, as well as for a peaceful and progressive life. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch; and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, appealed to the Father of the Heavenly Lord to the worldwide Armenian nation.

Following the prayer, the Pontiff of All Armenians, and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia each offered a message and blessings from the Mother Cathedral.

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
( September 21, 2017 Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin )

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, God's special possession…”
( 1 Peter 2:9 )

Your Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic of Armenia; Serzh Sarkisyan;
Your Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic of Artsakh
Beloved Brother, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
Dear Spiritual Fathers and Honored State officials,
Dear faithful people,

On the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Armenia, we offered a Prayer for the Republic in the Mother Cathedral, asking for peace and prosperity to our homeland, our people and the world.

The anniversary of our independent statehood is a nationwide celebration, which is the crown of our people who have a millennium of history, struggles and victories in our homeland, and the testimony of our Christian identity and existence. Indeed, humans should not be able to withstand the persecution and injustice of the ages that our people have carried; should not be able to maintain faith in freedom and justice and hope and optimism in a peaceful and bright life. Our people- Lord's little flock, has lived and persevered not by his human capabilities but with Christian faith and God's care, for which the Apostle says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession…”

In the light of the Apostle's message, we are facing our pious kings and princes; clergy and Catholicoi; the countless noble and brave sons of our people, who served with honesty and love in their soul for their  nation, dedicated their lives and efforts for the freedom of our homeland, and the strengthening and prosperity of our statehood. Indeed, our people have never set a goal to just survive. Our aspiration has always been more, to achieve the desired freedom, to maintain the sanctity of faith, live for God's glory, serving in our life for goodness, justice and truth.

We rebuilt our statehood in our centuries-old homeland to make our native country a home for all Armenians, to keep our identity safe and secure, to talk to the world in our language and style, to develop our culture and education, and to defend our country with our strength and courage of our soul. Today, when we are the owner of our life and the creator of our future, we should remember and never forget that the abuse of freedom is as dangerous as the lack of freedom. Be careful! -the apostle says-  Do not make your freedom a mere pretext under which to practice all kinds of evil ( 1 Peter 2:16 ). Freedom means having responsibility  for people, our own country and nation. Today also, freedom and independence have a meaning and value when our Christian values, love for each other, building a nation and state are dominant goals in our lives. We paid a dear price for our independent statehood. Let's keep our country as the pillar of the unification of our nation, our people's security and progress; to keep our country for the vibrant life of our children and generations, and keep our country for the glory of God.

On the occasion of this festive day, in our united prayer we convey our greetings and Pontifical blessings to the President of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sarkisyan; President of the Artsakh Republic Mr. Bako Sahakyan and our government officials, representatives of accredited diplomatic missions in Armenia, wishing successes to the peace and prosperity of our country and their efforts towards solidarity and cooperation among peoples.

Dear ones, we pray to God again, and ask the Lord to preserve our people in unity and solidarity, in spirit, with firm faith, so that they are always strengthened as a chosen country, kingdom, clergy, and nation, sacred as God's own people, and serving the virtues of his soul for his patriotic goals.

May God grant peace and prosperity to the world, to our homeland and to the people of the world so that our people always celebrate with joy the independence of the Armenian state, and send warm words of congratulations and good wishes to each other.

May the love, grace, and mercy of the Lord be a shelter for our country, Armenia and Artsakh, and our people around the globe today and forever. Amen.