Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 7, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received the participants of the 92nd Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), led by AGBU President Perch Sedrakyan.

Before the meeting, under the chairmanship of His Holiness, the AGBU members raised a prayer to God in front of the graves of the national benefactor, AGBU president and RA national hero Alek Manukyan and his wife, Mari Manukyan, for the peace and tranquility of their souls.

Then, in the Auditorium of the Cathedral, the Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his paternal blessing and message to the guests.

His Holiness specifically mentioned in his remarks: "The name and activity of the Armenian Charitable General Union has been inextricably linked to the mission of our Holy Church and especially the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin since its inception.

...The Armenian General Benevolent Union has always supported the restoration of the native independent statehood, actively participating in the sacred mission of state building from the first days."

The Armenian Patriarch confirmed that the AGBU continues its activities with the same zeal and strength, the core of which is ensuring the security of our people, the pristine preservation of identity, its spiritual and moral strengthening and the strengthening of the nationwide congregation.

His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the Armenian General Benevolent Union and its honest benefactors, thanks to which many monasteries and churches, church structures and buildings rebuilt under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin keep alive the life of faith and God-loving spirit of the Armenian people, many children receive Armenian education and upbringing in Youth Centers, many needy Armenians receive social assistance, and food in charity canteens.

His Holiness Karekin II emphasized that these days, when the Armenian people are facing the most difficult challenges, the organization of the AGBU 92nd Congress in the Motherland is another important message of support and encouragement to our native people.

"Surely, in your discussions these days, you will make an important reference to such issues that are related to the security challenges facing our people. I am also sure that, true to its title, the Armenian General Benevolent Union and its members will continue with new commitment to the implementation of patriotic and nationalistic programs.

The only way for the survival and progress of our people is the consolidation of healthy national and spiritual forces around the idea of preserving and strengthening statehood. It is the independent state that guarantees the well-being of our people, the realization of visionary aspirations, the sustainability and the undisturbed preservation of our national and spiritual identity," Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II summed up.

During the meeting, the Armenian Patriarch presented the  AGBU members the activities of various structures of the Mother See, especially the works carried out in the pastoral and social, propaganda and educational spheres.

His Holiness the Patriarch answered the questions of the AGBU members, which were related to the programs initiated by the Mother See aimed at providing material and psychological support to the families of the dead and missing, wounded soldiers and displaced persons, to the problems of preserving the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh, in favor of establishing peace and stability, existing to the efforts made in various inter-church and international platforms to face the challenges.

A special reference was made to the nationalistic mission of the Armenian Church, its important role in strengthening the unity of the nation. The AGBU young members also received the messages of the Armenian Patriarch regarding their active involvement in the national-church life in the diaspora, preservation of national identity, and serving their potential to the needs of the nation and homeland.

The meeting was closed with the "Protector" prayer of the Armenian Patriarch.