Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians at the Prayer for the Republic

Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians at the Prayer for the Republic

29 September, 2020

On September 29, in St. Gayane Monastery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; a Prayer for the Republic was offered for peace and steadfastness of our Homeland: Armenia and Artsakh.

Following the Service the Catholios of All Armenians delivered His message to all Armenians throughout the world.

Dearly Pious Armenian People in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,

Today, under the sacred arches of this church, we are united with our clergy and faithful to offer our  prayers for peaceful life of our proplr and security of our Homeland.

At this crucial moment in our modern history, we are fighting again for  freedom and independence of the Artsakh land, its peaceful and creative life, the defense of our sacred values.

The right to live independently and freely is a divine gift which is indisputable and inviolable. Our people are resolute and determined to protect that right.

As it has been throughout our history, today our Armenian nation has no alternative but to defend its life and freedom with dignity through armed confrontation.

Together with our people, we strongly condemn the hostilities unleashed by Azerbaijan against  the Republic of Artsakh, as well as the encroachments on the borders of Armenia.

The military operations of Azerbaijan, which are carried out with the full support of Turkey, are stopped with an unwavering spirit, by God-fearing brave soldiers of the Armenian army.

Truly," The Lord is our strenght and salvation "and “ The Lord destroys wars" (Exodus 15.2-3).

Beloved ones, the truth and justice are on our side, we will crown the sacred work of defending our homeland with the help of God, with the unity of all Armenians.

We are inspired by the patriotic, victorious spirit, with which the children of our people hurry to join the ranks of the defenders of the homeland, to unite their forces and opportunities for an irreversible victory.

Today is the moment to defend our Homeland from the enemy with a selfless national struggle, to prove the strength of our unity and the invincibility of our spirit.

Our heroic struggles recorded in the glorious pages of the Armenian history have proved that national unity and victories clarify the bright horizons of our future.

Dear children, Our  exhortation and message is to keep strong the spirit of patriotism, to unite all our national potential to defend our Homeland, to prevent the violation of our national dignity, our freedom and independence, our national rights gained at a high price.

this ordeal facing our people, we have sent messages to the Heads of State, to the leaders of our sister Churches, to the clergy, to the leaders of various inter-church organizations.

Ahead of this ordeal we have sent messages to the Heads of State, to the leaders of our sister Churches, to the clergy, to the leaders of various inter-church organizations.

The efforts of the civilized world to stabilize the situation in the region, to restore peace, creative and secure life are important against the dictatorial and aggressive processes of Azerbaijan.

Human lives are sacred and godly and any encroachment on them is godlessness. We deeply regret each of our victims and wounded.

We wish strength and courage the parents of our servicemen, a quick recovery to all the injured, the consolation of the Holy Spirit to the relatives of the victims.

We sincerely ask for the protection and support of the Holy Right Hand of God for the brave soldiers of our army, our brave children of Artsakh, our whole nation.

"May the protection and blessing of the Lord be extended to our Homeland and all Armenians," -said the Armenian Pontiff.

At the end of the Service His Holiness invited those present to pray together for the peace and security of the Homeland, for the victory of the Armenian army, for the safe life and well-being of our people, for the peace and tranquility of the souls of our heroic children who died defending the Homeland.