Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

 My dear Armenian People dispersed throughout the world,

 The eleventh daybreak of independence has dawned over the skies of Armenia.  On the happy occasion of Independence Day, we warmly greet and congratulate all of you and send our fatherly blessings from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

 The will to live free is a natural desire and an inalienable right of all peoples, as it is a gift from God.

 We have struggled much for freedom.  With optimism and faith in the future, and for the love of freedom, we re-established an independent Armenian State in 1991.  Let us offer praise and thanks to the Almighty in Heaven, and once again evaluate the difficult path that we have traversed and appreciate our successes.  On this sacred day of independence, let us establish our will to faithfully serve the strengthening of our motherland and her free statehood.  With brotherly love, let us join our forces, our energies and our efforts, so the land of all Armenians be filled with creation and renewed with brilliance.

 Before the Holy Altar of Descent of the Only Begotten, it is our pontifical prayer that God keep the world at peace and protect our dispersed Armenian nation and our motherland under His blessings.  Amen.

KAREKIN II
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS