Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On May 9, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This day also commemorates the return of the Catholicosate of All Armenians from Sis to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441.

Led by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; the Brotherhood of the Mother See attended the Divine Liturgy at the St. Gayane Monastery. The Celebrant was His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, Director of the "Garegin I" educational center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

During the Divine Liturgy, a Patriarchal prayer was fulfilled under the chairmanship of the Armenian Patriarch, during which the spiritual class and the attending faithful people offered a prayer to God for the steadfastness, brightness and building of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Patriarchate of All Armenians.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; on the occasion of the Victory and Peace Day, addressed the present faithful people and all Armenians with his message:

"Dear pious Armenian people,

With the inspiration of the victorious past and the hope of a bright future, but also with heavy feelings, today we welcome the Victory and Peace Day, the day of victory in the Great Patriotic War, the anniversary of the liberation of Shushi and the creation of the Artsakh Defense Army. This year, by a symbolic coincidence, our Holy Apostolic Church also celebrates the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the memorial day of the reestablishment of the Patriarchal See in Holy Etchmiadzin. With the coincidence of these important national, state and church holidays, May 9 completes the sacrament of victory.

Today, our country and people are facing severe ontological trials. Artsakh, which was liberated at the cost of endless hardships and sacrifices, is occupied and depopulated, our sanctuaries and graves are abandoned and destroyed. The borders of Armenia are in danger, and the lives of our native people are under threat, our peace is lost, and our national dignity is wounded.

In the midst of painful losses and bitter defeats, we turn again to the Source of Life, to the Most Graceful God, who blessed us with the grace of life and permanence in the midst of millennia of trials and tribulations, calamities and disasters, and inspired us, saying: "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). We are the heirs of a people who, in the struggle against death and suffering, never lost their faith in God, remained faithful to their spiritual-national values and did not give up their identity. We are the descendants of our heroic ancestors, whose glorious deeds strengthened and brightened the nation and homeland, education, science and culture. In 1441, our fathers transferred the Armenian Patriarchal See from Sis to Holy Etchmiadzin in order to keep alive the cherished vision of rebuilding the homeland and restoring Armenian statehood.

Holy Etchmiadzin, founded by Christ, is the spiritual home of all Armenians, the forge of the creation of independent Armenian statehood, the symbol of the victories and permanence of our people, and the torch bearer and guardian of our pristine national identity. The vision of Holy Etchmiadzin continues to be the spiritual potential and the source of victories even today. Victory against trials, victory in the struggle for identity and dignity, victory in loyalty to the homeland and sacred values. Our victories do not bear the stamp of enmity and hatred, the malignant desire to degrade the dignity of others, violate sanctities and destroy identity. Our victories strengthen the will and determination to achieve peace, to keep our people safe, to reestablish national love and solidarity.

Dear pious people, Our hearts are moved by the same concerns and pains that wave the souls of Our children around the world who are worried about the difficult challenges of the motherland. The participants of the "Tavush for the sake of the Motherland" civil movement are also raising their voice of protest with these concerns.

It is our wish that the existing problems will be resolved as soon as possible, and our people will overcome the calamities that have afflicted us with honor. Now, let's arm ourselves with hope and optimism, let's not weaken in the face of difficulties, remember the exploits of our ancestors, shake off the destructive feelings of fear and indifference, let's be united and united. Let's unite around the bright idea of independent Armenian statehood, to make unstoppable the course of our people towards the new horizons of our bright future with God's blessing.

Let's pray together that God will grant peace to the whole world, keep our homeland and nation away from new losses and disasters, and grant safe life and creative success today and always under the auspices of His most caring Holy Right. Amen."

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, under the solemnity of the Patriarch of All Armenians, a memorial service was performed. The church members and the attending faithful people offered a prayer to God for the peace and tranquility of the souls of the native defenders who died in the Great Patriotic War and in the heroic battles of Artsakh.