Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Message of His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
on the Occasion of the Feast of
the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Jesus Christ
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 06 January 2006

 

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. 

"See what love the Father has given us,
that we should be called children of God"
1 John 3:1 

Dearly Beloved Armenians, 

Standing once more before the miraculously envisioned sacred mystery of the Theophany, with great hope and delight we greet you and all our sons and daughters dispersed throughout the world with the glad tiding of "Christ is Born and Revealed", and repeat the words of the Apostle, "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God." 

God's love has united heaven and earth. By the mercy of God, heaven is opened. High above Bethlehem is the light of the bright star; and with the lights is the angelic glorification filling the simple manger where the wise magi and the innocent shepherds bow down before the Son of God having become a child. It is jubilation, the annunciation of hope, because the savior of the world is born. 

The glad tiding of the Savior's revelation has been preached for two millennia, teaching in the fullness of time the incarnation of the Only-Begotten Son of God, coming to the world and living among men, all for the salvation of mankind. With Him, the nature of man was unified with the Divine. He Who was before the ages entered into time, to reveal the meaning of history and the purpose of human life, and so that there be a new man and new world, loyal and true to the loving, creative and blessing nature of God. "With Him we recognized God's love for us", God's saving will. How shall man respond to this grace, other than with fidelity? What does he have to build, other than a sanctuary for God in his soul? 

In the movements of the world, we often find it difficult to hear the voice of God, it is hard for us to see the true face of our Lord, and often we rely more on our own human powers - which are always weak without God. We rely to greater differentiate and appreciate our ability, which is incomplete without God. Without God, materialism reigns over hearts, hate triumphs and directs the actions of men. Also today we see peace in peril in many places, and human rights, freedom and justice remain ignored; in the pace of the race, man is straying from humanitarianism and the world from its Creator. 

Today, the holy tidings of God's revelation, His presence among men and the salvation of the world are resonating. We are graced to be the co-heirs of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who comes in peace, justice and mercy, so that love does not abandon this world. He comes with Divine might, to spread invincible light and life. With God is life and eternity, the good and all goodness. He is the Lord, and He leads the universe towards salvation with fatherly guidance. His is the power, which today once again through the sacred mystery of the Holy Nativity, appears to us in His glory and might. The time has come. With the grace of the Savior, the universe is crowned; the life of mankind is renewed with Divine love and holiness. Therefore, all that man thinks and does - let it be with love, be for God, and it will be for the peace and vitality of the world, and for the happiness and joy of mankind, worthy of the Lord's praise and appreciation, "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. . . for as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did to me." (Matthew 25:35-40) 

Dear faithful Armenians, with confidence in the "unobstructed closeness of the unreachable God", our forefathers lived, created with belief and conquered with faith. Relying on the Savior, we have found light in the darkness and rebirth from death. For centuries - strained centuries of foreign invasions, oppressions and massacres, tortured and dispersed throughout the entire world - we have stayed unified through our faith under the arms of our Apostolic Holy Church, directing the gaze of our soul toward our biblical homeland spread out around Ararat. The independence of Armenian statehood, the freedom of Artsakh, and the national and spiritual renaissance in the life of our Diaspora is the embodiment of our faith today. That which was accomplished through faith shall be defended, reinforced and developed with faith, with love and unanimity. We have roads yet to cross. With Christian morality and values, and with love for the commandments, let us proceed toward the unified, confident and bright future of our people, toward the new day of our homeland, so that the truth of the Gospel turn into reality in our lives: "If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches." (Romans 11:16) 

Today we offer thanksgiving and glorification to the Incarnate Son of God, that relying on Divine grace and hope of salvation, the Armenian people reborn from genocide, having reestablished independent statehood, invest their contribution to the good relationships and cooperation between states and peoples, and alongside other nations and cultures, they are participants in the peaceful and creative life of mankind. 

On this grace-renewing day, we offer our prayer asking that our Savior and Lord keep our people in full prosperity and spiritual illumination; victoriously crown the right of Artsakh to live free and the just demand for the recognition and condemnation of the Genocide of the Armenians. We pray that through His All-caring strength He protect the world and all peoples from disasters, the evil of poverty, and the calamities and tragedies of war and terrorism; and bless all efforts of peoples on the paths of loving God, wherein is the hope for the future and goodness of mankind. 

From the Bethlehem of the Armenians, God-built Holy Etchmiadzin, we extend our fraternal greetings of love and best wishes to the graceful incumbents of the hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Mother Church, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and to all oath-bound clergy of our Church. 

With the glad tiding of the Holy Nativity of the Lord, we greet and extend our Pontifical Blessings to the high-ranking state authorities of the Armenians, led by the President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian. We bless and greet the President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh Arkady Ghukasian and all state officials of Artsakh. We bless the defenders of our homeland, scientists, educators, and artists, church councils and all our faithful people. 

With the love of Christ we greet leaders and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia. 

It is the glad tiding of the Holy Nativity and Theophany. It is the tiding of renewal and salvation of life. Let us pray together that God's life-bestowing spirit be with all people, increase faith and hope with greater abundance, console in sadness, strengthen in difficulties, and keep us steadfast and faithful in God-loving paths. May peace, brotherhood among peoples, love among men and goodwill always be blessed and give bountiful fruits throughout the world. 

The Father has graced us with love, so that we may be called children of God. Let us remain in Divinely granted grace, and the goodness and peace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be with us, now and always. Amen. 

"Christ is Born and Revealed. Great Tidings to you and us."