Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Mr. President,
Honorable State Officials,
Honorable Representatives of Diplomatic Missions,
and Dearly Beloved Faithful,

We have gathered today in this holy sanctuary, to pray together for the eternal rest of the souls of the victims who perished in the airline disaster three days ago. In one terrible accident, the crew and passengers - 113 men, women and children - departed from this life. Today, their loved ones are grieving. Today, all Armenians dispersed throughout the world mourn. In prayer with us at this moment are the incumbents of the hierarchal sees of our Church: Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia His Holiness Aram I, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, our diocesan primates and ranks of clergy, whose sympathies and support we extend as well to the grieving families and our people. Our great sorrow is shared by millions of people, countless nations, clergymen and statesmen, who raise their prayers to heaven asking that God Almighty receive the souls of the victims in luminous and blessed tranquility and grant solace and consolation to their families and friends.

Dear Ones,

Adversities, worries, sorrow and even death are a part of this life. However, death is not the end of life. Death in this life is temporary and fleeting. Those who perished in this tragedy departed from us, but life has not departed from them. They went to join our Creator, Almighty God, Who with His unending love for us, has granted us eternal life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It is always difficult to become separated from a loved one, great is the pain of his or her loss. We are unaware of how God will heal the sorrows and pains, what solace He will bestow, but let our hope in God’s mercy be unshakeable and everlasting. It is God Who strengthens us when we are filled with sorrow and weak of spirit. All consolation is with God. As the Apostle states, God comforts us in our afflictions, so that we may comfort those who are afflicted as well. (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

It is also consoling that we are not alone in our sorrow. We are comforted that men help and support one another during disasters, calamities and grief. We extend our blessings to our faithful sons and daughters, to our state authorities, headed by the President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian, who with their sorrowful hearts are supporting and helping the grieving families. Today, on behalf of all our people, we offer our words of gratitude to our Brothers-in-Christ of our sister Churches; to authorities of states sharing our sadness, representatives of diplomatic missions in Armenia; social, political and intellectual circles of various countries; and countless thousands of individuals who share the pain of our people. We also extend our words of thanks to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexey II, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, state officials and the Russian people, who invested all possible efforts in a disaster situation such as this, and commemorated days of mourning along with our nation.

We offer prayers from the depths of our heart, asking that the Lord in His love and mercy, receive the souls of the 113 victims of the tragedy and make them worthy to dwell in His Divine company, and through the Holy Spirit, grant solace and comfort to their beloved family members, friends and neighbors: Dear ones - Be strengthened with faith. Death is not the end of life! Their lives will continue through your righteous works and God-pleasing paths, and their memories will remain forever alight.

Let us pray that our Most-Blessed God keep the entire world and all peoples safe, secure and in peace, and keep our Armenian people under His love and daily blessings.

Blessed be the memory of the righteous. Amen.