Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

 Dear brother in Christ, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia,

     Dear President of the Artsakh Republic,

     Dear participants of the conference,

From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we welcome all of you on the occasion of the convening of the conference dedicated to the May Heroic Battles and 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Armenia.

We are particularly pleased to note that today, with the zeal of our Spiritual Brother, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, you have gathered in the Antelias Monastery, to discuss and evaluate the historical memories of the re-establishment of the Armenian statehood. All the celebrations dedicated to the 100th anniversary of this remarkable event in the Motherland and Diaspora, come to remind us that despite the difficult historical past our people have never stopped fighting for freedom, which is a divine gift given to people.

100 years ago, our independent statehood was reestablished in such a difficult period when the world was stormed under the First World War, the Armenian Genocide was committed in the Ottoman Empire, and the Turkish troops invading East Armenia were threatening to the existence of our people. At the crucial moment ignoring death, people stood up, soldiers, farmers and clergyman went to the battlefield. The heroic battles of May were the testimony of our people's brave spirit and unity, who putting aside party and political differences, fought for the newly born independent Republic of Armenia. The national statehood as the realization of our people's cherished aspirations, was blessed in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin through the blessing of the Republic's flag and the Army, and this is how Patriarch Gevorg V characterized it in prayer: “For the heartfelt desire of my beloved nation, for my glorious homeland and state prosperity and eternity… I personally offered a Divine Liturgy in the Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral of ancient Armenian Mother See, I blessed and sanctified the Independent, United and Great Armenian Feast…”

The restoration of the Statehood became a compassionate and inspiring force that inspired our people towards its future. It also became a testament to our people's cherished and noble aspirations, to build a democratic, legal and social state, free and just society. These contributions, love for the homeland led our people to proclaim the independence of the national statehood in 1991, to support the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to live in freedom, to protect our country's borders from the enemy attacks.

Today, the jubilees of May heroic battles and proclamation of the First Republic of Armenia are an occasion of inspiration and an invitation to our people around the world, to bring unite efforts to strengthen our native statehood, the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, and cherished deed of our Fair Judge Defense. As in the past, as well as today and tomorrow, the solution of many problems will be much easier due to the combination of possibilities of our people. The core of our unity is our native country and our Apostolic Holy Church, around which we have to build a secure and happy country for our children, we must strengthen the Diaspora communities, and pursue the realization of our aspirations.

We offer our prayers that Almighty God keep our country in peace and our statehood steadfast, firm in faith and true to its vision protect our people of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora.

May the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with us all. Amen.