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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
January 11, 2005
Nothing - no human creation or plan - is capable of renewing and
transfiguring the soul of man, other than the faith of God's presence in the
life of mankind. -
His Holiness Karekin II
Christ is Born and Revealed! Blessed is the Revelation of Christ
On the morning of January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated
the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated the Pontifical
Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the Liturgy, His Holiness delivered his Christmas message addressed
to all Armenians:
"...Today the star of Bethlehem is guiding us to the Savior's manger, where
the eternal was born, the infinite was confined, and that which cannot be
comprehended was recognized as liberator. Let us not hesitate to know the
Truth, to do the good, to serve one another and to serve Christ. Let us put
aside all which will disrupt us from following His luminous and liberating
path. Freedom is the greatest grace in which our hopes and aspirations will
bear fruit, to construct a peaceful and prosperous life and a free society.
We will not only defend the freedom of our Homeland, but also make it become
freedom for each one of us.
Freedom is our choice of the good, which in itself is also a struggle
against evil. Poverty and the evil of lawlessness will be erased from our
soil with our Christ-loving and truth-loving endeavors; indifference and
intolerance will be forced out of our society and the benefits of true
philanthropy will be established. It is through our brotherhood, in our
justice and in our love that our plans and labors will succeed; aimed at the
building and strengthening of our Homeland, in the transformation of our
society, in the preservation and renaissance of national life in the
Diaspora, in the education of our children, in the development of our
culture, and in the realization of all objectives of our people"
In his message, His Holiness also spoke of the significance of the new year
of 2005, noting that the Armenian people will celebrate the 1,600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian Alphabet and solemnly
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Pontiff of All Armenians concluded his message by stating, "Let us kneel
down beside the cradle of the Infant Jesus and ask that through the presence
of God, the renewing spirit be ours as well, and the life being led towards
goodness and truth be our life as well, in our Homeland and in the Diaspora.
Let us all pray in unison that our compassionate Lord, through the
consolation of the Holy Spirit, grant comfort to the hearts of thousands
affected by the recent natural disaster in the countries of the Far East,
and with His unending mercy, grant rest to the souls of the victims. May
the peace sent from heaven be established throughout the world, and
especially today for all peoples living in the dangers of war, and may
divine paths lead the course of mankind towards the shores of
reconciliation, justice and brotherhood; towards an improving prosperous,
progressive and happy life; and towards salvation and eternity."
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians
offered the Service of the Blessing of the Waters, in commemoration of the
Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan. The Godfather of the Cross this year
was the dean of the Medical University of Yerevan, Dr. Vilen Hakobian.
In attendance for the Divine Liturgy were the President of the Republic of
Armenia, Robert Kocharian; high-ranking officials of the Armenian
government; members of the Supreme Spiritual Council; ambassadors and
representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations; and
thousands of faithful.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a reception was held in the Pontifical
Residence.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
January 11, 2005
Nothing - no human creation or plan - is capable of renewing and
transfiguring the soul of man, other than the faith of God's presence in the
life of mankind. -
His Holiness Karekin II
Christ is Born and Revealed! Blessed is the Revelation of Christ
On the morning of January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church celebrated
the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated the Pontifical
Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the Liturgy, His Holiness delivered his Christmas message addressed
to all Armenians:
"...Today the star of Bethlehem is guiding us to the Savior's manger, where
the eternal was born, the infinite was confined, and that which cannot be
comprehended was recognized as liberator. Let us not hesitate to know the
Truth, to do the good, to serve one another and to serve Christ. Let us put
aside all which will disrupt us from following His luminous and liberating
path. Freedom is the greatest grace in which our hopes and aspirations will
bear fruit, to construct a peaceful and prosperous life and a free society.
We will not only defend the freedom of our Homeland, but also make it become
freedom for each one of us.
Freedom is our choice of the good, which in itself is also a struggle
against evil. Poverty and the evil of lawlessness will be erased from our
soil with our Christ-loving and truth-loving endeavors; indifference and
intolerance will be forced out of our society and the benefits of true
philanthropy will be established. It is through our brotherhood, in our
justice and in our love that our plans and labors will succeed; aimed at the
building and strengthening of our Homeland, in the transformation of our
society, in the preservation and renaissance of national life in the
Diaspora, in the education of our children, in the development of our
culture, and in the realization of all objectives of our people"
In his message, His Holiness also spoke of the significance of the new year
of 2005, noting that the Armenian people will celebrate the 1,600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian Alphabet and solemnly
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Pontiff of All Armenians concluded his message by stating, "Let us kneel
down beside the cradle of the Infant Jesus and ask that through the presence
of God, the renewing spirit be ours as well, and the life being led towards
goodness and truth be our life as well, in our Homeland and in the Diaspora.
Let us all pray in unison that our compassionate Lord, through the
consolation of the Holy Spirit, grant comfort to the hearts of thousands
affected by the recent natural disaster in the countries of the Far East,
and with His unending mercy, grant rest to the souls of the victims. May
the peace sent from heaven be established throughout the world, and
especially today for all peoples living in the dangers of war, and may
divine paths lead the course of mankind towards the shores of
reconciliation, justice and brotherhood; towards an improving prosperous,
progressive and happy life; and towards salvation and eternity."
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians
offered the Service of the Blessing of the Waters, in commemoration of the
Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan. The Godfather of the Cross this year
was the dean of the Medical University of Yerevan, Dr. Vilen Hakobian.
In attendance for the Divine Liturgy were the President of the Republic of
Armenia, Robert Kocharian; high-ranking officials of the Armenian
government; members of the Supreme Spiritual Council; ambassadors and
representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations; and
thousands of faithful.
Following the Divine Liturgy, a reception was held in the Pontifical
Residence.