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MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ON ARMENIA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Tert.am
17:02 21.09.11
Dear and pious faithful in Armenia and the Diaspora,
Today in this holy sanctuary, filled with the festive joy of the 20th
anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, we offered
the blessing service for the republic with President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsian, President of Artsakh Bako Sahakian, Catholicos Aram I of
the Great House of Cilicia, senior Armenian government officials,
reverend clergy, representatives of diplomatic missions and all of you.
Together we offered our prayers to heaven for the strength, stability,
peace and prosperity of our native state.
The reestablishment of independent statehood is the greatest
accomplishment in our national life, which has given us new hopes
and has opened new horizons before us. Today our souls are filled
with gratitude to God, and emotions of pride and joy. Yes, we are
joyful, because many generations have dreamed of this blessed day
of reestablished Armenian statehood. Many distinguished sons and
daughters of our nation have invested effort and devotion, and many
have given their lives for this day. We are joyful. We are joyful
as well for our grandfathers and fathers, who kept the love and
aspiration for independent Armenian statehood alight and transmitted
it from generation to generation. We are joyful with the conviction
that under the flag of Armenian statehood, our people will transform
our homeland into a country of paradise through heavenly blessings,
which shall always be the pillar and bulwark of Armenian life dispersed
throughout the world, the root and source of our identity, and the
power of attraction and axis of our national regrouping around Ararat.
The journey of reestablishing our independent statehood was long and
difficult. Having been denied native statehood for centuries, our
people have suffered persecution, witnessed destruction and plunder,
been subjected to genocide, stripped of patrimony and dispersed
throughout the world. On a small portion of our homeland which became
part of the Soviet Union, our people found deliverance - the safety to
build their lives and develop their culture; however they also lived
the pain of shuttered and demolished churches, forgot their prayers
and hymns, did not live free and bore the pains of violence and exile.
In order to overcome these trials, our people implemented extraordinary
efforts and force, protected hope and optimism with God as their
refuge, Who instructs us, 'Be faithful..., and I will give you the
crown of life.'
The reestablishment of the free and independent life of our native
state had always been a priority for our people since the loss of
statehood; the unconditional love of which gave birth to the victories
of the liberation of Artsakh and the independence of Armenia. The
lawful decision of the Armenians of Artsakh to reunite with Armenia,
as an expected spark, reawakened the hopes among our people of
reestablishing justice, and which we were compelled to defend with
arms. Nothing was able to dispirit our people. We withstood all of
the difficulties and privations of imposed war, blockade and economic
ruin, concurrent to which the institutions of our newly founded
state were strengthened, economic and social life were restructured,
and the greatest efforts were implemented to reinforce our country's
security and peace. Our people were empowered in this struggle and the
challenging process of nation-building; their will and experience to
take on responsibility was refined - to bear the pain of loss with
courage and dignity. Yes, the victories and accomplishments were
not easily granted; we experienced internal jolts. Today as well,
our difficulties are not few; the concerns of economic, political
and social life are not inconsiderable, yet our people are facing
with a sense of responsibility toward their native state, with the
same spirit of great devotion, faith and optimism.
Dear ones, we are standing before the greatest imperatives facing
our people - to make the peace of our land a stable one, to guide to
victory our just cause for international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and the right of Artsakh to live free. We have entered a
new century with the faith to turn these national aspirations into
reality, the foundation of which is our native independent statehood.
A free and independent homeland has brought great changes and shifts
to our national life; it has united and made viable the power of
our people, and their efforts and abilities. In the conditions
of independent statehood, pan-national projects are being brought
to life and implemented. Our sons and daughters in the Diaspora,
strengthened by the homeland, are greater participants in the
building and strengthening of our country. Through the efforts of
our authorities and all our people, our country is securing its
place and reputation in the international arena; participating in
the efforts of states and nations aimed at establishing peace and
prosperity throughout the world. Our country's borders are peaceful
and defended by the courageous and noble service of the victorious
and mighty Armed Forces of Armenia. The "generation of independence"
are becoming adults, having been nurtured and raised by those values
and faith that gave birth to Armenian statehood, which shall grant new
victories to our native land and to all Armenians. Indeed, gathered
in unity around the homeland, the bright outlook of our future is real.
Our dear sons and daughters, let us continue to live and work,
remaining faithful to the God of our fathers, to ourselves, to our
heroic spirit and our vision. The sun has risen over our native
statehood. That which history has often denied us - peace, justice,
respected rights, joy of life - will all blossom in our soil. Let
us be heartened with courage, love, unanimity and optimism. Let us
build a providential country - one that is vibrant and progressive,
illuminated with faith, where care and respect for each individual
are bountiful. Let us build a country that is pleasing to God, humane,
philanthropic and charitable; as a Christian people, as people who have
created an ancient state and culture, whose history has progressed
in the struggle for liberty and the reestablishment of independent
statehood. Let us strengthen our homeland - the indigenous land of the
Armenians - so that it is the fountainhead and buttress of our nation's
collectiveness, national thinking and spiritual inner-strength, and
the manifestation of our national aspirations. May this vision, these
goals and aspirations, guide us and direct our steps, so that we today
and our children tomorrow may be able to protect our native land, keep
Armenian life filled with awakening and strengthen the prayer of the
Armenian, so that God grants us new crowns of triumph, according to
His promise of 'be faithful..., and I will give you the crown of life'.
Dear beloved Armenians, on the occasion of the glorious celebration
of Independence Day and with a joyful heart, we congratulate you all
throughout the world, Armenian government officials, and the president
of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsian, and offer the blessings
of our Apostolic Holy Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Throughout her entire history, the Armenian Church, loyal to her
calling, has supported Armenian statehood, and with all of her ability
is supportive as well today and always, for the sake of the glory
and continuity of the Armenians.
Let us pray dear ones, and offer our humble respects to the eternal
memory of those heroes who gave their lives for the homeland, and
appeal for God to protect our land in peace under His Holy Right Hand,
and keep unshaken our native statehood, valiant spirit and victorious
will of the Armenian Armed Forces. May He bless our people, clergymen
and authorities, and lead them to lush, bountiful shores and mornings
of realizing our hopes, today and always. Amen.
Tert.am
17:02 21.09.11
Dear and pious faithful in Armenia and the Diaspora,
Today in this holy sanctuary, filled with the festive joy of the 20th
anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, we offered
the blessing service for the republic with President of Armenia Serzh
Sargsian, President of Artsakh Bako Sahakian, Catholicos Aram I of
the Great House of Cilicia, senior Armenian government officials,
reverend clergy, representatives of diplomatic missions and all of you.
Together we offered our prayers to heaven for the strength, stability,
peace and prosperity of our native state.
The reestablishment of independent statehood is the greatest
accomplishment in our national life, which has given us new hopes
and has opened new horizons before us. Today our souls are filled
with gratitude to God, and emotions of pride and joy. Yes, we are
joyful, because many generations have dreamed of this blessed day
of reestablished Armenian statehood. Many distinguished sons and
daughters of our nation have invested effort and devotion, and many
have given their lives for this day. We are joyful. We are joyful
as well for our grandfathers and fathers, who kept the love and
aspiration for independent Armenian statehood alight and transmitted
it from generation to generation. We are joyful with the conviction
that under the flag of Armenian statehood, our people will transform
our homeland into a country of paradise through heavenly blessings,
which shall always be the pillar and bulwark of Armenian life dispersed
throughout the world, the root and source of our identity, and the
power of attraction and axis of our national regrouping around Ararat.
The journey of reestablishing our independent statehood was long and
difficult. Having been denied native statehood for centuries, our
people have suffered persecution, witnessed destruction and plunder,
been subjected to genocide, stripped of patrimony and dispersed
throughout the world. On a small portion of our homeland which became
part of the Soviet Union, our people found deliverance - the safety to
build their lives and develop their culture; however they also lived
the pain of shuttered and demolished churches, forgot their prayers
and hymns, did not live free and bore the pains of violence and exile.
In order to overcome these trials, our people implemented extraordinary
efforts and force, protected hope and optimism with God as their
refuge, Who instructs us, 'Be faithful..., and I will give you the
crown of life.'
The reestablishment of the free and independent life of our native
state had always been a priority for our people since the loss of
statehood; the unconditional love of which gave birth to the victories
of the liberation of Artsakh and the independence of Armenia. The
lawful decision of the Armenians of Artsakh to reunite with Armenia,
as an expected spark, reawakened the hopes among our people of
reestablishing justice, and which we were compelled to defend with
arms. Nothing was able to dispirit our people. We withstood all of
the difficulties and privations of imposed war, blockade and economic
ruin, concurrent to which the institutions of our newly founded
state were strengthened, economic and social life were restructured,
and the greatest efforts were implemented to reinforce our country's
security and peace. Our people were empowered in this struggle and the
challenging process of nation-building; their will and experience to
take on responsibility was refined - to bear the pain of loss with
courage and dignity. Yes, the victories and accomplishments were
not easily granted; we experienced internal jolts. Today as well,
our difficulties are not few; the concerns of economic, political
and social life are not inconsiderable, yet our people are facing
with a sense of responsibility toward their native state, with the
same spirit of great devotion, faith and optimism.
Dear ones, we are standing before the greatest imperatives facing
our people - to make the peace of our land a stable one, to guide to
victory our just cause for international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and the right of Artsakh to live free. We have entered a
new century with the faith to turn these national aspirations into
reality, the foundation of which is our native independent statehood.
A free and independent homeland has brought great changes and shifts
to our national life; it has united and made viable the power of
our people, and their efforts and abilities. In the conditions
of independent statehood, pan-national projects are being brought
to life and implemented. Our sons and daughters in the Diaspora,
strengthened by the homeland, are greater participants in the
building and strengthening of our country. Through the efforts of
our authorities and all our people, our country is securing its
place and reputation in the international arena; participating in
the efforts of states and nations aimed at establishing peace and
prosperity throughout the world. Our country's borders are peaceful
and defended by the courageous and noble service of the victorious
and mighty Armed Forces of Armenia. The "generation of independence"
are becoming adults, having been nurtured and raised by those values
and faith that gave birth to Armenian statehood, which shall grant new
victories to our native land and to all Armenians. Indeed, gathered
in unity around the homeland, the bright outlook of our future is real.
Our dear sons and daughters, let us continue to live and work,
remaining faithful to the God of our fathers, to ourselves, to our
heroic spirit and our vision. The sun has risen over our native
statehood. That which history has often denied us - peace, justice,
respected rights, joy of life - will all blossom in our soil. Let
us be heartened with courage, love, unanimity and optimism. Let us
build a providential country - one that is vibrant and progressive,
illuminated with faith, where care and respect for each individual
are bountiful. Let us build a country that is pleasing to God, humane,
philanthropic and charitable; as a Christian people, as people who have
created an ancient state and culture, whose history has progressed
in the struggle for liberty and the reestablishment of independent
statehood. Let us strengthen our homeland - the indigenous land of the
Armenians - so that it is the fountainhead and buttress of our nation's
collectiveness, national thinking and spiritual inner-strength, and
the manifestation of our national aspirations. May this vision, these
goals and aspirations, guide us and direct our steps, so that we today
and our children tomorrow may be able to protect our native land, keep
Armenian life filled with awakening and strengthen the prayer of the
Armenian, so that God grants us new crowns of triumph, according to
His promise of 'be faithful..., and I will give you the crown of life'.
Dear beloved Armenians, on the occasion of the glorious celebration
of Independence Day and with a joyful heart, we congratulate you all
throughout the world, Armenian government officials, and the president
of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsian, and offer the blessings
of our Apostolic Holy Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Throughout her entire history, the Armenian Church, loyal to her
calling, has supported Armenian statehood, and with all of her ability
is supportive as well today and always, for the sake of the glory
and continuity of the Armenians.
Let us pray dear ones, and offer our humble respects to the eternal
memory of those heroes who gave their lives for the homeland, and
appeal for God to protect our land in peace under His Holy Right Hand,
and keep unshaken our native statehood, valiant spirit and victorious
will of the Armenian Armed Forces. May He bless our people, clergymen
and authorities, and lead them to lush, bountiful shores and mornings
of realizing our hopes, today and always. Amen.