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Easter Message of His Holiness Karekin II
12:37, 05 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, April 5, 2015
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Today angels descended from heaven
to give glad tidings to mankind:
"He who was crucified is risen,
and gave resurrection to you along with Him"."
Armenian Church Hymnal
Our Dear Faithful Sons and Daughters in the Homeland and the Diaspora,
The joy of the glorious resurrection of Christ once again soars in our
souls. We rejoice like the oil-bearing women, who found the tomb of
the Savior empty, and heard the good news of His Resurrection from the
angels. We rejoice like the apostles gathered together in the Upper
Room and the travelers on the road to Emmaus, to whom the Risen Lord
appeared and dispersed their doubts and grief. The darkened skies are
now illuminated with the rays of light of the resurrection; the sorrow
and sadness of the crucifixion have been shaken off. Heaven is open
and hell is destroyed; death has been defeated and life is victorious.
Our Lord, Christ the Savior, through his sacrificial act on the cross
and his glorious resurrection, became a sacrifice of salvation for
mankind, which is dispersed everywhere, to all who receive with faith.
The priceless, divine act of salvation makes pious souls worthy of the
grace of the heavenly kingdom; and as the author of the hymn says, "He
who was crucified is risen and gave resurrection to you along with Him
"
The path of our people throughout the evolution of history has
frequently resembled Christ's. We often ascended to the tortures of
Golgotha, we were co-crossbearers with the Lord, and with faith in His
resurrection, we were risen as well. By the grace of God, our people
overcame the persecutions and massacres, the plots and ruins hurled at
them, and kept alive the hope of rebirth, of a secure and brilliant
life.
On this magnificent day of the luminous feast of Christ's holy
resurrection, we pray also for the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
It was one century ago, when the sons and daughters of our nation,
were subjected to genocide by unheard of misery, only for being
Armenian and Christian. They accepted the crown of martyrdom with the
truth of the words of the apostle in their hearts, "For we know that
if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (II
Corinthians 5:1). Our people, through their martyrdom and resurrected
life, became a witness of the truth of the miracle of resurrection to
the world and all of mankind. We were crucified, we were afflicted and
persecuted, but not hopeless; we were wounded but not weak; dispersed
throughout the world, but not homeland-less. With the love of a lost
homeland in their hearts, our people sprouted new life again under
recreated statehood on the eastern portion of historic Armenia and in
Diaspora communities; believing that their tree of life, rooted on the
unshakeable foundation-rock of faith, and with life-giving strength,
provides fruit and bears children who build the nation and the
homeland.
We have struggled for one century for the universal recognition and
condemnation of the Genocide of the Armenians; and we continue in this
struggle with faith in the triumph of justice. At times the world
heard us, at others disregarded us, because it does not always listen
and remain faithful to Christ's message of peace and goodwill to men.
The result of which, the contemporary history of mankind was again
blackened by the darkness of new genocides and wars. Today as well,
human life is tempest tossed by conflict and bloodshed. On our cradle
of humanity - planet earth - the enviable peace and universal goodwill
and solidarity still remain as unrealized dreams. "Because God did not
make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living."
(Wisdom 1:13). Moreover, through His crucified and risen Only Begotten
Son, God has granted us the grace to rise from the dead, which compels
nations and governments to express a unified and collective will, to
prevent the dangers threatening the peace and welfare of humankind, to
be greater vigilant in the establishment of justice and righteousness,
in the work of universal condemnation of genocides. Otherwise, the
miserable paths of the world shall continue to lead toward new
tragedies. Mankind is indebted to wipe away the swelling sea of tears
in the world, to silence the thunder of killing weapons before the
helpless gaze, cries and shrieks of orphans and needy children who
yearn for a bright childhood, and to stamp out the evil of poverty.
Crucifixion must be defeated in the world, and be replaced by
resurrection.
Dear and pious faithful, today when we hear the good news of "He who
was crucified is risen, gave resurrection to you along with Him", let
us be encouraged in spirit, let us live as a people who rose with
Christ from death; as a people who are loyal to Christ and possess the
power of resurrection. Let us face the challenges and troubles of our
lives, and let us transform our crucifixion cross of difficulties into
a blossoming cross, through our full devotion of efforts and new
labors of dedication to our homeland and nation. Let us build our
national, public, and social life, as well as our
national-ecclesiastical sphere, with the certain faith of "for God is
with us", and walk toward new horizons of ascendancy and the victory
of our righteous cause.
With the joy of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ in our
souls, we convey our best wishes to the incumbents of the hierarchal
Sees of our Holy Apostolic Church: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan
Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Beatitude Archbishop
Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and the
graceful heads of our Sister Churches.
With the glad tiding of our Lord's glorious resurrection, we greet the
President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsian and the First
Lady, present here today for the Divine Liturgy. We also extend
greetings to the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Bako Sahakian,
and high ranking Armenian state officials, wishing them abundant
service and new accomplishments, for the sake of our country's
strength and our people's progress and welfare. We offer our good
wishes and blessings to the President of the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, Mr. Berge Setrakian; and the members of the Union,
who are present and in the homeland for their Annual General Assembly.
We offer Easter greetings and our blessings to the leaders and
representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations
accredited to Armenia, wishing you success in your efforts, aimed at
strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our countries.
On the occasion of the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, we
congratulate our faithful sons and daughters dispersed throughout the
world and oath-bound clergy of our Holy Church, conveying our
pontifical love and blessings, and appealing for the support and
abundant graces of our Risen Savior.
We pray for our omnipotent God to keep the entire world under his
boundless mercy, reinforce the spirit of peace, justice, and truth, in
the hearts of men, and bless the efforts of humanity to create a
secure and happy life. We offer our appeal to heaven, for the Lord to
keep our homeland in peace, bright with faith, and courageous in
spirit. May he guide our people dispersed throughout the world with
His life-giving graces to progress toward the luminous horizons of
life.
May the love and peace of our Risen Lord be with us, today and always
and forever. Amen.
Christ is Risen from the dead.
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/05/easter-message-of-his-holiness-karekin-ii-2/
From: Baghdasarian
12:37, 05 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, April 5, 2015
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Today angels descended from heaven
to give glad tidings to mankind:
"He who was crucified is risen,
and gave resurrection to you along with Him"."
Armenian Church Hymnal
Our Dear Faithful Sons and Daughters in the Homeland and the Diaspora,
The joy of the glorious resurrection of Christ once again soars in our
souls. We rejoice like the oil-bearing women, who found the tomb of
the Savior empty, and heard the good news of His Resurrection from the
angels. We rejoice like the apostles gathered together in the Upper
Room and the travelers on the road to Emmaus, to whom the Risen Lord
appeared and dispersed their doubts and grief. The darkened skies are
now illuminated with the rays of light of the resurrection; the sorrow
and sadness of the crucifixion have been shaken off. Heaven is open
and hell is destroyed; death has been defeated and life is victorious.
Our Lord, Christ the Savior, through his sacrificial act on the cross
and his glorious resurrection, became a sacrifice of salvation for
mankind, which is dispersed everywhere, to all who receive with faith.
The priceless, divine act of salvation makes pious souls worthy of the
grace of the heavenly kingdom; and as the author of the hymn says, "He
who was crucified is risen and gave resurrection to you along with Him
"
The path of our people throughout the evolution of history has
frequently resembled Christ's. We often ascended to the tortures of
Golgotha, we were co-crossbearers with the Lord, and with faith in His
resurrection, we were risen as well. By the grace of God, our people
overcame the persecutions and massacres, the plots and ruins hurled at
them, and kept alive the hope of rebirth, of a secure and brilliant
life.
On this magnificent day of the luminous feast of Christ's holy
resurrection, we pray also for the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
It was one century ago, when the sons and daughters of our nation,
were subjected to genocide by unheard of misery, only for being
Armenian and Christian. They accepted the crown of martyrdom with the
truth of the words of the apostle in their hearts, "For we know that
if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (II
Corinthians 5:1). Our people, through their martyrdom and resurrected
life, became a witness of the truth of the miracle of resurrection to
the world and all of mankind. We were crucified, we were afflicted and
persecuted, but not hopeless; we were wounded but not weak; dispersed
throughout the world, but not homeland-less. With the love of a lost
homeland in their hearts, our people sprouted new life again under
recreated statehood on the eastern portion of historic Armenia and in
Diaspora communities; believing that their tree of life, rooted on the
unshakeable foundation-rock of faith, and with life-giving strength,
provides fruit and bears children who build the nation and the
homeland.
We have struggled for one century for the universal recognition and
condemnation of the Genocide of the Armenians; and we continue in this
struggle with faith in the triumph of justice. At times the world
heard us, at others disregarded us, because it does not always listen
and remain faithful to Christ's message of peace and goodwill to men.
The result of which, the contemporary history of mankind was again
blackened by the darkness of new genocides and wars. Today as well,
human life is tempest tossed by conflict and bloodshed. On our cradle
of humanity - planet earth - the enviable peace and universal goodwill
and solidarity still remain as unrealized dreams. "Because God did not
make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living."
(Wisdom 1:13). Moreover, through His crucified and risen Only Begotten
Son, God has granted us the grace to rise from the dead, which compels
nations and governments to express a unified and collective will, to
prevent the dangers threatening the peace and welfare of humankind, to
be greater vigilant in the establishment of justice and righteousness,
in the work of universal condemnation of genocides. Otherwise, the
miserable paths of the world shall continue to lead toward new
tragedies. Mankind is indebted to wipe away the swelling sea of tears
in the world, to silence the thunder of killing weapons before the
helpless gaze, cries and shrieks of orphans and needy children who
yearn for a bright childhood, and to stamp out the evil of poverty.
Crucifixion must be defeated in the world, and be replaced by
resurrection.
Dear and pious faithful, today when we hear the good news of "He who
was crucified is risen, gave resurrection to you along with Him", let
us be encouraged in spirit, let us live as a people who rose with
Christ from death; as a people who are loyal to Christ and possess the
power of resurrection. Let us face the challenges and troubles of our
lives, and let us transform our crucifixion cross of difficulties into
a blossoming cross, through our full devotion of efforts and new
labors of dedication to our homeland and nation. Let us build our
national, public, and social life, as well as our
national-ecclesiastical sphere, with the certain faith of "for God is
with us", and walk toward new horizons of ascendancy and the victory
of our righteous cause.
With the joy of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ in our
souls, we convey our best wishes to the incumbents of the hierarchal
Sees of our Holy Apostolic Church: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan
Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Beatitude Archbishop
Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and the
graceful heads of our Sister Churches.
With the glad tiding of our Lord's glorious resurrection, we greet the
President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsian and the First
Lady, present here today for the Divine Liturgy. We also extend
greetings to the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Bako Sahakian,
and high ranking Armenian state officials, wishing them abundant
service and new accomplishments, for the sake of our country's
strength and our people's progress and welfare. We offer our good
wishes and blessings to the President of the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, Mr. Berge Setrakian; and the members of the Union,
who are present and in the homeland for their Annual General Assembly.
We offer Easter greetings and our blessings to the leaders and
representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations
accredited to Armenia, wishing you success in your efforts, aimed at
strengthening the friendship and cooperation between our countries.
On the occasion of the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, we
congratulate our faithful sons and daughters dispersed throughout the
world and oath-bound clergy of our Holy Church, conveying our
pontifical love and blessings, and appealing for the support and
abundant graces of our Risen Savior.
We pray for our omnipotent God to keep the entire world under his
boundless mercy, reinforce the spirit of peace, justice, and truth, in
the hearts of men, and bless the efforts of humanity to create a
secure and happy life. We offer our appeal to heaven, for the Lord to
keep our homeland in peace, bright with faith, and courageous in
spirit. May he guide our people dispersed throughout the world with
His life-giving graces to progress toward the luminous horizons of
life.
May the love and peace of our Risen Lord be with us, today and always
and forever. Amen.
Christ is Risen from the dead.
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/04/05/easter-message-of-his-holiness-karekin-ii-2/
From: Baghdasarian