NKR President Bako Sahakyan September 28 delivered a speech at the solemn ceremony of the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Apostolic Church Artsakh Diocese recreation. NEWS.am cites the passages from his speech.

“Today we nationally celebrate an event of utmost importance both for our state and people. Faith has always been a firm guarantee of all our victories.

And it was very much natural that the church was the organizing force of national liberation struggle. The Artsakh Diocese has played a special role in this process. In the XVIII century when the Armenian people were experiencing liberation revival, the center of this very struggle was Gandzasar.

In 1930 the authorities of Azerbaijan closed all churches and monasteries. But even in this situation they kept carrying out the sacred mission.

Today we have a sovereign national statehood; our people have steadily embarked on the path of development and independently make their own future. The church together with the state continues to strengthen Artsakh, successfully performs its religious and nation preserving mission. I would like to mention with satisfaction that in Nagorno Karabagh the state-church interrelations have a solid foundation. We are working together and join efforts to solve issues the people face.”