YEREVAN. - Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan gave a speech during the ceremony dedicated to the 12th anniversary of reign and 60th birthday of Armenian Catholicos Karekin II on Friday in the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre after Alexander Spendiaryan.

Serzh Sargsyan in particular mentioned in his speech:

“You chose to serve our Church during difficult times. Those were times when religion was not encouraged. People who were being true to their faith were prosecuted.

The Church building has begun in our country and beyond its borders and as a Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II leads that movement. New churches are built in our settlements, old ones are restored. That represents our faith to Jesus Christ. The aim of His Holiness’s is the moral and spiritual improvement of people.

The youth is in the center of His Holiness’s attention. As a real Christian, His Holiness is modest and does not talk of his deeds. But those who have eyes can see, and those who have ears can hear. Our holy responsibility is to stand by His Holiness and support him.

Our country is in spiritual prosperity due to his efforts. People went back to their origins, to the faith and values of their fathers in order to understand who they are, where they come from and where they are going. I congratulate you on your jubilee. I am sure that morality, faith and the Church are interrelated and depend on each other.

May God keep and preserve the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenia and the Holy Sea with its devoted leader.”