Dear pious people, it is with patriarchal love and blessing we welcome all of you to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Today you have gathered at the spiritual center of the Armenians, demonstrating your love for our Apostolic Holy Church. Holy Etchmiadzin is the home of all of you, the spiritual haven of every Armenian. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II stated this during the joint prayer service at Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

He added as follows: “As the historian Arakel Davrizhetsi testifies, the Armenian nation across the world is connected to the hand of the Illuminator and to Holy Etchmiadzin. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is a symbol of our people’s eternal strength with God. God-built Holy Etchmiadzin is the inviolable sanctity of our faith, the protector of our identity and heritage, and the unity of the worldwide Armenian nation.

Unfortunately, throughout history there also have been forces that sought to question the [Armenian Apostolic] Church’s mission, to use the Church, to use Holy Etchmiadzin for various petty interests. That reprehensible reality has caused divisions in our national life, fragmented our people.

Our country is facing security issues and serious issues that need urgent solutions. In these circumstances, instead of strengthening the spirit of reconciliation, tolerance, unity in society and restoring the disrupted relations between Church and state, on the contrary, attacks against our holy Church continue. Today, once again, an attempt to infringe upon Holy Etchmiadzin took place, unfortunately, even through some of our clergy, yet the faithful children of our people remain unshaken and fearless.

This noise raised in the Church can never disturb our mission, our plans, which are aimed at the radiance of our Church and the construction of our country.

We bring our patriarchal appreciation to you, dear ones, and to all Armenians, national organizations, who over the years, as during these days of anti-Church campaign, show their support to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and to the nation-serving mission of our holy Church.”