We bring our appreciation to the brotherhood of the Mother See, to the priests serving in the dioceses, and to the dear deacons who are firm and decisive in the positions of defending the canonical rights of our holy Church. The Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, stated this during the joint prayer service at Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

He added as follows: “We all desire that our lives be full, that our lives be free from lawlessness, injustice, whose bitter consequences are borne by our clergy unjustly imprisoned, by distinguished national benefactors, devoted Armenians. We wish that goodness and compassion, brotherly love and solidarity prevail among us. We are one nation, one homeland, one Church. And we must not give in to the provocations of discord. Let us unite all around the homeland and our holy Church, preserve our unity, through which only our state and Church can be strong, centered on Christ-based Holy Etchmiadzin.

The issues in the spiritual arena are resolved according to canonical Church procedures, and not by the impositions or uncanonical actions of separate groups.

We urge our holy fathers to return to the canonical field, to act only according to the sacred regulations of our holy Church—for the sake of our people and our homeland.

Dear pious people, our patriarchal exhortation is to show clear-headedness in the current sensitive situation, to be reasonable, and not to succumb to any provocation. By the word of the Apostle, we instruct all of you: stay vigilant, remain firm in faith, be courageous, be strengthened, may everything of you be with love. Let us together pray that the Lord’s peace be established in the world, that our homeland and the worldwide Armenian people remain safe and undisturbed, always guided by the God-given hope, faith, and love radiating from Holy Etchmiadzin.

May the grace, love, and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us and with everyone today, always, and forever. Amen

Afterwards, the Catholicos of All Armenians recited the Lord’s Prayer.