18:11 | August 07, 2026 Dear faithful children of ours, we bring you our patriarchal love, blessing, and appreciation in connection with these processes. After the opportunity to express your protest, now united in the Mother Cathedral, we raised a united prayer to God for our holy church and our people.

The Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, on Friday stated this in his address at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Catholicos added as follows: “The Armenian [Apostolic] Church is the spiritual blessing and holiness of every Armenian, our holy church is the unshakable fortress of the faith of our people, the one that leads to God and salvation and unwavering.

Nowadays, the [Armenian] authorities and the authorities’ structures are taking steps to damage the reputation of the church, limit its autonomy, and subordinate the church to their will, as well as to transform the perception of national identity, devoted, and sacred symbols and memories in the face of temporary political expediency.

Indeed, the autonomy of the church has been one of the important guarantees of the well-being of the nation, the strengthening of the state at all times. We regret that our Holy Church and clergy are being subjected to persecutions by the authorities.

Arrests and restrictions of freedom have been applied to a number of our clergy, national benefactors, and other patriotic and church-loving individuals in illegal and fabricated criminal cases. We have just returned from the first session of the trial initiated against us and two archbishops and four bishops, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council [of the Armenian Apostolic Church], on unfounded and unjust charges, which did not take place due to the [presiding] judge's declaration of self-recusal.

We are full of faith and determination, beloved ones, to defend our just rights, guaranteed both by the constitution of our state and by the fundamental principles of international law. With this awareness and responsibility, with love for the nation and the homeland, we will continue our mission from the Lord's order, despite all difficulties and obstacles, for as the Psalmist says, God is our refuge and strength, and our helper in the severe tribulations that have befallen us. Undoubtedly, our refuge is God, and our service is for our pious, world-wide people, and our native land.

Dear faithful Armenians, at this moment of prayerful gathering, we express our appreciation with fatherly love to you and all our church-loving children in Armenia and the diaspora, to national and public organizations, lawyers, scientific, educational, cultural, political figures, who in the current difficult conditions steadfastly and zealously support the Mother Church and its mission for the benefit of the nation.

We shall be steadfast and together make persistent and lasting efforts to stop injustices, discrimination and intolerance in our country, and prevent the spread of malice and hate speech. We shall make persistent and lasting efforts so that our homeland and national heritage is renewed with brotherly love and solidarity, and truth, lawfulness, and justice prevail in our lives, the centuries-old orders and traditions of the church are respected, so that the pious feelings of the faithful are not offended.

My patriarchal exhortation to you all is to be clear-headed and prudent, not to give in to provocations, insidious intrigues, to remain strong in faith, love and hope, for God brings good things out of all malicious difficulties and trials for his Holy Church and the faithful people. Our faith is also strengthened in tribulations, and steadfast devotion to God, the homeland, and the church is manifested.

Let us strengthen our national unity in the face of external and internal threats, with unwavering loyalty to our sacred national spiritual values, let us make our journey fruitful with patriotic and nationalistic deeds, and according to the apostle's message, let us be strengthened by the Lord and the power of his might. We believe that our holy church, by the mercy of God and the unwavering dedication and love of our people, shall overcome these tribulations as well, and will secure new successes on the path of its mission, for the welfare and brightness of the life of all Armenians.

Our gaze is directed to God, and our efforts are directed to the building of the homeland and the service of our people. May God bless the Armenian state, keep our people in our homeland and in the diaspora undisturbed and peaceful—today and always and forever. May the grace and love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all of you, Amen.”