Let us be determined to uphold the respect for law, reject injustice and arbitrariness, hatred and malice, which greatly harm and erode our state and national potential. Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, stated this in his sermon during the Armenian Christmas Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin.

He added as follows: “Let us raise an appeal for the endurance and strength of spirit of our Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] Armenian children of who have been deprived of their homeland and for the violation of their violated rights.

Let us pray for the repose of the souls of the soldiers who defended the homeland, our brave sons who died for the homeland, and for the comfort of their parents and relatives.

Let us pray for the illegally imprisoned clergy [of the Armenian Apostolic Church], national benefactors and devoted sons of Armenia, as well as for our captive and missing children [in Azerbaijan].

May our lives, under the protection of the Holy Cross of the Most High, remain illuminated by the divine presence, adorned with faithful good deeds, and may we gratefully glorify our Lord and Savior, who became man, today and always and forever.”