Being faithful to our covenant and myrrh distribution to Holy Etchmiadzin, in our filial name

Announcement from the priest to the congregation

“We, the priests serving in the Armenian dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, under the high presidency of H.E. Karekin the Second Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on May 26, the symbolic day of the Battle of Avarair, gathered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we return thanks and glory to the Almighty God for the opportunity to pray together and reflect on our sacred mission in a brotherly spirit.

The Armenian Church, established by apostolic preaching, under the benevolent gaze of God, continues to serve the Armenian people in the Motherland and in the Diaspora, to strengthen the faith of our pious people, to zealously pursue the preservation of national identity, to contribute to the education and upbringing of Armenians, and to be the voice of truth and justice in our society.

In these difficult days for the Armenian Church, when an attempt is being made to revise the centuries-old church order and rule, to force the resignation of the Catholicos of All Armenians, and essentially to subordinate the Church to the political power, with the use of state levers in Armenia, we resolutely declare that the self-governance, canonical order and inner life of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church are not subject to the dictates of any political force or state body. This illegal and unconstitutional campaign directly threatens our national solidarity and social stability, and seriously attacks the foundations of Armenian statehood.

At the same time, we consider highly condemnable the state-sponsored anti-Non and sacrilegious actions, the seizure and illegal use of monasteries and churches, church structures and resources by persons declared disorganized. This is not only a gross violation of the canonical order, but also a deliberate attempt to undermine the church congregation from within. We also note with pain that some priest fathers are involved in these divisive processes, becoming willingly or unwittingly collaborators of anti-church initiatives. Such a process is alien to the priestly covenant and has no spiritual, moral, canonical, or human justification. We call on our brothers to review their bad course and exclude unlawful actions.

We thank God that our people around the world are firm in their loyalty to Saint Etchmiadzin and are determined to protect the rights and dignity of the Armenian Church. Every attempt to undermine the sovereignty of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to violate the church order or to belittle the God-approved authority of the Patriarch of All Armenians will face the firm and unshakable resistance of the entire believing people and the entire ecclesiastics.

In the context of the upcoming elections and political events in Armenia, we appeal to our believing people to show a responsible attitude, refrain from illegality, hate speech and the spread of misinformation and contribute to the establishment of public solidarity.

Being loyal to our covenant and to Holy Etchmiadzin, we express our unconditional filial support to H.E. Karekin the Second Catholicos of All Armenians for leading the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church with patriarchal wisdom, spiritual courage and peaceful perseverance in these days of trial.

With trust in God, we ask that the Lord extend His most caring Right to our people, our Motherland and the Holy Church, keeping Armenia peaceful, the Armenian Church unshakable, and our faith unbroken.”

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