Verelq: Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of the New Year

His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of the New Year. 

The message says:

“Dear pious people of Armenia, Artsakh and Spurs,

On the joyous occasion of the New Year, we bring greetings from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and our patriarchal love and blessings to you all. With warm feelings, we send our best wishes to those currently performing their duties at the place of service, to the officers and soldiers of our army keeping the national borders unassailable, to those united in prayer in churches, to all Our children gathered around the festive tables.

At the beginning of the New Year, we express our gratitude to God, who kept our homeland and our people around the world peaceful in the past year 2018, blessed us with goodness, fair merits and achievements in national and church life. We are also grateful to God that due to the patriotic spirit and common sense of our people, the political developments in our country had a peaceful course, and today we welcome 2019 with expectations of positive changes.

Every new year is a new beginning, full of new expectations, striving for something better and more perfect. We associate with the New Year everything that we would like to reform, regulate and soon see the realization of our goals. The demand for reforms and civil zeal that are present in our lives today will undoubtedly bring good results, more care, more effort and striving to strengthen the foundations of the legal state, a just, law-abiding society, to build our country and the entire national life. This is our path, which we must keep constant, always remembering that the development and power of Armenia is the core and condition for the realization of our national aspirations in Artsakh. security and the vitality of the Diaspora.

Beloved, at this moment, when with good expectations our thoughts are directed to the future, our plans and tasks, with a fatherly exhortation we convey to you the life-giving message of our Lord. “This is what I command you, that you love one another” (John 17:17). Our life is given meaning by the presence of godly love. Where there is love, faith is strengthened, hope abounds, solidarity bears fruit with justice and good deeds. “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 8:8), says the apostle. Yes, it grows like yeast, turns into a curve, tireless effort, commitment, with which our life’s progress should be ensured.

With these reflections and joy of soul, we send a message to our pious people, with love and optimism, to continue living and working in support of each other and to invest dedicated efforts in strengthening our native country and our spiritual and national life.

We wish peace to the world, peace to our motherland, steadfastness to our statehood, a gracious blessing to the Armenians of our nation and all peoples around the world. May 2019 bring joy to our families and progress and achievements to our lives.

Happy New Year.”