Presided over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Sunday morning service was held at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. Following the service, the Holy and Immortal Liturgy was celebrated for the clergy of the Shirak, Tavush, and Aragatsotn Dioceses.
The service was celebrated by His Grace Father Shnork Paloyan, Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Aragatsotn Diocese.
The sacred ceremony was attended by diocesan primates of the Armenian Church, parishioners of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, clergy of the Shirak, Tavush, and Aragatsotn dioceses, Armenian pilgrims from various dioceses, and public and political figures.
In his sermon, Father Shnork, addressing the faithful present, emphasized that they had gathered in the Mother of God Cathedral to pray for the release of the illegally imprisoned Archbishops Michael and Bagrat, Bishop Mkrtich, Priest Garegin, public benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, and the remaining Armenians, as well as prisoners held in Baku.
Then, offering thanksgiving to God, the Holy Father asked for the grace of the Holy Spirit to renew their vows of obedience and fidelity to Christ and the Holy Church, the ecclesiastical order, and the hierarchy.
Speaking about the challenges facing the Church, His Holiness the Holy Father noted: “Let us reflect on our reality and see how, against the backdrop of militant ignorance and enthusiastic hysteria, our faith in Christ, our obedience and humility toward the Mother Church and our forefathers, are being tested. Indeed, today our fidelity and devotion to the Fatherland are being tested; our patience, steadfastness of faith, and persistence in prayer are being tested.”
Reverend Shnork emphasized that if our faith is truly enlightened, if our love is sincere and pure, we will undoubtedly deserve Divine mercy and grace, strengthened by suffering and prayer for Christ. “We all know how attempts are being made today to replace our Holy Apostolic Church with a false, alternative church, to create a caricature of the Church in which everything has its own false ‘rights’ and fictitious ‘rules.'” “And it is clear that God cannot dwell there,” added the Holy Father.
In conclusion, Father Shnork advised us to remain in prayer, be prepared to enter through the narrow gate, and unite with Christ, so that the Lord would protect and preserve us from all spiritual and physical trials and make us heirs of His inexhaustible blessings.
During the singing of “Lord, Have Mercy” at the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and faithful in attendance offered a special prayer for the release of the illegally imprisoned clergy, for the people’s benefactor and all captives, and for a peaceful and prosperous life in our native land.