The Catholicos Sends a Message

His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, has sent a message in connection with Great Lent.

“Dear faithful children of ours, Great Lent has begun. We have entered the period of Great Lent carrying the sorrow of the tragedy of the war that has befallen us in our souls. Many of our children heroically died in the war for the right to live free and independent in Artsakh, and we lost a significant part of the land of Artsakh.

These tragic events were also a consequence of drifting away from Christ-centered love, discord, a lack of vigilance against internal and external security threats, and a weakening of the zeal to gather in unity around our national values.

In this special temporal context of spiritual life, we are called to embark on the path of self-examination and reflection with feelings of repentance and contrition, addressing our mistakes and correcting our shortcomings, heeding the message of the apostle: “Repentance and turn to have your sins wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19-20).

Repentance is that path leading from weakness to renewal, through which the person is cleansed, consecrated, and rises from downfalls and slip-ups towards perfection. Sincere and heartfelt repentance brings the Lord's mercy into the life of the believer and the people, removing them from the trials of evil.

Saint John Chrysostom says that God’s grace is joined with repentance, through which divine mercy, the comfort of the Lord, and His gifts are poured forth. The source of heavenly blessings and good things is also opened in the life of the nation through universal repentance and contrition, as promised by God in the Holy Scriptures: “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Thus, let this important period of Great Lent be dedicated to our cleansing of soul and life through repentance and contrition as we walk on the path pleasing to God. With this awareness and with God’s help, we will be able to find spiritual strength and power to overcome the tense situation in the public life of our country, the numerous issues and challenges that have arisen, and continue the journey of our creative and faithful life.

We raise our heartfelt prayers to the Most High God, that He grants His many mercies to our nation, provides consolation from the Holy Spirit to the hearts that are grieving, and spreads His abundant mercy and protection over our worldwide people and our homeland. May the good wishes of our people be realized under the benevolent gaze of God and with the support of the Lord, leading us from distress and difficulties towards the heights of victories and successes for the strength of our state and the welfare of our nation.

And may the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the heavenly gifts always be with us all. Amen.”