Our Souls Are Stirred with Concerns Over Attacks on the Holy Church: Karekin II

Our souls are stirred with concerns over the various attacks on our Holy Church; let us find peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This was stated by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, in his message on the occasion of Great Lent.

“Dear devout people,
With sacred experiences of the spirit, we are once again entering the period of Great Lent. Through introspection, repentance, and the sanctifying path of penance, we will journey toward the joyful and luminous feast of our Savior’s Holy and Miraculous Resurrection. The preaching of our Lord Jesus Christ began with a call to repentance: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’ (Matthew 4:17). It is the response to this divine call that strengthens and purifies the soul through fasting, reinforcing the filial bond with the Heavenly Father.

Fervent prayer should illuminate the course of fasting, moderation should adorn the life of the believer, and forgiveness should be shown by the repentant soul towards its fellow, just as the Lord sweetly encourages: ‘And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses’ (Mark 11:25).

Beloved, in our days, when our souls are stirred with concerns over national and homeland issues and the various attacks against our Holy Church, let us find peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we became reconciled with God. Let us live with complete devotion to our nation and homeland, with unwavering zeal for our identity and sacred values, and with steadfastness in remaining faithful to our Mother Church.

Let us pray together that this mysterious time of fasting may serve as a beautiful opportunity for universal repentance and penance for all of us, so that by recognizing and correcting our mistakes and shortcomings, we may together overcome all hardships and difficulties. May the Almighty God establish peace in the world, in our homeland, and in our hearts, and sustain and preserve our nation, our state, and our Holy Church in prosperity and construction. Amen.”