On August 2, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II received members of the National Assembly’s ninth-convocation Strong Armenia and Hayastan factions at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The Catholicos bestowed his blessing on the lawmakers, noting that, for well-known reasons, he had been unable to attend the inaugural session of the National Assembly, as prescribed by established practice, to deliver the blessing of Holy Etchmiadzin and his patriarchal message.
Marking the start of the ninth convocation of parliament, Karekin II urged the newly elected deputies to remain diligent and faithful to their calling and commitments in their legislative work, acting for the security of the homeland, the strengthening of Armenia’s independent statehood and the welfare of its people. He also called on them to pursue national goals with a strong sense of responsibility and to set an example through fairness, integrity and honesty.
The Catholicos devoted particular attention to what he described as the troubling situation in the country and the serious challenges facing the nation.
“Today, the external and internal challenges facing our country bring new trials. Overcoming them requires the greatest possible effort, along with the unity of state and national institutions and the cooperation of highly qualified professionals from various fields. Equally alarming are the discord within national life, destructive actions that weaken society, social division, political polarization, the distortion of cherished values and perceptions, as well as unlawful and unconstitutional actions directed against the Armenian Church, which hinder the Church’s effective mission in national life. Such unacceptable developments undermine the foundations of national unity, Armenia-Diaspora relations, the atmosphere of mutual respect and trust in society, the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law, and the primacy of justice and truth,” he said.
Karekin II also stressed that throughout its centuries-long history, the Armenian Apostolic Church has always stood by the nation and the homeland and, during periods of Armenian statehood, has supported the authorities in building a strong and prosperous country and fulfilling the hope for a better future. He said the Church would continue to support the Armenian state in all positive endeavors, with the aim of promoting the nation’s welfare and progress while strengthening the homeland.
In closing, the Catholicos thanked the lawmakers of the two factions for their devotion and filial respect toward the Church, especially during what he described as a difficult period, when, in his words, “the campaign and repressions launched by the authorities continue, and national benefactor Samvel Karapetyan remains in detention for speaking out in defense of Holy Etchmiadzin.”
On behalf of the newly elected lawmakers, faction leaders Narek Karapetyan and Anna Grigoryan addressed the Catholicos.
Strong Armenia faction leader Narek Karapetyan said: “Although legislation provides that the Catholicos of All Armenians has the right to address the opening session of the National Assembly, this was not ensured. For that reason, the Strong Armenia faction came to the Mother See to receive the blessing of the Catholicos of All Armenians.”
Hayastan faction leader Anna Grigoryan said that, as members of the Armenian Church and deputies of Armenia’s highest legislative body, they considered it their spiritual duty to visit the Catholicos.
“Unfortunately, amid what we regard as this government’s anti-national campaign, when, for the first time in our state’s history, the Catholicos’ message, prayer and blessing were not heard at the inaugural session of parliament, we believed it was our duty to correct what had happened,” she said.
For the first time in the history of independent Armenia, the National Assembly began its work without the blessing of the Catholicos, as Karekin II had not been invited to attend. Lawmakers from the Strong Armenia and Hayastan factions had announced that they would visit the Mother See later that day to receive his blessing.
