Armenian Catholicoi Declare October 1st as Day of Solidarity and Prayer for Artsakh

According to the Mother See, a special prayer service will be conducted at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and in all Armenian churches, both in Armenia and the Diaspora, to commemorate this occasion. In a symbolic gesture of spiritual support and blessing for the Armenian people, sacred relics from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will be taken out for public veneration.

The day will begin with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the St. Trdat Open Altar in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at 10:30 a.m., presided over by the Patriarch of All Armenians. During this service, the Holy Lance Geghard will be displayed and made accessible for the faithful to offer their worship until the Evening Service.

Additionally, the Holy See of Cilicia, under the leadership of Catholicos Aram I, convened an online meeting on September 27, 2023, with the prelates of the Holy See of Cilicia. The primary focus of this meeting was to strategize ways to support the people of Artsakh in the wake of recent ethnic cleansing.

Catholicos Aram I emphasized three key actions:

a) Designate Sunday, October 1st, as a Day of Solidarity with Artsakh. On this day, requiem services will be held to honor the fallen martyrs in Artsakh, and prayers will be offered for the survivors.

b) Actively engage in public advocacy campaigns to promote the security and rights of the people of Artsakh.

c) Provide humanitarian assistance to individuals facing social and economic challenges, both within Artsakh and Armenia.

These measures aim to demonstrate unwavering support, both in prayer and practical assistance, for the people of Artsakh during these challenging times.