Catholicos of All Armenians Received the Army Chaplaincy

On January 27th, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received the RA Army Chaplaincy, led by and His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Head Chaplain of the Armed Forces. They were accompanied by General Seyran Ohanyan, Minister of the RA Armed Forces. Today, under the leadership of Bishop Vrtanes, 51 clergymen: 12 priests and 39 deacons are serving in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

At the beginning if the meeting, Bishop Vrtanes gave welcoming remarks. Congratulating everyone on the occasion of national Army Day, the Head Chaplain extended his filial love to His Holiness, for the continual attention to the Armenian Army. With gratitude he stressed the importance of the support that the Minister of the Armed Forces and the entire staff of commanders give to the spiritual servants.

Reflecting on the devoted service of the spiritual servants, His Grace stated that during the past 2 decades the clergy have always stood at the side of the Armenian soldiers, both in the military units and in the trenches. Bishop Vrtanes also informed that today the Chaplaincy has trained senior officers who fully recognize the scope of their service, the current challenges, and do everything in order foster the interpersonal relations of the soldiers  be established on Christian values and to create a high consciousness of the Homeland defense.

Afterwards, Minister Ohanyan welcoming the clergy, expressed joy on the occasion of being present in the spiritual center of All Armenians on the eve of the 24th anniversary of the Armenian Army.
In his remarks, General Ohanyan reflected on the victories and successes of the Armenian Army over the 24 years, and presented the challenges facing the Army.

To overcome current challenges, General Ohanyan stressed the importance of strengthening army-civil society relations. He stated that the Armenian Army has never undertaken defensive actions alone; the Armenian Church and people have always stood by the Armenian Army.

Reflecting on Army-Church cooperation, the Minister of Defense confirmed that the servants of the army carry an important mission in creating a patriotic spirit within the Armenian Army.

The Catholicos of All Armenians then conveyed his Pontifical message to the attendees.

His Holiness extended his appreciation on the occasion of the gathering of the servants of the Armenian Army in the Mother See, then congratulated everyone on the occasion of Army Day and expressed his wish that the Armenian Army be always victorious.

His Holiness urged the clergy to be brave pastors and to implement their high mission carried out in the national-ecclesiastical life.

The Catholicos of All Armenians offered his prayers to Heaven, asking God to protect the Armenian Army, so that the Armenian soldiers can implement their God-loving service in peaceful conditions and that the Armenian people live a peaceful life.

During the meeting, issues were discussed relating to the 20th anniversary of the RA Army Chaplaincy, the educational projects implemented by the spiritual servants, and the cooperation between the Mother See and the Ministry.

The meeting was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See.

Source: