Catholicos of All Armenians Receives the Newly Appointed Minister of Defense

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – October 2016

On 11 October, Mr. Vigen Sargsyan, newly appointed Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia; was received in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Minister Sargsyan was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, spiritual Primate of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

The Catholicos of All Armenians congratulated Minister Sargsyan and wished him success in the responsible position of defense minister.

Speaking on relations between the army and the general public, His Holiness stressed that every Armenian child should feel as a part of the Army, to live with that awareness and participate in the strengthening of the army and defense of the Homeland. The Catholicos of All Armenians affirmed that the Armenian Church will exert every effort and every opportunity for the development of that consciousness.

The Defense Minister made reference to the necessity of recognizing the nation’s concepts of the army, presenting the projects that had been implemented for strengthening army-society relations. He stressed that the army must not only be a mirror of society, but also become its unique founder, highlighting the mission of the Spiritual Leadership of the Armed Forces and the clergy of the Armed Forces.

During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians, recalled his recent visit to Artsakh, and confirmed with satisfaction that Army service is not merely a duty for the Armenian soldier, but a commitment and conscious deed to be a defender of the Homeland.

At the conclusion, His Holiness once again wished the Defense Minister to carry out its mission with honor under God’s blessings.

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