Pontifical Message of Blessings to the Syrian-Armenians for the Feasts of New Year and Christmas
December 2013
On the occasion of the feasts of New Year and Christmas, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, expressed His congratulations and best wishes, extending His Pontifical message of blessings to the Spiritual Leaders of the Armenian community in Syria, the spiritual and secular servants, civic authorities, administrative staff and faculty members of national academies, students, and all Syrian-Armenians.
“On this very day, when together with the Christian world, all Armenians throughout the Diaspora are celebrating the feast of New Year, you are present in our thoughts and prayers, for together with the Syrian people you suffer the cruel and inescapable aftermath of the conflict that befell the country”, noted the Catholicos of All Armenians in his message.
His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the children of Armenia, that regardless of the severe circumstances, present dangers, the confusion and challenges, they continue to keep alive their religious- national life, especially in their fervent and commendable efforts of educating and nurturing the new generation with Armenian traditions.
“Dear children of Armenia, the Armenian academies have played a significant role in the history of the Armenia colony in Syria, where the Armenian spirit was molded and shaped, and inspired with the Mother tongue and love and devotion to national values. Barely escaping the massacres and surviving the Genocide, your forefathers underwent obstacles and hardships to provide education for their children. Today we respectfully note that over the foregoing decades, the national Academies of Syria have prepared bright generations, who are dispersed in Syria and throughout the world, serving our people and the Holy Church, and bringing their contributions to enhance the culture, art, literature and science in Armenia.
… Dear students, from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we offer you Our fatherly love and blessings, praying for you, your parents, and for the safety of all the children in Syria. Let your parents’ and teachers’ devotion to the pursuit of knowledge, encourage you to carry on studying laboriously. Let your life and Homeland- building endeavors serve for the welfare and prosperity of our national and spiritual life”, reads the Pontifical message of blessings.
His Holiness Karekin II exhorted the Almighty to reinforce and support the Armenian community in Syria, and wished that the year of 2014, starting- off with the sacredness of the Holy Nativity, bring peace and comfort to Syria and its people.
