Volunteer Homeland Defenders Union Board Visit the Mother See

March 2014

On February 26, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed members of the newly appointed Volunteer Defenders Union board in the Vache and Tamar Manoukian Library and Manuscript Repository of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The delegation was led by Lieutenant General Manvel Grigoryan, President of the union, and Republic of Armenia Parliament Member.

Expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome, General Grigoryan briefly presented the history and mission of the Volunteer Defenders Union. The President of the Defenders Union reflected on the projects of the union in fostering patriotic spirit and providing social assistance to the veterans and their families, exhorting the blessings from His Holiness Karekin II on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the organization.

Greeting the Board members, the Catholicos of All Armenians offered his appreciation and blessings, noting that their visit to the Mother See had a providential significance during the feasts of St Vardan the Warrior and St. Ghevond and his companions. “The spirit of Vardan and his companions has had its radiant manifestation during the critical periods of our history among the children of Armenia in their sacred mission of defending the Homeland. We single out the Battle of Avarayr, equal to the heroic battles of Sardarapat and Artsakh, which was forged by volunteer defenders, who answered the call of the Homeland in their spirit and voluntarily went to defend and liberate Artsakh”.

His Holiness noted that the Armenian people remember each soldier with gratitude and honor each a volunteer defender, praying for those who sacrificed their lives for the reinforcement of Armenian statehood and the peaceful and stabile future for the Armenian people. The Catholicos of All Armenians also reflected on the challenges and hardships that the Homeland faces today, noting that the only way to overcome the difficulties is through the spirit that was shown during the Battle of Artsakh.

His Holiness Karekin II urged the Volunteer Defenders Union members to continue their efforts with patriotic and devoted spirit, conveying it to the younger generations so that Armenia always remain indestructible.

A decision was made to have a special celebration day for the Homeland Defenders in the Mother See, presenting an occasion for the volunteer defenders to visit Holy Etchmiadzin and renew their sacred oath of voluntarily serving the Homeland.

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