PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
Website: 
January 7, 2007

"The Savior came to free man from the snares of evil, from the bonds of sin
and death, and with His Divine strength, to restore him to blessed heavenly
glory.  Christ brought new life to the world – a life of the reborn,
restored soul, through which man was to proceed toward God."
– His Holiness Karekin II
 
The Feast of Holy Nativity in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On January 6, the worldwide Armenian Church celebrated the Holy Nativity and
Theophany of Jesus Christ.  At dusk on January 5, following Evening
Services, a special Candlelight Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother
Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.  With the
participation of the members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and
hundreds of faithful, His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalian celebrated
the liturgy.

Following the liturgy, the Catholicos of All Armenians proclaimed the good
news of the Nativity and Theophany throughout the sanctuary:  "Christ is
Born and Revealed!  Glad tidings to you and us."  The courtyard of the
Mother See was filled with the light of candles, which the faithful carried
to their homes to illuminate their hearths with the life-giving light of the
Lord’s Nativity.

On the morning of January 6, His Holiness Karekin II celebrated a Pontifical
Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the
Holy Nativity and Theophany of Christ.  Under the singing of church hymns,
the festive procession of deacons, priests and bishops led the Armenian
Pontiff to the Mother Cathedral to celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver his
message to all Armenians dispersed throughout the world on the occasion of
the holy feast.

In his message, His Holiness exhorted the faithful to become new again, live
with love and trust in God:  "The arrival of the Savior was proclaimed to
all; but it was not in all hearts that the birth of the Savior of the world
was accepted with joy.  With the intent of assassinating the Newborn Jesus,
Herod massacred the infants of Bethlehem.  Yes, even the incarnation and
birth of the Son of God was accompanied by worship and murder, the realities
of peace and war, which beginning with Abel and Cain, have taken parallel
paths throughout the course of human history.  The Child born in the manger
in Bethlehem came to change that course in the world with the establishment
of the New Covenant and the shedding of His blood.  Christ said, ‘This is my
blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the many.’ (Mark 14:24).

"The call to man to restore and improve, however, did not completely put an
end to the old man, nor the existence of old understandings, and evil did
not disappear from the earth.  Today as well, underneath the nature of new
man often works the old.  Along with the pious worship of Christ by the
shepherds and magi, the evil acts of Herod also remain.  The modern world,
characterized by developing conditions, possibilities and abilities of life,
is yet not healed of miseries, calamities and wars; it is not free of
falsehood, jealousy and hate.  Man ascended to the universe, but how far has
he risen in his inner spiritual world?  The progress of science has
benefited the welfare of life, but how much also have the weapons of war
advanced?  Indeed, modern scientific and technological accomplishments,
democracy, the rights and freedom of individuals and nations, – ideologies
proclaimed as supreme values – have remained inadequate to provide answers
to the issues and challenges facing mankind.  They will continue to remain
inadequate if God does not live within us, if God does not work in our
lives, if importance is not placed on faith, holiness and the spiritual… 
Efforts aimed at peace, justice and philanthropy will be in vain, if we do
not first appeal for God’s beneficent Will and saving grace; if we do not
fulfill the divine commandment to love one another.

"The apostle says, ‘Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away;
as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  For
our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect.’ (I Corinthians
13:8-9).  All of mankind’s knowledge is incomplete, and has changed
throughout time and will continue to change; but it is love which never
ends.  Love is always constant – it is perfect, ‘it is not irritable or
resentful, it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right’.  All of
us, nations and peoples, have one holy and life-giving inheritance – the
love of God for us, His creation.  God loves us all, regardless of race,
nationality, creed, sex or age.  The testimony of this perfect love is the
revelation of the Savior on earth.  Only by being led with that same spirit
of love shall mankind be new, and renew the world in the process.  We
Christians have the promise and belief that ‘if any one is in Christ, he is
a new creation’." – stated His Holiness.

In his message, the Catholicos of All Armenians also conveyed his fraternal
greetings to the spiritual heads of sister churches and the incumbents of
the hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Holy Church:  His Holiness Aram I, His
Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, and His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob
Mutafian.  His Holiness also expressed his Pontifical blessings and love to
the devoted ranks of clergy and all Armenians dispersed throughout the
world.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness offered the service of
Blessing of the Waters in commemoration of the baptism of Jesus Christ in
the Jordan River.  The Godfather of the Cross this year was renowned
composer Tigran Mansurian.  In addition to thousands of faithful, present
for the Divine Liturgy were:  Mr. Tigran Torosian, President of the National
Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Armenia, State Ministers of the
Republic of Armenia, high-ranking state officials, members of the Supreme
Spiritual Council, and foreign diplomats and representatives accredited to
Armenia.

Following church services, the annual Christmas reception was hosted by His
Holiness in the Pontifical Residence.