YEARS OF STRUGGLE AND RESURRECTION FROM THE ASHES
Norayr Hovsepyan

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06-10-2009

The events, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment
of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, began on
Sept. 26 from Gandzasar. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II came
to Artsakh.

The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan,
NKR officials headed by the chairman of the National Assembly Ashot
Ghulyan, leaders and representatives of the dioceses of the Armenian
Apostolic Church met him.

Gandzasar was chosen not by chance, as the starting point of events
dedicated to the re-establishment of the Artsakh diocese. 20 years
ago thanks to the Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I, the Artsakh
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church again began to operate, which
was closed in the 30-ies of the last century. On October 1, 1989 in
Gandzasar Church of St. John the Baptist, the current Primate of the
Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Martirosyan Pargev finished a service the
first liturgy.

"The rebirth of the Artsakh diocese at its height of the Artsakh
movement is not accident," – said the Speaker of the NKR National
Assembly Ashot Ghulyan.

"It symbolizes our return to the values left by our ancestors, – noted
the Minister of Education and Science of NKR Vladik Khachatryan.-And
everybody needs in spiritual food- and old and young".

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and the pastors of the Armenian
Apostolic Church did church service in Gandzasar Church of St. John the
Baptist, after which four sides of the Artsakh country were blessed.

Then the ceremonial procession directed towards the cross stone set at
the entrance in Gandzasar. Dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the
re-establishment of the Artsakh Diocese Garegin the Second blessed
the khachkar. Then he turned to the audience. Patriarchal word was
kind of assessment of 20-year activity of the Artsakh Diocese and
the Armenian of Artsakh. "We brought to Artsakh our blessing from
Echmiadzin with love.

We are proud that Artsakh regained freedom by the efforts of all
Armenians, – said the Catholicos of All Armenians.-And a priest
together with soldiers took up a weapon in his hand, as our holy
fathers bequeathed, we must change the cross into an arm in the name
of rescuing of the native land".

After 20 years in Gandzasar, they pray with the same zeal as the
first day. They pray heartily, with an awareness of loss and faith
in victory. So, in Gandzasar the bells never fall into silence.