MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ADDRESSED TO THE THIRD ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Panorama.am
18:06 18/09/06
Your Excellency Mr. President,
Dear Brother in Christ,
and Beloved Participants of this Conference,
The convening of the third "Armenia-Diaspora" Conference under the
festive light of the 15th anniversary of re-established statehood
for Armenia and Artsakh, has filled our souls with joy. With
thanksgiving and praise to God, we have come to welcome you, the
honorable participants, and extend the blessings of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin to the deliberations of this conference.
Our motherland is once again united with her children in the same hopes
and aspirations, and also with the belief that together, we shall
traverse a new path of progress toward prosperity for our people;
toward strengthening of our spiritual and national life.
The difficulties and triumphs of the past fifteen years belong to
all our people. All of our people, those living in our homeland
and those dispersed throughout the world, experienced the elation
of independence, and in equal measure, confronted the dangers
threatening our freedom; we equally bore the difficulties on the path
of sovereignty and the creation of statehood; and together won the
victories and successes. Let us offer glory to God, that He blessed
the undivided efforts, love and devotion of our people to re-establish
the independent statehood of our homeland.
Every generation has its imperative. Today we are living in a
remarkably important epoch of our history.
The time has come, that our present capabilities, which are greater
through the free and independent life of our homeland and the
unobstructed ties with our diaspora, completely and perfectly serve
the prosperity, unity and solidarity of our people and the renaissance
of spiritual and national life everywhere.
It is this outlook which today inspires us and directs our paths. Our
gathering is called to pursue this supreme goal and to face the present
obligation. Yes, the possibilities to freely work are greater than
they were fifteen years ago, however the urgent issues which trouble
us are not few. The time has come, and we can no longer delay. In our
contemporary world, in the political realm, in the rapid development
of science, technology and communication, in the hour-by-hour narrowing
gap between economies and cultures, the Armenian people must be in the
forefront, and they shall turn their hopes for a peaceful and creative
life into reality through a strong state and a vibrant Diaspora. When,
at present, there are great changes in the communities of the Diaspora
– some getting smaller, new ones being formed – the creation of a new
structure for maintaining the Armenian identity is becoming imperative
to meet these developments. The construction of new churches and
schools, the complete and total reorganization of education, and the
triumph over the unnatural situation facing our Church life which
was inherited by this generation, have all become essential.
Before us all today is the imperative to reinforce Armenia and Artsakh,
to secure in every manner well-armed and competent armed forces, and
to insure progress in all realms. The just rights of Artsakh have
yet to be recognized, and the threat to renew hostilities against
our people continues. There are positive developments in our homeland
in the economic, social, educational and cultural spheres; however,
poverty, unemployment, under-employment and the export of our labor
force remain undefeated. The villages and rural settlements are in
a state of need and vulnerability. The plans for their improvement
and better future are the aims for this conference. We welcome the
initiative to improve the rural settlements, which today have a pivotal
significance in the development of the economic and social life of
our country and the well-being of our people. Together we shall find
the correct answers and decisions to all imperatives with a unified
spirit, through the united efforts of national and ecclesiastical
organizations, and possessing the power of our free statehood. During
the recent events in Lebanon, the importance of the support through
our state policy was evident. So that the role our state plays in
any situation be greater, we must see the vision of our developed
homeland and prosperous country as something near rather than far,
and which in itself is the aim of having independent statehood –
to create and build in a free environment, to form a secure and good
life, and to freely express our spiritual vitality. The strength and
progress of the homeland are the might and power of the Diaspora as
well. For continuous centuries, in good times and bad, in conditions
of ease and difficulty, the Diaspora has lived and has been maintained
with the dream of seeing the homeland free and returning to her. Today
the dream has become reality on this portion of our homeland, and
the faith in a free life for Armenia and Artsakh is also a reality,
which shall become for us the light which leads us forward.
We extend our Pontifical message and exhortation to all our people in
Armenia, Artsakh and dispersed throughout the world, to accomplish this
great and important homeland-building initiative of restoring villages
and rural settlements. The Armenian Church as well shall bring her
active participation to the realization of this project, which will
serve the welfare and prosperity of our nation. We believe that our
children, as always, will be standing in support of our homeland, and
our people will together build their native home, so that it may always
be the sanctuary of hope, the inspiration and axis of Armenian life,
and the consolidating strength of all Armenians. Our people, proud with
work, will forget about misery on their native soil. We shall present
to our children a country strong with a harmonious societal life,
bright with the light of faith, knowledge and culture – a Christian
nation – philanthropic, humanitarian and decent. May God’s spirit
of truth lead us all, and may our Lord’s grace and strength be our
helper, so that our plans and works bear good results and victories,
and from generation to generation, we shall tell the story of God’s
blessing in the lives of our people.
May the work and good initiatives of this conference be blessed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
