THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS ON THE OCCASION OF THE FEAST OF THE HOLY NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF JESUS CHRIST
AZG Armenian Daily
09/01/2007
Conglaturatory Message
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 06 January 2007
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation" II Corinthians 5:17
Dearly Pious Faithful,
Today is the Feast of the Holy Nativity, the Feast of the Theophany
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The sacred mystery is great
and wondrous, which today we live once more. A new king is born in
Bethlehem, for the sake of renewed mankind and a new world, because
"if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation".
>>From the Bethlehem of the Armenians – the altar of light Holy
Etchmiadzin, with soul-renewing emotions and joy, we extend to you
the great tiding which the angels gave to the shepherds more than
two thousand years ago, "For to you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11).
The shepherds, with simple and pure hearts, recognized and worshipped
the Newborn Savior in the manger in Bethlehem; the wise magi presented
gifts on bended knee before His Divinity, Kingship and Priesthood. The
arrival of the Savior, previously testified to by the prophets, was
proclaimed to all; but it was not in all hearts that the birth of
the Savior of the world – the New King – was accepted with joy. With
the intent of assassinating the Newborn Jesus, Herod massacred the
infants of Bethlehem. Yes, beloved, 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 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. "And put on the new nature" – the apostle said,
"the new nature created after the likeness of God in true righteousness
and holiness."
(Ephesians 4:24).
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 man. Along with the
pious worship of Christ by the shepherds and magi, the evil acts of
Herod also remain. The modern world, characterized by the 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 or the spiritual; and on the contrary, when it is mocked
instead. 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".
Dearly beloved Armenians, let us receive with gladness and gratitude
our gift of salvation – the Incarnate Son of God. Relying on Him, with
fairness and brotherhood, and as new men, let us build the new life
of Armenia and Artsakh; and keep our national life in the Dispersion
strong, hopeful and filled with the breath of the homeland. With the
Savior, we shall not fear difficulties nor obstacles, and our efforts
will not be in vain, rather they shall bring sweet successes to our
homeland and Diaspora in renaissance.
With pan-national unity and the liberating love of our Lord, we shall
defend the just right of our people in Artsakh to live free; and with
renewing faith, we shall manifest and call to life all our aspirations
and hopes for the future. Therefore, let us keep the apostolic holy
faith of our forefathers untainted, and by their example, let us
create that which is permanent and enduring.
On the soul-renewing feast of the Holy Nativity of our Lord and Savior,
with Christ-bequeathed love, we extend our fraternal greetings to
the spiritual heads of our Sister Churches; to the incumbents of the
hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Holy Church, His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. We
express our Pontifical blessings and love to the devoted ranks of
clergy of our Church and all our people dispersed throughout the world.
With the glad tiding of the Holy Nativity, we greet the President
of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Robert Kocharian; President of
the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, Mr. Arkady Ghukasian; all state
officials of the Armenians; and leaders and representatives of
diplomatic missions accredited to Armenia.
Dearly pious faithful, let us pray before the cradle of the Newborn
Savior, that the souls of men be renewed by His limitless graces,
and that the lives of people be directed along the paths of mercy,
peace, justice and true brotherhood.
Let us appeal for our Lord and Savior to protect our people reinforced
with faith, and bless our labors and efforts for the glory of His Holy
Name, for the love and welfare of our homeland and nation dispersed
throughout the world, and for the vibrancy of our Holy Church. Amen.
Christ is Born and Revealed.
Great Tidings to You and Us.