On December 31, ahead of the New Year and Christmas holidays, His Holiness Karekin the Second Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received the young families of Artsakh at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, accompanied by the leader of the Diocese of Artsakh His Grace Fr. Vrtanes bishop Abrahamyan.
This is reported from the information system of the Mother See.
The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Foreign Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See, T. Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan and Director of Social Services Office Arzhanapativ T. Priest Markos Mangasaryan.
Vrtanes Srbazan emphasized that Artsakh families with newborn children visited the Mother See to receive the blessing of His Holiness. The Holy Father also expressed his gratitude to the Armenian Patriarch for his paternal care and concern for the Artsakh Armenians.
The Catholicos of All Armenians, bringing his paternal blessing to the Armenians, expressed his support to the families of Artsakh, especially in the current difficult conditions, when they overcome the difficulties they face as a result of forced displacement. The Armenian Patriarch particularly emphasized the presence of newborn children from Artsakh in the Mother See, considering them the embodiment of life, hope and the pledge of the nation's permanence.
His Holiness wished that under the care and love of their parents, their children would grow up and, with God's blessing, one day return to their native cradle, native hearths.
His Holiness told the people of Artsakh to keep their spirit strong and their faith strong, assuring them that the Armenian Church is by their side and strong and supportive in overcoming the challenges they are facing. In the end, His Holiness blessed the families of Artsakh with the "Protector" prayer.
On the same day, the Catholicos of All Armenians visited Etchmiadzin MC maternity hospital. Under the guidance of the maternity hospital management, His Holiness visited the newborns and their mothers, blessed and prayed for their good health and happiness.
In his speech, His Holiness referred to the God-given gift of motherhood, testifying that a mother's devoted and life-giving love can overcome all difficulties, and newborn babies will become a source of strength, strengthening the spirit of responsibility of our people to build a peaceful, prosperous and enlightened homeland for generations.
In this regard, His Holiness emphasized with satisfaction that the strengthening of this consciousness and spirit in Armenian families will be at the core of the activities and initiatives of the Armenian Church in the coming year.
Then, His Holiness also had a conversation with the medical staff, expressing his appreciation for their national service, dedication and efforts for the health of expectant mothers.
On this occasion, His Holiness presented an icon of the Holy Mother of God to the maternity hospital, wishing that the Mother of God's blessing would always protect newborn babies and expectant mothers.
During the visit, on behalf of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Office of Social Services of the Mother See distributed Christmas gifts to all newborns and their mothers.
