In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
"Christ is risen from the dead."
"Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!"
Beloved faithful people in Armenia and the Diaspora,
With the joyful news of the Holy Resurrection of Christ and the invocation of divine graces, we bring you our patriarchal love, blessings, and best wishes.
The Feast of the Holy Resurrection of the Savior proclaims the victory of life over death—a victory for which the Son of God sacrificed Himself, a triumph established as a radiant testimony of God’s divine love for humanity. Our Lord was persecuted, subjected to suffering, crucified, and tasted death. Faced with the sorrowful reality of the self-sacrifice of the Son of God, the Evangelists testify that the disciples and followers of the Lord were filled with despair and hopelessness.
Yet, amid the agony of what seemed to be death's triumph, the angelic message from Christ’s empty tomb resounded with unquenchable hope, strength, and inspiration: "He is not here; He is risen" (Luke 24:6). Indeed, this joyful announcement is the triumphal hymn of Christ’s salvific mission.
Through His glorious Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ broke the chains of death, illuminated the world with the light of salvation, and made those who believe in Him heirs to eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven, according to His life-giving promise: "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). The Lord’s mission of salvation became a battle of Good against evil, Light against darkness, and Life against death, crowned with the glorious victory of the Resurrection. "O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)—proclaims the Apostle with encouragement. Through the Resurrection of the Son of God, the path of eternity and salvation is opened before the world, and the earthly realm is expanded from the finite to the infinite, from the temporal to the heavenly.
Beloved pious and faithful children, Through Christ’s Holy Resurrection, the history of humanity is truly transformed, and the meaning of life is revealed. The grace of the Resurrection bestows salvation upon lives lived with goodness, justice, and faith, granting divine blessings and abundant grace to the followers of the Lord, making them joyful companions of the heavenly beings and participants in the everlasting bliss of eternal life. Conversely, turning away from the salvific will of the Lord through wicked and sinful behavior leads to condemnation and eternal punishment in unending torment.
Today, sadly, we witness destructive manifestations in different parts of the world, where injustice, hatred, and hostility rage. War and devastation, death and famine spread dreadful calamities, ruining lives and plunging countless families into misery. In the whirlpool of political, economic, and military conflicts, the rights of nations and states are trampled, the values of conscience and morality are ignored, and the spiritual-cultural heritage of humanity is destroyed. In these turbulent times, suffering humanity yearns for peace, the end of disasters and violence, for harmony and happiness.
In today’s alarming geopolitical developments, our national and homeland life is also facing serious challenges. Internal divisions and new crises further exacerbate the complex situation caused by security threats. Also troubling are the ongoing campaigns and actions within our society aimed at rejecting our national and Christian identity and past. The Armenian Genocide, committed 110 years ago at the beginning of the 20th century in the Ottoman Empire, remains an open wound in our collective memory. Its enduring pain deepens with condemnable attempts to question or deny this horrific crime, and with new acts of genocide occurring around the world. One such atrocity was the recent tragedy suffered by our people—the occupation of Artsakh and the forced displacement of the Armenians of Artsakh from their ancestral homeland.
We, beloved Armenian people, are heirs to the grace of the Lord’s Resurrection. With unwavering faith, we have the power to transform our suffering and losses into national revival by remaining faithful to the Lord’s commandments and showing unconditional love and dedication to our people and homeland. Our patriarchal exhortation is to place the national interest above personal or group ambitions and to reject harmful, imposed steps that endanger the homeland. Let us cast out lies and falsehoods from our lives, fully reject the behaviors and actions that destroy our nation, as well as the words and deeds that diminish our past, our historical memory, and endanger our future. Let us unite around our faith, identity, values, history, statehood, and shared vision for the future—around everything that is sacred and unites us all as one nation, both in Armenia and the Diaspora.
Unity is the firm and reliable foundation for the strengthening of our nation and the restoration of a dignified life. Let us be united and stand together, using all our potential to confront the trials we face. Tragedies and difficulties will cease if we live for eternal life, becoming bearers of light in darkness by the example of the Savior, warriors against injustice and evil. We must make the rebirth of our nation and homeland real through the birth of new children and the worthy education and upbringing of the younger generation, ensuring the continuous march of the Armenian people toward a hopeful future. A people who, relying on the Savior, have overcome ruins and massacres, cannot now surrender to death, but must be bearers of the hope and grace of the Resurrection, always proclaiming with unshaken spirit and unbreakable faith: "Christ is risen from the dead!"
With this life-giving news of Christ’s Resurrection, we extend our greetings to the heads of the Hierarchical Sees of our Holy Church: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople— wishing them fruitful and prosperous years of service. We also send our patriarchal blessings and best wishes to all the clergy of our Holy Church and to our entire faithful people. May the love, mercy, and grace of the Lord be the constant protection of our nation and homeland. On this radiant morning of the Holy Resurrection, beloved faithful people, let us pray together to the Risen Christ for the peace, security, and safety of the world, our people, and our homeland. Our heartfelt prayer is that the life-renewing graces of the Resurrection transform human life with goodness, justice, and harmony. May our nation be strengthened with divine, heavenly gifts, overcome all current trials and difficulties, and achieve ever greater accomplishments—bringing strength and glory to our homeland and enduring brilliance to all Armenians, now and always, and forevermore. Amen.
Christ is risen from the dead!
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians