Easter message of Catholicos of all armenians Karekin II

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Christ is risen from the dead.
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!”
Beloved faithful, in the Homeland and in the Diaspora,
With the joyful tidings of Christ’s Holy Resurrection and with supplication for divine grace, we convey to all of you our Patriarchal love, blessings, and heartfelt wishes.
The Feast of the Holy Resurrection is the proclamation of the victory of life over death—a triumph for which the Son of God sacrificed Himself, a victory affirmed as a radiant testament to God’s boundless love for humanity. Our Lord was persecuted, subjected to suffering, crucified, and tasted death. Confronted with the sorrowful reality of the Son of God’s self-sacrifice, as attested by the Evangelists, the disciples and followers of the Lord were overcome by discouragement and despair.
Yet, amid the anguish of death’s seemingly triumphant grip, the angelic proclamation from Christ’s empty tomb, “He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:6), became a beacon of enduring hope, strength, and inspiration. Truly, this joyous message is the triumphant hymn of Christ’s salvific mission.
By His glorious Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ broke the chains of death, brought forth the light of salvation into the world, and made those who believe in Him heirs of eternal life and the Kingdom of Heaven, according to His life-giving promise: “Whoever believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). The Lord’s redemptive mission was a struggle of Good against evil, Light against darkness, and Life against death—a struggle crowned with the glorious victory of the Resurrection. “O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55), the Apostle boldly proclaims. Through the Resurrection of the Son of God, the path to salvation and eternal life is opened before the world, and earthly reality is expanded beyond its limitations toward the infinite and the celestial.
Beloved devout faithful, through Christ’s Holy Resurrection, the course of human history is truly transformed, and the meaning of life is revealed. The grace of the Resurrection grants salvation to those who lead lives of goodness, righteousness, and faith. It bestows divine blessings upon the followers of the Lord, joins them in joy with the heavenly hosts, and makes them partakers of the everlasting bliss of eternal beatitude. In contrast, a path of evil and sin, in opposition to the Lord’s salvific will, leads to condemnation and eternal punishment in ceaseless torment.
Today, regrettably, we witness devastating manifestations around the world—where injustice, hatred, and enmity rage. War and destruction, death and famine spread terror, destroy lives, and plunge thousands of families into misery. Amid political, economic, and military turmoil, the rights of nations and states are trampled, values of conscience and morality are disregarded, universal spiritual-cultural heritage is destroyed.
In these turbulent times, suffering humanity longs for peace, desires the end of disaster and violence, and yearns for harmony and happiness.
In the context of the current alarming geopolitical developments, our national and homeland life is also facing the most serious challenges. The complex situation caused by security threats is further aggravated by internal divisions and newly emerging crises. Deep concern is also caused by the continuous unacceptable actions and campaigns within our reality, which target and undermine our national and Christian identity and historical legacy.
In our collective memory, the Armenian Genocide—perpetrated at the beginning of the twentieth century, 110 years ago, in the Ottoman Empire—remains an open wound. The unhealed pain of this horrific crime is further intensified by reprehensible attempts to deny or question it, as well as by the occurrence of new genocidal acts around the world. One such manifestation of this crime was the recent atrocity committed against our people: the forceful occupation of Artsakh and the violent displacement of the Armenians of Artsakh from their ancestral land.
Dear Armenian people, we are heirs of the grace of the Lord’s Resurrection, and with unshakable faith, we are capable of transforming our sufferings and losses into national rebirth—by remaining faithful to the Lord’s commandments and by expressing unreserved love and devotion toward our people and homeland. Our patriarchal exhortation is to place the welfare of the nation above personal or partisan ambitions, and to reject any course of action imposed upon us that harms our homeland. Let us cast away from our lives deceit and falsehood; wholly reject destructive behaviors and deeds; the words and works that degrade our past, diminish our historical memory, and threaten our future.
Let us unite around our faith, our identity, our values, our history, our statehood, and our shared vision for the future—everything that is sacred and unites us as one nation, both in Armenia and in the Diaspora. Unity is the firm and trustworthy foundation for the strengthening of our nation and the restoration of a dignified life. Therefore, let us be united and be of one spirit, using all our strength to confront the trials that have befallen us. Calamities and afflictions will come to an end, if we live for eternal life, if following the example of the Savior, we become bearers of light, warriors against injustice and evil.
Let us also ensure the revival of our nation and homeland through the birth of new children, and through the worthy education and upbringing of the rising generation—securing the continuous journey of the Armenian people toward hope-filled horizons.
Our people, who through trust in the Savior have overcome ruins and massacres, cannot surrender to death today. Instead, we must become bearers of the hope and grace of the Resurrection—with steadfast spirit and unwavering faith—ever proclaiming:
“Christ is risen from the dead.”
With this life-giving message of the Resurrection of Christ, we extend our greetings to the incumbents 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; His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; and the Heads of the Sister Churches, wishing them many fruitful and blessed years of service.
We also extend our Patriarchal blessings and well wishes to all the clergy of our Holy Church and to all our faithful nation. May the love, grace, and mercy of the Lord be the constant guardian of our people and our homeland.
On this radiant morning of the Holy Resurrection, beloved faithful, let us pray together to the Risen Christ—for the peace, wellbeing, and security of the world, of our people, and of our homeland. It is our prayer that the life-renewing grace of the Resurrection may transform human life with goodness, justice, and solidarity. May our nation be strengthened by the divine heavenly gifts, overcome all current hardships and challenges, and achieve ever greater accomplishments—for the glory of our homeland and for the eternal radiance of the entire Armenian people, now and always, and forevermore. Amen.
Christ is risen from the dead.
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.