A Blessing at Holy Etchmiadzin: Save Armenia Meets the Catholicos of All Armenians
On June 17, a Save Armenia delegation led by Executive Director Dr. Paul Murray was received by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The meeting took place at the spiritual heart of the world’s first Christian nation, in the place where Armenian faith has been anchored for more than 1,700 years.
The Catholicos blessed the delegation and thanked its members for their work to protect human rights and religious freedom and to promote dialogue among peoples. He recognized the organization’s efforts to raise the concerns of Armenia and the Armenian people on international platforms, especially during a period of profound difficulty for the country.
A Conversation About Survival
The discussion turned to the questions that weigh most heavily on Armenia today. His Holiness addressed the state of Church and State relations, the rights of the more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh, the release of Armenian prisoners unlawfully held in Azerbaijan, and the preservation of Artsakh’s Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage.
These are not abstract concerns. They are the daily reality of a people who have already survived attempted erasure and who now watch the churches, monasteries, and stone crosses that mark seventeen centuries of Christian life fall under threat.
The Church as a Nation-Preserving Force
Speaking of the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Catholicos emphasized its spiritual, educational, and nation-preserving role. The Church, he noted, strengthens the spiritual life of the Armenian people, fosters national unity, and upholds moral values in public life. For a nation as small and as pressured as Armenia, the Church has never been only a religious institution. It is a pillar of national identity itself.
Dr. Murray thanked His Holiness for the reception, described the purpose of the delegation’s visit, and reaffirmed Save Armenia’s readiness to stand with the Armenian Church and people as they meet the challenges before them.
A Peace Built on Justice
The conversation also turned to peace in the region. Both sides emphasized that a lasting peace must be grounded in justice, in respect for the rights of peoples, and in dignified coexistence. A peace that ignores the displaced, the imprisoned, and the desecrated holy sites is not peace. It is only a pause.
This meeting was part of Save Armenia’s June delegation to Armenia. As America marks 250 years of independence, we stand with the nation that has been Christian for more than 1,700 years. The world’s first Christian nation must not stand alone.
Stand with the world’s first Christian nation. Join the movement at savearmenia.us/get-involved.
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About Save Armenia
Save Armenia is a nonprofit organization mobilizing faith leaders, policymakers, and global partners to support Armenia’s security, sovereignty, and religious freedom. Through advocacy, leadership engagement, and strategic initiatives such as the Save Armenia Peace Indicator and the Build Armenia implementation platform, the organization works to strengthen Armenia’s long-term resilience and stability while mobilizing American Christian and policy communities to support Armenia amid ongoing regional challenges.
Media Contact
Eleanor Forshaw
Deputy Director
Save Armenia
eforshaw@savearmenia.us
