The priests and monks who arrived in Tavush from 4 parts of the world performed an evening service in the Church of the Virgin Mary in Voskepar.
“It is imperative for us to be at Voskepar today.” On the Facebook page of the Tavush Diocese, the words of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Tavush Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and member of the Supreme Spiritual Council, were published.
“You came to Armenia from all over the world in the most challenging and complicated times of our lives. Wrapped and accumulated in your hearts, you have made this incredible spiritual journey together, heart-to-heart, head-to-head, eye-to-eye, holding hands firmly, contemplating, thinking, praying, to share a meal of love, reaffirming the commitment to the covenant of our Lord, towards the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and our national vision.
I am incredibly grateful that you have chosen to travel this long path of the border guard of the Tavush world, starting from Ijevan to the depths of Noyemberyan. And for you to see with your eyes and feel with your heart the persistence and will of this people over the years, that regardless of all kinds of conditions, our people have shown and shows, vowed not to leave the Motherland, vowed not to leave its sanctuaries, its graves, and its heritage, and this blood-bought the holy land, where more blood has been shed than water.
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Today we are in one of the most mysterious places in the life of our region and the Armenian people. It is essential for us to be here today. I want us to declare, re-declare and declare 1000 times that this is our sacred country, the sacred land, our Motherland; there is no “enclave” logic here; there is no thought or desire to surrender to any hostile encroachment. This is one of the touchstones of our time. This temple is a 7th-century temple. It was brought back in the late 1980s with a remarkable feat. This is the proof of our existence.
Police officers were kidnapped and killed here. Thousands of our compatriots were sacrificed here. This Holy Temple has become the vigilant watchman of our border zone. Our enemies are a little above, only a few meters away. Wishing you all welcome from our Jerusalem See, Cilicia See, and Patriarchate of Constantinople, I especially want to warmly welcome our beloved Father Sahak, who arrived today from captured Artsakh.
The core of all of our thoughts today is Artsakh. In a way, the Holy Father brought our people with him, the people who are saving our common honor today. A special greeting to Father Sahak, through him, on behalf of all of us, to our dear patriotic brothers and sisters living in Artsakh and fighting in Artsakh.
From this 7th-century temple of the Holy Virgin of Voskepar, may our greetings and love go to Gandzasar, from Gandzasar to Amaras, Ghazanchetsots, and our entire captive heritage.”
