CATHOLICOS CALLS FOR HOPE AND UNITY IN CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
As Armenians around the world celebrated Christmas on January 6, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I delivered a message steeped in hope, resilience, and faith, calling on the Armenian people to draw strength from their shared history and steadfast beliefs. His Holiness issued a clarion call to confront present challenges with unity and a renewed spirit of purpose.
“Let us turn to the source of hope—the Incarnate Son of God,” said the Catholicos in his patriarchal address, invoking the Nativity of Christ as a beacon for humanity’s darkest hours. “In a world mired in crises, Christ’s birth in Bethlehem is not merely a historical event but an eternal message of hope and salvation.”
His Holiness drew parallels between the struggles of today and the timeless message of redemption, framing hope as both a Christian imperative and a source of strength for the Armenian nation. Referencing the Apostle Paul, he reminded his audience: “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character; and character produces hope” (Romans 5:4-5).
The Catholicos’ address comes at a time of uncertainty for Armenians both in the homeland and the Diaspora. He acknowledged the many trials facing the Armenian people, from the political instability and economic challenges in Armenia to the existential threats facing Armenians in the Middle East.
“In Armenia, the loss of Artsakh, the boasting by genocidal neighbors, the continuing emigration crisis, and the erosion of national values have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and despair,” he said. In the Diaspora, His Holiness remarked on the successive crises that have burdened the communities in Lebanon and Syria, even if they were not exposed to immediate dangers triggered by the political turmoil. Nevertheless, he highlighted the acute social and economic challenges our brethren in both countries are facing.
Despite these formidable challenges, His Holiness urged the Armenian people to resist despair. “Let us be realists but not pessimists,” he said, emphasizing the importance of patience, wisdom, and collective action in overcoming adversity.
Central to the Catholicos’ message was the call for unity among Armenians worldwide. He underscored the need for Armenians to rally behind the vision of a stronger homeland, unhindered by personal or political divisions. “The strengthening of Armenia must be seen as the supreme ideal, a commitment that transcends individuals and governments.”
In addressing the Diaspora, he highlighted the unique historical, geopolitical, and religious significance of Armenian communities in the Middle East. “The revival of our communities in Lebanon and Syria must become a national priority for the Armenian people,” he said. “These are not mere communities… if we take into account their historical, political, geopolitical, religious particularities and the importance of their role for our people, for Armenia, and for the regional powers.”
Throughout his address, the Catholicos emphasized hope as the cornerstone of Christian life and the driving force behind the Armenian spirit of survival and renewal. “Hope is not merely an emotional state or a theoretical phenomenon; it is a divine gift bestowed upon the world by way of Bethlehem.”
As the Armenian people navigate the trials of the modern world, His Holiness left them with a final reassurance, drawn from Apostle Paul: “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).