FAITHFUL TO THE MESSAGE OF MAY 28

May 28 is more than an event and a date. It is the symbol of Armenia’s independence.

May 28 is synonymous with the collective will of the Armenian people to gather around the sublime national ideals.

May 28 is a reminder of the firm commitment to struggle for the homeland with the power of faith, complete dedication, and even the martyrdom of blood.

Such have been the symbols of our history. Transcending the narrow limits of their time, they have become symbols of supreme values, a beacon illuminating the dark path of our life with its bright light, an unceasing bell tower awakening us from the slumber, a call to vigilance alerting us to the erratic paths of life.

So, too, is May 28.

With this awareness, generations were raised in the spirit and message of May 28. Churches, schools, and club educated generations with the vision and ideal of Armenia’s independence symbolized by May 28.

Times change, generations change, but symbols stay eternal. Woe to the nation that keeps its symbols beneath the dust of history. Woe to the generations that condemn their national symbols to oblivion….

We live in uncertain conditions. We are surrounded by crises both in Armenia and in the Diaspora. Polarization erodes our vitality from within. Dark clouds cover the sky of Armenian life.

We cannot remain silent and indifferent in the face of the present conditions that distance us from our roots, values, and ideals.

We cannot remain silent and indifferent in the face of indifference towards the symbols that have given meaning to our life, strengthened our struggle for existence, and defined our identity.

Look at our history.

At the fateful moments of our national life and in the face of the perils looming over the homeland, the sons and daughters of our people have joined forces for the salvation of the homeland. The sacred motto “For faith and for the homeland” has not been a mere slogan, but a call to mobilization and an invitation to struggle, from Avarayr to Sardarabad and Artsakh.

Let us rally around the values and ideals of nation and homeland. Let us rally around the strengthening of the homeland’s independence and the empowerment of the nation.

Let us remain faithful to the legacy and message of May 28.

ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF THE GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA
Antelias, May 28, 2026