Independence is a God-given gift, and it must be preserved with faithfulness. At the same time, independence is one of the fundamental principles of human rights, and it must be respected, notes the congratulatory message of Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, on the occasion of Armenia’s Independence Day.

“Firmly preserving independence and remaining faithful to its principles, values, and the demands of the times require faith, will, and struggle.

It was with this awareness that the Armenian people built and defended their independence. And even when, under the pressure of historical circumstances, they lost it, the vision of its future restoration turned into a daily struggle,” the message by Aram I reads.