Armenia’s First Independence Day and the Name Day of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I Marked with Prayer at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the first Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia was solemnly celebrated on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. The commemoration comprised three key elements: a Thanksgiving Prayer for the Republic, the blessing of the Armenian flag, and the celebration of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s name day. Among the attendees were members of the faithful, the Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, the Central Council of the Catholicosate, and Representatives of the Lebanese-Armenian Community.
Rev. Fr. Hovaguim Panjarjian, Director of the Information and Communication Department at the Catholicosate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
During the Liturgy, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, together with the Cilician brotherhood, presided over the flag-blessing ceremony, offering prayers for peace and endurance for Armenia.
Father Hovaguim delivered a sermon dedicated to both Armenia’s Independence Day and the name day of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I. He emphasized the intertwined national and Ecclesiastical significance of independence, reminding the faithful that the nation and the Church stood together in the struggle for freedom. He also noted that during times of occupation, the Church served as a bastion of the republic, preserving and nurturing Armenian identity.
After the Liturgy, the procession continued to the atrium of the Catholicosate for a brief celebration. V. Rev. Fr. Movses Yosulkanian, Coordinatorof the EcoJustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), delivered an address. He talked about the significance of the name Aram, held by the Catholicos, and explained that in both Semitic and Armenian, Aram means “high” or “exalted.” It is the name of the son of Harma, a descendant of Haig, and also of Aram Manougian, the founder of the First Republic.
Father Movses went on to say that a nation can only endure when its people unite around a common vision, each contributing from their own place and home. He asserted that the name “Aram” has become a symbol of unity, as Catholicos Aram I exemplifies both patriotism and an ecumenical spirit. Highlighting His Holiness’s recent visit to the Vatican, he emphasized that throughout his tenure, Aram I has built bridges across differences, demonstrating that fostering ecumenical relations does not diminish national identity.
Finally, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I delivered his message, noting that during the Thanksgiving Prayer, the faithful prayed for the strength of the homeland’s independence, and that it is the people who must safeguard it. He emphasized that independence is a God-given gift and a sacred value, but its preservation demands commitment, dedication, and endeavor.
His Holiness reflected on the Armenian flag, recalling that it bears the Prayers of saints, the blood of martyrs, and the struggles of heroes. He reaffirmed the Armenian Church’s vital role in upholding the nation’s sacred values, bridging divisions, and uniting the people around independence.
This news was originally published on the Website of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, Antelias - Lebanon.