Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with pastor of the Berd city and Berd region of Tavush Province, Priest Aram Mirzoyan.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, as the spiritual leader of the region, how would you assess the people living and creating in this marvelous territory in terms of faith? They are strong and have willpower. Do they believe in God at difficult moments?

His Holiness: The region of Berd is truly one of the most marvelous sites in our Homeland. It is like heaven. There is infinite beauty, symbolism and tranquility. It is a wonderful land with wonderful people and nature. It is impossible to visit Tavush and not become a particle of its past and present. Here people don’t just live with memories. Here the past is interpreted in the present. Here people live in the present, but look towards the future. It is an honor for us to be the sons of the Armenian nation. We are a nation with strong faith, and that has been proven in life. The problem is not the faith, but knowledge. It is sometimes confusing. We have a lot of work to do in this regard. The Bible tell us: “Every good tree bears good…” (Matt. 7.17-19). One can see good fruits of religious acts every day. It would be impossible to defend the border, stay courageous, fight and win without faith. With a strong faith, our nation is certain that the ultimate victory will be ours because we know how to believe in God, and our God is the triumphant God.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, as a clergyman, is it likely for you to lead your flock only with prayers to God, or will you call on them to take weapons and take one yourself to resist the enemies at any catastrophic moment?

His Holiness: An Armenian clergyman has never sat with his hands folded. In relatively peaceful times, an Armenian clergyman has always had a cross in one hand and a pen in the other. At catastrophic moments, the pen has substituted the sword. The spirit of Ghevond Yerets and Bishop Garegin Hovsepyants lives in every Armenian clergyman. This is how we were taught at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Our opponent (not to say enemy) only understands that language. So, we need to speak in that language. Thank God, our soldiers showed that they can do it better than anyone else. Unfortunately, they are earning the right to live with an enduring struggle. Here each person is first and foremost a soldier, a defender of the homeland.

Hayern Aysor: Mountain people usually don’t have strong faith. What do you think about the Armenians of Tavush Province? Do they participate in Holy Masses? Do they have strong faith?

His Holiness: Bells hadn’t rung, and a Holy Mass hadn’t been served in the church of Berd for almost 100 years. The Saint Hovhannes Church was recently consecrated. Indeed, the people come to church and participate in Holy Masses. They have strong faith.

Hayern Aysor: Let’s talk about the faith of Armenian youth and the soldiers defending the border.

His Holiness: I have been to the border and have become convinced that faith makes a person win. I have often seen how the soldiers dig trenches and place crosses there.

Hayern Aysor: Your Holiness, what is the duty of every Armenian in this uncertain period of the Nagorno-Karabakh-Azerbaijan conflict?

His Holiness: Everyone must eventually understand that we are not fighting as a nation for territories. The defense and liberation of our Homeland is our sacred duty. It is the homeland that the Almighty Lord gave to Hayk Nahapet as invaluable heritage. We are ready to protect and preserve that heritage, that is, the sacred homeland, even if it means paying the highest price.

Karine Avagyan