On November 14, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Aleppo, His Eminence, Father, Archbishop Shahan Sarkisian had a meeting with Syrian-Armenians residing in Armenia at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church.

After the prayer for souls to rest in peace, His Holiness expressed gratitude to the Syrian-Armenians for being able to come together and attend, as he called it, the unusual meeting on such short notice.

“We are away from our homeland in Syria, but we meet on the land of our ancestors,” His Holiness said as he greeted the gathered. Touching upon especially the Syrian-Armenians who have settled in Armenia, His Holiness said: “We are not a nation of people who escape, but a nation of people who return to their roots. We will return to our roots, and I want us to stand firmly and settle in the homeland.”

His Holiness also touched upon the state of Armenians in Syria and their will and determination to survive. “Despite the current state of affairs, Armenian schools are still open. We are optimistic. Losing hope is not the way of a Christian. We have a presence in Syria and will continue to have a presence…We are not alone. God and the nation are with us. Yes, there are difficulties, and we have to overcome those difficulties.”

At the end, the Primate of the Diocese of Aleppo wished the attending Syrian-Armenians to prosper in the homeland and asked them to pray for Syria, the Syrian-Armenians and their brothers and sisters living in Syria.