Artsakh movement was exceptional manifestation of people’s will and perseverance – Artsakh Diocese

The start of one of the glorious pages of modern Armenian history, the Artsakh movement, was made 37 years ago, in February, the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church said in its statement.

“The Artsakh movement was an exceptional manifestation of the people’s will and endurance, fighting spirit and dedication. It was truly heroic to raise your voice and unite the whole nation in the name of long-awaited freedom, justice and the realization of the dream of reunification with the homeland in the conditions of the totalitarian system under the USSR, a state that, ignoring the will of the Artsakh Armenians, enclosed Artsakh in a completely artificially created Azerbaijani state. The result is known to all of us: the creation of an independent statehood of Artsakh and its preservation and strengthening at the cost of struggle.

In addition to its invaluable role in achieving independence and national goals through national consolidation, the Artsakh movement also occupies an important place among Armenian spiritual values. Today we feel the bitterness of spiritual and national decline, defeat, territorial loss of Artsakh and displacement of Armenians. At the same time, many of us witnessed those days of spiritual and national rebirth, many of us experienced moments of greatness, and many of us witnessed the rise of the Armenian spirit. It was the willingness to make collective sacrifices and faith in the results of these sacrifices that became the basis of Artsakh’s independence in 1988. This means that we must seek solutions to our collective problems within ourselves. Our people have already proved that they are capable of brave deeds, and today’s difficulties should not undermine the most important thing in us, which is faith in the power of God’s justice and in our own strength.

Today, we can only live and act with faith and expectation of a collective return to Artsakh. It is in anticipation of the return that our people remain united and steadfast, regardless of external circumstances. This expectation encourages us all to pray that the future will bring good news and that we will return victoriously to our homeland in Christ. And we should not forget that the state officials of Artsakh, individuals who carry the symbol of independence, are in enemy captivity, and that with the same expectation we must all strive for their release and return.

We pray and wish that even 37 years later, the lofty ideas of the Artsakh movement will not disappear in our minds but will continue to be the driving force that gives us strength and energy so that we, as a generation, will be worthy to join Artsakh, our native land and water, our holy places and the values laid down by our fathers,” the statement reads.