Parishes across the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America joined Armenian Church faithful around the world on Sunday, November 10, in a special prayer service for the Artsakh Armenians who are being held captive in Azerbaijan—one year after the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, and four years after the surprise attack and subsequent war against our people there.
Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan had directed the Eastern Diocese’s 60 parishes and mission communities to pray for the unreleased captives, in order to help bring broad public attention to the urgent issue of defending the rights of Artsakh Armenians. Local pastors were sent information and instructions pertaining to the prayer service, as well as resources to adapt for their communities.
The worldwide prayer service went forward at the request of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who in early October had called on all Armenian faithful—from the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin to every local congregation—to pray for the liberation of the Armenian captives.
Individual parishes in the Eastern Diocese of America made efforts to contact their respective local government representatives, diplomats, ecumenical leaders, media, and other institutions to share in the prayer service. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop was visiting St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, New York, on November 10, and led the local faithful in the prayer for captives, assisted by pastor Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian (pictured here).
A special event at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featured guest speaker Dr. Noubar Afeyan, who spoke movingly about his close personal friendship with Ruben Vardanyan, one of the 23 Armenians currently being held against their will by the Azeri government.
In Washington, D.C., St. Mary Armenian Church invited several distinguished guests to the occasion. Guest speakers Frank Gaffney, president of “Save the Persecuted Christians,” and human rights advocate Nancy Najarian, both gave inspirational talks urging continued support for the Armenians of Artsakh. Pastor Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan also welcomed Diocesan Legate Archbishop Vicken Aykazian; Robert Avetisyan, former Representative of Artsakh to the U.S., and current director of research at the Armenian Assembly of America; Colonel Hrayr Geghamyan, defense attaché of the Armenian Embassy to the U.S.; as well as members of the embassy staff.
Solidarity from Sister Churches and Allies
Armenian faithful and allies in Evanston, Illinois, converged on the city’s St. James of Nisibis Armenian Church for the solemn occasion, during which Elizabeth Al-Dajani, an international attorney actively advocating for the rights of Artsakh Armenians, detailed the ongoing international legal initiatives efforts to bring justice and relief to the Armenian people. In addition, Illinois Congressman Danny Davis joined the service to show his commitment to the cause, and his solidarity with the Armenian community and the captives.
The newly-consecrated Armenian Church of the Holy Archangels in Haverhill, Massachusetts, welcomed Fr. John Delaney and his congregation of Sacred Hearts Catholic Church to lift their prayers for the freedom of the Artsakh Armenians being held captive in Azerbaijan.
Holy Resurrection Armenian Church in New Britain, Connecticut, invited attorney Harry Mazadoorian to address the congregation about the urgent need both to gain liberty for the Armenian captives, and to shine public light on the brutality inflicted on the Artsakh Armenians, who were subjected to “ethnic cleansing” from their centuries-old homeland.
Other Diocesan communities—including St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City—followed suit with their own services and public awareness programs.
Catholicos Karekin II’s plea was also taken up by the global ecumenical community. Thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (the Eastern Diocese’s Ecumenical Director, and an influential figure on the world ecumenical stage), the World Council of Churches (WCC) invited member churches around the globe to pray on November 10 in support of Armenia and its people: for peace, for support of refugees, and for the release of war hostages. (The WCC also recently met with His Holiness at Holy Etchmiadzin to plan for the annual “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” scheduled for January 18-25, 2026, to be dedicated to the Armenian Church, Armenia, and the displaced Armenians of Artsakh.)
The U.S.-based National Council of Churches sent a bulletin to its 37 member communions, representing an estimated 35 million people in 100,000 congregations in the U.S., urging church leaders, pastors and congregations to join their voices to the worldwide prayer. The NCC cited Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan’s message to Diocese leaders, adding: “Our Armenian Christian sisters and brothers worldwide will be fortified by the solidarity reflected in our prayers for them.”
A gallery of photos from Sunday’s special prayer services across the Eastern Diocese can be viewed by clicking here.