November 9 marks a solemn milestone in the modern history of the Armenian people. It was six years ago—on November 9, 2020—that the Artsakh war ended, after 44 days of brutal conflict, initiated through an unprovoked surprise attack on our homeland.
Six years later, the terrible realities of the war—the loss of land, the displacement of our countrymen, the tragedy of Armenian P.O.W.’s and M.I.A.’s, and (worst of all) the sacrifice of countless precious lives among our courageous soldiers and civilians—remain deeply painful.
But that pain was magnified only three years later, when Armenians bore the great costs of an inhuman blockade, renewed conflict, and further casualties—culminating in the unspeakable loss of our precious and holy land of Artsakh. As the refugees of Artsakh continue to resettle in the Republic of Armenia, that solitary country finds itself vulnerable to attack and desecration by an emboldened, hostile enemy.
We are aware, of course, that our people are not strangers to distress and affliction. Struggling against hatred, and persevering against the odds, are hallmarks of Armenian history. Our ancestors knew all too well that at such times, the purposes of God may be very hard to discern. But He has not sustained us through the past centuries only to see us fracture and fragment. The Armenian people are called to live in the spirit of unity. And in that spirit, we must ask our Father in Heaven to reveal His will for us.
The passage of a sixth year since that heartbreaking day is a moment to offer such prayers again. Today, we ask our merciful Lord to console all of our people: in Armenia, America, and around the world. We ask Him to place His protective hand over our sisters and brothers of Artsakh, in this time of need. We pray as one people that the Lord Jesus Christ will remember, and honor, every sacrifice made in those 44 days of struggle, and in the years since the war—for every single one was made in His name.
We ask our risen Lord to lead our people on the difficult and uncertain path that lies ahead.
Most of all, we ask Him to bless, heal, and protect His faithful children of Armenia, Artsakh, and the entire Armenian Church throughout the world, now and always.