Message Delivered at the Opening Ceremony of the 12th Pan-Homenetmen Games

Dear Young Armenians,

I extend heartfelt greetings to all of us gathered here today on the occasion of the opening of the 12th Pan-Homenetmen Games, taking place in our beloved and sacred Homeland. I convey to you the paternal blessings and warm greetings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to all the participants of this nation-serving initiative. We also wish to express our appreciation and gratitude to the organizers, sponsors, and supporters of this noble event, whose dedication has brought to life such meaningful programs. We are pleased to share that on July 29, His Holiness will once again convey his paternal blessings and a special message to you at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, during a dedicated service for the blessing of the youth.

Such events and initiatives are designed to keep alive in the hearts of Armenians around the world the flame of our homeland, our national identity, and our spiritual connection with our ancestors. Wherever we may be, it is our sacred duty never to forget who we are, where we come from, and—by the grace of God—where we are headed.

Today, three torches have been brought forth to light the ceremonial flame of these glorious games—from Yerablur, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and Tsitsernakaberd.

The message I extend to you is also rooted in the symbolism of these three sacred national and spiritual sites, thereby enriching the profound significance of this gathering.

The first flame we must keep burning in our hearts is the torch of Yerablur. This torch symbolizes our love and devotion to our statehood. Indeed, our nationhood has been acquired at an immeasurable cost—through the blood of our martyred fathers, brothers, and sons. The right to an independent and free Republic of Armenia was secured through the sacrifice, sweat, and heroic struggle of entire battalions. Our state is the homeland where we live and create—out of respect for the memory of our past, responsibility toward the freedom of our present, and duty to ensure the well-being of future generations. May your love and devotion to the Republic of Armenia always remain steadfast—beyond all circumstances and challenges. Yerablur stands as the bedrock, and the Armenian Army is the firm stronghold upon which the peace and prosperity of our nation are founded.

The Second Torch comes from the spiritual heart of our nation — the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Our unique and sacred Cathedral radiates beams of spiritual light and warmth to Armenians living in every corner of the world. If the state is the body of the nation, then the Church is its soul. The torch of faith is eternal and ethereal, yet it shines the brightest and warms most deeply the hearts of those who place their trust in it. Etchmiadzin stands as the silent witness to our identity, our centuries-old traditions, and cultural heritage. The 1700-year-old walls of the Mother Cathedral are the spiritual birthplace of every Armenian. Be faithful and love your Church. Become one united entity through the spiritual bond, so that no force of separation in the world may ever distance you from one another or from your homeland.

The Third Flame that burns within our hearts and reminds us of who we are is the eternal flame of Tsitsernakaberd. Indeed, the memories of the Armenian Genocide are deeply tragic for us, but they would become a numbed pain if we do not live by the message that Tsitsernakaberd brings to us. And that message is this: for Armenians scattered across the globe as a result of the Genocide, Tsitsernakaberd serves as a sacred reminder of our ancestors, our native homeland, and our families. Many among us are children and descendants of those who migrated from Western Armenia. And it is Tsitsernakaberd that compels us to eternalize the sacred memory of our families. The Genocide was not merely an attack on the lives of Armenians — it was the ultimate crime against Armenian identity and the Armenian family. We, the living bearers of our ancestors’ righteous memory, have a duty to firmly uphold our family values, our genetic memory, and the legacy entrusted to us.

Years ago, the Holy Church canonized the righteous martyrs of the Great Genocide — those who offered their lives upon the sacred altar of faith and homeland. They are our intercessors, granting us spiritual strength from their heavenly dwellings. Their intercession and divine support must further urge us to strengthen our state and remain faithful to our Church.

Beloved Ones, Be steadfast in spirit and body. Be empowered by the spirit of faith and dedication to the homeland. And may the Lord God bestow His abundant blessings upon all of us, preserve the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh, protect the Armenian Apostolic Church, our families, and the entire Armenian nation — in Armenia and throughout the Diaspora.