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His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, issued a message on the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas) celebrated on January 6. His full message is provided below.

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“You came with ineffable humility
for the salvation of mankind, O King of Glory.”
(Hymn)

Beloved Faithful,

On this radiant Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ, gathered beneath the sacred arches of our holy churches, we glorify Almighty God, who, in His boundless love and mercy toward humanity, sent His Only-Begotten Son to liberate mankind from the chains of sin and death. “You came with ineffable humility for the salvation of mankind, O King of Glory.” exclaims the hymnographer.

Today, the wondrous event of the Holy Nativity rises anew before our eyes. The King of Glory, enthroned in celestial heights, is born in a humble manger. Hearing the angelic proclamation of the Savior’s Nativity, the simple-hearted shepherds bow before the Divine Infant, while the wise magi worship the Redeemer, who, through divine providence, guides humanity toward grace, goodwill and harmony.

The miraculous Holy Nativity of the Son of God is an incomprehensible mystery—unfathomable to the mind, yet knowable and perceivable through faith. The Savior humbled Himself and assumed flesh to elevate human hearts and minds from the material to the spiritual and divine. The Immortal became mortal to show humanity the path to true life and eternity, according to His word: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Even today, the radiant Bethlehem Star marks the path of hope for salvation in a world troubled by trials. The night of the Holy Nativity testifies that even amidst the darkness of tribulations, God’s light shines forth, and the Sun of Righteousness rises, as Christ is named in both hymn and prophecy (Malachi 4:2).

To go forth and meet Christ, to live by His commandments, exalts and strengthens both individuals and nations, rendering them worthy of divine blessings and gifts. By receiving the swaddled Son of God, humanity is clothed with the grace of salvation, which becomes an inexhaustible fountain of heavenly blessings in the life of every believer. Yet, the rejection of God’s path places humanity before evils and destructive threats.

Today, we are all witnesses to the bitter reality of a world turning away from God—idolatry of materialism, pursuit of political and economic gain, and an insatiable lust for power, all at the cost of individual and collective rights, moral principles, global peaceful coexistence, happiness, and goodness. As a result of these calamities, humanity faces disastrous realities—wars, loss of life, destruction, orphaned and homeless children growing up in need and hardship, and families displaced and struggling for survival amidst conflict. These distressing circumstances make the reform of the world and the harmonious coexistence of nations an urgent necessity—a call that resounds eternally in the angelic hymn of the Infant Son of God’s Nativity: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).

Beloved, amid the complex geopolitical realities of today, our nation has endured severe trials: Artsakh was seized and depopulated; sovereign territories of Armenia remain occupied; many of our sons are still in captivity or missing; new demands and threats continue to be expressed by Azerbaijan. Internally, our homeland is plagued by falsehoods, lawlessness, malice, vengeance, and corrupt course, which breed mistrust, indifference, hostility, and division in our society, causing weaking to the nation. Alongside these challenges, the distortion of Christian moral perception and our traditional national spiritual values threatens our identity, weakens our national spirit, and ensnares us in the traps of sin and despair.

Through the mystery of the Holy Nativity, a heavenly invitation is once again extended to us: to walk the Lord’s path of love, reconciliation, and righteousness. This call can only be realized through a Christian way of life. It requires that we do not sacrifice our identity, the safety of our people and welfare of our homeland, for the sake of personal comfort and gain. We cannot serve the common good if we are driven by vanity, lust for power, and prioritize self-interest. As a nation, whether in our homeland or in the diaspora, we shall succeed if we remain steadfast in our fidelity to Christ, His teachings, and live by His words and divine will, freeing ourselves from divisive human cunning. Let us unite for the unwavering security and strength of our state, for justice for our forcibly displaced brothers and sisters from Artsakh, and for the safe and prosperous perpetuation of our nation and homeland. Let us be collaborators, not adversaries, devoted servants, not abusers of position and privilege. Let us not become exiles from our native land but live and create upon our sacred soil. With the birth of new children and the education of worthy generation, let us strengthen our nation and homeland. Let each of us contribute, to the best of our ability, to the advancement of our national life, for the glory of our state and the bright future of our people.

With the joyful tidings of the Holy Nativity, we extend our greetings to the Heads of the Hierarchical Sees of our Apostolic Church: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, as well as to the entire devoted clergy of our Holy Church. We also extend our greetings to our spiritual brethren—the Heads of Sister Churches and their faithful flocks. We impart our Patriarchal love and blessings to all our people in the homeland and the diaspora.

On this spiritually renewing day of the Holy Nativity, let us together offer prayers to the Incarnate Son of God, beseeching Him to bestow abundant heavenly blessings upon our nation and homeland, to keep faith, hope, and love steadfast in our lives. Let us ask the Almighty Lord’s support for the people of Artsakh, who have suffered great losses and have been driven from their ancestral land. Let us pray to the Almighty for peace and prosperity throughout the world and in our homeland. May the all-caring Hand of God and the life-giving grace of the Holy Nativity always shelter our people—today, forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Christ is born and revealed; blessed is the revelation of Christ!"