ArmInfo.The Day of Dearmenization of the NKR should become a reason to unite around the idea of returning to the Homeland. This is stated in the message of the head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan in connection with the anniversary of the tragic events of September 2023.
He recalled that a year ago, despite the heroic resistance of the Armenian people, Azerbaijan, taking advantage of a nine-month blockade, hunger and lack of support from the outside world, seized Artsakh by force, committing ethnic cleansing there. "More than 120,000 Armenians of Artsakh were deported. To these tragic events was added the explosion at a fuel depot in Stepanakert, as a result of which many Armenians became innocent victims and were injured. Then, the state figures of Artsakh, who are symbols of our independent statehood, were captured," Abrahamyan's message says.
In this regard, the head of the diocese called for prayers for the speedy release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku prisons. "As in every prayer we remember the souls of our heroic martyrs, so this one should be about the release of our prisoners held in Baku prisons as soon as possible," he said. The priest further emphasized that this tragedy should become an incentive for the people of Artsakh to national unity and a new hope in God.
"Yes, the loss we have suffered collectively and individually is great and indescribable. The lives of our children, our homes and hearths, our blood and sweat have become victims of the enemy's genocidal policy. Moreover, in addition to human and material losses, we have lost the cornerstones of our spiritual identity and our land. Along with the loss of our holy homeland, we have also lost our monasteries, churches, and the graves of our relatives. However, dear Artsakh people, this should give us new strength, new hope in God, and new confidence in our national unity, so that September 19 never becomes just a Day of Remembrance. This day should become a day of rethinking our lives, discovering our identity, and rallying around the idea of returning to Artsakh," he emphasized.
The head of the diocese is confident that only faith, hope and love will help the people of Artsakh turn the page of history and begin a new chapter, marking new horizons of ascension and national awakening. In this regard, he expressed gratitude to the Armenian people for the warm welcome extended to the people of Artsakh in Armenia and assured that the hope of returning to Artsakh will never fade in the hearts of the people of Artsakh.
"Our brothers and sisters in Armenia have given us an unconditional warm welcome, not allowing us to feel like strangers in our homeland. Thanks to the efforts of our compatriots, the people of Artsakh today manage to integrate into the public life of Armenia, while preserving their unique appearance. Devoted sons, may the spark of hope for return never go out in our hearts and souls. It must be supported at any cost, constantly strengthened by deeds of love, mercy and devotion," he emphasized. ? The head of the diocese called on the people of Artsakh to believe and act so that justice is restored and Artsakh becomes part of Armenia again. "Believing and acting is the formula for return and new national achievements. The time has come to realize our cherished national aspirations at any cost, so that justice is restored in our lives, and so that Artsakh again becomes part of the Armenia to which we all aspired and aspire," the head of the diocese noted.
He expressed his dream to see Artsakh Armenian again and called on the people of Artsakh not to lose this hope. "My prayers to God and the most cherished desires in the depths of my soul are aimed at one thing: to see Artsakh Armenian again. And it is my duty, in a fatherly way, to urge all of you to always firmly adhere to the same dream on your life's path," he said. In conclusion of the message, the Head of the Artsakh Diocese addressed God with a prayer for the blessing of the Armenian people, so that the national dream would come true, and so that the bells of the Artsakh churches would ring again, and the Armenian captives would gain freedom. "Let the bells of the churches of Artsakh ring again in the near future. Let the memory of our heroic sons always be alive, and let our compatriots in unjust captivity again be honored with the gift of freedom," the message concludes.
On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan, under the pretext of an "anti-terrorist operation", committed another act of aggression against Artsakh. As a result of the enemy aggression, hundreds of Artsakh residents were injured, and more than 200 people were reported killed, including civilians. On September 20, Artsakh fell. Azerbaijan began the violent subjugation of the NKR. On September 22, the process of abolishing the Artsakh Defense Army began. During search operations from September 21 to 24, the NKR Ministry of Internal Affairs found the bodies of 105 Artsakh residents, including brutally murdered children and the elderly.
Today, Artsakh is completely de-Armenianized, its entire indigenous population of over 120 thousand people was forced to flee to Armenia under the threat of physical violence. We also add that on September 25, an explosion occurred near Stepanakert at a fuel warehouse, a gasoline tank exploded. At the time of the explosion, there were a large number of people at the site who were queuing for gasoline to leave Artsakh amid the latest Azerbaijani aggression. According to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, 218 people were killed in the explosion at the fuel depot, 215 of whom have been identified. At least 120 people received injuries of varying severity, mainly burns. At the moment, according to the investigation, the whereabouts of 21 people are unknown. Since the enemy aggression that began in the fall of 2020, which in September 2023 ended with the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, over 150 thousand Artsakh residents have become homeless.