Head of Artsakh diocese on formula for return 

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.