Cathedral of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to host prayer service  all week for release of prisoners, consolation of grieving and peace  in homeland

ArmInfo.  The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, will celebrate the Holy and Immortal Liturgy at 18:30 on June 30 at the Cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the release of prisoners, consolation of the grieving  and peace in the homeland. This was reported by the press service of  the Artsakh Diocese.

"We invite all of you to take part in the Holy Liturgy and pray  together for our people and homeland.  May God hear our prayers, and  may the Holy Right Hand of the Lord protect the whole world, our  homeland and all our people. All," the statement says.

The Artsakh Diocese also reminded that under the leadership of the  Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, during the  coming week, from June 30 to July 4, during the Holy Week preceding  the feast of the uncovering of the relics of our father St. Gregory  the Illuminator, at 18:30 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in  the Mother Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan and in  the diocesan prelate churches, the Holy and Immortal Liturgy will be  celebrated for the release of prisoners, consolation of the grieving  and peace in the homeland. 

The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in  Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown.  According to the latest data  from the International Committee of the Red Cross, as of August 2024,  about 1,000 people are considered missing on the Armenian side, with  about 300 people being considered as such after the latest escalation  in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone in the period from autumn 2020  to autumn 2023. 

Moreover, all data was collected by the ICRC based on appeals from  the relatives of the missing persons themselves. The ICRC also  reported that among these 300 people, there are several dozen appeals  concerning cases where the family did not agree with the DNA data  provided by the state.