Last week, in a message to Diocesan faithful anticipating the worldwide “Prayer for Artsakh” on Sunday, October 1, Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan announced a Diocesan-wide fundraising effort to bring aid to Artsakh refugees now forced to flee the land of their birth.
The “Artsakh Refugee Fund” was announced in all our parishes as a unified effort of the entire Eastern Diocese to respond to this time of grave crisis for the Armenian people.
“My friends, the events of the past weeks, building in intensity since the 2020 war, have cast a dark shadow over our community life,” wrote the Primate in his message. “It is right and proper to mourn; the reason for our grief is real, and profound…. But be assured that there will come a day to wipe away our present tears. That is what the Lord Jesus Christ taught us; it is what He is has shown us during every moment of crisis and pain in Armenian Christian history. As Scripture assures us: ‘Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning’ [Psalm 30:5].”
He concluded: “As we unite as a people to respond to this tear-filled night, let us also lay the foundation for that future dawn of joy, in our communities, our churches, our homes, and our very souls.”
You can support the Eastern Diocese’s “Artsakh Refugee Fund” by making an online contribution. Please note that all the fundraising proceeds will go to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for direct distribution to the Artsakh refugees.
Click here to donate now, using the Diocese’s secure server. Make sure to select “Artsakh Refugee Fund” from the dropdown menu.
In addition, our Diocese’s Fund for Armenian Relief is doing urgently-needed work to help the refugee population, including on-the-ground efforts through its Ayo! crowdfunding platform. See the item below for details and links.
Please lend a helping hand to these efforts, and keep our sisters and brothers of Artsakh in your prayers during these urgent times. May God support and protect His people.