Message of Commendation from HM King Charles III, read by the Dean of Windsor
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His Majesty King Charles III has sent a message of congratulations to St Yeghiche Armenian Church in London as it marked 25 years since its consecration.
Worshippers and guests gathered at St Yeghiche Church on Sunday, 11 October, for a Divine Liturgy and an evening concert of sacred music. The celebrations also marked the Feast of the Holy Translators, honouring the saints whose work helped establish Armenia’s Christian literary tradition.
In his message, the King recalled his visits to the church and to Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual centre of the Armenian Church in Armenia. He praised the Armenian people’s long Christian heritage and thanked the congregation for its example of faith, hope and love over the past quarter of a century.
The message was read during the evening celebration by Bishop Christopher Cocksworth, Dean of Windsor.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Among the Churches of the East that contribute so much to the spiritual life of the United Kingdom, the Armenian Orthodox Church offers its own priceless riches of history, liturgy and poetry to our common life, together with its stories of faithful Christian witness through the centuries.
With my special affection for the Armenian people and the Armenian Orthodox Church, and fondly remembering my time at the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, as well as my visit to St Yeghiche Church itself, it gives me great joy to congratulate you on the 25th Anniversary of the Consecration of St Yeghiche Armenian Church. It also enables me to offer my heartfelt thanks for your example of faith, hope and love over this quarter of a century.
The faith you have shown reminds me of the profound words of one of your great hymnwriters, St Gregory of Narek, 'Faith, this simple and clear form of worship, means setting aside doubt to see the future and hidden with the eye of the soul'.
May your faith continue to sustain you in the years ahead, and may the light of God's love, and His call to demonstrate that love in our care of all people, be our guide.
CHARLES R.