Dear church,

One of our ecumenical partners, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, has requested our prayers and support amid the increased hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The recent surprise attack on the people of Armenia and Artsakh has resulted in violence and death, buttressed by cyberattacks and disinformation. The nation of Armenia has been launched into a state of war.  

We join with the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches in voicing our sadness and solidarity with the people of Armenia and Artsakh, and in seeking to uphold the truth about the conflict. We call upon our elected leaders to utilize diplomatic channels to intervene in order to prevent further violence and death. We invite our congregations and leaders to reach out to their Armenian neighbors in expressions of Christly love and care.

In a letter I received, His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan, primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, asks us to "pray alongside the Armenian Church faithful, as we implore our Lord Jesus to place his protection over the people of Armenia and Artsakh." Let us pray:  

In peace, 
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America