Ahead of COP29, Catholicos Karekin II urges world to join prayer for Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II has asked for people to join the prayer for Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan on 10 November, ahead of the COP29. 

“We are convinced that such a global prayer held by the World Council of Churches will encourage the participation of Christian communities, diplomatic missions, media representatives, and all relevant international organizations,” said H.H. Catholicos Karekin II. “It is our sincere hope that this spiritual effort will raise global awareness of this ongoing humanitarian crisis and will promote a peace-bearing solution, based on truth and justice.”

Answering this call, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting all people of good will to join a prayer day for Armenia—for peace, for support for refugees, and the release of war hostages—on 10 November, the day before the opening of the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan, the WCC said in a press release. 

Catholicos Aram I, Armenian Orthodox Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, joined in calling for a day of prayer. 

“We urge all faith communities, international bodies, and people of good will to join us in prayer, while strengthening efforts to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war, still detained in Baku, Azerbaijan,” he said. “We remind the international community preparing to meet in Baku for COP29, that justice and peace are closely interconnected and cannot be separated. We cannot call for climate justice without condemning violations of human rights.”

“COP29 presents a unique opportunity to advocate for the unconditional release of the 23 Armenian hostages, as well as the Azeri political prisoners and journalists detained in Azeri jails,” WCC said. 

WCC moderator Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflected that Armenia needs prayers. “Christian faith has accompanied the Armenian people since the beginnings of the Armenian Apostolic Church in 301 AD,” he said. “The future is unclear.”

 “Our prayers will reach their hearts and souls and strengthen them,” he said.

WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay invited all churches to join the call to prayer, and also urged continued support from the international community. 

“We remain in prayerful solidarity with the Armenian Apostolic Church and ecumenical partners in Armenia,” he said. “We reiterate our call for a just and sustainable peace in full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law."

The WCC will organize a local prayer service in St Pierre Cathedral on 10 November at 5pm CET Geneva in collaboration with the Armenian community.