Under the auspices of Catholicos Aram I, the first Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia was solemnly celebrated on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

The commemoration comprised three key elements: a Thanksgiving Prayer for the Republic, the blessing of the Armenian flag, and the celebration of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s name day. Among the attendees were members of the faithful, Lebanon’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, the Central Council of the Catholicosate, and representatives of the Lebanese-Armenian community.

During the liturgy, His Holiness Aram I, together with the Cilician brotherhood, presided over the flag-blessing ceremony, offering prayers for peace and endurance for Armenia.

Reflecting on the Armenian flag, Catholicos Aram I said that it bears the prayers of saints, the blood of martyrs, and the struggles of heroes. He reaffirmed the Armenian Church’s vital role in upholding the nation’s sacred values, bridging divisions, and uniting the people around independence.