Catholicos Of All Armenians Karekin II said Thursday, January 28 that the nation is marking Army Day "with the pain of the tragic consequences of the war in our souls."

The Catholicos said the Armenian soldiers have heroically defended the homeland and their people for many centuries now. He also stressed the role of the national minorities in the fight for Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

"In the war for defense of Artsakh, the brave commanders and soldiers of the Armenian Army, including the brave children of national minorities, fought heroically for the homeland with the same courageous spirit, many sacrificed their lives for the love of the homeland and the nation," Karekin II said.

The Catholicos also expressed confidence that Armenians worldwide will achieve more success and bigger achievements in the spirit of past victories, to restore life in Artsakh and Armenia.