The service was attended by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, the Chief of General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov, NKR Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobyan, Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church, clergymen of the Holy Echmiadzin, the senior officer staff of the Ministry of Defense, representatives of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, conscripts and cadets. At the end of the service, an official reception was held at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary Hall, during which the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians gave his blessings and best wishes to all the attendants. It was noted that the framework of traditional liturgical worship allows us to communicate with our brothers in the military and pray for soldiers who risk their lives to protect our country’s borders. His Holiness wished success to the Armenian Armed Forces and prayed for the victory of our people. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia also stressed that the army insures our bright future. For many centuries the Armenian Church and the army have acted in unison; therein lays the strength of our nation. In his speech, RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan expressed his gratitude to the clergymen for their permanent support to the army. The Minister of Defense noted that our modern heroes are the soldiers and commanders who faithfully defend our country’s borders at the cost of their lives. Subsequently, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians awarded Major-Generals Kamo Kochunts, Andranik Makaryan, Ishkhan Matevosyan, Armen Ghahramanyan and Colonel Gevorg Melqonyan with “St. Nerses the Graceful” medal for their faithful services rendered to the motherland. On the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Armenian Army, Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan, Primate of the Diocese of Tavush, Archbishop Arakel Karamyan, Primate of the Kotayk Diocese, Gegharkunik Diocese Bishop Markos Hovhannisyan, Bishop Ezra Nersesyan, Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Bishop Michael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Diocese of Shirak awarded Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan with “Andranik Ozanyan” medal for his significant contribution in the spiritual education of soldiers.