Catholicos of All Armenians Received the Pilgrims from the Syrian Orthodox Church
23.05.2016
On May 22, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received nearly 50 pilgrims from the Syrian Orthodox Church, that had traveled to Armenia from Syria and Iraq. They were accompanied by His Emminence Archbishop Mor Athanasius Toma Dawod, Patriarchal Vicar of the United Kingdom.
Archbishop Mar Athanasius presented His Holiness the pilgrims and stated that they have travelled to Armenia to become acquainted with the rich culture and spiritual values of the first Christian nation.
His Holiness conveyed his Pontifical message to the pilgrims of the Sister Church, and particularly mentioned that the historical relations of the two traditional Churches reach to the depths of distant centuries. The Catholicos of All Armenians noted that throughout history, Christian nations have often been forced to compromise their own lives for their Christian faith and values, which is evidenced by the massacres in Ottoman Turkey, of which more than a million Armenians and hundreds of thousands of Syrians were killed. His Holiness stated that it is through a strong faith and belief in the Holy Resurrection of our Lord, that the two nations were able to contend with these calamities and challenges.
His Holiness, again conveyed his appreciation to the pilgrims and urged them to constantly continue to support the Christians of Syria and Iraq through their strong, firm and steadfast faith.
The Catholicos of All Armenians conveyed his warm greetings of fraternal love to His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; praying for all the clergymen of the Syriac Church.
During the meeting, they also reflected on the issues related to the establishment of peace in the region and the refugee crisis.
Archbishop Athanasius reflected on the critical situation in the Middle East, as a result of which the peaceful population of the region is facing a serious threat of extinction. Following the Lord’s Prayer, the meeting concluded with a final prayer.
The meeting was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See; and Very Rev. Fr. Shahe Ananyan, Director of Ecumenical Relations of the Mother See.
The pilgrims attended the Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral.
