Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Delegation of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
05.10.2026
On October 5, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received a delegation from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, led by António Feijó, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Extending his Patriarchal blessing to those present, His Holiness highly commended the Foundation’s humanitarian mission and its valuable activities aimed at advancing education, science, and culture in various countries. The Armenian Pontiff particularly emphasized the importance of the Foundation’s initiatives to strengthen Armenia and Armenian communities throughout the Diaspora.
The Catholicos of All Armenians also noted with satisfaction the Foundation’s longstanding cooperation with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, recalling its support for the restoration of the Mother Cathedral as early as 1954, followed by its contribution to the construction of the monastic residence at the Mother See, as well as its support for the activities of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
The Armenian Pontiff then reflected on the recent extensive restoration and reconsecration of the Mother Cathedral, underscoring the vital mission of this most sacred shrine of the Armenian people in preserving national identity, ensuring the enduring the nation's vitality, and fostering national unity.
His Holiness extended his prayerful good wishes to the leadership and staff of the Foundation, expressing the hope that, with the same spirit and dedication, they would continue to carry forward the vision of the distinguished Armenian benefactor Calouste Gulbenkian for the education of future generations, the advancement of scholarly thought, and the preservation of culture.
