Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On July 10, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received pilgrims from the Armenian Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, Massachusetts, of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, accompanied by their parish pastor, the Rev. Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan.

The Supreme Patriarch of the Armenian Church conveyed his paternal love and blessing to the pilgrims, expressing his joy on the occasion of their visit to the homeland and to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness also emphasized the importance of the support extended by Armenians of the Diaspora to their sisters and brothers living in the homeland during this difficult period for Armenia.

In his remarks, His Holiness stressed that Armenians of the Diaspora always carry the love of their homeland in their hearts and closely follow developments in the country. At the same time, he noted that such pilgrimages provide them with an opportunity to reconnect directly with their people’s spiritual and national heritage, to venerate the sacred shrines of their homeland, to witness firsthand the country's present realities, and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the nation.

The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed confidence that the impressions the pilgrims had received in the homeland and their spiritual experiences would become a source of renewed inspiration, encouraging them, upon returning to their community, to serve the Armenian Church and the homeland with even greater dedication, to take an active part in the national and ecclesiastical life of their community, and to preserve their strong bond with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness responded to questions from those present concerning relations between the Church and the authorities, as well as the more effective fulfillment of the Church's mission in contemporary society.