Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Pilgrims from the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
08.10.2026
On October 8, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin pilgrims from St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Pasadena, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, led by their parish priest, Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan.
His Holiness extended his paternal blessing to the pilgrims and thanked Fr. Sarkis for his continued efforts to uphold the cherished tradition of organizing pilgrimages to the Homeland.
In this regard, the Supreme Patriarch emphasized the significance of such pilgrimages to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which provide Armenians from the Diaspora with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of life in the Homeland and the challenges it faces, draw spiritual inspiration from its sacred sites, and, renewed in faith and patriotic spirit, further strengthen their community life and make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of the Homeland and the Armenian people.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians also answered questions from the pilgrims concerning the educational programs of the Armenian Church, the training of clergy, and the ongoing activities of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
