Agreements Signed in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for Dental Clinic
On November 16, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Senator Jean-Noлl Guйrini of France, President of the General Council of the Region of Bouches du Rhфne, and his delegation.
Senator Guйrini had returned to Armenia once again to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor of the City of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). The memorandum contains the parameters for the foundation, under which the dental clinic in the city of Vagharshapat will operate and be financed. The dental clinic, which will serve all the residents of the city, will be built due to the generous sponsorship of Senator Jean-Noлl Guйrini. His Holiness Karekin II offered the blessing service of the dental clinic and dedicated a plaque upon the commencement of the reconstruction work on the historic building in June of this year. His Holiness welcomed the guests to Holy Etchmiadzin, and spoke of the great cooperation between the Mother See, the city of Vagharshapat, and the Region of Bouches du Rhфne in France. The Catholicos further assessed the developing relations as eloquent testimony to French-Armenian friendship.
During the meeting, Senator Guйrini and Hratchik Abgarian, Mayor of Vagharshapat, signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the Pontifical Residence, as His Holiness the Catholicos observed.
Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, His Grace Bishop Paren Avedikian, Director of Administrative and Organizational Affairs for the Mother See, and Mr. Claude Arounian, representative of the "Altitude 5165" charitable organization from Marseilles, signed a Memorandum of Agreement in the Pontifical Residence.
Through the Memorandum of Agreement, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin grants the dental clinic and its grounds to the "Altitude 5165" charitable organization. The dental clinic will be housed in a building that previously operated as a hospital, and was originally constructed in 1902 during the Pontificate of Catholicos of All Armenians Mkrtich I Khrimian.
At the conclusion of the signing ceremonies, His Holiness closed with his remarks, and gave his blessing to all present, noting, "We pray to God, asking that He protect and maintain the friendship and brotherhood between our two nations and to further strengthen this spirit of cooperation. Although our people in Armenia will be benefiting from the philanthropy of those in France, we once again confirm that through philanthropy, the one who gives is strengthened and benefits by the love extended towards someone else in need." After the exchange of the signed Memorandums, the guests participated in the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
