Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On March 30, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Mrs. Lynne Tracy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia. His Holiness expressed his appreciation to the US authorities for their humanitarian aid to Armenia and the people of Artsakh through the Embassy; in the conditions of the pandemic, and in particular, during the difficult war and post-war period. Reflecting on the military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh, and the post-war consequences; His Holiness expressed confidence that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will continue their contribution to the establishment of stability in the region and a peaceful and righteous settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During the conversation, a reference was made to the programs implemented by the Armenian Church and their impacts during the pandemic. They spoke about the support provided by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Dioceses during the war, as well as, about the spiritual care of the servicemen and the families displaced from Artsakh. His Holiness provided information on the ongoing social assistance programs, pastoral care of the families of the dead and missing soldiers. The Pontiff of All Armenians and the US Ambassador to RA, particularly touched upon the issue of measures taken by the Armenian Church to release the captives and find the missing. The issues related to the preservation of the spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh in the occupied territories; the documented incidents of desecration and destruction of sanctuaries; were discussed in detail.