Catholicos of All Armenians received the Newly Appointed Director of the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy
06.10.2017
On October 5, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received the delegation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia. They were led by Dr. Abbas Khameyar, Deputy Director of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, a division of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance charged with leading cultural outreach outside of Iran.
Dr. Khameyar presented to His Holiness Mr. Mohammad Reza Heydari Kheyed, newly appointed Director of the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia. During the meeting, His Holiness bid farewell to outgoing Director, Mr. Majid Meshkin; who expressed his gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for the attention, effective cooperation and warm ties with the Mother See during his tenure.
His Holiness reflected with satisfaction on the close cooperation between the two countries in various fields. His Holiness particularly spoke about the close cooperation between the Cultural Center and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and jointly held events, conveying his appreciation to Mr. Meshkin and expressing his hope that the cooperation with the Cultural Center will continue.
During the meeting, they highlighted the promotion of dialogue between cultures and religions, which contributes to peoples' mutual recognition and solidarity, formation of an atmosphere of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The two sides affirmed that religions have a peaceful mission, condemning the denunciation of religion by radical forces, and violence and terrorism in the world that are under religious confessions.
In this regard, His Holiness emphasized the readiness of the Mother See to continue to support religious dialogue and take an active part in the process.
Dr. Khameyar noted the presence of Armenian communities in Iran. His Holiness expressed his gratitude to the Iranian authorities for the caring attitude displayed towards Armenian communities and their spiritual-cultural values.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians wished the newly appointed director a successful activity in Armenia.
The meeting was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See.
