Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On June 1, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, conducted a blessing service and dedicated a plaque for a forthcoming dental clinic on the historic grounds of the Mother See. The dental clinic will serve all of the residents of the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), and will be housed in the historic hospital building, after its' renovation. The hospital building, originally constructed in 1902 during the reign of Catholicos of All Armenians Mkrtich I (Khrimian Hayrik) of blessed memory, was built to care for the students of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.

Participating in the dedication ceremony was Senator Jean-Noel Guerini of France, President of the General Council of Bouches du Rhone region, who had traveled to Armenia specifically for this event. Present also were Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Andranik Margarian; Ambassador of the Republic of France to Armenia, Henri Cuny; Governor of the Region of Shirak, Felix Piroumian; Mayor of Etchmiadzin, Hratchik Abgarian; members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and French-Armenian guests from Marseilles.

The dental clinic and center will be built through the blessing of the Pontiff of All Armenians, the sponsorship of Senator Guйrini, and the efforts of the "Bardzunk 5165" French-Armenian charitable organization.

During the dedication, His Holiness expressed his gratitude to Senator Guйrini and to the French-Armenian community living in the Marseilles region, for their unique initiative, which is a testimony to the friendship and brotherhood existing between the French and Armenian people. In his remarks, the Catholicos stated, "Today our soul is experiencing an extraordinary consolation, because through your sponsorship and assistance, a historic institution will once again open its doors to our people. This building, originally founded more than 100 years ago by the father of the Armenians, Khrimian Hayrik, will soon yet again be used by all of the residents of this city."

Following the blessing service, the Catholicos and the guests returned to the Residence of the Catholicos (Veharan) for a reception. Through a Pontifical Encyclical, His Holiness granted the highest honor of the Armenian Church to Senator Guйrini, and decorated him with the Medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator, as a symbol of the gratitude of the Armenian Church for the Senator's caring and manifold efforts for the Armenian people.

Senator Guйrini thanked His Holiness for the high honor, and in his remarks stressed the important and vital role of the Armenian Church in the lives of the Armenian people, not only in Armenia, but especially in the Diaspora. The senator promised to redouble his efforts to further strengthen French-Armenian relations, and stated his anticipation to return for the opening of the clinic.