Ecumenical Delegation from France Visits the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On Wednesday, April 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received an ecumenical delegation from France, consisting of nearly 80 Roman Catholic and Evangelical Protestant Christians. It has become a tradition of their group, the France-Armenia Protestant Solidarity Organization, to visit the Mother See every year.
The guests were welcomed into the Reception Hall of the Residence of the Catholicos, where they were granted an audience with His Holiness the Catholicos. Greeting the delegation, His Holiness spoke of the necessity for strong fraternal Christian ties, as well as the importance of inter-church relations and ecumenism.
In the course of the meeting His Holiness informed the guests of the present-day state of affairs and the continuing mission of our ancient Church. He answered a variety of questions on a wide range of topics including post-Soviet rejuvenation, implementation of social programs, youth activities and Christian education, and relations between the Armenian Church and other Christian denominations.
His Holiness, reflecting upon the timing of the visit of the delegation, noted that the Armenian Church and People are currently living their happiest and saddest days, noting that the joy of Easter Sunday has just passed, and the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide would be occurring the next day. Reflecting on the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Republic of France, the Pontiff of All Armenians stated, "We are hopeful that the international community, following the example of France, will recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, so that humanity will be free of similar tragedies in the future."
