Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan Attends International Religious Freedom Summit and Prayer Breakfast in Washington
10.02.2025
On February 4-5, the 5th annual International Religious Freedom Summit was held in Washington, followed by the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6.
By the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Armenian Apostolic Church was represented at these gatherings by Reverend Father Garegin Hambardzumyan, Director of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Armenian Apostolic Church Inter-Church Relations Department.
President of the United States Donald Trump addressed the participants with a welcome message. Political and religious figures, representatives of civil society, and experts delivered speeches during the event.
The International Religious Freedom Summit brought together U.S. congressmen, senior officials from various countries, spiritual leaders, and human rights advocates to discuss challenges to religious freedom and human rights, as well as strategies for addressing them.
During the summit, U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance delivered an address reaffirming the United States’ commitment to protecting the rights of religious communities. Archbishop Vigen Aykazian of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church also participated in the summit’s sessions.
As part of the summit, Father Garegin attended a session at the U.S. Congress, where he highlighted the spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh, the rights of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh, and the urgent need for the release of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.
Father Garegin presented detailed reports prepared in collaboration with the Armenian Bar Association of America in separate meetings with U.S. Congressmen. These reports documented Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights violations and the destruction of cultural heritage and were officially submitted to U.S. legislators to raise awareness and encourage decisive action.
