His Holiness Karekin II Blesses Foundation for New Church in Artashat
29.10.2002
On October 29, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by members of the clergy, departed for Artashat to conduct the Blessing of the Foundation service for a new church under construction in the city. Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic of Armenia attended and participated in the service.
His Holiness was greeted upon entering Artashat by the faithful with the traditional greeting of salt and bread. Present were His Grace Bishop Navasard Ktchoyan, Vicar of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, with clergy of the diocese; Republic of Armenia Minister for Regional Government Hovik Abrahamian; Governor of the Region of Ararat; the Mayor of Artashat; and high officials of the government.
This first church of the city of Artashat, which will bear the name of St. John the Apostle, is being built through the efforts and sponsorship of Minister Hovik Abrahamian. Its architectural plan is cruciform, with one dome and a bell tower, and can accommodate approximately 500 faithful worshippers. The construction of the church should be completed in two-years time.
His Holiness personally consecrated the 16 ?Vem-Kars? or foundation stones of the church, which were deposited in the foundation of the new structure. Each stone was named after one of the 12 apostles, St. Gregory the Illuminator, St. John the Baptist, and Gospel writers St. Mark and St. Luke. The stone bearing the name of St. Thaddeus was placed by President of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharian.
His Holiness congratulated the citizens of Artashat and gave his blessing to the thousands assembled on this day. He expressed his words of appreciation to Benefactor Hovik Abrahamian, regional and local government officials, and the residents of Artashat.
At the conclusion of the consecration service, the residents of Artashat enjoyed a festival of music, dance, poetry and commemorative speeches.
