His Holiness Karekin II Departs for France
09.09.2005
On September 10, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will depart for Lyon, France, to participate in the annual "International Meeting of Prayer for Peace" from September 11 to 13, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Community of Saint Egidio of the Diocese of Milan, Italy. His Holiness has been invited to the conference and will be the guest of His Eminence Philippe Cardinal Barbarin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lyon.
On September 11, the meeting will be officially opened by the celebration of a Catholic Mass, during which the Catholicos of All Armenians will deliver his sermon to the ecumenical and inter-faith participants. On September 13, His Holiness will preside during the closing ecumenical prayer service.
Participating in the international meeting dedicated to peace will be heads of Churches, high-ranking Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant clergymen, as well as representatives of international ecumenical organizations and delegates from different faiths and religions. Also present will be high-ranking political and civic leaders from France and other countries.
His Holiness will be met at the airport in Lyon by a delegation led by Cardinal Barbarin, as well as members of the local Armenian community led by His Grace Bishop Norvan Zakarian, Vicar of the Pontifical Legate to Western Europe.
His Holiness will be accompanied by Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian as Staff-bearer.
