His Holiness Karekin II Praying for Recovery of Wounded Seminarian
11.04.2002
On April 10, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was informed of the serious injury sustained by Armen Sinanian, 22, a seminarian from the St. James Monastery in Jerusalem, originally from Goris, Armenia. Sinanian was one of the seven Armenian clergy who continue to be confined inside the Church of the Holy Nativity in Bethlehem. They, along with nearly 50 other clergy from the Greek Orthodox and Latin Churches, have been restricted inside the Holy Site for more than 10 days. His Holiness is deeply concerned and praying for the safe recovery of the young seminarian.
According to the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Sinanian was shot in the back right shoulder. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear. Sinanian was rushed to Hadassah University Hospital, where he underwent surgery for the wound and internal bleeding. The most recent report from the Patriarchate is that the seminarian is out of surgery and is in stable condition, in intensive care.
His Holiness has been in constant contact with the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem during the past few weeks, and continues to receive several updates per day. Immediately upon learning of the injury, His Holiness directed the Chancellery of the Mother See to contact the family members of Armen Sinanian who live in Armenia. His Holiness has scheduled to meet with them as soon as possible.
His Holiness stated, ?The Catholicosate of All Armenians, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the worldwide Armenian Church, are praying for the health and safety of our Patriarch, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian; the Brotherhood of St. James in Jerusalem; and all of our Armenian faithful living in the Holy Land. We are also praying for the swift recuperation of Stole-bearer Armen Sinanian, a peaceful and quick resolution to the confrontation in Bethlehem, and a lasting reconciliation between the ancient peoples of Israel and Palestine.?
His Holiness Karekin II once again reiterates his call for peace and reconciliation to both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Less than one week ago, His Holiness sent letters to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat, calling for an end to the violence and the safeguarding of the Holy Shrines of Nativity in Bethlehem.
