His Holiness Karekin II Receives Congressman Joseph Crowley
On Sunday, August 10, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the Honorable Joseph Crowley, Member of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress. It is Mr. Crowley's first visit to Armenia, and to the worldwide headquarters of the Armenian Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Welcoming the congressman to the Mother See, the Pontiff of All Armenians introduced him to the rich history and spiritual legacy of centuries of Armenian Christianity. His Holiness expressed gratitude and appreciation to Representative Crowley for his many activities on behalf of Armenian issues, and commended him for his continued and noble service to the people of the United States of America.
The Catholicos of All Armenians further praised the congressman's efforts directed towards the protection and preservation of historical Armenian cultural and spiritual monuments, noting that in present-day Turkey and Azerbaijan, there are manifold examples of their destruction due to neglect, vandalism and willful barbarism.
Congressmen Crowley thanked His Holiness for the audience, and stated that this would not be his last trip to Armenia. The congressman is serving his third term in the U.S. Congress, representing the Seventh District of the State of New York. Mr. Crowley's Chief of Staff, Christopher McCannell, and Legislative Analyst, Sarig Armenian, accompanied him during his visit to Holy Etchmiadzin.
