His Holiness Karekin II Receives Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity
On June 24, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received an international delegation from Habitat for Humanity in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Leading the delegation was Mr. Millard Fuller, the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International. They were accompanied by His Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate to Washington D.C. for the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
His Holiness welcomed the guests from the United States, Europe and Armenia to the Mother See of the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church, and noted with appreciation the God-pleasing work of their organization. His Holiness mentioned that he has closely followed their manifold efforts of providing "a roof and a hearth to all those who are homeless". The Catholicos of All Armenians blessed their mission, and stated that the Armenian Church is ready to assist them in realizing their goal of providing permanent shelter to families in Armenia and Artsakh.
Mr. Fuller fondly recalled meeting His Holiness Vasken I of blessed memory many years ago in Etchmiadzin, and mentioned that he has long anticipated this return trip to the first Christian nation in the world. Mr. Fuller presented the activities of Habitat for Humanity in both the United States, as well as throughout the world, most notably in Eastern European countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Armenian branch of Habitat for Humanity has already completed fifty homes and is preparing to expand their activities in the near future. The organization was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller in the U.S. State of Georgia.
