National Academy of Sciences Bestows 'Honorary Academician' Title To His Holiness Karekin II
30.04.2003
On April 30, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians participated in the Annual General Assembly of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. At the commencement of the meeting, President of the Academy, Fadey Sargisian, presented his opening remarks. Welcoming the presence of His Holiness in the Academy Hall, Mr. Sargisian announced that by the decision of the members of the General Assembly, the Pontiff of All Armenians is being granted the title of "Honorary Academician", and is henceforth recognized as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Mr. Sargisian presented the award to His Holiness, and expressed his congratulations. In His Holiness' greeting message to the Assembly, he stated in part, "We accept the honor which was bestowed on us today with a grateful spirit. We accept it as the highest form of recognition and acknowledgement by the National Academy of the benefits brought to Armenian science by the Church throughout her history. "We bring our fatherly appreciation from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to you, the tireless laborers, for your cheerful dedication and un-retreating progress. We ask that the grace-bestowing Holy Spirit fortify the expanses of your minds, and to illuminate the light of faith that lives within your souls", stated His Holiness. Accompanying His Holiness were His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian, Dean of the Theology Department of Yerevan State University; His Eminence Archbishop Grigoris Buniatian, Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of the Ukraine; and Very Rev. Fr. Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See.
