Pontiff of All Armenians Receives New Ambassador of Finland
02.02.2017
On 01 February 2017, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Mrs. Arja Inkeri Makkonen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to the Republic of Armenia (Residence in Helsinki) in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
His Holiness expressed gratitude for the Diplomatic relations between the two countries and the development of cooperation in various fields, stressing that a further expression of those friendly relations is the fraternal ties between the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and Churches of Finland.
With gratitude, His Holiness recalled the the participation in 2015 of the Finland Orthodox and Lutheran Churches Delegations during the services commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
During the meeting His Holiness also mentioned his visit to Finland in 2004, where he met with the Primates of Churches and representatives of small Armenian communities.
Ambassador Makkonen stated that it was a great honor for to be in the Mother See and meet the Armenian Pontiff. She expressed confidence that she will everything possible to strengthen the friendly ties and make Armenia and Finland more known to each other.
During the meeting, His Holiness answered the Ambassador’s questions, which related to the mission of the Armenian Church, social and educational activities, as well as modern challenges facing the Armenian people and the needs to overcome them.
At the conclusion, the Catholicos of All Armenians wished the Ambassador success in her diplomatic mission.
The meeting was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See and Very Rev. Fr. Shahe Ananyan, Director of the Ecumenical Relations Department of Mother See.
