Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 17, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received representatives of the Vatican and the World Council of Churches (WCC), accompanied by the director of the Inter-Church Relations’ Department, Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Garegin Hambardzumyan.

At the beginning of the meeting, Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Garegin Hambardzumyan presented to His Holiness that the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, to be held by the Vatican and the  World Council of Churches on January 18-25, 2026, will be dedicated to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, during which Christians from all over the world will pray for Christian unity and solidarity, as well as for Armenia and the expatriated Artsakh Armenians. Archimandrite Garegin conveyed information about the progress of preparations for the week of prayer by the Vatican and the WCC international and local organizing commissions of the Mother See.

His Holiness, conveying his blessing to the members of the committee, highlighted the importance of the prayer support of the Christian Churches and structures to the Armenian Church, especially for the Armenian people and Armenia in these difficult and hard days.

The Armenian Patriarch noted that Armenians, inspired by faith and relying on the power of prayer, have always been able to face all trials and challenges. On this occasion, His Holiness noted the initiative of the week of prayer for the unity of Christians important and expressed the hope that with the heavenly graces requested through prayer, faith, hope and love will be strengthened not only in the lives of our people, but also in the lives of all mankind who are in difficulties and trials.

At the meeting, the members of the commission emphasized that their visit to Armenia became a unique pilgrimage, during which they had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Armenian Christian historical sanctuaries, the history of the Armenian people, as well as the current situation in the country and the difficult life of Artsakh Armenians.

At the end, the representatives of the Vatican and the  World Council of Churches expressed their gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for the hospitality at the Mother See and, according to everything, for the support to the committee's work.