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03
10, 2008
President Serzh Sargsyan received today Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, archbishop class of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Today President Serzh Sargsyan received the Catholicos of All-Armenians, His Holiness Garegin II, the Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the lay members of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
Addressing the high audience, Serzh Sargsyan said, “I am happy to welcome you to the Presidential Palace only several days after the Myrrh blessing ceremony.” According to the President, that event presents most precisely the idea of our unity and collectivity, and the protective role of the Church for its people. “Myrrh is an armor,” the President of Armenia noted, “it is an armor against losing national identity, losing morals, against temptations which are abundant in the contemporary world.”
According to the President, through the hundreds of years, in the absence of statehood, the Church protected our people and led them into the 21st century. “As a state we have to return our debt to the Church so that it becomes even stronger and is able to lead our people even more decisively,” the President of Armenia said and added that the state is ready to constantly assist the Church.
The Catholicos of All-Armenians welcomed the unvarying attention of the state toward the Church. This attitude of the President of Armenia toward the Church and parishes during his trips abroad, in his words, is gratifying and encouraging. Stressing that the Church supports all the initiatives of the President, which are aimed at the advancement and development of our motherland, Garegin II said that they were noticeable and they endorse them.
The President of Armenia answered numerous questions raised by the high-ranking clergy. They stressed in particular the importance of establishing the Ministry of Diaspora which would provide the opportunity to reorganize and attend to the Diaspora issues more seriously.
Serzh Sargsyan provided also explanations regarding recent events, particularly on the Armenian-Georgian and Armenian-Turkish relations.
Addressing the high audience, Serzh Sargsyan said, “I am happy to welcome you to the Presidential Palace only several days after the Myrrh blessing ceremony.” According to the President, that event presents most precisely the idea of our unity and collectivity, and the protective role of the Church for its people. “Myrrh is an armor,” the President of Armenia noted, “it is an armor against losing national identity, losing morals, against temptations which are abundant in the contemporary world.”
According to the President, through the hundreds of years, in the absence of statehood, the Church protected our people and led them into the 21st century. “As a state we have to return our debt to the Church so that it becomes even stronger and is able to lead our people even more decisively,” the President of Armenia said and added that the state is ready to constantly assist the Church.
The Catholicos of All-Armenians welcomed the unvarying attention of the state toward the Church. This attitude of the President of Armenia toward the Church and parishes during his trips abroad, in his words, is gratifying and encouraging. Stressing that the Church supports all the initiatives of the President, which are aimed at the advancement and development of our motherland, Garegin II said that they were noticeable and they endorse them.
The President of Armenia answered numerous questions raised by the high-ranking clergy. They stressed in particular the importance of establishing the Ministry of Diaspora which would provide the opportunity to reorganize and attend to the Diaspora issues more seriously.
Serzh Sargsyan provided also explanations regarding recent events, particularly on the Armenian-Georgian and Armenian-Turkish relations.