PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 5, 2005
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CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II LEADING ARMENIAN CHURCH DELEGATION TO PAY FINAL
RESPECTS TO POPE
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, will lead a four-person delegation from the Armenian Church
to the Friday’s funeral of His Holiness Pope John Paul II at the
Vatican.
His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), are part of the delegation,
as is Rev. Fr. Geghard Vahuni, Staff-Bearer to the Catholicos. The
Primate left New York City for Rome on Tuesday, April 5, 2005.
“The Pope was a great spiritual leader, and not just because he led such
a large and strong church,” the Primate said. “He was a spiritual
leader because he was a man of deep devotion and a man who showed the
world what it meant to be a Christian leader.”
The Primate last spoke with the Pope in Rome on January 28, 2005, during
a meeting in the Vatican just three days before the pontiff went into
the hospital. The Primate said he feels fortunate to have had several
opportunities to get to know and learn from the Pope. A memorable
moment came during the Pope’s visit to Armenia in 2001. One day during
that trip the Pope asked to have his breakfast outside, so he could
watch Mt. Ararat.
“When asked why he wanted to sit and look at Mt. Ararat, he simply said
‘I have been dreaming of coming to Armenia, to come and kiss the soil of
this ancient Christian country, soil that contains the blood of so many
martyrs. And I am grateful to God that God gave me the opportunity to
come to this historic and living Christian country,'” the Primate
recounted.
“He saw the strength of our church, the ancient tradition it upholds,
along with the strength of our people, who have maintained our faith
throughout the world for so many generations.”
The Primate asks all Armenians to keep the Pope’s soul in their prayers,
remembering not only his spiritual leadership but also his political
work in the fight against communism.
“Words alone will never express the importance the Pope played not just
for Catholics and even Christians, but for everyone around the globe who
believes in the value of freedom,” the Primate said. “We offer our
prayers for his eternal rest because he was truly a man dedicated to the
word of the Lord, and dedicated to acting upon those teachings.”
— 4/5/05
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress