ISTANBUL (Lraper Church Bulletin, 5 April 2005) –

The Chancellery of the Armenian Patriarchate announced
this afternoon that His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey, will leave Istanbul
for Rome, on Thursday, accompanied by one of the confreres
of the Patriarchal See, the Very Revd. Fr. Tatoul Anoushian,
as his staff-bearer. On Friday, 8 April 2005, at 10:00
hours, Patriarch Mesrob will be attending the funeral
Mass for His Holiness Pope John Paul II of blessed memory,
to be celebrated in St. Peter’s Square by His Eminence
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

Patriarch Mesrob will be travelling to Rome with His
Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, in the
latter’s private plane.

Patriarch Mesrob will also have a chance to meet with
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians
(Etchmiadzin), and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
the Great House of Cilicia (Antelias), who will also
be in Rome with their respective entourages attending
the funeral of the Roman Pontiff.

The Patriarch is expected to be back in his See late
Friday night.

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LRAPER Church Bulletin 05/04/2005
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan
Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan,
Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (533) 942-7019
E-mail: lraper@lraper.org