BENEDICT XVI BLESSES PERSONNEL OF ARMENIAN SAILING VESSEL “CILICIA”

YEREVA, JUNE 22. ARMINFO. June 21 Armenian Ambassador to Italy Ruben
Shugaryan sent the message of Roman Pope Benedict XVI to the personnel
of the middle age Armenian sailing vessel “Cilicia.” In his message,
Benedict XVI, in particular, blesses the personnel of “Cilicia”
praying the Virgin for new and new displays of heavenly assistance and
patronage.

A member of the personnel Armen Nazaryan informs ARMINFO that on the
invitation of Roman Pope Benedict XVI, Cilicia Captain Karen Balayan
and chronicler and sailor Zoriy Balayan participated in a mass held by
the Pontiff at the St.Peter Square in Vatican.

On May 9 2005 from the Armenian island of St.Lazar in Italy the second
stage of Cilicia expedition started. Within a 1.5 month, “Cilicia”
passed the Adriatic, Ionic and Tirrean Seas of the Mediterranean.
Reaching the northern port Genua, the expedition hereby fully outran
the Apeninian Peninsula visiting all the important sea ports of Italy,
visited by diplomats and merchants of the Armenian Cilician State. At
the beginning of both stages, the personnel was received and blessed
by His Holiness Karekin II. The tour of Armenian sailors was covered
by Italian mass media, including television.