PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
September 9, 2005

His Holiness Karekin II Departs for France

On September 10, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians will depart for Lyon, France, to participate in the annual
“International Meeting of Prayer for Peace” from September 11 to 13,
sponsored by the Roman Catholic Community of Saint Egidio of the Diocese of
Milan, Italy. His Holiness has been invited to the conference and will be
the guest of His Eminence Philippe Cardinal Barbarin, Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Lyon.

On September 11, the meeting will be officially opened by the celebration of
a Catholic Mass, during which the Catholicos of All Armenians will deliver
his sermon to the ecumenical and inter-faith participants. On September 13,
His Holiness will preside during the closing ecumenical prayer service.

Participating in the international meeting dedicated to peace will be heads
of Churches, high-ranking Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant
clergymen, as well as representatives of international ecumenical
organizations and delegates from different faiths and religions. Also
present will be high-ranking political and civic leaders from France and
other countries.

His Holiness will be met at the airport in Lyon by a delegation led by
Cardinal Barbarin, as well as members of the local Armenian community led by
His Grace Bishop Norvan Zakarian, Vicar of the Pontifical Legate to Western
Europe.

His Holiness will be accompanied by Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian as Staff-bearer.

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