CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians received on April 26 at the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and Mrs Alma
Adamkie. Welcoming the Lithuanian President’s visit to the spiritual
center of all Armenians, His Holiness presented him the history of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, its important mission in the Armenian
people’s life and the activity of the Armenian Apostolic Church in
the post-Soviet period. “We pray the God that in the case of our two
peoples, the Soviet years were not able to mutilate people’s spiritual
life, their sole and love towards the Christ. By the belief and hope
towards the Christ, our peoples’ sons were able to strengthen their
belief, resist ordeals and create independence of their countries,”
the Catholicos of All Armenians said, wishing that the God keeps strong
the two peoples’ and states’ mutual relations and even strengthen with
newest developments of those ties the two republics for the well-being
of the peoples’ peaceful, creative life. His Holiness thanked the
President of Lithuania for recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
touched upon with satisfaction the careful attitude as well that the
authorities of Lithuania show towards the Armenian community who lives
with the Christian brothers peacefully, with brotherly love, having all
the freedoms and possibilities to organize their spiritual, national
and cultural life. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information
Services of the Mother See, Valdas Adamkus, expressing his respect
towards the Armenian Church and the Armenian Catholicos, touched
upon the important role of the church in the affair of keeping and
strengthening spiritual and moral values in the society and especially
among the younger generation. “…When you observe your history,
you see with great respect what Christian fundamental values Your
church has given to its people,” the President of Lithuania mentioned.
The interchurch and interreligious relations were also touched upon
at the meeting as well as they spoke about efforts made by Christian
churches in the affair of establishing peace in the world, brotherhood
among peoples and love. At the end the President of the Republic of
Lithuania visited the Patriarchate museum, the Cathedral. RA Justice
Minister David Haroutiunian accompanied the President of Lithuania
and his wife.