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Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
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June 27, 2006

His Holiness Karekin II Celebrates Pontifical Divine Liturgy in Istanbul

On Sunday, June 25, as the culmination of the first Pontifical Visit of the
Catholicos of All Armenians to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople,
His Holiness Karekin II celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the St.
Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Cathedral of Istanbul. In attendance for
the Divine Liturgy were Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, high-ranking archbishops and bishops of the
Armenian Church from Armenia and the Diaspora, among them the primates of
the dioceses of North America, Germany, Damascus, Romania and Bulgaria, the
Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, the Chancellor of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, representatives of sister Churches, Mr.
Karen Mirzoyan (Representative of the Republic of Armenia in Turkey), and
hundreds of Armenian faithful.

His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), and His Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian,
Diocesan Legate for the Eastern Diocese and President of the National
Council of Churches of America, assisted His Holiness at the Holy Altar
during the Liturgy.

During the sacred Divine Liturgy, His Holiness addressed his message to the
faithful, using as the theme of his sermon, the words of Christ: `Because I
live, you shall live also.’ (St. John 14:19). The Catholicos of All
Armenians first offered thanksgiving and glory to the Almighty, for granting
him the gift of visiting the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople in this
pontifical visit, and for the opportunity to offer the liturgy under the
cherished and prayer-filled arches of the historic cathedral with His
Beatitude Mesrob and his beloved faithful flock.

As he continued his message, the Pontiff of All Armenians stated, `Christ is
alive, as are all who believe in Him – the Savior of the world Who was
crucified for us, buried and rose again on the third day. Our people were
taught and raised in this manner. With this belief and by the vision of the
Illuminator, our people built Holy Etchmiadzin on our native soil, received
the letters of Mashtots as a heavenly gift, became firmly established in
their Christian identity, and when the time came, accepted `death with
meaning’ in the name of that faith, while living and creating with God at
their side.

`Truly, our people did not desire to live without God. The testimony of
this spiritual reality is presented in its most compelling manner through
the six-century history of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. The
names of the great patriarchs are immortal, who selflessly cared for the
people entrusted to them; and protected, raised and strengthened them with
the light of faith, transmitting the noble virtues of their graceful minds
and faithful souls to the generations. Immortalized also are the names of
those in the arts, education and science, as well as their works and
contributions. Treasures created with faith, which draw a wide path of
illumination upon the pages of our history, shaped a path of creation and
progress. With the power of faith, the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople continues to carry the lamp of illumination…

`Being with you during these past few days, we once again had the experience
that our people always keep and protect the sacred mystery of a renewing
life in their deepest inner spaces. Not even the Armenian Genocide was able
to extinguish that light, when it appeared that life itself would end within
the borders of the Patriarchate. In the trials of our people, the spirit
alive with faith found the strength to be reborn and live yet again, to do
good works, create goodness and aspire towards goodness. The greatest
inheritance we received from our forefathers was faith in God, in our Lord
Jesus Christ. You, dear ones, and your parents kept and nurtured the faith
in your souls, transforming it into love for one another, laboring for each
other and for the glory of our Apostolic Holy Church.

`…Glory to you O Lord, that you directed our footsteps here from the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and we became the witness to the blossoming
national and ecclesiastical life, and faithful and traditional spirit of our
people. We came from our cherished cradle of faith, so that together,
Pontiff and people, through the commemorations, exhortations and traditions
of our holy fathers, could testify with our unified prayer under the halls
of this holy church – that our Armenian nation is steadfast and unshakeable
in its oath sealed with God. It is loyal to the holy legacy of its
forebears and with its oath of unity with Holy Etchmiadzin.’

The Catholicos of All Armenians continued by exhorting the Armenians of
Istanbul to continue to create and flourish with the same dedication and
love, keeping all of their national institutions strong and vibrant. His
Holiness addressed words of thanks to His Beatitude Mesrob and the members
of the Religious Council of the Patriarchate for the warm reception which
had been prepared during these days of his first pontifical visit to
Istanbul.

His Holiness also extended his appreciation to the ranks of clergy of the
Armenian Patriarchate, to all administrative lay council members and
committees, the devoted choir members of the churches, national
organizations and associations, charitable institutions, teachers, artists,
and representatives of the Armenian press, for their fidelity to national
values and their brave and selfless devotion.

At the conclusion of his fatherly message to the Armenians of Istanbul, His
Holiness bestowed His Beatitude Mesrob with two panagias and a pectoral
cross from Holy Etchmiadzin as a symbol of the Pontiff’s appreciation for
the years of service and dedication of the Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople.

Following the Liturgy, a reception was hosted in the hall of the
Patriarchate in honor of His Holiness. During his remarks, the Pontiff of
All Armenians expressed his thanks and appreciation to the chairman and all
members of the Pontifical Visit committee of the Patriarchate for their
efforts in successfully planning and implementing a well-organized and most
enjoyable visit.