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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
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June 28, 2006

His Holiness Karekin II Completes Pontifical Visit to Istanbul

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
having completed his first Pontifical Visit to Istanbul, returned to the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the early morning hours of June 28. The
seven-day visit included a two day fraternal visit to the Ecumenical
Patriarch, followed by five days with the Armenian community of Istanbul and
the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Although His Holiness’ flight arrived in Yerevan in the middle of the night,
waiting for him in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin at 4:00 AM, were
hundreds of faithful who had come to welcome him home. His Holiness’
procession was escorted into the Mother Cathedral under the singing of the
`Hrashapar’ hymn. Standing before the Holy Altar of Descent, the Catholicos
of All Armenians offered prayers of thanks to heaven and thereafter conveyed
the unforgettable and warm impressions from his pontifical visit to all
those present. His Holiness Karekin II joyfully reflected on the
enthusiastic reception he received from the Armenian community of Istanbul,
as expression of their love and devotion to the Holy Armenian Apostolic
Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness stated, `Glory and thanksgiving to God. We return from our
pontifical visit to our sons and daughters in Constantinople with a content
heart. Our soul was filled with joy to personally see and meet our faithful
children, their enthusiastic devoted faith, and their patriotic spirit. We
communed with 600 years of history and treasures of the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople.’

The Pontiff of All Armenians stated with contentment that the Armenian
community of Istanbul, a community that lives, breathes and speaks Armenian,
is active today with a vibrant national life. The community has 39
churches, 17 Armenian schools and many institutions, the largest of which is
the Holy All-Savior National Hospital. His Holiness also fondly recalled
his meetings with Armenian intellectuals and youth of Istanbul.

As the visit of His Holiness was widely covered by the Armenian and Turkish
press and media in Turkey, His Holiness spoke of the press conference
convened in Istanbul on Sunday, June 25, following the Pontifical Divine
Liturgy, during which the Armenian Genocide was discussed. (The full text
of the press conference will be available tomorrow on the website of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, ). In reply to the
concerns about the prospect that His Holiness’ statements on the Armenian
Genocide could negatively affect the attitude of the Turkish authorities
towards the Armenians of Turkey, the Catholicos stated, `We do not believe
that our thoughts and words can affect the attitude of the authorities
towards our Armenians in Istanbul, because we never expressed hatred or
enmity, we simply stated the reality and the truth. Taking into account the
process of democratization, which the Turkish authorities desire to achieve
in their country, we also do not believe that extremist nationalistic forces
will succeed in sowing hatred and enmity toward the Armenians or other
minorities living in Turkey.’

His Holiness continued, stating that as many countries have recognized the
Genocide of the Armenians, so too must Turkey recognize the Genocide, for
which there exists no need for deliberations.

Regarding the protests that had been organized in Istanbul during his visit,
noting that the Turkish authorities characterized them as the `actions of
extremist groups’, His Holiness emphasized that in no way did they diminish
his impressions from the trip. Due to the unprecedented security measures
which were implemented, they did not obstruct the activities of the
Pontifical Visit and generally remained unnoticed by the delegation.

Just before daybreak in Holy Etchmiadzin, as His Holiness concluded his
remarks, he once again expressed his appreciation to the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople and the faithful people of Istanbul for the warm
reception, and offered his prayers for the stability and vibrancy of the
Armenian Patriarchate. The Pontiff of All Armenians also warmly expressed
his thanks to all those present who had waited all night long to greet him
upon his return to Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian