TREASURES OF MOTHER SEE HOLY ETCHMIADZIN INACCESSIBLE TO ORDINARY CITIZENS OF ARMENIA

Yerevan, July 3. ArmInfo. Treasury of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is
factually inaccessible to ordinary citizens of Armenia although it is
open for foreign tourists. "Whoever you are, even the president, it is
me who can allow you to the Treasury or not," the treasury custodian,
who introduced himself as deacon Noy, told ArmInfo’s correspondent. He
explained that the issue is not regulated, and to see the treasury,
one can just hope for a special attitude by him or by Museum Curator
Paren or at least by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.

ArmInfo’s correspondent failed to contact His Holliness Karekin II.

The Chancellery of the Mother See explained that deacon Noy could
allow them to the museum, hereby confirming that there are no relevant
regulations.

To note, at many world confessional and historical centers (Vatican,
Kremlin, etc..) visits to museum-treasuries are strictly regulated
by international museum standards. It is very difficult to imagine
that an average novice could chose who to allow to the museum the
rich or the poor, natives or foreigners.