PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
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February 19, 2007
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for France and India
On February 17, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, departed for Paris to participate in the official opening
ceremonies of the `Year of Armenian Friendship’ in France, as well as to
personally extend his pontifical blessings to the inaugural diocesan
assembly of a unified Armenian Diocese of France.
On February 22, His Holiness will depart from France for a working
Pontifical Visit to India. During the ten day trip, the Catholicos of All
Armenians will visit the cities of New Delhi, Calcutta (Kolkata), Madras
(Chennai) and Bombay (Mumbai). He will have meetings with state officials
of the Republic of India and members of the Armenian community. His
Holiness will also meet with the administration, instructors and students of
the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta and visit the
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in New Delhi.
Also included in the itinerary are visits to historic Armenian churches and
cemeteries, some of which are among the oldest Christian houses of worship
in the Far East.
Accompanying the Catholicos of All Armenians throughout the trip to India
are His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Australia and New Zealand; Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, member of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian from the Mother
See; and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian, Staff-bearer to His Holiness.