VISIT PAID TO INDIA BY KAREKIN II CONTINUES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Feb 27 2007

DELHI, FEBRUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians arrived in India
on February 23.

Ashot Kocharian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to India and
employees of the Embassy of Armenia met His Holiness Patriarch and his
retinue in the VIP hall of the Indira Gandhi international airport in
New Delhi. The delegation headed by the Patriarch of All Armenians,
accompanied by the RA Ambassador visited on February 24 the memorial
complex to Mahatma Gandhi, national hero of India and leader of the
independent movement of India in New Delhi. The complex director met
His Holiness at the entrance of the complex and accompanied him to
Gandhi’s gravestone in the center of the park. His Holiness laid a
wreath to Mahatma Gandhi’s grave and prayed for peace in the world
and brotherhood of nations. The Patriarch also left a writing in the
memory book of the complex. On the same day the Patriarchal delegation
visited the Akshardham complex which is a monument of Indian belief
and a cathedral. Indian priests headed by Sadhu Atmasvarupadas met
His Holiness. When going round the complex, His Holiness was presented
the history, culture and national traditions of India. In the midday
Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians visited the National Museum of
India as well. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness left for the city
of Agra, India on February 25, where the second Armenian church in
India, Surb Martiros, was built in 1562. The church is not standing
at present but a number of Armenian gravestones were kept in the Agra
graveyard. The delegation also visited Taj Mahal and Agra castle when
visiting Agra.