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Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
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March 11, 2007

The Armenian Pontiff Visits Armenian Church of Bombay

St. Peter Armenian Church, built in Mumbai (Bombay), India in 1796,
currently serves as a house of worship to not only the few remaining
Armenians in the city, but also to the faithful of the Indian Malankara
Syrian Orthodox Church, who use it regularly for their church services as
guests of the Armenian Church.

As his pontifical visit to India was nearing its conclusion, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited the
Armenian Church named after St. Peter the Apostle on the morning of
Saturday, March 3.  His Eminence Geevargehse Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan of
Bombay of the Malankara Orthodox Church, and a delegation of Malankara
priests welcomed the arrival of His Holiness and the pontifical delegation
at the entrance to the church.  A procession of Armenian and Indian priests,
Indian Orthodox faithful and the last three Armenians in Bombay greeted the
entrance of His Holiness with the singing of hymns and the chanting of
psalms.

Once inside, a `Hrashapar’ service was offered by the Armenian priests,
following which His Holiness addressed his message of blessing to the
gathered faithful.  His Holiness offered praise and thanks to Almighty God
for allowing him to visit the distant shores of India during the past ten
days, and to personally witness the Armenian communities of the Far East and
their legacy built throughout the previous centuries.

His Eminence Metropolitan Mar Coorilos welcomed the Pontiff of All Armenians
to Bombay and extended the fraternal greetings and love of His Holiness
Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East and Malankara
Metropolitan.

The Catholicos of All Armenians presented His Eminence with an episcopal
panagia from Holy Etchmiadzin and commended the service of the Indian
Orthodox priests to the flock entrusted to their care.  His Holiness also
exhorted the gathered Indian faithful to remain steadfast in their Christian
faith and devoted to their holy apostolic church founded by St. Thomas the
Apostle.

His Holiness was accompanied to Bombay by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand and
Pontifical Legate to the Far East; Rev. Fr. Vardan Navasardian, member of
the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian from the Mother
See and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian as Staff-bearer.