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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
E-Mail:  ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
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June 14, 2007

Order of Saint Sahak – Saint Mesrop Granted to Radik Martirosian and
Vladimir Barkhudarian

On June 8, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, granted the Order of Saint Sahak – Saint Mesrop to two lay
members of the Supreme Spiritual Council in recognition for their
achievements in the field of academia, their support of the mission of the
Church and their many contributions to the nation.

Dr. Radik Martirosian, President of the National Academy of Sciences, and
Mr. Vladimir Barkhudarian, Vice President of the National Academy of
Sciences, were awarded with the medal named after Catholicos Saint Sahak
Parthev and Saint Mesrop Mashtots.

The awards ceremony took place in the Pontifical Residence of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided by His Holiness Karekin and in the presence of
high-ranking clergymen, and families, friends and associates of the
honorees.

During the evening’s program, fellow academicians of the honorees addressed
the gathering, and the Pontifical Encyclicals granting the medals were read.

Both Martirosian and Barkhudarian expressed their words of gratitude to His
Holiness for bestowing them with this high honor, following which the
Pontiff of All Armenians addressed his message of blessing to the attendees
and congratulations to the two honorees.

The program concluded with a selection of classical pieces of European and
Armenian music.