LAMBETH PALACE: ARCHBISHOP TO VISIT ARMENIA, SYRIA AND LEBANON

Episcopal News Service, NY
September 18, 2007

[Episcopal News Service] Following on from his visit to the United
States, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will visit Armenia,
Syria and Lebanon September 22-29.

Williams’ visit to Armenia is a result of an outstanding invitation
from the Catholicos, His Holiness Karekin II, who heads the Armenian
Apostolic Church. Williams, who has a long-standing interest in the
spirituality and history of the Eastern Churches, hosted the Catholicos
at Lambeth Palace and Canterbury in 2004.

The visit is part of the Archbishop’s program of ecumenical encounter
and dialogue with sister churches worldwide, learning more about
their life and witness.

The visit will focus on shared worship and liturgy, and visits to
a range of significant religious and national sites, to a prison
for women and children to meet inmates and chaplains, as well as
discussions with the Armenian government. During the visit, Williams
will lay a wreath and plant a tree at the Genocide Memorial.

The Archbishop will co-host, with British Ambassador Anthony Cantor,
the Queen’s Birthday Party at the Armenian Church’s Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin.

Williams’ visit to Syria and Lebanon will be shorter and forms part
of his continuing personal engagement with Christian churches in the
Middle East, and with leaders of other faiths in the region. The visit
takes place at the invitation of the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem,
Suheil Dawani — whose diocese covers these countries — and is being
arranged in collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches.

In Syria, as well as meetings with Christian leaders and the local
Anglican community, Williams will meet with the Grand Mufti of Syria
and the country’s President, Dr. Bashar Al Asad. The program for his
visit to Lebanon will be released nearer the time.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress