ANGLICAN CHURCH HEAD VISITS ARMENIA
By Emil Danielyan and Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 25 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide
communion of Anglican Churches, ended on Tuesday a four-day visit
to Armenia which he said will strengthen their cordial ties with the
Armenian Apostolic Church.
Williams was greeted by Catholicos Of All Armenians Garegin II at
the Armenian Church headquarters in Echmiadzin on Saturday.
"During your visit we will have an opportunity to jointly pray for and
reflect on cooperation, love and unity of the Christian Churches and
further strengthen the existing friendly links between the Armenian
and Anglican Churches," Garegin said, according his press office.
The two clergymen spent the next three days visiting churches and other
religious institutions in Echmiadzin, Yerevan and other parts of the
country. They also attended on Monday an official reception organized
by the British embassy in Armenian in connection with the 81st birthday
anniversary of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. The diplomatic event
was held at Garegin’s official residence in Echmiadzin.
Williams, accompanied by Garegin, was received by President Robert
Kocharian before leaving Yerevan the next day. Kocharian’s office
quoted the Anglican leader as praising the "centuries-old history of
friendly relations" between the two churches. "He and the Catholicos
of All Armenians reaffirmed their readiness to continue and reinforce
them," it said.
Williams’s itinerary in Armenia also included a visit to a prison near
the town of Abovian where he familiarized himself with the plight of
its more than 150 inmates, all of them women and juveniles.
"My impression is that conditions are improving," he told reporters
there. "There is still some way to go. But I have seen conditions in
other countries that are worse than these."
Williams and Garegin took a particular interest in a 7-year-old girl
who was born in the prison just months after her pregnant mother was
jailed for murder. The 27-year-old woman told them that her main wish
is to be able to raise her daughter in freedom.