REGULAR MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES HELD IN MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
Editor: Eghian Robert
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2007
ETCHMIADZIN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The regular meeting of the
Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches is being held in
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin between September 23 to 28 at the
invitation of Patriarch Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Archbishop T. Vigen Aykazian, the Chairman of the National Committee of
the U. S. Churches and the responsible for the interchurch relations of
the U.S. Eastern Armenian diocese, represents the Armenian Apostolic
Church in the structure of the Executive Committee of the World
Council of Churches.
Receiving Dr. Samuel Kobia, the Secretary General of the World Council
of Churches, who has arrived in Armenia at his invitation, Garegin
II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, expressed satisfaction with the
convocation of the regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the
World Council of Churches. "We are happy that the Mother See of Holy
Etcmiadzin has its contribution to the main strivings of the World
Council of Churches, which are the brotherhood of churches and the
cooperation between them. We are happy that our church is greatly
envolved in the World Council of Churches, that is, in different
structures and bodies of the latter, and takes an active part in that
work," His Holiness said. Referring to the mission of churches in
the 21th century, Patriarch Garegin II mentioned that the churches
can overcome the challenges set in front of the humanity only due to
joint efforts.
Dr. Kobia in his turn thanked His Holiness for the hospitality and
said: "This is not just a visit for us, but a pilgrimage, as Armenia
and the Armenian people play a very peculiar role for us and the
World Council of Churches.
The Secretary General of the World Council of Churches also thanked
His Holiness for the important contribution the Armenian Apostolic
Church makes for the World Council of Churches, in particular, and
the ecumenical movement, in general.
According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information
Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Secretary General
of the World Council of Churches visited the monasteries of Saint
Hripsime and Saint Gayane accompanied by the monks of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin on the same day.