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Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I VISITS ITALIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NAPLES
"SAINT GREGORY THE ARMENIAN"

Naples – His Holiness Aram I paid an official visit to the Italian catholic
church named "Saint Gregory the Armenian" in Naples on October 22. According
to tradition, the skull of Saint Gregory the Illuminator is found in this
church and hence the church and the street on which it is found are named
after Saint Gregory. It is worth noting that on the occasion of the 1700th
anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as an official religion by
Armenia, Pope John Paul II dedicated remnants from Saint Gregory the
Illuminator to the Catholicosate of All Armenians and remnants to the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

Catholicos Aram I said prayers in the church and afterwards, guided by
members of the sisterhood of the church, took a tour to the various parts of
the church and the monastery, which were full of artistic works depicting
moments from the life of Saint Gregory, the torture he went through, and the
Armenian nation’s conversion to Christianity.

A brief reception was organized afterwards, during which the Pontiff
expressed his praise in the Monastery’s guest book. During his visit, the
Catholicos was accompanied by V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian (Communications
Officer of the Catholicosate), and Mr. and Mrs. Alecco Bezikian (friends of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia who live in Italy), as well as the
representative of the Community of Saint Egidio.

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View photos here:
tos/Photos49.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.