PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Office of Foreign Communications
Tel: +374-10-517163
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His Holiness Karekin II Participates in World Summit of Religious Leaders in
Baku, Azerbaijan
On April 26, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, accompanied by members of the Brotherhood of Holy
Etchmiadzin, arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in the World Summit
of Religious Leaders, being held April 26-27, 2010. The summit is dedicated
to the issues of globalization and their impact on religious and traditional
values. 300 religious leaders from 40 countries are in attendance.
His Holiness Karekin II is the highest-ranking representative of the
Armenian people to visit Azerbaijan since independence.
His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrossian, General Secretary of the Inter
Church Relations Department of the Mother See, His Grace Bishop Hovakim
Manukian, Office Director of the Inter Church Relations Department and Rev.
Fr. Vahram Melikian, Director of the Information Services Department of the
Mother See accompanied His Holiness to Baku.
His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Member of the Brotherhood of Holy
Etchmiadzin and Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern), is also participating in the summit as
an officer and immediate past President of the National Council of Churches
USA.
Upon arrival, His Holiness and the delegation traveled to the Gulustan
Palace where the opening ceremony of World Summit was held. The morning
session was opened by Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Grand Mufti of
the Muslims of the Caucasus, and attended by Ilham Aliyev, President of
Azerbaijan. During the opening, the Armenian Pontiff delivered his remarks
to those in attendance.
Greeting the participants on behalf of the Armenian Church and the worldwide
Armenian nation, His Holiness wished the participants of the summit success
in their work.
For photos and video, click: or
Message of His Holiness KAREKIN II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
World Summit of Religious Leaders
Baku, April 26, 2010
Honored brothers and guests,
We greet you on behalf of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian
people dispersed throughout the world, and wish success to the activities of
this summit. We extend our thanks to His Excellency Sheikh ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazade, Grand Mufti of the Muslims of the Caucasus, and to
His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, for the
invitation to participate in this conference.
We offer thanks to our Lord, that we, the leaders of the world’s religions,
as testimony to good will, have gathered together to consider and search for
avenues of cooperation for the sake of the preservation and defense of
spiritual values in our contemporary world, to direct our call for love,
solidarity and collaboration to our peoples and the entire world and in an
effort to overcome the challenges and fundamental issues facing mankind
today.
We welcome the initiative to discuss issues surrounding globalization,
religion and traditional values in the summit, and in this respect, to
reflect on the dialogue between cultures and religions, as well as to
discuss ways to overcome the prevailing dangers that disturb the just and
peaceful progress of the world. It is our sacred duty to bring every
effort, energy and vigor to putting an end to wars and terrorism; to
eliminate poverty and its resulting societal effects, for the sake of a life
of security, goodness and peace for mankind, which is also the Will of God,
as the Holy Bible says, `For God is not the God of discord, but of peace’. I
Corinthians 14:33.
In our days of continuing expansion of the dimensions of communicative and
collaborative progress in political, economic, scientific, technological,
cultural, educational and other spheres, and the sustained strengthening of
ties and relationships among peoples, we regrettably do not yet see the
outlook of a world where humanity and philanthropy, divinely established
commandments and laws reign; where man is the highest value and where his
rights are respected. Today climatological and environmental issues
resulting from technological experiments and atmospheric pollution are of
universal concern, and testify to the lack of respect and care by mankind
for the world formed by the Creator. Terrorism, intergovernmental and
regional conflicts, and interethnic clashes endanger the safety and lives of
many thousands of people. Additional threats are created by informational
incitements and manipulation of religious factors, using distorted facts and
by warping the religious knowledge of the faithful, to greater enflame the
fire of tragedies and clashes and serve as an opportunity for the
destruction of cultural treasures. In the processes of globalization, the
dangers of equalization of religious and national values come forth, which
threaten national identities, the spiritual being of men, the sacred
understanding of the family, and the moral purity of the new generation.
We believe in the dialogue between religions and cultures aimed at facing
the current issues in the world, and for the welfare and prosperity of
mankind. For all peoples, alongside of their unique national
characteristics and customs, the values of philanthropy, honesty and justice
are universal; the aspiration for a free, peaceful and happy life is
universal. Which culture does not praise respect, love and support to one
another? Which culture does not appreciate and elevate the noble, the
virtuous and those who serve mankind with goodness? For us – the leaders of
religions and all those who serve the Word of God – our mission is to
reinforce those global values within our people, to strengthen them in
faith, to lead them on God-pleasing paths, so that goodness and decency
flourish in this world, according to the words of the Apostle, `that the
excellence of the power may be of God and not of us’ II Corinthians 4:7,
since the efforts of men for harmony, peace and welfare will be in vain
without the help of God.
As we are in Baku, we offer praise and thanks to God today, for the
continued efforts to solve the Karabagh conflict through peaceful means. In
this respect, it is necessary to note with importance and appreciation the
conscientious efforts of the countries that Co-Chair the OSCE Minsk Group.
We
also reflect with gratitude on the mediation efforts invested by the Russian
Orthodox Church from the very beginning to find a solution to the problem.
The
authorities of our countries, at the highest level of the presidents of the
republics, similarly continue the process of negotiations. We are also
pleased that there are ties and dialogue among the representatives of civil
society and non-governmental organizations of our two countries, in the
context of which joint film productions and youth and sports programs are
taking place. We are hopeful that these efforts shall continue, so that the
final resolution of the problem be found exclusively through peaceful means,
to decide the difficult issues according to international laws and standards
and corresponding to the rights of the people. We, as Pontiff of All
Armenians, place importance on the continuation of our efforts and work with
the Grand Mufti of the Muslims of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur
Pashazade, aimed at the resolution of this issue. It is our responsibility
to exhort our peoples, to assist the presidents of our countries to continue
peacefully toward the solution of the problems and final resolution of the
issue. We remain hopeful that common efforts to overcome the present
challenges and the securing of a peaceful and creative life in the Caucasus
region will be crowned with the desired success, and the harmonious life and
experience of cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples will
once again sprout with seedlings of peace. We pray to see that beautiful
day, when all closed borders in the region will be open, and the travel of
peoples, free; just as in the past when we had the opportunity to visit Baku
and provide service for a short period of time to our Armenian church there.
Let us remain faithful to the commandment of Christ’s apostle, which is also
a call directed to all humanity: `Live in peace, and the God of love and
peace will be with you.’ II Corinthians 13:11.
Offering our prayers for peace and welfare in the lives of all peoples, we
once again welcome the convening of this summit and wish success to its
work.
It is with love that we extend an invitation to convene the next World
Summit of Religious Leaders in Armenia, at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin. Conveying our respect and thanks once again, we invite His
Excellency Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, the Grand Mufti of the
Muslims of the Caucasus, to visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
May the blessings of the Most High God protect the world, and may heavenly
wisdom illuminate us – the religious and political leaders of the world
– to
continue toward the blessed shelters of peace, goodness and virtue.
##
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
