His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, met with the Honourable Mr. Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defense of Canada, on June 3, 2015, Horizon Weekly reports.

His Holiness and Minister Kenney reflected on their meeting in Antelias, Lebanon back in July 2014, during the Minister’s special mission to assess the political situation and to discuss the problems of Christian communities in the region.

His Holiness Aram I decorated the Honourable Mr. Jason Kenney with Knight of Cilicia, an insignia of the Catholicosate, bestowing the Minister of Defense and Multiculturalism for his courage, dedication and continued support of the Armenian Community and the Armenian cause.

Prior His meeting with Minister Kenney, His Holiness was invited to a special luncheon on Parliament as the guest of the Honourable Dr. Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party and the Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

His Holiness was joined by the following delegation, Bishop Meghrig Parikian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, Most Reverend Father Housig Mardirossian, Ecumenic Relations Officer of the Catholicosate, Krikor Der Ghazarian, Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, member of the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate, Raffi Donabedian, Chairperson of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, and Hagop Der Khatchadourian, President of the Armenian National Committee International Council.