Pope Francis has arrived in Etchmiadzin to pray for the Apostolic Catherdral together with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The motto of the visit is: “Visit to the First Christian State.” Pope has described the visit as pilgrimage to

The Pope has arrived in Armenia for a three-day visit. At Zvartnots International Airport the Pope was welcomed by Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, state officials and diplomats, bishops of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches.

The Pope was greeted by “Little Singers of Armenia” children’s choir headed by Tigran Hekekyan. Children in Armenian traditional costumes served Armenian apricot and lavash, the Armenian bread included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.