Statue of His Holiness Vasken I Unveiled at the Mother See

Armenian Church-Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

11/11/2010

On November 11, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the opening ceremony of Statue of His Holiness Vasken I of Blessed Memory. The Statue was commissioned through the initiative of Mr. Nikolay Rijkov, Co-President of the Armenian-Russian Committee of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation. The sculptor of the statue is Mr. Friedrich Soghoyan, an artist from the Russian Federation.

Present for the ceremony were Members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, Members of the Armenian-Russian Inter-Parliamentary Committee, Mr. Ashot Gharamanian, Governor of the Armavir Region, Mr. Karen Grigorian, Mayor of Etchmiadzin, State officials, and many residents of Etchmiadzin.

Rev. Fr. Partev Barseghian opened the ceremony. Following which Mr. Rijkov and Mr. Soghoyan were invited to participate in the official presentation of the statue, preserving the memory of His Holiness Vasken I Catholicos of All Armenians.

His Grace Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, extended his gratitude to Mr. Rijkov on behalf of the Members of the Brotherhood of the Mother See, reflecting on the merit, philanthropic and peaceful mission of His Holiness Vasken I of Blessed Memory, as well as his important role in the strengthening of the Armenian-Russian friendship.

In his remarks on the occasion, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, stated in part, “Respecting the honor of His Holiness Vasken I of Blessed Memory, we extend our gratitude to a great friend of our nation- Mr. Rijkov, and Sculptor Soghoyan, and we send our prayers to Heaven asking God to mature the seeds sown in the souls of the children of the Armenian nation by the Pontiff Vasken I of Blessed Memory.”

Mr. Aram Safarian, Co-President of the Armenian-Russian Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation and Mayor Grigorian, made speeches of congratulation and gratitude.

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony Mr. Rijkov gave his congratulations in honor of the occasion. He also reflected on the meetings with Vasken I Pontiff during the difficult days of the Earthquake of 1988, who inspired hope and faith to the sorrowful nation. Mr. Rijkov noted that the creation of the statue was not a gift but a responsibility in memory of the great and eminent Pontiff.

Following the ceremony, the Pontiff of All Armenians received the members of the Armenian-Russian Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation in the Pontifical Residence.

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