Armenian Pontiff Receives President of Poland
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
29/7/2011
On July 29, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski. President Komorowski was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Eduard Nalbandian.
Present for the meeting were Mr. Ashot Galoyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Poland; and Mr. Zdislav Rachinski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Armenia. Welcoming the visit of the President of Poland to the center of Armenian spiritual life, the Catholicos of All Armenians reflected on the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the life of the Armenian nation.
His Holiness stated that Christian faith and values are the foundation of the centuries-old friendship of the Armenian and Polish people, and at different times throughout history, the Armenian people have always found shelter in the country of the Polish people. The Armenian Pontiff extended his appreciation to the authorities and nation of Poland for their care and attention to the Armenian community of Poland.
The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his happiness for the strengthening of relationships between Armenia and Poland and the development of cooperation in different spheres.
Thanking His Holiness for his kind words, President Komorowski stated how pleased he was to be visiting the sacred center of the Armenian Church, and reflected on the centuries old role of the Armenian community in the life of Poland. In his remarks, the President affirmed that in addition to preserving the current friendship, Poland should actively contribute to the strengthening of cooperation. Additionally, as Poland has assumed the current rotating presidency of the EU, he stated their wish to assist Armenia through their EU relation building initiative the “Eastern Partnership Program” . During the meeting there was also a discussion on the relations between the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches. At the conclusion of the meeting His Holiness offered his wish that the nation of Poland continue to progress and prosper, encouraging them to continue preserving the deep connection to their faith.
Present for the meeting were His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manokian, Director of the Inter Church Relations Department of the Mother See, and Rev. Fr. Tajat Tsatourian, Spiritual pastor of the Armenian community of Poland.
