Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Participants of Pan- Armenian Games
March 2014
On February 28, in the Events Auditorium of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed the participants of the first Pan- Armenian winter games. Accompanying them was Mr. Ishkan Zakaryan, Chairman of World Committee of Pan Armenian games.
Mr. Zakarian opened the meeting with presenting the history of the Pan- Armenian Games and the ongoing developments of the winter games. The Chairman also noted that the number of athletes grows yearly and many of them are visiting Armenia for the first time, learning about the history of the Homeland and networking with their peers.
The Catholicos of All Armenians offered his blessings and appreciation to those present. His Holiness highlighted the importance of the Games in reuniting all Armenians in the Homeland, as through them millions of Armenians have the opportunity to learn more about life in the Homeland, our history and virtues, and will return to their countries reinforced and encouraged. His Holiness Karekin II noted that those Games not only fortify the body but also strengthen the spirit through visits to the Homeland. “Because of the Games, unity is forged among our people. And the center of that unity is the Homeland: you and the children of Armenia are the owners of it, wherever you live, wherever you are. This awareness is created and formed during Pan- Armenian Games”, remarked the Catholicos of All Armenians.
His Holiness also expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the Games for their God- pleasing and nation- building endeavors, urging them to expand the geographic coverage of the Games. The Catholicos of All Armenians wished that the blessings of Holy Etchmiadzin bring new inspirations to the young participants to make their national life more productive with their beautiful deeds. His Holiness also wished that all participants get the sweet taste of victory, living with love and always remaining connected to their Homeland.
Also present at the meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Arshak Kachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See; and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Grant Sacristan of the Mother See.
