Pontiff of All Armenians receives President of Syrian Arab Republic

On June 18, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received Bashar Al-Asad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. President Asad was on an official state visit to Armenia. Accompanying the Syrian president was Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Welcoming President Asad to the headquarters of the Armenian Church, His Holiness expressed his pleasure at the continuation and strengthening of the long-standing relationship between the two states. His Holiness stated that the Syrian president’s visit would further reinforce levels of cooperation through new collaborations and initiatives.

His Holiness fondly recalled his visits to the Syrian cities of Aleppo and Der Zor, and mentioned the warm hospitality of the Syrian people extended to him. He spoke of the caring and kind attitude of the authorities to the Armenians living in Syria, stressing that Armenians would never forget the assistance given to thousands of survivors of the Armenian Genocide. He noted the importance of inter-church and inter-religious relations and of peaceful cooperation between spiritual leaders in finding resolutions to world challenges. His Holiness also reflected on the visits to the Mother See of His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church and Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of Syria.

President Asad reflected on the multi-ethnic and multi-faith composition of Syria, and commented on the many positive contributions Armenians have made to Syrian life. He also spoke on the important mission of religion in the everyday life of people. President Asad also invited the Pontiff of All Armenians to pay an official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic this year.

His Holiness Karekin II granted the Medal of “St, Gregory the Illuminator” to President Asad as a reflection of the appreciation of the Armenian Church and nation towards the Syrian authorities and people. The pontifical encyclical states in part, “…Your predecessors of blessed memory gave our forefathers the right to live free, establish churches, schools and national institutions, forever confirming the brotherhood between our two nations. We are pleased that our faithful living in Syria are proud and worthy citizens, contributing to the prosperity of the nation with honesty and virtue. We are grateful to your country and nation that hosted our the sons and daughters of the Armenian people”.

Present for the meeting were His Grace Bishop Ararat Kaltakjian, Grant Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin; His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus; His Grace Bishop Sahak Mashalian, Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as faithful Armenian benefactors from Syria – Mr. Karnig Yacoubian, Mr. Takvor Boyajian (Chairman of the Diocesan Council of Damascus), Mr. Vasken Yacoubian and Mr. Gabriel Ghenberji.

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