Catholicos Aram I Visits the Embassy of Armenia in Washington D.C.

12 September, 2014

On September 12, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, who has arrived to Washington D.C. to participate in the International Summit on the crisis in the Middle East and situation with the Christian communities, visited the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia. His Holiness met with H.E. Tigran Sargsyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States and the Embassy staff. The Catholicos was accompanied by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Orthodox Church of America, Very Rev. Housig Mardirosian, Director of Ecumenical Relations and Dr. Dertad Manguikian, a member of the Catholicosate Central Executive Board.

During the tete-a-tete meeting between His Holiness and Ambassador Sargsyan, Catholicos Aram I presented the works of the Summit and the details of his meeting with the President of the United States Barack Obama.

The meeting was followed by the meeting in the extended format which was attended by Robert Avetisyan, the Representative of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), leaders of the Armenian organizations and spiritual fathers of the two parishes, Ambassador Sargsyan welcomed His Holiness Aram I to the Embassy and noted that the Embassy is a small Armenia on the American land. He said that the Embassy spares no efforts to duly present Armenia in the United States and works towards further promoting political, economic, and cultural relations between our two countries. The Ambassador spoke also about the role of the Church in strengthening the Armenian statehood.

In his remarks the Representative of NKR Robert Avetisyan touched upon the recent violations of the cease-fire regime by Azerbaijan and emphasized the will and patriotism of the army and the people of Nagorno Karabakh in thwarting every penetration attempt undertaken by Azerbaijan.

In his turn Aram I Catholicos expressed his content on being hosted at the Embassy of Armenia, which has always been supported and cherished by the Armenians. His Holiness welcomed the appointment of Tigran Sargsyan as the Ambassador of Armenia to the US and expressed hope that considering his background and huge experience garnered during his years as Prime Minister of the Republic, he would have an important impact on the relations between Armenia and the United States. His Holiness also spoke about the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and the Armenia-Diaspora Summit which will take place in Armenia next week and stressed that these events will further fortify the unity of our nation.

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