  Pope Francis says happy to have visited Armenia June 27, 2016 - 10:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Following his three-day visit to Armenia, Pope Francis said he was happy to visit the country. “I am happy to have visited Armenia, the first nation to accept Christianity as its religion, and I thank all for the welcome,” he said in a tweet. Francis arrived in Armenia Friday, June 24 and was greeted by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, President Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan. The pope was greeted in Etchmiadzin with the Hrashapar (wondrously glorious) service, which is traditionally offered as a service of welcome to top religious clerics. He then left for the presidential palace in Yerevan and was greeted by Sargsyan. The two headed for the receptions hall for an auditorium. On Saturday, he visited the Armenian Genocide memorial and left a note in the guestbook. Also Saturday, the Pope and the Catholicos delivered a holy mass in Gyumri, the secong biggest country in Armenia. In the evening, the pontiff served an ecumenical service and prayer for peace at the Republic Square in Yerevan. On Sunday, Francis participated in a divine liturgy celebrated by Karekin, then headed for Khor Virap and released doves towards the Armenian-Turkish border. Related links:   Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says.   Partner news |  Latest news Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan  A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia.Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment.CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |
