Pope Francis says happy to have visited Armenia

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.

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