PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
May 3, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for Pontifical Visit to South America
On the morning of May 3, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, departed from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin for his first Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Dioceses of South
America.
The first stop of His Holiness will be Sao Paolo, the headquarters of the
Armenian Church Diocese of Brazil. During the visit to Brazil from May 4 to
9, His Holiness will also travel to Osasco, where there is a large Armenian
community.
>From May 10-12, His Holiness will visit the Armenian Church Diocese of
Uruguay and will be with the Armenian faithful in the capital city of
Montevideo.
The Pontifical Visit of His Holiness will conclude in the Armenian Church
Diocese of Argentina. From May 13-25, His Holiness will visit the cities of
Buenos Aires and Cordoba.
During the course of the visit, His Holiness will bring his message and
Pontifical blessing to the faithful Armenians of South America. The Pontiff
of All Armenians will celebrate Divine Liturgies in various Armenian
communities, will meet with representatives of Sister Churches, and be
received by high ranking state officials.
His Holiness Karekin II is accompanied by His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan,
Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; Rev. Fr. Kyuregh
Vardanian, Staff-bearer to His Holiness; Mr. Vilen Hakobian, Rector of
Yerevan Medical University; and Mr. Vrezh Markosian, President of the
“Tigran Mets” Publishing Company.
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