KAREKIN II: "WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EXTREMIST NATIONALISTIC FORCES WILL SUCCEED IN SOWING HATRED AND ENMITY TOWARD ARMENIANS LIVING IN TURKEY."
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 28 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
having completed his first Pontifical Visit to Istanbul, returned
to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the early morning hours of
June 28. The seven-day visit included a two day fraternal visit to
the Ecumenical Patriarch, followed by five days with the Armenian
community of Istanbul and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Although His Holiness’ flight arrived in Yerevan in the middle of the
night, waiting for him in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
at 4:00 AM, were hundreds of faithful who had come to welcome him
home. His Holiness’ procession was escorted into the Mother Cathedral
under the singing of the "Hrashapar" hymn. Standing before the Holy
Altar of Descent, the Catholicos of All Armenians offered prayers of
thanks to heaven and thereafter conveyed the unforgettable and warm
impressions from his pontifical visit to all those present.
His Holiness Karekin II joyfully reflected on the enthusiastic
reception he received from the Armenian community of Istanbul, as
expression of their love and devotion to the Holy Armenian Apostolic
Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
His Holiness stated, "Glory and thanksgiving to God. We return from
our pontifical visit to our sons and daughters in Constantinople
with a content heart. Our soul was filled with joy to personally see
and meet our faithful children, their enthusiastic devoted faith,
and their patriotic spirit. We communed with 600 years of history
and treasures of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople."
According to the press-release of the Information Services of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Pontiff of All Armenians stated
with contentment that the Armenian community of Istanbul, a community
that lives, breathes and speaks Armenian, is active today with a
vibrant national life. The community has 39 churches, 17 Armenian
schools and many institutions, the largest of which is the Holy
All-Savior National Hospital. His Holiness also fondly recalled his
meetings with Armenian intellectuals and youth of Istanbul.
As the visit of His Holiness was widely covered by the Armenian and
Turkish press and media in Turkey, His Holiness spoke of the press
conference convened in Istanbul on Sunday, June 25, following the
Pontifical Divine Liturgy, during which the Armenian Genocide was
discussed. (The full text of the press conference will be available
tomorrow on the website of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
). In reply to the concerns about the prospect
that His Holiness’ statements on the Armenian Genocide could negatively
affect the attitude of the Turkish authorities towards the Armenians of
Turkey, the Catholicos stated, "We do not believe that our thoughts
and words can affect the attitude of the authorities towards our
Armenians in Istanbul, because we never expressed hatred or enmity,
we simply stated the reality and the truth. Taking into account the
process of democratization, which the Turkish authorities desire
to achieve in their country, we also do not believe that extremist
nationalistic forces will succeed in sowing hatred and enmity toward
the Armenians or other minorities living in Turkey."
His Holiness continued, stating that as many countries have recognized
the Genocide of the Armenians, so too must Turkey recognize the
Genocide, for which there exists no need for deliberations.
Regarding the protests that had been organized in Istanbul during
his visit, noting that the Turkish authorities characterized them as
the "actions of extremist groups", His Holiness emphasized that in
no way did they diminish his impressions from the trip. Due to the
unprecedented security measures which were implemented, they did not
obstruct the activities of the Pontifical Visit and generally remained
unnoticed by the delegation.
Just before daybreak in Holy Etchmiadzin, as His Holiness concluded
his remarks, he once again expressed his appreciation to the Armenian
Patriarch of Constantinople and the faithful people of Istanbul for
the warm reception, and offered his prayers for the stability and
vibrancy of the Armenian Patriarchate. The Pontiff of All Armenians
also warmly expressed his thanks to all those present who had waited
all night long to greet him upon his return to Armenia.