May We Rediscover Our Full Communion

POPE JOHN PAUL II IN ARMENIA

Religious History of Armenia - LOR
L'Osservatore Romano provides a summary of the history of the Church in Armenia, from
prechristian times to the present.

Arrival at Yerevan, Armenia - Pope John Paul II
On 25 September 2001, the Holy Father arrived at the airport of Yerevan for his visit to
Armenia. After greeting the President, civil authorities, and Diplomatic Corps, he thanked the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos, Karekin II, for his encouragement for this "spiritual journey."

Address at Cathedral of Etchmiadzin - Pope John Paul II
On 25 September 2001, the Holy Father traveled from the airport to the Apostolic Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, where he joined in the ongoing ecclesial celebrations for the 1,700 years of Armenian fidelity to the Christian faith. He thanked Karekin II for his
warm hospitality in receiving the Holy Father into his home.

Outdoor Latin Rite Mass, Etchmiadzin - Pope John Paul II
On 26 September 2001, on an outdoor altar built within the enclosure of the grounds of
Etchmiadzin, the Holy Father celebrated the Liturgy with the Armenian Catholic Bishops. He thanked the Armenian Apostolic Catholicos for his hospitality in allowing this Mass "on the holy ground where the Son of God appeared to St Gregory the Illuminator."

Ecumenical Liturgy, Yerevan - Pope John Paul II
On 26 September 2001, the Holy Father took part in a liturgy of prayer for unity at the newly consecrated Cathedral of St Gregory in Yerevan, where he and the Catholicos, Karekin II, venerated the relic of St Gregory the Illuminator. The Holy Father hopes for a stronger ecumenical dialogue, in view of how little separates the Armenian Church from the Catholic Church.

Prayer at Dzidzernagapert Memorial - Pope John Paul II
On 26 September 2001, the Holy Father visited the Dzidzernagapert memorial in Yerevan, in honor of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed in the early 20th century, and offered a moving prayer for the Armenian people. 

Farewell to Armenia - Pope John Paul II
On 27 September 2001, the Holy Father said farewell before boarding the plane back to Rome. He reiterated his gratitude to the President and the Catholicos, and to all who helped make his visit a success, and also pledged his moral support as Armenia engages in the task of rebuilding after the disaster of totalitarianism.

Common Declaration - Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II
At Etchmiadzin, on 27 September 2001, the Holy Father and the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos, Karekin II, issued a joint challenge to the modern world to make a choice between good and evil. They committed themselves to the path to Christian unity so that division might not undermine the Church's witness to the world today.

Electronic Copyright � 2001 EWTN
All Rights Reserved

.