First time in a century
For the first time in the last century, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians paid a pontifical visit to Javakhk. As the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reports, the Pontiff and the Patriarch of All Georgians Ilya II were hosted in Borzhomi by Prelate of the Borzhomi and Bakuriani Dioceses of the Georgian Church, Archbishop Serafim Jojua, President of the Borzhomi Regional Assembly Besik Kurdadze and President of Borzhomi Regional Administration Vakhtang Maisuradze, after which they left for Akhaltskhe.
In Akhaltskhe, the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Patriarch of All Georgians visited the Armenian St. Gregory the Illuminator Church built in the 19th century. The two Pontiffs were greeted with flags held by representatives of the Armenian community to the sounds of ethnic music near the church gates. Youth dressed in national costumes served the Catholicos and the Patriarch of All Georgians salt and bread, after which the procession of clergymen entered the church. A prayer of thanks was said by the Catholicos of All Armenians. "We are pleased to see that you are following the direction of your loyal and nationalist ancestors by staying true to the Holy Church, paying attention to national values and maintaining our rich, ancient culture. Throughout history, the Holy Church has taken care of and led the Armenians wherever they have settled around the world," mentioned His Holiness.
The Supreme Patriarch called on Georgian-Armenians to not let the issues and obstacles facing them put them down, but continue to make efforts to accomplish their goals for their benefit and the development of community and spiritual life.
On the occasion of the visit, the Catholicos of All Armenians donated an icon of St. Mary to the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.
After the ceremony, the delegates left for the N 3 Armenian School after Hovhannes Tumanyan in Akhaltsikhe where Karekin II and Ilya II attended a literary-musical event organized by the schoolchildren. In the end, the two Pontiffs greeted school principal Svetlana Harutyunyan. The Supreme Patriarch gave his blessings to the students and teachers and called on them to cherish their school. Catholicos-Patriarch Ilya II also greeted the participants of the event.
