YEREVAN (ArmRadio)–The Catholicoi of the two Holy Seas of the Armenian Church visited Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian on Monday to personally congratulate the new president on his victory in the February 19 presidential elections and to express their support for his administration.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, who was unable to attend Sarkisian’s inauguration on April 9, told the new president, "the Church and the Motherland, the belief and the Armenian nation are a unity, within the framework of which we should cooperate."
"The path taken today will, no doubt, yield results in some time, and people will see that concrete steps are being taken to build the Motherland of our wishes and expectations," expressed His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenia’s.
Many things can be done and great results can be achieved with the support of the two Catholocoi, Sarkisian said.
The role of the Church in the life of the Armenian people has been monumental throughout history, the President said, noting that during the absence of statehood, the Church assumed the functions of a state and preserved national identity.
The Republic of Armenia will continue to support the consolidation of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Sarkisian said, adding that the Church will remain one of the main conduits of the Armenian language and national identity.
Both Catholicoi expressed confidence that Sarkisian will continue serving the common and supreme interests of the Fatherland and the Armenian people with great responsibility and devotion and they expressed their willingness to support the realization of any initiative the President has to move the country forward.
Earlier in the day, the two Catholicoi visited the Dzidzernagapert Genocide Memorial Museum where they laid wreaths at the memorial and served a religious ceremony in the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
The two religious leaders toured the Armenian Genocide Museum where the Director of the Museum Hayk Demoyan revealed to them the newest items on display. Demoyan told reporters that they talked about the future programs connected with the construction of a temple on the territory of the Genocide Memorial.
