Armenian Supreme Spiritual Council notes

(armenian) - On March 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians presided during the meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

On the agenda was a discussion of the upcoming visit of His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Upon the invitation of the Pontiff of All Armenians, Patriarch Kirill I will pay an official visit to Armenia and the headquarters of the Armenian Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, from March 16-18.

His Eminence Archbishop Yeznik Petrossian, General Secretary of Inter-Church Relations of the Mother See presented the details of the visit to the members of the Council.

On March 16, a welcoming service (Hrashapar) will be offered in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Following the service, an agreement will be signed between the cities of Sergiyev Posad, Russia and Vagharshapat, Armenia, according to which they will become Sister Cities.

The two Pontiffs will then visit a monument dedicated to the memory of Russian soldiers who perished during the years of 1826-1828 during the war between Russia and Persia. Together they will place a wreath at the memorial.

On March 17, a visit is planned to Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial and the Armenian Genocide Museum. A tree will be planted in the memorial garden commemorating the visit.

On the same day the Pontiff of All Armenians and the Patriarch of All Russia will also visit the Russian Church of St. Mary in Kanaker, where a meeting will be held with the representatives of the Russian community. Later a Prayer of Thanks will be offered in the Mother Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. In the late afternoon, the heads of the two Churches will meet Mr. Serzh Sargsian, President of Armenia.

On March 18, a ground blessing ceremony will be held for the St. Mary Russian Church, being built in Yerevan. In the afternoon, His Holiness Kirill I will present the Armenian translation of the books "Sermons of the Priest" and "Freedom and Responsibility" at the Yerevan State University. There the two Patriarchs will meet with students, professors and the media.

At the conclusion of the visit, His Holiness Karekin II and His Holiness Kirill I will issue and sign a joint statement. The visit will officially end with a farewell ceremony in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.