His Holiness asked to return St. Paul and Peter Armenian Church in Chernovtets to the Armenian community

His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians left for the Armenian Diocese of Romania to hold the ceremony of St. Virgin monastery re-anointment and the foundation 500th anniversary celebrations.

As “Armenpress” was informed by the Holy See information department among the patriarchal staff were patriarchal delegate of Western Europe and Prelate T.Norvan Archbishop Zakaryan of the Armenian Diocese in France, Prelate T. Khazhak Archbishop Parsamyan of the Armenian Eastern Diocese in the USA, Primate T. Ezras Bishop Nersisyan of the Armenian Diocese of New Nakhichevan and Russia, monks of Holy See T. Sipan Grigoryan, T. Tovma Khachatryan and Professor Davit Muradyan.

On occasion of the Supreme Patriarch’s visit a welcoming ceremony was held in the St. Hreshtakapetats Church, which was also attended by the representatives of diplomatic missions of different countries, former president of the Republic of Romania Emil Konstantinesku, Minister of Religion, general secretary of the Ministry of Culture and high-ranked representatives of Sister Churches. Opening of the exhibition dedicated to the 500^th anniversary of the Armenian book was held in the museum branch of the "Dudyan" cultural center, where Armenian antique books and the ones published in Romania were presented.

Then the opening of the reconstructed Primacy was held with the blessing and high presidency of His Holiness.

In the city of Chernovets His Holiness sent his blessings and best wishes to a great number of pilgrims arrived from the entire territory of Ukraine. The Romanian Minister of Culture Mikhail Kulinyak and the president of the Armenian community in Ukraine Vilen Shatvoyan greeted the Armenian Patriarch in Chernovets. During the visit His Holiness met with the head of state Mikhail Papiev. They touched upon the warm relations between Armenia and Ukraine and the community of Ukraine Armenians. The state of the ST. Paul and Peter Armenian Church in Chernovets was stressed, which belongs to the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture as a community hall and is provided to the Armenian Church only 2 hours a day for religious ceremonies. In this sense His Holiness appealed Mr. M. Papiev to renovate the church sacristy and as a fully operating church to return it to the Armenian community. Catholicos of All Armenians returned to the Armenian Diocese of Romania from Ukraine.

Catholicos of All Armenians met with the Romanian Deputy President Krin Antonesku on August 13. The latter welcomed the Supreme Patriarch and his delegation and attached importance to the warm relations between the two nations noting that the Armenians have their great contribution to the Romanian economic development and cultural life. His Holiness expressed his gratitude to the Romanian authorities for the caring attitude towards the Armenian Church.

Catholicos of All Armenians returned Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on August 15.