On November 29, 2018, in the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan hosted Archbishop Jose Avelino Bettencourt, Ambassador of Vatican to Georgia and the Republic of Armenia.
The two Holy Fathers jointly prayed at the Saint George church, then, the Diocesan Primate represented to the guest the story of the Mother church of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and its today's mission.
The conversation with the Vatican Ambassador continued in the Diocesan headquarters. Bishop Vazgen welcomed the visit of the Vatican Nuncio, congratulated him on the occasion of his service in Transcaucasus and wished him success during his mission. The Diocesan Primate highly appreciated relations of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Vatican, as well as relationship between Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope of Rome, which are formed on the basis of mutual respect and common vision on the mission of church.
His Grace expressed his gratitude to Vatican (which is one of the first countries recognized Armenian Genocide) for erecting the statuses of Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Saint Gregory of Narek in Vatican and proclamation Saint Gregory of Narek as the Ecumenical Reverend Father.
Archbishop Jose Avelino Bettencourt thanked for warm reception and highlighted friendly and warm relations of Armenian and Roman Catholic Churches which are practical.
The Vatican Ambassador appreciated practical and friendly relations between the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and the leader of Roman Catholic church department His Grace Giuseppe Pasotto, expressed hope that the Ecumenical Prayer to be held on January 25, 2019 in Roman Catholic church in Tbilisi will make more deep and warm the relations of the ancient Christian churches’ faithful and clergy.
At the meeting, two spiritual servants also touched upon the issues of concern to Christian churches in Georgia, as well as the presidential elections in Georgia.
The power of the Christian faith was also touched upon at the meeting. This power became the great inspiration for the spiritual culture created by two churches which educated the followers of both churches for centuries.
At the end of the meeting, the Vatican Ambassador thanked for the warm reception and conveyed an album about one of the Vatican museums and invited the Diocesan Primate to visit Vatican Embassy soon.