On February 28 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili accompanied by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. Head of the Office of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, and administrative department head of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin Bishop Musheg Babayan attended the meeting.

The Catholicos of All Armenians welcomed the visit of President of Georgia and his accompanying delegation to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, he expressed his pleasure in relation to current cooperation between the two countries and stressed that similar reciprocal visits contribute to further strengthening of relations between the two countries and nations. The Catholicos of all Armenians stressed the importance of strengthening fraternal relations and mutual support of two adherent nations living side by side in the same region, on which Armenian Church’s efforts have been always focused.

It was marked during discussion that the Armenian community of Georgia contributed greatly to country’s history and nowadays plays an important part in country’s economy, culture, education and other areas. The Patriarch of All Armenians expressed his satisfaction with positive actions that have been taken recently to settle church issues with the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and the Armenian community, he expressed his confidence that they would lead to holistic solution of issues of Armenians’ spiritual life.

At the end His Holiness wished Mr. Giorgi Margvelashvili fruitful and successful work for the good of Georgia and its God-believing nation.

After the meeting the President of Georgia visited the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, its sacristy and museum.

Press service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin