Pope arrives in Armenia for pastoral visit

YEREVAN, June 24, /ARKA/. The Pope has arrived in Armenia today- the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion, for a three day pastoral visit. At Zvartnots international airport the Pope was welcomed by Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, state officials and diplomats, bishops of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches.

The Pope was greeted by “Little Singers of Armenia” children’s choir and was served Armenian apricot and lavash, traditional flat Armenian bread. 

Following the welcome ceremony the Pope and his entourage headed for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for a prayer at the Mother Cathedral. The Pope will later arrive in Yerevan for a meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan,  representatives of the government,  and foreign  diplomats accredited in Yerevan.

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion at the beginning of the fourth century and the great majority of people in the country today belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church which is part of the Oriental Orthodox family.-0-