On October 7th His Holiness Garegin the Second took part in the opening of the session of the directors’ council of “Towns of Universal Heritage” organization and expressed his blessing and gratitude to those present.
“Today everybody feels joy, as we celebrate the anniversary of our blessed town. There have been memorable events here. Lord Jesus Christ has appeared here and Saint Gregory Illuminator had his vision. Armenian nation welcomed the author of its alphabet Mesrop Mashtoc here, in Vagharshapat. Our mental and spiritual prosperity started from Echmiadzin-Vagharshapat and its historical past was illuminated by new horizons of Christianity. For centuries many pilgrims from Armenian World and then from Diaspora visited this town to bow before our devotional saints, to see Echmiadzin which is a pharos of history. Saint Echmiadzin is the pan-Armenian spiritual anchor. Here, in the place of Christ’s appearance, the heart of all Armenians is situated.”- mentioned His Holiness.
Directing the citizens of Vagharshapat, His Holiness noted that they must take pride on being the inhabitants of this town. “Echmiadzin citizens have always shown their love towards the Holy See. Our nation has always believed that light of Echmiadzin is eternal and will go on spreading God’s blessing to His sons for overcoming hardships and trials.”- said His Holiness urging to renovate oneself by Echmiadzin love and together prosper with beloved town preserving its ancient and devout sanctuaries.
His Holiness expressed his gratitude to the authorities of the town for their work for the sake of prosperity of Vagharshapat.
After the session His Holiness and the president of RA along with senior officials put flowers on the memorial of the heroes of Artsakh heroic battle, and also participated in the inauguration ceremony of the musical school after Makar Ekmalayn.