On June 20, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received pilgrims from the St. David Armenian Church of Boca Raton (Florida), belonging to the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The group was led by their spiritual pastor, the Reverend Fr. Sevak Gabrielyan. This was reported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
Requesting the blessing of the Catholicos, Fr. Sevak emphasized that the pilgrims had come to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to renew their spiritual vows and strengthen their connection with the Homeland.
His Holiness expressed his joy at the pilgrims’ visit to the Mother See and noted with satisfaction that pilgrimages regularly organized by Armenian communities in the Diaspora are excellent opportunities for spiritual renewal, knowledge of the Homeland, and the strengthening of patriotic feelings.
The Pontiff encouraged the pilgrims to return to their communities strengthened in faith and to actively participate in the Church’s spiritual and nation-preserving mission.