PRESS RELEASE                                                      
October 15, 2007

Embassy of Armenia Hosts the Catholicos of All Armenians

His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited Washington on October 9-11, as part of his Pontifical Tour of the United States. In addition to meeting the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the leaders of other religious denominations in Washington, Catholicos Garegin II met with the Congressional leadership, delivered the opening prayer at the House of Representatives, and was hosted at a reception in the Armenian Embassy on October 10.

On October 10, Catholicos Garegin II, accompanied by his delegation and Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders, as well as Co-Chairs and members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, following his opening prayer at the House of Representatives. The Catholicos of All Armenians thanked Speaker Pelosi for the unwavering support and assistance extended to Armenia by the United States Congress since independence and for her personal leadership on the Armenian issues. Speaker Pelosi noted the outstanding contributions of the Armenian-American community in political, economic, and cultural areas. Speaker Pelosi also briefed the Catholicos on the status of House Resolution 106 on the Armenian Genocide, which was debated and passed by the House Foreign Relations Committee later in the day.

Hosted by the Embassy of Armenia at a diplomatic reception, Catholicos Garegin II had an opportunity to meet with foreign ambassadors and U.S. government officials working on the Armenian issues. In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Markarian noted that the pontifical visit was not only of religious and social, but also of political significance, since the Catholicos of All Armenians used the supreme authority of his position to promote the interests of Armenia and the Armenian people during his meetings with high ranking leaders and government officials, heads of sister churches and other faith denominations. The Ambassador of Armenia thanked His Holiness for moral leadership and spiritual guidance that has raised the profile of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Ambassador Markarian also delivered remarks at the community events honoring the Catholicos of All Armenians in New York on October 26 and 28, hosted by the AGBU and the Eastern Diocese respectively. The Ambassador of Armenia traveled to Detroit on November 2 to take part in the farewell ceremony for Catholicos Garegin II who concluded month-long pontifical tour of the United States and returned to the Holy Ejmiatsin after his.