YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis has visited Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. “Armenpress” reports an intercessory prayer is planned with the participation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and other top clerics. According to the protocol, the Pope will lay flowers at the unquenchable fire for the memory of holy martyrs and will plant a fir in the memorial park of Tsitsernakaberd.

Pope John Paul II also visited Tsitsernakaberd during his visit to Armenia in 2001. After laying a wreath at the memorial complex, His Holiness Pope John Paul II and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, accompanied by high ranking clerics of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church offered a solemn requiem ceremony for the memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims. Charles Aznavour performed “Ave Maria” song. The singer approached and kissed the hand of His Holiness. After the ceremony His Holiness blessed the fir planted on his behalf, near which there is an inscription reading “Remember, Lord, the sufferings of this nation and bless Armenia. Pope John Paul II”.

Pope Francis arrived in Armenia on June 24 at 15:00 by local time. The slogan of the visit is “Visit to the first Christian nation”. He was met by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and firsl lady of Armenia Mrs. Rita Sargsyan at Zvartnots airport from where he travelled to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to participate in welcoming service in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians delivered a prayer and a sermon. On the same day was hosted at the Presidential Palace of Armenia and had a private conversation with President Sargsyan. On June 25 the Pope will visit Gyumri, deliver a liturgy there and return to Yerevan’s Republican Square to deliver an Ecumenical Prayer. Several events will be held in the Mother See of Holy Tsitsernakaberd on June 26, after which Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin II will visit one of the most important shrines of the Armenian people and the Armenian Apostolic Church – Khor Virap- where they will pray together and release doves towards the mountain Ararat. Afterwards the Pope will head to the airport to return to Rome.

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan, Davit Hakobyan