YEREVAN, JUNE 25, ARMENPRESS. Father Vahram Priest Melikyan, Head of the Information Apparatus of the Mother See, says holding the Holy Mass in Gyumri was no coincidence, because for many years the Apostolic and Catholic communities have been living there peacefully side by side.

“Gyumri transformed into an ecumenical center for one day with Pope’s visit. The joint prayer of the leaders of the Catholic and Apostolic Churches, which involved the Armenian people, is a proof of fraternal expression between the two Churches”, Father Vahram said.

Federico Lombardi, SJ, Director of the Holy See Press Office said this is a historic day for Gyumri, because never before has a religious ceremony of such scale been held in a public venue. “Usually a mass is delivered in a sanctified area – in a church, but taking into consideration the willingness of the Catholic and Apostolic Christians to be present, for the first time such large ceremony was held in Gyumri’s Square”, Lombardi said.

According to him, local authorities had issued more than 23 thousand invitations, and the number of the gathered people was unprecedented.

“The Pope offered a comprehensive Mass, this is the only Mass in Catholic order, which the Pope delivers during his visit. During the Mass, references were made to faith, memory, God and spiritual values of Armenians. Pope Francis highlighted the role of Gregory of Narek, as was as the involvement of Christians in achieving social justice and protection of public interest”, Lombardi said.

He considered a beautiful gesture that the Pope invited Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II to tour along with his Popemobile. Lombardi said the Pope has been hosted in the Monastery of Armenian Nuns, where he will stay for dinner, and afterwards will visit the Holy Mother of God and the Holy Martyrs Catholic Churches.

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan