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20։40
After Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace, Pope Francis approached the disabled people at the Republic Square. The Pope kissed and blessed them.

Afterwards Pope Francis and Karekin II left the Republic Square.

The concert featuring National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia and the National Academic Choir dedicated to the visit of the Pope continues.



20։30
After Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace, children from Middle East approached His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope Francis, to offer jars filled with water and soil from their countries for blessing. After blessing the soil and the water they were filled into a model of Noah’s Ark.

The twelve children were wearing traditional costumes of Armenian Historical Provinces. Many of them are descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide who sheltered in different parts of the Middle East. The children have arrived from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Iran and Turkey.

The last pair of the children is from Armenia. They symbolize the rebirth of the Armenian nation in this part of their homeland. A priest walked in front of the row carrying vine in a clay plate. He approached the model of Noah’s Ark, broke the clay and planted the vine inside the ark. This way the frozen nature broke and the first tree was planted. This symbolizes Noah who found salvation and rebirth descending from the ark on the Biblical Mount Ararat and planted vine. Then children approached the model of the ark to fill the soil into it.

This model of Noah’s Ark was designed by Michael Aram from New York. This model will be gifted to Pope Francis.


20։17
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope Francis delivered their speeches at the Republic Square of Armenia.

The Pope’s speech was accompanied by George Handel’s “Hallelujah”. This is the hymn to praise God. George Handel, German famous composer is considered the founder of oratory genre.

National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia and the National Academic Choir are on the stage. The performance is conducted by People’s Artist, Maestro Hovhannes Chekijyan.

20։04
“I have been longing to visit this beloved country, Your world that was the first to adopt Christianity. It is an honour to me to stand in this height, where under the gaze of Mount Ararat even silence speaks, cross-stones tell a unique story woven with strong belief and terrible suffering,” with this words Pope Francis began his prayer.

“I have come from Rome as a pilgrim to meet You and express the feelings from the bottom of my heart. That is the love of Your brother. It is the brotherly love of the whole Catholic Church that loves You and stands by Your side,” the Pope said.

19։55
“Blessed be the peaceful for they will be called sons of God,” with this words His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians began his prayer.

“We note with emotion that among us there are refugees from Azerbaijan, Syria and Iraq who suffered from the war, terrorist attacks and violence.

A century ago, Armenians who had lost their homeland during the Genocide were on the same road. Having 1.5 million martyrs they were fighting for their right of existace.

Today our people live in difficult times of undeclared war, protecting the peace with the highest price,” Karekin II said in his speech.

After the Catholicos of All Armenians, Pope Francis addressed his prayer.

19։47
Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace by His Holliness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope Francis begins at the Republic Square of Armenia.

The ceremony has begun with the recital of sharakan dedicated to the Holy Resurrection of Christ.

“Be peaceful with each other. Be humble, don’t pretend to be wise. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, do kind things for others. Be peaceful. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord,” Catholic clergy recited.

19։12
Bells of all Armenian churches are ringing to herald the beginning of Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace at the Republic Square of Armenia.

His Holliness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope Francis along with the clergy move to the special platform in the centre of the Republic Square for the Ecumenic Encounter and Prayer for Peace. They will pray for peace in the whole world.

18։39
Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace by Pope Francis and Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians begins at the Republic Square of Yerevan.

People from Yerevan and different provinces of Armenia, pilgrims from all over the world came to witness the ceremony. President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady, Rita Sargsyan, Members of the National Assembly and the Government of Armenia, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps will be present during the Ecumenical ceremony.

Concerts featuring the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Eduard Topchjan and the National Chamber Choir of Armenia (Artistic Director and Choirmaster: Ohannes Tchekidjian) are organized before and after the Ecumenical Encounter and the Prayer for Peace.

Alexander Arutiunian’s “Festive Overture”, Aram Khachaturian’s Adagio, “Victory of Spartacus” from the ballet “Spartacus”, Mirzoyan’s Waltz, “Shushanik”, Komitas, George Handel’ “Hallelujah” (for orchestra and choir), Gary Kesayan’s “Ave Maria”, Giuseppe Verdi’s “Forza del destino Overture” (orchestra), Leonora’s aria “Pace, Pace mio Dio” from the opera “Forza del destino”, “Va Pensiero” from the opera “Nabucco”, “La fatal pietra sovra me si chiuse” from the opera “Aida”, Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance” will be featured during the concert.



18։20
While in Gyumri, the Pope also visited the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of the Seven Wounds, also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God. Pope Francis blessed the disabled children gathered at the church.

The Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God was built in 1882-1887, in the place of an old wooden church. Since 1830, when migrants from Erzrum brought the icon of the Holy Mother, the Church is called Yot Verk (Seven Wounds).

18։11
After delivering the Holy Mass at Vardanants Square, Pope Francis visited the religious order of Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.

According to Vatican Radio, the Pope met with residents, members of the order and the staff.

13.22
After the Mass in Vardanants square of Gyurmi, Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope Francis touring around the square in Papamobile and giving their blessings to the gathered people.

13.20
The Mass in the Latin tradition by His Holiness Pope Francis in Vardababts square of Gyumri concluded.

For the first time the Holy Patriarch of the Catholic Church offered a mass celebrated in Gyumri which is the spiritual capital of Armenian Catholics.

“I am thankful to the attendees, the priests, officials who attended the Saint Liturgy. I am also thankful to all the faithful who reached Gyumri from other regions,” Pope Francis said in his speech.

To remind the Pope will also visit Our Lady of Armenia Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Gyumri; then the Seven Wounds St. Mary Church of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Cathedral.

12.59
His Holiness Pope Francis approached the faithful and gave Communion during the Saint Liturgy underway in Vardanants Suqare of Gyumri. Priests joined the Pope. After the ceremony of Holy Communion distribution the Holy Patriarch prayed and called on the gathered pray with him.

12.15
General prayers in different languages were delivered after the speech of Supreme Patriarch Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the homily by His Holiness Pope Francis.

“O Lord, accept our prayers and let your bestowal procured upon us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the Holy Patriarch said.

11.19
Traditional Latin mass kicked off in Vardanants square of Gyumri celebrated by His Holiness, Pope Francis and Supreme Patriarch Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.



10.55
His Holiness Pope Francis is in Gyumri. Along with His Holiness Karekin II, a Divine Liturgy will be offered in Vardanants Square. Catholicos of All Armenians will open the mass ceremony with a speech followed by Pope Francis prayer. 

After the ceremony, Pope Francis will take a tour by his papamobile.

09.50
An intercession ceremony of the canonized martyrs was held at Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

To remind, on April 23, 2015 the Genocide martyrs were canonized by the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Afterwards, sharakans were sung. Also Gevorg Dabaghyan and Kamo Seyranyan with People’s Artist Jivan Gasparyan played the Armenian duduk.

At the end of the ceremony, President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, Pope Francis and His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians left for the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. The Pope blessed the tree planted in his name in the garden of memories.

Pope Francis wrote in the book of honourable guests of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. Director of the Museum, Hayk Demuryan handed the Pope a gift.

A group of descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide approached the Pope. Pope Pius XI provided their ancestors with shelter at the Papal Palace of Castle Gandolfo.
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After the visit to Tsitsernakaberd the Pope and Karekin II left for Gyumri. 

On the second day of his visit to Armenia, June 25, Pope Francis will visit Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Afterwards, with Catholicos Karekin II, the Pope will fly to Gyumri to give the Holy Mass at Vartanants Square. 

On the same day, Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace at the Republic Square of Yerevan is planned.

These events will be broadcasted live.