YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. Divine Liturgy kicks off in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the St. Trdat Open Air Altar offered by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II with the participation of Pope Francis. “Armenpress” reports pilgrims have arrived from various parts of the world to attend the liturgy.

A number of other events will be held at the Mother See, 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 Ararat. Afterwards the Pope will head to the airport to return to Rome.

On June 24 Pope Francis arrived in Armenia on a three-day visit. The Pope was welcomed by President Serzh Sargsyan and His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in the “Zvartnots” Airport.

A welcoming ceremony took place in Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin. Afterwards, the Pope arrived in the Presidential Palace, where a private meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan took place, followed by announcements for Armenian officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of the society.

Pope Francis visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on June 25, where he put a wreath on the memorial and prayed for the souls of the holy martyrs. Later on the same day, a mass was held in Gyumri’s Vardanants Square. After the mass the Pope invited Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II into his popemobile and they toured around Gyumri’s square.  A number of other events took place in Gyumri, after which the Pope returned to Yerevan, where the most important and most open event for the society during his visit took place in the Republic Square- Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians delivered ecumenical peace prayer.

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan