An international conference, entitled “Church and State Relations: Imperatives and Challenges,” kicked off Friday at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.    

Bishop Hovakim Manukian, Head of the Inter Church Relations Department of the Mother See and Primate of the Artik Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, welcomed the audience with opening remarks. 

He underscored the holding of this two-day event at Holy Etchmiadzin, and expressed confidence that the matters to be discussed at this conference will greatly contribute to making relations between churches and states become more productive.

In turn Armenian National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan conveyed NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s words of welcome to the participants in the conference.