The two-day international conference, titled “Crisis in Syria: Challenges facing Faith Communities,” kicked off Wednesday at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Catholicos of Armenians Karekin II is chairing the event, and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan attended its official opening.   

World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit also is participating in the conference.
The event opened with the Lord’s prayer and a blessing by the Catholicos and, subsequently, Armenia’s PM delivered opening remarks.

In particular, Abrahamyan expressed the hope that the international conference will contribute to the establishment of a political and interreligious discourse in Syria, and that the recent presidential elections in the country will promote a dialogue toward solving the current problems and rebuilding Syria.  

The two-day international conference has brought together the representatives of Christian Churches in the Middle East—including Syria—, Russia, Europe, and the United States.