His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians today paid a four-day pontifical visit to Syunik Province of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), as reported the Information Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Berge Setrakian also left for Artsakh with the Supreme Patriarch.

In Syunik Province, the Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his appreciation and gave his blessings to the municipal authorities’ representatives and the people who had gathered. Afterwards, the Catholicos of All Armenians and the AGBU President visited the local St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Goris where His Holiness was greeted by residents and soldiers of Goris.

His Holiness and the accompanying clergymen visited the Military Pantheon in Goris where His Holiness and AGBU President Berge Setrakian laid wreaths in front of the eternal flame and memorial cross-stone, after which the Catholicos of All Armenians said a prayer for the souls of the deceased soldiers of the third Artsakh war to rest in peace.

His Holiness also gave his blessings and expressed his kind wishes to newlyweds in Shurnukh who, knowing about the visit of His Holiness to Shurnukh, had expressed the desire to receive his blessings.

On the way back, His Holiness had a talk with the heads of communities, including Mayor of Kapan Gevorg Parsyan.

In the evening, the Armenian Pontiff had a meeting with clergymen of the Diocese of Syunik Province, gave his blessings and appreciated their service. They discussed the actions that the Church is taking after the war, as well as the social programs under implementation. His Holiness particularly called everyone’s attention to the families of deceased, missing and captured soldiers, as well as wounded soldiers.