Charlotte – His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, continued his Pontifical Visit to the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) with a visit to the city of Charlotte, North Carolina for two days – Friday, October 12th and Saturday, October 13th. This relatively new Armenian community of Charlotte, which has grown significantly in recent years to around 1,000 community members, is mainly comprised of immigrants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lebanon and Russia.

His Holiness the Catholicos visited St. Sarkis Armenian Church was consecrated on July 31, 2005 thanks to the late benefactors, Sarkis and Bobbye Acopian, whose generosity also oversaw the building of two churches in Armenia.

On Friday, October 12th, the Roman Catholic Prelate of Charlotte, Bishop Peter Jugis, hosted a luncheon for the Catholicos at Duke Mansion. The luncheon brought together faith leaders of the Armenian, Baptist, Coptic Orthodox, Episcopalian, Evangelical, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox Church of America, Presbyterian Churches and members of the Jewish and Islamic faiths. The luncheon was followed by an Ecumenical Prayer Service.

On the same evening at 6:30 p.m., the Armenian Church community welcomed His Holiness at the Hrashapar Service (a thanksgiving service of welcoming) at St. Sarkis Armenian Church of Charlotte. The service included Church leaders from other denominations as well.

At the conclusion of the Hrashapar Service, a public reception in the adjacent Sarkis & Bobby Acopian Hall was held. Ecumenical and Interfaith leaders joined the Armenian faithful in becoming better acquainted with His Holiness and he with them. The reception included food and traditional Armenian poetry recitals, music and dance. The Catholicos spoke to his flock in Armenian, English, German and Russian. Father Daniel Karadjian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church, felt that older members of the flock felt “especially Armenian that evening” – helping to recover a sense of their Armenian Christian identities having been forced to live abroad in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide and resulting Diaspora, which found many living in neighboring countries and enduring their more recent conflicts in the wake of the Soviet Union’s demise.

Father Daniel shared, “Everyone was so happy. There were many tears of joy and emotion. We’re so happy to have received the blessings of His Holiness – and the blessings of our Heavenly Father, our Homeland, our faith and Jesus Christ, Our Lord.” Father Daniel explained further, “Through His Holiness’ visit we know we’re in His Holiness’ thoughts. He promised that He would return when our children are older and have their own children and even grandchildren. The community was so happy to meet His Holiness and get to know him and they felt more Armenian and closer to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.”

His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), who travels with His Holiness Karekin II throughout the Pontifical Visit, introduced the Catholicos of All Armenians. In his opening prayer and introduction, Archbishop Barsamian prayed, “May the love, unity and the hope in our people today – and their proximity to God – continue always.”

On Saturday morning, at 10:30 a.m., a youth program took place in the sanctuary, again followed by a public reception in the Sarkis & Bobby Acopian Hall. Hundreds of children and young people took part in the morning’s activities with His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians.

“Everyone was so happy. There were many tears of joy and emotion. We’re so happy to have received the blessings of His Holiness….”

During the first half of the morning’s program, 3 to 9 year-olds recited a bible reading of the ‘Fishers of Men’ passage to His Holiness (Mt 4:18-22). His Holiness, responding to the children’s readings, spoke to them, in English, about keeping the faith and the nation alive. The Catholicos urged the children to “Remember the faith of your fathers and mothers. Keep their traditions and customs. Be patriotic Americans but don’t forget your Armenian Christian heritage. Be fishermen – not just fish. Bring your faith home – make it part of your lives each and every day.” This was followed by a biblical version of Jeopardy played out by teenagers recounting the story of the Armenian Church, religion and Christianity.

At the end of the morning, everyone sang the blessing ‘Amen Hallelujah’ from the Mysteries of the Armenian Church. His Holiness, ever attentive to the needs of his children, ate what they enjoyed – pizza. Parents beamed on as they watched their beloved Catholicos join with their much-loved Primate, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, in distributing prayer cards and wooden Armenian crosses to each child in attendance.
His Holiness Karekin II took time to bless bread, salt and water so these could in turn bless the flock’s homes as a part of this year’s Home and Church theme. Hundreds of Nushkhars (round wafers) were blessed and distributed for using in the blessing of parishioners homes during the coming months.

The reception provided His Holiness with an intimate opportunity to meet his flock. Conversing in the motherat- tongue of Armenian, using English, Russian and even German, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians spoke with his North Carolinian flock with a unique pastoral sensitivity – listening to their words, concerns, dreams and hopes. Children greeted him with both awe and familial love – some hugging him as a sign of affection.

At the conclusion of the day’s events His Holiness Karekin II congratulated the community, commended them for preserving their Armenian Christian faith and thanked them for remembering their mother nation. The Catholicos presented Father Daniel with a lanchakhach (pectoral cross) traditionally worn by priests.

As the faithful began to sing together His Holiness was visibly moved, expressing his joy at hearing the faithful raise their voices as one.

The Charlotte Pontifical Visit Committee Co-Chair, Naomi Tavitian, is still filled with emotion, even after His Holiness has left the city. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for all Armenians, and especially for our small community. There was so much emotion, love and excitement for our Church, Armenia and for Our Lord Jesus Christ. I’ve met His Holiness in Armenia but meeting him again made me feel like I got more acquainted with him and I’m so pleased that our children bonded with him – they are our future. It was wonderful the way he engaged them – they’ll never forget this experience.”

“Although His Holiness presented my co-chair Diane Tudor and I with framed miniatures of Holy Etchmiadzin,” added Tavitian, “if it were not for the whole Committee this visit would have been the success it has been.”

The Catholicos, His Holiness Karekin II, began his Pontifical Visit to his flock in the United States with a two-day visit to the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in California at the beginning of October.The Catholicos will be visiting the faithful in the Eastern Diocese for an unprecedented 30 days which will be concluded on November 3rd. During the course of the Pontifical Visit, His Holiness Karekin II will visit 18 cities in 14 different states. (A complete list of visits can be found online at: www.pontificalvisit.org).

Daily coverage of the Pontifical Visit can be found online on the official Pontifical Visit Web Site (www.pontificalvisit.org). The site provides a wealth of information about His Holiness Karekin II, the Armenian Church, and the Diaspora and includes daily photographic and video updates to allow the faithful throughout the United States and the world to stay abreast of events, activities and worship services.

For more information on the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II, including supplemental media advisories and background papers, please visit: www.pontificalvisit.org and www.armenianchurch.net