President Sarkissian attended the ceremonies dedicated to the 20th anniversary of passing away of the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin I

President Armen Sarkissian and Mrs. Nouneh Sarkissian today at the Holy See of Saint Etchmiadzin were present at the ceremonies dedicated to the memory and the 20th anniversary of passing away of the blessed memory Garegin I, His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians. His Holiness Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II led a memorial service after which President Sarkissian gave a eulogy.

“It is a difficult but at the same time a very honorable task for me as the President of the Republic of Armenia but also as his friend to speak today about His Holiness Garegin I. It’s not up to me to evaluate His Holiness. Evaluation, appreciation was given and will be given in the future, was given by God by selecting him as his son, as the Catholicos of All Armenians. In my own life, Garegin I had a great role. I would say that His Holiness was my first gospel teacher. Years ago, at the beginning of 1990s, I was the RA Ambassador in London and when His Holiness visited London for the first time, I received my first lesson from him when sited by his side during the liturgy. His Holiness administered the service and explained to me its spiritual meaning. Our conversation went on and on for hours and continued for a number of years. Each time we met, I learned from the Vehapar lessons of spiritual life and patriotism.”

The President noted that contacts with the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin I deeply impressed also foreign partners and statemen: During the meetings with them, he presented the history of our nation splendidly and turned them into Armenia’s good friends. “When His Holiness was already terminally ill, the then President of the World Bank James Wolfensohn made an official visit to Armenia the true reason for which was to see His Holiness before he died. In the same vein, President Bill Clinton was reminding me of his brilliant meeting with the Catholicos, and so on and on,” the President told.

“When I was prime minister, every two or three days, at the end of the working day, we used to meet with His Holiness at his Yerevan residence and speak for hours. The Vehapar was a great Armenian, a great person, and he left a huge imprint. He is here, he still lives, he lives in each and every one of us. He lives in my family and in me.”