Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians, who officially visits Crete, honoured Archbishop Irenaeus of Crete and the Governor of Crete Region, Stavros Arnaoutakis, for their support to the Armenian community.
The ceremony was held at the Archbishop’s Palace, in the presence of the President of the Church Committee of the Church of Armenia in Greece, Antonis Benardis, and the Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Crete, Methodios Vernidakis.
The Armenian Patriarch offered a cross to the Governor of Crete Region while inviting the Governor and the Archbishop of Crete to visit Armenia.
On his part, the Governor, Stavros Arnaoutakis, referred to the religious and historical ties that the Cretans have for centuries with the Armenian community, stressing that “the Church of Crete, clergy and lay people faithfully serve the principles and values of the Ecumenical Throne in Constantinople”.
It is reminded that the Armenian Patriarch visits Crete for the events organized by the community of Heraklion, in collaboration with the Holy Archdiocese of Crete and the Region of Crete, on the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Church “Agios Ioannis Prodromos” in Kamaraki, which is considered the oldest church in Europe that is preserved today.
The representative of the Armenian community in Crete, Santi Avedisian, gave an honorary plaque for the 350 years since the foundation of the Armenian church in Crete to the Governor of Crete Region.
Source: ANA-MPA
