On July 4, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received members of New Jersey’s Shushi Dance Ensemble at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The members were accompanied by the Mother See’s benefactors, Mr. and Mrs. Hrach and Susan Tufaian.

The Supreme Patriarch gave his blessing and expressed his appreciation to the dance ensemble and its supporters and attached great importance to the mission of the ensemble to educate and provide an upbringing. His Holiness mentioned with satisfaction that the dance ensemble has planned to give concerts in the Homeland, which are part of the ensemble’s concert tour.

During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians, paying heed to the request of Primate of the U.S. Eastern Diocese, Father Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian, granted the St. Sahak-St. Mesrop High Medal of Honor of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church to Shushi Dance Ensemble’s dance instructor, Mrs. Seta Paskalian-Kandardjian as a token of appreciation of her dedicated and longstanding service.

At the end, His Holiness gave his blessing to the attendees with a prayer and wished Shushi Dance Ensemble success. His Holiness also urged the friends of the dance ensemble to support the ensemble so that the national dances and traditions are always transmitted to the young generations.