On September 25, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians received 24 schoolchildren from five villages of the Karvatchar region of Artsakh at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness had invited the schoolchildren to the Mother See during his September 9 visit to Dadivank Monastery in Artsakh.

The Mother See reports that, on behalf of the residents of Karvatchar, Abbot of Dadivank Monastery, Fr. Priest Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and head of the administration of the region near Dadivank Monastery Karen Yeghishyan, expressed gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for the personal invitation to the schoolchildren and the cordial reception at the Mother See, expressing confidence that those seeds would definitely give fruit.

Afterwards, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians gave his patriarchal blessings to the gathered.

“We were very excited when we met you at Dadivank Monastery and saw your cordiality, as well as love for and dedication to your monastery and national sanctities. We saw that you are the brave sons of your parents who will defend all this and your Homeland with the same zeal,” His Holiness said and expressed joy for the visit of the children to the Mother See.

The Supreme Patriarch expressed confidence that this visit would serve as a good opportunity for the youth to recognize the Homeland, feel more patriotic and have strong faith.

His Holiness and the children talked about their impressions of the visit and their daily activities. His Holiness also gave them gifts.

During the three-day visit, the children participated in the Holy Mass at the Mother Cathedral, visited the museums and structures of the Mother See, the churches and monasteries of the city of Etchmiadzin with the accompaniment of clergymen, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex , the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts after Mesrop Mashtots (Matenadaran), the History Museum of Armenia and the National Gallery of Armenia. The talented children performed Armenian songs and dances at the September 24 concert held at the Hrach and Susan Tufaian Armenian Youth Center of Etchmiadzin.