On June 21, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians received the jury members for and guests of the FRESCO Annual Festival of Modern Art and Spiritual and Moral Films led by Vicar of the Prelacy of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, Father, Archbishop Navasard Ktchoyan and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Bishop Mikayel Longin and historian, Father Ioan Guaita. The festival’s religious consultant and correspondent, spiritual servant of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese, spiritual pastor of the Holy Trinity Church, Father, Priest Yesayi Artenyan was also attending the meeting.

The Catholicos of All Armenians gave his blessing to and expressed his appreciation of the organizers of the spiritual films festival, which is aimed at helping reinforce love, solidarity and humanism and disseminate spiritual values among the public through cultural and spiritual dialogue. His Holiness particularly underlined the need for such initiatives which, contrary to the current destruction of moral and spiritual values and the processes of secularization, advocate peace, tolerance, humanism and other universal values. The Catholicos of All Armenians also attached importance to the fact that there are many clergymen showing their active participation in the festival. His Holiness expressed confidence that the FRESCO Festival will have a positive impact on Armenian society, and the guests and participants of the festival will get in touch with the spiritual values of the Armenian nation and the nation’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

During the meeting, the guests and jury members thanked the Catholicos of All Armenians for the cordial reception at the Mother See and informed that the festival will include the screenings of nearly 57 films presented by directors from 17 countries around the world.

His Holiness expressed his satisfaction with the organizers of the spiritual films festival once again and wished the festival success, reports the press office of the Mother See to “Hayern Aysor”.