As part of the pontifical visit to the Far East, at midday on 30 September, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by the delegation, traveled from Singapore to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. This is the first pontifical visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians to Myanmar organized through the combined efforts of the representatives of the Armenian communities of the Far East, benefactors and the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As reported by the news service of the Mother See, after the official reception at the airport, police officers escorted the Catholicos of All Armenians to meet with General Minister of Rangun, H.E. Mint Sui.

Among those attending the meeting were patriarchal delegate of India and the Far East, Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Father, Bishop Haigazoun Najarian; spiritual pastor of the Armenians of India, head of the Armenian Humanitarian Lyceum of Calcutta, Father Zaven Yazichyan; Director of the Inter-Church Relations of the Divan of the Mother See, Father, Priest Paruyr Avetisyan benefactor of the Holy Etchmiadzin, Mr. Haig Didizian; chairman of the Armenian Church Department of Singapore, Mr. Pierre Hennes, as well as guardian of the Armenian Church of Dakka, Mr. Armen Arslanian and RA Ambassador to India Ara Hakobyan.

During the meeting held in a warm atmosphere, the Catholicos of All Armenians touched upon the relations between Armenians and Birmans and talked about the centuries-old friendship and the Armenians’ contributions to Myanmar.

In his turn, the minister welcomed the Supreme Patriarch’s viist and appreciated the Armenians’ important role in Myanmar. In response to the request of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the minister also promised to show the necessary support and assistance to the small Armenian community of Rangun.

On the same day, the Supreme Patriarch had meetings with several representatives of the local community.

On October 1, Catholicos Karekin II visited the oldest Christian church in Myanmar, the St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Church of Rangun (built in 1862) where he said a prayer and asked for world peace, the glory of the Republic of Armenia and the Union of Myanmar and served a Requiem Mass for the soul of the late member of the Department Basil Martin to rest in peace.

On the same day, the Catholicos of All Armenians, members of the Armenian community and several guests participated in the opening ceremony of the plaque placed at the entrance to the Armenian Church by the Yangon Heritage Trust. With the placement of the plaque, the church was included in Yangon’s Cultural Heritage List. Among those attending the ceremony were special representative of the President of Myanmar in Yangon, Yangon’s General Minister, H. E. Mint Sui Mayor of Yangon Hla Mint and representatives of the Ministry of Religion.

After the ceremony, the Supreme Patriarch welcomed the presence of the high-ranking guests at the important event. “Our visit is aimed at ensuring the preservation of the church as a cultural asset and helping reinforce the Armenian people’s spiritual lives, national and church traditions and community life to encourage Armenians and their children to preserve their national identity,” His Holiness said, stressing the need to make Armenians active in church and national life.

The Supreme Patriarch prayed for Myanmar and its people, wished the people peace and prayed to God to have the followers of numerous religions and faiths in the country come together as brothers for the welfare and advancement of Myanmar.

On 3 October, His Holiness, with the accompaniment of Bishop Haigazoun Najarian, Father Zaven Yazichyan, Priest Paruyr Avetisyan, Mr. Haig Didizian, Mr. Pierre Henns and Ara Hakobyan, traveled from Yangon to Nai Pi Do where he had a meeting with Minister of Religion of Myanmar, H. E. Tura Yu Mun Mint and Chief of Staff of the President of Myanmar, H. E. u So Tein. During the high-level meetings, the sides touched upon the past great Armenian-Birman relations and noted the need for strengthening of fraternal ties. Expressing gratitude for the reception, the Supreme Patrirach addressed an official invitation to the honorable ministers to visit Armenia on the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015.