YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–His Holiness Karekin I–Catholicos of All Armenia’s–departed Wednesday for his first official visit to Egypt. During a seven-day trip–His Holiness will visit Cairo and Alexandria–meet with local Armenian communities–visit Armenian schools of Cairo. On January 18–He will serve holy liturgy at the St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Cathedral in Cairo.
As reported by the Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin–Karekin I will also pay a visit to the Orthodox church of Cairo.
He will meet with head of the Egyptian Orthodox Church–as well as Greek Orthodox and Catholic patriarchs–and Great Sheikh Doctor Tantaui–rector of the Asian Islamic University.
His Holiness will be accompanied by Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese–Bishop Navasard Kchoyan–abbot of St. Ripsime Church–Archbishop Movses Movsissian and Lazar Soujian–chairman of the state council for religion.
The Catholicos will leave Egypt on January 24 and next visit the Armenian community in Germany.
Upon his arrival in Germany–he will attend a ceremony of sanctification of the newly built church of St. Sahak-Mesrop in Keln and serve the first liturgy there on January 25. Karekin I will meet members of the Armenian communities of Bonn–Berlin–Frankfurt and other German cities.
His Holiness also plans to meet President Helmut Kohl and Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel.
