H.H. Karekin II Speaks at Fresno State

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians paid a special visit, by invitation of the Armenian Studies Program, to the Fresno State campus, on Wednesday May 9, 2001.

He gave a lecture on "The Armenian Church in the 21st Century" to a capacity audience of more that 150 faculty, students, and community members, in the Alice Peters Auditorium of the University Business Center. The address, given in English, expressed his Holiness’ vision for the future of the Armenian Church and its role as a world-wide institution.

His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, is making his first Pontifical visit to the United States and Canada.

The talk also focused on efforts to involve the youth in the Armenian Church. His Holiness has a keen interest in the Armenian youth of the world and has made special efforts to meet with them while on his pastoral visits.

The Fresno State appearance marked the only visit to a college campus by His Holiness, who was making his first Pontifical visit to the United States and Canada since his election as Catholicos in October of 1999.

Several years earlier, then Archbishop Karekin Nersissian had made a private visit to the Armenian Studies Program, where he met with Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies and Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program. They had discussed issues concerning the Armenian Church in general.

His Holiness was in the San Joaquin Valley from May 7-10, celebrating Divine Liturgy at St. Paul Armenian Church on Monday, May 7. He also visited local valley parishes, the Armenian Community School, and the California Armenian Home.

His Holiness Karekin II was accompanied by Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Church and Bishop Navasard Ktshoyan, Patriarchal Vicar of the Araratian Diocese in Armenia. Fr. Arshen Ayvazian, pastor of the St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno accompanied the Catholicos as interpreter.

His Holiness Karekin II was born in 1951 in the village of Voskehat in Armenia. He graduated from the Theological Seminary of the Monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1971. In 1972 he was ordained a celibate priest by His Holiness Vazken I.

On October 23, 1983 he was ordained a bishop in the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and in 1992 he was raised to the rank of Archbishop.

He was elected as 132nd Catholicos of All Armenians on October 27, 1999.

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