ETCHMIADZIN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches is being held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin between September 23 to 28 at the invitation of Patriarch Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians. Archbishop T. Vigen Aykazian, the Chairman of the National Committee of the U. S. Churches and the responsible for the interchurch relations of the U.S. Eastern Armenian diocese, represents the Armenian Apostolic Church in the structure of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches. Receiving Dr. Samuel Kobia, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, who has arrived in Armenia at his invitation, Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, expressed satisfaction with the convocation of the regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches. "We are happy that the Mother See of Holy Etcmiadzin has its contribution to the main strivings of the World Council of Churches, which are the brotherhood of churches and the cooperation between them. We are happy that our church is greatly envolved in the World Council of Churches, that is, in different structures and bodies of the latter, and takes an active part in that work," His Holiness said. Referring to the mission of churches in the 21th century, Patriarch Garegin II mentioned that the churches can overcome the challenges set in front of the humanity only due to joint efforts. Dr. Kobia in his turn thanked His Holiness for the hospitality and said: "This is not just a visit for us, but a pilgrimage, as Armenia and the Armenian people play a very peculiar role for us and the World Council of Churches. The Secretary General of the World Council of Churches also thanked His Holiness for the important contribution the Armenian Apostolic Church makes for the World Council of Churches, in particular, and the ecumenical movement, in general. According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information Service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches visited the monasteries of Saint Hripsime and Saint Gayane accompanied by the monks of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on the same day.

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