DELHI, FEBRUARY 27, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians arrived in India on February 23. Ashot Kocharian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to India and employees of the Embassy of Armenia met His Holiness Patriarch and his retinue in the VIP hall of the Indira Gandhi international airport in New Delhi. The delegation headed by the Patriarch of All Armenians, accompanied by the RA Ambassador visited on February 24 the memorial complex to Mahatma Gandhi, national hero of India and leader of the independent movement of India in New Delhi. The complex director met His Holiness at the entrance of the complex and accompanied him to Gandhi's gravestone in the center of the park. His Holiness laid a wreath to Mahatma Gandhi's grave and prayed for peace in the world and brotherhood of nations. The Patriarch also left a writing in the memory book of the complex. On the same day the Patriarchal delegation visited the Akshardham complex which is a monument of Indian belief and a cathedral. Indian priests headed by Sadhu Atmasvarupadas met His Holiness. When going round the complex, His Holiness was presented the history, culture and national traditions of India. In the midday Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians visited the National Museum of India as well. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness left for the city of Agra, India on February 25, where the second Armenian church in India, Surb Martiros, was built in 1562. The church is not standing at present but a number of Armenian gravestones were kept in the Agra graveyard. The delegation also visited Taj Mahal and Agra castle when visiting Agra.

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