There are 200.000 Armenian Catholics in Armenia and Javakhk (Georgia) today. The Catholic diocese of Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe reopened in 1991 after the break in Soviet era. Archbishop Nerses Ter-Nersesian, member of Mkhitarist Congregation of Venice, has spearheaded the diocese all these years. But not long ago before his death, Pope John-Paul II replaced Ter-Nersisian because of his age and appointed Archbishop Nshan Garakeheyan. Inaugural ceremony took place last Sunday, 8 May, at St. Gregory the Illuminator of Arevik village of Shirak region.
The ceremony hosted many guests from Gyumri, Lori, Tavush, and Javakhk. Vatican’s envoy Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti and the head of Shirak diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian took part in the ceremony as well.
The last 4 of 45 years of service Archbishop Garakeheyan spent as head of Armenian Catholic diocese in Iran. “I came to serve you, the Lord and our beloved fatherland – Armenia”, he said to the crowd.
By Gegham Mkrtchian
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