On March 24, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, had a telephone conversation with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, concerning the seizure of Kessab and the surrounding areas, which led to the evacuation of the Armenian population and several Armenian families, as well as the destruction and shelling of homes and sacred places.
The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his deep concerns about the events and condemned the extremists’ terrorist actions against the peaceful civilians, which was being supported by Turkey. During the conversation, His Holiness Karekin II expressed his support to Catholicos Aram I.
His Holiness also had a telephone conversation with His Grace Bishop ArmashNalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, regarding the current situation in Kessab.
During a consultation at the Mother See, the Catholicos of All Armenians affirmed that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and its diocesan structures dispersed throughout the Diaspora will continue to support the Syrian-Armenians, praying for the re-establishment of peace in the lives of the pious people of Syria and the safe return of the deported and refugee families.
