Pope, Armenian Patriarch, close to unity.

Vatican--An important ecumenical meeting took place here on November 9, 2000, on the occasion of the visit of the Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II. In a joint declaration, the Patriarch and Pope John Paul II confessed the common articles of faith linking the two churches and made a commitment to work towards full unity in the future. Despite theological and liturgical differences, the two churches have a long tradition of mutual respect.

The climax of the Patriarch's visit was an ecumenical celebration in St. Peter's Basilica on November 10.

"We acknowledge, that both the Catholic Church and the Armenian Church have true sacraments, above all by apostolic succession of bishops, the priesthood and the Eucharist, " the two leaders declared in a statement. "We continue to pray for full and visible communion between us."

During the rite, the Holy Father presented Karekin II with a relic of St. Gregory the Illuminator, patron of the Armenian Church. It will be placed in the new Apostolic cathedral being built in Yerevan.

Both religious leaders made a prayer for unity between their churches and for peace in the world, particularly in the Middle East. The Catholicos expressed his gratitude to Western church leaders who aided his people in the dark days of persecution. He then renewed an invitation to the Pope to visit Armenia next year for the l700th anniversary of Christianity there.

The Armenian Apostolic Church seceded from Rome over 1,500 years ago in a theological dispute on the nature of Christ. Their sacraments, priesthood and eucharist are recognised as valid by Rome. Theological differences between Rome and Etchmiadzin, the episcopal see of Catholicos Karekin, were resolved in 1996. (See Catholic Insight, June 1997, p.25)

Armenia, a former Soviet republic, became a Christian country in the year 301, several years before Rome itself. Falling under Ottoman Turkish rule in the early years of the 20th century, it suffered a genocidal persecution at their hands in 1915. The resultant diaspora has left Armenian communities throughout the world, several in North America.