Hungary will provide support to families who have resettled in Armenia after the escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh.Continue reading
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, welcomed Tristan Azbej, the Secretary of State responsible for programs aiding persecuted Christians, during an audience on Monday.
In a social media post, Mr. Azbej expressed his honor at being received by the Patriarch. His visit to Armenia was at the Church leader’s invitation to participate in two significant ecclesiastical celebrations: the liturgy for the blessing of holy oil (myron), held every seven years, and the reconsecration of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s cathedral in Echmiadzin, which occurred six centuries ago.
The Secretary of State highlighted the strong Hungarian-Armenian relations, noting that he was the only foreign government representative invited to the events.
His Holiness praised Hungary’s support for Christians, particularly Armenians in the Middle East, through the Hungary Helps Program, as well as assistance for families resettling from Karabakh to Armenia. He also acknowledged Hungary’s role in mediating the release of Armenian citizens detained in Azerbaijan in 2021.
The discussions included the state of Eastern Christianity and prospects for peace-building in the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Ukraine.
Tristan Azbej informed the Patriarch about the growing Hungarian-Armenian cultural, educational, aviation, and economic ties since the resumption of diplomatic relations in 2022. During his visit, he also met with Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Peter Minasyan XXI and leaders from Armenian foreign affairs, as well as representatives from the Armenian Red Cross and Caritas.
“Our Christian brothers and sisters in the East can count on Hungary,” the Secretary of State concluded.
Via MTI; Featured Image: Wikipedia