[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WELCOME TO HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to come to the floor today 
and help welcome His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and 
Catholicos of all Armenians. Welcome to the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  I thank His Holiness for offering such a wonderful prayer. I also 
want to thank the House chaplain for allowing the opportunity to 
celebrate this very special occasion.
  His Holiness Karekin II is the 132nd in a continuous line of pontiffs 
of the Armenian Church dating back to the 4th century. As the chief 
shepherd of the world's 7 million Apostolic Christians, Catholicos 
Karekin II administers the Armenian Church from the Mother See of Holy 
Etchmiadzin located in the Republic of Armenia.
  This year marks the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's conversion to 
Christianity. Armenians throughout America have waited with great 
anticipation for this special visit in celebration of this 
extraordinary anniversary.
  Mr. Speaker, I join all Armenian Americans and Armenian supporters 
throughout the United States in thanking His Holiness for making this 
trip to America and being with us here today.

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