[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



TRIBUTE TO HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN I, CATHOLICOS OF THE ARMENIAN ORTHODOX 
                                 CHURCH

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to His 
Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church. His 
Holiness passed away on June 29, 1999 at the Holy See of Etcmiadzin, 
Armenia.
  In 1997, I had the opportunity to meet personally with His Holiness, 
the supreme patriarch of the Armenian Church, in Yerevan. I was moved 
by his devotion to his church and the love and compassion he had for 
all people. His Holiness Karekin I was not only respected and loved by 
Armenian people throughout the world, but his wisdom, compassion and 
courage was renowned in international religious circles. Throughout his 
life, His Holiness traveled to many countries, including the United 
States and my home state of Rhode Island, to strengthen and reconfirm 
the faith of the Armenian community. He was truly an inspiration to all 
who knew him.
  His Holiness dedicated more than fifty years to his faith, and his 
devotion raised him rapidly to the highest ranks of the Church. He was 
born in the village of Kessab, Syria in 1932 and was ordained as a 
priest in the Church's celibate order in 1949 after his graduation from 
the Armenian Church Seminary in Antilias, Lebanon. His Holiness was 
recognized as an exceptional scholar and sent to Oxford University for 
theological studies. After completing his studies, he returned to 
Antilias to serve as Dean of the seminary. His Holiness was recognized 
for his leadership skills by being asked to lead church dioceses in 
Iran and the United States. In 1977, he was elected Catholicos of the 
Catholicosate of Cilicia, based in Lebanon.
  The people of Armenia elected Karekin I Supreme Catholicos of the 
Armenian people in 1995. Karekin I was the first Catholicos in 
centuries to reign within an independent Armenian state. His Holiness 
worked tirelessly for the spiritual revival of the Armenian Orthodox 
Church in Armenia. His Holiness also decentralized the infrastructure 
of the church in Armenia by adding new diocese throughout the country, 
and he restored churches and monasteries which had been closed during 
the era of Soviet rule.
  The Armenian people throughout the world are mourning the death of 
His Holiness, and Armenia will be paying tribute to his extraordinary 
life by holding a period of national mourning through August 8.
  I urge my colleagues to join with the Armenian community in 
remembering the legacy of hope, courage, and compassion left by His 
Holiness Karekin I.

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