[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 ARMENIA'S 1700TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROCLAIMING CHRISTIANITY AS OFFICIAL 
                                RELIGION

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank His Holiness 
Karekin II for providing this morning's prayer and for helping this 
House celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the world's first Christian 
nation, Armenia. It was 1700 years ago that the leader of the Kingdom 
of Armenia, the pagan King Drtad III, was baptized as a Christian and 
made the historic decision to proclaim Christianity as the official 
religion of the Armenian kingdom. It is the anniversary of this event 
that brings His Holiness to the United States this month.
  I will be fortunate to join him at what should be one of the largest 
gatherings of Armenian Americans in New York City's Central Park this 
upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
  His Holiness will also be the honored guest at an ecumenical prayer 
service next week at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 
here in Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank His Holiness for gracing this House with 
his presence this morning and for making this trip to the United 
States. It not only means a lot to me but to the millions of diaspora 
Armenians and Americans of other faiths who will have the opportunity 
to hear his words during this visit.

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