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The 24th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Armenia was marked in St. Blaise Armenian Catholic Church in Rome late Monday, September 21, Vatican Radio reported. The event took place under the patronage of the Armenian embassy to the Holy See.
Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches Cardinal Leonardo Sandri celebrated a Holy Mass in St. Blaise Church. The Vatican-based ambassadors, members of the clergy, and the faithful were present at the Mass.

In his speech, Cardinal Sandri reminded those present that Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion. He said that diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Armenia were established in 1992.

Cardinal Sandri also enumerated such significant events as the 2001 visit of Pope John Paul II to Armenia on the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by Armenia, as well as the unprecedented Liturgy celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica in April 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.