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Pope Francis is not only the Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church, but also the Head of Vatican City State. That is the reason all the protocol ceremonies for the state visit were strictly followed. The anthems of the two states were performed.

The three-day journey of Pope Francis in Armenia ended. He got on the plane, blessing Armenia and Armenians.
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Farewell ceremony of Pope Francis has begun at Yerevan “Zvartnots” International Airport.

President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady, Rita Sargsyan met the Patriarchs, who arrived in the airport from Khor Virap Monastery.

The ceremony is happening now.

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Karekin II and Pope Francis went to the main St. Astvatsatsin Church of the Monastery. The church was fully renovated in 1703, after the earthquake of 1679. Here, Pope Francis and Karekin II lit the lantern, the Pope’s gift to Khor Virap.

The two Patriarchs prayed for peace at St. Astvatsatsin Church in Armenian and Italian headed toward the biblical Mount Ararat where as a sign of peace they released doves in the direction of the closed Armenian-Turkish border

Pope Francis journey to Armenia came to an end with the visit to Khor Virap Monastery.
The official farewell ceremony will be held minutes later, at “Zvartnots” International Airport.

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The two Patriarchs entered the church built in the7th century on the tortured pit where the Father of the Armenian faith - Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned
The Armenian Catholicos and Pope Francis lit the candles from the light taken from the pit.17։13
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Pope Francis are at Khor Virap Monastery. They are greeted by Assistant Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Artak Tigranian and other priests of the Armenian Church.

It should be noted that Khor Virap Monastery is the last stop of Pope’s journey to Armenia.

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The Divine Liturgy in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, served by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians accompanied by prayers of Pope Francis, concluded.

Before descending the altar, Karekin II asked for the Lord peace for the faithful people of Armenia and Artsakh, firm and friendly ties between the two sister churches.
His Holiness Pope Francis blessed the gathered people.

To remind, the Divine Liturgy was attended by RA President Serzh Sargsyan, Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, officials, faithful throughout Armenian regions and Diaspora.
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 Pope Francis: At the end of this greatly desired visit, one already unforgettable for me, I join my gratitude to the Lord with the great hymn of praise and thanksgiving that rose from this altar. Your Holiness, in these days you have opened to me the doors of your home, and we have experienced “how good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity” (Ps 133:1). We have met, we have embraced as brothers, we have prayed together and shared the gifts, hopes and concerns of the Church of Christ. We have felt as one her beating heart, and we believe and experience that the Church is one.

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The Divine Liturgy continues in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. On this occasion, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians delivers his message to the audience.

“Today, faith in God is being tempted and human souls are being hardened during times of hardship and difficulties as well as during times of wealth and lavishness, when they are disengaged with the concerns of those who long for daily bread and are in pain and suffering. Faith is put to the test by extremism and other kinds of ideologies; xenophobia, addictions, passions and self-centred profits. The processes of secularism are intensifying, spiritual and ethical values and views are distorted, and the family structure, established by God, is being shaken. The root of evil in modern life is in trying to build a world without God, to construe the laws and commandments of God which bring forward economic, political, social, environmental and other problems, that day by day deepen and threaten the natural way of life,” Karekin II said.


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The officiating priest at mass takes away the crown, the omophorion and his slippers. This signifies that in the beginning, he was imitating the Saviour by adorning himself with glory. When the bread and the wine are brought, symbolizing Christ’s body and blood, the officiating priest becomes a simple servant of the divine board. The deacons warn that unbaptized children and those not ready for communion shouldn’t approach the Holy Council.
  

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Divine Liturgy offered by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the St. Trdat Open Air Altar begins. Pope Francis participates in the ceremony within the framework of his three-day journey to Armenia. It should be noted that the open air altar was built in 2001 on the occasion of 1700th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Armenia.
The altar was built to accommodate large crowds of the faithful who come from around the world to witness the celebration of special occasions on Feast Days such as Blessing of the Grapes, the Remembrance Day of St. Trdat, and other great Feasts. In 2001, Pope Saint John Paul II, the first Pope who visited Armenia, offered a Divine Liturgy at this altar.

On the last day of his visit to Armenia, June 26, the Pope will participate in Pontifical Divine Liturgy offered by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the St. Trdat Open Air Altar.

Afterwards Pope Francis will meet with delegates and benefactors of the Apostolic Church of Armenia.
The last stop of Pope’s visit to Armenia will be Khor Virap Monastery. This is the place where the two pontiffs, Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew, founders of the Armenian Apostolic Church met. Khor Virap is famous for a number of reasons, primarily because it is where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 14 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301.

In the 5th century a monastery was built in the place of the royal palace. In the 12th – 13th centuries this monastery was not only a shrine and a place for pilgrimage but also a prominent cultural and educational centre.

Afterwards, the farewell ceremony will be held at “Zvartnots” International Airport. Then the Pope will return to Vatican.

To remind, the journey of Pope Francis to Armenia, the 1st Christian Nation started on June 24. The official welcome ceremony took place at “Zvartnots” International Airport of Yerevan. Afterwards, the Pope visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Apostolic Cathedral. Greetings were given by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II and by Pope Francis.

On the same day, meetings with the Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps were held at the Presidential Palace. At the end of the day, the Pope met with Catholicos Karekin II in private.

During the 2nd day of his journey, June 25, Pope Francis visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Afterwards, with Catholicos Karekin II, the Pope flew to Gyumri to give the Holy Mass at Vartanants Square. The Pope also visited the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of the Seven Wounds and Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Gyumri. On the same day, Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace were delivered at the Republic Square of Yerevan.

These events will be broadcasted live.