Wednesday, 22 November 2017, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, welcomed His Excellency the resigning Armenian Ambassador to Romania, Mr Hamlet Gasparian, at his patriarchal residence in Bucharest.
Ambassador Hamlet Gasparian was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian on behalf of the Armenian Church in Romania.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel appreciated the Ambassador’s activity in Romania and pointed out that the historical ties between the two nations ought to be strengthened. His Beatitude recalled that the protector saint of his patriarchal ministry is Saint Gregory the Enlightener of Greater Armenia, who in 2008 became the patron of a new chapel of the patriarchal residence.
The Romanian Patriarch referred to the experience of the Armenian people regarding the preservation of its ethnic identity despite historical difficulties.
Ambassador Hamlet Gasparian thanked for the hospitality and friendship of the Romanian people and the Romanian Orthodox Church manifested towards the Armenian community in Romania.
The Ambassador said that during his seven-year diplomatic activity he had the opportunity to discover the continuity of the historical relationship between Armenians and Romanians, as well as similarities in values and mentality that draw the two nations closer.
The Ambassador has encouraged mutual knowledge by paying several visits all across Romania especially to the places where the Armenian presence remained visible for centuries.
The talks included the recalling of the dramatic historical events experienced by Armenians at the beginning of the 20th century, later followed by a period of communist atheism.
At the end of the meeting, the hope was expressed that a future direct Bucharest-Erevan flight route will be available, which would facilitate pilgrimages to several places of worship in Armenia and Romania.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Translated by Basilica.ro
Photography courtesy of Robert Nicolae / Basilica.ro
