ARMENIA: DEATH OF ARMENIAN CHURCH LEADER

(8 Jul 1999) Natural Sound

Five thousand people gathered on Thursday to mourn the death of the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Catholicos Garegin I (the first) died of throat cancer on June 29, at the age of 66.

He led the Armenian Apostolic Church for four years and was known for trying to reconciliate the 15-century-old split with the Roman Catholic Church.

A crowd of worshipers, local political leaders and several foreign delegations, attended Garegin's funeral in the cathedral of his home town of Echmiadzin.

He was laid in state for two days, alongside past Armenian church leaders, so that faithfuls could pay their last respects.

Now, according to tradition, his grave will be gradually filled with soil over seven days of religious ceremonies.

Garegin was born Nshan Sarkisian in Kassab, Syria.

Armenian President, Robert Kocheryan addressed the crowd of mourners describing Garegin's period in office as historic.

Kocharian added that Garegin focused his efforts on restoring faith, hope and love in society.

Catholicos Garegin I (the first) took the name Garegin after an earlier Armenian spiritual leader and was elected Catholicos in April 1995.

He succeeded Vazgen I, who had held the post for 40 years.

There are about 10 million Armenians worldwide, most of whom are believed to be followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The church, which split from the Vatican more than 15 centuries ago, belongs to the Orthodox church tradition, like churches in Russia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe.

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