His Holiness Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia for the Catholic Armenians, accompanied by Mitred Prelate Nareg Naamoyan, Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman and Deacon Krikor Boyajyan honored the headquarters of the Foundation for the Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians with his presence on June 7. The guests arrived with our Spiritual Guardian, the Dzharagujny Vardapet, Rev. Prof. Józef Naumowicz.
As befits this special visit, we welcomed our guests with a yeast cake as was the custom among Polish Armenians. We had hosted our distinguished guest at the Foundation many years ago back in its old headquarters and His Holiness noticed the favorable change in surroundings. After a presentation by the assembled Foundation team Armen Artwich led the tour of the museum exhibition, describing the most interesting exhibits and presenting the archives, while Father Professor Józef Naumowicz showed us the reliquaries. The guests viewed the priceless exhibits with interest, asking for details.
The visit concluded with entries in the visitors’ book and a traditional group photo.
The next important element of the distinguished guest’s visit to Warsaw was a solemn Holy Mass in the Armenian rite. The Chapel of Our Lady on Łazienkowska Street was filled with a crowd of the faithful led by the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Poland His Excellency Alexander Arzoumanian and his wife. After the conclusion of the Mass gifts were presented. The Patriarch presented us with a commemorative medal representing the unity of the Churches. His Holiness received a commemorative chapel from Father Joseph from the Częstochowa Sanctuary and we the faithful, received wishes written in Armenian against a background taken from the Skewra Gospels.
There was also a similar gift for a special occasion – the fortieth anniversary of his priestly ordination for Father Professor Józef Naumowicz. Then long conversations followed with questions for the Patriarch which he eagerly and comprehensively answered. The guest was also presented with a letter concerning the martyrdom of priests Dionizy Kajetanowicz and Adam Bogdanowicz with the hope of their beatification. At the end, we met with our guests for the traditional tea, coffee and sweets. Despite the dreary rainy weather this day will long remain in our memory as a cheerful day of visits from an exceptional guest, a particularly warm and straightforward man with immense spiritual charisma.
On June 8, the guests went to the Armenian community in Gliwice and to Radwanowice, where they were praying at the grave of the late Father Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski.
