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A group of pilgrims from Russia will join the 25 thousand Catholics and pray during Saturday’s Holy Mass which Pope Francis will offer at Vardanants Square in Gyumri, Armenia.
Fr. Petros Yesayan, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Catholic community in Moscow, told the abovementioned to RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.
Aside from Muscovites, Catholic groups from the Armenian communities in several other Russian cities also will arrive in Armenia on his occasion.
The official schedule for the Pope’s visit to Armenia is as follows:
Friday, June 24
15.00 Arrival at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport with welcome ceremony there.
15.35 Visit to pray at Apostolic Cathedral at Etchmiadzin (Greetings given by Catholicos of All Armenia, Karekin II and by Pope Francis)
18.00 Courtesy visit to Armenia’s President in the Presidential Palace.
18.30 Meeting with civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps in the Presidential Palace (speech by the Pope)
19.30 Private meeting with Catholicos in the Apostolic Palace
Saturday, June 25
08.45 Visit to Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan
10.00 Journey by plane to Gyumri
11.00 Holy Mass in Gyumri’s Vardanants Square (Homily By the Pope and greeting by Catholicos)
16.45 Visit to the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of the Seven Wounds
17.15 Visit to the Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Gyumri
18.00 Journey by plane back to Yerevan
19.00 Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace in Yerevan’s Republic Square
Sunday, June 26
09.15 Meeting with Catholic Bishops of Armenia in the Apostolic Palace at Etchmiadzin
10.00 Participation in Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (Homily by Catholicos and greeting by the Pope)
Ecumenical Lunch with the Catholicos, Archbishops and Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholic Bishops of Armenia and Cardinals and Bishops from the Papal entourage in the Apostolic Palace.
15.00 Meeting with delegates and benefactors of the Apostolic Armenian Church in the Apostolic Palace
16.05 Signing of Joint Declaration in the Apostolic Palace
17.00 Prayer at Khor Virap Monastery
18.15 Farewell Ceremony at airport
18.30 Departure by plane for Rome
All times are in Armenia standard time.