Nearly 600 journalists have applied for accreditation to cover the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Armenia, according to the Foreign Ministry of Armenia pager on Twitter.
Pope Francis will start his landmark visit to Armenia on June 24.The Armenian Apostolic Church called on its followers to gather at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin cathedral to greet the Pope.
The motto and logo for His Holiness Pope Francis' visit to the Republic of Armenia have been adopted with the corresponding description. The motto is Visit to the First Christian State. The logotype for the visit is in the form of a round seal. The Logo depicts the Monastery of Khor Virap with the Biblical Mount Ararat at the background. Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in a deep pit in Artashat for 14 years, where later the Monastery of Khor Virap was built. Saint Gregory the Illuminator subsequently became the first Patriarch of the Armenian nation. Through the joint efforts of Saint Gregory and King Tiridates III, Christianity was declared as a state religion in Armenia. The background colors of the logo are purple and yellow denoting the colors of the official flags of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Roman Catholic Church respectively. The logo depicts also the Coats of Arms of the two Churches. The surrounding engraving denotes the visit itself - "Pope Francis Armenia June 24-26, 2016" and the motto "Visit to the First Christian State."
On Friday 24 June, Welcoming Service will be held in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Saturday 25 June, Divine Liturgy will be offered by Pope Francis in the Vardanants Square of Gyumri. Later on the same day, Ecumenical Service and Peace Prayer is scheduled in the Republic Square of Yerevan, offered by His Holiness Karekin II and Pope Francis. Sunday 26 June, Pontifical Divine Liturgy will be offered in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the St. Trdat Open Air Altar, by His Holiness Karekin II.