Patriarch concludes Armenian visit

Shortly before his departure from the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Monday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (Vartholomeos) was received by Armenian President Serzh Sargsian, who stressed the importance he attached to the Armenian Orthodox Church and preserving Armenia's national identity.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Saturday began an official visit to Armenia, where he took part in ceremonies of the Armenian Orthodox Church.