ETCHMIADZIN, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on June 8 presented the President of the RA National Academy of Scinces (NAS), member of the Supreme Spiritual Council Radik Martirosian and the Secretary of the RA NAS Armenian History and Social Sciences Department, member of the Supreme Spiritual Council Vladimir Barkhudarian with "Saint Sahak - Saint Mesrop" orders in recognition of their partriotic and church-building activities. The ceremony took place at the Patriarchal Residence in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. According to the press service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Arshak Khachatrian opened the ceremony with a speech of welcome. In their speeches, the RA NAS Vice President Yuri Shukurian, the Director of the NAS Institute of History Ashot Melkonian, academicians Nicolay Hovhannisian and Sergei Hambartsumian expressed their gratitude to His Holiness for his constant attention to and appreciation of cultural workers and scientists. Then the Patriarchal kondaks were brought in and read by monks of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness decorated R. Martirosian and V. Barkhudarian with "Saint Sahak - Saint Mesrop" orders. The honoured persons delivered thank-offering speeches.

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